tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328865863501661662024-03-05T02:55:00.512-05:00BelieveThat joy will come from sorrow . . .The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-68315239007517772592009-08-21T17:28:00.000-04:002009-08-21T17:29:16.748-04:00In Dubai, getting ready for flight to JFKPray for Nati's flight, the first flight was rough. See u all soon.The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-26297623670288621422009-08-18T09:44:00.000-04:002009-08-18T14:32:54.295-04:00He is with us now<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr6cDJMhgEEqwklr7BmbQk-gYybR-iR5ZcbCZID0iHD7c12Hyr-6fUntXu3oAhgEsYgrCZdvl136fEqw0TYpTgthn9sp0ijxGY0eYUj5ansVS1OvXFCGoRlerziKaLQ2MKEKVKs8kPEYE/s1600-h/photo-783174.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr6cDJMhgEEqwklr7BmbQk-gYybR-iR5ZcbCZID0iHD7c12Hyr-6fUntXu3oAhgEsYgrCZdvl136fEqw0TYpTgthn9sp0ijxGY0eYUj5ansVS1OvXFCGoRlerziKaLQ2MKEKVKs8kPEYE/s320/photo-783174.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371335419627657362" /></a></p>Well, we picked him up today and brought him to the place we are <br>staying. It was very emotional to see the nannies say good bye, their <br>job must be so hard. Today I pray that these ladies would be blessed <br>by God and know that the Lord is pleased with their incredible <br>service. Thanks for all of your prayers and support.The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-25214400393853208152009-08-17T12:27:00.000-04:002009-08-18T14:32:54.298-04:00We met him!Today we met Nati and he is awesome, he will fit right in with the <br>rest of us. We got to spend about two hours playing and trying to coax <br>a smile. The biggest hit for Nati was the cell phone Lucy packed for <br>him. He knew how to use it and everything. It was very special to be <br>with the other seven families as the spent their first moments with <br>their new kids. We had to leave him at the transition home tonight, <br>but tomorrow we get to bring him back to our room. We continue to pray <br>for God to lead our journey, He has been so good. Goodbye for now.The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-42129703237561580452009-08-16T06:34:00.000-04:002009-08-18T14:32:54.302-04:00So it begins . . .We landed about 2 hours ago. We are safe and sound at the Yasabi guest <br>house. We are slowly meeting the other families on the trip. ET is <br>chilly. Well that is about it for now. Remembering to leave the <br>expectations and let God take us on this journey. To God be the glory!<p>Sent from WiPhoneThe Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-26563952037346316702009-08-15T23:48:00.000-04:002009-08-18T14:32:54.307-04:00Africa here we come!Well we just finished our time in Dubai. It was fun and hotttttttt! <br>Like 105. we did some fun stuff, including a city tour and a desert <br>safari. We are just about to board our flight to Ethiopia. Excitement <br>is very high. Pray for our hearts to be centered on the Lord and to <br>lose our expectations of what the next week might or might not be <br>like. Much love to you all! Next stop Africa.The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-53967614398222907922009-08-14T00:50:00.000-04:002009-08-18T14:32:54.317-04:00Dubai has met the Stackler'sSo, the first leg of the journey is in the books. We landed about an <br>hour ago in Dubai. The flight was long, but pretty good. I think I <br>watched six movies. They served a lot of food and neither of us slept <br>very much. We are presently waiting for a shuttle to our hotel. We are <br>hoping for an early check-in. Talk to everyone later.The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-30088335803232207182009-08-13T00:05:00.001-04:002009-08-13T00:05:56.848-04:00We are in the car headed toward NYC for the night. Flying out in the morning. Packing was an adventure, we are hoping for a little grace from the airline. Anyway, we are excited to finally be taking these steps toward our son. We will try to keep updating as long as we have access to a signal.The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-78735487737432349482009-07-28T22:13:00.017-04:002009-07-29T12:34:04.595-04:00It's Official - Meet Nathnael William Stackler<span style="color:#3366ff;">We got the call today, we had a successful court date and Nathnael William Stackler is legally part of the Stackler family. He has long been in our hearts, but it sure does feel good to clear this legal hurdle. We are now scheduled to travel to Ethiopia to pick him up on August 15th. This is a little up in the air right now, so keep praying.<br /><br />Here are a few pictures of our son.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN9gC88XURDC0oA8l4Bv-k9FYG1QL7YVrp-XoND9qzwge62vchUZI54ovu40ZHsrh-eQIn_ehkMJcHasnQL7OWXZ0XCwLHk8RJRFnXkGlmOubOqPR8TJhaFoq04s6qYOOuNJgQi1c8VxR/s1600-h/DSC00988.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1bDGDtCVOLoBCxil_h0sZT-nigkYZvehdEL40Nt_RyddTJZCYYYG-1URkBYf1vmljim_fgXw1-LRvd8Gv9tCH7UJUK7qmD64IvOSr26aQQdk9GvN6kNkHtfBd1_H5Z9oe5TieJcYrtiU/s1600-h/Stackler+Photo+4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709254800153394" style="WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 204px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1bDGDtCVOLoBCxil_h0sZT-nigkYZvehdEL40Nt_RyddTJZCYYYG-1URkBYf1vmljim_fgXw1-LRvd8Gv9tCH7UJUK7qmD64IvOSr26aQQdk9GvN6kNkHtfBd1_H5Z9oe5TieJcYrtiU/s320/Stackler+Photo+4.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXozWG5Xt9vJAa-mjY3R5W1Eco3jNIW6N5BqQklwCdeKjUaHLaaxmS_BdA0JgZ_gDf1ebun-jmmRWSp5IQ8rDQ3G7LHN_bjfeJFPbJSqiTpv89PWXxGA42YFCJdo6vIggI9EMHOgx2HbG6/s1600-h/Ethiopia+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709246158745202" style="WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 204px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXozWG5Xt9vJAa-mjY3R5W1Eco3jNIW6N5BqQklwCdeKjUaHLaaxmS_BdA0JgZ_gDf1ebun-jmmRWSp5IQ8rDQ3G7LHN_bjfeJFPbJSqiTpv89PWXxGA42YFCJdo6vIggI9EMHOgx2HbG6/s320/Ethiopia+005.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbojYKgI6HXbkuIGC-mjGiZtRAh1CyfxTvRo5hgjx5pRgGcJhlkl7JyZibcpegNB82pyJlpu7JVtoc3tG0bMYCff8ZY2RmQcS25BB2GWa6SAoaZLZyIR0FXOjFgfE5co2lNMBb93aqQF7a/s1600-h/Stackler+Photo+3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709251588187666" style="WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 363px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbojYKgI6HXbkuIGC-mjGiZtRAh1CyfxTvRo5hgjx5pRgGcJhlkl7JyZibcpegNB82pyJlpu7JVtoc3tG0bMYCff8ZY2RmQcS25BB2GWa6SAoaZLZyIR0FXOjFgfE5co2lNMBb93aqQF7a/s320/Stackler+Photo+3.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjtixE2P6BZpFsKaicflWNCgjVsTRMPoIQy_EvtKZqW-AuF1ZU8RUjO7n18QIkPcDoRb4T0sM4SgzZL87I2YnzVq5q-mmjgubIhnLi7Tlsppf4PEQ9j2FozlLMVawXrzpkRu4gdeSKS9r/s1600-h/Nathnael+Photo+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709698057351250" style="WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 364px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjtixE2P6BZpFsKaicflWNCgjVsTRMPoIQy_EvtKZqW-AuF1ZU8RUjO7n18QIkPcDoRb4T0sM4SgzZL87I2YnzVq5q-mmjgubIhnLi7Tlsppf4PEQ9j2FozlLMVawXrzpkRu4gdeSKS9r/s320/Nathnael+Photo+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN9gC88XURDC0oA8l4Bv-k9FYG1QL7YVrp-XoND9qzwge62vchUZI54ovu40ZHsrh-eQIn_ehkMJcHasnQL7OWXZ0XCwLHk8RJRFnXkGlmOubOqPR8TJhaFoq04s6qYOOuNJgQi1c8VxR/s1600-h/DSC00988.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709242534244386" style="WIDTH: 410px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 610px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN9gC88XURDC0oA8l4Bv-k9FYG1QL7YVrp-XoND9qzwge62vchUZI54ovu40ZHsrh-eQIn_ehkMJcHasnQL7OWXZ0XCwLHk8RJRFnXkGlmOubOqPR8TJhaFoq04s6qYOOuNJgQi1c8VxR/s320/DSC00988.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Here is a video we put together to tell a little about our journey to Nathnael.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='382' height='308' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzcPEMrl7otylXxezDQnnNlmgXy-5fU5L6T6RFXSoswpmnnQrYAGkqNtpYmyGJURx4qADIuiw_jpLOF0Ak3aw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-29712817241035755602009-07-22T15:03:00.002-04:002009-07-22T15:06:02.859-04:00Another Bump<span style="color:#3366ff;">Well, I guess it would have been too easy to just wait for next Monday and get the good news about passing court. Apparently there was some miscommunication regarding our court date. The Ethiopian court has our court date as July 29th and not July 27th. So we will have to wait an extra two days. Still waiting with hopeful hearts.</span>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-39597950334721284002009-07-16T14:16:00.002-04:002009-07-16T14:19:46.341-04:00While I'm Waiting . . .<span style="color:#3366ff;">Well, it has been an insanely long time since we have written, mostly due to laziness, but also due to the difficulty of processing all that is going on. The last time we updated everyone on the status of our adoption, we had a court date on May 20th. A couple of weeks prior to our court date we heard from our agency that cases like ours were not being heard by the Ethiopian court due to an investigation. The investigation was not directly about our agency or our son. Unfortunately, when our court date came around on May 20th, the Ethiopian court closed our case (and all others like ours) until the investigation was completed. This news was very difficult to take and I think that Amy and I pretty much went into shutdown mode.<br /><br />We were told by many people about the ups and downs of the adoption process and how things will never go how you think they will go. I naively thought our case would be different and, quite simply, I was wrong.<br /><br />The investigation eventually came to an end around the beginning of July (I think). We got another court date for July 13th. Then we heard that another government agency in Ethiopia was having training for a couple of weeks and could not perform their part of the court proceedings. They will not be returning to work until July 24th. So, on the 13th we got another court date. This time our court date is July 27th. This is the first time that we have had a court date with a chance of passing. I am not holding my breath, but I am hopeful.<br /><br />I am learning so much about God in this process and they are not easy lessons, but they are lessons that I am better off for learning.<br /><br />While all of this is going on, life has continued at its normal pace. Lucy and Sam are enjoying vacation bible school, Amy and the kids went to Savannah and Raleigh for vacation (I had to work), Sam started Cub Scouts, we got a sandbox, we got new carpet, Sam went to camp at The Marsh. Life has been fun this summer and I have had a great time with my family, but I have definitely felt those parts of our family that are missing. <br /><br />I love being a father and right now my heart just wants our son to be home with us.</span><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">Take a peek back on the 27th. If we pass court, I will post a collection of pictures and you can be introduced to our newest son. To God be the Glory!</span>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-53584516486334629902009-04-12T22:26:00.002-04:002009-04-12T22:29:30.354-04:00Easter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Nine AWAA families are in ET right now. They will return on Saturday with their new children. One family, The Luncefords, just posted on their blog. I read it and <a href="http://www.luncefords.info/Family/adoption_blog/Entries/2009/4/12_SUNDAY_eucalyptus.html">cried</a>. What a wonderful taste of ET. I can't wait. </span>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-10087744236360175172009-03-19T16:54:00.005-04:002009-03-19T17:19:58.694-04:00A Benefit Show, Court News and Go TERPS!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><div>Last Friday night, our good friend Sean put together a benefit show for us. We were expecting a good time with friends and good music. Our goal for the evening was around 600 hundred dollars . . .We were totally blown away by the generosity of everybody. The show raised enough money to cover all of our air fare! (If you want to know the whole amount ask one of us) It is funny, every time I doubt what we are doing God shows me His approval in a big way. As Bob, one of our awesome Elders says to me with all certainty, "Amy, you are doing the right thing." (Bob rocks on so many levels.) </div><div><br /></div><div>On a different note. We received word yesterday that we will not get a new court date(CD) in April. It was really tough news as all of the families before us received new earlier court dates. I was really banking on court moving to April. I was pretty upset about this turn of events. Sometimes things seem so random. The other part that really stings is that families that received a referral after us will get a CD before us. I would like to add that I am really happy for these families since they are dear friends from our Yahoo Group. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the end of March draws near we will be receiving an update on on Natty-boy. I can't wait to share with you all his progress. I miss him. </div><div><br /></div><div>William would like for me to add . . . "Go Terps." They just won something or other. </div><div> Personally, I am a die hard Seahawks fan. Go Seahawks!</div></span>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-39066724680496563902009-03-01T14:59:00.003-05:002009-03-01T15:03:23.125-05:00The Date<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This will be a really short up date. It is getting ready to snow and there is NO FOOD in our house so I am off to brave the harsh reality of poor planning. . . </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We got news this week that our court date in ET is going to be May 20. Lots of good things happen in May, we are praying that N-man becoming our son will be one of them. If we do pass court we will be traveling to ET in June. I am so excited to spend the summer with our new son, there will be some serious family bonding going on. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well I am off to the store, hopefully there is food left.<br /></span></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-33887546709587411882009-02-10T23:04:00.002-05:002009-02-10T23:09:43.310-05:00We got THE call!!<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">What a day! So here is the story. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">I really didn't think that today would be THE DAY, but the Lord knew, and looking back He </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">was taking care of me. I was in the basement working out, which NEVER happens in the </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">morning, and after wards I went to take a shower. I am pretty much deaf and decided to </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">take the phone into the bathroom with me, "Just in case." I really thought that it was silly. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Well, right when I had shampoo in my hair the phone rang and I took my time to answer </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">it. But my silly 3 year old got to it first, so I couldn't see the caller id. So there I am, </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">dripping wet, with shampoo in my hair answering the phone. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">I hear the 3 year old talking about a shower and then I hear laughing. I said, "Hello?" and </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">a woman said, " Hi Amy, this is Terra with your referral call." And I screamed, " I am naked. I </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">mean, I am in the shower and naked." I think that she thought I was drinking or </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">something. I wasn't. So we got all of the info . .. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">HE IS AMAZING!!! Sweet, soft curls and big, brown eyes. Around 18 months old. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Here is the cool thing about the shower part. (Just don't think of me naked) Almost eight years ago, I was pretty sick when we had our first son, Sam, and my Ob called, I was in the shower, to tell me to go to the hospital to be induced at 32 weeks. Pretty scary. The other thing. Our six month old, Georgia, was in the shower with me when she died on Easter morning 2004. It was a nightmare. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">How good is our God that he would give us our new son while I was in the shower?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Our friend, Corin, wrote a song and sang it at Georgia's memorial service. One </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">of the lines is, "Believe, that joy will come from sorrow." That is what the Lord does for us </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">every day. I am so humbled. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Amy</span>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-54967946981292126982009-01-05T22:51:00.004-05:002009-01-05T23:02:31.134-05:00Putting Sam to bed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Over the Christmas break Sam was looking at the waiting child list with me. I can't give you too much details, but there was a child that caught his eye. Here is our conversation that followed:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Sam: He is like me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Me: Yea, he is a bit older than you. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Sam: So he doesn't have a family?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Me: Not anymore. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Sam: That is really sad. It would be cool if we could be his family.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Me: Yeah? Well then would would be a little brother. What do you think of that?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Sam: I wouldn't like it. (Thinking some more) Well, if he really needs a family I could like it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">A few days later, after the wildness of Christmas, I was putting Sam to bed and he prayed, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">unprompted</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">, for this little child to have new family. That is my prayer too. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">My heart breaks. </span></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-59042581676830739892009-01-05T21:07:00.004-05:002009-01-05T22:51:04.274-05:00What is a ________?<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Over the summer we were invited to a wedding in Maine. (Hi Kouba's!) It was there that we met another family who had adopted a little girl from Russia. She is about the same age as Sam. When we found out that this couple had been through the adoption journey William and I both sat back and relaxed. For once we didn't have to explain our million and one reasons to adopt, and we didn't have to define every adoption term that there is. The four of us just talked knowing that our hearts were in the same place. It was really nice. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">My best friend, Erin, is another person that I can talk too without catching her up to speed. I can just say, "Still waiting. . . " and she replies, "Us too . . ." Our hearts know what we are waiting for. It was her first adoption that taught me what a Dossier was, I hope that I caught on pretty quick. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">So when I am talking to you and I start to speak another language this little lesson will help you to understand what I am saying. Please memorize there will be a test. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Home study</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">- Is when a social worker comes into your home, and life, and interviews you, and some of your friends, to see if you are fit to become parent. There are usually four visits for a home study. We actually like to talk about ourselves so this portion was fun for us. Except for the part when Sam kept talking about getting sp*nked. Which up until that point he hadn't been sp*nked in years. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Dossier</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> - A pile of paper work that shows Ethiopia that we meet their requirements to adopt one of their precious children. Seriously, it is a huge three ring binder filled with documents that proves we aren't criminals, we can drive safely, that our home is sanitary, that a fire marshall has approved our home for habitation, and our water is safe to drink. It also contains our Home study and other important documents from our agency. If you know us well, you will know the fact that we have all of these papers in a three ring binder and that we know where that binder is at all times, is an amazing thing. We found our passports in a random box in the basement. We are not the most "together" people in the world. I really have to credit William with putting everything together. He carried the paper pregnancy. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">DTE</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">D</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">ate or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">D</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">ossier </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">T</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">o </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">E</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">thiopia: As of right now this is the most important thing. This is the date that our paper work went to ET. Our DTE is 5/2/08. It is sorta like a due date, no more like a conception date. 7-9 months after 5/2/08 we will have a baby . . . sorta. The DTE is also how our agency keeps track of who is next in line to get a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Referral</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">. The last family that received a referral has a DTE of 4-4-08! We are getting so close!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Referral-</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> When you are matched with a child. Unlike most countries, this is done by our agency. We either accept or reject they referral. It is unlikely that we would reject a referral since our agency already knows what we are requesting in a child. They would give us a child that has special needs if we didn't ask. That is not to say that special needs wouldn't turn up later. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Court Date - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">The day that our case will appear before a judge in ET to determine if the child is legally ours. About 30% of people fail court. It is usually because ET is so adamant about making sure that the child is a true orphan and the paper work submitted didn't match up. Which is really good, but really hard to endure from this end. Our friends the <a href="http://thekulpfamily.blogspot.com/">Kulps</a> are going through this right now. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">MOWA</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> - Ministry of Wom*n affairs. They are the ET agency that controls orphans affairs. They must approve us for the adoption before we pass court. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> TTD</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">- Provided that we pass court our date to travel is set 2-3 weeks after our court date</span>. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">AWAA</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">- America World Adoption Association. Our agency. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">So there it is, well most of it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><br /></span></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-85656154056387637122009-01-03T19:45:00.004-05:002009-01-05T23:03:00.183-05:00The Promise of a New Year<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Well, it is a new year and unless there is a serious delay, this will be the year that we welcome a new child into our family.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Things have been very slow on the adoption front for the past six weeks or so, but the new year brings hope and much expectation.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I have been reminded over the past week or two about how much God is in control and how life’s challenges and roadblocks are not surprises to Him.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">We will be doing our best to put our trust in Him over the next couple of months as we get closer to bringing our child home.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">As of right now we are around #20 in line, but there may be some surprise families waiting in front of us.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Our agency does not officially tell us where we are in line, so our best guess comes from the Yahoo Group we belong to that is made up of other waiting families.</span></span></span></span></p> <span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Please pray for our patience.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I am really looking forward to focusing on all of the other things that God wants us to do before our child comes home.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I am obviously also very excited about our trip to Africa and how our life will be different after we get home.</span></span></span></span></span><!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> </span></span><br /><p></p>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-78284308540281826242008-12-21T19:57:00.002-05:002008-12-21T20:24:20.887-05:00Peace in My Heart<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Christmas is such an amazing time of the year. I like the presents and the family gatherings just as much as the next guy (okay, I actually probably like them slightly less), but I love the idea of God coming to earth as a child. <br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Today at church, my pastor delivered a message that talked about why God would make the decision to send His son to earth. The answer - relationship! God desires relationship and he will do (and has done) whatever it takes to allow it to happen. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">I am excited to have that relationship and allow God to fill my heart with peace. I do not think there is anything that can replace or add to the peace that God can provide. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">I pray that the Christmas season is filled with peace for you! </span></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-87383893711105410962008-12-16T22:12:00.002-05:002008-12-16T22:24:48.836-05:00About Our Adoption<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Amy and I started this blog with the intention of keeping interested parties up to date on our adoption and our life in general. We, as in many areas of our life, have fallen dreadfully short of our intention. For this we apologize, but we are going to make an effort to change this pattern and give more regular updates. I thought I would start with some basics about our family and why we are adopting. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Amy and I have been married for about ten years. We have three children (Samuel (7), Georgia (would be 5), and Lucy (3)). Georgia passed away when she was six months old of a rare heart condition that we did not find out about until she had died. Obviously this has been very difficult for our family, but ultimately God has carried us through and we continue to trust in Him for our future.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Amy and I have always talked about adoption and after Lucy was born we knew it was our time to pursue it. We decided on America World Adoption (awaa.org) and we then decided to adopt from Ethiopia.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">We submitted our application on October 30, 2007. Our completed paperwork was shipped to Ethiopia on May 2, 2008. This date is referred to as our DTE (documents to Ethiopia). We are now in the process of waiting for a referral. A referral is when we (the adoptive family) are matched up with an orphan. We expect a referral in the first couple of months of 2009. After we receive the referral, we will travel to be united with our new child in about 6-8 weeks. During this wait, our case will be taken to court where a judge will officially okay our adoption.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Amy and I have requested a child 18 months or younger. We did not specify whether we preferred a boy or a girl. It is likely that we will be matched with a boy since there are so many requests for girls in the adoption world.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">This is a basic snapshot of where we are as of today. We will be providing another update before too long, so stay tuned and have a great week!</span></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-10340500799012436962008-11-12T13:32:00.006-05:002008-11-12T14:31:15.837-05:00Lucy Turns Three<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlYJi_neyv9S0Zh2gtgTv9VWkDn4I9mRCLEshSLVcmK7s5vm_WW381eSE9xcFe6lmeXWUEa85l4yFdK9KZ69zVVbGQDdhzkDTiGSpPcp5Me8F0vI4Yab3ALeLCDrV9HfIjBKBbj4Kwbfm/s1600-h/IMG_9924.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlYJi_neyv9S0Zh2gtgTv9VWkDn4I9mRCLEshSLVcmK7s5vm_WW381eSE9xcFe6lmeXWUEa85l4yFdK9KZ69zVVbGQDdhzkDTiGSpPcp5Me8F0vI4Yab3ALeLCDrV9HfIjBKBbj4Kwbfm/s320/IMG_9924.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267846048153804882" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Winter is over, Spring has arrived! These were the words spoken over Lucy on the day that she was dedicated in Church. She really is our spring. Our Crocus, that pushes up through the snow, to let us know that Hope is here. She is named for Lucy of Narnia. Faithful, hopeful, and believing. I pray that it is true. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pwRmkidRJgEB5fZ0PwVhDX0fE-5BQg-gwPs6f9fLxMIVlMuj3gLa05kCA-cOmU5UG5z4a2_1B459B_iS_1LvQxdMAh5YE_g3cBNJFUa5ELxjbmx8nucCkBSwczoaZRGYprhh4u-FYP53/s1600-h/IMG_9920.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pwRmkidRJgEB5fZ0PwVhDX0fE-5BQg-gwPs6f9fLxMIVlMuj3gLa05kCA-cOmU5UG5z4a2_1B459B_iS_1LvQxdMAh5YE_g3cBNJFUa5ELxjbmx8nucCkBSwczoaZRGYprhh4u-FYP53/s320/IMG_9920.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267846045574930450" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Her Tantie, Erica, made the cake, pink of course. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXB3ft3gFAHlF8jJGnRPXVRgeBqEDHC0iQkRzwmtxbFnKQFqex5n2_1JrOLELT_GvxdwxUq6X-OJlQAyQSiaphDsM-a5CUSPWEaW6lzcGjp9WIhkGI_P5VJ6zJZ9O_l_Y6_V7zqNhZnmE/s1600-h/IMG_9913.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXB3ft3gFAHlF8jJGnRPXVRgeBqEDHC0iQkRzwmtxbFnKQFqex5n2_1JrOLELT_GvxdwxUq6X-OJlQAyQSiaphDsM-a5CUSPWEaW6lzcGjp9WIhkGI_P5VJ6zJZ9O_l_Y6_V7zqNhZnmE/s320/IMG_9913.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267846039057749442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilD_nd2_znHUJ4fgDwmsb-q-o4D_yUVEw-l9UpSB67gfYBNZaJ1SVf2RaD45NgzyWXTIn0NZTvL8bF7lwTznFQ4dFOmS4hpHibaw47ITpfW6sSi_9erw71xjbM9bkkJFk0BoIZw-5yDLKE/s1600-h/IMG_9900.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilD_nd2_znHUJ4fgDwmsb-q-o4D_yUVEw-l9UpSB67gfYBNZaJ1SVf2RaD45NgzyWXTIn0NZTvL8bF7lwTznFQ4dFOmS4hpHibaw47ITpfW6sSi_9erw71xjbM9bkkJFk0BoIZw-5yDLKE/s320/IMG_9900.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267846024987794354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3ZodecOxnif5hlW3Z9Y6h0ADc_5RvoJ0DIcBUrf8o2litJBNeIt31cdfxZPgYVBufLLZKgRU7ijJT_JHWvb8K5dsDK2Koiyn3DnDzyok3HV6kF3kCSzXXyJbq744X6chyphenhyphenIHV1qLQ6f0R/s1600-h/IMG_9896.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3ZodecOxnif5hlW3Z9Y6h0ADc_5RvoJ0DIcBUrf8o2litJBNeIt31cdfxZPgYVBufLLZKgRU7ijJT_JHWvb8K5dsDK2Koiyn3DnDzyok3HV6kF3kCSzXXyJbq744X6chyphenhyphenIHV1qLQ6f0R/s320/IMG_9896.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267846005490311410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU05DORb7qjbazhFxUHdz9tXBvlhXzeoPZwbgV6Z8oYfGjR1oZhcGV31dTT2D_QQfqC_8bFR2vYfQeRmlGTJ_OULEJTlZHIvCGuHTmFW1AciNOCA5lg1Zw15xUpTgz0n8gnhgzoGdrw1k/s1600-h/IMG_9926.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU05DORb7qjbazhFxUHdz9tXBvlhXzeoPZwbgV6Z8oYfGjR1oZhcGV31dTT2D_QQfqC_8bFR2vYfQeRmlGTJ_OULEJTlZHIvCGuHTmFW1AciNOCA5lg1Zw15xUpTgz0n8gnhgzoGdrw1k/s320/IMG_9926.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267841405018764498" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span><span>This was Lucy's first real birthday party! I don't know who was more excited about it, her or me. Lucy has been planning it since July, anything Princess she has wanted to buy for her party. She has had the menu planned for some time: Pizza (from Romas), Chips, Apples, Pink Cake, Ice Cream and Pink Lemonade. </span></span></span><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq6mbowJZmG97beIW0B0-HBKhlEAQkx15z3V8-wy2R-BJ2xaOpL77JOPXLIS-cx7IEjmK5H2eJiz_V2YxjPur2KwX-IU4ZxGsoqTUnLVMaqDgDWrfDMsEjN0EV3ZEv-mK4g2gQwP9qS4B/s1600-h/IMG_9888.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq6mbowJZmG97beIW0B0-HBKhlEAQkx15z3V8-wy2R-BJ2xaOpL77JOPXLIS-cx7IEjmK5H2eJiz_V2YxjPur2KwX-IU4ZxGsoqTUnLVMaqDgDWrfDMsEjN0EV3ZEv-mK4g2gQwP9qS4B/s320/IMG_9888.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267841395338698226" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Sam was excited too as most of Lucy's friends have older siblings that he plays with. He made me promise that I wouldn't make him play any "pink girly" games, like pin the head on the Princess. Sam's crew hung out in the basement. </span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJsOYTP74UBBl8oazACeKbmayOxEeAWrM4zJg1wJo8c5vUfeibi3k0ro_SiCbHWLFWHGcpVY6LztCZhdHn70Qx7eESOdLKKlKMsWpVS385Je-_-gSPCkqrWk5_JykIdIsPSwz9hklmS2w/s1600-h/IMG_9882.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJsOYTP74UBBl8oazACeKbmayOxEeAWrM4zJg1wJo8c5vUfeibi3k0ro_SiCbHWLFWHGcpVY6LztCZhdHn70Qx7eESOdLKKlKMsWpVS385Je-_-gSPCkqrWk5_JykIdIsPSwz9hklmS2w/s320/IMG_9882.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267841390979977698" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">I was really pleased how the Party Room turned out. I wish that I had a close up picture of the table cloth, I wrapped the table in brown paper and then painted hearts, flowers and other shapes on it. I also used wrapping paper as a runner. As for the pink flowers hanging from overhead, I have been looking for an excuse to buy them for sometime!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wr4ejbio8__uO48x5F3eXQ_4VUmoziUqTiiAY9giFidS8iZGrB7etdKIzHBLfdljTVyzhngrj-a5r0tu5t7gOY4Ak7oCv4jnaOWEpXLrxjILsP4aohua2ggxDLk1Qle2EoWa45lvITft/s1600-h/IMG_9879.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wr4ejbio8__uO48x5F3eXQ_4VUmoziUqTiiAY9giFidS8iZGrB7etdKIzHBLfdljTVyzhngrj-a5r0tu5t7gOY4Ak7oCv4jnaOWEpXLrxjILsP4aohua2ggxDLk1Qle2EoWa45lvITft/s320/IMG_9879.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267841380175252306" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">We are so blessed to have a best friend, <a href="http://www.jesonis.com/">Darrell</a>, who is an amazing Photographer. These are just a few of the pictures that he took. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5cLAhyphenhyphen1T9MFHzsT23svmZmjyUT_D3g48pm1OdJSAa9OGu4aCmbsnZy1nUnOXR4eIGur95360UA_RsqXJz09oz09sVdwNjFtWz8eUMI6gdnJY1duQuCGpphTIDmZhTBS4hpk-k1SCmkFM/s1600-h/IMG_9865.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5cLAhyphenhyphen1T9MFHzsT23svmZmjyUT_D3g48pm1OdJSAa9OGu4aCmbsnZy1nUnOXR4eIGur95360UA_RsqXJz09oz09sVdwNjFtWz8eUMI6gdnJY1duQuCGpphTIDmZhTBS4hpk-k1SCmkFM/s320/IMG_9865.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267841366560335058" /></a><br /></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-44963739551343678782008-10-24T14:01:00.004-04:002008-10-24T14:30:49.480-04:00On the Soap Box<a href="http://www.worldorphans.org/problem/index.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">World Orphans</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> is a great web site that gives a break down to how many orphans are in the world. 143 million! That is half of the people in the United States, what if one out of every two persons in the US was a child living on the streets? Not only that, they people living on the streets are under the age of 15! I think that would be the biggest issue in this political campaign that is raging around us. I recently watched the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL7FRNDkELM"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Saddleback</span></a> interviews and both candidate's were surprised by the amount of orphans worldwide, one of the candidate's even has an adopted daughter. Neither one had a clear idea what to do about it. Why isn't this an issue? Why don't we think about, "the least of these"?</span>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-8899197824186339492008-10-02T14:45:00.001-04:002008-10-02T14:53:16.435-04:00A Happy Day Forever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5UvKl391hxousDKSwgTu1pkrBZek-GfrN34uDz2miB0JCJL0iwucitRCM3PpvgMbENJhvGzO4F7MxEWmg7H22F9xDLqMNwZgTvKorP8k5JMhzA_j273NwGLb7AYQt1M828rOPRq34aYa/s1600-h/DSC01945.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5UvKl391hxousDKSwgTu1pkrBZek-GfrN34uDz2miB0JCJL0iwucitRCM3PpvgMbENJhvGzO4F7MxEWmg7H22F9xDLqMNwZgTvKorP8k5JMhzA_j273NwGLb7AYQt1M828rOPRq34aYa/s320/DSC01945.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252630748231149362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcOS52oYvwb8ldPkHbhE5n4IFonD6CPqMhsmEaMljUVirMZ_L3qIZxKEj2FuMoCyALb-YwJHfAmgmm10DYeytYwJsQPqF-H6V9OjTgF9tOqpKwzxEVWA5Q5XVZ4pl2_gSsNnkjUavXOHY/s1600-h/DSC02356_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcOS52oYvwb8ldPkHbhE5n4IFonD6CPqMhsmEaMljUVirMZ_L3qIZxKEj2FuMoCyALb-YwJHfAmgmm10DYeytYwJsQPqF-H6V9OjTgF9tOqpKwzxEVWA5Q5XVZ4pl2_gSsNnkjUavXOHY/s320/DSC02356_1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252630746224532866" /></a><div>We still miss you, sweetest peach. </div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-38686865652237501892008-09-29T18:44:00.014-04:002008-09-29T20:52:31.817-04:00Be Still . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfzMAXVGqmHaeZgDEvRlowtCOsZbLVa3IGVn8-VO7IFtq9XoQTARoM1XGDrBnygpzKTCudcGv-n0yZ-Wn0VNbDvRxsSdMaj_sPjnOxU-BeHYYSALysKqRZR3INFUjZ-WwFPMKHm7c1L-B/s1600-h/IMG_0022.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfzMAXVGqmHaeZgDEvRlowtCOsZbLVa3IGVn8-VO7IFtq9XoQTARoM1XGDrBnygpzKTCudcGv-n0yZ-Wn0VNbDvRxsSdMaj_sPjnOxU-BeHYYSALysKqRZR3INFUjZ-WwFPMKHm7c1L-B/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251606824057760146" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">We are more than overdue for an update, so here goes -</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">As far as the adoption goes, we are in the same spot as we were previously. We are waiting. We will complete our fifth month of waiting on Thursday. We are anticipating a referral (when they match us up with our child) before the end of the year. With that being said, we really don't know and have decided that trusting God and not worrying about it is our best course of action. Just for your information, we would probably travel to get our child about 8 to 12 weeks after the referral. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDWz3ZcXitvl0EasuGsrpgPxxsrnnmuJuHCmi6-5FHM8tlOsih4kvHCxpUsyutxk1mbXYG9QVw3gyOMgKmcYP7tiIJyguEiF2pr98HhIu7Wli7CKWfrzcwhG9rZmtSv-7i5mHmZGnKzsC/s320/IMG_0055.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251606837123982114" /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">It has not been hard waiting thus far, I think that it is just easier to go about living and let the details of the adoption play out as the Lord sees fit. We have learned that expectation is a dangerous thing when it comes to children and most other matters.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">One of the things that has kept us busy in the recent weeks is our children. Samuel and Lucy have a great deal of energy and they are so much fun. Unbelievably, Samuel is now in the second month of second grade and Lucy attended her first day of practice pre-school.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Amy and I are learning more and more about being married. I have fallen more in love with Amy and continue to be inspired by the Jesus that I see in her. Life is not perfect, but there is no doubting that God knew what he was doing when he gave me this wonderful woman.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5iJRKTl7p_mEWEGMq5LhSsp6uuqhhHpVspkIhfDuT3cxdcNMsv0NUYe1MLlB-Z_9ta6xUwODGvQ-FxS13wV5YFvFj3-uRRfzK3wjbrLZWmEGUJwIG9gXtTpAM4PIm4Paaa5ntVLV4VSJ/s1600-h/Photo+208.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5iJRKTl7p_mEWEGMq5LhSsp6uuqhhHpVspkIhfDuT3cxdcNMsv0NUYe1MLlB-Z_9ta6xUwODGvQ-FxS13wV5YFvFj3-uRRfzK3wjbrLZWmEGUJwIG9gXtTpAM4PIm4Paaa5ntVLV4VSJ/s320/Photo+208.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251608007864579138" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">We are also pretty excited about an event coming up at Glorious Presence Church to benefit the adoption. Sean Ponte is pulling this event together and we are hoping for a cool evening on November 1st. There will be more to come on this benefit concert and there will also be some other ways to help us out with the adoption this fall and winter. Stay tuned.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-59547895100951180612008-08-31T22:16:00.015-04:002008-08-31T23:33:29.900-04:00Handsome Sam Python (this is the on-line name that his cousins gave him)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHW3EdE4b_w-jhTl81BZyU1E-ZkEAsfM-Rf__U-NaASV1yRIBzRi74YM3yudEjzMkArt4fYNq4iWEvavTs_m6nSVIG3AYr0JA8nRXUOF-B8WW6OIr3IFFsnCjK_OckpFc5gWRDIM0QJH3/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHW3EdE4b_w-jhTl81BZyU1E-ZkEAsfM-Rf__U-NaASV1yRIBzRi74YM3yudEjzMkArt4fYNq4iWEvavTs_m6nSVIG3AYr0JA8nRXUOF-B8WW6OIr3IFFsnCjK_OckpFc5gWRDIM0QJH3/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240890370551346930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuh6t6E_YXPHyfsk8EE9YEFSrpoIEmA6hcRiaUzguOsY5v-lQIVsn5IRWSG7hZB-jmizImKuha5SELjqj8ZVDHsNkrbIQsy7Ox19jla7tA4u0knbotZx2xfXnwJAwiV5uwo0wQNp3JhjS/s1600-h/sc00038dd7.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuh6t6E_YXPHyfsk8EE9YEFSrpoIEmA6hcRiaUzguOsY5v-lQIVsn5IRWSG7hZB-jmizImKuha5SELjqj8ZVDHsNkrbIQsy7Ox19jla7tA4u0knbotZx2xfXnwJAwiV5uwo0wQNp3JhjS/s200/sc00038dd7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240874137976762386" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Today our boy turned 7! I can't believe it on two levels: 1. That I am old enough to have a 7 year-old, and 2. That Sam is 7. I know that it is cliche to say that it seems like yesterday we were bringing home a scrawny little baby. As you can see, he really was scrawny. At the time of his birth I really thought the birth of a premature child was the worst experience that I would ever go through. In hind sight, I know that the Lord was just using the birth of our son to prepare me for a bigger battle. The Lord also knew that Sam would be the reason for us to get out of bed in the morning. That when nothing seemed right, he would be our purpose to continue, to move forward. </span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">There are so many amazing qualities about Sam. He is really funny and smart. The other day when he got home from school, he looked at me and said, "Today was a great day!" I said, "Why?" Sam replied, "We had 2 and half hours of MATH!" I was a bit lost. I am more on the language side of learning, like poetry and not concrete answers don't really feel right to me. So, I mustered up the courage to say, "That </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">IS </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">awesome, bud!" Sam then walked forward and said to the world, "I love numbers!" This, I am sure, is directly related to the genenic influence of his father, he too is a number nerd. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Sam also loves being around people. One of my favorite interactions to watch is between Sam and our friend Asher. Asher isn't really a touchy, snugly person and Sam is. Sam will sit next to Asher at lunch touching, picking,rubbing, and hugging on Asher and Asher, is really nice and kind, he just keeps inching down the booth until he is pinned between Sam and the wall. I am sure that Asher is counting down the lunches until he is off serving the world. Asher, Sam loves you. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">The best quality about Sam is his ability to speak the truth about things. He talks about Georgia going to heaven in a way that speaks truth and brings comfort. Shortly after Georgia died, he said to me, "Sissy likes heaven." He was only 2 and a half, and we didn't really explain heaven at that point. He just knew. At the time that we lost her, I prayed that the Lord would explain to Sam everything that we fell short on, and He did. I am not a mystic, but the things that Sam knew, or saw, were right on. Sam still speaks truth to people, he does it in away that is sweet and not judgemental. I pray that he will always be this way. <br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">I am so excited to watch Sam grow up into the man that he was created to be. He is pretty awesome. </span></div>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232886586350166166.post-20886953662988064452008-08-20T23:05:00.002-04:002008-08-20T23:15:54.635-04:00The Joner Family<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Please pray for a family in our ET program. They just got news today that their little baby girl died. They have never met her, or held her, or kissed her. I know that their hearts are broken. There has been a bad respitory infection that has been traveling around the orphange that the children are in. Please pray for the health of everybody there.<br /><br /></span></span>The Stackler Clanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989356917376736309noreply@blogger.com1