Finally some NEWS!!!!!

Finally heard from the consulate and we have some updated to do... imagine that?! ha ha.. it's been sitting there so long that things are old... who would have thought?!! so, it's off to the races for me tomorrow... I am thinking I can get it all done, notarized, fly (really drive fast!) to the capitol, get it all done and overnighted by 5 PM tomorrow.. that's my goal..

Wish me luck... cause I'm off EARLY in the morning!!!!

The official at the consulate said we should be good to go once they get these updates!!! ya hoo....
no way.. we're finally getting past the consulate hurdle... NO WAY!!!!!

I will faint when we get the official word that our dossier is really in Kaz.... I just know I will faint.. never fainted before in my life.. but, after 1 year 6 months and 3 weeks.... I think it will be my first time!!! ha ha.....

I will let you know if my day tomorrow was as successful as I hope... we will see! Wish me luck and say a prayer..

Garage Sale Grand totals, Brook's 4th B-day, Mother's Day, New nephew, and friends are going to Kaz..

Whew!!
Am I the only one out there tonight exhausted? Between field trips, Special Olympics, a new (adorable) nephew, Brook turning 4, and the normal end of the year things... I am way tired!! :-

Let me start by giving an update on the part 2 of our Garage sale.... Last Sat. was once again amazing... absolutely amazing.. we had people dropping items off and donating more things pretty much all day... we made another $1100.00, making the grand total for our garage sale to a little over $3200.00.... WOW!!! We had 3-4 truck and trailer loads of stuff left... and we packed it up and are storing it in my mom's garage... (Thanks Nana!) We are going to have another sale in a few months... It is so much work, but not only VERY profitable financially, but as an outreach as well... It's an amazing event and everyone is just as incredible as the last!! AMAZING!!!! God is SO good!!!

Brooklyn turned 4 on May 9th.. the part 2 of our sale... We made the day special for her and had cake and candles... etc... and celebrated her birthday party TODAY!!! We had a great time... pictures to come soon... (promise!)
We can not believe our baby is 4... man o man time if flying by!!!

Another Mother's day came and went... I vividly remember Mother's day last year.. thinking that it would be the LAST one without my boy(s).... well, here we sit again... and we don't feel we are really that much closer to getting there now than then.... Don't get me wrong the day was great... Phil and the girls were wonderful.. I had plenty of wonderfully sweet homemade gifts and Bay woke me up with kisses and handmade presents... it was wonderful and I'm so blessed... However none of it could shake the deep thoughts and feelings of my child(ren) in Kaz.... It's a feeling that I can't really describe, but I suspect some of you totally understand...

Phil's brother and his wife had a baby last Wed... so we have an adorable sweet new nephew... named Tristan Matthew.... (pictures coming soon.. I promise!!)
We are so thrilled.. and man o man is he a doll! He's so precious and we are over the moon excited!

I also wanted to share how thrilled and excited we are for our dear friends the Crutchfield's... they are headed to Kazakhstan next week... please say a prayer for them... We are so thrilled they are finally about to get to their kiddos... :-)

Last I wanted to share about what God has been doing in us.... No, we've not heard anything about our dossier... Our agency met with officials at the DC consulate last week... and the meeting was positive, but we've not heard anything specific about our dossier... :(
Just when Phil or I begin to get discouraged.... someone sends something like this to us...
Wow... God is so awesome and RIGHT on time!!! We'll wait God... we'll wait on you.. and your perfect timing... cause we want your will for our lives!!!
Hope this poem encourages some of you (that are waiting) like it did us.... Many blessings.. and know that we are praying for you!!

"WAIT"

Author Unknown

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?

By faith, I have asked, and am claiming Your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate hangs in the balance,

and You tell me to wait?

I'm needing a "Yes", a go-ahead sign,

or even a "No" to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe we need but to ask,

and we shall receive.

And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:

"I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate as my Master replied

once again "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut

and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed, then, to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,

and He tenderly said "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could vie, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want - but, you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You'd not know the power I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me;

When the darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience the fullness of love

as the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You'd know that I live and I Save, for a start,

but you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The flow of my comfort late into the night,

the faith that I give when you walk without sight,

the depth that's beyond getting just what you asked

of an infinite God,

who makes what you have last.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

what it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,

But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My child,

and in time you will see that the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still, "Wait."

Sophie, Garage Sale Update, and Pictures...

First off I want to say thanks for all the wonderful e-mails and comments I've received about Brownie and Sophie.... Sophie passed away this afternoon as well. We are all doing good though! Phil and I encouraged the girls in the fact that we have Sophie's best thing.. her baby puppies!! We are going to let them keep 2 now.... are we softies or what? :-)

I finally found the time and energy to type out my update about the garage sale....

Below is what I sent out tonight...

Wow! I don't know how to start this e-mail except to say: "The one who calls you is FAITHFUL and HE will do it!" Phil and I laughed Saturday night and said... you know.. it's really sad that we are once again amazed at God's hand at work with this adoption... I mean seriously... How long does it take us to realize that God does indeed have all things under control... and HE will see this very thing come to pass!! Wow!!

We are very happy to report that God blessed us with over $2000.00 in donations. If you live in or around our area, you will understand the significance of this... This past weekend was MISERABLE... it was rainy and misty and absolutely NOT garage sale weather!! We just prayed and continued on with the sale... you know what? God performed miracles!

We are so thankful for the _______ AG who allowed us to have the sale at their church!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, and a special thanks to all our help throughout the week and weekend... (Josh, Adrienne, My Mom, Robin, Kim... the list goes on and on.) Just when I thought I was to tired to pull this off... someone else stepped up and helped me... Thanks does not seem like enough!!!

ACCEPTING DONATIONS NOW!!!
Due to the weather and the fact that we have so much stuff left... We are going to continue the sale this coming Saturday.... so if you are local and meant to get things together to donate... or if you have some things you want to get rid of.... I know a great place!!! We are more than happy to pick up items this week or meet you at the church to leave them there. Call me @ ____________ or e-mail to figure out a time.. etc..

It's really amazing when you walk into the fellowship hall and see all the items left... and know that we made over $2000.00 in profit... wow!!!

I know that all of you don't know this.. so I'll share.. but, back in Nov. 07.. just a couple of months after God spoke to our hearts and lives about adopting an orphan...
God spoke to my heart about the Nov. 07 sale.. and that we weren't supposed to price items... we just tell a little about our story to each person.. that God spoke to our hearts in Sept. 07 to reach out to an orphan.. and we're adopting internationally from Kaz.. et.c....
and that if they see anything they want or need.. PLEASE take it... and if they have the resources and can or would like to... donate any amount to our adoption fund.....
Some don't pay anything and take items... others take nothing and donate $5.00, $20.00.. or sometimes $100.00...
I have flyer's that we give EVERY person who walks in the door..

People donate items ALL weekend.... they come and shop and go home and come back and donate more or more items... saying they can feel the holy spirit and KNOW God is involved.... it's truly amazing!! God is so Good!!!

I am happy to report that on that garage sale back in 07... we were blessed with $8700.00... we had another one in May of 08 and made over $2500.00... and now this one..
It's amazing to see peoples faces when we tell them that NO donation is to small... and we're happy with .25! People are amazed... and it truly touches their hearts! You know you can't out give God... YOU can't!!! It's also very encouraging to see families who you know need items.. find things that they need for survival.. and you can bless them with those things!! It is truly what Christ would do...
Let me just remind you tonight that if God has spoken to your heart about something, step out in FAITH! God will be there every step of the way... He desires to see the very thing he called you to come to pass...so he will be there with you!
Phil and I are in such shock at the awesome ways God multiplies items that people don't want or need... and turns it around to help one of his precious children! Wow!! If you have donated items... or are donating... Please know that you have and are playing a vital role in this journey! When God called us to this... he also knew the awesome support we'd have and receive!!

Did you know that there are over 143 million orphans in the world??? If 7% of all professing Christians would DO SOMETHING... there would be NONE! Did you know that this week alone... 200,000 children will DIE of starvation (world wide)?? and 200,000 next week, and 200, 000 the next week... etc. etc. etc...

Thank you for doing something... and helping us reach our child(ren) in Kazakhstan! Our heart cries to do more...

Phil and I pray that you will be blessed beyond anything you have ever dreamed or imagined.. and that all of you would have the courage to step out in FAITH and do what God has called you to do!!! You will be amazed at what happens when you take that first step!!! :-)

Many blessings... and I can't wait to report the great success from the upcoming sale!!!

There is going to be pictures and an article in our local newspaper this week... so check that out if interested!!


Thanks for loving our family!!
All our Love and Prayers,
Lanetta (and family)


Here are some pictures from the sale (I forgot to take any pictures until on Sat... and we'd sold TONS of items... but, you can get the general idea.. when I took these pictures, we'd made over $1800.00:

More sadness.... oh my!

I can't believe it.. I'm still in shock! After church as we were turning into our driveway, Phil accidently let his foot slip off the brake and it hit the gas... gunning us forward and into and over our dog, Sophie... We hit her twice and it's been awful since then... As you can imagine the girls have been so upset. Phil wrapped her in a sheet and we brought her in the kitchen to try to warm her up and acess her injuries. She seems to be resting now... we don't know if she is hurt internally or not... but, you talk about stresful! We're still trying to decide about taking her to the vet or not... urg!!
The girls have calmed down and after many prayers for Sophie to make have decided that it would be pretty cool if she went to heaven to keep Brownie company.... Oh my goodness... How much of this can 2 baby girls take?
Bay, did say at one point with tears streaming down her face.... what is this Mama, death week around here? so sad... and as you can imagine the 4 puppies have been going crazy hearing their Mom cry out in pain.. whew!!
Things are calm for the moment..and hopefully things will continue to be calmer.... and maybe Sophie will pull through this.. we sure hope so!

Check back... I still plan to get that yard sale update posted soon.... It's so amazing!!!

If you don't mind.. say a little prayer for my girls today... thanks! (and Phil and I... Phil feels SO bad!)

Sad Day for my girls....

Well, I had planned to come home tonight and post this amazing post about the success of the yard sale.... but, we had a family tragedy. Brownie died today. (Brownie is Bailey's goat... Click here and here to see pics.) As you can imagine the girls are SO sad.... they are very upset. :( We have no idea what happened... He was perfectly healthy and fine last night. We assume he was sick or ate something in our yard that made him sick. Phil and I talked a few days ago how small he was... The other 2 have grown a LOT and he had stayed so small... and we wondered then if maybe he was sick. He never acted like he was sick... He ran and played and was SO rotten!! It's so frustrating that their favorite one had to die, but it's one of those life lessons.... The girls called my Dad bawling their eyes out.. so I suspect he'll be finding a replacement soon... crying baby girls pull at those Grandpa heart strings every time! :-)

The Yard Sale was more than awesome.. and let me just say that I have a POST brewing for tomorrow after church.... so please plan to check back... you will be amazed at what you read!! God is so faithful, awesome, and HUGE!!!! WOW!!!

Nothing like a cliffhanger... huh?!