Well everyone its been over 2 weeks since I posted so I thought I should get one out there. Its been a bit busy around here, we celebrated some sort of holiday, what was that again? Yes yes, it was CHRISTmas were we had a birthday party for Jesus. Our family had a wonderful time together going to Lisa's Mom's on CHRISTmas Eve and then to my Mom's on CHRISTmas day. My dad and my Stepmother came over with my Stepsister to our house on Christmas Eve early in the day as well. I love this time of year. I am off work until Jan 5th, my vacation started on CHRISTmas Eve. Have you noticed I like capitalizing CHRIST in CHRISTmas. It is after all about him isn't it?
We are having our in home interviews on Tues Jan 6th for our home study. We decided to install carpet and paint the living room which has needed new flooring for about 2 years. I am actually waiting for them to arrive to install as I type this post. We painted on Saturday, thanks to my Mom Laura for her help painting. We rushed all of our CHRISTmas decorations down the day after CHRISTmas knowing what was coming so its really been nuts around here. Right now all of our furniture is in the Kitchen and dining room area awaiting the installers. We did manage to leave a path to walk through so we can at least get to the sink and let the dog out on the deck.
Well I hope you all had a great CHRISTmas and will enjoy a Happy New Year.
God Bless
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Greg's home study interview
I had my interview yesterday with Olga from the home study agency. It went well, was fairly short. My appointment was at 4pm, I set it up as late as possible in the day so I could leave work as late as I could. The agency however closes right at 5pm so the appointment only lasted about 55 minutes. Olga told me they lock the doors right at 5 and everyone has to be out. We spoke of my childhood, my parenting style, the motivation to adopt among other things. Next up is our in home meeting with the children included on Jan 6th. Olga told me she should have the home study completed by mid to late Feb. That will then allow us to apply for some grants as you have to have a completed home study to apply.
Candle fundraiser results
Well we sent in our order from all of the orders we received. We did not do as well as Lisa had hoped, but we ended up selling about $600 of candles which is not too shabby. We are going to end up making about $250 after the cost of candles, taxes and shipping are deducted. We march on little by little. If anyone has any ideas on other ways to do small fundraisers like this let us know.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Biometrics
Ya that's what I said, what is biometrics. Today Lisa and I went to Cleveland for this as part of the immigration work we have to do for our son or daughter. It is nothing more than a glorified fingerprinting. We went to the federal building and were actually in and out of there in about 20 minutes. I for one was amazed as I am not known for my praise of government entities. They took electronic pictures of each of our fingers, part of the time they take your fingers and sort of roll it back and forth to get a better picture I guess. I said to Lisa how boring of a job it would be to do that all day for people. The gentlemen who did it was friendly to us both. One more thing checked off our list.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Lisa's first homestudy interview
Lisa had her first interview for the home study last Friday. I will have mine this Friday. We have seperate interviews at the office of the agency followed by an in home interview with both of us and the kids. That is set for Jan 6th, wait until she sees our mob- haha.
Lisa enjoyed her time during the interview, the ladies name is Olga. She was born in Israel. Lisa really liked her and she felt as if Olga liked her as well. We travel to Cleveland on Wednesday to get fingerprinted for the immigration paperwork / process. It is looking like we will have our home study completed by the end of Jan. We have to pay a total of $2600 for these last 3 interviews and that will complete the cost involved with the homestudy. We believe we will have enough money to get through the next stage which we are partially in already, that is the dossier. It is about $2700 I believe. After that the cash we have will be exhausted. The next item is the biggest cost, around $9000 that goes to Holt and the Ethipoia governement. Once we get past that basically all we have left is the cost to travel which will be a few thousand dollars of course.
We are going on faith believing God will supply the need for what he has called us to do, please pray for us.
Lisa enjoyed her time during the interview, the ladies name is Olga. She was born in Israel. Lisa really liked her and she felt as if Olga liked her as well. We travel to Cleveland on Wednesday to get fingerprinted for the immigration paperwork / process. It is looking like we will have our home study completed by the end of Jan. We have to pay a total of $2600 for these last 3 interviews and that will complete the cost involved with the homestudy. We believe we will have enough money to get through the next stage which we are partially in already, that is the dossier. It is about $2700 I believe. After that the cash we have will be exhausted. The next item is the biggest cost, around $9000 that goes to Holt and the Ethipoia governement. Once we get past that basically all we have left is the cost to travel which will be a few thousand dollars of course.
We are going on faith believing God will supply the need for what he has called us to do, please pray for us.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Interesting thought for Christians
Christians are often known more for what they are against than what they are for. If you ask the typical believer why the ancient city of Sodom was destroyed by God almost all would mention some form of wickedness that took place there. I saw something today though in the Bible that I had never seen before. I think it can speak to us as believers, especially American believers. It is found in the book of Ezekiel, here it is.
Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
Interesting is it not that verse 49 speaks first of their pride, how they were full of bread and abundance, which led to idleness, yet with so much free time and resources they still did not meet the needs of the poor and needy! Verse 50 then speaks of their abominations (sins/wickedness).
Does this sound like the typical Christian today in America?
Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
Interesting is it not that verse 49 speaks first of their pride, how they were full of bread and abundance, which led to idleness, yet with so much free time and resources they still did not meet the needs of the poor and needy! Verse 50 then speaks of their abominations (sins/wickedness).
Does this sound like the typical Christian today in America?
God says
PSA 10:14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
Hos 14:3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Psa 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Psa 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psa 146:9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
Pro 23:10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
Pro 23:11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
Exo 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Deu 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deu 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Hos 14:3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Psa 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Psa 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psa 146:9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
Pro 23:10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
Pro 23:11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
Exo 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Deu 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deu 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
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