Monday, August 25, 2014

Dandelions in the wind

All I can think about is orphans. I woke up with them on my mind and went to bed with them in my heart. Maya's Hope @ www.mayashope.org shared a photo of a couple of fellas that didn't get picked for adoption on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MayasHope) last night. Where are they now? In a mental asylum for the rest of their lives! What struck me was the smiles on their faces. They didn't choose to live alone. But there they were, sitting at a table with smiles on their faces. 

Will you pray for orphans today? 

Perhaps you have room in your heart to adopt. Or you can help someone else who is. Orphans need families, not istitutions! 

Just last week, Maya's Hope asked if they could send me something. Want to know what it was? . . LOVE . .

<3 My Glitter Card From Maya's Hope :)

So now I'm sending it to you! Love is all it takes to change the world. 

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8





Monday, June 23, 2014

Dear June

Dear June, it wasn't until I woke up this morning that I remembered you. Thanks to some help from His Kids Too!, I was pleasantly reminded that today is the third anniversary of the community center being open in Ukraine! I remember praying on ground breaking day for God to bless the community center and fill it with children one day, and He did! It's amazing to watch how it has grown, and the faithfulness of it being open daily, by my friend and director of His Kids Too, Teresa Fillmon, and her friend, Angela, during the middle of a war! Oh my, they are so brave! Praise God for them and for the third anniversary of the community center being open on June 23, 2011! Remarkably, as I was telling my husband about it this morning, I remembered that three years ago this month, also marks the third anniversary of my my book being published! How could I forget? Chasing A Dream Where The Sunflowers Grow wouldn't be here without His Kids Too! Tears of joy filled my eyes just thinking about how much His Kids Too has been a part of my life! And that's not all, it gets better! Of course, I knew a blog was in order. So, I went searching for some photos to share, here, besides my own, from the His Kids Too website! That's when I noticed something even more spectacular! I found pictures of Lera in the Summer 2009 photo album, and guess what? Lera's pictures have the same date, five years ago, today, on June 23, 2009! They were last photos of her at the baby house, before she was transferred to the special needs orphanage we adopted her from, and I treasure them! Thank You His Kids Too!, for being there, and giving me these photos of her life before we met! 


Lera up front in pink! My baby! (More tears) 


And those shoes she's wearing, we still have them! 


Jim and I arrived at the baby house where Lera lived, two months after she was transferred. This is us visiting a little tot in the same orphanage where she once lived! (Summer 2009 Part II album).


Jim was curious why this little one wasn't outside with the others in her group. 


We found out she was blind. We both had fun interacting with her! 


We got to meet the doctor at Lera's former orphanage and one of the staff! 


Later we visited the hospital with Teresa!


Jim made sure he spoke to all the kids! This sweet little girl liked seeing her picture :) 


So many sweet children to visit! 


A picture of me with Teresa Fillmon, our adoption agent & director of His Kids Too! 


Jim & Teresa! :) 


June 2010, I went back to Ukraine! This was the summer bible camp with all the kids and teachers. (I am top right, wearing yellow.) 



June 2011 my book was published! & December 2011 the community center was standing! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Please check out His Kids Too https://m.facebook.com/hiskidstoo for more photos and don't forget to congratulate them and let them know you are praying for them! ❤️



There's a little history for you! ;) 


GOD BLESS HIS KIDS TOO! 


HAPPY JUNE! 


❤️~XOXO~❤️


Debbie 


Jason Gray - With Every Act Of Love



Thursday, June 12, 2014

These are the best days of my life

So, I saw this picture of my husband on Facebook this morning. Well, he wasn't actually my husband back then, but I was falling in love with him and I didn't even know it! :) ~ (we met not in this class, but in Ms. Graham's class. He is the one in the middle wearing red.)

Later, today, I was listing to this CD I won from @jasongraymusic on Instagram for the #milliondoors contest with Lera & Hannah for Down syndrome awareness! <3 


I love this song by Jason Gray on his Love Will Have The Final Word CD - The Best Days Of My Life (Lyric Video)

It made me think of Jim being a little boy when I fell in love with him and how God's timing brought us together at a young age. We were in Elementary school when we met. Who knew we would be married one day? Only God! :)

I'd like to dedicate this song to Jim and our children. We were just kids staring out, fresh out of high school, but we made it through many years of good times and bad times, and for better or for worse times, and we'll keep going, until we meet the One who held it all together! Thank You, God! <3

26 Jesus looked at them and said,“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  

Matthew 19:26

New International Version (NIV)

Monday, June 2, 2014

Amazing days!

Just a quick update! The girls just finished their homework and are having amazing days in school. Hannah's teacher called me earlier today to let me know. I got to talk to Hannah and she told me herself she was ready to go on her field trip this Thursday! ;) She even mentioned her library books, indicating she knew she needs to turn them in tomorrow! :) It was so nice of her teacher to call to share she's back to going to the bathroom by herself with a hall pass! And she and Lera are getting their work done in school! Yay!!! I'm so happy all is well and wanted to share the good news with you too! :)

Thursday is the field trip for their class to Three Brothers. They are both excited to go and are earning it! :) Yay, Hannah & Lera!!! Praise The Lord! :D :D 


My busy bees...


Hannah showing me she's done!


Lera with her finished homework :) good job, Lera! 


Hannah with her amazing day report! Yay, way to press on, Hannah! I knew you could do it! 


Love, 
Mama 


13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phillippians 3:13-14 

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Doing life BIG

For some time now I have been wondering what course to take at Liberty. It all started at Women of Faith last summer when I plunged into signing my book for the hopes of spreading what was inside. I wrote my book for the orphans we left behind. Of course, my book is about my family as well. It's all I ever wanted to be when I grow up - a wife and a mother! I confess it's been the most amazing journey to be on. I have learned that marriage is hard work full of ups and downs, and kids! The beauty has been looking into the face of God with each newborn babe born into my arms. There is nothing more beautiful than that! I have loved and labored for the child inside of me, for each of my children represent a part of my heart and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for each one! And as if that wasn't enough, God beautifully (for lack of a better word) introduced us to our "little blond angel" via email. Our tenth child was a different miracle not born of my flesh but born across the water and straight into my heart, the hardest kind of labor, the kind that reminds me why I'm here, the kind that has opened my heart to the world and looks out past my own little world and calls me to the nations, that is an ongoing miracle that takes me over and over again to places and people I never knew of but are there just waiting to hear the gospel and feel it and reach for it and taste it and breathe it in and on and on and on. God's love is endless. He gave His life and His love as an example when He poured it out on the cross with his own blood. What can I not do for Him when he died for me?!

There it is. The life that I live I no longer live for me but for the one who died for me. (Galatians 2:20) His love is bigger than the highest mountain and wider than the deepest ocean. (Ephesians 3:18)

"For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) 

Where He leads me I will follow. (John 10-3-5)

So, when I heard Liberty was at Women of Faith, I was moved to sign up! For what? I had no idea, that is, until now. I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up! And it's everything I've already been. A wife. A mom. A grandmother. And a missionary! So I thought the best course for me to take would be to pursue an Associate of Arts in Religion. :) 

It took a long time to figure that out. Practically, a year has gone by for God to impress my heart in this direction. May He use it for His glory! I'm excited to study the Bible and be reaching for all that God has in store for me at the same time. After all I have been through in my life up to this point, the highs and the lows, the ups and downs, the mountains I have climbed, and the oceans I have crossed, there's no place like home. I love my family more than anything! They are who I am, but the drive inside me still tells me there's more, there's more orphans waiting to be adopted, and waiting to know that they are loved by their Heavenly Father! Someone, somewhere, still waits to be rescued from whatever pit they are in, pulled up from sinking sand, and the waves that threaten their soul. I know that someone wants to save them, and His name is, JESUS! 

I'm holding nothing back! There's a reason for everything, and I want to give it all back to God. Everything that I have is His. Who am I to say no to God if He wants an old woman to go to school? It's time for me to learn again. Use ME, dear God, here I am!

Before I wrap this up and head back to school in August for an online adventure, there's three things on my mind - #SaveSaeed, #SaveMeriam and last. But not least!  #PrayForUkraine  


Jamie Grace - Do Life Big (Official Lyric Video)



Sunday, May 4, 2014

Career Awareness Day 2014

It was a pleasure speaking to the fourth grade class at Relay Elementary School on Friday. I told them I am an author but, This. Is why I came...

Lera and Hannah sitting with their class for Career Awareness Day...We're More Alike Than Different! http://youtu.be/sKUkj7Pmk_0

I truly enjoyed sharing with all of you at Relay Elementary School! You were a fantastic audience, asked good questions, made good statements, are good role models, and are so smart! Thank you for having me! :) ~ Never say never, just say, I CAN DO IT! ~ 


Friday, May 2, 2014

Chasing Dreams

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 

Today is Career Awareness Day! In just a little bit I will be heading over to Hannah and Lera's school to share why I chose to be an author. I can't wait to tell them my story is about them and our family! Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be married and have children. And that dream came true! God blessed us with ten children and four grandchildren and I couldn't be happier! Last time I wrote a blog we were about to have our fourth grandchild and were giving a baby shower to our daughter in law. Well, here she is! Already 2 months old! <3 


                             Skylar 

Today, because it is Career Awareness Day, my focus will be in bringing awareness to Down syndrome. I will be showing, "We're More Alike Than Different", because I want them to know that they can do anything and so can people with Down syndrome! Of course, because God included giving us two children with special needs my heart will ways be drawn to the orphans we left behind when we adopted Lera. I hope to put in a good word for them too! :) 

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ~ John 14:18