You can follow my Journey to Joy on our adoption blog
Joy From the East
Much LOVE,
Dawn
Showing posts with label Forever A Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forever A Family. Show all posts
Monday, April 23, 2012
Leaving for China!!!
You can follow my Journey to Joy on our adoption blog
Joy From the East
Much LOVE,
Dawn
Friday, February 10, 2012
Here comes the rain!
When it rains, it pours. And the outpouring of the Lord is something I can get used to. He's blessed me 4 times with sweet wonderful children through the miracle of adoption and today, this day, he has blessed me again.
Today, after months of waiting for the formal okay, a little girl from around the world was matched by China to be our daughter. And I could not be more humbled that God chose me to be her mom.
Within the next 12 weeks I should be boarding a plane to bring this sweet girl home to us, her forever family.
Thank you Lord for this day. For the Referral. For the updated photos. For the miracle of adoption.
Today, after months of waiting for the formal okay, a little girl from around the world was matched by China to be our daughter. And I could not be more humbled that God chose me to be her mom.
Within the next 12 weeks I should be boarding a plane to bring this sweet girl home to us, her forever family.
Thank you Lord for this day. For the Referral. For the updated photos. For the miracle of adoption.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
7 years of EXTRAVAGANT love
When God gives you a special gift and that gift changes your life for the better and brings you immense joy for 7 years, then that day is quite special. And as we contemplated celebrating Kya's 7th Gotcha Day, we wondered "How can we make each child's Gotcha Day anniversaries just a little more special? A little more memorable?"
Flowers from Dad for his tiny sweetheart are a must every year.
And then we took her to Pandora. Because a girls first fine jewelry really should be from Dad.
It's a little extravagent for us at this time in our life, but so is our love for this child, for all our children.
EXTRAVAGANT LOVE
There is always a reason not to splurge on the ones you love but sometimes you must push those reasons aside and just do it. This was one of those moments. We didn't want to wait another year to start this special tradition.
And so she picked out her first charm. And next year she can pick out another charm. And every year on her special day (and all our girls special days), they can pick out a charm for their Adoption bracelets.
We hope this tiny memento in the form of a bracelet will outlast even their parents. When they look at it, they will remember the moments, the love, the bond we shared as a family formed through the miracle of adoption.
Flowers from Dad for his tiny sweetheart are a must every year.
And then we took her to Pandora. Because a girls first fine jewelry really should be from Dad.
It's a little extravagent for us at this time in our life, but so is our love for this child, for all our children.
There is always a reason not to splurge on the ones you love but sometimes you must push those reasons aside and just do it. This was one of those moments. We didn't want to wait another year to start this special tradition.
And so she picked out her first charm. And next year she can pick out another charm. And every year on her special day (and all our girls special days), they can pick out a charm for their Adoption bracelets.
We hope this tiny memento in the form of a bracelet will outlast even their parents. When they look at it, they will remember the moments, the love, the bond we shared as a family formed through the miracle of adoption.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Our Joy Overflows
Well, because I don't have enough to do or enough confusion: Not only do I have a website for Joy but now I have a blog for her too. My logic was this: The website is nice to have all the various pages for updates, fundraising, cost analysis, time lines, etc. BUT, when I travel to China the blog will be nice and simple (and easy) for uploading pictures and updates about our first few days together. BUT, since I started the blog, I have found it easy to use it to pour out my heart. I miss my girl. I have so many thoughts, feelings and words and very little outlet for them. A journal is hard for me anymore. For some reason, my hand cramps with extreme pain when I try to write more than 1/2 page in my journal. But, my blog allows me to type with comfort. Then as the year rolls to an end, I am able to copy/paste my words from my blog into a photo album, a keepsake for our Joy.
So here is her blog: http://joyfromtheeast.blogspot.com/
For now, the blog has only tidbits of info, a few pics and later as I travel it will be how I communicate daily.
Today, I was blessed beyond blessed to post updates photos of our waiting Joy to her new blog.
~ She is beyond precious. I am beyond blessed to have these photos. My heart is overflowing with pure Joy today! And, as I want to cry out in anguish over the wait, I try to focus on the thought that 'soon Mom and daughter will be united, soon'! ~
So here is her blog: http://joyfromtheeast.blogspot.com/
For now, the blog has only tidbits of info, a few pics and later as I travel it will be how I communicate daily.
Today, I was blessed beyond blessed to post updates photos of our waiting Joy to her new blog.
~ She is beyond precious. I am beyond blessed to have these photos. My heart is overflowing with pure Joy today! And, as I want to cry out in anguish over the wait, I try to focus on the thought that 'soon Mom and daughter will be united, soon'! ~
Monday, June 27, 2011
Multitude of Thanks
See this lady...the one in the pic...what an amazing lady she is. Since we were fundraising for our adoption, we couldn't bring ourselves to pay for a hotel. She welcomed all 6 of us into her home. Not only that, she bought all the food. Not only that, she prepared all the food. Not only that, she contributed to the adoption expenses above and beyond her own means.
There is only one word for a woman like this.
That word is....
Wait for it.....
It's......
MOTHER.
Mother, I love you. Thank you for your generosity. And to John, who is the world's best step-dad, thank you! We love you both!
There is only one word for a woman like this.
That word is....
Wait for it.....
It's......
MOTHER.
Mother, I love you. Thank you for your generosity. And to John, who is the world's best step-dad, thank you! We love you both!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thinking, preparing, dreaming
Hotels:
Thinking of hotels. Where I can stay and be safe. Where we can walk to dinner close by.
Shopping:
Where can we stay where shopping is around the corner. Shopping! She'll come with nothing. She'll be 9 years old and own nothing but the clothes on her back. I cannot pre-buy anything because she's 9. Not only do I not know here size, I don't know what she likes. So shopping, we will be shopping. She will need clothes immediately.
Things to do:
I hear there are many things to do in Xi'an. I look forward to exploring my new daughter's birth city with her. Since I'm traveling alone, I'll have lots of mom-daughter bonding moments. What's the city like? What will my trip be like?
Someone else took this photo. It's the Remnan Sqaure in Xi'an.
So much to think about.
So much preparing to do.
So much dreaming.
And lots and lots of praying.
Missing my girl today. Getting excited.
Thinking of hotels. Where I can stay and be safe. Where we can walk to dinner close by.
Shopping:
Where can we stay where shopping is around the corner. Shopping! She'll come with nothing. She'll be 9 years old and own nothing but the clothes on her back. I cannot pre-buy anything because she's 9. Not only do I not know here size, I don't know what she likes. So shopping, we will be shopping. She will need clothes immediately.
Things to do:
I hear there are many things to do in Xi'an. I look forward to exploring my new daughter's birth city with her. Since I'm traveling alone, I'll have lots of mom-daughter bonding moments. What's the city like? What will my trip be like?
Someone else took this photo. It's the Remnan Sqaure in Xi'an.
So much to think about.
So much preparing to do.
So much dreaming.
And lots and lots of praying.
Missing my girl today. Getting excited.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Unexpected Blessings
Sometimes the blessings we receive mean so much to us, that we must really stop and make note of them and give a Shout of Thanks!
This is one of those times.
Last night I poured my heart out to my husband about how I am running out of time to do all I have to do for the family, the house, the adoption, the fundraising. I need help and the only one that can help me is God himself. So Dale tells me to take a 10 day break from it all and at the end of 10 days we'll see where and how God has led.
One of the many things on the BIG TO DO LIST is make beanie hats for the babies at the orphanage. We are supposed to take gifts to the little ones left behind. We have taken bottles, medicine, clothes, bought washing machines, etc in the past. But now funds are so very, very tight. Okay, funds are not tight. Funds are, well, non-existant. So, we have all this yarn and decided we would learn to make beanie hats. But to make 25-50 beanie hats for extreme-novice crocheters is an overwhelming task. I have never crocheted anything worthy of ever giving away and Kya is just 7 years old. But we were going to give it a whirl. And so it sat on the BIG TO DO LIST.
After pouring out my heart to hubby last night, I wake to this blessing.....
Do you know what this is? It's beanie hats for babies. Not just any babies....for babies in Chinese orphanages. Someone is asking us to deliver them to our child's orphanage. She is 16 years old and has made 400 hats for Chinese orphans, and she needs us to deliver them for her.
BLESSINGS!
That's what these hats are!
BLESSINGS!
This is one of those times.
Last night I poured my heart out to my husband about how I am running out of time to do all I have to do for the family, the house, the adoption, the fundraising. I need help and the only one that can help me is God himself. So Dale tells me to take a 10 day break from it all and at the end of 10 days we'll see where and how God has led.
One of the many things on the BIG TO DO LIST is make beanie hats for the babies at the orphanage. We are supposed to take gifts to the little ones left behind. We have taken bottles, medicine, clothes, bought washing machines, etc in the past. But now funds are so very, very tight. Okay, funds are not tight. Funds are, well, non-existant. So, we have all this yarn and decided we would learn to make beanie hats. But to make 25-50 beanie hats for extreme-novice crocheters is an overwhelming task. I have never crocheted anything worthy of ever giving away and Kya is just 7 years old. But we were going to give it a whirl. And so it sat on the BIG TO DO LIST.
After pouring out my heart to hubby last night, I wake to this blessing.....
Do you know what this is? It's beanie hats for babies. Not just any babies....for babies in Chinese orphanages. Someone is asking us to deliver them to our child's orphanage. She is 16 years old and has made 400 hats for Chinese orphans, and she needs us to deliver them for her.
BLESSINGS!
That's what these hats are!
BLESSINGS!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Left Behind....
This is a special video. This is the video that inspired my heart to adopt a 5th child. I was comfortable with my 4 children, comfortable in my home, the size of my home, didn't want to expand our budget, stretch our resources or rock our boat (especially in THIS economy). But, then Lucy.....Lucy's little face shined upon my computer screen, I was reminded of the desolation around the world, the lack of hope, the need for us to be God's arms and feet. How can I sit here and be so self-absorbed when "the least of these" suffers so? This world is coming to end. It is. We will not be here forever. Our lives are but a vapor. We have 1 shot, only 1, to make a difference and this is our moment. If we do not grasp it, we will miss it and in so doing, we will miss the blessing. Oh, friends, I don't want to miss the blessing. I don't want you to miss the blessing.
Not everyone is called to adopt. It is a calling. But we are are ALL called to care for the orphans. Do you see the conditions in this video? Do you see the numbers of children that need to be cared for? That care is not free. It cost someone, somewhere lots of money to care for them. When we go to China, Joy will walk out into the light, she will have a hope and a future. But, that orphanage will have then cared for Joy for 9 years and paid all of her expenses for 9 years. And so, in order to give back, we will be required to donate $5000 to the care of the children left behind. We need your help. It's that simple. We need you to help us raise the donation amount to give to the children left behind.
Since 2003, Dale and I have personally funded $133,000 for this cause. The cause of the fatherless. Our work is FAR from done. This is our life calling. But, we are running out of own resources and we simply are asking for $5,000. It seems like a lot but in comparison, it is not. Please help. Please.
Not everyone is called to adopt. It is a calling. But we are are ALL called to care for the orphans. Do you see the conditions in this video? Do you see the numbers of children that need to be cared for? That care is not free. It cost someone, somewhere lots of money to care for them. When we go to China, Joy will walk out into the light, she will have a hope and a future. But, that orphanage will have then cared for Joy for 9 years and paid all of her expenses for 9 years. And so, in order to give back, we will be required to donate $5000 to the care of the children left behind. We need your help. It's that simple. We need you to help us raise the donation amount to give to the children left behind.
Since 2003, Dale and I have personally funded $133,000 for this cause. The cause of the fatherless. Our work is FAR from done. This is our life calling. But, we are running out of own resources and we simply are asking for $5,000. It seems like a lot but in comparison, it is not. Please help. Please.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Leap. Now. Really? Yes, really!
Why must we do things we find most uncomfortable, most unpleasant? There are things we could do for God that, well, are easy. So why can't we just do those things? But that is just now how it works. He ask us time and time again to LEAP. I always say that when God speaks you have two choices. Obedience and Disobedience. So when he ask you to LEAP, do you LEAP?
Well, we have leaped. We are not doing this for recognition, a pat on the back, to be a saint. We simply LEAP because to not do so is actually scarier than the LEAP. I don't ever want to be outside the will of God. So even when the will of God for my life seems uncomfortable, unpleasant, hard work, I know that being outside of his will, well....just sucks. How's that for 'religious talk'? It sucks, it does. There is no other word that better describes it. You just don't want to find yourself outside his will.
So, here we are,
~ Uncomfortable ~
We must raise $10,000 to adopt the child the God has led us to. This leaves us most uncomfortable. We are givers, not receives. Yet, God has asked us to be receivers. To fundraise. To admit we can't do it on our own. To LEAP. To TRUST. And, so to be 'in his will', we are fundraising.
For some the words "rescue mission" are taboo. Some really dislike the idea of fundraising for a "particular child". So folks let's not call it a rescue mission. Let's not raise funds to "save this child". Let's raise funds to be in the center of God's will. Let's raise funds to help out our brothers and sisters in Christ who are called by the God of the Universe to adopt 1 more child. Will you help us? Will you help with the massive expense?
The cost is over $23,000. We started out with $13,000.
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
Dale and I have pray that God would use our story to inspire others to adopt. We believe that there are many who will respond to God’s request for them to LEAP if they knew and saw just how God can work when it comes to the Fatherless. You simply LEAP and God shows up by using those around us to embrace his plan, embrace the orphans and the call. In the month of May we raised over $2,400. We still have $7,500 to go.
Will you help? Will you be part of the mission that God has set forth? Will join us?
Well, we have leaped. We are not doing this for recognition, a pat on the back, to be a saint. We simply LEAP because to not do so is actually scarier than the LEAP. I don't ever want to be outside the will of God. So even when the will of God for my life seems uncomfortable, unpleasant, hard work, I know that being outside of his will, well....just sucks. How's that for 'religious talk'? It sucks, it does. There is no other word that better describes it. You just don't want to find yourself outside his will.
So, here we are,
~ Uncomfortable ~
We must raise $10,000 to adopt the child the God has led us to. This leaves us most uncomfortable. We are givers, not receives. Yet, God has asked us to be receivers. To fundraise. To admit we can't do it on our own. To LEAP. To TRUST. And, so to be 'in his will', we are fundraising.
For some the words "rescue mission" are taboo. Some really dislike the idea of fundraising for a "particular child". So folks let's not call it a rescue mission. Let's not raise funds to "save this child". Let's raise funds to be in the center of God's will. Let's raise funds to help out our brothers and sisters in Christ who are called by the God of the Universe to adopt 1 more child. Will you help us? Will you help with the massive expense?
The cost is over $23,000. We started out with $13,000.
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
Dale and I have pray that God would use our story to inspire others to adopt. We believe that there are many who will respond to God’s request for them to LEAP if they knew and saw just how God can work when it comes to the Fatherless. You simply LEAP and God shows up by using those around us to embrace his plan, embrace the orphans and the call. In the month of May we raised over $2,400. We still have $7,500 to go.
Will you help? Will you be part of the mission that God has set forth? Will join us?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Our Adoption FundRaiser
We are heading back to China for our 5th adoption and this time, well, we just don't have all the money that is needed for the $23,000 mission. We need to raise $10,000 of the funds. ...Seriously!...We have no back up plan. We must fully rely on God to multiply our efforts. We truly beleive he wants to use this adoption and these fund raising efforts to show others that lack of funds should not stop us from adopting. That children are a blessing from the Lord and He will bless us, bless you, if we just have faith.
So, with our Faith, Hope & Love t-shirts
(The Greatest of these is Love)....
Will you please be part of the miracle of adoption?
Order by May 22nd for the discount price of $18.
ORDER INSTRUCTIONS:
Please repost on your FB page and email to your friends/family to help bring JOY TO THE LORD!!
Payments can be made through our ChipIn acct on the sidebar of our blog THEN email size/# of tees with your address to dawn.clark@me.com
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A JOY-filled Mother's Day
Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. - Psalm 127:3-5
As a mother, all mother's days are special. No matter what happens, I'm still a mom and that's a blessing that nobody can take away. I have 4 incredible children that have been a blessing to me in so many ways.
~ Kya is smart and tender.
~ Autumn is creative and crazy.
~ Lily is spunky.
~ Aaron, my only son, is full of laughter and kisses.
I love them each so differently, so dearly, so deeply that each Mother's Day I am beyond thankful for them.
....BUT.....
Some Mother's Day are just EXTRA special.
They bring us a little EXTRA something we didn't expect.
And sometimes they bring us great JOY.
This Mother's Day was one of those Extra Special JOY filled days
because
...we got a letter from China...
....a letter that said....
I am going to be a mom AGAIN
and her name is
JOY
This our Joy, our 5th child, the one I have waited for, the one I have prayed for.
~ Ms. Joy -- you are indeed a miracle and a blessing. And you make our Joy Complete! ~
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:24b
As a mother, all mother's days are special. No matter what happens, I'm still a mom and that's a blessing that nobody can take away. I have 4 incredible children that have been a blessing to me in so many ways.
~ Kya is smart and tender.
~ Autumn is creative and crazy.
~ Lily is spunky.
~ Aaron, my only son, is full of laughter and kisses.
I love them each so differently, so dearly, so deeply that each Mother's Day I am beyond thankful for them.
....BUT.....
Some Mother's Day are just EXTRA special.
They bring us a little EXTRA something we didn't expect.
And sometimes they bring us great JOY.
This Mother's Day was one of those Extra Special JOY filled days
because
...we got a letter from China...
....a letter that said....
I am going to be a mom AGAIN
and her name is
JOY
This our Joy, our 5th child, the one I have waited for, the one I have prayed for.
~ Ms. Joy -- you are indeed a miracle and a blessing. And you make our Joy Complete! ~
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:24b
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A Guatemalan Princess Turns Three
It started out with a little plea
Please, God, please, oh let it be
Please fill my arms with love so dear
To love and nurture year after year
I'm not worthy to love one of your own
But if you allow, your grace will hone
My abilities to give of me
To guide and love and grow to see
The Lord above called her his
No DNA nor flesh could hiss
at the love of a Father from above
or at a Mother who waited in love
To hold her forever was what I asked
And God above said yes, at last.
Now you are three, how could it be
You here with me though and that's how it was meant to be
No doubt at all, sweet girl, you were meant to be mine.
It was all laid out by the Father's design
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Updates from Abroad
Some of my dearest, dearest friends are in China *right now*. About 1 hour ago they received their new 15 month old son. We were just able to video conference so I could see their sweet baby boy, Ethan William. Wow! I am full of emotions and beyond elated for my sweet friends. Here are some snapshots taken from our webcam.
My heart is so full, I don't even know what to say!
Thanking Jesus for this miracle!
My heart is so full, I don't even know what to say!
Thanking Jesus for this miracle!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
What a March!!
WOW!!!! That is one word that sums up the month of March for our family.
FIRST:
I had the honor of being baptized by my husband and our pastor. I was baptized as a child and brought up in the Lord but I was an adult when I truly decided that HE was MY Lord, so I was humbled to participate in Believers Baptism. 34 others were baptized this day along with my dearest friends 6yr old daughter. What a day! It was beautiful!
SECOND:
Dale turned 48! Happy Birthday my love. I promise the lasagna is still going to be made in a belated celebration.
THIRD:
We celebrated Autumn's 3rd Adoption Day Anniversary. We love you so very much baby girl! You are a crazy woman and keep us on our toes, but you are such a huge blessing.
FOURTH:
Dale got a job!!!!! A long term contract with a great company.
FIFTH:
But that job made us leave all those we love dearly and move to Maryland. I have not posted because we have been so busy and because my heart has been broken. I am leaning on the Lord to restore my broken heart. It's so bitter sweet. I love that Dale is working. I love that our home here is wonderful. I hate that everyone that is so dear to me is (literally) 1000 miles away now.
But here is what all my friends have been asking for, pictures of our life in Maryland! It's not a tropical paradise, but it is very pretty here.
Our 3rd night here, this family of 6 deer were grazing in our back yard.
The kids and I went on a picnic at a park that was seperated from a golf course by a pond. It was small but very pretty.
Then today, our first Saturday here, the deer showed back up again. Only 5 this time. This photo was taken by me inside our glass slider door.
FIRST:
I had the honor of being baptized by my husband and our pastor. I was baptized as a child and brought up in the Lord but I was an adult when I truly decided that HE was MY Lord, so I was humbled to participate in Believers Baptism. 34 others were baptized this day along with my dearest friends 6yr old daughter. What a day! It was beautiful!
SECOND:
Dale turned 48! Happy Birthday my love. I promise the lasagna is still going to be made in a belated celebration.
THIRD:
We celebrated Autumn's 3rd Adoption Day Anniversary. We love you so very much baby girl! You are a crazy woman and keep us on our toes, but you are such a huge blessing.
FOURTH:
Dale got a job!!!!! A long term contract with a great company.
FIFTH:
But that job made us leave all those we love dearly and move to Maryland. I have not posted because we have been so busy and because my heart has been broken. I am leaning on the Lord to restore my broken heart. It's so bitter sweet. I love that Dale is working. I love that our home here is wonderful. I hate that everyone that is so dear to me is (literally) 1000 miles away now.
But here is what all my friends have been asking for, pictures of our life in Maryland! It's not a tropical paradise, but it is very pretty here.
Our 3rd night here, this family of 6 deer were grazing in our back yard.
The kids and I went on a picnic at a park that was seperated from a golf course by a pond. It was small but very pretty.
Then today, our first Saturday here, the deer showed back up again. Only 5 this time. This photo was taken by me inside our glass slider door.
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