SO THANKFUL......THANK YOU MIRACLE EAR!!!!!

Joyce received a grant for FREE hearing aids from Miracle Ear!!!!!

Romans 8:24-26

 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

A LITTLE GIRL IN CHINA NEEDS A FAMILY............

C-W

Girl, born 2005
Suzy is an outgoing little girl who enjoys playing games with other children. The other children at her institute like her very much and she is very good at socializing. Suzy was born with ichthyosis, a skin disease that covers her entire body. The orphanage staff treats her ichthyosis with ointment once a day. Her skin itches due to her condition and her caregivers say that it also makes her “afraid” of the sun. In the wintertime, the condition tends to worsen. When we asked how her condition affected her in other ways, the nannies said that in the past her gait has been abnormal, but now it is better although she still can’t run as fast as the other children. She is described as a talkative girl who speaks well and speaks a lot.
She is able to walk with one foot in front of the other, stand on one foot, and she is able to name animals and know what their sounds and behaviors were. The orphanage staff say that they haven’t sent her to school yet because she is too young, but she appears to be on target and able to complete tasks that other 5 year olds can do. She is able to do basic self-care tasks such as toileting, washing her hands, and dressing herself. What she could really use is a family who could give her the love and care that she needs and who would help her get appropriate treatment for her skin condition.
There is a total of $9800 in financial aid (made up of a $4,200 Promise Child grant for eligible families for this adoption and a $5600 waiver for the orphanage fee) — details available through the agency.

www.wacap.org

or

www.reecesrainbow.org

Little girl waiting for a family........

Psalm 91:1-2

 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress my God, in whom I trust.”

My heart is heavy for a child today that waits in Ch*na for a family.  She has a skin condition called Ichthyosis.  In her homeland she does not have hope or future.  So many things misunderstood.  She did nothing wrong and this was not a curse from the "gods".  It is a rare gentic disorder that needs treatment.  She has lived in orphanage for most of her life.  Please join me in praying for a family for this special girl in Ch*na.  Her date of birth is 11/1/2005 and her development is normal. There is a large grant offered from her agency WACAP.  If interested she is listed on www.rainbowkids.com under special needs ichthyosis and her agency contact is www.wacap.org . Let us lift "Suzy" up to God for a family, a hope, and a future.


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

Spring time near the coast a colorful sight........

Japanese Gardens

The New Normal

Time flies..................

Life is starting to settle  into a new normal.  It is such a good feeling to have our family complete for now.  If one would have asked me 20 years ago how many kids Brent and I were going to have, the answer would have been zero.  I guess I was content with the two of us, but I am so glad that God had bigger plans for our lives.  His plans are bigger and better than we could ever imagine    All of our 5 kids have unique and individual personalities.  I can't imagine them ever moving out!   When I was younger I was so self absorbed to have time for others, sad that I wasted so much time in selfishness!!!

 

 

The Lord has been reminding the pain of Job and the Egyptians and that we must be thankful for our health.  I can't imagine the pain of having boils all over one's body.  Since my return from Africa I have had 2 boils.  I can say I would go again in a heart beat even with this and my terrible sickness upon return..  We are so lucky here in the US to have access to health care and medication.  For two weeks I have nausea, sweating, and chills.  I think this is all to help me better understand what children living in orphanages and in close quarters suffer with.  The difference being that I have the love of a family and resources.  I pray that I never forget those that cannot speak for themselves.  Looking for to trip to Portland today with Sneha's new neurologist.  It is always good to have change of scenery.

1. Exodus 9:8
   [ The Plague of Boils ] Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh.
2. Exodus 9:9
   It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land.”
3. Exodus 9:10
   So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals.

Hard week, but we made it

Joyce started 1st grade on Wednesday.  Lots of adjustments in the Arnold house.  Let's just say Sneha looked like an angel before school this week.  Adoption is loss, change, redemption, and learning to have patience and love.  Some days are just one foot in front of the other.  Some are just standing one's ground.  My friend and fellow adoptive mother, Debbie Hard, says that if we can get through the first 6 months of adjustment things settle down after that and a new normal is formed.  I am hanging on to those words, and know that God placed our family together.  I find the music from GLEE a good distraction.  I am so glad that we have 5 children.  My life is never boring.  I am thankful that we have good insurance to take part in all of the resources we have here in America.  We are so blessed to live in this country!!!I think of the places I have had the privilege to travel to we have so many resources.  Elijah had life saving skull surgery.  He may not have been in this world without it.  Sneha had her ear drums repaired so she now hears the world around her, and she couldn't for the first 8 years of her life.  Not to mention seizure medication so she is alert to the world around her.  Fewer and fewer days of being in a seizure fog.  Joyce will soon be able to hear the world around her.  She will have an FM system in school so the teacher's voice will transmit directly into her hearing aide so she can learn.  So let us rejoice in this time of economic down turn, and proclaim with God all things are possible.

Happy Easter!!!! The Lord has risen indeed!