Beyond Blessed

The Heart of a Servant

2012-02-04T21:34:00.000-06:00

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

A Servant of God doesn't ask "how long will this take?" "How much will this cost?" They just do it!

What do you call six men who take vacation days then cook 200 baby back ribs all day,on into the night and all the next day to raise money for your ministry? You call them friend. And you call yourself grateful. The guys in these pictures are so much more than friends. They are my brothers in Christ. Because of their servants heart, they raised a lot of money for Hug Away. They didn't have to do it. They did it because they wanted to. They desired to make a difference in the lives of children who have no voice in this world. And each one of them, at the end of two very long days still had smiles and and said they can't wait for next year!

Preparing the ribs for the grills!

6 Traegers produced 200 baby back ribs! (They even made biscuits on them!)

6:00 am the next morning after cooking all night.

Ribs, ribs and more ribs!

These men have wives who sacrifice time with their husbands so they can do this. These women are also my friends and they volunteer their time to help raise funds for our ministry. Every weekend in January and February we run concessions for our our churches sports ministry to raise money. I couldn't do it by myself. I am blessed with amazing friends who give up their weekend to give of their time, to help "the least of these."
Then there is my amazing family. Trust me, when God calls you to a ministry, your family pretty much has to be for it or against it. I couldn't have asked for a more supportive amazing family. They give up a lot to support this ministry and do so with lots of love.
Thank you Mike, Mikey, Dustin, Jordan, Cameron, Todd, Dayna, Mr. Ed, Mike, Natalie, Jason, Kim, Kevin, Kim, Quincy, Johanna, Chris, Tracy,Steve, Lori, Sandra, Tiertia, Don, Pam, Fred, Marilyn, Shelia and Adrienne. May God bless you for your faithfulness.

"A friend is someone who reaches out for your hand...and touches your heart."

For the Love of Ethiopia

2012-01-26T22:16:00.002-06:00

There are two questions I have often asked myself. Why me? Why Ethiopia? The answer God always gives me (like He is going to change the answer!) is why not you? I know He has called all Christians to go into the world and spread the gospel and help the "least of these." Before my first visit to Ethiopia I had wondered "why there?" I received my answer my first day I was there. It was love at first sight! I feel in love with the people, the country and the culture. God knew I would.

When I first arrived it was to meet the children at the school our foundation had partnered with. I was to meet the children who had sponsors and the children who needed sponsors. But once I saw the poverty, the lack of basic needs like water and food I knew there was going to be more to this story. I knew the need was great and there was no way me or you could make that big of a difference but the God we serve could!

He has called all Christians who have much to give much. He doesn't ask us, He commands us. And it doesn't mean we all go to Ethiopia or even overseas. It means we go where ever He calls us to go. Maybe in your neighborhood. The poor, the hungry and the broken are everywhere. We are to give them our money, time, hugs and most important our love. So wherever God calls you go and glorify Him in all you do!

The children at the school receive a snack of bread and water.

God wants us to make a difference in their lives

God sends us to help the poor

To preach the gospel

They are so hungry for Gods word.

Ethiopians who are Christians love God with such a passion! The boldly speak of their love for Him, they hunger for His word. They write down as much as they can. A lady in front of me looked around frantic because her pen quit working. They don't have extra. I handed her a pen and you would have thought I had handed her a million dollars! I wish all Christians (including myself) were that passionate. We could learn from these beautiful people.

5 years ago today

2012-01-10T10:20:00.000-06:00

5 years ago today in Vietnam I was at a orphanage waiting to meet our new daughter. She was a pre-school and they had send someone to go get her. I was standing outside the second story of the orphanage when I heard a motorcycle pull up. On the front is a tiny little girl. The driver sets her down but she falls. She gets right back up and proceeds to walk up two flights of cement stairs with no railing and this precious 2 1/2 year old walked right up to me, smiled and said momma. Life has never been the same!

My friend Casey went to Vietnam to bring her daughter Olivia (and Kennedy's best friend) home November 2006 and she made sure to check on Kennedy for me and give her a hug from me

Finally this precious little one became ours forever!

Kennedy is such a blessing! She is a girly girl who loves Hello Kitty and dressing up. She is funny, kind and smart. She loves soccer and basketball (and doesn't like to lose!) but she is a good sport :)

We are blessed that God chose this little one to be ours. Happy Gotcha Day baby girl! We love you infinity and beyond!

It's Never to Late for New Beginnings!

2012-01-07T04:28:00.000-06:00

It is almost 4 am Saturday morning and I can't sleep. The house is so quiet. I do love these moments when it seems like the rest of the world is asleep and it is just me and God, up enjoying the still, calm night.
So I was sitting here thinking, yes it's true I do that once in a while! In a few days I will celebrate the 27th anniversary of my 30th birthday! That just doesn't seem possible. I am not one who wishes to be 20 or 30 years old again. I am thankful for every birthday I celebrate.
I was sitting here thinking that age is just a number and your never to old for new beginnings. I was 22 when I gave birth to my first son, 30 when I gave birth to my second son, 34 when I gave birth to my third son. I was so blessed to be a mom to my three sons! Then when I was 40 we adopted our first daughter, 45 when we adopted our second daughter and the day before my 53rd birthday we adopted our third daughter. Mom to three awesome sons and three amazing daughters! We have also been blessed with five wonderful grandest kids!
When I was younger if anyone would have told me that I would have been a mom to six kids, ages 7-34 I would have thought they had lost their minds! I was going to be a lawyer or a photographer. I love to debate
( some would say argue a point, but debate seems so much nicer!) and take pictures. Seemed logical, right?

I am so happy God doesn't always do things my way! His plans, His ways are so much better than ours.

I love this picture of 3 my grandestkids and Aunt Kennedy

My crew! I love them!

Missing three grandest kids

In 2008 Mike and I started the Hug Away Foundation. Never would I have imagined God would send us to Ethiopia to serve love on His beautiful children there.

Jordan and I with our Ethiopian family.

I don't share anything in my life to brag. I share because I want you to see firsthand what a awesome God we serve! And when we keep our hearts and minds open to His will what a wonderful life we will have!
I know someone is reading this thinking "she is just lucky." No I am not. I am blessed! I grew up in turmoil and I have plenty of bad, sad, angry, mad times in my life. Plenty! But I CHOOSE not to dwell on the past and I see those times in my life as opportunity to trust God, practice my faith and persevere. I haven't always liked His answers to my prayer...at that moment, but in the end I see His will and honor his answers.
It is a heart condition. I can honestly say I hold no grudge against anyone and have forgiven anyone who has ever hurt me and that is a wonderful feeling and allows me to move on to what God has planned for the next chapter of my life. Trust me folks, when you hang on to hate and anger and blame everyone for your problems, it will suck the life out of you not those who hurt you. So forgive and move on.

I better try and go get some sleep. Got a busy day ahead of me tomorrow! I pray today will be your day of new beginnings!

New Year and New Beginnings

2012-01-04T19:23:00.003-06:00

I love new beginnings. And what better way to start than the New Year. I really don't make resolutions or promises. I like to make goals. Goals are something you "hope" to achieve. I have the normal goals like lose ten more pounds, eat healthier, exercise more, getting organized. But this year I have goals that I hope will make a difference to others.
I don't know if it's because I am getting older but I have this urgency to do more for others. Not just in Ethiopia but anywhere I go. One of my hero's Mother Teresa said "Do small things with great love." That is all it takes. A smile, a kind word, a hug. Sounds simple but it works. It is always the small acts of kindness others will remember. Think about it. Your kids write you a note telling you they love you or thank you. Your husband gives you a compliment, your boss tells you they appreciate you. Come on, you know when this happens it gives you a little gitty in you up!
So why not starting today we pay it forward with word or acts of kindness. There is to much negative in the world. Let's put some positive back in it!

Agood character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped byyou will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name onhearts, not on marble.
~Charles H. Spurgeon

Christmas Time

2011-12-27T22:20:00.001-06:00

Christmas time. It means different things to different people. For us it means:

Happy smiles on Christmas morning

Lots of food!

Celebrating our son Cody's birthday

Fathers and daughters

Friends and family

A first Christmas!

43 people in a small area and having fun!

Cousins, brothers and sisters

New cousins

Extra kisses

Grandpas undivided attention

The new coat you wanted
This Christmas was wonderful! Almost everyone that I love was in our home. But we know the reason we celebrate this day is because of the birth of Jesus Christ. He was born so we could live. Without Him we would not have life. We would not know the love of family and friends, good food, a child's first Christmas. We have because He gave.

I've got nothing!

2011-12-21T22:05:00.000-06:00

The last couple of weeks I have had nothing to say on my blog, twitter or my facebook page. I find this very strange. I can't even think something up! I had come up with all these excuses. It's Christmas time and I have a lot to do. Working on Hug Away. Working at work! Talking care of my family. I realized that couldn't be the reason because except fo the holiday that is my life.

Maybe I am suffering burnout. I don't know. What I do know is I don't like it. During the day I can think of a lot of things I would like to share but when I get home and sit in front of my computer, nothing. I don't get it. Maybe God is wanting me to slow down and spend more time with Him. Something else I haven't been very good at lately. Hmm..I think I just figured out my problem!

May we all remember the reason we celebrate this season, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Urgent Prayer Request

2011-12-12T08:12:00.000-06:00

An aquaintance, single mom, is adopting her 3rd daughter from China. She is short $5, 000 for the final adoption cost. The little girl is 3 years old and has a heart defect and needs surgery soon! If you can donate any amount at hugaway.org ,go to the donations & every penny will go to her adoption. This little one can't wait much longer for surgery. Let's help bring her home! We only have 3 days. Thank you in advance! I will keep you posted.

Baby J

2011-12-06T22:40:00.010-06:00

The newest addition to the Bayer family! Baby J. He arrived in June. He loves his cute little pudgy toes. He can almost stick those precious tootsies in his mouth!

He loves to look around. He is a very curious little guy.

He loves playing with grandma!

He loves to make loud noises at the top of his lungs!

Remember I said he was curious? He will role all the way across the living room to get to the door so he can look out.

I am thankful for this precious little one. He is a blessing! I wanted to show him off :)

You Keep on Going

2011-11-28T19:51:00.025-06:00

Today I had a lot of work to do with Hug Away. I couldn't wait to get to the office and get
started! Our office is small. It would fit in our bedroom. Actually, 2 of them could easily fit in our bedroom! It also has no windows. One could call it a large closet :) The point is it is our office, it's not fancy but it meets our need.
So I sat there attempting to knock the list out. When you are the President and the only employee it can be a bit overwhelming at times. After a few hours I looked at the piles and felt like I really hadn't accomplished much at all. I felt defeated. It didn't help that on Wednesday I have to give our notice that we will not be renewing our office lease. We just don't have the money for it. I wanted to cry. Not about the office, but the fact we have over 70 kids who still need sponsors, families who need food, a school that needs so much work, sponsors unable to pay. Yeah, I was feeling a little stressed and like a failure.
I put my head in my hands and said "Lord, what do am I suppose to do?" After a few minutes I looked up and saw this precious work of art hanging on the wall. On the first day I was at the school in 2010 I saw this button picture of Africa and fell in love with it. A young teacher at the school had made it. He was so pleased that I liked it.
As I sat there in my office looking at that beautiful picture and I felt God say " You keep going, that is what you do."

I smiled to myself and remembered my last day at the school when the children presented me with this beautiful button picture of Africa. It was priceless. The love, the hugs, the gratitude, the words "We love you mama Laney" all these memories came back to me and reminded me

that this is why not just myself, but my family, prayer warriors, sponsors, donors and volunteers have to keep on going. For them. We are servants and God will never give us more than we can handle

Below are pictures of my Ethiopian babies that I sponsor. The little one to my left is my friends baby. Oh yeah and my Korean baby! She loves this country and the children as much as I do. See the little boy? Last year when Adanech brought him to me he ws so dirty and his clothes were torn. He lived alone because his mom had died and his dad left him alone often. I had bought him new clothes while I was there and he was so happy. When I got home I had wrote him a letter telling him how important it was for him to go to school and get his education and do his very best. A few months ago before I went back to Ethiopia I received a letter from him telling me he was doing what I asked and was studying hard. What God has called us to do is working!

So when your feeling a little overwhelmed, stressed and like a big failure, take a moment and have a conversation with God. You may be surprised at what He will use to remind you why you must keep on going!

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Thankful

2011-11-24T22:46:00.004-06:00

We should thank God every day for something. Family, friends, food, health, our homes, our freedom, the fact that we woke up today.
I began doing this a long time ago and it keeps me grounded. If I want to go into a pity party I think of something, anything that I can give thanks to God and it makes the need for that pity party to go away.
Today I am grateful that I had all my kids together. I know as the years pass this will not always be the case. So for today, for this moment in time I will embrace this gift of family. And for that I am truly thankful.

"As we pause to thank Him for the blessings of the past year, we must not forget to thank Him for the lessons we have learned through our difficult times. We are not to be thankful for just the pleasant, easy things, but ALL things." Millie Stamm

Adoption Haters

2011-11-22T21:04:00.005-06:00

I know that every person has a right to their opinion. I get that. Of course I don't agree with a lot of opinions and a lot of people don't agree with mine. That's fine. BUT today I read something that totally broke my heart and I just don't understand. Here are a few things I read.
"Women adopt so they won't ruin their bodies with a pregnency."
"Adoption is nothing more than buying babies."
"Why fundraise to take a child from their mother."
"Birthmothers are manipulated into giving away their child."
"Adoption hurts babies."
"Adoption is unethical"
There was so much more. So I found several of these statements on a "anti adoption blog" It thrills me to note that this blog written by a atheist seems to have began in 2006 and there have been no post since 2009. Friends, when you spew hate the majority of people are going to turn away.
So in reading this I gather this person thinks it's better to leave a child alone in the world. Never to know the feeling of family or to have someone tell them they are loved or to feel safe. Does this person think it would be better to leave a helpless child who for whatever reason is a orphan, vulvnerable, or a victim of sex trafficking, abuse, starvatiion and death. All these things are better than being part of a family who will love that child more than life itself. Really?
I would love to tell this person, yes it would be great if there were no orphans in the world. That all children could stay with their birth family. It would be great if the major reasons children are orphaned unplanned pregnancies, war, disease, drugs & abuse didn't exist. But reality bites. All these things and more exist and children are left alone. If someone in the world wants to love them, care for them and protect them then why not.
Is every adoption perfect? no. But neither is every birth. Do adopted children have issues? Some do but so do biological kids. It doesn't matter if your children are biological or adopted. That is a part of life. It's how you deal with it that matters. I
I am a mom to six wonderful kids. I tell people I have six kids three are adopted but I forget which three. How they arrived in our family doesn't matter, what matters is they arrived! I love each of them the same and I thank God for these six blessings.
The point is if there were no people in the world called to adopt then who would love these precious children? No one. Most would be on the streets or doing drugs or become prostitutes because they would grow up not knowing love, compassion and feeling safe and that they mattered. And here is the biggie. Adoption is biblical.

They Don't Ask for Much

2011-11-17T21:37:00.009-06:00

This past weekend I attended Women of Faith in Oklahoma City. As always I come away so inspired! WOF has always sponsored World Vision. This year they shared more about kids needing sponsors than usual. I love WV. I have sponsored two children with them for over five years along with three that I sponsor through our foundation Hug Away. After they would share stories or a video women would swarm the tables looking through all the pictures to pick out a child to sponsor. I was happy not only for the children but also the sponsors. It's a blessing to be a blessing!
Kalkidan excited about our matching rings!

My babies! Kalkidan, I'm holding Eyerus, Kalkidan sister (she is sponsored by a friend, Berhru & their sister Jordan!

One of my hopes this year was to find a sponsor for all of our children still waiting around 85 at last count and sponsors for families about 30 still waiting. It doesn't look like it will happen and that breaks my heart.

People ask me how can I sponsor five kids. Easy. Since traveling to Ethiopia and seeing the faces if kids and families waiting to go to school and waiting to eat, I know a lot of things I can spend $20 or $30 easily. Just more stuff. I'd rather my money went to a child or family so they can eat or go to school. These kids and their families are so grateful. They take nothing for granted. They don't wake up worrying about tomorrow, their goal is to make it through this day.

They don't ask for much. They just want to know someone cares.

I know times are tough. Trust me I get it. About six years ago I was sitting in our livingroom with my daughters Jordan and Cameron watching a World Vision special. They were showing picutres of kids that needed sponsors. Of course my girls were "oh mom, we should sponsor one of those kids." Jordan was 10 and Cameron was 6. I said "Yes we should." Cameron said "then call momma!" I told her I would later. She handed me the phone and said "If you don't do it now momma, you won't do it." From the mouth of a child.

So maybe you have thought about sponsoring a child or family. Maybe you have had it in your heart to make a difference and your not sure how. All of us are not called to travel to other countries, many are called to stay and help others go or give money to help somebody, somewhere. If you have thought about helping a child please go to our site http://www.hugaway.org/ Look at the pictures and choose a child to sponsor. You will be blessed!

Marriage, Love & Looking Ahead

2011-11-03T11:08:00.009-05:00

What Lies Behind Us and What Lies Before Us are Tiny Matters Compared to What Lies Within Us. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes God will use the most unlikely places or situations to teach you something about yourself. This is what happened to me in Ethiopia. I hadn't planned on sharing this but God laid it on my heart so here goes.

So I'm in Ethiopia focused on what God has sent me to do. After about four days I am thinking about my husband. Of course I missed him and the kids but this was a gnawing feeling and it wouldn't go away. Each day the "missing" him grows stronger. I am not understanding this. I have gone away before for much longer and have never had this happen.

Love doesn't commit suicide. We have to kill it. Though, it often simply dies of your neglect. Diane Sollee
One night as I lay in bed God speaks to my heart "Elaine it's not missing him that you are feeling it is what you have missed." Huh? I pray to understand. We still have a couple of days left in Ethiopia and I am still focused on our mission but underneath the focus I feel this sense of loss. Again I pray and tell God " I don't understand. Is something bad going to happen?" Now I can't wait to get home and see my husband.

The night before we are to leave I get it! God shows me what He wants me to know. That for the past few years Mike and I have taken the focus off of one another and made kids, church, the foundation and jobs a priority. Not good.

When Mike and I married we made a vow to one another that we would always work on our relationship. Yes, marriage takes a lot of work. We both had relationships before and had been burned but we chose not to focus on those relationships but to focus on us and make it work. We had a lot going against us. A lot. Most people thought we wouldn't last a year. I'm not going to lie, the first three years were tough. Extremely tough. I had a lot of trust issues and to be honest thought this guy was to good to be true!

A good marriage is the union of two good forgivers. Ruth Graham

We began going to church and our lives changed for the better. Oh, there were still arguments but they were fair arguments. Sometimes very loud, passionate arguments but fair.

Many marriages would be better if the husband and the wife clearly understood that they are on the same side. Zig Ziglar

Then we got busy with life, kids, church and jobs. Our relationship would be tested over and over and at times in the eyes of the worlds we were prime divorce material. Sadly, we ignored the problems because we were to busy to take the time and work on them. Not any more!
I couldn't wait to get home,and tell Mike!

The day after I returned home I asked Mike if he wanted to go and get some coffee. As I sat and told him what God had laid on my heart he just looked at me. I mean he never took his eyes off me. I thought I had something on my face! I made my case passionate, short, sweet and to the point. When I was finished he smiled and said "You know what babe? God has been saying the same thing to me." I sat there thanking God. He was working on both of our hearts at the same time and we listened. Miracles do happen!

For wherever you go, I will go: And wherever you stay, I will stay, Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. Ruth 1:15

If you have never read the 5 Love Languages you need to. My husband is not romantic or very good with words. Mikes love language is acts of service. When he fixes something , makes dinner, buys groceries or builds something for me that is his way of showing his love for me. Once I understood that every guy is not Mr. romance it made me appreciate what he does even more. My love language is words of affirmation. This works out for the both of us. He does nice things and I let him know how much I appreciate it!

I know I have one of the good guys and I know anymore they are a rare find. I am so grateful that God brought us together.

I tell my kids "you must love the person more than you dislike their faults." No one is perfect and if you are looking for perfect you will be very disappointed. Only the Father above is perfect.

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I nver have to live without you. Winnie the Pooh

$30 dollars a month does make a difference!

2011-11-01T21:42:00.003-05:00

To anyone who thinks that $30 a month doesn't make a difference I will tell them they are wrong. I have had a gentleman tell me that to make a difference we need to provide ways for people to make a living so they can provide for themselves and their families and that $30 a month is a temporary fix.
I understand what he is saying and I agree. It is wonderful when we can train people in a vocation so they can provide for their families but wouldn't it be easier if they could read or write?
When we reach a child who is living in poverty, who is unable to go to school and has no food and find them a sponsor who says"I want to change a child's life" I say amen and sign them up! That sponsorship will provide a child a uniform, school supplies, food and minor medical needs met until they are 18.
They will go to school and learn to read and write. The will learn about math and so much more. Take that child when they graduate from high school and for all we know they will come up with ways for their families to work! They will be the ones to invest in their community. And all because someone was willing to part with $30 a month. It is a investment into a child's life so they can grow up and make a difference in the lives of their community or maybe the world.
$30 a month does make a difference.

Looking at faces filled with hope!

Tgist

2011-10-31T20:54:00.006-05:00

There are times that come along in your life that you know without a doubt that they are God assignments. You know, you plan one thing and something totally different happens.
We planned on meeting someone else but God wanted us to meet Tgist.

Our team was taken to a village to meet Tgist. She is 23 years old and has been on her own since she was 15. She has been a believer for about 4 years. As we set in her mud home she made coffee and told us her story through a translator. Her mother died when she was 15. She lived in the city Addis, very dangerous for a young girl. She moved to the village where she lives now. As she told her story, looking down at the coffee she was making for us, one by one a tear would fall. When the coffee was ready she stood up and told the translator she wanted to say a prayer. This really touched my heart. Here in America it seems so hard to get anyone to pray out loud or share the gospel. In Ethiopia they are excited to pray or share about Jesus.

She said the prayer in Amharic but you knew what she was saying. It was beautiful. We asked what would it cost to set Tgist up in a business so she could provide for herself. $12o, that's all and her life would change.

I sat there and asked God if I should help her. God laid on my heart that "since she has became a believer she has been faithful. Today she will be rewarded for her faithfulness." That was all I needed. I wrote the check but understand that God provided, not me. The money goes to to the Evangelist who will help her set up her business of selling coffee, sugar and incense.

I ask that you pray for Tgist. Pray her business is a success and that she will share her testimony with others.

Romans 8:28

2011-10-27T18:33:00.006-05:00

The pictures are to show you what we would have missed if we had not relied on prayer, faith and Gods' word.
In the next few weeks I will share stories that only God can write.

One of my sponsor children. She is so precious.

Jordan's new friend

My amazing team! Beth, Jordan, Gloria and Hannah.

From the day we planned our mission trip to Ethiopia Satan began his attack. First attack. One of our ladies who was the first to sign up and has such a heart for these children was unable to go. Second attack was when we were told a large sum of money we were expecting to help fund this trip was probably not going to be available. Third attack we had worked every Saturday for 2 months to raise money for this trip. The day before we left I found out we were each getting 1/2 of what we thought we would get. Fourth attack. About an hour before we were to board our plane out of Tulsa the flight was canceled. We went to the ticket counter to reschedule and were told there was nothing available. We couldn't get out until the next morning and we wouldn't arrive in Ethiopia until Saturday night. Our first big day was that Saturday. I am sure at this point Satan thought he had won this battle. We asked for hotel vouchers because we didn't want to say goodbye to our families again. That night as I prayed Romans 8:28 came to my heart.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

This would now be our scripture for this journey. I don't take an answer like "no way" "not going to happen" or "not possible" very well when God has called us to serve. When I found out that we might not receive that large sum of money we were expecting I sent out prayer request to everyone I knew. Less than 24 hours later I received a phone call telling me the money was there.

When I received an email that we were getting half of what we had expected from our fundraiser I text a friend just to tell him I didn't see how this was possible. A few minutes later he text me back and said a check was being written at that moment to make up the difference.

The night our first flight was canceled and we were told more than once "no way" I stood in front of the ticket counter praying, my team stood behind me praying as a nice man worked extremely hard to reroute us. Basically he had five women looking at him...nicely and encouraging him that he could do this. Over an hour later he told us we would get out the next morning and be rerouted through Germany. We would lose our first day in Ethiopia but at least we would get there. When we arrive in Germany they have no information on us at all. Standing firm and 2 hours later we were boarding a flight to Ethiopia.

The day before we left Ethiopia I went to confirm our flights home. Yup, you guessed it, Nada. Nothing at all. When they rerouted our flights from Tulsa, they canceled our tickets coming home. It took our friend John in Ethiopia, our travel agent and a team at Ethiopian air, but they got our tickets home.

Faith...It isn't always easy to have, but personally I have it with me at all times!

We knew God had called us on this mission trip and the only thing that would stop us would be our lack of faith. Faith, prayer and a scripture were our weapons against Satan's attack on us.

When you are called to go on a mission trip one thing you need to get in your head is the fact that it's not about you! You will be tested and attacked. You will be uncomfortable at times, tired and your plans can fall flat in a minute. When you are on a mission trip you are there to serve. It's that simple. You may start out to do one thing and God calls you to another. If you give God control you are going to be so blessed and it makes things a whole lot easier. His plans are always so much better than ours!

LOVE

2011-10-06T20:48:00.013-05:00

This was the last thing I saw when I said good bye to the kids last year in Ethiopia. I remember I truly thought my heart was going to break. If I didn't have a family at home I would have stayed! What is in us that makes our hearts fall in love with a group of children after spending just a few days with them? What is in us that makes our hearts break when we have to say goodbye? What is in us that makes us face our fears, step out of our box, leave the comforts of home, leave our family, work tirelessly raising money for these little ones? What makes us do such a thing?
God that's who. He gives us mercy, compassion, faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love.

Love gives us power. The power to do whatever God has called us to do. To go out in to the world and make difference. To give of ourselves.

See the picture with the woman and little boy? Often while in Ethiopia we would eat out. We made sure to have enough to "take away." When we were out we would see so many begging for food or money. We were out of our van when this young woman approached us. She had her little boy on her back. I went back to the van to get the food (and a few$) and gave it to them. She hugged me and kissed my cheek. Then I hear this little voice "madam, madam" and the little boy reaches over his mothers shoulder, says thank you and kisses my cheek. The love and gratefulness I felt from them was powerful! Such as small thing we did, but for a moment it made a huge difference to them.

At the school we partner with, food is a very big deal! For most of the children this is the only meal they will receive for the day. It may be the same thing day after day but they are grateful for every little morsel.

They sit in crowded classrooms. But they don't care. They are there to learn and yes receive a meal. They take nothing for granted. Nothing.

They are so happy! And they love us and will tell you so! They have so little but give so much. They are grateful, loving, sweet and good. All they ask for is to have their basic needs met. Food, shelter, and water. When we give them these things they also receive hope, hugs and lots of love!

And this is why we can travel half way around the world to try and make a difference in their lives. Love. Besides that God commands us to go to them!

One more week and myself along with my oldest daughter and a team of amazing women are going to go to Ethiopia. Our plan? To do whatever God calls us to do. One thing for sure we will be giving lots of hugs and loves to those precious kids!

The Hug Away team will be heading to Ethiopia in one week.

FAITH

2011-09-24T18:50:00.006-05:00

Faith. A word I love. Most Christian are aware that having faith is not always easy. I would dare say that for the most part it's not easy. Faith is believing in something we can not see. My 7 year old daughter Kennedy said it best, "I don't know what faith is but I know I have it."
In about 3 weeks our team will be traveling to Ethiopia. Satan has attacked this trip since the get go. What began as seven team members is now down to five. Our route to Ethiopia is going to be brutal. What we planned on doing while we are there has changed. Our fundraisers have not gone well and $3,000 we were expecting, well that's not looking good.
For most of us who have been called to "go and help the orphan, feed the hungry, preach the gospel" the finances are not there. We have faith and do our part. As for my team, we are working concessions every Saturday for 2 months. Today is the 4th week we have worked and will be the first time we will see a small profit. We have 2 more games before we leave. We have sold t-shirts, we have prayed. We will leave behind our families, our work which we will not be paid while we are gone, plan to do one thing but knowing if those plans change we will walk through the doors that God opens. We will remember that we are there for them, not for us.
So it is safe to say the only thing we do have that is for sure is our faith and when your a Christian you know that is all that matters. God has called five of us to Ethiopia. This is a honor, not a burden. We will do our part and in His most perfect timing He will do his.
Satan would love for us to crumble and quit. Sorry Satan, not going to happen!
I love this quote and I live by it.
"Be the kind of woman that when her feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, Oh crap she's awake."

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Today my heart broke...again

2011-09-14T22:06:00.013-05:00

Today I went to visit the Vietnam Traveling Wall.It is something I have wanted to see for a long time. When I was little girl my family lived just down the road from Fort Sam Houston Army Base in San Antonio, Texas. My dad had stayed in the hospital on base when he had heart problems. After he was released he began inviting some of the men who were serving in the Army to our home. They would visit on holidays, dinner or just to hang out. They were so young.
There were three young Green Berets that we became very close to. They were like our big brothers. We would visit them on base or go watch them practice jumping out of planes. In my eyes they were bigger than life. I was particularly close to Gary. I even took him to show and tell!

One day they came to our home and I remember they looked sad. They were leaving to go and fight in the war in Vietnam. We never saw them again. We did get a couple of letters but I have no idea what happened to them. Did they make it back? Did they die? I will never know. As I walked up to the wall and saw the thousands of names my heart broke. Is one or all of their names carved on this wall? So many names. So many lives lost.

What was pretty amazing is that when I pulled up to where the wall was I saw all of these people walking out of the school. It was a naturalization ceremony. These people, young and old were walking out with their flags, citizenship papers and these big smiles. It was a sight to behold! Trust me, our newest citizens have to know more about our country than we will ever know! They do not take our freedom for granted. As I walked past all the smiling faces and I came to the wall, I didn't expect to feel so many emotions. It was reminder of all the lives that have been lost in the name of freedom.

America is known as the land of the free and the home of the brave. Today I had the privilege of seeing people who came to America to be free and the names of men who had died for that right.

Greater love has no one than this, that he who lays down his life for his friends. John 25:13

Prayers needed for these sweethearts!

2011-09-13T20:24:00.003-05:00

Please pray for thier daughter Teresa. She needs a miracle
www.ourplacecalledhome.blogspot.com

Please pray for Michael. He also needs a miracle.
www.stinkytofu&otherthings.blogspot.com

Have you ever thought about adopting?

2011-09-11T20:11:00.002-05:00

Well if you have I've got some news for you! I have a blog www.Istillwait.blogspot.com with information about several waiting children.
I also just received information on a young man 13 years old who needs to be adopted before he ages out July 1st 2012. It is stated he is from the Asia continent. He loves to play soccer, is an extrovert, healthy and wants to be adopted!
There is financial aid up to $14,475. Single women may apply. For more information please email me at: hugaway@cox.net
Please let others know about this young man and the children posted on my
"I still wait" blog. Maybe together we will find all of them a home!

5 Grandestbabies!

2011-09-04T15:33:00.004-05:00

This is a picture of me and my five grandestbabies! I have had the same question asked several times since I posted this picture on face book. So I thought I would answer it here just in case anyone else wanted to ask me this question.
Those that know my family should know that 2 of my 3 sons each have a child. Now it has always been a unspoken rule in our home that we never use the words step or half. Adopted yes. So along the way of life's amazing journey God has blessed us with five grandestbabies!
With that being said 3 out of 5 of these precious ones have blessed our lives by allowing us to be their grandparents through adoption! I have often said "we have six kids 3 are adopted but I forget which ones." The same applies with our grandestbabies. Their ours plain and simple. It doesn't matter how they came to us, all of them are part of our family. And that's what matters!

The Mom

2011-09-01T21:57:00.005-05:00

Tonight I went to my youngest daughters meet the teacher night. Again I sat there in a second grade classroom, in a tiny chair looking down once again at the little drawing my daughter made me because she knew without a doubt I would be there. The surroundings are all to familiar. I added it up, I have attended 27 meet the teacher nights ( this was the 3rd time for this particular teacher) at this elementary school! On the bright side only three more to go.

As I looked at all the young moms sitting there hanging on to the teachers every word and asking lots of questions I was thinking to myself that I would have never in a million years imagined that I would still be sitting here at this stage in my life. That wasn't my plan. But God had a different plan and I am so glad He did. The older I get the better my life becomes.

I may never be the youngest mom, the skinniest mom or the coolest mom in Kennedy's class, but I will always and forever be her mom...and Cameron's mom, Jordan's mom, Dustin's mom, Cody's mom and Michael's mom and that makes me a blessed mom!

A Speck

2011-08-17T21:29:00.010-05:00

I was watching TV the other night and they showed a picture of earth from space. It made me think of all the people who live here. Billions of us

We are all different yet we are the same. We laugh, cry, get mad, we love, we hurt, our hearts break. We have dreams, hope and desires. I would be so bold as to say we all have regrets. We've taken to many trips around the same mountain and are ready for a change. We are trying to survive in a world where many have become arrogant, self gratifying, selfish and rude. It is overwhelming at times. Yes when you look down at earth from space we are nothing but a speck.
That's is space's view.

From Gods view we are so much more! We are His children. He loves us more than we can imagine. He gave us life here on earth and His desire is for us to live with Him forever in heaven! How do we get there? We just have to believe in Him and ask Him into our heart. No burnt offerings, no idols to worship, no cults. Just believe He died on the cross for our sins.

What I find so amazing is the fact He is a gentleman. He doesn't force you to believe in Him. And even though He created this earth and everything and everyone on it He will leave you alone if you ask Him to and if you ask Him back into your life He will forgive and forget and love you as if you had never left Him! What more can anyone ask for?

I don't know about you but if I am going to live on this earth I want to be more than a speck! Come on, invite Him in! He's been waiting for you!

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Muffin Top

2011-08-14T22:15:00.004-05:00

No, I am not talking about the muffin you eat. It's the mysterious little roll or big roll that

appears around your waist. Apparently it doesn't matter what size you are the roll appears on most women.

When did this enigma begin? Looking back it seems the muffin top became an issue when the jeans began fitting below the waist! Ironically I didn't have a muffin top until a couple of years ago after I lost 30 pounds. I was finally able to wear those cute jeans that fit below the waist. I was so excited...until I saw this roll. What the heck??? It seems the jeans push all of our extra skin up and out...yes that is what we will cal it extra skin! Small, large, fat or skinny, short or tall the muffin top has no boundaries. And oddly enough it seems most women don't seem to care that they have this roll and their stomach falling out over their the top of their jeans and their tight shirts can't hold them in.

And one more fashion Faux paux...the butt crack. It now seem to be OK for women to show their butt cracks. This to we will blame on the low jeans. Yet again most women don't seem to care. You know they have to know it is showing! Surely they feel a draft. Yes it's true the show of the butt crack no longer belongs to just the plumber.

Remember the pants that use to fit around your waist? Sometimes I wish they would come back in style but then I remember they just made you rear look big! As long as padded shoulders don't come back in style I guess I will live with the muffin top!

Unworthy

2011-08-10T22:44:00.003-05:00

That is how I feel right now. Extremely unworthy to do what God has called me to do. Tonight as I was going through the list of children we have who need sponsors I realized 51 have sponsors and 103 still wait. Almost 2 years since this program began and we still have 103 kids waiting for someone to spend a measly $30 a month to change their lives.

Don't get me wrong I am honored to have been chosen to do this. But having 103 kids waiting and some of them getting read to age out is unacceptable.

I'm also mad! People think nothing of buying $30 worth of beer, pop, coffee, cigarettes, or get a pedicure or manicure...I could go on and on but if I approach them about sponsorship I get this "I really can't afford it right now. Things are tight.'' Really?

See the young man pictured above? He has nothing. I mean no food, no bed...nothing. He is 13 and he has waited over a year for someone to step up and say "You matter and I am going to help you."

I have 102 more waiting. All ages, boys and girls. Some who need surgery. Some who are starving. Try and go to bed with that on your mind and heart every night and see how you sleep.

It would take $37,080 a year to sponsor the remainder of these kids and if I had it I would, plus the $36,960 it would cost to feed them and their families ($3o or $2o a month looks much better!)

I often say "God if you give me the money I'll do it." But I know that's not how it works. We are all suppose to help.

Those who do sponsor understand this and I love them! Don't get me wrong, I totally understand we all have our passions, our gifts, the things we want to fight for. But what are we willing to give up to make these things possible?

Do I feel unworthy? Yes. But for whatever reason God believes I along with the help of some amazing friends can do this.

I am human, I am tired, I am overwhelmed, I am aggravated. But this I know:

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Standing at a Crossroads

2011-08-02T22:42:00.005-05:00

I am standing at a fork in the road. A crossroads if you will. I am a wife, a mom, a grandma, a sister a friend. But more than anything I am a child of the one true God. And He is calling me and I desire to obey Him.

When Mike and I founded the Hug Away Foundation our desire was to help families with adoption and go to the orphans of the world and love on them, feed them, give them hope and tell the about Jesus, always glorifying God in all we do. We began in 2008.

In the beginning we were able to offer some grants to a few families but after a year donations dropped and it seemed Hug Away would be no more. I was depressed and felt like a failure. One night I remember praying and I said "God you opened this door and only you can close it." A few days later a friend called me and said she had a good friend from Ethiopia she thought I should meet. When I met him and heard his story I knew that God was telling me "this door is staying open."

Since that day God called us to begin a child sponsor program in Ethiopia and Project Hunger no More. The list of children and families in need continues to grow. And this is why I am standing at a crossroads.

Besides taking care of my family, I work part time and run Hug Away. I know, that I know that I know God is getting ready to do more amazing things through Hug Away and I need to commit more time to the foundation. We use any donations we have for rent of a small office and expenses. Everything else goes to sponsorships, Project Hunger no More and grants if there is anything left over.

Leaving my job, even if it is part time is a unsettling thought. I don't make a whole lot but what I do make helps with the bills. I have tried to think of ways to make money at home but I would be right back to square one. The fact is running Hug Away is becoming a full time job, one that I am passionate about and I love.

I was thinking about me trying to come up with ways to make all of this work when I thought "hmm...why don't' I give this one to God." So I did! And as I wait at this crossroads I know that some amazing things are going to happen! All I need is the faith of a mustard seed and that I have.

Ethiopia Mission Trip Fundraiser

2011-07-24T23:02:00.007-05:00

Our t-shirst are in! We will have them from now until October 8th to raise money for our upcoming mission trip to Ethiopia. They are already pre-shrunk (I washed one to make sure.)We have chilren sizes youth small, medium & large for $10

adults small, medium, large and x-large are $15

xxl and above are $17.

If you would like to purchase one or two or more :) please email me at: hugaway@cox.net

We hope you will tell your friends and family about our fundraiser. We have faith that we will raise the money we need. Thank you in advance!

Inquiring Minds

2011-07-18T22:03:00.035-05:00

My daughters and I were at the mall the other day when out of the blue my youngest daughter Kennedy asked me why some people are birthed and some are adopted. She always waits until we are in a public place to ask these questions. I told her that I would answer her as soon we got back to the car. We hadn't been in the car two seconds when she said "mom, remember???" Of course I do.
Of course every answer I gave her turned into another question. I tried to explain that we are all born or "birthed" as she put it. This lead to more questions. I felt like I was being interrogated by the Secret Service!

Then she told me she was tired of being the baby and could we get baby sister from Vietnam? Can I have a snack? a drink? May I get some new flip flops? Can we go swimming? Can we watch a movie? Why would the store charge $34 for a shirt? Do they think people are rich?
Honestly, there are days I want to pull my hair out! Then I look at this little one that God brought into our lives a little over four years ago and I can't imagine life without her. On the bright side she is keeping my brain very active!

Coming Home!

2011-07-08T22:41:00.002-05:00

I have been waiting to say this for four years...Our Marine will be home in about 13 days! He left home at 18 after he graduated high school to become a Marine. He will come home 22 years old. The past four years we have written, text, emailed or skyped when he could. And he has come home on leave a few times. But the reality is he has been gone four years and we have missed out on a lot.
I will never forget when he told me he wanted to join the Marines. He was a junior in high school and wanted me to sign some paper that said he could enlist right after high school or something like that. I was so against him joining, I wasn't going to sign anything!
When he was a Senior he came to me and said "mom in a few months I will turn 18 and graduate within a couple of days of each other and I am going to join the Marines with or without your blessings. I would rather have your blessings."
A few days later I was driving to work, praying and asking God for guidance in this situation. This was my baby boy and the thought of him leaving to fight and possibly die, well, I just couldn't deal with it. So there I am sitting in my car when I heard a voice say "Elaine, give him your blessings and I'll take care of him." I almost wrecked my car! I looked at my radio, it was off. I looked in my rear view mirror, no one was there. Then I heard it again. "Elaine, give him your blessings and I;ll take care of him." All of the sudden this peace came over me and I realized I had just heard God! I couldn't wait to go home that evening and tell Dustin that he had my blessings! And when I did he smiled gave me a big hug a kiss on the cheek and said "that's all I ever wanted mom."
The day we took him to the recruiters office was not easy...at all. When we pulled away the dam burst! I felt like my heart was breaking. I reminded myself of Gods promise and that made it a little easier. He went through some rough times but he persevered. Four years have passed and now he is coming home...for good! We are grateful for everyone who prayed for Dustin. I am grateful for a God who keeps His promises!

On leave!

Waiting for Dustin to come home for Christmas

Buses taking them to their planes for deployment

Skyping

Home from Iraq!

Ashley his sweet girlfriend! I know she can't wait for him to get home!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

America

2011-07-04T11:18:00.000-05:00

I was watching ESPN with my husband the other night. They were talking about a salary dispute and how some player was only going to get like 20 million instead of some other crazy amount of money to play ball. I can't tell you how badly that upsets me! Seriously? We have people starving in America, not able to afford our outrageous insurance premiums so they can go to the doctor and we idolize a sports figure so much that they get paid millions of dollars a year to play a sport.
My youngest son is a Marine and he makes close to poverty level. On top of that he HAS to have a couple of 100 dollars a month taken out of his check for the chow hall weather he eats there or not. And he has to pay for other things I think the military should provide for them. Not just him all our men and women who serve in the military. Why? because America is broke! We can't provide for our men and women who choose to fight and die for our freedom but we can sure pay an actor or sports figure or a CEO millions of dollars every year because that is how as Americans we base our priorities. We pay ridiculous amounts of money to go to ballgames, movies and buy all the products that they sell so they keep jacking up the prices.
See, those actors and sports figures are thrown in our face 24 hours a day 7 days a week. But those who fight and die for our freedom, the unsung hero's are pushed way down the priority pole. Oh sure once in a while like Memorial Day, Veterans Day the 4th of July we will see a TV special to remind us they are still out there. And if the President or some higher up decides to visit them at a base or wherever in the world the are fighting to give them a 'atta boy' you will see them on the news. But how often are we reminded everyday that there ARE men and women fighting to keep America free? They are the ones who should be paid millions of dollars a year because without them you wouldn't have your actors, sports stars, freedom of speech (don't get me gong on that one!) freedom of religion and everything else we take for granted every single day of our lives.that we do every day.
My prayer is that America gets back in to the grace of the one true God. Our God is a gentleman. If He is not invited He will not show up. We have used our freedom we have to push Him out of our schools, our government, our homes and out of America. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look back and see how America has gone down hill since we began pushing God out.It is what it is.
Yes, we have the freedom to choose our religion and the freedom to believe or not believe in God. And we have the freedom to do whatever we LEGALLY want to do. So why don't we as Americans stand up and do what's right? We have men and women fighting and dying every day for us. As I type this somewhere in a war zone there is a young man who just graduated from High School and he is scared! But he will not let any of the men he is fighting with know this. Truth is they are all scared, who wouldn't be. But they are doing all of this for America. They are doing this for you and for me.
We have been blessed, our son will soon be coming home for good! Sadly, there areto many families who can't say that. To those who have lost anyone in war or because of war I am so sorry for your loss. My heart breaks for you. I can't even begin to imagine the heartache and loss you feel. I know it doesn't make the pain less but I want to say to you that myself and many others are humbled and grateful that your loved one fought for our freedom. We will never take it for granted!
God Bless those who fight for us and may God Bless America!

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Joshua 1:5-6

Our newest blessing!

2011-07-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

Grand babies are amazing! This is #5 our newest blessing, Jameson!

Show them that they matter!

2011-06-24T22:48:00.000-05:00

So my beautiful daughter comes home from Ethiopia last week. First, thank you God for protecting her and the teams that traveled.
She hands me a folder and I open it up and see updates of our 38 kids that have been waiting for over a year for a sponsor. Then I see numbers and pictures that don't look familiar to me at all. I keep reading and reality hits, she has sent me information on 45 new kids who need sponsors. I could tell a big lie right now and say that my first response was Yea!!! But like I said it would be a big fat lie. I thought "God I can't find sponsors for the 38 kids who have been waiting. What do you expect me to do now?" Yes, it's OK to tell God your overwhelmed and want to know what He's thinking. Seriously, I was almost in tears. Overwhelmed is a nice word to describe what I was feeling.

As I was waiting on His answer I decided to look through the information and pictures. And there laying before me in the pile of papers and pictures was His answer. These helpless ones, these hungry ones, these lonely ones,these scared ones, these forgotten ones, "these" need a voice in this world. Now you can sit there and feel "overwhelmed" and use words like me and I or do something about it.
It's is so easy to forget about the "least of these" when we sit in our nice homes, have food, a car, go to school or work. I'm not talking about being well off, I 'm talking about the necessities of life to survive. Shelter, food & water. These kids don't have that. If their fortunate enough they live in a leaky shack at least it's some protection. They usually have no food or water. They desire to go to school but can't afford to. They don't want to beg for food, they do have their dignity, but they do what they have to do so they can survive. There is no "plan" for tomorrow in their lives, survival is one day at a time.
It isn't always fun or easy or comfortable when God calls you to serve Him, which by the way if you proclaim to be a Christian then you have been called to serve Him, but I promise you nothing in the world can bless you like stepping out of that box and doing for others.
So how will these 83 kids find sponsors who believe they are worth the $30 a month it cost to change their lives? Honestly, I don't know but this I know for sure we serve a BIG GOD and if we keep the faith and do our part then He will do His.

Jordan with some of our sponsor kids.

God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

8 year old boy has a home!

2011-06-17T21:39:00.002-05:00

The 8 year old boy who was waiting to be adopted has found his forever family! God is good!
Now let's find Sadie a home!

Two precious kids waiting for thier forever families

2011-06-14T21:25:00.000-05:00

I usually post this information on Hug Aways blog http://www.stillwait.blogspot.com/ but we need to find families for these precious ones as soon as possible!

Sadie

We only have Sadie's file for a few more weeks and then she goes back to the shared list where she may get lost among all the waiting children and forgotten--especially because she is an older child. She CAN move her legs and can move on her knees or with her wheelchair. She wants to be adopted so badly. I have many new photos of her. Please, won't you consider giving her a home!!!!
Sadie is one of the happiest little girls I have read about. She is post-operative for a cleft spine. She cannot walk at this time and we do not know if anything can be done for this but she desperately needs a home and soon. Sadie's caretakers say the following about her:
Sadie is 9 years old, she is pretty and clever, polite, and outgoing. All aunts and children in institute like her very much. Though she can’t walk, she can take care of herself without help. She isn’t dependent on other’s help. Every day she will sit on the children swing car happily and walk by it. She can put on clothes, have a meal, and make her bed without help every day. Because of her urinary and fecal incontinence, she often go to toilet to change paper diapers by the swing car without help, after that, she will wash her hands. Now she is studying in the Rehabilitation Center in this institute. She has mastered Chinese and Math of grade one, and her scores are always in the first in the class. In life she likes to learning English, sing and draw very much in particular, she likes to hear the story. She always asks the teacher to tell a story in the spare time, and then she will tell the story heard to the young sisters and brothers in the same room after leaving school; so the children in the same room all like her and are dependent on her very much.

Won't you please consider adding this delightful child to your family?

Singles - please note that you may not be more than 50 years of age. You may not have more than two children and the youngest must be six years of age or older.

Grant funding in the amount of $2500 is available for qualifying families.

For more information please contact Kathy@wiaa.org. You will be asked to complete a parent eligibility form before any information about the child is released.

I have information on a 8 year old boy who needs his forever family to bring him home. This is a domestic adoption. For more information email me at: hugawayfoundation@cox.net Please send anyone you know who might truly be interested in adopting one of these precious ones to my blog. Help spread the word!

Turning 7

2011-06-08T22:38:00.000-05:00

How do you spend a day with a little girl who is turning 7? You wake up and go to Krispy Kreme for breakfast, then off to Lowe's so she can pick out some flowers. Of course we go to the mall and then come home to find a brand new bicycle! We ended the day with dinner at Steak & Shake and night time swim. And her birthday party isn't until Saturday!

She had only been home for five months when she turned 3. It was the first time she had ever celebrated her birthday. Around here birthdays are a big deal so we've made up for lost time. The first time we celebrated her birthday she had no clue what to do. She kept looking at me each time I handed her a gift to make sure it was OK to open it.

Kennedy has come a long way in the past four years. She has no problem receiving gifts at all!
It is easy to forget in all the celebration of this precious life that somewhere in Vietnam Kennedy's birth mother made the heartbreaking decision to make an adoption plan for her. I pray that this day God gives her peace and she will know that the Kennedy is loved infinity! (Kennedy loves saying this!) That she is happy, smart and healthy.
Happy Birthday sweet girl! You are loved!

Letting Go

2011-06-04T00:07:00.001-05:00

Today we put our16 year old daughter on a plane heading to Africa. That is where she will spend the next two weeks with a wonderful team of women teaching young women and girls about how valuable they are and how much God loves them. They will also visit the school Hug Away partners with and visit the children.
When we got the call form our social worker about Jordan his exact words were " she is beautiful, tiny and has the prettiest rosebud lips." We knew Jordan was special. I will never forget the day she came home. She never woke up once at the airport. There were a 100 people there and we were being interviewed by a news team for a Fathers Day special and she never flinched. The next day the news team came back over to continue the interview before we went to church. We had sat up all night watching her and we were exhausted, but not Jordan. She sat on her daddy's lap in her ruffle dress and looked at all of us smiling, very sure herself.
Jordan has always been quiet. She is a honor student and sets her goals high. She will tell you if that makes her a nerd that's fine with her. She likes who she is and never feels the need to be anything else but the Jordan God created.
Once you get to know Jordan you will find out she is beautiful, funny, competitive, loves ice cream, loves to travel, loves her Korean heritage, loves her family and most of all loves God and wants to serve Him.
My husband and I trust God and we trust Jordan. And we know that when God has called her to do something she is going to do it!
It is that faith and passion she has for God that makes it easy to let her go. Jordan the nerd, the beauty, paintballing, taking care of babies in S.Korea or going to Africa to encourage young women to see themselves as God sees them, one thing for sure, Jordan is going to be everything God intends for her to be.

The beauty

The nerd ;)

With her foster mother in S. Korea

Taking care of babies in S. Korea

Paint balling! If you can't tell Jordan is on the right!

Heading to Africa

Depraved Indifference

2011-05-22T21:00:00.001-05:00

I am asking my fb friends and family to take 7 minutes and 55 seconds to watch this video.

The Good Husband

2011-05-17T22:58:00.000-05:00

I rarely say anything about my husband on my blog. It's not that I don't have anything to say about him! He is just a modest guy and I respect that. But I feel like sharing a little bit about him.
Mike is a pretty amazing guy. He has a servants heart which can be his downfall. See, he works nights and then a couple of days a week he works a second job during the day, coaches our youngest daughter in soccer and helps coach one of our grandsons in t-ball. He is also the Awana Commander at our church. Yet when someone ask him to do something rarely does he say no. I have seen him go without sleep for over 48 hours because of work and still go help someone.
The first few years we were married I always wished he was more romantic, spend more time with me or pay more attention to me. As the years go by I began to see that those things although very nice are nothing compared to what he does for our family. He works hard, he is a great mechanic so he can fix all of our cars, he does all the remodeling on and in our house, he protects us, he loves me, his kids and grandkids with every fiber of his body. And once in a while he will surprise me like he did this past Mothers Day with Josh Grobin tickets! He supports my passion for adoption and the orphans. He is a Godly man, father, husband, son, grandfather and friend.
When we first met many friends and co-workers said we would not make it a year. I wasn't a christian and Mike who was a christian hadn't attended church since he was a little boy. We loved to party and go dancing. But as our family grew we changed. Not only as individuals but as a couple. I became a christian and started going to church and Mike soon followed. As we our walk with God grew stronger so did our marriage.
I have to admit one of my favorite moments came about six years ago when we were at church and one of the people who was so sure we wouldn't make it a year was visiting and saw us. The look on her face was priceless! The human in me wanted to go "na,na,na!" Instead I thanked God for what He has done in our lives.

God has blessed me with a good husband and I am very grateful. Besides that I think he is cute! :)

My Mom

2011-05-08T14:39:00.000-05:00

This my mom. She passed away at the age of 53 in 1988. We didn't have the greatest life growing up but I like to focus on the good things I learned from my parents. My mom taught me how to make Texas sweet tea & chicken fried steak. She taught me about forgiveness and grace. She had a heart to help others. She was beautiful, she had an 18 inch waist for years after having kids, which I didn't inherit! She could walk on her hands and played the trumpet. She taught me to stand up for myself and what I believe in.
These are the things I choose to remember about my mom. Love you always, momma

Radical

2011-04-24T20:34:00.000-05:00

It is Easter Sunday. It has been rainy and stormy all day. We had hoped since Easter was later this year that it would be beautiful and warm. It is the complete opposite. No Easter pictures or Easter egg hunt outside. This could be a downer of a day. But Easter is not about pictures or Easter egg hunts. Today Christians all over the world celebrate this day, the day our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rose again!
Three days before He rose Jesus died a horrible death taking every ones sins upon Himself so we could live with Him in heaven...forever.
Church was full today. As I looked around the sanctuary at many unfamiliar faces I had mix emotions. On one hand I wish that those who attended services today would attend every Sunday. On the other hand those unfamiliar faces are people who must believe or why would they be there?
OK, back to those of us who attend church every Sunday or Wednesday I have this question...are we any different from those who attend once a year? Yes, we go to church and hear sermons about Jesus and the bible. We go to Sunday school and learn more about Jesus and the bible, then what do we do with that knowledge?
If you haven't read "Radical" by David Platt I wish you would. This young man has taught to and alongside our christian brothers and sister in other countries who are persecuted for being Christians and must meet in secret. If caught they could be arrested, their homes or church burned down or killed. This past Good Friday he had a simulcast from his church and many of us around the world attended the Secret Church. It was 6 1/2 hours of intense bible study. For such a young man, I believe he is 32, his knowledge of the bible is amazing. It makes you sit back and wonder how such a young man can have so much knowledge and how he has been able to spend so much time in other countries teaching persecuted Christians. Then I remembered another young man who did the same thing and lost his life for it at the age of 33, his hame was Jesus Christ.
To put it in a short version if you are a christian God has called you to first and foremost go to the world and share the gospel. He wants you to care for the widows and orphans and we are to love one another and yes that means your enemy. If you sit in church every week year after year and don't take what you have learned and share it with others then your not doing what God has called all Christians to do.
As he shares in his book many of us drive in our nice car to a church that is usually in a very nice at least million dollar building and sit in our comfortable pews, looking at our decorated stages and then go home or to a restaurant to eat. We worry about having a great youth program with lots of things to entertain our youth so they will attend. Easter egg hunts, carnivals and other events to attract other believers and non believers to our church. Across the other side of the world our brothers and sisters in Christ huddle in small homes, jungles, buildings in secret. They sit on dirt floors, sometimes sixty to a small room. Some have walked for miles or days to get there. Others have left their families with the understanding they may not see them again if caught. Their desire to hear about, learn about and know about Jesus Christ so they can take the gospel to others is radical! They are willing to sacrifice everything for Him.
I am not quoting David Platt word for word but basically he is said what if we made the choice to worship in buildings that were not so high tech, that didnt' have pews that were not so comfortable, that didn't have all the bling and "what programs does it have to make me happy." And then took all that money we saved and used it to help our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ, to go into the world and share the gospel, to help the widows and orphans? What if we in our personal life quit buying extra stuff that we don't need and used that money to help? What if?
This young man is creating quite a stir. He readily admits you may not like him or agree with him as you read this book. Remember they didn't like what Jesus had to say. Honestly it made me squirm and I am not just a pew sitter. But I see that I have much more to do. Jesus died a horrible death on the cross for my sins and all He ask me to do is have the faith of a mustard seed and believe and take the gospel to the world.
I am a advocate for adoption and orphans. I have always said not all of us are called to adopt but we are all called to help. The same goes for missions and spreading the gospel, not all of us are called to go across the ocean, you can begin with your family, neighborhood or city.
The pictures below are from my recent visit over the ocean. There was nothing fancy about where we were but we had something far more beautiful. Gods presence! Nothing is more beautiful than that.

The stage wasn't decorated fancy

There was no steeple for the cross

It wasn't a million dollar building and the pews were not soft

They had something that was far more valuable

The desire to know Him

and worship Him

One last thing. Like most Christians I am often asked how do you know Jesus is real? My answer is this all that is going on in the world to day, all of it was prophesied, foretold, warned thousand of years ago in the bible. Can you think of any other book that has done this? I have lived without Him in my life and now with Him. And I know that believing in Him and trusting Him has been the greatest decision I have ever made in my life! Heaven or hell? He gave you the choice.

Coolness

2011-04-19T23:12:00.000-05:00

Today, well not just today it seems more often than not you see kids trying to act cool, be someone else or something other than themselves. And It seems they are getting younger and younger. Most of us can relate to those days. I know I did. My most embarrassing moments were in my late teens. So for a few good laughs I thought I would share a couple of my funniest ones with you.
I had two best friends I ran around with. We did everything together, including but not limited to trying to be cool and embarrassing ourselves.
I remember we had borrowed one of our parents car and decided to drive to McAlester. I have no clue why, maybe it was because we hadn't been embarrassed there yet. We pulled into a drive in to order a coke. As luck would have it a car with three cute guys pulled in next to us. We put on our best coolness. You know acting like we didn't notice them, laughing loudly and other sad acts of coolness. Yes, we were pretty cool...until out of know where a bird flew in the car! We freaked, the bird freaked and our coolness flew right out the window with the bird! When all was said and done, it took us what seemed like forever to regain our composure. Remember the coolness went with the bird. The guys were laughing so hard they didn't even notice we left. It goes without saying we never went back to McAlester.
Another time, yet in a parents car we went to Berryhill. That was were we hung out because a lot of our friends lived there. There was this road at Chandler Park that was pretty steep It was just beginning to turn dark and we drove up the road to see if any of our friends were there. Well, as luck would have it three of the cutest guys in Berryhill were sitting in their car listening to music waiting for people to show up. They were parked facing downhill so we drove up next to them facing uphill. We began talking when my friend who was driving put her hand out the window to give one of the guys in the car her phone number. Just as he took the paper my friend who apparently thought she had put the car in park accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake and all of the sudden we were heading down the hill in reverse at about 60 miles an hour! OK how were we going to save face on this one? We decided to wave bye to them like we had planned that! I'm sure the believed us...not. Yes, we took Berryhill off our list of places to hang out. Our list was getting short.
Remember I mentioned we were always in one of our parents cars? My friends parents had a Falcon that had push button reverse, park, neutral and drive. We loved that car. Well, one night let's say we borrowed the car without asking. This was before the ride in reverse down the hill had taken place and we were headed to Berryhill. We always took Avery Drive. If you have ever drove down Avery you know on one side is Chandler Park with the steep cliffs and on the other side was a steep drop off. Well we felt bad about taking the care and decided to get it back home before we were caught. I asked if I could drive. The radio didn't work so we sang the one song we all knew the words to, Carol Kings "It's to late." So, we are driving along singing it was 10pm and pitch black out and my friend yells " I think that's my parents heading this way, duck!" We ducked, yes including yours truly who was driving. I came to my senses in time right before we came to the drop off! Now seriously what good would have ducking done? And it was so dark I don't think her parents would have noticed it was us!
Through the years I have learned that being yourself is much cooler than being something or someone your not. I wish I had realized this in my teens.
I still haven't been back to McAlester or Berryhill!Now I am happy to say I like who I am and who I have become. I hope you will do the same. After all God made you and He doesn't make mistakes! Now how cool is that?!

In the words of one Dr. Seuss,
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Prayer, A Coke and a little Faith

2011-04-11T20:50:00.000-05:00

In my last post I told you my sister had a stroke. I mentioned miracles. These past nine days since the stroke have been a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs and lots of curves. One thing that has remained strong is my faith. And I have to believe somewhere through all of this somehow, my sister has become stronger than she ever was before.
She wasn't suppose to live and she did. She was suppose to get a trachea and didn't. She was suppose to stay in ICU for "a while" but was moved to the Stroke floor after 4 days. When we couldn't understand her she began using sign language! She began moving her rights side! A very good friend of mine is a Social Worker on the Stroke floor and has helped us with all the paperwork she needs to file. I know I can call her with any questions we may have.
My sisters sense of humor is amazing! Today was wonderful. I asked her if she was near or far sighted and she looked at me and said "I'm blind!" and gave me a look like "duh." Her friends birthday is tomorrow and she asked her if she was going to dance and began acting like she was dancing!
The one small thing my sister wants is a ice cold coke. She has had nothing to eat or drink for nine days. Yes she knows the days. She was waiting for a swallow test. If she passed she would begin to eat and drink through her mouth. Small things like applesauce, ice chips. She was really excited.
I was standing by her bed watching as she was trying to put her hands together. When they finally came together she looked at me and said "pray." My heart leaped for joy! I said "OK how about let's pray for a coke." She shook her head yes. I began the prayer thanking God for all the miracles He has done for her. I admit I watched her as I prayed and she was intense and never opened her eyes. I prayed she would pass her swallow test. And asked God if it was OK with Him that my sister have a coke I said amen and so did she. Not five minutes later her precious little CNA came in with a small cup and a swab. She told my sister to open her mouth and she put the swab in. My sisters eyes flew open and doing her very best she said "what is it?" It was coke! The sweet CNA said she had prayed before doing this. It was such a wonderful, kind gesture.

Sometimes were not sure God has heard our prayers.

But we keep the faith and wait.

We ask good friend to pray & waits with us

Then one day when we least expect it...Was that Him?!

It was God! He answered my prayer! Not exactly what I asked for but His answer was perfect!

My sister didnt' pass her swallow test. She didn't flunk it but she didn't quite pass it. But because of prayer and faith she did get her coke! It may have been on a swab but to her it was wonderful! She will try to pass tomorrow!

She had a stroke

2011-04-08T09:07:00.002-05:00

Sunday I received a call from my niece that my youngest sister suffered a stroke. All I said is what hospital and ran out the door.
As I drove to the hospital I was trying to keep myself calm. I wanted to be strong for my nieces. They are 17 & 22 and their world had just been turned inside out. A stroke? She is only 49. I prepared myself for what I was getting ready to see & hear. Our family has been through this before with my aunts and both my parents. All the wires, tubes & machines. Trust me it is something you don't want to relive.
There she was. Just lying there. Hooked up to several lifesaving machines. She looked so small and helpless. She is small. She is the youngest of five girls and the tiniest one. I knew prayers were already being said and I decided to focus on believing she was going to pull through this.
The next day she still hadn't responded and I was leaning over her saying her name and she opened her eyes and said "I'm hungry!" I about had a heart attack she scared the jeebees out of me! I had my husband run and get her daughters. Of course with a stroke your words aren't very clear but let me tell you she said I'm hungry just fine!
FINALLY at 5:00 we were able to speak to the doctor. He was a very nice man but the look on his face was one of bewilderment. He said "I didn't expect her to live through the night. I am amazed. not only is this a rare type of strokee, a Hemorrhagic stroke (only 17% of stroke victims suffer this type of stroke) it is rarer (is that a word?) that someone would survive it. Again he shook his head in disbelief." The kid in me wanted to jump up an down, wave my hands and say "I know the answer!" But I composed my self and with a big smile said " I know. God, faith & lots of prayers!" He wouldn't acknowledge this. That's OK. Those who believe, have faith and have prayed give all the glory to God! Miracle number #1
My sister cognitive part of her brain was not damaged...Thank you God, but her sensory part was. She doesn't know when to swallow so the doctor was concerned about pneumonia. He said if that happened it would kill her. He said they may have to put in a trachea tube possibly the next day. OK more prayers. Note: It is Friday and he said this on Monday guess who still doesn't have a trachea tube? Miracle #2
Yesterday my sister was moved from ICU to the stroke floor. No trachea tube, no heart monitor. Miracle #3
My sister has a long hard road ahead of her. Life as she knew it will never be the same. Through this I expect and believe God is going to do even more miracles.
I give God all the glory but I also want to acknowledge the amazing doctors and the extraordinary nurses in St. Johns Neurotrauma Intensive Care Unit that took care of my sister with such care and compassion.They are talented, young and beautiful inside and out. Danelle, Natalie, Kendall and Allison you will forever hold a special place in my heart!
If you read this I would be so grateful if you would pray for my sisters healing.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future; Jeremiah 29:11

One of those days when...

2011-04-04T13:20:00.000-05:00

Saturday was one of those days! You know those days that as you are going through it you are not having any fun at all! No matter how hard you try to see the good in it it's not happening.
I work for an Optometrist and I work every other Saturday from 8:45 - 12:30 or 1. Yesterday was my day to work. it started out pretty good. I was up and ready to go. I got to work a little early because I knew we were going to be busy. Our first patients were a family of 3. Let's just say after that it was pretty much down hill.
I wear contacts and was having a problem seeing. I told my co-worker and she asked if I might have put them in wrong. Now mind you part of my job is training people how to put in their contacts. I was pretty sure I put them in correctly but for the sake of time I switched them. And I swear for a little bit I thought I was seeing better! We had a good laugh and went on with our busy morning. About a hour later I noticed I was having a problem again, so I took them out and put in a new pair, sucked it up and got through the rest of the morning.
I have never had a problem with allergies until this year and it has been awful. So I put 2 and 2 together and figured that my contact problem and eye strain and headache was because of allergies. We had thing to do around the house so I took some allergy meds and got busy.
Mike and I are celebrating our anniversary on Monday so we decided to go out. I was really looking forward to it. I think Mike was too but you would have to ask him.
It was my idea to go to Louie's. I believe they have a location in Tulsa and recently opened up a location in Broken Arrow. Neither of us have ever been there so we thought we would give it a try. We got ready to go out. My head hurt, my eyes were killing and Mikes back hurt. Whoo hoo! Good times!
So we get to Louie's. I thought it was a nice steak place. It was a sports bar and grill. seriously? Of course Mike was happy! TVs all around with the final four basketball game going on all of them. Hellooooooo.
The food was good. It just wasn't what I had planned. By now my eyes were killing me! So what does one do on their anniversary after a fine dining experience? Go to Lowes you say? If that was your guess you are correct! It was my idea. Don't judge me!!!
After we left Lowes we went to Starbucks. It was around 8:30 and there were some people setting up a big telescope. Apperantly it is Astronomy month or something like that and Saturn was going to be out. There was this theme. Saturn on Saturday, Stars and Starbucks. ok. Any whooo.. We were sitting outside drinking our Frappacinno which I love and my stomach hates watching these people look for Saturn. I noticed as I looked at the street lights and stars they seemed to look like huge glowing balls. Now I begin to freak out!
I am thinking all sorts of things. I have a tumor, developing triple cataracts...I just new it was bad!
I told Mike I wanted to go home. I was getting ready for bed and took out my contacts. When I took the right contact out and placed it in my case there was two! I look on the left side to make sure there was only one in there. I have no clue but some how I ended up with 2 contacts in my right eye. No wonder I couldn't see, my eyes felt strained, I had a headache and streetlights looked like huge glowing balls!
At the time none of this seemed funny...at all. But the next day as I looked back all I could do was laugh! It's just depends on how you "look" at it.

Hope for the Orphan

2011-03-27T23:25:00.001-05:00

I put this video together from my trip to Ethiopia. Some of the children have sponsors and some don't. Our prayer is that one day we will say "they all have sponsors!"
We are in the process of placing pictures on our website of children still waiting. We are concerned about the older ones. Time is running out for them.
Visit: http://www.hugaway.org/

Cari

2011-03-20T23:55:00.001-05:00

What would you do if you were told you have stage 4 terminal liver cancer and it's in your blood stream? Your in your early 40's, have a great husband, family, friends, career. You have so much to live for and then a doctor says...cancer...terminal. Would you cry? faint? get mad? sit in disbelief? Would you scream at God and ask, why me? What would you do?
I'm not sure what I would do. But if I did have to answer that question and I pray I never do, I would hope I would react the way my friend Cari has.
This past week Cari heard these words and her response was "That's what the doctors say, that's not what my God says." And today during church as Cari and her husband Stephen stood in front of the congregation her faith showed. We went down to pray for her and when we were through and we stood around her she asked if she could speak. She said "I have no fear. I can't explain it all I know is that this is God." And as I stood inches from her and looked at her there was no fear. None. What I saw was hope, faith, courage and strength! She looked so confident,determined and strong. If I was cancer I would be very afraid of Cari!
In my heart I believe Cari will beat this and when she does what a testimony she will have! She is putting her trust in God and in turn He has given her a peace that is beyond all understanding.
The bible says "have the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains." Cari's faith is much bigger than a mustard seed!
Please pray for Cari, her husband and family. Cari knows the battle will not be an easy one but she has put on the Armor of God and He will stand with her through this battle.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Asking until it hurts!

2011-03-19T22:44:00.000-05:00

Well, my last post of 100 friends helping Hug Away didn't happen. One person, my sister Jamie, was the only one who responded and what is so cool about that is she doesn't have the money to help but she was willing. Thank you Jamie for having a willing heart! No worries, God is always faithful and good!
I know people get tired of me asking for money for Hug Away, heck I get tired of asking! It's not my favorite thing to do. But the reality is we can't do what we do without money. It is what it is. But God has called me to help these kids who have nothing so I will continue to ask until either God returns to earth or I leave earth! Just saying.

I have shown pictures of our kids in Ethiopia but I haven't showed any pictures of life in Ethiopia.

Asleep, dead? Who knows. We saw a man we think was dead because people were poking him with a stick and he didn't move. That is reality in Ethiopia.

Hoping to find food.

I met this momma at the school. She was crying because her children were hungry and she didn't know how she would feed them.

This is after we told her that we would make sure they had food every month.

A single mom who works when she can but they don't have enough to eat. Project Hunger no More was born and they were our first family we sponsored.

They came up to our van begging for food. I gave them some "take away" I had saved from eating out and a little bit of money. The little one kissed my hand, hugged me and thanked me. He was about 3 years old.

These ladies are Christians and are participating in a amazing "cow" program. They buy a cow wit money from money borrowed through a co-op, they fatten up, sell it, save part of the money and pay back their loan. It has been very successful!

A family we met on the side of the road in the middle of no where coming back from a village.

This is a little guy who followed us around at a church where my friends were teaching for a couple of days. The only thing he had to play with was a old plastic lid and we never could figure out where he lived.

And when I feel like giving up all I have to do is think of the kids I met in Ethiopia. If you could look into the face of a child starving and begging for food it would change you...in ways you could never imagine.

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
— Mother Teresa

100

2011-03-15T22:54:00.005-05:00

I am asking 100 of my friends (or more!) to commit $10 a month (or more!) to Hug Away so 33 kids can go to school, eat every day, have minor medical needs met, and attend Saturday Sunday School! Times are tough but we still need to help these children. They don't want anything fancy. All they want is to go to school and know they have will have a meal each day. Maybe you could get your Sunday School, work place, book club, friends anyone you can think of and put your money together and sponsor a child. Give a voice to these precious ones who have no voice.

You can email Elaine at hugawayfoundation@cox.net if you would like more information.

If you would like to commit $10 a month visit our website at: http://www.hugaway.org/

Please help us spread the word

Your donation is tax deductible.

From our kids in Ethiopia, Mike and Elaine, thank you!

In you the orphan finds mercy. Hosea 14:3

And the beat goes on

2011-03-13T19:37:00.000-05:00

Last night I had the pleasure of taking my daughter to hear Hye-Jin Kim a extraordinary violinist from S. Korea. She was playing with the Signature Symphony at our local community college. As I listened to this talented young violinist and a fantastic symphony, my mind went back to the first time I was introduced to a symphony.
Growing up in my home wasn't always pleasant. School and playing outside and listening to music were escapes for me. When I was at school I would imagine that I had a life like the rest of my friends. There was no yelling or hitting. We knew we would eat. At the end of the day myself along with my sisters were tucked in bed by our parents as they wished us sweet dreams.
Outside all the stress would come out! My sisters and I would play all day outside and not think of what night time would bring behind the walls of our home. And the music? Well I would sing and dance to all of it! Country, Rock, Musicals. For a moment my spirit was free!
As I entered the 6th grade things were getting worse at home. But I would soon find a new escape. Every 6 weeks the school I attended in San Antonio would take the 6th graders downtown to hear the San Antonio Symphony. The girls wore their prettiest dresses and the boys wore a dress shirt and tie. The first time I walked in the beautiful coliseum where the orchestra played I knew I had was about to experience something wonderful. A new love for music was born.
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. Red Auerbach
I love all kinds of music. Not a big fan of opera or rap. But like all music it is an expression of ones feelings, thoughts and beliefs. I don't like it when they feel the need to cuss, sing about sex or use violent terms against women. Or you have the bass so loud in your car that you shake everything around you and can't understand the words! Don't see the point of that at all.
My three sons love music, not the symphonies but they love music. Two of my daughters play violin and I played the flute from 7th - 12th grade. Last night was the first time since the 6th grade that I was able to share my love for the symphony with someone! Cameron was invited to go but she chose not to. I found that a little odd. She is in the 6th grade and began playing the violin the beginning of the school year and she took to it like a duck to water. She has a beautiful voice and she is Korean! I thought she would love to go. But alas, it wasn't Justin Bieber! She will come around as soon as they find a cure for Bieber fever! Jordan loves different kinds of music also. Like me she appreciates the beauty that the sound of the orchestra brings. It speaks to your soul.
Music isn't just learning notes and playing them, You learn notes to play to the music of your soul. Katie Greenwood
I pray that Orchestra, Jazz bands, High School bands & choirs are never eliminated from schools. Those programs have helped thousands of kids throughout the years cope, dream and move on,

Jordan ready to play at the Broken Arrow PAC with the H.S. Orchestra

Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets."
1 Chronicles 13:8 (NKJV)

Need a smile?

2011-03-11T22:40:00.000-06:00

I needed a smile today. Kennedy makes me smile with the little matter of fact things see she says. The past couple of months she has come up with some good ones. I thought I would share some of them on my blog because I have several family members who don't have facebook and I know they would get a kick out of them. I hope it brings a smile to your face too!

The other day we were sitting in the car waiting to meet up with my grand kids. Kennedy informed us that a little boy in her class was saying a bad word. She said "you know mom the A word." I looked at her and said "you mean the other word for donkey?" Of course she had no clue what I meant and looked very confused and annoyed. She said "no momma the A word! You know the one daddy says all the time and you tell him not to say it and it he says "it's in the dictionary." It sounds like ant. Now I was confused! Finally my daughter Jordan said "you mean ain't?" Kennedy's eyes get big and she said "yes that bad word!"

Another good one. Me and Kennedy were sitting in the kitchen and she was eating her breakfast. I realized the date February 28th. I said " My moms birthday is today. Kennedy looked confused and said "you have a mom?" "Of course. She died when I was pregnant with Dustin." "You were pregnant with Dustin?!" " Yes. How do you think he got here?" I thought you picked him out from some country!"

Kennedys plan for her and Kooper, her boyfriend.

They will marry when she is 23 & He will be a dentist. She will write & illustrate books about ballerinas for 7 years. Then they will have 8 kids, she will be a stay at home mom & home school. Dayna asked Kooper if he wanted to be a dentist, he said no. Kennedy said " Hey I already signed you up!"

Not funny but sweet.
Mommy I don't know what faith is but I know I have it.

Thank you Kennedy for giving your mommy such great joy!

Camerons Happy Birthday Story

2011-02-21T06:51:00.002-06:00

Today our Cameron turns 12! Where has the time gone? For her birthday blog I want to share with you how God lead us to Ms. Cameron. I may have told this before but it is truly worth repeating. There are so many children in the world waiting to be adopted. If God calls you to adopt you need to trust Him and allow Him to guide your steps.This is a story of prayer, faith, and how Gods plan for your life is ALWAYS so much better than the one you make for yourself
July 1999. I am driving home from Jordan's first day at Korea Camp, she was 4 years old. I am listening to her talk about her day when out of know where she says "mommy, I want a baby sister from Korea!" I have to admit I was a little shocked! I was over the age limit to adopt from S. Korea and I truly didn't think her dad would be on board. I explained all of this to her. She just looked at me. Let me say that it is very unsettling to have a 4 year old just stare at you while your driving! I finally couldn't take it anymore and told her that we should pray and we would wait for God to answer and we would do whatever He told us to do.
Now I am thinking to myself "good job Elaine! You know Jordan is going to forget all about this when camp is over and she is OK with your answer. Most important she quit staring at you!" Oh I think we had been driving about 5 minutes in quiet when Jordan says in a very loud and excited voice "mommy He answered me!" Who answered you? with a annoyed look an a eye roll (seriously 4 years old!" she says GOD!" I took a quick look at her and she was so serious I almost believed her. I said "Really? And what did God say?" Without missing a beat she said " He told me that it was OK for me to have a little sister, but now it's up to your mommy and daddy." I looked at her as she innocently (I think) smiled at me. And you know what? I believed her!
A few weeks went by and Mike and I had decided to look into a domestic adoption of a bi racial baby. It seemed our only option since I was over the age limit for S. Korea. I have to be honest I wasn't real sure about this. A newborn at 44 0r 45? Seriously? But then I remembered what God had told Jordan. I knew He wouldn't give us more than we could handle. Please remember that statement further in this story.
Now during this time I had been on a website http://www.rainbowkids.com/ (for those who might be interested in looking at some beautiful children who need adopted.) and my sister and I had come across the picture of this little girl who looked so sad. I was instantly drawn to her. One she was from S. Korea and two she was special needs and they would allow a person to be over the age limit to adopt her! But as I read her bio my heart broke. She had way to many special needs. Developmentally, pphysically and possibly mentally handicapped plus a few other things. There was no way we could handle all of that.
On December 10th, 1999 I had taken the morning off work and Jordan and I went to the adoption agency we had used for her adoption to take them Christmas cards and pick up a copy of our old home study. Two of the ladies that worked there and had helped with Jordan's adoption asked me what we were doing. I told them. They looked shocked. Then one of them asked if we would be interested in a little boy from S. Korea about 9 months old. I looked at Jordan who was smiling and said I would but I am not sure about my husband. They told me they would get some information and call me. Two hours late I received a call from one of them saying they had a 9 month old little girl and would be interested? ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? I grabbed Jordan's hand, told my boss I as leaving...again and headed to the agency. We sat down and watched a video of a precious little girl. Instantly I knew that was out daughter. I said "we will adopt her!" They suggested I speak to my husband. ;) They gave me the video and history and as we walked out the door Jordan looked up at me and said "See mommy, I told you He said it was OK." Yes you did Jordan.
Mike and our sons watched the video and we were all in agreement. This was our daughter and sister. As I read the history it seemed very familiar, Developmentally, physically and possibly mentally handicapped. Where had I seen this before? All I knew is this time it didn't phase me or my husband. We knew without a doubt this was our child. A few days later we went to sign the papers and received the baby's pictures. I stared in disbelief. It was the same little girl whose picture I had looked at a few months before. The little one who had all the special needs that I just knew we couldn't handle. Now she was our daughter.
In April 2000, 4 months after we received her referral, 9 months after Jordan had told me God answered her. Ms. Cameron came home. We had not planned on adopting Internationally again but God did. Within those 4 months we had paid for her adoption.
Today that little girl who had so many strikes against her and was close to being placed in a institution is now a beautiful young lady. She can sing, hear a song once and know the words, plays violin, is extremely smart, funny, has a servants heart, loves God, her family and friends.
My husband and I thought are family was complete. We had no plans on adopting again. But God did. When Jordan asked for a little sister that day and we prayed and God answered her Cameron was 5 months old. In the video she was 8 months old and when we saw it she was turning 10 months old. She came home one day shy of turning 15 months old. She still couldn't walk. About 3 months of therapy Cami was off and running and hasn't looked back!
Cameron we have watched you grow into a beautiful young woman. You never cease to amaze us! Thank you for fighting the good fight so you could come home to your family. Happy Birthday Cupcake! You are loved!

Full of life!

Our sweet girl

Cameron in her Korean Hanbok

Happy Sweet 16 Jordan!!

2011-02-19T00:19:00.001-06:00

Sixteen years ago today a baby girl was born in Anyang S. Korea. At that same time a family living in America was praying and waiting to find out who God was going to choose to be their daughter. There was also a young woman who was getting ready to give birth and she had a difficult decision to make. She could choose to keep her little girl who she loved and try to make a good life for her or she could decide to make an adoption plan with hopes that somewhere there was a family who would love her very much and could give her little one a wonderful life.
In April 1995 the family in America received a phone call that there was a little girl waiting for them in S. Korea. She was described as a perfect little girl with rose bud lips.The day before Fathers Day on June 17, 1995 the daddy who had flown to Los Angeles with his mother to meet his new daughter, brought her home and placed the 3 month old little girl in her very grateful mothers arms.
I am the very blessed momma and that precious baby is Jordan. I will never forget that day. She never woke up as over 100 people oohed and awed over her at the airport. She never woke up on the ride home. She never woke up during the night as me and her daddy watched her sleep thinking she would be up all night. And the very next day, Fathers Day as her sleep deprived parents sat in their living room being interviewed by a news team before we went to church, Jordan sat on her daddy's lap all smiles looking at everyone like "what's your problem?"
Jordan is beautiful, kind and smart. She loves God, loves her family and is very proud of her Korean heritage. She likes who she is and doesn't have the need to bow to peer pressure. She is a blessing and we thank God He chose us to be her parents, brothers and sisters. But we will never forget that Jordan's birth mother gave us this precious gift by choosing to make an adoption plan for her daughter. We pray for her often. She is never far from our hearts.One day Jordan hopes to find her birth mother and she has our blessings.
To our Princess, Jordan Happy Sweet 16 sweetheart! You are loved!

The first time I saw you was like a dream come true.
No I didn't give you the gift of life. Life gave me the gift of you."

Taking care of the babies at Eastern in S. Korea

Jordan with her foster mother in Korea

Bahru's Story

2011-02-09T22:35:00.001-06:00

When I was in Ethiopia nothing prepared me for the fact that I would look into the eyes of children who were starving, had no one to take care of them, or worked after school has a servant. Eyes don't lie. The first day I walked on to the school grounds I was meeting with the children. Adanech the founder of the school walked up to me and seemed very anxious. There was a little boy she wanted me to meet. She walks up this little guy who was dirty, dressed in torn, very dirty clothes. He looked so scared. We went to a room where we could talk to him. He was so nervous! He couldn't remember how old he was. Adanech told us that his mother had died, his little brother went to live with relatives but they didn't want Bahru. He lived with his dad but his dad drank a lot and was gone for weeks at a time. So basically this ten year old boy lived alone. The amazing thing is that he woke up every day and went to school. No, he didn't have a sponsor but Adanech would let him come to school and feed him.
He broke my heart. My husband Mike was wanting to sponsor a boy so I told Adanech to tell him that he now had a sponsor and could start school. Oh the look on his face! And a smile! When we left the school I had my friend Kay who has worked in Ethiopia with her husband John for over 10 years take me shopping. Bahru was going to get some new clothes! Kay and I were praying for the clothes to fit. The next day I gave the clothes to Bahru. He was undressing and I noticed under his shirt he wore a rather larger cross. Seeing that cross brought tears to my eyes. I turned my back and a older child helped him dress. The transformation was amazing!
In the past 24 hours Bahru's life had changed for the better. He was going to school, going to eat everyday, had new clothes and was going to learn what that cross around his neck stood for. I saw a scared little boy who was constantly looking down begin to stand a little taller, look up more and smile. He knew that someone cared about him.
I received a letter from him the other day and it started out "Momma Laney I love you!" Wow. You know it is so easy to go about our lives, working taking care of our own. But that isn't the reason God put us on earth. We are suppose to use our gifts to make a difference.
Some would say we changed Bahrus life but the fact is he changed mine. All the children did. I am more aware and more grateful of what I have. I am more aware of the needs of others.
We have so many more children and families who need our help. In order to do this we need your help. Please pray about becoming a partner with Hug Away with a monthly gift of $20 or more. If you would like our quarterly newsletter you can email me at: hugawayfoundation@cox.net
I have posted pictures of Bahrus transformation so you can see what a difference sponsoring a child makes.

Adanech introducing me to Bahru

Bahru

Bless his heart. He was so scared.

Ande a teacher asking Bahru questions

Receiving his new clothes! Notice the cross around his neck.

One grateful little boy and one happy Momma Laney!

What the blizzard of 2011 has taught me

2011-02-05T11:21:00.001-06:00

We are on our 5th day of being snowed in. Now I know why I love the beach! Often I have wished for days where I would have no where to go and could get things done around my house that I never have time to get done. To spend time with my normally busy family, to sleep in. Just chill!!! No pun intended! I should have added the option to leave when needed to my wish list!
All that aside I have learned so much from these past 5 days. Here are a few of those things in no particular order.

SPOILED. Yes its' true I am spoiled. I take for granted I can get in my car and just go wherever I want, whenever I want.The point is I can go!
I found out I can cook 3 meals a day 5 days in a row! Sure I could have asked my sweet husband to get in his truck and run out and get something but I didn't. I was testing myself. We eat out so often that it isn't fun anymore. We made the choice a couple of months ago to back off eating out so much. , but this was a true test and I did it! And my family appreciated it.
Get caught up on those life books and scrapbooks. Well we got a little bit done.
Board games, cards, movie nights, popcorn, smores. To much of a good thing!
Here's a biggie. A week without work means no money. Mike works but my job is included in our budget. Not long ago I would have been freaking out. This time I didn't. Actually I was getting ready to ask God what am I going to do? But before I could get it out "trust me Elaine" was laid on my heart. I smiled and said OK! Haven't worried since! He will provide.

This week I have become more aware, more appreciative, more GRATEFUL, more tolerant, more patient, and learned to trust God completely!
I also realize everyone needs time for themselves. I'm not talking about going to work or school. We need time to be alone, spend some quiet time with God, hang out with your friends, go work out, shop, read whatever you want to do. We all need that space. Mike and I have never had the need to be around each other all the time. And when we do spend time together we appreciate it so much more!
It looks like this isn't going away any time soon so I'm going to try and look at the positive. I have shelter, food, heat and my family is safe. And most important I have God looking out for me.

Mike & Dustin helping some people who are stuck.

I wiped out!

Kennedy smiled the whole time!

Jordan wants to learn to ski!

Kennedy went down the hill by herself. She laned in a big drift!

Michael helping Kennedy.

My oldest loves this weather! His dream is to move to the mountains someday.

Go Jordan!

Mike helping someone else get out! He helped a lot of people this week.

Front yard view

Enough said.

Little dude found some food in our back yard

Four years ago today

2011-01-27T22:06:00.000-06:00

Four years ago today after 3 1/2 weeks in Vietnam, over 25 hours on a plane we landed in Tulsa and Kennedy walked off the plane and into the arms of her family. She was 2 1/2 years years old, in a strange country, looking at strange faces, the smells were different, the food was different. She had left people her little heart loved and who loved her. Her world had been rocked. I thought she was so brave.
She has been here 4 years and reads at a 3rd grade level.She could tie her shoes at age 3. She demanded her daddy take her training wheels off her bike when she was barely 4 and took off after a couple of lessons. She has been recommended for the gifted program. She is funny.She loves to play soccer.She has asked Jesus into her heart. She amazes me! She may be tiny but she is mighty and she is loved!

In Vietnam waiting for mommy!

Four years later!

With Honors

2011-01-22T08:19:00.001-06:00

In May of 2007 my son Dustin was turning 18 graduating from High School and joining the Marines all with in a few days times.I have sat through many graduations and it wasn't until he graduated in 2007 that I noticed something was missing that I have to admit I hadn't noticed before.
As I sat and listened and read the names of all the young men and women who were graduating with honors or had received scholarships to different colleges I realized there was no mention of the young men and women who had chose to serve their country. True, I had never realized this before. Like most parents I had sat through the ceremony waiting anxiously after 12 years of school to have 2 seconds of glory as someone who we will never know mentioned our child's name! But this time was different. I had a son who had chose to wait and go to college because he wanted to become a Marine and serve his country first.
I know that some schools honor these young men and women who have made this choice by mentioning their name in the program and to the audience. Unfortunately the majority don't. Isn't this a honor?
I hope someone will read this and send it to their local High Schools and this year these young men and women who in their own right are graduating with honors will get the recognition they deserve. And by the way they should get a different colored sash for that!

Fulfilled his duty as a Marine June 8, 2011 and becomes a OSU Cowboy hopefully

Fall of 2011 maybe Spring of 2012!

Our Own Kind

2011-01-17T23:14:00.000-06:00

For the past few years my friend Todd who runs the Upward program at our church invites me, my family and friends to run the concessions at the games to raise money for Hug Away. The first weekend he always ask me to share about the foundation and what we do. I have to admit when you are speaking you sometimes wonder if anyone is listening. They are.
Friday night a Army Chaplin heard me speak and afterwards came up and told me that in March he was taking some soldiers to Ethiopia and if there was anything they could do for the school! The next day after speaking a woman came up to me and we had such an amazing conversation. We also have three more children sponsored! And there is always one who has to say " you know there are foster children right here who need homes."
The man wasn't mean just matter of fact. He was nice about it. We have been asked why we didn't "adopt our own kind?" I remember the first time someone said that to us it didn't take my husband 2 seconds and with a smile to say "Why we did! The human kind!" Mind you we were at church. Racism sadly has no boundaries.
I smiled at the man and said " I am aware of that and I am so glad God lead you to adopt your beautiful children from here, but God lead us somewhere else and were blessed with three amazing daughters." He smiled, kind of nodded his head and walked off.
I have never understood why some people think it is OK for them to come up and question you about your family. As common as trans racial adoptions are we still get stares, rude remarks, inappropriate questions. It doesn't happen often but it has and once in a while still does. And though they have no right to ask these things and I can't say what I would really like to say to them...for the sake of our children we try our best to handle the situation with grace.
Adoption isn't a contest, it isn't about the color of our skin or where we came from or how big our house is. Adoption is love, plain and simple.

Every child deserves to be loved, nurtured, held when they are scared or hurt, ...no matter where they are from or the color of their skin.

1-11-11

2011-01-11T21:34:00.000-06:00

Today I am blessed to celebrate the 16th anniversary of my 40th birthday! I remember when my grandma was in her fifties I thought she was so old. Heck I thought when my mom was in her forties she was old! Now not so much.
At this age God keeps me hopping! In many ways I feel that He is just getting started with me. I am at that point in my life where I have finally get it and God knows that. So He is giving me lots to do and I believe that keeps my heart young. And you know what they say what's in your heart shows on your face and in your actions!
Of course being happy is a choice. I came across this saying once that basically said that you can choose to be happy or be miserable they both take the same amount of time. So why would anyone waste their time being miserable? The thought of that makes me sad.
I can't say I ever looked forward to getting older but now I look at it as a blessing, What an amazing gift God has given us, this journey called life.

My birthday gift four years ago! She was a little overwhelmed.

In the words of Oliver Wendall Holmes

To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old. I agree!

JJ the Angel

2011-01-02T23:13:00.000-06:00

I wanted an IPhone because of the foundation. So to be thrifty I went to ebay. I have bought several things on ebay and have never had a problem. So I saw a nice 3g phone, checked the sellers history which was excellent and decided to bid and I won. They mailed it the next day and it came when it was suppose to the day before Christmas eve. It was in mint condition and worked perfectly until exactly one week later. The home button quit working, the screen would freeze up and I had to turn it off and on to switch screens.
I emailed the seller and he didn't respond. I was a little upset.
Saturday the girls and went to the mall and I decided to go to the Apple store and see if they could help me. And this is where I met JJ He is probably in his twenty's and he calls out my name and when I walk up to him he said "how can I help you hon?" I thought great young and cocky. But he was really a nice guy. I told him the story and he said to hang on and he would go check it out. Jordan and Cameron were with me and I stood there there thinking "what am I going to do if he can't fix it?" The girls were having to much fun on the ipods and computers. When JJ came out he said "Elaine I have bad news." Basically it would cost me as much to fix the phone as I had paid for it. I could just feel my heart sink. He asked me if I had talked to the seller and I told him that I had tried but no. All of the sudden he says "hang on a minute." Ok?
I see him come out of the back and stop at a computer. Then he walks up to me with this cocky yet sweet grin and says "because you were so lucky that I am the one taking care of you today I am going to give you this phone at no charge." I look down and there is a new phone! He said " I have transferred all your contacts for you but the only problem is it will not have a warranty because we no longer sell these (the 3g). I must have looked like I was in shock and I looked at the girls and they had stopped what they were doing and looked like they were in shock also! Finally I was able to say something like "seriously?" He said yes. I felt these tears come to my eyes and I said "J.J. if were not n the middle of the store I would hug you! He said that's ok you can hug me!" And I did! He made me promise that I would never buy electronics from ebay again and if started to cry he would take the phone back!
The girls and I left the store and it still seemed surreal. Out of all the people in that store who were waiting to be helped God chose J.J. to help me. Originally it was suppose to be a guy named Steve. And J.J. made the choice to be a blessing. And my prayer is that JJ will be blessed. Of course the phone is great but JJs act of kindness was even greater. What compelled him to give me a phone for free? He was an angel of course! I believe angels walk here on earth with us and you never know when you are going to meet one!

1-1-11 The year of New Beginnings!

2011-01-01T10:23:00.000-06:00

The beginning of the New Year! There is so much hope in new beginnings. A fresh start. For a few years now we have brought in the New Year with wonderful friends and we always have the best time! We ate, talked, played games, watched football and laughed till we cried! It was awesome! After I got home I was thinking about how I celebrated New Years before I had God in my life
My earliest memories were as a little girl. Our childhood was not good...at all, but I still have some fond memories. We lived in San Antonio and my parents would take us out in the backyard on New Years Eve because our neighbors would shoot off fireworks. I was around 6 years old and in awe of the beautiful colors in the sky and watching them fall to the ground. I was always worried about "colors" landing on me. My dad would tell me it was fairy dust and not to be afraid and to make a wish. Oh how special that made me feel. When I became an adult I looked forward to dressing up and partying the night away! I always drank to much and then I couldn't remember some of the night and I felt like poo the next day!
When I became a Christian the "drinking" partying ended and I found out you can have a good time without getting wasted.
When we go to our friends house we bring our kids, that way we can ring in the New Year as a family.
I asked my soon to be 16 year old daughter if she had a good time. She had a great time. We talked, played games, watched some football and laughed until we cried! And all without alcohol.
God will bring new beginnings in your life. He isn't going to do it all at once, what would good would that do? He wants us to enjoy the journey.
If I could do anything over in my life I never would have drank. I saw what it did to my father and friends. We had a 14 year old niece and her friend who was sitting on a curb ran over and killed by a drunk driver. Alcohol is good for temporarily numbing feelings and for a little bit you can have a good time, it fools you into thinking your invincible...that's it. The fact is it cost you a ton of money, it ruins your health, destroys relationships, you can feel like poo the next day, it kills and no matter what you say are not in full control of what you say or do.
So why am I on the soap box about drinking? Because I know last night someone was out just to have a good time was either killed by someone drinking or killed someone because they were drunk. Someone drinking made poor choices that they can't take back. This old gal has seen a lot more in her lifetime more than she will ever post on here. I am not just talking the talk, I have walked the walk.
My prayer is that this New Year Day 1-1-11 will bring many new beginnings in your life. If God isn't in your life I pray that this is the day you will ask Him into your heart. It doesn't have to be a long religious prayer. All you have to do is believe He loves you. That He gave His one and only Son to die for your sins. If you believe that just ask Him into your heart. Will your life be perfect? No. But you will now have a love and strength that you never knew before to get you through the toughest times of your life.Again I know what I am talking about.

So here is to a New Year! If you already have God in your heart may you continue to do what is right. If you don't I pray you will start this day by asking Him into your heart! You will never regret it. Our God is the God of new beginnings.

Cody

2010-12-24T12:17:00.001-06:00

Every year on their birthdays I post something about one of my kids. Today my son Cody turns 25. I can't believe it! Was it only 25 years ago that you were due on the 19th but decided not to show up? That I just knew I was going to have a girl and didn't buy one boy thing? That on Christmas Eve 1985 in a nice little snow storm you decided to show up without your dad here? That the nurses forgot to give me my epidural and I had you "ah natural?" And then out comes this precious little boy!! And I sent your poor grandma on the hunt for something to bring you home in that wasn't pink. In many ways it seems like a life time ago but in other ways it seems like yesterday. On Christmas Day I brought home the most precious gift...you.
Cody we are so proud of the man you have become. Now you have a beautiful wife, a new son and a baby on the way and you have embraced them and love them with the amazing passion you have always had. We love them too!
Your true blue. One of the good guys which are hard to find. You say what you mean and mean what you say, just like your dad.
My prayer for you and your new life is that you will always put Christ first. Everything else will follow. God is your heart so if you truly listen to it you will never go wrong.
So Happy 25th Birthday to my Cody Bayer. I love you more than you will ever know!

Birth order and Bella

2010-12-21T12:43:00.000-06:00

I just received information that a family who wants to adopt Bella and has all the requirements was told no by their agency. Why? Because their agency will not allow them to adopt out of birth order! I have always been outspoken about this issue. And though I see the concerns of adopting out of birth order I feel that should be the choice of the family not the agency. It is a heart thing. The family knows if this would be an issue or not.
And sorry if I step on toes but I think the birth order is issue is insignificant compared to what Bella and others children like her will face if they are not adopted.
The good news is this family is not taking this laying down! They are fighting it as they should. If they could transfer paperwork to the agency working with Bella they would but they would lose money and time.
Let me say again I understand the concern of the agency. And I am not blowing off the fact that some children would feel "displaced or replaced." But that should be discussed among the family. The family also needs to do their homework.They know what their children at home can and can't handle. If our family adopted again we would know what child could handle what and discuss it as we always have with them.
Please continue to pray for Bella and the family.

Bella

2010-12-20T11:59:00.000-06:00

I am praying that someone who reads my blog will be Bellas forevers family. And if you don't mind please let your friends, family, church, work know about Bella.
The agencey needs a family who already has their paperwork in China for another child and almost ready to travel to complete her adoption. So please everyone spread the work and lets help Bella find her forever family.
Bella is 13 and lives with a foster family in China. She is pretty, smart and loves to play sports. She would be an amazing daughter. She needs to be adopted by February. Sadly in China once you turn 14 you can not be adopted...ever. So many older children all over the world are pushed out into streets with no money, no skills, no place to call home. This isn't right. They are the ones who become victims of sex traffickers, gangs, prostitution and drugs. Everyday my friends this happens.
The other night my husband said he wishes we had a home big enough for all of them. And though my heart feels the same way I know that will not happen. But we will never say never...ever.
So I ask you first to pray for all orphans. And pray for Bella. Pray that someone will know this precious one should be their daughter. And pray for those who are on the streets who were not adopted. They have no voice in this world so we need to be their voice.
I have more information on Bella. If you meet the qualifications needed please email me.

Need a gift idea for Christmas?????

2010-12-11T22:41:00.000-06:00

The Hug Away Foundation

Give the Gift that Makes a Difference

This Christmas consider giving a gift that truly makes a difference. Your financial gift to the Hug Away Foundation will:

§ Bring a child home to their forever family.

§ $20 will feed a family for one month.

§ $30 a month will sponsor a child and provide them with food, an education, a opportunity to attend Sunday school and have minor medical needs met.

Consider becoming a partner with Hug Away. Your monthly donation will make a difference in the lives of families and children.

Honor a family, friend, teacher, or co-worker with a financial gift in their name. We will send them a card so they will know a donation was made in their honor.

This year give hope.

For more information visit our website at: www.hugaway.org or email us at: hugawayfoundation@cox.net

Why I Blog?????

2010-12-07T15:06:00.000-06:00

People have often asked my why do I blog. Why do I put myself out there like that. I have journaled for years. And when I have read back over my journals I can see where I have been and where my journey in life has taken me so far. I can see where I have grown and where work still needs to be done. I can see who I once was, who I am now and who I hope to be. I have and will continue to learn from not only my journals but what others have chose to share. If anyone can learn anything from my mistakes, my ups and my downs most importantly my walk with God then putting myself "out" there is worth it.
I read a quote from another blogger and she said "A blog is a ride; it's an invitation to come take a journey with me." That pretty much sums it up. You can choose to ride along or not.
Everyone has a story. Everyone. I love to talk but I also love to listen and learn from other peoples experiences. After all there is no greater education than ones life experience. Most people that read my blog email me directly instead of posting a comment because they share things with me they don't want others to read. But I do love it when someone takes the time to let me know that what I have blogged helped them, made them cry or laugh or they could relate to it.
I do choose what I blog about. If it involves my husband or children I always ask them first. Even my 6 year old. After all what I want to share is part of their story too. Same rules apply for my facebook. And believe it or not I don't share all of my hurts or all of my joys. But those that I do share hopefully someone will learn from it, have a laugh, or know they are not the only one. And that is why I blog.

For my sister

2010-11-30T17:58:00.000-06:00

Here you go sis!!!

Brothers and Sisters

2010-11-28T22:05:00.000-06:00

I remember when I was a little girl I always wanted a older brother. Life at home wasn't that great and I had this fantasy of a big brother who would protect me and my younger sisters. My mother never wanted to have boys. She was afraid they would join the military. My dad wanted boys. He wanted a son. When I became mom to three sons I was so happy! After being the oldest of five girls I had a lot to learn about having these boys around! Wow what a difference! Wrestling tournaments, soccer, basketball, football, baseball even rugby. Yup, my world had gone from barbies to baseball bats.
Then God gave us three beautiful daughters through adoption. So I went back to the barbies! When my first son was born I was the younger mom and now when I take my youngest to school well it's fair to say I am not the youngest! The age difference between my oldest son and youngest daughter? 27 years! My grand kids are older than their aunt! Yes our family dynamics are good for conversation when we have nothing else to talk about.
My favorite thing about my kids? Their love for one another. My daughters have not one or two but three of the greatest big brothers anyone could ask for. They are very protective of them, they listen to the girls when they talk and talk and talk. And most important they love their little sisters deeply.
And my sons have three beautiful sisters who idolize and adore them. They love it when they come to visit or call. And when the boys are not here they love to talk about them...good things!

I never had a big brother but my daughters do. And I know no matter what happens these brothers & sister, sons & daughters will always be there for one another.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you,
as you are to them.
~Desmond Tutu

I Know

2010-11-26T09:39:00.001-06:00

Who knew when I became a Christian 18 years ago the journey that God would take me on. God knew! As I grew in my walk with the Lord I had this sense that He had this amazing plan for me. OK I will just come out and say it "I felt special!" Like God and I had this relationship that was so unique and amazing that no one would understand if I told them. I had this feeling and still do a peace if you will, that God had chose me to make a difference.
OK, it's true that after a few years as a Christian I realized that it wasn't just me that had this amazing and unique relationship with God, it was all who believed in Him. And that makes me very happy but I was a little bummed, just a teeny tiny bit, that I wasn't this special "chosen" daughter of God. But God in His most wonderful, beautiful, silent voice spoke to my heart and said "Elaine you are special to me, you are my chosen daughter and we are going to make a difference." YES!
Not all believers have this relationship with God. You have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. You have to be quiet and listen (Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10) You have to ask Him what He wants you to do (Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3) You have to have faith! (Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen Hebrews 11:1) and then do what is right! (learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17)
When you ask Jesus into your heart you are born again you will spend eternity with God! How amazing is that? But that is not the whole story. He wants you to make a difference while you are here on earth.
When I understood all of this and chose to get up and put my talk into a walk my life changed in ways I could never have imagined! (Look at the nations and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5)
Because of the faith I have in Jesus I can say without any doubt that I know, that I know, that I know!
Pretty amazing huh?
Get up and make a difference! That might begin with you asking Jesus into your heart. Or if you are already a believer you may have something going on in your life right now that is going to take you choosing to make a change in your life. Baby steps you know!
Whatever it is I hope that you can say, I know, that I know, that I know.

Thankfulness

2010-11-24T23:08:00.001-06:00

Like most this Thanksgiving I have been thinking about the many things I am so thankful for. As I went over my mental list I was overwhelmed by Gods grace. I am most thankful for His grace. I don't deserve it that's for sure. Besides His grace He has blessed me with a wonderful husband, three amazing sons, three wonderful daughters, four, soon to be five awesome grand kids, my sisters, my nieces, nephews and the greatest friends anyone could ask for. And even though our youngest son who is a Marine and deployed will not be here for Thanksgiving or Christmas I am thankful that he is doing what God called him to do.

I live in a country where I can step out on my back porch and take a picture of God magnificent sky! I am free to say what I want, worship as I wish and vote. I am thankful for adoption! Yes I am also thankful for my home, my car and other material things but over the years I have learned that those things well they are things. God, my family, friends, my freedom are priceless.
John F. Kennedy once said As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.
If someone has ever helped you don't just say thank you, go out and help someone. Give back! There is nothing more fulfilling that than doing for others. There are many who serve our country who receive nothing from home. Not even a note. Send a letter or/and gift box to them. I know they would be very thankful!
I pray that this Thanksgiving as we count our blessings we remember to pray for the protection of those serving our country and be thankful they do.
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

The Pencil

2010-11-18T21:35:00.000-06:00

It never ceases to amaze me how God can use the smallest thing to make a big impact in your life. While I was in Ethiopia I experienced many thing that changed me. But one small gesture from a young girl made the biggest impact on me.
One day while we were at the school we were handing out pencils to all the kids. We had the "cool" ones with sparkles, flowers, cars and basketballs. I was excited to hand them out because many of the children who had no sponsors had to borrow from the other children.
We had just handed out the last one when this little girl about 8 years old walks up to me and hands me back the pencil I had given her. At first I thought maybe it wasn't sharpened or the eraser was gone. It took a little bit but I finally understood that she was telling me she had a pencil and she shouldn't take the new one. She proceeded to show me her stubby little pencil. I stood there for a minute and then God spoke to my heart and said "she is trying to tell you that her need is met." This little girl didn't need anything more or anything less. At that moment something inside of me changed. I did convince this sweet girl that this was a gift and I wanted her to have it. I handed it to her, she smiled and walked back to her desk.
You know the saying "my life flashed before my eyes?" Well my did. It wasn't a "oh my I am getting ready to die" event. This was more of remembering how many times I have complained, moan and groaned and yes have gotten upset when I thought I needed more or wanted to do this or that and couldn't for whatever reason.
When we had first drove up to the school it made me sad. The fence and gate were pink and green and made of sheet metal. Once I got inside there was no toys or playground equipment. No pane on the windows. The desk were old and the classrooms had only a blackboard. There were no bright alphabet letters or pictures of the sun on the wall. It was just plain. Yet all these kids had greeted me with smiles and hugs and kisses. I thought to myself how can they be so happy? The answer is that they don't look at what they don't have they look at what they do have.
What if we all thought that way. I think the word is "Grateful. We always want more, bigger, better. We are always in a hurry and busy. But I bet if most of us took the time to look at what we do have instead of what we don't have, we would realize that we are doing just fine.

Hope for the Orphan

2010-11-15T08:29:00.000-06:00

This is the video I put together from my trip to Ethiopia. This morning I was blessed to share during both church services about Hug Away, our trip to Ethiopia and the children in our Ethiopian Sponsor Program. The response was amazing! We still have many children who need sponsors.

Sweet Voices

2010-11-12T21:40:00.003-06:00

This was one of my favorite moments when we visited the school that Hug Away partners with in Ethiopia. These are our sponsor kids. They would sing whenever we would walk in the class room. This time I had them sing it over so I could get them on video! I hope you enjoy their sweet voices!

Project Hunger no More

2010-11-04T08:42:00.002-05:00

THE HUG AWAY FOUNDATIONS

“PROJECT HUNGER no MORE”

Her family needs help

For 20 days, November 4^th – November 24th we are kicking off our “Project Hunger no More.” We are asking family, friends, and friends of friends and coworkers to donate $20 or more to help us feed the families of our children that attend the “Primary School of Excellence.” These families and their children are not eating every day. Often the parent will go without food to feed the children. We are going to change that.

While I was in Ethiopia I spoke to the founder of the school because this has been on my heart for a long time. It has been on her heart to. She told me $20 would buy enough grain, oil, vegetables and staples to feed a family for one month.

As we approach the holiday’s I pray you will consider giving so these families will no longer go hungry. This project will be on going and our prayer is that many of you will feel lead to make a monthly donation. $20 and a whole family’s life will change. Not a bad deal at all. Please consider getting your school, church, work or club involved.

You can make your tax deductible donation by going to our website http://www.hugaway.org/ page or mail your check or money order to: The Hug Away Foundation, P.O. Box 1241, Broken Arrow, OK 74013
Thank you so much for your support!

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in. Matthew 25:35

The Orphan

2010-10-31T22:01:00.005-05:00

November is Adoption Month. This month brings awareness not only to the blessings of adoption but also to the millions of orphans in the world and yes that also means here in America. For those who know me this is my heart. From the moment we began the adoption process for our first daughter I knew God was calling me to be an advocate not only for adoption but for the orphan. The sad reality is that most orphans will not be adopted. Here are just a few of the reasons.

The child was older when they went to the orphanage...everyone desires to adopt the younger ones.
The child may have a special need.
They are a sibling group
People are afraid they can't afford adoption
Can't deal with all the paperwork
People like the way things are at home and don't want to rock the boat.
People are afraid of the "unknown."
People think they are to old to become parents

Here are some orphan statistics:

It is estimated there are between 143 million and 210 million orphans worldwide

The current population of the United States is just a little over 300 million… to give you an idea of the enormity of the numbers… (The current population of Russia is 141 million)

Every day 5,760 more children become orphans

2,102,400 more children become orphans every year in Africa alone

Every 15 seconds, another child in Africa becomes an AIDS orphan

There are an estimated 14 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa (a number higher than the total of every under-eighteen year old in Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland combined)

This figure is estimated to reach 18 million orphans in Africa alone by 2010 (only two and a half years away)

8 out of 10 children orphaned by AIDS lives in sub-Sahara Africa

Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…

Each year 14, 505, 000 children grow up as orphans and age out of the system by age sixteen

Each day 38,493 orphans age out

Every 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out with no family to belong to and no place to call home

In Russia and the Ukraine, studies have shown that 10% – 15% of these children commit suicide before they reach age eighteen

These studies also show that 60% of the girls become prostitutes and 70% of the boys become hardened criminals

Another Russian study reported that of the 15,000 orphans aging out of state-run institutions every year, 10% committed suicide, 5,000 were unemployed, 6,000 were homeless and 3,000 were in prison within three years
In America there are an estimated 423, 773 in foster care

Almost a quarter (24 percent) were in relative homes, and nearly half (47 percent) were in nonrelative foster family homes.
Almost half (49 percent) had a case goal of reunification with their families.
The majority of children left the system to be reunited with their families (52 percent).
Close to half of the children (46 percent) who left foster care in FY 2008 were in care for less than 1 year.

This little guy hung around the church we visited. The 3 days I saw him all he had to play with was a small plastic lid.

I always tell people that not everyone is called to adopt but as believers we are all called to help. Here is a list of suggestions for those who feel called to adopt and those who feel called to help.

Called to Adopt

If you feel God is calling you to adopt trust Him and step out in faith! He will meet your needs.
Surround yourself with believers to pray for you and your future child.
Adoption is a roller coaster ride with your emotions! This too shall pass.
Look for ways to raise money. Get the word out.

Called to help

Encourage families adopting
Pray for families adopting
Donate to their adoption fund
Help with their fundraisers

Sponsorship
You can make a difference in the life of a child through a sponsorship program. There are many to choose from. We founded the Hug Away Foundation. For $30 a month a child will receive a education, food and have minor medical needs met. These kids are so grateful and you are making a difference in their lives.

God builds families in many ways. Adoption is one of them. This month please pray for the orphans of the world. Pray for birth mothers who choose life and make an adoption plan and pray for families who choose to adopt.

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands.
--- Kristi Larson

Ethiopia cont'd & jet lag....

2010-10-28T20:58:00.006-05:00

I confess, jet lag is not my friend. On top of jet lag I have picked up what I am sure is a air born illness from the puky plane air. But this to shall pass.
I promise I will not share my 1,000 or so pics with you! In order to limit the amount of pics I will post on here I have sat and pondered on what memories grabbed my heart. One that really stands out was one of those moments when you sit and have to pinch yourself because you can't believe you are really experiencing this blessing.
My friend Kay and her husband John were missionaries in Ethiopia for several years. Their hearts are still there so they do a lot of independent work. One of these projects is called the "Well House." It is a Prayer and Counseling Center for destitute women and their children. They are building a new one but for now they have a temporary place where for the past year two women and one of womens daughter has been staying. The women are provided spiritual and emotional healing and they attend school to learn a trade so when they go home they will have a way to provide for themselves.
This day we drive about 2 hour drive to their villages. I had one of my infamous "esophogus spasms" and tought I was going to die but we will save that story for another day. Moving on. We were also going to meet some christian women in one of the villages and hear their testimonies about the "Cow Project." A cow is bought for them and after they do whatever you do to cows they sale them. They keep half of the money and put the other in the projects savings plan. So here we sit in a small church with I think a dirt floor it was kind of dark, in a country far from our homes and these women come in and sit around us and begin sharing. Some were old and some were young and I believe most were Christians. As they spoke I looked around the room at these women. All so beautiful in their own way ( in Gods eyes we are all 10's!) and for the most part raised to submit to men because they are women and were not valued. I know each of them had a story, we all do and I would have loved to hear all of them. The common ground they all had is that they were women who made the choice to make a difference in not the best circumstances and succeeded! We could all learn from them. I journaled everyday I was in Ethiopia and each day asked God to reveal a verse to me that would coincide with that days events. That night as I wrote and the faces of those amazing women went through my mind and what they had to endure in a oppressive society God led me to Psalms 129: 2-4
They have greatly oppressed me from my youth. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.
Here in America we take so much for granted. If we could walk one day in one of these ladies shoes (if they have any) we would realize how very blessed we are. I wish all Christians could at least once have this experience. Stepping out of our safe little box is one of the greatest ways to show God our faith in Him.
It changes you for the better and humbles you in ways you could never imagine.

Betty taking our picture! She is the daughter of one of the ladies we took back to her village.

Betty taking a picture of me taking a picture of her!

The church and the cows.

The beautiful and amazing women.

Forgivness & Ethiopia

2010-10-25T21:52:00.002-05:00

I made it back and I thank God for watching over everyone that traveled. We were blessed on this trip and had no major ilnesses. Before I left for Ethiopia not only were my motives for going to Ethiopia attacked but who I am and why I blog was attacked. Since they were so bold to be so "blunt" as they put it with me I was "blunt" with also. As usual those who can dish it out can't take it. They are always going to be right and you are wrong. I was shocked and hurt but after seeking wise council and much prayer I realized that I had to let it go and forgive. If they choose to hate me for what I do that is their problem not mine and I will not allow their hate to stop me from doing what God has called me to do. My point? When God has called you to do something people for whatever reason are going to attack you so don't let them have the pleasure of seeing you stumble in your walk or you will miss out on an amazing blessings!
Ethiopia was amazing! The country and it's people will tug at every emotion you have

Sad for the extreme poverty.
Anger that for the most part women and young girls are not valued at all
Joy that they are beautiful people and that they are proud and that they love.
Happinesss that they smile through their hardships.
Mad that you can't do more
Hopeful that you because you serve a Big God that He will give you a way to make a difference.

I went there hoping to make a difference and I hope we did. But this experience made a difference in me. How humbling when you hand a child a brand new sharpened pencil and they hand it back because they already have one... a very short, stubby one but in their world they have one and their need is met for the moment. Or you give a young girl a plate of food and you see her put her 3 year old sister on her lap and give her the first bite. You give a mother on the street some food and the eyes of her 3 year old son that she carries on her back lights up and he motions you to them and thanks you with a kiss on the cheek. And as they take the food and run to the corner and sit down and eat you realize that you will never be the same.
I will be sharing stories like this for the next few to bring awareness to these children and how you can help.
I took like a thousand pictures and of course I am going to share my favorites!

I want to thank family and friends who support what God has called me to do. Your love, prayers and support mean everything to me.

Giving Adanech founder of the school a laptop donated by my friends Todd and Dayna! She was so happy.

My sisters sponsor child next to me and my sponsor child is on the left. Her sister is on the right.

Attempting to teach english.

This little girl has lost both of her parents to aids. She lives with her grandmother.

Walking the Walk

2010-10-06T23:20:00.000-05:00

So here's the deal, I have a friend who founded the Hospitality House of Tulsa. This amazing ministry provides a place for families who live 30 miles or further from Tulsa to stay while their love one is in the hospital. I believe they provide for 14 hospitals in Tulsa and surronding area. This isn't just a room they are small apartments quarters. Meals are provided in the main kitchen. Not only do they provide a place and a meal but they provide support, prayers, care bags for the families while they are wating in the waiting room, and counseling. This is a home away from home. The care and concern doesn't stop when they leave. Staff or volunteers will call a church in the area where the family is from to make them aware of when the family is coming home and ask the church to provide things like mowing the lawn, taking them meals, rides or just checking in to make sure everyone is ok.
My friend shared with our Lifegroup that they did a survey (how they did this was a very cool story but I will share that another time) and every question they asked received high marks except the question asking about follow up from the home church. Bad marks, X, 0, a big red F! It didn't happen. Ditto. Nada. Zip. Not even a phone call.
The staff at the Hospitality takes the time to call and inform someone at the church what is going on and the needs the family will have and that someone agrees that the church will do this. This isn't a case of a letter that got lost in a stack somewhere. Someone the Pastor, secretary whoever verbally made a commitment, said that this would be done and it wasn't.
I was shocked and so was the rest of the class. There is no excuse for this....none. The ramifications from this could be devestating. If the family doesn't attend church and are not Christians what kind of impression do you think this would leave? Not a good one that's for sure!
People will watch our walk with Christ more than our talk about Him. Christians are suppose to be Christ like. I don't think He would be to thrilled with these churches right now. If I know my friend she will make these churches aware of what is "not" going on. Good! They need to be held accountable.

Matthew 5:33-37
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Under Attack

2010-09-30T22:31:00.001-05:00

To say this week has been a challenge would be a understatement. What I have been called by God to do has been attacked and why I do it has been attacked. First let me say that you can attack me I will get over it but when you attack a ministry that God has called me to do then you are attacking God. Yes that's right God. What makes it worse is being attacked by someone you thought you were close to and love very much. This verbal attack made me question what God had called me to do and doubting myself. Sadly, this will probably give great pleasure to my "critic." But the pleasure will not last long because I know from years of studying by bible and Life Support classes that many times when you are preparing to do Gods work satan will attack in many forms and many ways. He will use people you love, thought were your friends and believed in what you were called to do. Through them satan will attack your mind, your heart and your spirit. This is when you put on the armor of God and prepare to fight the good fight!
I would like to hit on some of the point of attacks that I received to clarify a few things. Not only for myself but for others who are called to a ministry.

Its all about me. This person thought since I blog and facebook about my life and ministry that I was choosing to be in the lime light. Nothing could be further from the truth. How do you expect to us to make people aware? Are we suppose to just sit there and pray that people will know? Jesus commands us to "Go out into the world" not sit on your butts and wait for the world to come to you. We are His servants doing what He has commanded all Christians to do. It doesn't mean every Christian needs to be a missionary or travel the world. He can call you to help in your neighborhood, work in a ministry at your church that will make a difference in someones life, help the homeless in your town, be a mentor to a child, have a sports ministry, The list goes on and on. He is the vine and we are the branches. He has given all Christians a gift but it is up to you to find out what your gift is and use it. Don't waste it.

You think you can save the world. I have to admit this one made me chuckle. Who am I Superwoman? Gee didn't know I was such a threat or had so much power. That is a ridiculous thing to say or think. Only God can save the world! But do I think I can make a difference in the world. You betcha! Why would I be so bold to think this? Because the God I serve tells me that nothing is impossible with Him!

Always asking for something. If I was Bill Gates I wouldn't ask for a thing. But I'm not so I ask. See some people have money and are willing to donate some of it to make a difference. I know people who don't have a lot of money but who feel led to give. In order to help others it takes money and that is just the way it is. And yes I ask volunteers to help me with fundraisers. I do a lot of the work with our ministry but my husband and I both believe if you don't ask others to help you are depriving them of a blessing, to be blessed and a opportunity to make a difference.

Other things were said and it hurt? It all hurt. I mean I had no clue that someone that I thought loved me as much as I love them could think these things about me and feel this way towards me. And of course when your a Christian and you confront someone who has attacked you that is the first thing they throw back in your face." Oh I thought you were a Christian." Like that makes it ok for you to say whatever you want to me but because I am a Christian I should just take it? Sorry but that is not the way it works. Now I am not going to slap you or curse you but I am going to be honest with you and then go back to focusing on what God has called me to do. In the bible David dealt with this.
Before facing Goliath, David had to deal with a critic, his own brother Eliab, who said:
"I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle." (1 Samuel 17:28)
David ignored this critic because what Eliab said was a lie. That's a good lesson for us. Turning his attention back to Goliath, David saw through the giant's taunts. Even as a young shepherd, David understood what it meant to be a servant of God.
This is my story this week just a different time and a different place. The awesome thing is satan didn't win! I will keep doing what God has called me to do knowing that I will face critics from time to time but I will fight the good fight because I serve an awesome God!

Mommy how do you......

2010-09-21T22:13:00.000-05:00

Last night Kennedy walked up to me and said "mommy how do you ask Jesus to come into your heart?" Now we had talked about this a few weeks ago and she said she did but at the time I felt she truly wasn't ready. I thought when she was ready she would know. Last night she was ready.

I was busy working on some things for the foundation when she asked me. As soon as she asked she just crawled up in my lap laid down and looked up at me with this most precious, innocent, amazing expression and said Ok mommy I am ready." Yes she was.

She never took her eyes off me as I explained this wonderful plan God had made for us called salvation. She took in every word. When she was ready to pray and ask Jesus into her heart it was so precious. After we said the prayer of salvation she had this big smile on her face and was jumping around! She said "momma can I go wake up daddy and tell him I have Jesus in my heart? Can I go tell Jordan? Can I tell Cameron?"
It was truly something to behold.

I thought how happy Jesus is when we finally say "yes I believe in you and want you in my life." Maybe He starts jumping around with a big smile on His face and wants to tell everyone! .

Kennedy was born in Vietnam and lived in a orphanage the first 2 1/2 years of her life. From the moment I met her at the orphanage I knew that God had chosen her for our family. We were going to adopt from China and He took us to a precious little girl waiting for us in Vietnam!

Kennedy in Vietnam

God has a plan for all of us. Ask Him into your heart and be amazed! You may even want to jump up and down and tell everyone!!! I hope so!

Kennedy 3 years later

Our own kind

2010-09-13T11:26:00.001-05:00

I was talking to a friend yesterday about how hard it is to raise money for orphans. We run into lots of reasons why people choose not to give but the one that blows me away is "we need to take of our own kind here in America."
I remember when we adopted Jordan a man at our church, a friend came up and asked us why we didnt' adopt " our own kind." Without missing a beat Mike said we did "the human kind!" Mind you I had only been a christian for about 5 years so this really disheartened me. That man never said another word to us again and eventually we never saw him again.
We are all of one kind. We are humans and God created each one of us. As for helping children in the United Sates, of course they need to be taken care. No child in America should be without a family, go hungry or suffer abuse of any kind. No child any where should be subject to any of this. The difference is that there are literally thousands of agencies and people in America fighting for these children. They raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, some millions to fight child disease, hunger, abuse and to promote adoption. Do some of these precious children fall through the cracks? Sadly yes. But the facts are there is help for all of them.
As for the many children in other countries this is not the case. We work in Ethiopia and if we do not try to raise the money to help them they go without food, water, clothes, shelter, school and die of diseases that are easily treated here in America. They have no advocates except for people like you and me that will step out of our box and help them.
God calls Christians to go out into the world show others love and help those in need no matter where they are. Staying in a "box" does not do anything for anyone.
All of us should step out of our box and go wherever God has called us. It may be Ethiopia, Vietnam or China. It may be in your neighborhood. Just go and do what He has called you to do. You will be blessed!

One of our sweeties with her daddy waiting for a sponsor.

My Sons

2010-09-08T23:15:00.000-05:00

I wanted to talk a little bit about three very special guys in my life, my sons. The reason I wanted to talk about them is because of a question someone asked me the other day. When you have adopted children of a different race you are asked some very odd, rude and intrusive questions. But the one I was asked the other day actually stunned me. That is not easy to do.
I was at a store returning something and the lady saw a picture of my daughters and we began talking about adoption. I told her that I also have three sons that were grown and on their own. She asked if they were adopted and I told her no. She looks at me with this "awww you poor thing" and says " So you adopted your daughters because you didn't want your sons huh? " WHAT????????
Where in our simple conversation did I ever imply such a horrible thing? It took a second to but finally I looked her in the eye and said " No that is not the reason. We love all of our children the same and they are all gifts from God.
Yes I am an advocate for adoption and orphans. And yes you will see me post about those subjects more than others. But that has no bearing on how much I love and how devoted I am to my sons. They are not only amazing sons but they are also amazing brothers. They love their little sisters more than anyone can ever imagine. They carry their pictures around showing them off, they brag about them and they are very protective of them. Our sons have big hearts, love their family and are never embarrassed to say it or show it.
And their little sister feel the same way. They love their brothers so much! When they come over the girls get so excited and you would think it had been years since they have seen each other!

So when I am out there speaking for those who have no voice, and trying to raise money for the foundation or trying to find sponsor for our children in Ethiopia remember I have three amazing young men who support what God has called me to do and I am blessed to call them my sons.

Mike

Cody

Dustin

Chill

2010-08-29T23:10:00.000-05:00

Lately I have had this need to "chill." As much as I love my chaos I have come to realize that I just need to relax and do nothing. Doing nothing allows me to be quiet and enjoy time with God. No phones, computers, radio or people. Just me, my thoughts and God.
My favorite place is the ocean but since one isn't close by my backyard comes in second. I love my backyard. It has lots of trees, it faces the west so I try to go out right before dusk and watch the sunset. I am one of those people who feel God when the breeze blows on my face or the sun is shining on my face. I see God in the sunsets, the moon, the trees, the birds. I hear God when I am quiet. He ask us to be still and know Him.
Life is busy but that doesn't stop us from spending time on the computer, wathcing sports or going to the mall. Sadly most of us just can't seem to find the tme to be quiet with God.

Since I have made this decision my attitude is much more relaxed. I have more peace. You know what they say "don't sweat the small stuff." I hope you will find some time to "chill" with God.

Asking

2010-08-17T20:00:00.017-05:00

If you read my blogs you know my husband and I founded the Hug Away Foundation. We are advocates for adoption and orphans. Right now my main priority is finding sponsors for some children in Ethiopia. We have 90 children and many are still waiting for sponsors.
We have a website www.hugaway.org and a blog: www.titus3project.blogspot.com We also help the school they attend once they have a sponsor. I am traveling to Ethiopia in October with a friend of mine and we hope to add a kitchen to the school. For the time being the sweet lady who founded the school is making the meals at her home and carrying them to the school.
One of the down sides to all of this is that I am constantly asking for donations, monthly donors,sponsors or having to come up with ways to raise money. I may ask 100 people for help and get one response. It is very disheartening at times. I often think I can't do this much longer and what is the point. Then God speaks to my heart and I am reminded that we have been called by Him to help those who need us. Everything we have is a blessing from God and we are to share with those who have little or nothing.
I have found that people don't like seeing pictures or even think that there are kids who are starving to death, live in conditions unfit for humans, are targets for sex trafficker, or they are dying because they don't have a simple medicine that could save them. Yeah it is hard to look at those faces and to be honest it isn't my favorite thing to do. Let's face it denial is much easier. And asking for money, well I would rather have a tooth pulled. Uncomfortable? yes. Impossible? no. It is a step of faith.
I found this quote and thought it pretty much said it all.

...orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.

They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.

It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms...

.... but once you do, everything changes.

So when you & I hear staggering numbers & statistics about the poor & needy around us & around the world, we have a choice.
We can switch the channels on our mega T.V’s and continue our comfortable, untroubled, ordinary, church-going lives as if the global poor don’t exist.

We can let these numbers remain cold, distant, and almost imaginary....

Or we can open our eyes and our lives to the realities that surround us and begin considering the faces that are represented by these numbers.”
-David Platt

This is the sweetie I sponsor

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Brandon Heath

Chaos

2010-08-06T22:58:00.004-05:00

Can I just say there is never a dull moment at my house? NEVER!!!! I am not complaining, not at all. As a matter of fact I find the ongoing chaos amusing and I love it. I beleive even when I go to sleep during those few moments I rarely get of deep sleep, what is it called? RPM, RAN or REM? Whatever, it doesnt' matter I don't get enough of it anyway! But back to the point. I beleive that during those moments my sleep is chaotic!
When I come home from work my dog who is usally the first to greet me at the door has this whine like he is trying to tell me the events of his day. Then instead of a hello the first thing out of Kennedys mouth is "can I?" Cameron gives me a beautiful smile an says "what's for dinner momma?" Jordan is just thankful I am home and retreats to her room and Mike needs to know if he has clean jeans and underwear. This is before I have made it all the way into the living room!
If I am so blessed to get out of my scrubs and into something more comfortable and I am not in need of a 15 minute power nap it's off to make dinner where my faithful audience of 1 Cameron will help in anyway she can so we can hurry up and get the meal on the table! Throw in a few loads of laundry where on a good day I can collect up to $20 in tips! I use to give it back but after years of lectures on cleaning out our pockets they know better. With three girls you know there is a lot of talking, that would be mostly Kennedy with her many opinions and questions. Back to the kitchen to make sure we cleaned up everything and dream of the day the remodel from>>>> is done! Finish up a load of laundry, work on Hug Away and by 11:30 off to grab some of those RPM or REM things! And that is after I get home. Morning is another story.
I would not have it any other way! I love my life chaos and all! My mornings always begin with a thank you to God for my life and time with Him. My day ends with a thank you to God and knowing how blessed I am.
Some people need things to make them happy. I need my chaos :)
Welcome to my world!

The Journey

2010-07-24T20:18:00.003-05:00

Jordan in S. Korea

Most people think that when you adopt and the child has been placed in your arms that child's journey has just begun. They couldn't be more wrong. It started the day they were conceived. They have a life story. It may be short or very long. It may be a sad story or a happy story. Either way it is their story and it is important for adoptive families to remember this.

Some children will take a short journey from their birth mothers arms directly into their parents arms. Some will travel half way around the world before they make it into their parents arms. And for some it will be a journey of ups and downs, some pain and doubts until they walk into their parents arms.

The baby Jordan is holding will embark on this journey. We need to pray for all the children in the world who are waiting for a family. Let their journey begin.

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands.
--- Kristi Larson
.

Birthdays, Family and a Lesson

2010-07-11T19:04:00.013-05:00

Today is my oldest sons birthday. He is 33. Michael has never been one to ask for a big party or expensive gifts. He just likes to have his family around a few friends and grill.
When I was growing up I can't remember my birthday or my sisters birthdays ever being acknowledged. So I decided when I had kids I would make sure they had a celebration to remember.
Now here is the deal. I just assumed all kids wanted big parties with their friends over and lots of gifts so I had an agenda! Taking the whole family to eat at any restaurant the birthday person wanted to go to. Seriously? And if I asked them what they wanted for their birthday and it didn't seem like much by golly I was going to add to the list. After all you need lots of presents to open...right? At times it was so stressful that by the time the party rolled around I was stressed, tired and couldn't wait until it was over. And if they asked for something simple like just dinner with the family I thought they were just being nice.
Well, like I said today is Michael's birthday. He is very low key and mellow. He wanted to grill and have his family around. Last year he grilled for his birthday and asked us over! I found this very simple request to be refreshing and I enjoy myself so much more. Of course there is a lesson to be learned here.
There isn't anything more valuable than love. There is nothing more wonderful than sitting around with these amazing people that you are blessed to call your family. And there is nothing more precious than when you realize how richly God has blessed your life. It is priceless.
Birthdays are a celebration of the day God blessed you with life. There is not enough cake, ice cream or gifts that can top that!

I Give You My Son

2010-07-04T20:20:00.014-05:00

The other day I took my son to the airport knowing in a couple of weeks he would leave for his second deployment.
You stand there waiting for his flight to be called. When it is time you look at him and smile. You will not cry! You burn his face into your mind and heart. You hug this man, your son so tight because you don't want to let go. You kiss his cheek (several times!) whisper in his ear how very much you love him, how proud you are of him and then you let go. You have done all that you can do as his parent. He knows he is loved, you pray and ask God to watch over him and bring him home safe. It is now out of your hands.
You may not agree with the war he will fight, deep down you don't want to let go, but you respect him, this man, your son and his desire to fight for freedom. A freedom God gave us and men and women fight for.
God bless those who choose to fight this fight for us everyday and God Bless America.
I heard this song the other day and it touched my heart. Here are the lyrics to
I Give You My Son

My only son goes off to war, he's unafraid to live and die for a people who don't even know who he is, and I understand now just what you did.

This is my son, my only son, and I give him up for a
people who don't care that they're free at the cost of his life.
I understand now your sacrifice. You gave us yours and I gave them mine.
Lord keep him safe he's my only child. Please bring him back home. This is my son.

I watched him grow into a man and I must believe he's now in your hands,
Lord help me to keep in front of my mind that you gave your Son
so that mine would have life.

This is my son, my only son, and I give him up for a
people who don't care that they're free at the cost of his life.
I understand now your sacrifice. You gave us yours and I gave them mine.
Lord keep him safe he's my only child.
Please bring him back home. This is my son.

The Choice

2010-07-02T08:57:00.005-05:00

Ysterday I had one of the worse days I have had in a very long time. I am mad at myself because I let someone get to me. It had been coming for a long time and after a bad day I lost it. I came home to a family who loves me and let me for lack of better words stew in my juices for a while.
I asked God to help me. This morning I went to my email today and found this from Max Lucado. It was just what I needed. We are all human and by no means perfect but God gave us the freedom to make choices. We need that reminder from time to time. Thank you God! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

The Choice
by Max Lucado

IT'S QUIET. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love . . .

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy . . .

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace . . .

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience . . .

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness . . .

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness . . .

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness . . .

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness . . .

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control . . .

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Lethergo!! Part 2

2010-06-28T22:50:00.007-05:00

A lot of people email me or post on my facebook about my blog post instead of posting a comment here. And I had several request for more info on the "lethergo" post and the drawing.
First the drawing. My daughter Jordan drew that picture not long after Kennedy came home. It is a picture of Kennedy and Amiya our granddaughter which makes her Kennedy's niece. Both their birthdays are in June and they are one year apart. They are best buddies and have so much fun together! One night Jordan was watching them and she saw how they obviously looked very different but acted so much alike it was like they were the same person. So Jordan drew this "silly" picture as she calls it of them playing and dancing. So that is the story about the picture.
So on to "Lethergo." When we first become believers we are like babies who need milk. We are growing and developing our Christian walk. The word is our milk. We watch other Christians and see how they act and listen to what they say. As we grow up we need more substance. We read our bible, attend church and Sunday school. As time goes by we learn how to listen to His beautiful calm still voice.
So we have learned what God expects of us. He wants us to love one another, help others, He wants us to lead others to Him, He wants us to do good and He also wants us to trust Him.
Oohhhhh that is a hard one. Seriously, humans love to have control of things. To trust God and "lethergo" is hard. Very hard. To say "here is my son God, He is going to fight a war...., Here is my daughter Lord, she is only 15 but I am going to send her half way across the world to do mission work and Yes Lord I am going to start this foundation and leave my job and the pay that goes with it and yes I will fly to Ethiopia and anywhere else you want to go" and yes we will adopt again" isn't easy. But here is the deal and for most of us, including myself it is not fun to hear, If you are a born again believer you know that He wants us to trust Him completely. If we profess to be believers and we are past the "milk" stage then we have no excuse. It is what it is.
When you come to that point, that crossroad where you know, that you know, that you know well quite honestly there is no turning back. You trust or you don't. Besides accepting Jesus into your heart this is not one of the biggest steps of faith you will every take.
I am blessed to have come to that point in my walk. I can't sit here and tell everyone to trust and "lethergo" and not practice it. And yes, I still struggle and question situations at times and His answers are not always going to be the answer I would like to hear but here is the great thing about trusting Him completely, His timing and His answers are never, ever wrong. Ever.
You know how it feels when you want to go for a swim but you put your feet in first to check the water out? Even when you totally trust God you will at times "put your feet in" to check things out but the question is will you trust Him and take the plunge?

And those who know your name put their trust in you for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

Crashing waves

2010-06-26T08:19:00.007-05:00

This morning I got up early and took a walk on the beach. I am a beach person. I love body surfing and helping my girls dig for shells. But my favorite thing about the beach is when you look out at the ocean it seems to never end and it holds so much life in it! Fish, sharks, whales, dolphins, little sea creatures. How amazing is that? One of my favorite things to do is get up early and walk the beach. The tide is high and the waves are just crashing in. At times they almost seem angry, yet the sound of those same angry crashing waves can be soothing.
I am dealing with a lot of things right now.It seems I take two steps forward in areas and then bam! 10 steps back. So I went for a walk this morning to be alone with God. Like most on vacation I left my bible at home. When I am gone for a long time I will bring it but since this was just a few days I "chose" to leave it at home because I wouldn't need it. hmm..
I am walking along the beach and watching those beautiful waves with their angry force crash the shore and all of the sudden I see this jellyfish...thank goodness I saw it because I had my flip flops in my hand and they hurt when they sting!
I watched as each wave that came in either took the jellyfish with it or pushed it back on the shore leaving it to struggle. Each time as the waves left it further and further inland and it was getting harder and harder for the waves to reach it. The poor thing was struggling. When possible I will do everything in my power to save anyone or anything from suffering, but this time something stopped me. It was God. There was a lesson to be learned here. As I watched this poor thing struggle and was getting ready to find a big stick and push him back towards the water, just when I thought there was no hope hear comes a huge wave and it carries the jellyfish safely back home.
This morning God chose to speak to me through the waves and a jellyfish. He does that a lot you know. It is up to you to be tuned in! We may choose to leave our bibles for a few days but He will find a way to reach us.
Today He showed me that even though I am struggling right now and will off and on during my life, we all will. And I would love to "help" everyone I love because I don't want to see them suffer, He is there...always. Sometimes He needs to sound like a loud crashing wave to get our attention but when we think we can't take it anymore, when we have been pushed as far as "we" think we can go, He will gently talk to us and let us know He is carrying us and our burdens and that He will never leaves us alone....ever. This doesn't mean we will never struggle, that the ones we love will never hurt. It means that God for those of us who believe will always take care of us...always. His grace is sufficient
We are all kind of like that jellyfish. We are trying to make it in a world that seems to fight us on everything. And when the world has pushed us to the point of what we think is no return. Our true God the one who made the jellyfish of the world will come and show everyone else like a loud crashing wave who is in charge.

Rom 8:37............ "Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Bummed

2010-06-19T22:49:00.006-05:00

Cody and his fiance Jordan

For a few months now my family has been planning a trip to South Padre. All of us chipped in to rent a house on the beach. My whole family! All 6 kids! Dustin is home on leave before he deploys next month and my sister and her husband are meeting us there.
Then my son Cody lost his job and after much thought decided he just couldn't go. :( My heart broke. I want him there. He was going to bring his fiance and her son and now none of them will be there. He is so disappointed.
I am still praying for a miracle that somehow they will be able to go even though financially it doesn't look good. But you never know!!