Quick Update

As it goes during an adoption:

We have locked his file!!!

Hurry, wait, hurry, wait.

I have completed all the paperwork I can complete to submit for PA. We only wait on the completed medical forms from the doctor.

So, IF we can get our hands on them tomorrow, we will be able to submit everything to our agency tomorrow evening...and it can all be submitted to China to be there when China wakes up on Thursday morning.

So, keep praying!

For Jesus!

Stan and I will begin fundraising for the newest Mattox when we receive our preapproval from CCAA..

Until the, I have two families on my heart today....

Please consider what little you can do. Every $10 counts. Lots of $10 add up to
$100's.

If you feel the LORD calling you to help orphans but not to adopt, please go over to their blogs. Tell them a friend sent you . These two mamas need some encouragement. Can we, the body of Christ, edify them as we are commanded to edify one another.

Consider what you can do! God has spoken to my heart to do what I can for them, but he won't let me stop.

Go ahead, look at those faces, say a prayer. Give up a meal at McDonald's. Give it to an orphan.

http://journeytoouryoungestson.blogspot.com
and

http://ourfamadventure.blogspot.com
Make a mom smile. Make me smile. Make Jesus smile.

And, if you feel God compelling you to give, leave a comment, then go tell someone else!

Robbie

Finding Favor with the KING

As we are planning, hoping, and praying to adopt again, we have almost no money for the adoption, and we must submit preapproval to get waivers for Stan's medical condition. Stan continues to talk about getting out of the boat to walk on water.

We've just come back from the doctor's office. The nurse had prayer with us before the doctor came in...I mean she took us each by the hand, prayed and cried. She called on Jehovah Jireh to provide our needs.

Our doctor was such an angel, excited about the possiblity of bringing a little boy home from China. She worked closely with me as we discussed how to best word the letter to avoid red flags from CHina concerning the medications Stan takes. I felt like I was walking on water.

Then:
I felt like I should ask the nurse Holly if she would help us fund raise. I told her about the necklaces from 147 million orphans. I told her she didn't have to answer today, but asked her to pray about it. She agreed instantly to pray about it.

Holly had moved to another area of the room and then she said, "My husband is in a band. (I never knew that.) I can talk with him to see if the band would be willing to do a benefit concert for your adoption. That way all of the churches in our community could pull together to support you. It might be a few months before they could. They are currently opening for Sonic Flood."

I might now be walking on air.

Oh my! Jesus, you truly are Jehovah Jireh. You are the God of Ephesians 3:20. You can do exceeding, abundantly more than we ask or think.

Please continue to pray now, that we will find favor with CCAA as we seek PA (pre-approval) for the next member of the Mattox family.

Many blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robbie

My Greatest Blessings!

So, I think I am more thankful for my dear husband this year than any other. I have seen a spiritual growth in home in the last few weeks that makes me love him all the more. He has been supportive of me when I told him I felt led to go back to South Africa this summer. He was the first to say we could adopt again, because he could use another son to have at home. He is willing to let his "crazy" wife make "crazy" plans and he comes along for the ride. (Tomorrow is his medical appt. Please pray we find favor with the doctor, and she completes the paperwork in a way that we will find favor with CCAA.)


And, I am falling more and more in love with this precious face. God has been so good to send encouragement when I need it as we puruse pre-approval from China. I know that I know that we are following His path. And, I pray that, this time next year, we are celebrating Thanksgiving with another little one to make us "crazy."


My Glamour Girl! She enjoys looking her best, doing her best, and being her best. And, please note another BIG blessing from this week. Monday was her birthday, and my friend V came over with a birthday gift for JT. She made me promise to be upset or argue with her. Inside the gift bag was 2 pair of jeans, one pair of galmour sweat pants, 3 undershirts, a shirt with matching scarf, three colored undershirts she can wear in the summer as tank tops, a fuzzy sweater, a hooded sweatshirt, and a flannel shirt. What a blessing!!!!!!!!!!!! JT is modeling one of the outfits.


The blessing who keeps me laughing, who walks in the room, and I never know what to expect. Tonight, she came into the room wearing a lamp shade. Go figure.



My first ever Thanksgiving without one of my children. Here are two blessings I love and miss!


They have been blessed with friends who are family-oriented, too. So, their first Thanksgiving away from home, they were able to spend time with friends and cook a family meal.



And, it took me longer to get a good photo of Whitney and Brandon. He has to pick and play and act like he doesn't like his oldest sister. Of course, he owes her. She spent over an hour editing his latest English assignment.




Finally, the best picture I've ever taken of the siblings who have a love/hate relationship.


We've enjoyed the day with extended family, Stan's family for lunch, and my family for supper. But, today, when we were out, I chose to leave the camera in the car and just spend time with cousins. It was a blessed day!

UPDATE

I am not SUPERWOMAN.

I am not SUPERSPIRITUAL.

So many people sent such sweet messages yesterday. I want to really ask you to be on your knees.

We have doctors' appointments. Stan's is Friday, and mine is Monday. Stan is ready to keep walking until God closes the door. My flesh wants me to worry about PA. We absolutley do NOT meet China's requirements. Our doctor will have to word things carefully or the answer, outside of Jesus, is certainly NO from CCAA.

But, this morning, in my Bible study, I was reading in Job, the next passage in my Read Through The Bible in a year, recommended at the end of Radical.

Well, my flesh was really feeling like I wasn't going to hear much from Jesus in Job, at least not what I felt I needed for comfort for today. Job's friends being such comforters and all...;)

Well, Job replied, "My redeemer lives."

And, I followed a cross reference. It took me to Isaiah 43.

I gasped. (You might have heard me.) Stop and look there right now, and see if you gasp.

Go ahead.

I'll wait.

God took me right where I needed to be. And, in case you were driving down the road using your IPhone on the internet and didn't have a Bible, let me share some beautiful phrases from that chapter. I won't have to add a word or any interpretation:

I have redeemed you.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.

Fear not.

I am with you.

I have created him for my glory.

I will bring your children from the east.

Bring my song from far.

You are my witnesses, that I am God.

I will do a new thing.

I will make a way in the wilderness.

God is good and greatly to be praised. I will be praising Him, as I clean and begin the decorating for Christmas. But..

I am not SUPERWOMAN.

I am not SUPERSPIRITUAL.

So, if the LORD brings me to your mind, please keep praying!

Wanna Know a Secret?

Well, I suppose it won't be much of a secret after today.



Did you take a good look at that face?

I have looked at it many times in the past week.

I believe the LORD made the crooked paths straight for our family to see his face. You remember the post last week. (click here) As we were praying for and advocating for Xiao Yong, I joined an advocacy group to see photos of him. In the same folder was the photo above. I instantly felt a connection, but....

We were advocating for Xiao Yong.

When I learned Xiao Yong had a family, I went back to the advocacy group and looked at more photos:


Knowing that Stan had surprised me by considering Xiao Yong's adoption if we had the money, I thought he might be open to this little one. Especially because, he has spina bifida. I have learned that many have requested to see his file and thus far, each one has been concerned about the uncertainties of spina bifida.

I've been down that road. I have learned enough about him to know that the nerve involvement from his meningocele is less than that of Ellie's. He is walking independently, with a limp. I was even blessed with a video. He is currently potty trained, but I know it will be necessary to have urodynamics to determine if the pressures on his bladder are at appropriate levels.


There was a sponsor willing to help with Xiao Yong's adoption, but there is not one now. I continued to pray.

We have no money.

REALLY!

I attended the LOVE the LEAST Conference where Gwen Oatsvall reminded me that God funds what her favors. She continued to speak of the BIG GOD and the little me. As I talked with Suzanne, she reminded me that if we pursued this adoption without the money, we were giving God the opportunity to do what only HE can do. I attended the fund raising break out session and my mind was spinning!!!!

I continued to pray.

As I left the conference, I sent a text to several prayer warrior friends. I asked this question, "How do you know the difference between faith and foolishness? Is it foolish to pursue an adoption without any money?" I received a reply from a beautiful young Christian lady, who is living out her faith and will soon spend the summer at Maria's Big House of Hope. (Click here for her blog.) She sent me the scripture I needed for affirmation. I Corinthians 1:25--The foolishness of God is wiser than men.

I sent that to a hesitant Stan who only texted back, "Deep."

He is willing if we have the funds.

I am willing to step out and see if the funds show up.

So, I've shared with the children. And, they are excited. Ellie thinks she wants to play with this precious child.


The big kids started throwing names around last night.

So, I'm asking...no....BEGGING for prayer.

I've talked with two agencies. I'm looking at his file. The only hesitation we have is money. That sounds big, right? But, if that is the only hesitation, I can trust a BIGGER God.

We must first request PA...preapproval. There are some of the medical requirements for the China program that Stan and I no longer meet. We would have to get a waiver. That part of the adoption would be in the hands of the CCAA. They have both approved and denied similar requests. An agency is ready to seek that for us.

So, I'm ready to continue to journey down the road less traveled. I have read, "If You Want To Walk On Water, Then You've Got to Get Out of the Boat." I am jumping out of the boat. I'm willing to say, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you."

I've read Radical, and I want my faith to radically declare that JESUS CHRIST is LORD OF ALL! I don't want to sit here comfortably saying, "Well, we would adopt IF we had the money." I don't want to set a limit on the God who c

I've just begun Crazy Love, and I want to live that life that shouts she is crazy, crazy in love with Jesus, and LOOK WHAT HE HAS DONE!

Trusting in the prayers your pray to a Saviour who loves us, who loves the Fatherless.

If God has another family for this little, please pray His perfect peace when we receive that answer. I'm giving you my heart. Handle it gently.

And, if we get PA, I'm going to be asking some of you to help raise funds. I have something in mind already!

She's a Gold Medalist!

Yesterday, Josie-Tatum competed for the first time in a gymnastics meet! We knew she had talent, but we were thrilled with her scores.

She began the day completely nervous. When she was on the floor, though, she turned on the smile. Brandon commented that she still had her game face on between events. ;) There were 15 girls in her division. Check out the video to see how she did!

She is such a perfectionist. When they were lining the girls up to receive their awards for the first event, she was placed at the end of the line. She thought that meant she was last. (Poor thing) The look on her face in one of the photos shows her confusion.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

But, by the end of the awards, she had that thing figured out! She began to be all smiles when she saluted.

She texted one of our dear friends who had sent a congratulatory message. She said, "At first I was scared. But now....gymnastics rocks!"

Today is the birthday, so I must get off the computer and make the rest of this day ALL ABOUT JOSIE-TATUM. Nov 21st is her referral day, now her first ever GOLD medal day, today the celebration continues.

Be sure to check back, tomorrow, though. I should have some EXCITING news to share...jsut not today, it's ALL ABOUT JOSIE-TATUM DAY today!

Look Who I Met !

Busy Weekend

Just left the Love the Least Conference.............AWESOME!

Headed to SC for Josie-Tatum's gymnastics competition.....will post more soon.

And, might I ask for prayer....there is a little boy in China....need I say more?

Just in Case

So, after quite some time, and two weeks later, I finally got this video to upload. This is not the drama that occurred at my house, but it is my sweet niece Maddison, singing Happy Birthday back to us, after we sang to her. She is quite proud of herself.

A Little Glimpse Into our Afternoons

Just in case you wonder if I have stopped to smell the roses any...as busy as we've been.

Here's how I found Ellie yesterday:

She was reading a story to her "friends." Not sure what the words on the page really said, but her friends seemed to enjoy the Ellie version.


I really had misplaced my camera and just found it yesterday. So, I hope to play catch up this week, and show you some things. ;)

BTW, does anyone know why I can't get the movies from my new camera to upload to Blogger?

You'll Never Believe What's Been Going On

I know, I've been AWOL for a while.

Life has been busy, really busy. There's been Fall Festival at school, a day I arrived at 7:30 a.m. and came home at 8:45 p.m. There was a fund raiser for gymnastics. Josie-Tatum is at the gym 4 days a week, sometimes four and a half hours a day, getting ready for competition in SC this coming weekend.

And, we're getting ready to back to South Africa, you know.

We've had a yard sale. You know how much work that is.

We're taking orders for cakes for Thanksgiving. (It's still not too late to let me know if you want one. ;)

And, in the middle of all of that, I received an email that almost haunted me.

Do you see these eyes?


They belong to a little boy who is 8 years old, and has been "left behind." He is in the same foster home where we found our Ellie. He has remained behind as many children have entered the home and left with their forever families.

He still did NOT have a family.

We were asked to pray and pray we did.

Ellie prayed and then said, "Mama, maybe nobody knows he is there."

Well, we prayed and we talked, and Stan surprised me when he said, "If only we had the money, I could use a little boy around here."

What??????????????

Stan has always said, "Our house if full. Our family is complete."

Well, God called his bluff.

We found out there was the possibility of money being made available for his adoption.

His special needs were out of my comfort zone, but Stan was ready. He said, "We'll just see what the LORD does." Now, those of you who know us well....know...that's how I talk, not how Stan talks.

Well, today, we learned that another family has made a committiment to adopting the little boy with the eyes that pierced my heart.

Our prayers were answered.

But, I must admit I was a little disappointed. And, with peace, Stan said, "It wasn't meant to be." But, if things change, let me know.

So, now I know. If the time is right, if the child is right, Stan is open. And, if we are to adopt again, God will make a way.

(I hope my mother-in-law didn't faint if she's been reading this.)

Blessings my friends. I'll try to post more!

Yipee--Praise the LORD

I know I've been away awhile....life is soooo busy.

But, the LORD has spoken to me, ever so gently.

And, Josie-Tatum and I are going back to South AFrica.

As we've been praying, he has sent 3 people along my path to confirm what my heart felt already. Three times in one week, someone brought up South Africa, three different people brought it up, three days in a row, and know of them knew my prayers. We've begun the preparations, and we are praying with several friends who are thinking about going with us. Maybe someone reading would like to go! :)

And, as we have prayed, the LORD has sent us reminders of why we go:

The above photo is a picture of the children who will be living in the Lighthouse, which is shown as it is being built behind them.

Below are other photos of the children, all orphans that Josie-Tatum and I have held, touched, loved, and hugged. We have been raising funds for the home they will one day move into. At the time, they are living in campers on the mission base. And, one day, the Lighthouse will be complete, and over 50 orphans will have a NEW, glorious, Christ-centered home!!!

The children have THRIVED since they have moved onto the base, and we are so blessed to have a played a small part in their story, the story our Saviour is writing.








So, as we prepare to go back, to minister to the orphans, to work with the teachers on the mission base, and to share the love of Jesus in the community, will you join us in prayer?

And, if you live in South Georgia, you may want to consider supporting us in our first fund raiser. We are selling homemade cakes, made by Mrs. Delores Yarbrough. The cakes are $30. You can choose from 15-layer chocolate, 15-layer caramel, Blueberry, Strawberry, Coconut, red velvet, Italian cream, and Germna chocolate. They may be picked up from my house the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. If you're interested, leave a comment, and I'll get back with you.

Blessings and Praises!
Robbie