An Orphan No More!

Yesterday in the middle of the afternoon . . .

in the middle of the busy Atlanta airport . . .

in the middle of what might have been just another busy day for many . . .

a sweet little two year old boy (escorted) from Korea, lost the title "orphan" . . .

and gained . . .

the title "son" . . .

and "little brother"!

Caleb Joseph Ho-min . . .

became the newest member of the H~ Gang!

I think he quickly realized that he was in a good place!

To our dear friends (and old neighbors) ~

Robin and Gary,

and their gang . . . Brianna, Nicholas, Hunter and Claire, and Caleb

we rejoice with you!

Welcome home, sweet boy! Welcome home!

Thank you Father God, that you put the lonely in families.

Thank you for bringing Caleb home!

Blessings from my smiling nest ~

Tina

Memorial Box Monday ~ The Dress

For a full scoop on MBM, see this post.

You can also visit Linny, creator of MBM,

@ A Place called Simplicity, here.

Memorial Box Monday ~ The Dress

This is a picture of my beautiful Taylor girl, taken by me (her proud mama), last May. We did a dress rehearsal/photo shoot, one week before she and Frankie were happily married, on May 23, 2009. I have never seen a smile quite like the smile I saw that day, as I zipped my precious daughter into her wedding dress-- although there were tears in her mama's eyes.

This is the story of "The Dress" . . .

Taylor and Frankie were engaged in August of 2008. Life was busy, Teddi had just come home from China two months prior, and her palate surgery was scheduled for September. Taye was working and going to school full time.

Fall arrived, and we attended a huge wedding expo, we were also working on getting the "major" wedding plans in place. We needed to be dress shopping . . . but, like I said, life was busy.

November rolled around and we set a Saturday aside, to begin the pursuit of a gown for our bride. Escorted by one of Taylor's wedding savvy friends, we began the tour of bridal shops . . .

The first question we faced each time we walked into these very large displays of whiteness was, "When is the wedding?"

"May."

Then with a tiny "hmmm" and a look over the bifocals, would come the reply, "Oh, you need to be ordering a dress right away, if you plan to have it for a May wedding."

Next question, "What is your price range?"

In a couple of shops our "price range" took us straight to the rack in the back corner--the equivalent, I would say, of Rudolph's Land of Misfit Toys. Alrighty then.

Two shops and several dresses in, Taye tried on, and instantly liked (really liked) a beautiful gown, with a $675.00 price tag--if my memory serves me well. A great deal in the wedding gown world, but not in this thrifty mama's opinion. Of course that was a sale price, and we would need to make a down payment within 24 hours to get the dress for that great price. Aye, yi, yi.

Then came the head pieces. Little did I know that you now purchase a veil and a tiara. There's some marketing for you--why sell a fancy veil, when you can take the fancy stuff off, and then charge extra for a tiara--to add the fancy back on! At one point in the trying on of veils and tiara's, as the helpful bridal assistant turned away, I turned tags . . .

Adding the price of the veil and tiara together (all while trying to cover my gasp), I notified Taye that she had about $275.00 sitting atop her precious blond head. Again, I'm sure a grand deal in the wedding world--but, you know what? There are many needs in the world, that carry a much higher priority, than decorating a head for a few hours to the tune of $275!

Needless to say, we did not order a dress that day. We did not order a veil, and we did not purchase a fancy shmancy, overpriced tiara. Nor did we purchase, or order, anything the next month, which was December.

Time was ticking down . . .

January rolled around, and we made a family trip to Houston to visit Frankie the Fiance, over a long holiday weekend. Heading back towards San Antonio on Monday, we decided to make a stop at a mall, just outside of Houston, in Katy. Bry and the Littles went one way, and Taye and I went another. We happened upon a big store that sold prom and Quinceanera dresses. We wandered in and began looking for anything in white. We soon happened upon a small rack of about fifteen wedding dresses, there were three in Taye's size-- and one that she really, really liked!

Long story short, our search, (if you can even call it that, since we had really only made one previous outing) ended in Katy, Texas. And as the Lord (better known at that moment as Jehovah Jireh-- our Provider), had arranged, it ended in a non-bridal shop, with non-bridal shop prices!

That January day, with four months to spare, we purchased "The Dress".

Off the rack . . .

no ordering . . .

no alterations needed . . .

for a grand total of . . .

Yes, a grand total of $239. 95!

That same weekend, we'd purchased a pretty tiara type headpiece at a Claire's* that was going of of business. It was 75% off, making our cost around $4.50! April rolled around and we still lacked a veil, that's when our old friend Ebay* came through. For $28.00 we ordered a brand new finger-tip length veil with a blusher, edged in tiny crystal beads. It arrived three days later in a small padded envelope and I thought "Oh no, what will we find scrunched up in here?" We took the veil out, hung it up, and it was ready to wear-- not even a touch up! Perfect!

Don't you just love, love, love it when the Lord meets your need? Sometimes it takes patience, always--it takes trust . . .

but oh what a feeling when He provides exactly what we were hoping for, at just the right time!

This Monday we will add to our Memorial Box, the price tag from Taylor's perfect dress, as a reminder that HE cares for us, in such beautiful ways!

I have a feeling that on that glorious day, when we, the Bride of Christ, dance with the Bridegroom, extravagance will have its place. For now, we will continue to do the best that we can with what we are given --remembering that everything we have, is because of Him!

Blessings from our grateful nest ~

Tina

P.S. If you haven't read my lil' giveaway post below, pretty please do!

Crazy Love, Haiti, and a little Giveaway!

"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Luke 6:38

My sweet friend Linny did something really crazy this week over at A Place Called Simplicity, it's called CRAZY LOVE, and you can read about it here. In a nutshell, Linny asked her bloggy readers who had a specific need, to come forward and share their need. Why? So that those who are able could show some CRAZY LOVE, by blessing those in need! Many, many families have come forward humbly asking for prayer . . . for money to go on mission trips . . . for funds to help bring home another orphan . . . one post that really touched my heart (and I'm still working my way through the posts) was from a family who has a thirteen year old daughter waiting for them in China. They have followed the Lord in obedience, but work has been slow, and they need $8,000 in the next six weeks to bring this precious girl home. They need some crazy love shown to them now! Many others need it as well. Will you please make a stop by Linny's, and consider showing some Crazy Love?

Next on my "agenda of giving" is Haiti. I heard on the radio just today that after the earthquake in Haiti, half of all Americans gave in some way to help. That news blessed my heart, BUT, Haiti still needs our help, and they will for a very long time. Rainy season is nearly upon them, and many, many are still without any shelter at all . . .

Have you ever been soaking wet to the core? If you're like me, you can't wait to get inside and get dry clothes on. But what if there was no "inside" to go to? Nowhere. What if you had children, and you had absolutely nothing to shelter them with when the rains came? Not even a basic camping tent. I can not imagine being a mama in that situation-- but without our help, mamas and babies will be soaked to the core. With nowhere to go. Nowhere.

My sweet girl Taylor and her hubby, Frankie (a.k.a. The Newly's) brought the following Children's Hunger Fund video to my attention. The Newly's have had the opportunity to work closely with some folks from Children's Hunger Fund-- let me just say this, the people at CHF are the real deal. They are a Christian organization serving those in great need, run at the highest standard, to honor the Lord.

It will only take a bit of your time to watch the video and see the need for yourself. One Haitian man is quoted as saying, "So (a) tent right now is like cocaine or gold in Haiti. Like gold."

Would you please pray about giving some gold to someone in Haiti? Money that we would spend eating out once or twice, or buying new Easter clothes, could make a life saving difference to a family in Haiti.

"For by by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

A note from Children's Hunger Fund~

PLEASE HELP
For about $65 each, we should be able to supply a family with a waterproof tent and a household water filter to help them through this crisis. In addition, we will supply Food Paks and French Creole bibles for the churches to provide as ministry tools. Again, our desire is to supply these items to a minimum of 1,000 impacted families. To do so, we are seeking to raise at least $65,000 in the next few days.
Your gift of any amount could provide shelter, clean water, food, and bibles for a struggling family in Haiti. Go to http://www.chfus.org/ to donate now. Please note HAITI RELIEF in the comments section of our secure donation page.

It only takes a few minutes to donate. If you want your donation to go specifically towards a tent, put "Haiti Tents" in the comment section.

* * * * * * *

Thanks if you stuck this post out this far . . .

Now for the little giveaway . . . Remember the "Hearts of Hope" for Haiti post? If you missed it, it's here. I have three "Hope for Haiti" hearts that I am going to give away! Each heart represents a $10 donation to the American Red Cross, to help Haiti recover.

Here's how to get in the running for a heart --

~ If you have not yet done anything to help Haiti, but would like help now, then leave me a comment telling me you are going to help in some way, be it through CHF, the Red Cross, or another opportunity you may know of. This will enter you in the giveaway for one of the hearts.

~ If you helped Haiti after the quake, but you are willing to help again in some way, then leave me a comment telling me so! I will enter you in the drawing for a heart!

~ If you have already visited Linny's Crazy Love, and have shown some crazy love to someone, or maybe even more than one someone, tell me so! If not, get on over there, and do some reading, and some praying, and some lovin'! There were 45 families involved at my last check -- so I will give us all some time to work on that. Tell me you have shown some Crazy Love, and that will put you in the running for a heart!

~ If you do not have the financial means to help anyone at this time, but you will commit to pray for the needs we've been talking about, then say, "I'm prayin", and you're in!

~ IF you are a lurker, and you come out of hiding (like by becoming a follower--hint,hint) that will get you an extra chance at a heart! I know, I know, that's not fair to my readers who have been here all along . . . but hey, I have to get them out of hiding somehow! So delurk, now is the time!

Time to show some Crazy Love. Let's do it!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Wordless Wednesday

Blessings from our dressin' up nest ~

Tina

Happy Birthday Grinner!

Has it really been six years since this happy little boy entered our world

in his sweet little miracle like way?

(You can read Brogie's story here.)

The name Brogan means "strong and sturdy".

On March 23rd, 2004, Brogan Elijah made his grand entrance--weighing in at 9 lbs 8 oz!

The Lord had completely answered my prayer that he would be born strong and sturdy!

Oh what a joy to have a baby in the house again . . .

pure sweetness.

Blessed to be changing diapers again . . .

in our 40's.

It wasn't long before his grin kicked in . . .

after all, he had several great teachers,

and a captive audience!

Our grinning pirate . . .

turned cowboy . . .

turned snuggler.

Just when we thought his grin couldn't get any bigger,

his long wait to be a BIG brother finally came to an end --

and in a noisy little room in China, his grin grew!

Along with his grin, his heart grew too,

as he took on his proud new role.

He grins in the cold . . .

and he grins in the heat. And he grins . . .

in the . . .

embrace of . . .

his silly siblings!

Oh how we love you Brogan.

You are thoughtful, and caring.

You are silly and loud--thanks again to

those great teachers . . .

and the captive audience!

You are a much loved little brother . . .

a proud and protective big brother . . .

a super, duper brother-in-law . . .

and the sweetest, strongest, sturdiest . . .

most grinniest six year old son,

a mama and daddy could ever hope to have!

Happy 6th Birthday Brogie!

We love you with all our hearts!

May the Lord continue to grow you strong and sturdy,

and may you follow after Him all your days.

Blessings from our Happy Birthday nest ~

Tina

A Lil' Rodeo ~ Then and Now

Brogan and Teddi both participated last year in their Pre-K class rodeo. It was the sweetest thing, with barrel racing (stick horse style), horse shoe tossing (of the plastic variety), and wild bronc riding--again, the wild bronco being a stick horse--which if you are Teddi, comes very close to a wild bronc!

Due to the busyness of life last spring . . . birthdays, bridal showers, wedding planning . . . I never got the rodeo post finished. Before I knew it rodeo time rolled around again--this time just for Teddi, as Brogan moved on to Kindergarten this year.

I thought I would go ahead and combine the two rodeos into one fun post, so that Grinner could have his chance in the spotlight too . . .

My little buckaroos!

Remember Teddi's big green goose egg, from her little collision

with the stucco wall? She was sportin' it for the rodeo!

My little bird was so little.

Texas and beans . . . they just kinda go together.

Teddi's cacti . . .

and cowboy boots with blue bonnets.

That was then . . . and this is now!

Teddi and Sam, is he a cute cowboy, or what?

We were blessed to have Sam move in

right next door about the same time school started!

Can you tell they are buds?

Grinner joins in for a shot.

Sweetness times three!

My silly little bird . . .

she looks to be singing "Home, home on the range".

Flit flitting . . .

where did ya go Flit?

The sweetest little Chinese Texan! I love that girl!

I have to brag on God for providing the sweet cowgirl

outfit, half price at the thrift store after Halloween --

and thank Grinner for the boots.

A final video -- Ted barrel racing, in a technique all her own . . .

Blessings from our western nest ~

Tina