Don't Let the Babies Go Hungry....

I just read a post of a fellow AWAA family waiting to travel Ethiopia and bring home their little girl. (click here to read their story.) Their daughter came to America World's Transistional Home very malnourished, and apparently lots of infants entering the home are facing the same situation. When the babies are this malnourished, their bodies cannot digest regular infant formula. Instead they need a special formula that is $30 a can. Well now Tom Davis, author of Red Letters and Fields of the Fatherless, is getting involved. His ministry Children's Hope Chest, is stepping in to raise $12,500 to buy this special formula for America World's Transistion Home. Check out Tom Davis's blog here to find out how you can help.

Secondly, will you please pray for Charlotte tomorrow as she is scheduled for surgery in the morning. She will be have a nose revision/reconstruction, ear tubes, and part of her adnoids removed. She may have further repairs to her palate as well, but won't know until the surgery begins. Pray that she remains comfortable in the hospital, and that her recovery will be quick and smooth. Thank you so much.

My Newest Layout

This was a bonus assignment for my class. I am having so much fun!

Wordless Wednesday

Digital Scrapbooking

I know most of you already know that I dabble a little in Digital Scrapbooking. Until now I have used the program Foto Fusion which is very user friendly and easy to figure out. I use it for blog design as well and it is a very inexpensive softward option. I would highly recommend it to anyone just starting out in the Digi Scrapbook world. But, I have wanted to do more and for Christmas my wonderful husband bought me Photoshop Elements. Well, it is TOO HARD to figure out on your own, and I finally found and awesome online line class. The class has video tutorials and assignments that you complete all on your own. I did lesson one today and it was GREAT!! I knew that once I learned photoshop I would love it and be able to do so much more, so now I am finally on my way. If you are interested in the class you can find it here at Jessica Sprague.com. Here is my first page, and part of my assignment was to share it with all of you.

A look at our beauty....

Easter and Brown Belt

First off, we had a wonderful Easter. Wonderful time with family and friends and a wonderful service at our little church. Charlotte loved dressing up this year and especially loved her gloves!! Ethan of course picked out shorts and a shirt. He also decided that wearing one black and one white sock would be perfectly appropriate. Unfortunately mom did not figure this out until we were at lunch after church. Oh, well just another special memory I guess.

Also, Ethan received his brown belt in TKD over the weekend. The next time he tests it will be for a junior black belt. We are so proud of his accomplishments and dedication in this activity. He does a super job and is often picked to be a leader among his belts. He is just a special kid!

A Little Update

I know it seems like forever since I posted, but I am having trouble getting everything done these days! Baby and I are doing well, just about to start week 16, I can't believe it. I am starting to feel little flutters and have had to venture into my maternity only attire. But we feel so incredibly blessed to have been given this little miracle. Charlotte is doing well and talking like crazy. She has even started to put two word sentences together which is a pretty big step for her. She has a surgery coming up on May 6th to reconstruct more of her nose, to reinsert tubes in both ears, and remove part of her adnoids. So please keep our little one in your prayers as we prepare for and recover from the surgery. Ethan is also doing well, and just tested for his brown belt in Taekwondo. We are gearing up for soccer season now so I am sure I will have some pictures for you soon. Around the house we are doing some needed home improvment stuff. Renovating our kitchen a little, I am currently without counters or a sink until the 16th and starting to get stuff in place for painting and new floors in most of the house. So as usual life is busy but we are hanging in there. I have not had my camera out in about 2 months so no new pics to share, I know bad mommy. But I am carrying around another little person with my 24/7 right now, so I think I am doing well just to make this post. Hope you are all well, and I promise to check in sooner rather than later. I know I will at least have Easter pics next week.

Special Announcement: It may not be what you think....

So along with my new blog look comes a very special announcement from the Lewter Family.

We are expecting a new bundle of joy in September and it is not by way of China, yet.....I am 10 weeks pregnant!!!

AAHH!!! Can you believe it? We could not either, it was a huge suprise but is a huge blessing at the same time. We are still planning on submitting our, in the works, dossier to China, but will just be waiting awhile to be matched with a referral. We never, and I mean never, really saw this coming, but we are so learning to go with the flow. And know that God's plan is so much more perfect than we could have ever imagined. We are so excited to share our news with you ,and I have wanted to for awhile, but with my history of miscarriage we decided to wait a while. But we just can't hold in our miracle any longer. Please continue to pray for us and the baby as I am considered some what high risk given my history and med/high blood pressure. I am hanging in there and starting to come out of the first trimester blahs, thank goodness. So, we will continue to keep you updated on our progress and of course our 1st two miracles as well. Ethan is super excited and Charlotte is starting to understand a little, as much as she can. Isn't God just incredible!

Three Word Sunday

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT SOON!!!

Missing....

I know, I know where have we been. Just caught up in life, moving very quickly and dealing with lots of stuff. I will hopefully be able to catch everyone up soon, but for now we have to keep everything in the family. I will tell you that God has been throwing us some serious curve balls as of late. We are starting to see the end of the tunnel, but I am trusting and having faith in the fact that it is all out of my hands. Yep, I said it out of my hands....and you know what it feels pretty good to say. I don't have to shoulder the responsibility, I just have to look to Him and follow His lead. I have a few cute pics I want to post soon so hopefully by the end of the week, I will share those but for know I will leave you with this, one of my all time favorite praise songs. Actually written by Billy and Cindy Foote who have a little sweetie from China and are adopting another from Ethiopia. You are hearing it sung by Phillips, Craig and Dean on the playlist though.

You Are God Alone
by Billy and Cindy Foote

You are not a god
Created by human hands
You are not a god
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a god
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is

Chorus:
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

You’re the only God
Whose power none can contend
You’re the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You’re the only God
Who’s worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that’s just the way it is

You're Unchangeable
You're Unshakable
You're Unstoppable
That’s what You are

Just for fun....Our Christmas

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Trust

Will I ever fully trust the Lord? When will that happen? I have witnessed with my own eyes His miracles in my family and others, and yet sometimes my faith is so little. So are you wondering now what has gotten me in a funk-adoption paperwork of course. I have been determined to not get frustrated and to trust that He will work it all out according to His plan, but that is so out of my personality. So far from the way "I like" to do things. Pray for me today, would you. Pray that I can turn it over to Him, give Him control and then just TRUST!!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

I am really good at the second part of this verse. I love to sing His praises!! It is the first part of the verse that I need to recall on a daily basis. And I plan on doing just that!