Promises Of God

Watching all of this coverage of the Gulf Coast tugs at our heart, we just discovered this sweet place over Spring Break. We fell in love with it there. We decided very quickly that this was a new Teunis tradition. It was while we were enjoying this gem of a place and unwinding from life, that we decided to add to our family and ultimately to adopt. We so enjoyed our time there, and left for our drive back home, anxiously anticipating our next trip back. We are wondering now, will it ever be the same? Just look at this pristine beach. This world is so full of bad news and disappointment and hurt and devastation, that it is even more and more important to keep our eyes fixed on The Promises of God!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF8H5BWY6_M

Garage Sale was a SUCCESS!!!!!!!!

Well, I have to say......the donation garage sale was a smashing success. We had such a great turn out and the rain didnt 'rain on our parade' one bit. We had one good down-pour and our garage was packed with people during the little storm. We found that most everyone was really interested in our story and the adoption journey we are on. We had many discussions about the worldwide orphan crisis and the incredible need out there. We spoke with many people about our church and faith in our lives. It was a very blessed success. We raised quite a substantial little start for the 'Baby Teunis' fund.

In the midst of all of the goings on, I recieved an update on the next fundraiser to come, the t-shirt fundraiser. More on that coming in the next couple weeks. We also are finished with all of the paperwork stuff now, and we are moving towards the immigration form phase, next. Then the long wait begins....That's all for now!

Adoption process update

Tomorrow is the big day.We are having our adoption fundraiser garage sale. No items are priced, everything is donation only. We are hoping the weather holds out and that the newspaper ad and the craigslist ad show some fruitage!!!! I cant wait to post on the success!

Today we had our second homestudy visit. All is moving along and now we just wait for our third and final visit, which is July 1. We are hopeful that by the end of July our report will be complete and ready to submit to the state of Illinois. We know there is alot of waiting ahead of us, we are so ok with that, we are just excited to be moving forward, even if it is baby steps. We know that each one, each day brings us one day closer to our little sweet baby Teunis.

                                                                   Isaiah 43:5-7

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the East and gather you from the West. I will say to the North, 'Give them up!' and to the South, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

Summers Comin....

Summer temps are here finally. School is out at the end of this week. The kids are all buzzing around with the sweet anticipation of summer break. Camps are soon upon us. Drivers Ed for the first time...we just got a trampoline, so there will be lots of bouncing going on. Looking forward to summer fun, makes me stop to remember what summers were to me as a child. My birthday is in the summer, right by the 4th of July, so I always loved that. My fondest memories were of being in Indiana. One of my first years going there, I guess I was about 11... I learned how to play Canasta and from then on...I loved spending long summer evenings playing cards. I learned that I ws terrified of thunnderstorms ( not so much anymmore), those were all new to this California girl. I fell in-love with the Grease movies and learned every word to every song....Swinging on the porch swing...water balloon fights. There was a small-town theater company called The Nettle Creek Players, they used to put on about 4 musicals every summer and it was my mission to see them all. What a blast....I learned to love musicals from those summers. The real show started after the nightly performance though, as the players were all housed, dorm style, in the house right next to my grandmothers. This made for lots of entertainment. Me and my sweet friend would spend evenings running from one window to the next spying on all of their partying. Then there was the summer we decided to only speak in pig-latin, oh boy....what fun memories.

I hope the kids enjoy summer in ways beyond late night XBOX gaming. I want to encourage them to make lifelong memories that will make them smile and laugh for years to come. I look forward to posting our summer adventures and silly tales. It is time for life to slow down a bit. Maybe I will teach them Canasta......

'Thank You for the cross Lord, Thank You for the price You paid....bearing all my sin and shame, in love You came and gave amazing grace. Thank You for this love Lord, thank You for the nail pierced-hands, washed me in Your cleansing flow now all I know....Your forgivness and embrace.'

Worthy is The Lamb. Thank You Lord for sending Your Precious One for me. The more I think back to how I never knew you as a child, the more I can fully see Your Power in the calling on my life. I am so grateful for that. I am daily in awe at the evidence of You working in my life from the very beginning. Today is one of those days when my heart aches for not having grown up in a household that spoke your name in love instead of in vain. I know that there is nothing I can do about that, but I just love You so much that it stings to think that I spent 25 years not knowing You. It is this thought that keeps me searching for you daily and energizes me to make sure I do all I can so that my children know You. Thank You for them Lord. Thank You that among all of the names I can be called, frined, wife, daughter, sister, aunt Jen....that mother is one too. I have dreamed my whole life of nurturing babies and even though my babies are not babies any more....thank You for making their hearts sensetive enough to still allow me to baby them from time to time. Thank You for the opportunity that You are providing for me and Steve to bring another little one into our family.

While there are those who have broken my trust and broken my heart, It only makes me long for You more. I am asking Lord for You to bless those who curse me. Please Lord give me the wisdom and desire to shine even brighter in order for them to see You in me. Also Lord help me to know when to keep myself from harm emotionally by the lies and deciet of those who dont know the errors of their ways. Protect our family Lord, from the evil intent of this world.

I love You Lord.

In Jesus Name~ Amen

Father, Thank You for the ability You have given me through Your Son Jesus Christ to come to You in prayer. Thank You for designing my heart and my ears and eyes to be open to You.

I am mindful of those in my life who are struggling with different issues and illnesses and family issues and just life. I ask that you protect my dear friends from the enemy's arrows this day and provide them with strength and courage and Your wisdom for making important decisions. You have blessed me beyond measure with such dear friends and it is my honor to bring them to You in their times of distress.

I ask Your forgiveness where I fall short, and for Your continuing Grace that I may become stronger each day. Protect me Lord from the things and people and matters of this life that can so easily distract me from the path You have set before me. Help me to stay strong and focused and at the ready to serve, when those opportunities arise. Help me to be open and aware of how You are leading my life this day.

I am so grateful for Your provisions in my life, for the way You guide and lead our family and have blessed us with opportunities to show You in our lives. I ask that You continue to keep a hedge of protection around us and our children, including the new little one out there that we dont know yet. I ask for Your continued blessing on Steves job and his efforts in working so hard and balancing all that he does. We love You Lord ~ In Jesus Name....Amen