Fingerprints

Well, we mailed off our finger prints last week and I can tell you that before mailing them I said a special prayer that God would carry them all the way and bless them every stop!! The process of getting the finger prints done and completing our CANS paperwork was simple compared to what we are about to start working on. When we arrived at Homewood Police Department to get the prints done the sheriff asked if we had enough change to have 4 sets completely and of course we had a $20.00 bill. He told us that we had to have $10.00 a piece to have them completed. We could only go back one at a time and we had to pay separately. Well, if you know my husband, that did not sit well with him. He stomped, huffed and puffed out the door. :) It was funny to me, but the sheriff did not like it. He said to me, "He does not have to be so grumpy about it."  I am doing yall a favor." I told him that we do not understand their policies and procedures and will gladly comply, but will do so in our way. He looked at me funny and I just smiled. He ended up being a pretty nice sheriff and I enjoyed having my finger prints completed and Steve as well. So, we got into the truck and finished signing some additional paperwork and packaged it up. I told Steve to make sure he signed everything!!! He assured me he did and I double checked and he did. Well, Monday, SBCN in Virgina contacted me and said that everything looked great except for one thing, You forgot to sign one page!!  Well, I felt like crawling in a hole, because I had been on Steve to make sure he signed everything and I double checked his signatures on all pages and failed to have someone check mine!! Steve thought it was quite funny!!! :)

God has put us on this journey and our faith sure has been tested lately!! The devil has been trying to show himself and we just continue to pray that God will continue to shine through us and show us the way!! It is amazing at how just reading back through this blog lightens up any darkness that may be trying to shine through. Steve shared with me a scripture yesterday that has kept my head up and kept us both full of joy!! Just hearing him say that yesterday lit up my face and my heart! Hearing God's word and digging into the bible for scripture to help us through the tough times is quite amazing!!

Psalms 78-23; Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven.

And another inspirational thought I read and posted to facebook this morning!!

o be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-through your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:6


God is so good and I am just amazed at how he continues to whisper and echo this sweet things to us!!!! God bless you all and keep us in your prayers!!! 


Love and Blessings Always,


Julie

New Fundraiser - Gold Canyon Candles- Fundraiser will run 1 month!!

These candles are fabulous and great gifts!! I have a few that I love and have lasted forever!! All the scents are fabulous as well!! If you are interested in purchasing a candle, please post a comment and I will reply to you! Thank you and God Bless!

Gold Canyon provides The World’s Finest® candles

8 oz candle $16.50

16 oz candle $20.50

26 oz candle $24.50

Ginger Lime: Bold citrus and a spicy blast of ginger make this an intriguing and distinctive fragrance that will enliven any environment. 

Cinnamon Vanilla: Genuine cinnamon and natural vanilla creamed together to create a combination of sweet and spicy. 

Cranberry Orange: This unique blend is reminiscent of tart cranberries, fresh citrus orange, blackberry and warm spicy cinnamon.

Cedar Woods: A naturally soothing scent of the earth’s most gracious gifts—sweet bergamot, calming jasmine and fresh cedarwood.

Clean Sheets: The warm feeling of crisp, clean sheets captured through a breezy blend of fruits and florals with touches of musk.

Apple: Fresh & crisp with the perfect mix of sweet and tart. Experience a juicy apple with notes of fresh peach for extra sweetness.
Sugar Cookie: Sweet cream, butter, sugar and vanilla baked to a golden perfection. A customer favorite you must experience for yourself!

Moroccan Amber Vanilla: This scent journey brings a sultry sensation with alluring hints of smooth sandalwood & amber. An appealing layer of creamy vanilla, sun-warmed woods & earthy patchouli create magical Morocco. 

Sparkling Apricot: Fresh apricot notes accented by mango and a unique nectar accord are the spirit of this sparkling fragance.

Citrus Cream: A fragrant fusion of tangerine and grapefruit accented by gentle hints of berries, plum and vanilla. 

Grass: Fresh-cut grass captured with notes of rain-softened foliage, geraniums, lilies and light hints of fresh orange and rose.

Lavender: Enjoy the soothing fragrance of cool lavender. A classic floral bouquet used for thousands of years to help set a relaxing & therapeutic mood throughout the home.

Pumpkin pie: Indulge in the fall season’s favorite treat all year long with the perfect aromatic combination of pumpkin spices and rich cream. 

Sweet Pea: A fusion of sweet fruits—pineapple & nectarine—softly layered around a heart of organic sweet pea and lilies.

Pomegranate: Expreience this bestselling fragrance of fresh pomegranate—a fusion of peach, strawberry and green apple scents.

Happy Happy Happy

Just wanted to give a brief update!! We were scheduled to be at the Birmingham's Largest Yard Sale today to sell our handmade items and it was postponed due to the weather. Wow!! Oh how God works!! What a blessing that is to postpone it! I knew that I was pressing for time and had to stay up and get things done to be there and I was not very prepared for it! My goal was to complete 50 crosses and 30 chalkboards and so on. Well, I had not even made it even close to those numbers. My goal seemed unreachable. Well God had other plans, so he postponed the yard sale until next weekend and sent 10 orders my way to deliver this weekend!! I am in awe over the response he has sent my way! Thank you Jesus!! So, Steve and I took Friday off to get some things done and now I am over half way to my GOAL!! God is so good and he will never fail you!! We are super excited about the yard sale next weekend and can not wait to see what God has in store for us!! God has given us rest and peace during this adventure and boy have we learned so much! Our "surprise party" only keeps getting better!! I love being in God's court and not mine!! Today will be another day of painting and tomorrow will be a day of paperwork! Oh, the paperwork!! Dear God, please give us the focus to pay attention to every detail and every word. Give us the peace and patience to know that this paperwork leads to a very special person that will be forever changing our lives and will come to know you, precious God!!!

Thank you all for supporting us and praying for us!! We need prayer so very much!!!

Blessings  & Love,

Steve and Julie

"Sow to China" Fundraising Items

                                                      Magnetic Chalkboard - 11x14 $10.00

                                                       Crosses $15.00 - choose any colors

First chat with our social worker at Lifeline

Oh what a week it has been!! Today Steve and I had a conference call with our social worker at Lifeline. We discussed a few things that will be coming up soon and that is our home study. We will have someone meet with us a few times, once in our house and the other times at Lifeline. We have a ton of paperwork to complete and lots of things to think about!! Wow at the paperwork!! I printed off one chapter of the Adoption manual and placed it on the counter for Steve to see and he was surprised that it was that thick and talked about it for a minute and I said so kindly, "That is only one chapter." For neither of us to be big readers, we sure have a job cut out for us!!! We also discussed the "short version" of the next few months and what is in store for us. Just listening to the social worker talk about her love for China and special needs children was amazing! It just made our hearts smile!! You could hear the love in her voice and also the love she has for our Almight God!! What a journey we have ahead of us!! We are so in love with adopting a child and raising this child up in the house of the Lord!! God is so good to us and has shown us so much through these past few months that I could only wish that others that are lost could find!! I pray to God everyday that would happen!! Praise God for given us the patience, time and courage to go on this journey!! So many questions have been asked of us about adopting and why would we do this? Y'all have it made, you have everything!! We don't have everything, knowing that we are doing this work for God means much more than any ole' thing to us!! What about Carson and Hailey, what do they think? They are older and you are going to have to start all over. Yea, God had to start all over with us too!! He did not give up on us, he kept pushing us and showing his love for us!! That is exactly what we want to do for this child. Carson and Hailey are being taught through the love of Christ what this is all about!! They are included in everything that we do, from fundraising to prayers!! I love them so much, that I would do anything for them, just as Christ would do for us!! I don't consider myself a mom of 2 anymore, I consider my self a mom of 3, 2 natural and 1 supernatural!!

I have learned this week more than anything that being a Christian is hard!! But, every step off the way that we are getting closer to this adoptions is so worth it!! Our relationship with the Lord is growing more and more each day and we are loving it!!! Thank you Jesus for loving us and trusting in us!! How great you are!!!!

A verse that I just read from a cousin of mine on facebook is so fitting!!!

Here I am!! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

Wow!! How awesome is that!!

Until next time, Blessings and Love!!

Julie