Today was a milestone day for me I actually left Josie with Carrol and the kids and went into the city with 2 other ladies to a store similiar to walmart. I was sick over the thought of her crying for me and being tramitized but guess who was the only person with the problem ,ME. She did great and I know it was good for both of us. It is always a little strange though for me when i go into guatemala city. Just the thoughts of wondering what life has been like for my little girl up to this point. I just can't imagine it or what life was like without her. It is so strange how this new person is here in our family all of a sudden but it just seems so normal. It is truely a God thing.
now let me share the goosebump moment Carrol had today. As he was standing outside talking with a missionary friend that he met in language school another guy there that is a missionary walked up to them and said, I have seen the Holy Spirit work before and you two are going to be working together on some mission project. WOW!
i am usually the one who gets goosebumps!
So I do believe that God does give people those visions so please remember us and the work God has us here.

It's my honey's Birthday!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday sweet love!!! Carrol turns 35 today Corie thought we shouldn't have to do school work today since its dads birthday ,I told her I didn't really think that would be fair since he has to go to school! Anyway we are tring to come up with something fun to do but so far no ideas.we'll see. There is a neat group of people staying here in the guarters that we live in so we may all go out and try something new. Maybe a little PGN news would even top off our day? I have put in my special request to the Lord about that.
Also it is my Precious mamaw's Birthday today. I miss her so much and will expecially miss her today. I LOVE YOU MAMAW!!!!!!!

NOTE TO FAMILY:
Hi everyone I miss you so very much, I love you and i wouldn't come home with out josie for the world, she's so sweet and smiles so big, big enough to see her "teethers" i miss you guys.i love you Mamaw "happy birthday". Nanny take good care of jessie and zippy give them extra pats. i love you everybody.!!!

LOVE,CORIE LEXIS

martha

today I finally got to get back to my normal routine and have time for my bible study, no I should say today there is always time for that i just didn't make the time. Anyway it is always so cool when you just simply make time and open your heart it just seems to always be just the words I need to hear. Here is what spoke to me this morning. Again i am reading "having a Mary heart in a Martha world"
To those helpless under the weight of the Law, christ became a Burden Bearer: "Come unto me all you heavy laden and I will give you rest"(Matthew 11:28) But to lose who put their faith in their religious accomplishments,he added yet another load:One thing YOU lack,Jesus told the rich young ruler."go see everything you have and give to the poor.... Then come Follow Me!(Mark 10:21) Jesus knew that sooner or later there burdens would be to heavy to to bear alone.and He would be there.
Jesus stripped away all the traditions of men, the layers of do and dont's that had hidden the face of God. "This is who God is," Look and see! He loves you.
that is what Jesus was telling Martha that busy afternoon. "your worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed. And what was that one thing? Not cooking or cleaning or doing good works, but knowing god. listening to him. leaving the kitchen long enough to experience the intimate fellowship of the living room.
( this is what I believe the Lord is doing for us here making or allowing us to leave everthing else and seek him)
What will we do when told we've missed out on the best God has for us?
It's hard to ignore the Love of Jesus!!!! I believe that is exactly what happened to Martha. I believe she followed her Masters leading. She bent her knees and found his feet. she let God DUMP HER WAGON, SO LOADED WITH CARE, THEN ALLOWED HIM TO FILL IT WITH HIS PRESENCE.
Only then did Martha let go of her lengthy list of to-dos and began doing the one thing that was needed, Did she begin to give God what he really wants.

Try to catch up

Josie has been just alittle demanding lately so i haven't been a very good blogger. we also had to change apartments yesterday. that is guite and adjustment. we went from a very large roomy confortable apartment to a apartment that is about the size of my living room at home. we didn't have any problems we knew we would have to move the apartment we were in was already reserved before we made our arrangements. So we are also getting a lesson on practical things life living with no vehicle, no roomy house and let's not forget no copenhagen. (carrol is livable though, he is surviving even though he thought he might not)
We attended our first church service as a family Sunday, that was a special time and let me tell you alittle about that. One day when we were still home
I actually typed in the wrong web address and come across the blog of the pastor i have on my blog. I still really didn't pay much attention to it I just saved it just in case. well one day walking down the street i saw the pastor of that church getting on his motorcycle. after that we talked about it we really knew we needed to have our kids in church so we would just give it a try. well let me tell you that was definatly a God ordained moment, not a accident i found that blog.
TO MY FAMILY;
being here rest assured we are in the arms of the Lord. It is so amazing how he keeps reveiling himself in so many little details.
As far as our case , no word still we are still waiting for final signature. My agency did call today which always makes my heart stop telling me to go now as in right then and have a passport picture of her made. I had a really good feeling about that ASAP. Let me tell you it was an adorable picture.
Christian and Corie are doing good. Christian is running a fever today though. Not sure why and corie is having a little mommie one on one time withdrawls but
overall they are happy and still enjoying it here.
Carrol is out now doing some MR.fix-it job for Mr. Paul here and Mrs.Ruth asked me to give her a haircut so I guess you could say were settling in.

Beginning to feel the presense of bigger things going on

Today has been a nice day, no school no responsibility.I personally am about to need just a little mommy alone time. The adjustment from mommy 2 to 3, a stay at home mom, a homechool mom, and living in a foreign country, all at once I beleive at least deserves a pedicure or a massage or maybe even a nap by myself what cha think. Boohoo right.
We did alittle different sightseeing today we looked at properties which Carrol loves to do, that was neat. the Lord is sturing here definatly and we would ask for your prayers now for his specific guidence and will for us in this country.
As far as adoption update no word. We just have to consider the blessing of being here now with her instead of at home fretting.

Wow! This week has flown. I guess 3 kids and homeschooling are definatly making the time fly. Carrol seems to be enjoying his school and was actually able to use some spanish on the street yesterday. We are beginning to learn our way around here finally and it is just amazing the beautiful views. We are definatly getting our exercise around here having to walk everywhere we go,I coulnd't hardly even walk on my legs this morning and I thought I was in shape. we did walk more yesterday than we have and alot of the time I was carring Josie because we had to be creative and use her stroller as our shopping cart for groceries. The grocery store is many, many blocks from here and we have to carry our groceries back.
We did have a fun day though.
Josie is wonderful of course but she I guess now is settling in with us and shows us she definatly knows how to through temper tantrums. The kind she screams till she throws-up or falls down on the floor. Reality check for me with a 2 year old.On a good side though I can tell she is really starting to understand us when we talk. That's good. And of course she so darn cute we still can't get enough of her

For Nanny your special request

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

God's timely voice

I am learning that God will use the appropriate means to reveal His will in His timing. when it is time for us to know, we will. Much of the heartache and frustration I have encountered in discerning God's voice came because I wanted it before God was ready to give it. I wasn't willing to trust God's timing in revealing His plans for me. I tried to place time constraints on God.
The Father is still trying to patiently remind me that his timing is always the best. His timing for us just makes me think What if we had missed Josie and what if we would have missed getting to be here in her country. We are so blessed. So yes God's time is perfect!
James 16:12 " I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."
We have learned personally that God does wait till he knows you ready not when your ready.

Busy day

Today has been a busy day around here. First of all we slept late, ( I know you feel sorry for us) and then we had another day of school. We have almost got that figured out. And Carrol says his brain is tired from so much spanish. Then we finally got to meet with I think an attorney and translater to do our legal stuff for fostering. We had to verify a picture of the birthmom which always makes me feel alittle weird and we had to give information about us to register in the new Central Authority, bettter safe than sorry, we are not positive if we need to or what that will mean we pray no delays. We also got to ask a few guestions about the birthmom. They said she is just a young women to poor to raise a child and that we will have no problems getting her to sign off on our documents to atlast make Josie legally ours. That was just really good to hear. I just can't imagine giving upi such a beautiful blessing as Josie.

Next, she did confirm that we should be signed out at PGN very soon. She works there and says that she checks on this case daily. (thanks for your prayers I feel God moving in this) And for everyone else waiting to exit PGN they did say cases in there should move alittle quicker.

Thank you

I just wanted to send a special Thanks for everyone that has signed our guest book. I love the pictures it definatly reminds me what special people are in our lives. Thanks so much for being so supportive of our journey to welcome God's addition to our lives. ( for those who may not know when we decided to name her Josie is was because I felt she needed a special name and my mom's name was Jocile. Little did we know, if this isn't another proof of God in this adoption) my mom looked up the meaning to Josie and it honestly meant "God's Addition" Isn't that awesome. Back to what I was saying though, thanks for your prayers and all your sweet words that make me cry everytime I read them. thanks for loving us.
Carrol, Mica, Christian, Corie, and Josie

A little update

Today we started our first day back in school. The kids got to do theirs here in the house with their pajamas still on. They thought that was a pretty cool deal. Carrol' s was a little intimidating as to be expected and he came home with HOMEWORK. So they definatly want to teach you spanish while your here. He will also be going on field trips to learn the most of the culture and the language so thats cool.

A little update on our adoption process I have not wanted to talk about it to much so that I wouldn't worry. My plan is to let God have control and I know for a fact he has done a great job so far. But against Carrol's opinion (I am bad to do that) I called PGN today and because I have been there and done that I am not sure what to think expecially with our case but I was told our case was waiting to be signed. So if you could please lift us up specifically for an approved signature God speed it would be greatly appreciated. January 30 marks 8 months in PGN that is ridiculous for what should take more than 2 weeks max. So it is time!!!

1 week past already

We 'll we have been here a week now and knock on wood no yucky stomach bug, which Carrol has gotten each time we are here. we are eating here at home most of the time though because for one the money situation and secondly their food isn't always worth paying the money for and we just prefer our U.S. food. Last night I got a real craving though to be able to get in my car and go get chinese food. Today though we had Dominio's pizza and I believe that was the most well spent money yet.

Josie had her first bad accident last night , she fell on the coffee table and busted her mouth. I thought we were all going to have a cry fest. Bless her little heart , she was having the best night yet I believe, but she just had alittle too much fun and is alittle clumsy.

We have one very important prayer reguest though......... Carrol is going to have to try to quit dipping copenhagen today , he is out and he was stressed just knowing he was out so please remember the kids and I as we are stuck here with him in close guarters with no escape!!!!!!!!

Missing everyone, Love, Mica

Many times God will sovereignly take us on a journey to the fulfillment of His word to us, but whether the result is instant or gradual, God shows His authority.

Sheer proof she belongs to us!

She has her sisters Dimple.

She has her brothers flat feet.

She is left handed like her dad.

She has to twirl her hair to fall asleep like her mom.

So what other proof do you need?

God knew what he was doing!

Bath time cutie

Check out this doll. She is always smiling. She has to be one of the happiest babies I have ever been around. She has a another great day every day gets better and better. One thing that makes me a little sad is that although I know she hears everything we say I know that she really don't understand it all because of the language barrier, her language will be just like starting as an infant and I guess maybe that just hit me. She does seem to follow right along and I know it won't be no time before she knows just what we are saying.

Beautiful Day here in Antigua

Not to rub it in too much but the weather here today is absolutely amazing all I am missing is the waves rolling in. I sat out about 30 minutes today and I am burnt. Mrs. Ruth ,the lady that owns this place said, you know this is tropical sun you might want to get in the shade but me being the sun lover that I am didn't listen.

Anyway Carrol ,Christian, and Corie went to the market again today as well as the bank, which is an experience in itself, I really can't believe he did that, and to register for school. It is so funny how nervous that is making him. But he is such a perfectionist and this he is going into blind and it is driving him crazy. This is funny! He said at the language school the lady said, coma es tas, and he said right back ,coma es tas, which means how are you! he said she just politely just answered him, muy bein.That tickeled me but embarrassed him to death. he said she now knows he definatly needs some teaching.

We also met another couple here that are just coming to serve as missionaries in Panjancal, Guatemala and are fixing to start language school as well.

Now for another funny, this is what Corie brougt back from the trip out this morning, She said, Mom, that lady was feeding her baby right there in front of everyone with nothing over her. which I told her was custom hear that it was o.k. Then she said , and mom there was a man that just peed right on the street!

What experiences right!

Josie, I guess is becoming more and more adjusted I guess and boy does she have and attitude. She can tell the kids a thing or two. She is the Boss!

Again I just want to share the presence of God here and express how thankful we are for this experience.

I am reading the book "having a Mary heart in a Martha world" and anyone that knows me know that I am definatly a Martha. Here is a part I would like to share with you.

What is it about us women that creates such a desperate need in us to always 'know" to always 'understand"? We want an itinerary for our life, and when God doesn't immediatly produce one, we set out to write our own.

well this decribes me to a tee, but the one thing that is the most evident to me right now. Is God's plans are better than anything I could have wrote!

note from Corie

JOSIE IS SO SWEAT AND MAKES TONS OF MOUTH NOISES ITS SO FUNNY SHE HAS A CUTE SMILE AND BRUSHES HER OWN TEETH BY HER SELF SHE LOVE TO PLAY PHASE10 AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE HER ALL OF THE CARDS SHE THROUGH A TEMPER TANTRUM BUT SHES STILL SWEAT AS CAN BE.

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Job 42:5

I Have heard of You,by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You! Job 42:5

One of God's greatest desires is to make Himself known to us and lead us into a more intimate relationship with him. throughout the Bible He demonstrates His desire to have a friendship with us. He is not as much interested in us reaching our destination as He is in the knowledge of Him we gain while we are on the JOURNEY. He wants us to know Him.
When God instructs us to do something based on our knowledge of Him, He moves our relationship from mental to Experimental. God doesn't just want us to hear about him but to experience him in our lives.
This is truly what my family is being blessed to do, Experience God. And it is Awesome. We just sit this morning looking out our apartment lookin at the beautiful landscape and and feeling the breeze blow through the window and hearing all 3 of our children playing and all we could say is "Ain't God Good"
Without the knowledge of God obedience to him would have been more difficult, if not impossible. The more you believe about who God is and what he is able to do, the more willing you will be to obey what he asks.
When Carrol and I were making our final decision whether to come and foster Josie taking the risk of not knowing when we could come home, and the worries of danger for our family, and definatly finacial, the decision came down to the fact that we just didn't want to miss what God had for us and always wonder. So now believe me when I say the Lord is always worth the risk. This is the most amazing thing being here in Guatemala that I could have ever imagined.

MY CUP OVERFLOWETH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

great day

We have had a great first day as a family today. We took our first little trip today to a Macadamian farm and let me rub it in a little Corie and I both had mini facials and massage from a very sweet Mayan lady, it was great. Josie's is just a doll and Heaven sent. It is also so nice having a big brother and sister to help out in chasing her!She is very full of energy.

She's Here

They finally showed up with her around 8:00 this evening and she just looked beautiful. Everything went very well with the foster mother although she was very sad the transition went very well and josie even hugged her good bye and came right back to me. It so amazing how she just seems to have always been with us and she loves the kids and is playing with them even now at 10:30....... but were just so happy to have her here and no more going back.

I am about to explode

well let me tell you I am so thankful this is the last time I will be waiting on them to bring my daughter to me! It was 7:00p.m. and no sign of Josie finally we got word there must have been some miscumunication(or however you spell it) but they are in route and should be here in just a few minutes. I will say I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my skin. I just can't imagine how the foster family must be feeling right now. what is such a exciting time for us has to be so heartbreaking for them. I am just sick having to face them it makes me so nervous. They have been a blessing in our life that will never be able to be repayed by us. So here we go January 14th Josie will be with us for good!

yesterday's pictures

we're here

We are here and things are so amazing.We had a wonderful flight,great transportation and Antigua is a beautiful place. The house we are staying in is very roomy I am amazed but not suprised at the peace we feel being here. The kids are loving it too. Christian had a great 13th birthday one I am sure he will always remember. Josie will be here this afternoon and my family will be complete. As they all say it just seems like yesterday this journey begin but I do remember the desperate heartache but let me tell you allowing us to be here the Lord just put icing on the cake!

Psalm 37:4
Delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

God's Favor

I know that we should never be suprised in God's Favor but today it has been poured out on us and I am in awe!
First, today I got a call from my agency telling me that they would bring the baby to us where we will be renting instead of us having to spend and extra couple hundred dollars to stay at the hotel. This way we can also get settled in before the baby comes rather than back and unpack.God worked out that detail. And if that wasn't enough. I just got a phone call of a personal invitation from Shoahannah's Hope to have a private concert and dinner with STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN!!!!!!! sad thing is the date was or is while we are gone.I am so sad ,but she said there will be another one March 11 and let me tell you I can't imagine how awesome that would be if we could attend this with our baby. I just can't get over it, so I guess if God wants us to attend he'll have us home right!!!!!!
Monday Josie will be in our arms Forever

Prayer Please

Please remember us in your prayers today. With 2 days left and all this last minute details I am becoming a nervous wreck.Today most specifically about my kids school work and going into this schooling them myself, I feel so blind. I would say that this is the most stressing for me. That's crazy isn't it. Anyway not long now.

Not long now

January 10th already, I can't believe it, when I saw that date today it's just weird! Anyway yes only 3 days left and although I am so excited especially after being in church last night and saying goodbye to everyone reality started to set in, we are definatly starting a very big journey and I just can't help but to have anxiety I am good with being in Guatemala,not to nervous about that our having my children there but I am alittle nervous about going not knowing when we can come home. Adopting Josie is a leap of faith but for me this is bigger going to a foreign country just on faith and knowing for what ever reason God wants us there, well that's alittle scarier. It is probably my first real experience with "whereever you lead I will follow" and I am not saying that to brag but to a point we are just having to let go so that the Lord can fulfill his promise of bringing Josie home and I am so thankful that he has built me enough over these last 15 months so that we are prepared to do this.

Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will Delight in you,He will guiet you with his Love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

I know that the Lord gave me this verse today as comfort knowing he is delighted that we are going, and he will ease my anxiety with his Love and he is rejoicing with song that we are finally going to be with our daughter!!!!!!!!

personal

More Often than not we have seen God at work in our lives, preparing us for this beautiful part of His plan,even if we didn't understand his timing.

Isaiah 45:3
I will give you treasures hidden in darkness-secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Isreal, The one who call you by name.

We Love you Josie

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Count down

We are definatly on count down as of today, this time next week we will be in Guatemala celebrating my oh so special son's 13th birthday. What a birthday to remember right! I just can't believe my baby is now about to be 13 it just reminds me that this time without Josie will only be as if it were a blink of an eye when she is placed in our arms next week. I don't know if it is becuase I am getting older or just I hate to see my kids growing so fast but I know for sure from this point on I definatly want to slow down, smell the roses as they say because we only have a kids for a short while and I don't want to miss a thing! Everyday I am amazed how blessed I am!

Facing the Giants

I don't know just how many times i have watched "Facing the Giants" but each time it seems to touch my heart more and more. I just feel like you could just put us in the movie and the story would still remain the same. I am so glad I serve such a big God and it is overwelming to see his action up close. I too am overwelmed.He is so big and mighty and greater than any of us can imagine in our own mind.

A few months ago I went to a womens conference and the title was something like finding the Princess in you and the speaker reminded us. "You are a daugter of the KING!" All day today as they post more scary news on the Guatemala homefront that is what has been on my mind. Don't forget you are a daughter of the KING and the daughter of the king always will receive the favor of the Lord.

Thank you Jesus!

8 more days till our lives will be forever changed with our baby Girl!

New Years resolutions

As we all know the #1 New Years resolution is to lose wait. Well for about the past 2 or 3 months my sister-in-law and I have been getting up around 5:00 a.m. (yes really) to work out and because I don't work early it gave me time to then do my bible study of a morning while my house was still nice and guiet. You have probably been told that if you spend or dedicate just a little specific time for just you and God it will make such a difference in your day, well that is so true and I will say that is exactly what saved me in these last few months of such an extreme rollercoaster ride. Now it almost feels like food I have to have it to make it and I am truely Thankful for that.

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.

11days

Oh my goodness!!!!! 11 more days until were off, a week and a half all of the sudden it is hitting me and I just thought these last 2 weeks would drag,yeh right! Anyway we still have a few more technical things to do like finishing up are homestudy update because of the holidays it proved to be very hard to get things done expecially to my speed but I will say I have had one really special social worker that I wouldn't trade for anything so atleast I can rest knowing that she will be here if I were to run into any problems. We also have to just get final details from my agency then I guess were good on those sort of things hopefully.
Then besides that stuff we just have things like: go to the denist, have a going away party for my kids and their friends, make sure my kids get to spend time with extended family before being gone for a while, go see my new family members;my brother sweet new little twin boys and my princess neice, try to have a date night with my true love(yes my husband) clean house get packed, have a early b-day party for my son and his grandma,shish I'm tired already!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah get my kids school work ready from their school so they can be gone 2 months atleast now everyone's stress right!
Good news is though in 11 days our family will be complete and I will get to rest in beautiful Guatemala until we come home as a family of 5 Yippee!!!!!!!!!!