My heart is overwhelmed!

I love to help others. To help them feel loved. To make a difference. There are so many ways to help others. We can offer a listening ear, offer to carry some of their burdens, or share our resources. I would much rather be able to offer to help someone else...than to be on the receiving end....And right now we are on the receiving end....Or rather, We are the caretakers of the generosity for this little boy....

 This picture was taken on one of the last nights we spent with him in July.  We miss his laugh, his smile, his sense of humor. But we are hopeful that we will hear something soon. Which leads me to my overwhelmed heart!

Our families and some fire fighters are working hard on a fundraiser on Sept. 15th. We feel so blessed that this is simply happening. Shadrack will take medical care that is beyond some of what insurance will cover. But since I first announced this, We have 2 more people willing to make bake goods to sell. Plus one is letting her church know of this need. And out of the blue....another church takes donations on the first Sunday of the month...and this Sunday is for Shadrack! Can you believe this generosity? So yes, my heart is overwhelmed. The prayers that Wayne and I pray are simply that God uses Shadrack to touch each and everyone of you...Because, when you get to know him...he certainly will!

My grandmother...one of my biggest cheer leaders just gave me a card and poem...it was important for her to get it to me before Wayne leaves for work today...

"Heaven's Very Special Child"

"A meeting was held quite far from earth,

It's time again for another birth.

Said the Angels to the Lord above.

this Special child will need much love.

His progress may seem very slow,

Accomplishments he may never show;

And he'll require extra care,

From the folks he meets down there.

He may not run or laugh or play,

His thoughts may seem quite far away.

In many ways he won't adapt,

And he'll be known as handicapped.

So let's be careful where he's sent;

We want his life to be content.

Please Lord, find the parents who

will do a special job for you.

They will not realize right away,

the leading part they're asked to play.

But with this child sent from above,

comes a stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they'll know the privilege given,

In caring for this gift from heaven.

Their precious charge, so meek and mild,

Is heaven's very special child."

   Author unknown...

 

Oh my...tears to my eyes. What strikes me...is I know the blessing that Shadrack is. But YOU don't know. Cannot wait to show you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little Bread Crumb

Just received a phone call from Klobuchars office...always nice to see that number pop up! Seems to be that she is checking in regularly with Immigration and getting updates. Our application is being passed around to the offices that need to see it. So we are thankful that they are currently reviewing it. The sooner Shadrack can get medical care...that better off this little guy will be! Praying for news on Friday!??? But it is not our timing...this whole process has proved that to us.

There has been some negativity over the Fundraiser that is happening on September 15th. I know there are always opinions surrounded anything good.

Our stance is, we are all called to help the orphan. Anyone who is oppressed is an orphan. Those without parents, those in need of clothing, food, shelter. We are all called to help. Some are called to adopt a parentless child, some are called to support those that do. We all have roles in the lives of those that need to see Jesus with skin on.

Wayne and I took care of our first trip through Wayne's retirement fund and through a loan. Plus some pretty generous people that helped us because they simply wanted to help.

Now we have to go back to Liberia. We are thrilled that our families along with some Clear Lake Fire Fighters are helping make this trip possible again. These funds are simply to help Shadrack. We will have medical coverage for him, but there are fees that end up being over and above what insurance covers. So the remainder of the funds will be to cover that. We will make sure Shadrack has clothes....which I have already gotten them, we will feed Shadrack, and get him to his appointments. Plus love on him.

So, for those that are going over and above to help....you are the hands of feet of Jesus. Shadrack will surely feel the love from each and everyone of you. We don't take this lightly, we are humbled by this, we feel uncomfortable about this. But it is simply for Shadrack!

My mom has been looking for someone to help play music on Sept 15th. Do you or do you know someone who would be willing to donate 2-3 hours?
We have a Clown coming! FUN!

My mom or Kari from Clear Lake Fire Department (works at the City of Clear Lake offices) are collecting Silent auction items. We could use some more to help make this more successful.

there is a bake sale going on! So baked goods would be appreciated!

My mom, diane, can be contacted through email at
Diane@hopebloomsmn.org

for those of you that we simply do not know...that call or simply send donations...We appreciate you so so much! I would like for everyone to Meet Shadrack. Praying for September 15th for that to happen! My perfect plan is that we leave September 7th and return Sept 14th...But we are running a little to close right now! Still hoping!

Thanks for all you do....
Shan

Receipt confirmation!

We have a receipt number! YAY!  What this means is that I was able to call Klobuchars office and asked her awesome Immigration department to expedite our case. From what I remember, and I will correct this if I am wrong, we could hear in about 2 weeks a yes or no answer. So we are within a month time frame of Shadrack getting his much needed medical care. We are very excited about this! One more step in the right direction!

For those that want to hear more about the Story, Bill Morgan from the Sherburne County Citizen newspaper did a story this past weekend.  He did a very good job of telling Shadracks story...which seems complicated to tell in a short conversation.

You can find the story here

Please pray for a positive response from USCIS, (Immigration). And that it is speedy in getting here!

An Update

Well, our paperwork should be in the hands of Immigration as I type. We are simply waiting on the receipt number to then give to Amy Klobuchar's office to expedite our paperwork. We are literally at the hands of the person at immigration that is reviewing our paperwork. So we wait with trust that things will work out. We simply would like to get Shadrack here for medical care that we have all set up for him. It is torture waiting. We are ready to get him here to get him walking, eating, talking and learning to care for himself should he continue to be blind.

We really worked to work with on bonding with him while we spent two weeks with him. We knew he needed to trust us. Well, I got an email from someone in Liberia. Apparently he didn't think to highly of us leaving him in Liberia. He wouldn't eat and the words from our friend...."it was a nightmare". Broke my heart to hear this! I could have done well to not hear this! Yikes!

I cannot say how appreciative that we are for everyone so willing to help with a fundraiser to bring Shadrack to the US! We used up Wayne's 401k to go our first trip. So this will help cover the added expenses, plus the medial bills beyond  the insurance coverings.
The Fundraiser will be held at Jack and Jim's in Duelm MN! Big 'ol Duelm.  12-5.  Our families and Clear Lake Fire Fighters are helping to pull this off!  

I will update again once we have the recipet. For now, just pray over the person getting all of our paperwork. We truly need to get shadrack here for medical care. Most of what he needs, should have been done shortly after birth! And to find out if he will eer be able to see at all!

When you unravel at the seams.....

When life throws ya lemons...do you make lemonade?  when life seems so dark that you cannot find your way out...do you wallow in that darkness?

What are some things, we as women can do to overcome? When you come unglued and are unsure how to even find the bottle of glue that you are sure you had...just a few days ago...? What will you do?

Lysa TerKeurst wrote a book called Unglued..well actually a Bible Study. Then went on to write 60 devotions for just this topic. I follow Lysa's blog here Lysa's Blog.  In her blog, she talks about every day life that people like you and I encounter. Lysa is a true life person, living the Christian life, in an imperfect way...and freely shares her shortcomings. Through this we are able to relate to her, and know that EVERYONE FAILS at some time. If we are all honest, we can surely relate!

So when, I was able to grab a book of Lysa's to reveiw, I snatched it right up. I have to admit I grabbed this book some time ago...so long ago that I had to ask to keep my Booksneeze Account active. With preparing for our adoption, it was hard to focus on much else!

In Lysa's Unglued Devotion book, I was reminded once again of God's grace in my life. And as a wife and mom, God has me and will deliver me from where I need delivering. Unglued showed me again as I turned through each devotion what Lysa communicates in her blog. Through our humanness, we can be a light to others. When you or I make mistakes, when you  and I come unglued, and don't make lemonade....Forgiveness is ours freely.

Run our and grab this book! It will help your perspective of yourself. We have to many things in our lives that do not help us in the least! Everywhere we turn, there is somehting or someone squashing the joy right out of us! Along with your Bible and  Unglued devotions, you can gain a better perspecitve!

I obtained this devotion for the sole purpose of reading and posting a review of my choice! I was not paid or swayed in how I chose to review! www.booksneeze.com....books are contagious!