Birthday happenings......

Yesterday was my actual birthday...my 37th birthday. Same age mom was when she died--so surreal. I don't usually care for much celebration and yesterday was not any different.


The Sunday before my birthday, I got my one birthday card from Dad and Pam and a wonderful nighttime collection of devotions by Charles Swindoll to read before bedtime.

Monday, I was able to mail our dossier to the country it needs to be shipped to.

Wednesday, our dossier arrived in the Eastern European country we wish to adopt from and late that evening the birthday wishes on FB began.

Thursday, I received a few texts wishing me "Happy Birthday" and a phone call from my dad that evening--this year, no family members forgot my birthday. Jared even called from his dad's to tell me "Happy Birthday Mom"...even my ex-husband remembered to have him call me.

Many blessings indeed.

I got my one birthday present (other than the book I got from Dad and Pam) at 7:30 that evening when I noticed a brown box on our doorstep. I opened the door and I remembered immediately that Lisa Warner had told me she "had something for me on Thursday". I opened the box, read the sweet message of "Love and prayers always. The Warner Family". Next, I opened the silver box containing my gift.......

The most precious gift, words I shared with Lisa when they were landlocked in the Ukraine because of Joshua's illness and inability to fly safely per the doctor's recommendations.

I will treasure it always, Lisa. Thank you, so much.


Today, I read Sheva's blog about her birthday celebration. Sheva is a dear friend and she shared these words on her blog about birthday celebrations and what her Rebbe believed to be true and good about birthdays; "The great Lubavitcher Rebbe really pushed the custom of celebrating a birthday he said it was a day of renewal a time to reflect and choose what you want to better in the next year, a time to think of others and give extra charity, and most importantly a Birthday should be celebrated. I always followed this custom and with my kids, but why not me?"~~Sheva G.

WOW, I think I will be celebrating much more from now on. Thank you Sheva for sharing the words of your Rebbe and touching my heart with them.





"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)

Good times and birthday fun

Today has been wonderful, my boys have been good, got their varicella vaccinations and never even dropped a tear :)

We also learned our dossier made it to the country we needed it to reach this morning and then learned at 8:33 a.m. our time (3:33 p.m. over here) our document was signed for by Y. Shust! IT IS IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO WILL TRANSLATE IT NOW!!!!!!

Soon, very soon, we will be submitted and then our travel date will be issued. Soon, you will all see pictures of our child. You have no idea how grateful I am for this early celebration beginnings to my 37th birthday tomorrow. Who would have ever thought I would be so happy to be 37 and about to have our fourth child?????? LOL

This journey so far has not been fun, it has been full of issues to be conquered and nay-sayers that just don't support us as we would like. BUT I can say this, God has NOT ONCE SHUT A DOOR that HE didn't open a window in replace of.

We were once told "you will be hard pressed to find anyone to approve your homestudy".....well, we did find a place. A great place who CHURNED out an APPROVED homestudy in 23 days. TWENTY-THREE DAYS!!!!!

Next step? Immigration. Immigration clearance needed in advance to bring an orphan into the states. This task that can take 2.5 months on the average was COMPLETED in 33 days. THIRTY-THREE DAYS!!!!!!!

Then, Apostille, had it's own issues but easily (though painfully) corrected AND then our WHOLE DOSSIER was ready to travel. And travel it did! QUICKLY!!!!! From drop off at 5:22 p.m. in Kokomo, IN August 1, 2011 to ARRIVAL AND DELIVERY CONFIRMATION in and Eastern European country on August 3, 2011 at 8:33 a.m. our time.

God's got a plan y'all and HE is MOVING. Get ready, sit back and enjoy the ride. We are on the downward slope and I am loving it! So grateful for His provisions and forgiving me for my anger and frustration during the rough times.





"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)

DELIVERED!!!!!!!!!

~Christie~

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)

IN THE CAPITAL CITY!!!!!!!!

 Our dossier has arrived in the capital city of the country of destination!!!!!!!!!

~Christie~

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)