My trip to the other side of the world

It is crazy how fast time flies here in the states. I have now been home for a month and a half and I have no idea where the time has gone! A lot of people have asked me about my trip to Ethiopia and honestly, it has been hard to know what to say. My general response is, "It was AWESOME!" But really, I don't even know where to start. I have so many stories and situations that I experienced that it is difficult to process it all...even after a month and a half. So, I will do my best to share just a little bit of my trip to the other side of the world.

I left on Friday, October 14 and arrived back in the states on October 30. I was gone for 17 days and there were many days where it felt like I had been gone for over a month! We packed our days full of service and ministry and it was amazing. I did miss my family but I told the group several times that it was nice to be 'in the moment' and not be focused on other things.

When Jeremy and I make trips without each other we always slip a card in each other's bag. I found my card soon after I got on the plane and here is just a little clip of what he wrote to me. "Remember God is more interested in your character than your comfort. Please don't sit over there worrying about us over here and miss what God has planned for you. Go get your paint on, love on some kids, and keep your heart open!" At that moment my hesitation about the trip and the worry that I had about leaving my family was released. Seriously, I have the best husband in the world to support this incredible journey that I took AND to watch the boys, work, and keep up the house while I was away. I am so blessed.

I had never met any of my team and waited patiently for blue shirts to meet me at the gate in Amsterdam. When they arrived it was truly amazing at how comfortable I was around everyone. And, it didn't take long before we all realized that there was no doubt that God had brought each and every one of us on this trip for a reason. We all had a purpose to be there individually, but together we stood united. I formed forever friendships through my team and I am so grateful and honored that I was able to do God's work with these friends.

My main mission on the trip was to paint an orphanage and that is really all I knew that I would be doing. However, I soon realized that God had so much more in mind for me and the team. I spent the first week with the whole group as we visited a very poor area called Korah. We helped a new church be planted, we put together bags of rice, coffee, salt, sugar, and soap for widows, we loved on children, we visited a leper community and we put new shoes on children's feet (196 pairs to be exact)! The depth of these experiences are so hard to describe. In fact, I still have yet to sit down and finish my personal journaling from our days in Ethiopia. While I was there I 'cliff-noted' daily and plan to go back and unfold everything.

The plan was that I would be dropped off at the orphanage in Adama by myself for 8 days to paint while the others visited other villages. However, when the time came for me to be dropped off, I was really sad. On one hand I was excited to paint, but I was sad because I didn't want to leave my new family. As the team packed up to head out, I sat in the lobby waiting for my ride. However, as I was sitting there 3 of the team members came in, one of them being Chase, the other artist that had been on the trip. I was confused...I thought the vans had left so I thought maybe there was something wrong. However, Chase told me that he felt as if God had told him to stay behind and help me paint. If he did that, the team would be able to swing back through Adama and pick us up early and I would be able to spend the rest of the time with everyone. It was an emotional moment as I was so thrilled and so in shock. No doubt these were my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Chase and I busted the mural out in less than 2 days and we even took breaks to have 'tea time' and to play soccer with some of the kids from the orphanage. This was definitely one of my highlights, or 'happy snaps' as we called them, of the trip. To this day when I think of this particular orphanage and the director, Tezera, (or 'Mom' as she wanted me to call her!), I yearn to be back. I yearn to touch the children's faces, to paint more, to walk around on their soil and be in awe of this other world, and to love on the widows and the orphans.

Since Chase stayed back to help me, I was able to join the team for a 14.5 hour van ride (one way!) to the cities of Nekemte and Gimbii. I was able to visit another orphanage where I painted a blessing on the wall and held some sweet babies. If Chase hadn't listened to God I would have missed out on so many other experiences.

One of the biggest things that I learned on the trip was to be fervent in prayer. If someone is in need, pray. If someone needs to be encouraged, pray. If someone is sad and lonely, pray. If someone needs Christ in their life, pray. Unfortunately, I am ashamed to say that here in the states if someone would ask me for prayer, many times I would say that I would pray but then not put much effort into it. However, since being back I have been more aware of my responsibility and if someone needs prayer, I do it right then and there. Prayer is a powerful thing and even though God may not answer the way that we would like, he does hear us. Our team rallied together in prayer each and every day. We had awesome devotional times in the morning to start off our day and we would stay up late each night laughing, crying, praying, and just enjoying the fellowship of one another. And, there were MANY inside jokes and crazy moments that came out of our time together, which we were so thankful for. There were many emotional experiences while we were there and it was nice sometimes just to release our feelings through laughter. And, boy did we have fun! Our drivers were hilarious, our group leader was fantastic, and the team meshed like we had known each other forever.

Our trip was definitely God-filled, this was not just a humanitarian trip by no means. Our team mission was to spread the love, hope and the Word of God and that is what we did. There is nothing like holding the hand of a leper or cradling a malnourished baby in your arms. This is what Christ would do. He would not be afraid of diseases or being around outcasts. He went to where the need was and he wants us to do the same. There is a quote hanging in our church that reads, "You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." It can be so easy to just send money to the poor but to actually walk with them...that is something that I will have forever etched in my mind. There are many people who think that writing a check is going to write their place in heaven, but per the Bible and God's teachings, that is just not the case. I am not saying that everyone needs to go to another country on a missions trip, nor am I saying that sending money to the poor is in vain, but my hope is that we will be open to the needs around us, whether they are in another country or here in our own homes and cities.

It is hard to understand this world that we live in and to know that we have so much here in the states and there are people that are literally eating trash and sleeping on dirt. We have transportation, shelter, clothes, money, and food, and there are people who sleep among feces and live on a bag of coffee, sugar, salt, and rice for weeks. It isn't fair and it doesn't make sense. But, unfortunately, there are many things in this world that will not make sense on this side of heaven. It isn't for us to understand. What I do understand and believe though, is that material possessions do not create happiness. We could have everything in the world and it will not be enough. Yet we observed and watched Ethiopian people be so content with their dirt homes, and their small portions of food. So many of them have nothing, yet at the same time, they wear big smiles and grateful hearts. Ethiopia was an eye-opener in so many ways.

One of the Ethiopian men that we met and hung around while we were there was a man named Tesafaye. Tesafaye lived among the poor and was a church leader and a 'social worker' to the community. He is a humble and godly man and was an instant friend to our team. Near the end of the trip one of the guys on our team asked Tesafaye if he would come to the states to visit us sometime. He simply stated, "That would take time away from my people." Oh, to have that kind of heart for the poor.

This trip also opened my heart up to international adoption. Jeremy and I have been so blessed by the gift of adoption and we would definitely like to adopt again at some point. However, I will admit that I have been a little negative when it comes to international adoption. Since being involved in the foster care system and knowing how many children are needing homes here in the states, I never really understood going across the world for a child. I viewed international adoption as an expensive 'fad' but I promise, I have since buried this perspective. It may cost a lot of money but to see the face of the world in your own home is priceless. To love a baby who was near death in the jungle and who escaped a hungry coyote is incredible and nothing short of a miracle. While we were there we transported a very sick and frail baby who had been found in the dirt with bugs and worms crawling out of his ears and nose and barely hanging onto life. Is this hard to hear? You bet, but this is a common story on the other side of the world. I am not sure what God has in store and we are definitely going to let Him take the lead again when it comes to expanding our family, but all I know is that our hearts are open to another child, and if that child comes from another country, then we will go.

I really wish that I could share all of my pictures with everyone here on this blog but unfortunately, my computer's memory is now limited and I have been having trouble downloading and uploading pictures. I took over 400 pictures and I know between everyone in the group we have thousands. However, pictures do not do the country and this trip justice. The people of Ethiopia are gorgeous and the country is absolutely beautiful and I can see why it is has been thought to be the place where the Garden of Eden once was. It was truly majestic and I really hope to be able to go back there again.

Re-entry into the states was definitely more overwhelming than I expected. Even though I was absolutely on top of the moon to see all of my boys, life hit me hard and fast. I felt as if Satan was working overtime as soon as I landed because my mind was soon flooded with to-do lists and schedules. I have had to be intentional and aware of making time for God and for slowing down a bit. I know the processing of this trip will be gradual and I look forward to God showing me little things along the way. It was truly an honor and a blessing to have been on this trip and to witness life in Ethiopia firsthand.

To my team and all of the amazing people of Ethiopia..."May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26.

Character vs. Comfort

So, this week is the week that I leave for Ethiopia. The most common statement that I have heard when I tell people that I am going to be out of the country for 17 days is, "Wow, I don't think I could ever leave my kids that long!!" Well, let me just make it very clear...I don't WANT to be away from my husband and sons for that long! There is no doubt that I am going to miss them all terribly and I am sure there will be many times that I will be hoping and praying for time to go by super fast so that I can get home to see them! However, I know that God has provided this opportunity for me, at this specific time, and I am committed to it. I have never made a trip like this before, have never been on a plane this long before, and have certainly never been any place where I have had to get multiple vaccinations and a bag full of medications for safety precautions. But, here is the deal...

"God is more interested in our character than our comfort".

I recently heard this quote from my Pastor and boy did it hit me. I have had a relationship with Christ for 22 years and there have definitely been times where I have been taken out of my comfort zone. And you know what? Those were the times when I grew closer to God and in my spiritual walk than ever before. Honestly, I have been scared and nervous about my upcoming trip but this simple quote struck a fire under me. I love my boys so much and I know that I have been so blessed but at the same time it has been so easy to get into life's busy routine and forget about the eternal prize. I have to admit that I have been dry spiritually and it is time, for myself and my family, that I get out of my comfort zone. I need to be broken. I need my eyes to be open to the world around me. And, I need to experience a sincere 'attitude of gratitude'...something that I preach about regularly to my 4 year-old son.

As a Christian, there is not a certain level that is reached that indicates that we have attained our full spiritual potential. No, as a Christ-follower there is always room to grow and to know God more. We will never be able to know and fully comprehend the true majesty of Jesus until we get to heaven, but while I am here on this earth I want to strive to deepen my relationship with Him. I want to seek God in everything I say and do and if that means getting out of my comfort zone, well then, bring it on. Again, God is more interested in my character than my comfort zone. It is about what happens IN us, not TO us. I can no longer stay in my comfortable bubble and expect great things to happen. I have to face my fears, step out in faith, and fall on God.

I don't want to leave my kids, but this trip is for them too. I cannot honestly encourage them to try new things and be an example for others if I am not willing to do the same thing too. I cannot expect them to love one another as Christ first loved us if I am not willing to show them what that means. I cannot expect them to be obey me if I cannot role model my own obedience when God provides an opportunity and asks me to do it. And, I certainly cannot expect them to truly know God if I am not seeking Him first. It's a big world out there and I don't want my kids to be naive to that. I don't want them to take anything they have for granted. And, I don't either.

For those of you who have said that you will be praying for this trip, my team, and for me and my family while I am in Ethiopia, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This intercession is very much appreciated and my hope is that you will be blessed as well. I will be leaving on Friday, October 14th and will be meeting the rest of the team over in Amsterdam. From there we will be traveling to Ethiopia together. Once in Ethiopia I will be stationed at an orphanage in Adama for most of the duration of the trip. My primary job will be to paint a big mural in the nursery. I will be staying there by myself (the rest of the team will be visiting other orphanages and other areas) and I am hoping that I will have plenty of time to love on all of the children while I am there. I have already been warned that I will fall in love, but I have promised Jeremy that I will not get in trouble with the law by sneaking a child home with me. God-willing, I will then be flying back home on Sunday, October 30th, just in time to see my little horse and big-kid cowboy dressed up for Halloween. :)

"Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's out of my comfort zone I go!!!" (With my anti-malarial and anti-diarrhea medications on hand of course)!

Frannie's Card Challenge!

Hello Frannie's Friends!

When I go into my favorite craft store (Hobby Lobby) I always know that the holidays are around the corner when there are more Christmas aisles than scrapbooking aisles! And, as I walked in there the other day there is no doubt that....

'TIS THE SEASON!!!!

This year has been really good and I want to end this year GREAT!!!!!!!!!! Some of you may not know that my husband and I adopted another son this summer! We were there for his birth and he is now 3 months old. He is absolutely amazing and such a blessing. :) And, it really is crazy how fast time goes! Due to his birth and initial adoption proceedings over the past few months, I was not able to take on as many orders as usual. However, now we are back home, we have our routine down, we are all sleeping more, and I am soooo ready for the holidays!!!!!

SO, I have a CHALLENGE for everyone!!!!! (There is nothing wrong with a little friendly competition and getting some free stuff in the process right???!!!)

Here is the challenge: I want to see if I can get 2011 cards ordered. That's right you read that correctly. TWO THOUSAND AND ELEVEN CARDS! I want to see if I can break my holiday card-making record! So, here is the deal...please email, facebook, call or text me with how many cards you would like to order. When you place an order and submit your payment, I will include your name in a drawing. I will ONLY draw winners when I have reached card orders totaling 2011 cards so get your orders in soon!

First place winner will receive a FREE 12x12 SCRAPBOOK-value of $400 (all you have to do is supply the pictures that you would like scrapbooked and I do everything else!!!!)

Second place winner will receive a $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE to be used on a future order!

Third place winner will receive a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE to be used on a future order!

SO, now all YOU have to do is ORDER! And, remember, there are soooo many occasions for personalized cards! Holiday cards, birthday cards, thinking of you cards, invitations, birthday gifts, and the list goes on and on! Start making your list today and get your order in!

PLEASE pass this on to all of your friends and family!!!! :)

Two thousand and eleven cards....GO!

Stephanie

FRANNIE'S

816.674.5642

skmartin14@hotmail.com

Superhero Encounter!

So, this morning when I asked Nate to get dressed, it was no surprise that he picked his Batman shirt to wear. We left the house to go to the boys My Gym classes and then we had to run several errands. The boys had done exceptionally well all afternoon and our last stop was Target. As we were rolling through the aisles Nate saw some Batman underwear and asked if he could have them. Usually, when we are in a store I don't buy him something just to get it for him, but he had done well all afternoon AND he was asking for underwear, not a toy! So, I said, "Sure," and threw them in the cart. However, every aisle we found ourselves in there was of course many more things that Nate wanted (no surprise there). Finally I said (which he hears a lot), "Nate if you do not have an attitude of gratitude and if you aren't appreciative of what I am getting you, then I will take it away. If I hear you ask for one more thing, you will NOT get your Batman underwear." However, Nate did not heed my advice and on the very next aisle I heard, "Mom I want that! LOOK! Mom can I get that??!!" And, with that, we were in the check-out aisle where I graciously handed the girl his underwear and said, "We are not getting these today."

I explained to Nate once again the reason why he was no longer getting the underwear. But, he was still upset and was letting out a good wail of a cry from the cart. Right then a lady got behind us in the check-out lane. She said, "Hey buddy, why are you upset?" Nate said, "My Mom took my underwear away!" I am not sure the lady really understood what had gone down but she was great at distracting the situation and said, "Who's on your shirt? Is that BATMAN??!!! Guess what? I KNOW BATMAN!!!" Nate calmed down and had a curious look on his face. Just then her cell phone rang and she said, "I bet this is him!! BATMAN??? Is that you??!!" Nate was REALLY curious now and leaned in over the cart a bit towards the lady. I was paying for my purchase when I heard her say, "Hey Batman, I am at the store and this little boy is upset, can you talk to him?" And, with that, she held her cell phone by Nate's ear. Now I have NO IDEA who this gentleman was but it was very sweet for him to play along and humor his girlfriend/wife/friend/whoever. He said something like, "Hey there buddy, don't be upset and listen to your Mom." Nate tried to push sympathy on Batman by explaining the situation...that his mom had taken his underwear but Batman told Nate that he had to go to fight bad guys. I said a big thank you to the lady in line and as we were riding off Nate said, "Mom I got to talk to BATMAN!!!! He was real!!!!!!!"

Wherever you are Batman...THANKS!!!

Batman underwear...$5.99

Target purchase...$23.00

Talking to Batman on the phone...Priceless.

Dedication to my sweet Grandma

Flora Elizabeth Tayloe

(Nate called her Grandma Gigi!)

November 26, 1926-August 19, 2011

I wrote and read a poem for my Grandpa at his funeral last year,

so I wanted to do the same for my Grandma.

My Grandma Flora was by far

the best of the best,

I know I may be quite biased,

But I think she stood above all the rest.

She was a wife and a homemaker

and a mother to four,

Two children here on earth

and two that went to heaven's door.

She was a staple to the Owensville community

and definitely a friend to all,

whether she was helping her Maytag man,

or answering an ambulance call.

When our family was over to visit,

she rarely would sit down to rest,

always catering to other people

or jumping to clean up a mess.

Smuckers will never hold a candle

to my Grandma's strawberry jam,

we loved it when we got our own jars,

no doubt, the recipe was a hit with the fam.

I will not forget her smile or laugh

or her chocolate chip cookies of course,

or the time she held my hand and cried with me

when my mom and dad ultimately got a divorce.

The memories of my sweet Grandma

will be forever etched in my mind,

She was a fixture of our family,

a woman who was loving, gentle, and kind.

It seemed like she was always in the car

going this way or that,

traveling with my Grandpa around the world

keeping track of his cowboy hat.

We spent many of our summer days

with our Grandma by our side,

whether it was hanging out at their place

or going around town for a ride.

She packed us picnics for the lake

and won prizes at the fair,

we played hundreds of games of Uno

and if we had a special event, she was always there.

We were spoiled in her presence

and a birthday she never forgot,

she was so proud of every one of us

and we knew we were loved a lot.

She had a great faith in God

and was in the Word everyday,

she was sensitive to the hurts of all

and to Jesus she would pray.

My Grandma collected angels

of different shapes and every size,

but now she's got wings of her own

no trinket can compare to heaven's prize.

I've been told I have my Grandma's complexion

but I can only hope I have her heart too,

things will not be the same without her,

Grandma, rest in peace, I love you.

Tayloe Ceremony-July 29, 2011

After 7 years of being together, my brother and Joshua finally made it official in a beautiful ceremony in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Thankfully we had gotten home just days before we flew off to Massachusetts so Xander was able to go with us! He was an absolute rock star on the trip and slept on all of the flights! Unfortunately, Nate was not with us...we had arranged for him to stay with Papa and Grandma long before we had even found out that we would have Xander. Originally, Jeremy and I were going to make it a getaway trip for us but it was definitely a blessing to have our plans changed a bit. :)

We had a blast in "anything goes" Provincetown. It was a quaint and unique town and we enjoyed shopping, eating, and spending time with friends and family. We also went on the BEST whale-watching trip EVER...it was nothing short of amazing and we are thrilled to have a DVD from the trip that documents our adventure! We love Scott and Joshua so much and we were honored to be a part of their special weekend.

My toast at the wedding to the couple:

"As many of you know, my brother and I are super close. There are not many brothers who would go to their sister's baby shower, and there are not many sisters who would go to their brother's bachelor party, but that's just how we roll. With all of our inside jokes and our Tayloe quirks, we knew that we would both have to find someone special to put up with both of us. I was blessed to find Jeremy and Scott found his special someone with Joshua. When my brother commits, he commits 100%, whether be at work, in a friendship, a relationship...or with a plate of lasagna! He is the most loyal, honest, handsome, and one of the funniest guys I have ever known. Scott and Joshua compliment each other well and I am constantly amazed at Joshua's creativity, talent, style, and his ability to do EVERYTHING. My brother is one of my best friends and I have often joked with Joshua that he is the best sister-in-law ever. To Scott and Joshua: May your life be filled with love, laughter, and learning. Love one another, laugh a lot, and learn from mistakes. Please raise your glasses with me in celebrating the Tayloes! Congratulations!"

Sweet moments...

All dressed up for church!

First time bath at HOME!

My close friends threw me a baby shower when I got home!

One of my friends, Katy, made this amazing diaper cake!

There's NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!!! :)

WE ARE FINALLY HOME!!!!!!!!!!

We finally got the long anticipated call this past Thursday allowing us to cross over the state line! What a wonderful feeling! I was super grateful to have a roof over our heads in St. Louis but there is just nothing like coming home! It was great to sleep in my own bed, kiss my boys, show Xander his room, and hug BO! Even though it was a long process, it was definitely worth it!!!!!! Nate loves being a big brother and we sure love our two boys!!!! God is so very good!!!!

Court over, but still waiting...

Nate LOVES being a big brother!

Xander is getting so big! At 6 weeks, he is already 11 lbs!

Waiting to go into court! We 'dressed' Xander up in his cute little tie shirt!

Court with Xander and 'Momma Molly' on June 13!

We are sooo in love with our sweet baby! Xander is so awesome and we are still in awe that he is here! Today he is officially six weeks old! It is crazy how fast it has gone! Yet, in some ways...it has been slow! We finally went to court on June 13 and were granted custody of Xander and his official adoption date is set for January 18, 2012. Molly and her mom were there at court with us and it was really special having them there with us. It is amazing how our families have united and the friendships that have been formed between us all. It is nothing short of a "God-thing". Anyway, we were under the impression that after court we would be able to go home. However, that was not the case. The State of MO then had to petition the State of KS to give us permission to head back over the state line. We were told this was a fairly quick process but unfortunately, we are still waiting and it has been almost a week. I totally understand and respect the protocol but it has been very hard being away from home for 6 weeks. Needless to say Xander and I are doing our best but I am super homesick and sooo ready to take Xander home! It is just a matter of the State of KS calling us to give us clearance so here's to hoping that the call comes SOON!

Welcome to the world Xander!

Alexander Cole Dulin

"XANDER"

Born on June 8, 2011 at 2:12 p.m.

Weighing 7 lbs, 11 oz, and 19 3/4 inches long

So, many of you have asked and wondered...WHAT???!! How did this come about???!!!

Well, let me share the story with you!

On January 1, Jeremy and I sat down to talk about our family 'goals' for the year. We wrote down many things on our list and one of those 'goals' was to expand our family, either naturally or by adoption. Unfortunately, we have not been able to get pregnant, and even though we believe in miracles we figured it would not hurt to start the adoption process. I contacted our case worker in Kansas City and we updated our foster case license in hopes of adopting a child in that way, as we did with Nate. However, God had other plans.

Twelve days after we had sat down to discuss the upcoming year, I received a text from my mom that said, "Pray for a baby boy who will be born in June." I texted back and said "Ok" but didn't really know what was going on. After I finished teaching one of my aerobic classes I called my mom to get the full story.

She went on to explain that one of her friend's daughters was pregnant and had plans of giving the baby up for adoption. She had just had dinner with her friend and said that Jeremy and I's name came up in the conversation. I was not told who the friend was so I wrote a general letter to the birth mom and her family to indicate that we would absolutely LOVE to be considered as possible adoptive parents. I mailed it to my mom to pass the letter on and just prayed.

About six weeks went by and I was getting pretty anxious. Jeremy was my rock and kept saying, "if it's meant to be, it will be", and "just be patient", which of course was so much easier said than done! However, on Friday, February 25 (Jeremy's birthday weekend), I received the anticipated news from the adoption agency letting me know that Jeremy and I had been chosen to adopt this child! In short, we were told that the birth mom did not even look through any of the agency's profiles, she chose us by our letter and by prayer. The case worker started explaining the process but it was all quite a blur. I was out running errands at the time so when I came home I completely broke down and could hardly talk! Poor Jeremy thought that someone had died and finally I blurted out the awesome news, "She chose us!"

We told our immediate family right away but did not share the news with a lot of people. We wanted to be sure that everything went as planned and didn't want to announce the news to the 'world' (specifically facebook) just in case something fell through. We even kept the news from Nate for a couple of months and broke the news to him on Easter weekend. We got him an "I'm a BIG BROTHER" book and told him that he was going to get a baby brother! I explained to him that the baby would be growing in someone else's tummy, not mommy's, and he said, "In Daddy's??" Needless to say, we all had a good laugh with that one!

Once we told Nate we started getting Xander's nursery and everything ready and Nate loved jumping in to help. He helped me paint the room and constantly talked about what he was going to do as a big brother. He prayed for Molly (Xander's birth mom) and started picking out his toys that he would like to 'share' with 'HIS baby'.

We were eventually told who the birth mom and her family were. We ended up meeting Molly on April 1st and had an amazing meeting with her. We left completely in awe of her strength, maturity, and decision. Her parents were a huge support and we talked so long that the agency had to 'kick us out'! I think we all received confirmation that day that God had brought us all together for this baby and there was not a doubt in any of our minds that God had His hand on this whole situation as He promises us in Romans 8:28. We kept in contact with Molly through the remainder of her pregnancy and were thrilled to receive a generous gift from her...pictures of her belly with a bow wrapped around it saying, "Don't open until June" with the sweetest card in the world. We were just in amazement as to how God was orchestrating everything.

Molly's due date was June 12, however, on June 6 she called to say, "How would you like a baby tomorrow?!" I was filled with emotion as she told me that she was going to be induced the next morning. I called Jeremy, finished packing all of our stuff, and well...I jumped up and down a lot in excitement! We got up the next morning, got Bo to the kennel and headed to St. Louis in much anticipation.

When we arrived in STL we headed straight to the hospital because we were told we needed to fill out some paperwork. We ended up seeing Molly and her family in her room and at that point, nothing was really happening. We all laughed and enjoyed the company for awhile and then left to give Molly a rest. We headed to our hotel to wait for Xander to arrive.

By 10:00 p.m., there was still no baby and things were not progressing as they had hoped. Thankfully, Molly's mom had my number so she kept texting me the 'play by play', which was a great relief to know what was going on! I did not sleep a wink that night as I just stared at the ceiling praying that everything was going okay. The mention of a c-section was brought up and I was just really worried for Molly and Xander. I do not sleep when I get stressed, but Jeremy does. So, he was out. :)

Throughout the morning I continued to receive texts from Molly's mom to keep us updated. Molly was still having trouble contracting and there seemed to be some complications so we just continued to pray and wait. Finally at 1:30 I got a text from her mom saying that things were moving along and that pushing was about to begin! Soon after, the case worker from the agency called and told us to get up to the hospital as soon as we could so that we were there. We met up with the 2 caseworkers and sat ourselves in the waiting room and after about 15 minutes of waiting Molly's sister came in and said, "He's ALL BOY!" as she showed us a picture on her camera. He was here!!!!!!!!

Molly's birth plan was that she wanted to have Xander cleaned up and spend some time with him before handing him over to us so we expected to wait quite a bit longer until we went in to meet him. However, very soon after his birth Molly's dad came down and said, "Are you ready to go in?" We later found out that when Molly was holding Xander for the first time she said, "Your Mommy and Daddy are down the hall."

I really thought that I would be a mess when I walked into that room, complete with tears streaming down my face but when I turned the corner and saw Molly holding Xander I was just in awe. She simply said, "Would you like to meet your son?" and handed him over to me. I was seriously on top of the world in that moment and was in absolute shock that I was holding this baby. This baby that we had prayed for and had been anticipating for several months. And, he was ours.

The hours following were nothing short of AWESOME. The whole room was crowded with loved ones coming to see Xander and holding him. No doubt, our little family had instantly grown. Not only with the birth of Xander, but with the fact that Molly and her family were now part of our extended family. The nurses were not sure what to do with us...usually the adoptive family does not see, let alone hangs out, in the birth mom's room but we were in and out of her room with Xander the whole time they were in the hospital. Molly and Xander were both discharged from the hospital on Friday, June 10, and before we left we all went down to the hospital chapel where a family friend performed the most special dedication for Xander. It was so wonderful but quite emotional at the same time, and there was not a dry eye in the chapel. Even though the adoption was not final at that point, it felt like it was in front of God. It was amazing to see how God's hand had been on this situation from the moment Xander was conceived and to be standing there with him in our arms.

We all left the hospital together but that was not the last time we saw each other. We met up with Molly and her family a few more times for lunch and for them to see Xander. That may be weird for some people but for us, we are blessed that this adoption is so open and so welcoming. We are so excited that Xander will always know where he came from and the situation in which he was adopted. He will not have that 'void' and those unanswered questions like others who have been adopted. It is also pretty cool that him and Nate are both adopted and can share that with each other. Just like how we have felt with Nate...that God created him for us, we feel the same way with Xander.

Our time in St. Louis has ended up being a LOT longer than we expected. We were told to plan for the process taking about 2 weeks after Xander was born. We were in a hotel room for 2 weeks and then finally moved into my mom's house because we were still awaiting signed papers from the birth dad. He was off at Boot Camp for the military and lack of communication with him slowed down the process. Jeremy has had to travel back and forth to KC via the train so he could work. It has really been hard being apart from each other. He is SUCH a hands-on daddy and I take full advantage of that!!! He is such a great team player so it is definitely hard to be a 'single parent' during the week. Finally, about 4 1/2 weeks of being in STL, we received the anticipated news that papers had been signed and sent by the birth dad! I will admit I broke down as I held Xander knowing that he was now legally going to be our son.

However, the wait still continues. There are two more steps to this process and that is 1) we have to wait for a court date and then 2) we have to get the okay to take Xander over the state line to go home. I am not going to lie...it has been nice having a roof over our head BUT I am super homesick! I am ready to take my baby home and to get back into the routine of our life. Unfortunately we still do not have any idea how long it will be until we will get home. It has been frustrating to just be sitting ducks but all in all this experience has been amazing and I know that it is all worth it in the end.

Xander is SUCH a blessing and soooo sweet and cute! Words cannot express our gratitude to God and Molly for this amazing gift that they have entrusted to us. I often find myself staring at him in awe of the fact that he is here. He is already growing fast and today he is officially a month old! Even though it feels like I haven't been home in forever, at the same time, I cannot believe how fast this month has gone! I am super blessed to be the mom of two boys and very grateful for this opportunity to be the mother of Nate and Xander. Tonight I was on the phone with Jeremy and Nate and Xander started crying in the background. Nate said, "My baby is crying because he wants to talk to me." So, I put Nate on speaker phone so he could talk to Xan. He stated, "I love you Xander man. Good night baby brother."

Adoption Ministry

FOREVER FAMILY BASKETS

Celebrating the gift of Adoption

“And whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:5

A little about us: As Christians we believe that God demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice and love when He died on the cross for us. In turn, when we have a relationship with Him, we are adopted into His family. The gift of adoption is not one to be taken lightly. It is done with willing hearts, open arms and unconditional love, and it is a picture of what Christ has done for us. We were incredibly blessed to adopt our son in the summer of 2010 and our hearts were forever changed by this gift of adoption. However, as we planned for our son’s adoption celebration, we realized there is not a lot out there honoring adoption! That is what made us think of this ministry.

Mission:

We want to thank and celebrate with families who are adopting a child into their home.

We want to show that this amazing opportunity is acknowledged, upheld, and valued.

We want them to know that we are a partner with them in adoption and will keep their forever family in our prayers.

Information:

We will be putting together gender-and-age appropriate gift baskets for families who are adopting. We have connections with lawyers assisting with adoption cases and families are given the opportunity to request a basket from our ministry. Each basket will have gifts for the adopted child as well as some gifts for the whole family, and will be delivered to the courthouse for their adoption day. We are looking to partner with any individuals or businesses who would like to donate anything to our baskets including new, gender-and-age appropriate, toys, books, clothes, gift cards, etc. (Each basket will end up being unique due to the information we receive. We may be given the name of the child, or we may just find out the age and gender). If you or anyone you know would like to donate or would like to discuss future donation possibilities please contact us! Or, if you cannot donate but would commit to pray for this ministry, that would be much appreciated as well!

Spring Time Fun

Nater showing off the Easter eggs that he found!

Posing for Grandma on Easter-what a little angel! :)

Nate's 1st Cubbie award in Awana! We are so proud of him!

Papa Larry came up one day to deliver Nate's new 'big boy' bed.

Thanks Papa Larry!

Heading to Oklahoma for our friend's wedding!

The family that sprays together, stays together...

This past year I was asked to be an Awana Cubbies Director at church. I had absolutely NO idea what this really entailed but found out right away that it was a BIG role! However, even though it has added responsibility and quite a time commitment to my plate, I have REALLY enjoyed it. It has been such a blessing to me to be able to be a part of this amazing program and to see kids, at such a young age, really 'get it'. It is so much more than going to church and being a 'good person'. It is about Christ and what HE did for us on earth, on the cross, and now in heaven.

Every few weeks we have a theme for our Awana classes and these pictures were taken on Crazy Hair Night! We ALL participated in spraying our hair (Nate had picked out the red and blue colors) and we all enjoyed being silly together. And, thankfully I made it to church quickly so that not many people saw me...haha!

As we prepare to celebrate this Easter weekend let us remember:

It's not about the bunny, it's about the blood.

It's not about the gifts, it's about HIS grace.

It's not about the chocolate, it's about the CROSS.

Have a blessed Easter weekend to all!

It's hard to be a parent sometimes

Nate at the Under the Seas exhibit at Crown Center

Recently, I must have been making the comment, "It's hard to be a mom" and "I'm not perfect" out loud, because last week Nate and I were sitting in the family room and he was doing something that I was not too happy about. I said, "Nate, why are you doing that??" He stopped, sighed and looked straight at me and said, "Mom, it's hard to be a kid. I'm not perfect." Oh goodness.

I cannot tell you how many times something that I have said has been said RIGHT back to me by Nate. Kids are naturally observant and are just like sponges but you do NOT realize it until these things are said back to you. It's hard to know sometimes if you are really training your child up right or if they are just catching onto all of your quirks, attitudes, and weaknesses. As much as I babysat growing up and spent a ton of time around kids in some of my past jobs, NOTHING could have prepared me for becoming a mom to my own child. It's different hanging out with someone else's child. But, my OWN, everyday. Sometimes I am overwhelmed (in a good way) of how much God has entrusted me.

Our LifeGroup recently started reading a book called Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony. I have really enjoyed this book and look forward to purchasing her children's book, The Big God Story. Both have been amazing guides to understanding the amazing story of God and to know what our roles are as parents in this Big God Story (this is a total plug to her books and I am not even getting endorsed for it! haha!)

So, last week, there was a chapter on service and Michelle talked about how she changed the word "chores" to "Acts of Service" in her house. The word 'chores' can be thought of as work or negative...I mean who wants to do chores??? Although, usually we will all do something if we know we are getting reimbursed financially or with a great reward for our hard efforts. But, do we really want our children just to do something ONLY if they are getting money or a reward? Basically she wanted her children to understand that everyone in the house needed to serve and help pitch in to get everything done. And, as Christians, one of our roles IS to serve. She challenged her children (and everyone reading the book) to ask the question "What needs to be done?" every time they enter a room. We have not started instilling this question into Nate yet BUT we have been making comments and will definitely be putting up an Acts of Service chart in our house in the near future. However, it really is amazing at what they will pick up on...

The other morning Nate came into our room to wake us up. He crawled into bed and said his good mornings as Bo was whining in the background. Nate laid down by Daddy and proceeded to say, "Mommy, let Bo out. He's whining." Well, out of routine, it usually IS me that lets him out in the morning but I was NOT going to be TOLD to do this 'act of service' by my 3 1/2 year old when he is so very capable of doing it himself. SO, I proceeded to tell HIM, "Why do I have to do it? He's your dog too. If something needs to be done, then do it." And, with that he murmured (with a little huffing)..."FINE," as he jumped out of bed and said, "Come on BO!"

I happily snuggled back under the covers and enjoyed that special moment of being a parent. I'm not perfect, nor will I ever be, but thank God He is.

Good vs. Bad

Have you ever had a friend recommend a 'good' movie to you? They say, "This movie was so good, you will love it!" only to watch it and think, "What was my friend thinking?! They must not know my taste in movies at all! That was horrible!" Everyone's opinions are different, which ultimately, make this world go 'round. Some people think that sushi is REALLY good (me included), while others get nauseous just THINKING about sushi. Some people think that sci-fi movies are awesome, while others (me included) think otherwise. And, some people think that "good" people go to heaven and "bad" people go to hell. So if this is the case, then who defines who is "good" and "bad"? Hopefully not the friend that just recommended that "good" movie to you!

The fact of the matter is, God defines "good" and "bad", however, those are not the prerequisites when getting into eternity. Unfortunately, the world sugar coats our eternal destination. Every funeral that I have ever attended made indication that the person was 'in a better place' even if the person was a proclaimed nonbeliever. The truth of the matter is...if you do not believe in God and have him in your heart, you will not go to heaven when you die. This is not meant as a judgmental statement, it is made by the truth that is found in the Bible. God does not count up our 'good' deeds and our 'bad' deeds to determine if we will enter through those pearly gates. That's just not how it works.

Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."

To the world we can be the greatest and most giving person ever, but still not get to heaven if Jesus is not Lord of our life. And, on the contrary, we can be looked at as horrible in the world's eyes and yet make it to heaven if we ask for forgiveness, repent (turn away from) our sins, and ask Jesus into our heart. There is a reason why Jesus went to the cross. It wasn't because He wanted to, it's because He knew He HAD to endure the cross so that we may live. FOREVER. He loves us THAT much.

Let's unwrap just a few of the myths out there:

1. Myth: I believe that there is a God so I will go to heaven. Truth: In James 2:19 it says, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder." In other words, the demons believe and KNOW that there is a God but yet they are not in heaven with Jesus.

2. Myth: Everyone goes to heaven when they die. Truth: It is clearly written in scripture that this is not the case. In John 14:6 it says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And, in Matthew 7:13 it says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it." In this passage the 'destruction' is hell and the 'life' is heaven.

3. Myth: I just need to be good, do good and live a good life. Truth: In Matthew 10:32-33, 38-39 it says, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." We are all born with sin, therefore none of us are perfect. So, we can attempt to be 'good' all we want, but unless we understand what He did for us on the cross and acknowledge that God is God and we are not, then living a 'good' life is not going to cut it. We must accept Jesus into our heart otherwise we will truly lose our life when we die. But, the glory of the story is that death does NOT have to be OUR end.

At age 3 1/2 (and let's face it, at any age) mortality is certainly not a fun subject. So, I don't want to come off as morbid here, but I will be honest and say that we have already started talking about these myths and truths with Nate. He has already heard, through us and church, that Christ died for our sins. He has already heard that there is a heaven and a hell and not everyone goes to heaven. And, he has already heard that you need to have Jesus in your heart if you want to GO to heaven. However, even in speaking these truths, unfotunately I cannot save my son. And, as much as I want to, I cannot force my beliefs or the gift of salvation onto anyone. We all have to grasp it and we have to WANT a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God DID give us free will. All of us. It is OUR choice as to what our eternal destiny is going to be. And, I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to just live a 'good life', die, and THEN find out.

Our SUPERHERO, Nater

Never a dull moment with our favorite little superhero, Nate! He LOVES running around the house in his underwear (and says he is a wrestler when he does this) but every once in awhile he will add to his outfit. We have the "BIG HEAD Superhero" where he likes to wear his big Star Wars helmet...the "Captain America Kid Superhero" that includes wearing his bike helmet along with whatever shirt will fit around his waist...and we cannot forget the "Cowboy Superhero" which comes out when we are at Papa's house and Papa's boots are accessible for the wearing.

Move over Superman, Naterman is in town...

A blessing in BO

Bo is all legs so when he sleeps he sometimes looks like a pretzel!

Bo and Nater are BEST buddies! They wrestle A LOT!

(Nate likes to wear his helmet for extra protection!)

Enjoying the snow!

Bo tore up my shower loofa and I found it all over the bedroom AND him.

I sit here amazed and think over the last few months. After Maverick passed I was so sure that I didn't want another dog. I was such a freak about my dogs and I was afraid of allowing another dog into my heart. I just didn't want to get attached again. However, I am soo glad that I took that chance. I am so glad we found Bo George. He has been such a great addition to our family and I am constantly in awe of how much we have all grown to love him. He is not only cute but has a really great personality. He is sweet with a side of mischievous and spunk. Just like Nate. I am always in awe at how God works things out. How he provides things that we didn't even know that we are in need of. I know it is 'just a dog' to some, but he is more than that to me. He is proof that when we cannot even see past our own hurts, God has a grander plan. Bo has eased the pain of losing Maverick and we are very blessed to have him in our lives!

You know you're a mom when...

· Wal-Mart is your favorite store to shop at

· You can do 18 things at once

· You bribe your child with candy to get a good family picture

· You want to end everyday with a margarita

· Your last family vacation was to Chuck E. Cheese

· Every birthday party you attend involves a clown and juice boxes

· Your 2-door sports car becomes a 4 door mini-van

· You start thinking that showers are overrated

· Your children dress more stylish than you

· You count down the minutes until nap time

· You hire a babysitter just to watch your favorite show

· Your memory lasts for 10 seconds

· You sport the mom ponytail on a regular basis

· The last book you read had less than 10 words on a page

· The irony of “I will never do that when I have children” is laughable

· Germs are friends

· Your child’s consequence depends on your mood

· Date night is on the couch

· you eat in 20 seconds

· you cut up your husband’s meat in pieces

· you wear slippers to go shopping

· you get excited for school to start back up

Christmas Letter 2010

The One with the ADOPTION!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…”

Isaiah 9:6

We started off the year with an unexpected surprise. If you remember from my last Christmas letter, Nate had come to live with us and he was calling us “Honey” and “Uncle Germy”. Well, out of the blue in February he started calling us “Mommy” and “Daddy”. We thought it was just a phase so we didn’t push it but it soon became apparent that he had chosen those names for us. So, we went with it! And, it was as if he just ‘knew’ because the very next month we received the call that we would be able to adopt him! We spent the next several months in piles of paperwork but it was all worth it because on July 9 we stood in front of a judge and became legal parents to Nate. We actually made it into one celebratory weekend as Nate turned three years old the very next day! It was such a wonderful yet emotional weekend.

Unfortunately, right after our incredible month, the next couple of months were a little rough. My Grandpa Tayloe passed unexpectedly in August and then my ‘baby boy’ Maverick passed at our home in September after a long bout with cancer. It was a hard loss for our family but we were grateful to be with him in the end.

After Maverick passed I told pretty much everyone that I was not ready to have another dog around (especially not a puppy). But, the quietness of living in a dog-less house made me miss Maverick even more and I found myself on Craigslist (out of curiosity) one Friday afternoon. And, on Sunday evening, we had taken in…yes, a 5-month-old puppy! His name is Bo George and he is a white lab mix. He has been SUCH an awesome dog and has been so much fun. It is amazing at how much him and Nate are so much alike too! Their energy levels are a perfect match as well as their sweet personalities. He has been a great addition to our family.

Nate started preschool in October and loves it! I cannot begin to express how much of a personality this little boy has. He is so funny and so smart. His laugh lights up the room and we have been immensely blessed to have him as our son! And, he is also quite the flirt so all I can say is…lock up your daughters! J

Jeremy is currently still practicing in Olathe as a Chiropractor and continues to enjoy his career. Nate frequently makes the comment that Daddy is at work “helping people”. We are still attending Life Church and have met an amazing group of people to do ‘life’ with! I have taken on the role of Cubbies Director for Awana at church, which has been a lot of work but really fun! I have also been blessed to be living my ‘work’ dream…teaching aerobics, staying busy with my own business (FRANNIE’S, www.franniesonline.com), and being a mom!

Who knows what the next year will hold but I have learned that when God is the one holding us, life is nothing short of one amazing adventure. God bless each of you during this Christmas season and in 2011!

Love,

Jeremy, Stephanie, Nate and Bo Dulin