Trusting for the Little Things

Last night I had a conversation with someone their adoption paperwork and we began to discuss how important it is to truly trust God.

She said something that really hit me. (Up side the head of course)

Why is it that you can trust God that the Sun will rise in the mornings and the Moon and Stars come out at night but you can't trust him to give you the closest parking spot to the door on a rainy day?

What is the difference? Doesn't it require us to have the same faith?

Do you get up in the mornings and stand up out of bed? You are trusting your legs to hold you up, aren't you? How is that trust any different than trusting God for supplying our needs, healing us, or providing for us financially?

Trust is the Easiest thing to do and the Hardest all at the same time.

If you are facing something and there is doubt in your thoughts, who do you trust? You or God.

The adoption process and the wait is a roller coaster ride for many. Personally, I love ROLLER COASTERS so I can either worry when I'm headed down or I can smile and get excited because I know I'm head right back up.

It's really all in how you choose to look at things. You may be in a situation where there are feelings of doubt and if that is the case just remember what it's like to ride that roller coaster. It's scary one minute but within seconds you'll be laughing your head off.

Trust God for the little things and the big. Sit back and relax and enjoy the ride. You are not in control of where it is going to take you, He is. So let Him drive, you're enjoy the ride a whole lot better if you do. If not you will spend all your time worry about something you can control any way.

We are at peace with this adoption process because we are Trusting HIM and not us and we know that God loves my girls much more than we do and He will see to it that they are in our home not a minute later than He wants them to be.

Are you Trusting Him today? Really Trusting Him or are you trying to control things on your own?

God Bless you and keep praying for us. It’s your prayers that is paving the way for us.

Angie

My Box has arrived

Oh my, I think I have aged 10 years in the last week waiting on this box to arrive this morning.

It's finally here and all documents were stamped and sent back.

We're on our way now...

Let me explain the process so you can be praying in agreement.

Terry and I will take this paperwork to Nicaragua on Saturday. On Monday we have to have the officials in Nicaragua put their seal of approval on just the papers not the content then on Tuesday morning we will take our Official looking documents to Mi Familia so that their staff can go through it with a fine tooth comb.

Typically, Mi Familia finds things wrong with every one's paperwork the first time around. It's not really that they are just looking for problems as much as it is they want to cover themselves. Just think if the lives of children were in your hands. Wouldn't you be thorough?

Once that is done and based on the outcome all those documents get sent to another group that meet twice a month. Our daughters have to first be declared abandon and once that paperwork is complete then we go on the list to be reviewed. Once we get the big YES they can adopt the adoption process REALLY begins.

This is what I expect to happen and will be praying, this is what I need you to pray also.

Thank you Father that Your favor is on my life.

Thank you that my paperwork is in order and if something is out of place you will fix it.

Thank you for allowing me to meet with Dr. Artola (a Christan at Mi Familia) and have her review my paperwork.

Thank you for perfect timing in everything. You are never late.

Thank you for reminding me why I am doing this and that you are in control, NOT me...

Thank you for protection as we fly to Nicaragua.

Thank you for my salvation and the opportunity to serve you through bringing Carmen and Isamar to our home.

Thank you Father for your son Jesus.

Amen..

My Life That's in a Box...

Do you believe in God's Favor?

I do.... and I live my life expecting it.

2 Corinthians 6:2For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

He tells us here that NOW is the time of God's favor. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy it. Well God showed me some serious favor this week with my paperwork for the adoption.

I have called the NC State Department and for days and days I got no one. This week I had to know exactly how to package all this information and so I tried calling them again. Once the phone rang I just told God, "Ok God, you know I need to talk to someone" and that someone answered the phone. Finally, I got a human. Not just any human, a Christian one. Ms. Dupree.

I told her what I was doing and that I would be sending all my documents the next day. She assured me she would handle them for me and get them out the door to the next location as soon as possible.

Well, long story short. She received them and there was something wrong with ALL 26 of them. It was minor but very important. I called back yesterday and spoke to her and she told me that technically she was to reject them and send them back to me BUT because she knew how important they were and my situation of time she bent the rules and sent them on their way. You can not imagine what that meant to me. If she had sent them back we would not be leaving next Saturday.

What were the chances I would not only get an understanding person on that end but a Christian lady who said she would be praying for me?

God’s Favor is all around you. Look for it and acknowledge it when you see it.

Stop saying, "Can you believe that?" or Wow! Aren’t I lucky.. There's no luck with God...

Monday is the next big day. The Nicaragua Consulate office has to stamp everything on Monday and send it back on Tuesday. Let's pray that person finds no issues.

Stay Tuned..

Angie

The Girls at the House of Rose

The clothes are starting to come in and I'm having a hay day.

Ms. Lisa found me 30+ pairs of the cutest undies.. There's no such thing as being in the right place at the right time with God... He knows what He is doing.

I'm so excited, it's like that day you buy the toy your child has been wanting and talking about for months and they are impossible to get but you found one. My stomach gets in knots just thinking about the look on their faces when they see these cool clothes and stuff.

I still need 3 more families if you are interested. I will buy for them and have already did some but would much rather someone other than me bless these girls. I can't wait for them to see your faces on your pictures. It will be so special to them.

God blessed me last night with other things to take to them.

I went to the BiLo on Belhaven and all their stuffed animals and candy was 75% off. The new manager their remembered me from a long time ago and after a chat he told me if I would bring him a letter he would give me enough gift certificates to cover any money I spent.

Sweet...

I got 16 hears that hang on your bed post that say "I Love You" on them, 20+ packs of crayons, 3 packs of 20 pencils with hearts on them and 14 beautiful soft stuffed animals and most importantly CANDY...

God is good, he cares about the little things in life just as much as the big things.

Those children at the House of Rose are precious in his sight. I can see the smile on His face just watching us pick out the clothes for these girls.

If you have not seen them yet, check out the pictures from Christmas by clicking here.

Remember, I have to have everything by the 29th. I leave on the 1st.

God Bless,
Angie

Update on the Adoption

This has truly been the craziest, most hectic week I have had in a long time.

In order to adopt you have to pretty much put your life on paper. We had to have background checks, fingerprints, a homestudy, a psychological exam, medical records, financial records, if it was a record I had to have it.

It has taken since October to complete this process and I had to put several thousand dollars worth of paperwork in the hands of FedEx yesterday. That was the most uncomfortable feeling. Would they lose it? Would they crush the box and all my papers fall out? You name it I thought it.

After a long day of getting it ready to go out the door I made it to the FedEx dropoff with very few minutes to spair. The man at the counter probably thought I was crazy because I keep talking to the box my papers were in. Outloud... It's a wonder he didn't call the Patty Wagon to pick me up.

I bet I asked that man 10 times are you sure this is going to get there in the morning? Are you sure it's secure enough? He just kept looking at me like I had a mental problem or something.

Finally when the box was on the counter to be weighed and I could touch it again I started praying over it and speaking to it as if it was a person. I think the lady behind me took at least two steps back.. :)

The bible tells us that we can speak to a mountain and move it... so I told that box it was going to get to Raliegh by in the morning in one piece and the contents were going to be intact.

What mountain are in your life that needs YOU to take control over it and MOVE it..?

Mark 11:23
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

God Bless,

Angie

Oh yea, I checked the box got there an hour early, now we just have to have it leave on time on Friday.

Are there typo's in Heaven?

As my wonderful husband was complimenting me on my blog about the girls he didn't hesitate to tell me I had a lot of typos in it.

I reminded him that he is not suppose to say, "Oh that was great but..." didn't you read that blog on The Power of the Tongue..?

He is right though. I was in a huge hurry at that time, got interrupted about 10 times and eventually had to stop.

Wonderful if God ever gets in a hurry when he's writing in His books? Could He write typo's in the Lambs Book of Life? I surely hope not.

I'm glad my name is Angie and not Sam or Pam or Terry or Jerry. A typo could come between you and eternity..

Is your name in THE book? If God looked today would he easily find you by how you have served him or would He question if he made a TYPO..?

Just something to think about?

Sorry for the previous mistakes I made. I'll slow down, 1 day..

Angie

Can I do more? Sure you can...

I have had several questions about helping the girls of the House of Rose Orphanage.

Here are some answers to everyone?

1. Do you only want Easter clothes? No, I will take what ever I can get. The girls love comfortable dresses, some wear shorts and pants but mostly nice little sun dresses.
2. Tennis Shoes or Sandals? Tennis shoes are great because they last longer, but sandals are just as needed.
3. Do they need anything else? Underwear, socks, hair bows are always needed.
4. Can I send other items? Of course, it is truly up to you if you want to include things like fingernail polish, hair bows, hair barrettes, PJ's, or what ever God leads you to do.
5. Are you other items other than clothes that you are taking? Yes, I am taking school supplies also.
6. Can we include a letter and pictures? Most defiantly....Please make this a gift of LOVE, this is not about the clothes this is about showing a total stranger that God loves them and they have not been left and forgotten.
7. Can I send used clothes? Yes, but only if they look like you would buy them at a consignment store. I want to bless them with good stuff, not just stuff.

Once you email me I will send you the sizes and a picture of a child. Then it's up to you and God.

The only thing I ask is that each girl receives and outfit and a pair of shoes.

FYI,

Tonight I went to Walmart and I found about 10-15 pairs of sandals for $3 - $4 each so if you don't have the funds to buy the shoes I'll put a pair of these with them. I also found beautiful dresses made by Georgia for $5.63, they were perfect for the girls. There were nice Faded Glory jeans and shirts for $4 each and for the little ones Garanimals mix & match for $3.50 each.

Thanks to those who have already emailed me. I have 5 takers so far and only 7 more to go.

God Bless,

Angie

True Love is showing love to someone you don't know

Yesterday, all of the world people showed their spouses, children, boy/girl friends that they loved them through flowers, cards, candy, stuffed animals, a nice dinner and many more ways.

I heard the average person spent $50 telling someone they loved them. Just think if someone spent $50 on you every day, I mean surely Feb. 14th is not the only day I am loved, right?

Well I am asking you to dig deep and show someone you don't know that you love them through Christ and that God loves them even more than you do.

I support an orphanage in Nicaragua that most of you know about already and there are 14 little girls that every day of their lives they have NOone to show them they are loved. Think about for just a second, how would you feel if day by day passed and no one hugged you, or told you you were special and you were loved. After a while it would make you really sad.

Well my girls feel this way every day. All 14 of them.

I am asking those of you reading this to help me show them they are loved by purchasing them a new outfit and shoes for Easter or just for school. If you have used clothes you would like to give that is great also but I want them to receive at least one outfit and a pair of shoes.

I have all their sizes and I will pick up the stuff from you and deliver them there during the first week of March. I would also like each family to send them a love letter. What ever God lays on your heart, pictures of your family, pictures of your kids, what ever you feel but make it special. I will return with pictures of each child for your family.

Please pray and consider this. It does not have to be expensive. You can get a shorts outfit, a dress or pants outfit for $10 and new shoes, either sandles or tennis shoes for $5-8 at Walmart and K-Mart right now. So for no more than $20 you can bless a child's life who has no one to care for them and show them they are loved.

The House of Rose is not supported by anyone, yet. Their budget is only enough to feed them daily.

Please consider helping me. Of course, Terry and I will do my two girls so I only need 12 of you to help.

Please email me and I will give you a child's name and picture and all their sizes.

The bible tells us in James 1:27 that, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widos in thier distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Be Pure and Faultess and show true love...

My deadline is February 29th.

God Bless,

Angie

The Prayers of a Righteous Mother/Father Availith Much

I love that scripture...It promises us that what ever we pray it will AVAIL...

The dictionary says Avail means to PROFIT.. Amen to that..

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers about my girls.

I got word later today that the study was finished (it should have taken 2 days not 1) and the lady from Mi Familia stated that she saw no reason why the girls can not be declared abandon now.

NOW... what does that I mean... I have been going crazy all day hoping to get to talk to the director of the orphanage to find out more deals but have not been able to reach her. She was only able to call my translator for 13 whole secs and let me know.

This is a huge step in the adoption process. I wished I could but into words what this means but there are no words to describe it. Once the girls are officially declared abandon (we need a judge to sign off on it) the rest is not so hard.

Prayer is so important, just look what happen.. Now continue to pray that now the reports will quickly go to the judge and the judge just can't do anything else put read it and sign it.

Thanks again for all your prayers and remember you have the same POWER Jesus had.. Speak to your situation and CHANGE it..

What a great Valentines Day...

Angie

Prayers for my girls

On Thursday, Mi Familia the agency that will declare my girls abandon so that I can adopt them will be interviewing them and researching where they use to live and putting together a report that will be read by a judge. They will also make a recommendation to either declare the girls abandon or not.

I talked to my girls tonight and it was obvious they are "Angie" sick. The first words out of my oldest was how much she missed me. That is the first time she has said that to me. I cried.

So please take a few minutes today to pray for them as they know the importance of this ladies visit to them and pray for the employee of Mi Familia that she will see through them how much we love them and desire to have them in our homes.

I am expecting a great report in our favor. You expect it to.. :)

Happy Valentines Day..

Angie

Your GPS System

When I die my husband will have difficulty driving in Charlotte. He never pays attention to where he is going the first time, he doesn't have to he has me as his GPS.

I bought him an actual GPS for Christmas, he loves it.

Did you know we have an internal GPS system? It's the Holy Spirit.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help you and I navigate through life. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13-14).

The only problem with using a GPS system to direct you, you have to TURN it on and LISTEN to what it's saying?

It's been told that in the old days in China the Christians who were underground serving the Lord could never schedule a meeting time or place so they all relyed on the Holy Spirit to tell them when and where. Everytime, they all showed up at the same place at the exact time.

Is the Holy Spirit active in your life? Are you asking for His direction to succeed in your life, your job, your family? Terry's GPS may help him navigate traffic, but Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us navigate life. Ask Him to guide you today.

Turn Him On and LISTEN to what He has to say..

God Bless,

Angie

The Power of the Tongue

Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who live it will eat it's fruit".

Wow, I am ashamed to say I have killed many over my lifetime. Just riding in the car down Independence Blvd. some days I get at least 5 or 6 people.

Really, we have no idea that what we say can either change the life of a person or destroy them.

Just compare it to Jesus, most of his miracles happend because He spoke them into existance. That's some Power...

Pastor Troy is preaching GOOOOOD. This Sunday again I felt like he hit me right up side the head.

Growing up my mother and grandfather were very verbally abusive. From the earliest age all I ever knew was if you wanted the upper hand just say something mean. Obviously since I became a Christian God fix that but every now and then that OLD self comes out.

Pastor Troy gave us some points on what out tongue shows;

It shows Maturity. - How mature are you when you're mad?
It directs our life. - Are you speaking what you want to see happen in your life or what you see now?
It can destroy what I have. - Are your words changing your path?
It displays who I AM.. - Does your words show Jesus to EVERYONE, even the mean lady at the Walmart?

Stop and think, is what you say, Who you are all the time or just when you want to look Holy...?

We can control our tongue by changing our heart, thinking before we speak and filling our mind with God's word. Easier SAID than done some times.

From the earliest age of a child we say things to people/kids that to us meant nothing . To them it means everything.

Some examples,

"Stop that, You are getting on my nerves"
"Go away, I don't have time for you right now"
"You're a slob"
"Yea that's good, BUT..."
"I'm sorry honey, but mommy's just too tired"
"I'm busy, leave me alone"
"I'm.... _____________ - You fill in the blank...

Being an abused child all my life I now try hard to pay attention to what I say to my children. You would think I would never say something that is going to make them feel like I felt. Wrong...

Examine what you are saying to your children, your husband, your friends. Are you really saying to them you love them or you love them when it's convenient to you, and right now it's just not?

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips" Psalms 141:3

We are all guilty in some manner of saying things we should so just remember that your tongue is a two edged sord, it cuts going in thier ears and coming out.

I've done some cutting lately with my teenager, pray my new words will heal that wound.

God Bless,

Angie

Prayers for Ben

I just got word this morning that a homeschooling family we are friends with The Dragstrems son Ben was hurt in a sking accident this week.

Apparantly he had a serious injury to his head and is in the hospital.

This information is from an email I received about Ben this morning.

"Ben started talking yesterday, but he is still only conscious for short periods of time and he is having a little difficulty swallowing. The prognosis is good, they think he will have a full recovery, but he will require therapy. The part of his brain that was injured controls inhibitions and behavioral control. Right now he is behaving very erratically and is belligerent (doesn't want to cooperate with anybody, is fighting treatment) and they think this is due to the injury he sustained."

Please pray for this family as they have two other brothers at home that are homeschooled and I know their dad works hard every day so the pressure on Mom (Mollie) I am sure is enormous.

Ben is a young boy who loves life and loves the outdoors. I can picture him with a huge smile on his face going down those slopes.

Left this family up in your prayers today.

Thanks,

Angie

A Nanny Needed

Terry and I will be headed to Nicaragua in the coming weeks to deliver our dossier.

In doing so we have to leave 3 school age children behind and we have no family here in Charlotte are even close by.

The last time we went we had a wonderful family come and stay at our home and it was wonderful. I don't want to be a burden on that family again so I am desperately looking for someone who can come and live at our house for at least 6-8 days.

My kids go to school in the mornings so there is free time until 1:45 each day and we should only be gone one weekend.

If you know of someone who is a Christian and would have the time to love on my children I would be grateful if you would pass this request on.

I am trusting the Lord that He has this all figured out.

Angie

It's finally here....

After many hours of work and my computer driving me up the wall, I have finally got the first of many videos loaded on my site.

Many years ago when I moved to Charlotte I found quickly that I had a hidden talent working with computers. I had never even seen one before and within months I was talking them apart and putting them together. (Without instructions)

Today, I realize that God had all that in His plan. He knew that one day I would need to know how to show the world through technology what I do in Nicaragua.

I hope you enjoy this video. I had to make it short so that people would take time to watch it and sorry about the small text, Google is controlling that.

:)

Click here to view my Mission Trip page, the video is at the bottom.

You can help me alot by passing this on to your Youth Pastor, Senior Pastor or a friend that you know is interested in missions.


God Bless,

Angie

God Talk

I belong to an online group for Nicaraguan Adoptions. As far as I know there are no rules to what a person can or can not say on this group.

There are several Christians who have made it clear they are and many others that have not shown their position.

A couple of days ago one person who is in Nicaragua right now struggling to get her kids wrote of great discouragement. You can imagine those of us who are Christians came to her rescue.

Boy, did that start a mess. Before we knew it a person was telling us that all the God Talk was getting a little out of hand.

Freedom of Speech? Does it apply all the time? Should we censor what we say on forums or where ever or do you share where we stand?

Would Jesus follow these rules and keep quite? I don't think so.

How do we stand up for what we believe and not affend someone else?

Do you choose to change your words based on who you are talking to or where you are? We shouldn't have to be in some cases I think we have to be sensitive. What do you think?

I chose to keep quite and let the other Christians write what they felt and sure enough the lady left the group. What a shame... She could benefit a lot from the group but instead choose to walk away for hearing any more God Talk.

Please pray for her, her name is Jessica.

God Bless,

Angie

Do You Do As Jesus Did?

My devotional this morning really hit me up side the head. (we all need to be hit every once in a while).

When Jesus walked on Earth He was 100% God but he chose to live his life with the same limitations that we do. He was showing us how to live our life. He was being our model.

He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a MAN in right relationship to God... not as God.

So if He was just a MAN doing all these great things and we are just MEN/WOMEN made in His image, why aren't we performing miracles, wonders and signs?

We as Christians are responsible to pursue His lifestyle. Recapturing this simple truth changes everything...

Are you doing what Jesus did with your faith?

I'm not..

Angie

Restlessness

I am connected to a MeetUp group for Nicaraguan adoptions and this week I have had the opportunity to encouarge several families who are going through ruff times with their adoptions. The more I encouraged them the more restless I got. Luckily, I was able to use my own advice to chill out.

My pastor said that when you are restless that you have doubt. I didn't agree with that statement at first. I kept thinking I don't doubt God that He is in control but I am not at peace either.

I had to really examine that statement and ask myself then what is it? If it's not doubt or a lack of faith then what is causing that restlessness in my life.

After talking to these families this week I have decided it is in fact doubt. Either I trust the Lord or I don't right? Easier said than done, especially when you can't control any part of the situation.

I encouarge each of you to stop and think about your situation. Are you restless? or are you at Peace? If you are restless, let me encouarge you that if you want to pass this test you will need to find that Peace in knowing that God loves you more than anyone and He is working on your behalf.

If you find yourself Restless like I do some days, stop, pray and listen. He'll give you direction and wisdom to get to that Peace level you need.

God Bless,

Angie

I was challenged today, now I want to challenge you

Pastor Troy was preaching Good Today.... Each week I sit under him thinking God why did it take you so long to get me here. I can honestly say in my entire walk with the Lord I have never sit under a Pastor that keeps me thinking all the time about my walk with the Lord. It's great. If you're not challenged each week at your church, come and visit us because you need to be, it will make you grow stronger. Check them out online by clicking here Freedom House Church.

Ok enough about that.

Pastor Troy asked, "if you were taken to jail today would there be enough evidence to prove you guilty of being a Christian?", "Do people in your neighborhood know you are a Christian?", what about at your work or other places you spend your time?

I really stopped and thought about it. Sadly, there are a lot of "Christians" I know personally today that would not have much evidence to convict them and I wanted to examine myself and make sure I was not one of them.

I have friends who tell me they are Christians but they never go to church, they never participate in a church function or any religious function that I know of and I never hear them talking about the Lord unless I bring up the subject. Are they really a Christian? Can you ask God into your life and never live for him? I personally don't think so but who am I to judge.

I challenge you today to examine your life and ask yourself, "Am I a Christian?", "Is there enough evidence to convict me?" Will God show me my life and say, "Well done my good and faithful servant" or will He tell me "I made you to serve me and you choose to serve the world!"

In Christ,

Angie

Adoption News

We are slowly but surely getting our paperwork finished. We hope to have everything finished and in our hands for delivery to Nicaragua at the end of this month.

What does that mean?

Our girls are still the legal custody of their parents even though they have not seen them since age 2 & 3. The DSS of Nicaragua, Mi Familia, has started the abandonment process to declare the girls abandoned so that we can adopt them. They are visting them on Monday to investigate this situation. That is good news. That means they are working on it and at the pace they go any activity is a good thing.

Once the girls are declared abandon Mi Familia has to accept our paperwork and file an adoption application for us. After all that is finished and many other things are done we should be told if and when we can have the girls.

I am not expecting them this year but if God wants them here, they will be.

Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers.

I'll update more as things happen.