Progress

We are getting there. All the kitchen, living room, and office boxes are officially unpacked. Not everything is where it should be since I'm not sure where to put everything. The boys' room hasn't been touched yet and there are a lot of furniture boxes that I'm banishing to the screened porch to be broken down on a later date. We aren't using the attic here since we have so much storage space in the garage and shed, however the shed needs a new roof before we put stuff in there. That means the garage will remain overcrowded until that project is completed.

There will be no pictures hanging on the walls tonight unless Chuck does it. He is our interior designer and he's not sure where he wants things.

I'll leave you with a funny story. First of all I need to confess that I've watched Saw 1,2, & 3 all within the last 2 weeks. I'm not into gore and horror, but I was told there are some good twists in these movies and I'm a sucker for a good twist. I'm here to tell you that the twists aren't worth the gore at all. Those movies are awful. Anyway, I'm digressing. I've told you about the Saw movies so you'll understand that I'm a little on edge. I'm not a scardey cat usually, but lately I'm just on edge. Well, we are new to the garage thing. We've never had one before and ours is attached. Yesterday I left the house for about 3 hours and totally forgot to close the garage door. I realized it halfway into my trip out, and I was quite a ways from home by then. More than anything I was afraid someone was going to steal the riding lawnmower in the garage. When I got home and saw that everything was in the garage as it should be, I realized that someone could be waiting in my house with some crazy gadget and a test (you'll need to see a Saw movie to understand that) for me. So, I did the smart thing and entered the house and grabbed the biggest kitchen knife we have and did a thorough check of the house. I felt a little silly after the fact. So, the big lesson learned: Close the garage door!

Still Unpacking...

Just an update - we're still unpacking. Our friends Dana and Samantha came over yesterday and were such a huge help in getting our kitchen unpacked. Thank you so much, Dana and Samantha!!! You two rock!! They also helped us build our dining room set and a plastic cupboard for the garage.

The boxes are slowly dwindling away. Our room is pretty much unpacked. I just unpacked the linen closet. We need to build a new shelf unit before the office can be completed. There's a lot of miscellaneous stuff that I'm not sure where to put. We are also new to the whole garage thing, so there are many items that will go in there. Right now the garage is a wreck with one narrow path.

Tomorrow night we are having our Gel Group (small group) meet here, so progress is necessary. I'm hoping to even have pictures hanging on the walls by then. We'll see.

My sister keeps begging for pictures. The camera has been located, however I can't take pictures yet. I'm a little too vain to post pictures of my house in this condition on the internet. Soon, Christi, soon.

Oh yeah, one more thing - we have a home phone number again. If you want it, please email me at ittybitties@msn.com. We'd prefer to get more calls on the home phone since we've gone over in cell phone minutes two months in a row.

That's all for now. The boxes are calling.

We Moved!

This is just a quick post to share that we have moved! It all FINALLY came together late Thursday and we were able to close. We've handed over the keys to the old place and we will be unpacking fools this weekend.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers!

Great Adoption News

We got our monthly update late last night.

We have Judgment - yeah! The next step in the process is 2nd Legalization. Please join us in praying that we receive this quickly. Once 2nd Legalization is complete the adoption decree gets drawn up and that is the document that makes the boys legally ours in Haiti (here, too, but they need passports to get here).

YEAH!!

There's Good News and Bad News...

The Good News: We closed. On both places.

The Bad News: Our buyer didn't close.

It is necessary for our buyer to close for us to purchase the new house. We aren't approved to buy the new place unless we sell the old one.

Honestly, I still don't understand why we did close, other than the fact we were led to believe that our buyers would. We didn't learn they wouldn't be closing today until after we left from closing.

I don't understand it all, but we've been told they will definitely close in the morning. We were also told they would definitely close on Wednesday and they didn't. We will have to go back and resign some documents because of this.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers. If you could say some more, that would be awesome. The packers are coming in the morning. We aren't canceling them.

The very best word to describe this whole ordeal is UNBELIEVABLE.

Closing is Scheduled

We are scheduled to close at 2:00!! Our buyer will close at 2:00 also.

It seems that once we got to a place with God where we said, "Whatever Your will is is okay with us. We will stay here if that's the plan" things started to happen.

Yes, things could still go wrong, but we are feeling pretty good about things right now.

I'll definitely post after we close.

Uphill on the House Rollercoaster

Well, we are going uphill on the house rollercoaster. Ed called at about 4:00 to tell us that he learned that our buyers have been cleared for closing and they are actually scheduled to close tomorrow afternoon. The only thing is that their closing office is waiting on their documents. Once they get the documents we are clear to close. So, we may be closing at noon tomorrow. Ed is going to call in the morning to let us know.

I called my sister, who works in the mortgage business and she said it all sounds good to go. So, that's the scoop. I'll for sure post if we close tomorrow.

Article on our Church

Here's a link to an article about our church's bar service:

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=135797&ran=83937&lpos=spot3&lid=homePO

I've heard that it's also on the FRONT PAGE of the regular paper. Very cool!

We Didn't Close

Once again we didn't close.

Now it is some crap about tax records. We've been told we will definitely close on Wednesday. I'll believe it when it happens.

I'm trying to have a good attitude (it's not working). However, I feel like we are being jacked around by the people buying this house, and that is frustrating. This morning the story was that they were having a hard time scheduling their closing today (in VA we don't close together). Then, we finally got the truth - that they aren't ready to close.

I'd feel a lot different about this if they were even the slightest bit apologetic, but they aren't. We've put our life on hold for 11 days with crap everywhere in our house and now in my car and they can't even say, "Hey, we're really sorry we've inconvenienced you again." Argh!!

Okay, time for an attitude check.

Attitude has been checked and a paragraph erased. God is good.

Adoption News Dream

I had a brief dream last night about our adoption process. I dreamt that I was told that we have an adoption decree. An adoption decree is the legal document that makes the kids yours. As you can imagine, it was a wonderful dream!

Monthly process updates come out at the end of the month, so I'm excited that it's the month's end. Great news would be that we have Judgment. Unbelievable news would be that we have 2nd Legalization as well. A downright miracle would be that we have an adoption decree. But hey, God can do anything.

Please pray with us that we get at least great news this month. We've waited a really long time. Our time in Parquet put us behind many families who started the process after us. Some of those kids are home already. God's timing is perfect AND He hears our prayers.

Closing Monday

It sounds like we are going to close on both our homes on Monday afternoon. On Monday of this week someone came to survey this property. Ed keeps calling to tell us that things look good for a Monday closing. We scheduled our buyer's walk through for Sunday afternoon. Today we scheduled our walk through, also for Sunday afternoon.

Too bad Chuck and I are in denial that we are moving! Seriously, after what happened last week we are both kind of like, "Sure, whatever." Don't get me wrong, we don't have bad attitudes about it. We are just really careful about getting all excited again. It's all very anticlimatic. Maybe we will get excited once the papers are all signed. That's after we throw up from being shown how much we will really pay for the house once we pay 30 years of interest!

Today I scrubbed the stove and fridge. Why is it that my appliances were never this clean for us? We've lived here 3 1/2 years, and I've only self cleaned the oven once. It is sparkling now. The fridge was downright gross when I pulled the drawers out. How on earth does cat hair get under the drawers of my fridge? Sick!

So, the plan is to close on both houses on Monday and rent this one back through Friday. We will slowly begin moving things over Monday night through Wednesday. Tuesday or Wednesday will be a cleaning frenzy at the new place. Thursday the packers come to pack up all our crap. Friday they move the stuff from here to there. Friday afternoon we hand over the keys and say goodbye to our first home. Sniff.

God's Provision

About a month ago Chuck and I decided that at the new house we will set up the race car beds for the twins and have just one crib in the room. We need to give the other crib back to our friends who are having a baby in December. We figure that if the boys still need to be in cribs we can get another one at that time or just use the pack and play.

So, in deciding to set up the race car beds I had a realization. The beds use twin size mattresses, not crib mattresses. So, I realized that we would need to get bedding for the beds. We have sheets for twin beds, but no blankets.

The very next day I got an email from my friend Stephanie. She wanted to know if we had any use for two matching twin size bed sets that are construction themed. The sets consist of matching sheets and quilts. I immediately saw how God was providing for our needs and said yes.

These bed sets were used by her two sons, Noah and Samuel. Yes, her boys are Noah and Samuel, too. Isn't that awesome?? God is so good.

Thank you Stephanie and Doug, and Noah and Samuel, too!

Please Continue to Pray

I posted yesterday about sick babies at the orphanage. One passed away this morning from pneumonia. Please pray for those who loved her. I'm not sure if she had an adoptive family, but her nannies and her birth family will surely miss her.

For just a moment, pause and thank God that you live in a country where babies rarely die from pneumonia. If your kids are healthy right now, thank Him for that.

This isn't just words on a blog. It's real. A baby died this morning.

Father, please protect the rest of the kids at the orphanage from sickness. Please be with the other two babies who are still in the hospital and heal their little bodies. I ask that one day soon, babies in Haiti wouldn't have to die from pneumonia or diarrhea or hunger. Amen.

The Strength Behind Doing and Being Good

I just finished reading a short devotion. It was good, right up until I hit the last sentence. The last sentence made me feel a little sick, because it reinforced some old ideas I had about Chrisitianity.

You see, up until the last month or so, I wasn't understaning the full scope of the Gospel. Yes, I believed Jesus died for me and I've asked Him into my heart and I fully believe I was heading to Heaven, but there was a big grace part I was missing.

It's the part that tells me who I am in Christ. You see, I became a Christian and started doing good things. A lot of times it was because I wanted to, but sometimes it was because I felt I had to. You know, Christians do good stuff, I'm a Christian, so I'll do good stuff too. My heart wasn't necessarily in it. I could pull that off.

What I couldn't pull off was who I was on the inside. I still thought mean things (and sometimes said them, you can ask Chuck about that), I still had bad thoughts, but most of all, I knew who I really was and I certainly didn't want you to know the truth. I was a sinner to the core. The stuff I had done in my pre-Christian days still had tremendous power over who I was.

But recently I have learned about who I am in Christ. I'll admit, I've heard it before, but I finally heard it if you know what I mean. I learned that I am a virtuous woman. Not that I have to try to be, but that's who I am in Christ. I learned that I can love like the famous love verses in 1 Corinthians 13 - not in my strength, though. I've learned what it really means to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:5). I've learned that when the bad thoughts creep into my mind they are not of Christ. And if they aren't of Christ, then they are of Satan. I used to think they were of Juli. Seriously, I did. See, Jesus owns my soul and Satan can't touch that so he goes after my thoughts and emotions. And for a long time he did it well.

It used to be that when I read a Bible verse on how we are supposed to be as Christians, I took it as instruction. "This is how you are supposed to behave, Juli." Now I take it as a promise. "This is who you are, Juli." You see, we can't follow the law in our own strength. If we could we wouldn't need Jesus. Think about it. If you can be good all on your own, why do you need Him? That is exactly what I was trying to do. But, you see, when we tap into His power, we are able to live out the law. We do it in His strength, not our own.

I know that this is the Gospel at it's core, but how many of us truly live it out? I know too many Christians who aren't living in Jesus' strength. And I can say that because I was one. For over 6 years I lived that way. And this leads me to the reason of this post. Too much Christian teaching out there tells us what to do and be as Christians. And sometimes they add in or gloss over the idea that it's through the strength of Jesus that we do and be. However, my devotion this morning ended by telling me what to be. And as my stomach twisted and I thought about devotions past, I realized that somehow many of our teachers out there have forgotten to keep reminding us that we do and be in the strength of Jesus.

Orphanage Prayers

I have another prayer request. I'm so grateful that there are people who read this blog and pray.

There are a few babies at our orphanage who are pretty sick. Please pray for them. They are in the hospital. This time of year the temperature drops a little in Haiti, and that means kids (and adults) get sick. Please pray for all the kids and staff at the orphanage to stay healthy.

We have not heard that our boys are sick, praise God.

Thanks!

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

I'm doing an awesome Bible study right now. It is so perfectly timed by God for my life.

Without going into a lot of detail, I was quite disappointed this weekend in regard to our adoption. Please, no inquiries via the comments. I will delete them. Email me privately instead at ittybitties@msn.com.

In my Bible study today I read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. It's a wonderful story of God totally taking care of a situation that was totally out of control. I encourage you to read it. King Jehoshaphat and his people are about to get hosed by the enemy simply because the enemy is so much greater in numbers than they are. Ever feel like that? I sure have. So anyway, God speaks to them, and part of what He says in 20:17 is, "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."

After God tells them this, Jehoshaphat and his people worship God. And while they were singing praises, God defeated their enemy for them. Pretty cool, huh?

This really spoke to my heart in regard to our adoption. This battle is the Lord's battle. Rather than fight, I'm going to worship Him and take up my position, which is to keep my eyes on Him. I will stand firm, expecting deliverance. I will not be afraid. I will not be discouraged. I will face them tomorrow, whoever they are, and the Lord will be with me.

Now a word of warning to my enemy: You were better off when you were in battle against just little ole me. As of right now, you are battling against the Lord. I have given it to Him. Why don't you go ask Satan how well it will go for you. Whoever you are, wherever you are, you are up against the King of all Kings. I almost feel sorry for you, almost. My heart beats hard just typing this. The second grader in me wants to say, "You are in BIG trouble." As I sing praises to the Lord, He will be in battle against you on my behalf. You will not succeed in keeping our boys from us.

Go God!

October Update Photos!

Samuel nearly smiling

Closer to smiling...

Smiley Noah

Getting pictures or updates on process is golden on the long path of adoption. It is sooooo good to see our boys' precious faces. Oh, Lord, bring them home soon.

Happy Birthday Blog

Today our Blog turns 1. Yippee!!

It is funny to me that starting the Blog completely stressed me out because I thought it would be so hard. Blogger makes it so simple. I encourage you, if you have been afraid to start a blog, to give it a try. I have found it to be an easy way to share information with our friends and family. It is also, at times, a great piece of encouragement. It will also serve as a record of our journey to our boys. You can actually have your blog turned into a book. We will do that with this sometime in the future so that our boys will have a piece of their story forever.

Thanks to those of you who read, and especially to those of you who comment. I'm not a great commentor on other blogs, so if you don't leave comments that is totally okay.

Happy Birthday to Blog
Happy Birthday to Blog
Happy Birthday dear Blo - og
Happy Birthday to Blog!

Yes, I am a dork. I'm okay with that.

Super Bad News

We are not moving this weekend. Or next weekend. Our buyer switched jobs last month, so we have to wait to close until he is in his new position for 30 days. The soonest we can close is the 29th, which is a Monday. Talk about a bummer.

We have packed all our cleaning stuff and our toiletries. Our living room is full of stuff that was in our attic. We have suitcases packed. We are paying for utilities at the new place. I was so ready to move.

We are mostly bummed for how hard our loan officer and his mortgage processor worked to get Chuck's disibility rating. They got it today. So, we don't have to pay the VA funding fee. That is a huge praise. A lady named Brenda worked really hard to get it. I feel most sorry for her that we aren't closing on time. If you could say a little prayer that God blesses her, that would be awesome.

Chuck and I are going to hang out tonight and try to keep our eyes on Jesus, so if you call and we don't answer, please don't take it personal. We just need some time to process this.

Thanks.

More Prayers Needed Please

Well, we need to ask for some more prayers. The people who are buying our house haven't come out of underwriting yet. This means they aren't yet ready to close. Our agent says that they are close, and if they come out of underwriting early tomorrow morning, we can still close on time at 3 p.m. tomorrow. So, please join us in praying that their file comes out of underwriting and that the loan documents get emailed by tomorrow morning. We trust that God wouldn't bring us this far to just drop us off on our face. He has it all planned and figured out, we trust that.

Thanks!