Laura is amazing at what she does! She is SO creative. Don't know what I am talking about?! Go to www.pitterpatterart.wordpress.com. I wish I was half as talented as she is. I love every piece!! :)). She is doing a giveaway every month they wait for their referral for their new son! Check out her site. I am really hoping I win!
PS. Sorry I've been MIA. Will return soon with pics of our newest addition, Levi Steven. :))
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Our Day in Court
By Charlie Beal
I always thought my first time sitting at the lawyers table in a courtroom would be much different. You see, I wasn’t exactly the model high-schooler. I wasn’t a terrible kid, but like many teenagers these days, I got caught up in the excitement (and stupidity) of underage drinking, partying, and basically doing a bunch of stuff I shouldn’t have. I’m sure I did a few illegal things back in the day, so I always thought my first time in court would be a terrible and humbling experience, filled with tears and remorse.
Although, I didn’t have it totally correct, my first time in a courtroom was, in fact, a terribly humbling experience. Today, surrounded by family (a handful of our many supportive prayer warriors), my wife, daughter, son and I sat and listened as a judge declared that Jeremiah is ours for all intensive purposes, “as if born to us.” The tears of remorse I thought I’d cry were replaced with joyful slowly moving ones as the judge spoke.
With Jeremiah sitting on my lap, happily playing with Lightning McQueen and Francesco Bernoulli, I listened to the judge use words like, “authority”, “judgment”, and “decree.” These words are common in a courtroom and while they might not bring to mind anything significant to others, they definitely caught my attention.
Those words spoken by the judge reminded me of our Heavenly Father. How we are adopted through the brutal death of Jesus…how we can live in hope and love…and how one day we will stand in front of God on our day of judgment.
You see, from the Mt. Everest of paperwork…to the incredible financial cost…to the excruciating waiting period, the entire adoption process was tough and at times seemed like there would be no end. But there was an end…a glorious end! Today was a day of celebration, but one thing stuck out to me…we didn’t have to die for Jeremiah to bring him into our family. All the work, time, and money spent on bringing Jeremiah home by far pales in comparison to what Jesus did to bring us into His family. Our Savior lived a perfect life, was brutally beaten, and paid the ultimate price, so we could be adopted into the family of Christ.
Today, we stood in front of the judge without fear, knowing we had done everything right to bring Jeremiah home and into our family. One day we’ll stand before God and Jesus will be right beside us knowing He did everything right to bring us home and into His family.
Life throws us all kinds of curveballs; full of discouragement, sin, and pain, but because of Jesus, there too will be a glorious end.
Humbled by His love, grace, sacrifice and forgiveness, I thank Jesus for today…for using Jeremiah to remind me of my own adoption and how I’m forever His.
I always thought my first time sitting at the lawyers table in a courtroom would be much different. You see, I wasn’t exactly the model high-schooler. I wasn’t a terrible kid, but like many teenagers these days, I got caught up in the excitement (and stupidity) of underage drinking, partying, and basically doing a bunch of stuff I shouldn’t have. I’m sure I did a few illegal things back in the day, so I always thought my first time in court would be a terrible and humbling experience, filled with tears and remorse.
Although, I didn’t have it totally correct, my first time in a courtroom was, in fact, a terribly humbling experience. Today, surrounded by family (a handful of our many supportive prayer warriors), my wife, daughter, son and I sat and listened as a judge declared that Jeremiah is ours for all intensive purposes, “as if born to us.” The tears of remorse I thought I’d cry were replaced with joyful slowly moving ones as the judge spoke.
With Jeremiah sitting on my lap, happily playing with Lightning McQueen and Francesco Bernoulli, I listened to the judge use words like, “authority”, “judgment”, and “decree.” These words are common in a courtroom and while they might not bring to mind anything significant to others, they definitely caught my attention.
Those words spoken by the judge reminded me of our Heavenly Father. How we are adopted through the brutal death of Jesus…how we can live in hope and love…and how one day we will stand in front of God on our day of judgment.
You see, from the Mt. Everest of paperwork…to the incredible financial cost…to the excruciating waiting period, the entire adoption process was tough and at times seemed like there would be no end. But there was an end…a glorious end! Today was a day of celebration, but one thing stuck out to me…we didn’t have to die for Jeremiah to bring him into our family. All the work, time, and money spent on bringing Jeremiah home by far pales in comparison to what Jesus did to bring us into His family. Our Savior lived a perfect life, was brutally beaten, and paid the ultimate price, so we could be adopted into the family of Christ.
Today, we stood in front of the judge without fear, knowing we had done everything right to bring Jeremiah home and into our family. One day we’ll stand before God and Jesus will be right beside us knowing He did everything right to bring us home and into His family.
Life throws us all kinds of curveballs; full of discouragement, sin, and pain, but because of Jesus, there too will be a glorious end.
Humbled by His love, grace, sacrifice and forgiveness, I thank Jesus for today…for using Jeremiah to remind me of my own adoption and how I’m forever His.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
We've been busy...
So we haven't been around lately because...
We've been busy. Everyone says that but really we have been!! :-)
A few updates
1. We are pregnant. Since we've been blog absent for so long I am now 32 weeks. We weren't expecting this to happen so soon but we are excited!
2. We found out the two boys that we were praying about and for have a family!!!! We couldn't pursue adopting them because we found out we were pregnant. It was bittersweet but we knew God had a plan. Obviously those sweet boys were meant to be with another family.
3. Jeremiah is talking NON STOP! It is so cute. We just love hearing him mimic and talk in sentences. Hearing car, car, car, truck, truck, truck...BIG TRUCK, BIG TRUCK, BIG TRUCK over and over in the car can get annoying though. ;-)
4. Emmy has lost two teeth now! She is swimming like a pro and is an amazing sister.
5. We are LOVING summer! We are soaking it up, going to the pool everyday!
6. We are still praying about God's plan for our fourth child. We believe God wants us to adopt again. Both Charlie and I feel passionately about this. We are praying for God's leading!
7. I am on the Board of Directors for our Agency in my state of Oregon. I am excited for this opportunity!
8. We just went to court for Jeremiah's adoption ceremony. It was such a special day!! Charlie wrote about it so I will post that next.
Well that is all the updates I can think of...Blessings!!
We've been busy. Everyone says that but really we have been!! :-)
A few updates
1. We are pregnant. Since we've been blog absent for so long I am now 32 weeks. We weren't expecting this to happen so soon but we are excited!
2. We found out the two boys that we were praying about and for have a family!!!! We couldn't pursue adopting them because we found out we were pregnant. It was bittersweet but we knew God had a plan. Obviously those sweet boys were meant to be with another family.
3. Jeremiah is talking NON STOP! It is so cute. We just love hearing him mimic and talk in sentences. Hearing car, car, car, truck, truck, truck...BIG TRUCK, BIG TRUCK, BIG TRUCK over and over in the car can get annoying though. ;-)
4. Emmy has lost two teeth now! She is swimming like a pro and is an amazing sister.
5. We are LOVING summer! We are soaking it up, going to the pool everyday!
6. We are still praying about God's plan for our fourth child. We believe God wants us to adopt again. Both Charlie and I feel passionately about this. We are praying for God's leading!
7. I am on the Board of Directors for our Agency in my state of Oregon. I am excited for this opportunity!
8. We just went to court for Jeremiah's adoption ceremony. It was such a special day!! Charlie wrote about it so I will post that next.
Well that is all the updates I can think of...Blessings!!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
He giveth more grace by Annie J. Flint
He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
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