We Prayed Hard for 2010. . .

. . . nothing moved forward with our Kyrg adoption this year, so we were pretty much solely focused on the domestic that we started several months ago. But 2010 was coming to a close and as December began, our hopes were waning a bit, and we just tried to think ahead more and say, "Ok, God, if 2010 was not meant to be, then pretty please at least before our home study expires (spring 2011)???" :)

But December was not over yet, and we knew that a call about a domestic baby could still come at any point. So we kept praying for something to happen in December. Never would've thought it would've been about a toddler boy in Africa!

Well, Saturday December 11 we learned of a waiting child with another agency, and the agency was trying to find a family for him. Saw it on Facebook, actually. An adoption friend had posted a copied-and-pasted status.

So this boy is a "waiting child", meaning the agency already has that child "available" and has no family match for him. Many times a "waiting child" has a special need (minor or major), and he does have a manageable medical special need that we've already researched for a long time and is on our list of special needs we know we can say yes to. That's a big reason we felt like we should inquire about this one.

When a situation catches our eye, we feel like we should at least ask some questions because obviously, we have no idea what God wants to do with our family through adoption! We always knew, too, if we departed from the main tracks we were on (with Kyrg and with one domestic agency), it'd probably be because of a particular situation of a child who didn't have a family yet. . . Versus the typical process of just starting from scratch with a new country, waiting for a referral, etc.

So after seeing my friend's FB status about the toddler boy, I inquired to the contact person. She is the case worker for a reputable agency we already know about, so that aspect didn't require any further researching.

We kept asking questions about the process, the requirements, the fees, etc. Usually when we start asking questions, there's something that makes it obvious that it wouldn't work right now. There was nothing that didn't make sense logistically and from all other angles about this situation.

So, we knew we'd have a BIG decision to make, and quickly. . . since the agency would keep actively trying to find a family for him.

After a zillion emails back and forth with the case worker, praying a lot, talking a lot. . . a couple days later on the following Tuesday night we emailed her back to tell her YES we want to move forward!

I'll stop there for now and write more of what commenced in the following days--pretty much miraculous paperchasing! :)

So long 2010. . .

. . . and probably "so long last Christmas picture with only two kids in it!"

More on that to come soon!

God's Silence

I've never heard more powerful, life-changing words on God's silence. Exactly what I needed to stumble upon the other day. Perfect words for our journey, when we've wondered so many times why God seems to be remaining silent. We know our prayers are not wrong, and we know God answers prayers. . . so uh, hey God, did you forget us? Are we doing something wrong? What are you waiting for?

Now we praise Him for His silence, with deeper understanding.

From After God's Silence, p. 618-620 of The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers. Ellipses are mine.

It is quite true that God does not answer some prayers because they are wrong, but that is so obvious that it does not need a revelation from God to understand it. God wants us to stop understanding in the way we have understood and get into the place He want us to get into, i.e., He wants us to know how to rely on Him.

God's silences are His answers. If we only take as answers those that are visible to our senses, we are in a very elemental condition of grace. . . Has God trusted us with a silence, a silence that is absolutely big with meaning? That is His answer. The manifestation will come in a way beyond any possibility of comprehension.

Look back and think of the prayers you thought had not been answered, but now you find God has answered them with a bigger manifestation than you ever dreamed. God has trusted you in the most intimate way He could trust you, with an absolute silence, not of despair but of pleasure, because He saw you could stand a much bigger revelation than you had at the time.

If we always want to be able to point to something and say, "This is the way God answered my prayer," God cannot trust us yet with His silence. [. . . ] His silence is big with terrific meaning that you cannot understand yet, but presently you will. Time is nothing to God. Prayers were offered years ago and God answered the soul with silence; now He is giving the manifestation of the answer in a revelation that we are scarcely able to comprehend.

One wonderful thing about God's stillness in connection with your prayers is that He makes you still, makes you perfectly confident, the contagion of Jesus Christ's stillness gets into you--"I know He has heard me"--and His silence is the proof He has heard.

. . . it does not mean that He is displeased, but exactly the opposite, He is bringing us into the great run of His purpose, and the answer will be an amazing revelation. . . As long as we have the idea only that God will bless us in answer to prayer, He will do it, but He will never give us the grace of a silence. . . The devil calls it unanswered prayer. . . God will give us the blessings we want if we won't go any further, but His silence is the sign that He is bringing us into this marvellous understanding of Himself.

Waiting, Praying, Enduring {Oswald Chambers}

Reading Oswald Chambers always gives my heart/soul/mind a good wallop.

In a refreshing, encouraging, and powerful way.

Below are some words of Chambers' that have struck deeper than ever lately.

from The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers

The Curriculum of Intercession, p. 616-617

[. . .] get upon this tower with God, and watch and wait. The meaning of waiting in both the Old and New Testament is "standing under," actively enduring. It is not standing with folded arms doing nothing; it is not saying, "In God's good time it will come to pass"--that often means in my abominably lazy time I let God work. Waiting means standing under, in active strength, enduring till the answer comes.

Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer. When God made a tremendous promise to Abraham, he thought out the best way of helping God to fulfill His promise ad did the wisest thing he knew according to flesh and blood common-sense reasoning. But for thirteen years God never spoke to him until every possibility of his relying on his own intelligent understanding was at an end. [. . . ] Over and over again God has to teach us how to stand and endure, watching actively and wondering.

My brother, my sister, can God do what He likes in your life? Can He help Himself liberally to you? Can He take you up and put you down? Can He introduce His schemes through you, and never tell you the reason why? Can He make you a spectacle to men and angels, as He did Job, without giving you any explanation? Can He make you a wonder to yourself and to others, while He gives you the implicit child-like understanding that somehow or other things are working out all right?

Mumford and Sons {Good for My Soul}

Mumford and Sons. Love love love. We're pretty much obsessed right now. :)

Many of their lyrics are pretty powerful for me right now, especially in light of our 3+ year adoption journey. When I've finished listening to some of their lyrics, their driving, inspiring compositions that seem to have such a triumphant ending. . . I'm even more spurred on to keep my stake stuck in the ground and keep on fighting for the cause of the fatherless, to hold on to hope, to live my life as it's meant to be. . .. Sounds corny, I know. . .oh well. It's hard to put in words, but that's what music is for, right? To help express the inexpressible.

Here's a couple favorites. I set them to start part way through the songs at our favorite parts with our favorite lyrics.

Roll Away Your Stone by Mumford and Sons (lyrics below):

It seems as all my bridges have been burned,
You say that’s exactly how this grace thing works
It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive at the restart. . .

. . . Stars hide your fires,
These here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around

And so, I’ll be found with my stake stuck in the ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul.

But you, you’ve come too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine

The Cave by Mumford and Sons (lyrics below):



Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand

So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

Alaska to Africa Merchandise! Free Shipping!

All proceeds benefit Drawn from Water, so claim some of these quick for meaningful, unique, beautiful gifts!

Follow this link.

Quantities are limited for the free immediate shipping.

However, you can always place a custom order with Pat and Melissa at www.alaskaafrica.blogspot.com.

Check out their stuff. Seriously people, it's amazing work!

And it's all for the cause of orphans/widows!

New Header

If you're reading this in a reader, click over to view.

Don't expect to be impressed, just thought I'd let ya know.

I don't know how to do "real" headers. . .just did this on Scrapblog.

The Art of the Popcorn Garland, and Our Tree

The kids made popcorn garland for our tree--what fun!

Did you ever do that as a kid (or adult)?

Here's our little 4-foot tree. Our first one!

I was happy to see how utterly delighted they were with our itty-bitty tree.

Calvin sat in front of it before bed time and said he could sit there and stare at it all night.

That was before ornaments or garland or the star was on it--just the lights. :)

I enjoy trying to keep things simple in our lives.

Especially during this time of year which gets crazy fast and that's the worst time to feel like life is chaotic, don't you think? Bleh.

Some day we may have a "real" tree, but this is juuuuust fine for now--free, easy, no big deal taking it down or putting it up, and just one little way we could practice a little simplicity and being content with a little less.

I found the star topper at the thrift store--can't quite tell if it's true vintage, but it has the look. It's blinding in the picture but it's so kinda-retro-cute in person, with some tinsel-y accents on it.

So, making your own popcorn garland is fairly simple but there are some tricks to it we discovered that would make it even easier.

Decide if your kid is capable of poking a needle through popcorn in a fairly responsible manner. Yeah, they might poke themselves, probably just once (my theory proved right--one time each, no harm done), probably won't even bleed.

Be prepared for your kids to get tired of it after awhile and to put lots of time into finishing it yourself!

Tip #1: Use day-old stove-top popcorn. Much less breakage since it has more moisture content. You can use freshly popped popcorn, which we did, but I wish I would've waited a day. The section I did the day after went soooo much faster.

Tip #2: I knotted the tail and main part of the thread together after threading the needle so that it'd just stay put while the kids strung popcorn. . . I'm sure I would have had to re-thread it a zillion times otherwise.

Tip #3: Tie a button on the end of the thread so that no popcorn slides off the end of the thread as you add popcorn to the string and slide it down.

Tip #4: You can hold the popcorn between your fingers and push the needle through, like Fallyn's doing here, but Calvin quickly figured out a better way. . .

. . . Just put the popcorn on the table then push the needle through.

Much less breakage, much easier and more efficient!

So cute and kinda nostalgic-looking, and the kids are so pleased with their project!

It took a considerable amount of time to make enough for our little tree, and I didn't even go all the way around--just wound it from side to side.

But, I like the look of it so much I would be willing to put a lot of time in to make it long enough for a big tree some day.

I'd pop in a movie or something!

The Test of a True Neill {and Thanksgiving}

Look how HAPPY they all are! It's always funny to see how excited those 3 are about eating smoked oysters together every year.

Justin, Shari, and I married into the family, but you won't ever see us joining in the consuming of the disgusting special treat.

Fallyn is all Neill--she polished off an entire can last year!

We allow them their fun, but only outside. And with forewarnings that there will be no romantic cuddling for at least 12 hours!

I found out that Rick apparently has a secret ritual for masking the odor when I'm away and he sneaks some inside our house!

Power to ya Rick, Lesley, and James. . . but, no thanks. :)

Really, though, it's kinda cute to see how excited they all get about their Neill tradition. :)

Other snaps from Thanksgiving at James and Shari's:

Uncle Justin and Calvin

The 4 of us

Fallyn's Kyrgyz wool felt flower clip. Perfect match for the dress!

Justin and Rick hanging out with the newest addition to the extended family. . . a special little guy. 2nd toddler from the left--the one looking straight at the camera. That's B and we think he was the best part of our trip!

Pablo Candy-Finger at the Craft Show {and how you can help}

Calvin did his first craft show yesterday with me. I was proud of his hard work--he was there 8 am - 5 pm!

This is what he's using his next round of "orphan money" for:

Who can resist that??!! :)

If you'd like to help the effort by purchasing cards or magnets from Calvin, you can email me at kendraneill @ gmail . com and let me know how many you'd like. Suggested $2/item, or more if you'd like! It's all for a good cause!

We can package cards together if you'd like a set of 4, 6, 8, or however many to give as a cute, meaningful gift for someone on your Christmas list!

He has many originals (his actual drawings on notecards), plus some that were professionally printed by a printer in town who donated the time and materials for free!

This rack shows the 8 designs that the printer did for Calvin, so we have several of these designs:

Calvin at his booth in his favorite vest:

This is included on the back of the cards:

Close-up of half of the printed cards:

The other half:

Some of his shrinky-dink magnet designs:

Under his table, drawing Buddy Bear:

Shop for Great Gifts for a Great Cause!

Hey everyone, I'm going to set up my Sugarplum Boutique shop at this event on Saturday, and Calvin is going to sell his Pablo Candy-Finger Cards! Please stop by and see us, and please buy one of Calvin's sweet little cards, would ya? :) He wants to use the "orphan money" this time to help orphans in Kyrgyzstan have a special Christmas. The entire holiday bazaar is a benefit for missions (a trip to the Domincan Republic to an orphanage), so please save some of your holiday gift shopping for Saturday, and buy meaningful gifts for a great cause!

There's even a Kids Zone, so if you need a few hours to run errands around town, you can have a moms-day-out for a donation!

HOLIDAY BAZAAR
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
8 am – 5 pm

Unique and wonderful Christmas Gifts!
Dozens of vendors will be offering a broad range of items!• Jewelry • Ceramics
• Antiques • Salsa and Chili Blend Gift Packs
• Cosmetics • Jams and Jellies
• Ornamental Glass • Girls Accessories
• Banners • Cakes
• Poinsettias • Hand-made baby shoes
AND SO MUCH MORE!

Family Christmas Photos
Have your family’s photo taken in a fabulous Christmas setting!
Just in time to put in your
Christmas cards.

Gift Wrapping – Available ALL WEEK!
We’ll wrap ALL your gifts. Just drop them off and pick them up later.
Beautiful hand-made gift tags add a unique flare under your tree!
Gift-Wrapping Hours: (Sunday, Nov. 28 – Saturday, Dec. 4)
Sun: 3-7 pm Mon-Fri: 6-9 pm Sat: 8 am-5 pm

Holiday Bazaar Cafe
Tasty lunch and dessert items will be on sale. Plan to stay, eat and chat with friends.

SHOP WITHOUT YOUR KIDS
It’s easier to shop without the little guys in tow. All day
Saturday, Dec. 4 we’ll have a special Kids Zone where they can play games, do crafts and tons more fun stuff. We’ll feed them too! You can drop them off, shop all over town, and pick them up when you’re done! All for a donation!

For information about having your own booth at the Hope Holiday Bazaar,
contact Tara Shepherd, 316-706-5517, fish2shep@gmail.com
Hope Community Church • 1831 E. 21st Street • Andover, KS • (next to the Andover Turnpike exit)