wanna see the face/eyes i dream of everynight?

precious drew...

Dragon Boat Festival

what a great day today. We ended up at the DBF in Kansas City. They fun crafts and entertaining dances and music. We all enjoyed our time out. Then we went for Ribs (little did I know there was a PFChangs around the corner...) and the ribs were amazing! We had to walk around "the Plaza" after to get unstuffed.. so we ended up at the Cheesecake factory! YUMM YUMM
Bob and I got that to go and headed out to Whole Foods YUM I love that store!
I grabbed the kids favorite fuit roll ups and ended up buying so cherries and red peppers b/c the were so much cheaper than anywhere else! i couldn't believe it - YEA.
oh, bob & i chowed down on our cheesecake before going into Whole foods while the children slept like logs in the back of the van... they woke up to our last bites and man what a way to wake up! heheheh

I think from the yummy ribs, the heat and the cheesecake = we passed out on the couch once we were home.. opps.. pb & j for dinner.. with red peppers and an asian mellon that I grabbed at the farmers market earlier in the morning... LOL it is not often that I don't cook but whew, that felt wonderful!
set out our church clothes, bathed the kids and sent them to beddy-bye
reserached a church we want to try and so far pleased.. we will see tomorrow.. this is the worst and best part about moving.

My dad has had all his tubes removed, including the chest tube! He will go home tomorrow :O) YEA!

Praises

Two praises this morning!
My dad is doing great - YEA

We found a SW that will do the update/addendum for 400! Woohoo - okay 400 is still steep but every dollar off is a blessing!!

jill

update on my dad

first I want to thank everyone who is praying for my dad and his health. Please continue to pray for him.

Today he went in for a triple heart bypass. His surgery went well, however they [the surgeons] did a quad bypass. The surgery was a success. Then my dad couldn't stop bleeding. So they had to go back into to surgery tonight and find out why. evidently it was the medicine they put him on and have to give him another medicine to counteract and allow him to clot.
it is 10pm and I just received a call and he out of surgery and doing well.

again, thank you so much for your prayers.
he has to be off work for 6 weeks.
please continue your prayers for healing.
j-

a pit in my stomach

I would like to ask for prayer for my family and the updated addendum needed since we moved.
We have to repeat the criminal checks, fingerprinting and child services background check. This all cost money.
Then we have to have a one page addendum stating that we moved.. it will cost 600 dollars here in KS. The agency that we contacted said they needed to do a full update. WHY??? in my opinion, so they can charge 600 and justify it.
another agency said 400 but charges 150 dollars to come out (trip charge) so basically 550.
We have to to have it done.. we have no choice.. my heart sank when I received our calls today. Especially after just having to have and pay for an "update" b/c our homestudy was 7 months old. just weeks before we moved.. but that "had" to be done in order for them to submit it to China..

God knew all this. I continue to trust him. I would ask for wisdom and guidance in your prayer time. Both for which agency to go to and for us to budget properly for the hefty fee that we "have" to pay.
They get you coming and going don't they! They are charging more than half of what my entire 12 page homestudy was and for only one page.. pray for my heart not to be mad.. or frustrated..
I just want to cry.

need prayer

there are so many that need prayer.. I have gone back to writing prayer request in my journal. This action helps me to focus my prayer life in the moment. It keeps me thinking of the ones i love and their needs during the day...

Today i ask for prayer for:
*my dad and his surgery
*my husbands dad, he injured his back and an unspoken
*lori and family, waiting on their children from Russia - and the set backs
*all adoptive families that are waiting for their children
*women who are desparte to be mom's and are struggling b/c they can't.. yet...
*my mom and me
*our son drew, LOA, TA, bonding, smooth transition for him
*friends that are in China now
*PHF, some very sick children and they need more $ donations
*karen
*Anita and Mark
*Terry's husband Brad - very sick
*Tonya's daughters
*my friends on my cop (children of promise) group
*wade and alice
*those that are broken and have not yet surrendered
*those that just need to take the leap of faith
*our two children that we sponsor (one in the Phillipines and one in China)
*organizations that support orphans around the world
*marriages
*beth and steve who are hopefully in the next referral batch after waiting 30 months+ for their newest daughter

thank you for praying for those people and more.

first catch of the day

i will post more of our fun fishing day.. but i couldn't resist this one! soph was so excited about the first catch :O)

update on my dad

he will be having triple by-pass on Tuesday. They wanted to do this surgery tomorrow, however my dad held them off until Tues so he could tie up some loose ends.. he is a photographer in his off time and has several weddings lined up. SO he is finding replacement for himself for the upcoming weddings.

please pray for my dad. please tell anyone you know to pray for him.
thanks. here is a photo that I took of him, my (step) mom and our kids last summer.

jill

my dad and his heart -

Please be in prayer for my dad (he is 62). His name is Jack.
He is in OK City and I just got word that he has a 90% blockage in the center artery (? I think I heard that correctly?). The specialist are deciding whether to put in a shunt or do by-pass. He has to be on some medicine for a week before they can operate.

Please pray for him, wisdom for the doctors and a steady hand with the doctor. I would like to ask for complete healing. Please pray for his wife, Edee and for God to keep her and give her peace.

They are both Christians.

Thank you and I will keep you posted as I know things.

thank you friends.
jill

ladybugs and love from above

I found this great site (can't remember how i actually got there!) it is called ladybugs and love from above. She will donate 5% of your total to any adoptive family (Shelton's) if you shop there and give her my name. :O) For those that need a service (care package to your child's SWI, letters transcribed, or fun items for you ) that is the place to go!

I will post a permanent link off to the side under favorite..
Happy shopping!

Jill (Shelton)

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GIMME A "P", GIMME AN "A" what does that spell???

PA BABY!!!!!!!!!!!! Pre-appoval came today! woohoooooooo

Glory to God in the highest! we received the call today (at 4:18pm) from our awesome agency - what an answer to all of our prayers!

Thank you so much for praying for us.


please continue to pray for us as our dossier/file is being reviewed in order to issue TA (travel approval).

And for Drew. all the changes about to happen and bonding with us.

And we think we might have enough miles for our trip (What a blessing), so hopefully/praying it works out to use those miles to fly to China!

nothing yet.. nada.. nope.. waiting...

Well, another day passed and no word from CCAA on our PA. Although disappointed, I am trusting that all of this is being worked out. I am reminded of the spiritual warfare that is going on and God has our best in mind. I can dream of all the different reasons why we don't have PA yet.. but the only thing that matters is God is working it all out - and whatever happens in the next few days or weeks is okay b/c we know that God is in charge and we want His will in our lives.

Now if only I could get out of a pool party... Tomorrow I have to go to a spouse orientation (heheheh)for Bob's work. I told my girlfriend, do they not know I am checking email at that time! LOL just kidding - I am looking forward to going and meeting the other spouses.. especially since on Friday there is a huge pool party (over 200 people) and I have to be in a bathing suit around these people.. yuk. :O)

This is the verse that I would like to share tonight:
Psalm 5:11,12
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.
For you O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

same verse but out of the MacArthur study bible/ NASB says; (my favorite bible)
Psalm 4; 11,12
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.

I suppose I need to be rejoicing over that pool huh... :O)

And I also can relate with David in his cry out for protection,
Psalm 5; 1-3
Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help. my King and my God, For to You I pray. In the morning, O Lord you will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch.

storms in my heart.. storms in the sky

man what a day.. storms came through today and I kept telling the kids that God makes the weather ... but I had to kept telling myself that I can't be afraid of the storms.. what an enormous reminder at a perfect time eh. :O)
I will post the photos.. the made me feel liek what was going on in my stomach and heart today with CCAA asking questions and more questions.. So I rest in the promises tonight of our God. Yes, I rest. Thank you so much for your prayers of peace. The storm in me is calm and I rest. bless you all.
much love Jill... waiting 2 weeks for PA today..
The first photo is looking out my front door.. and the next is looking down the street at the same time.. what a difference in the sky color. The rest were taken out the back door immediately following. I will take some more later of the back door view, it is breathtaking on a non-storm day :O)

ASAP PRAYER NEEDED

We need everyone praying.

CCAA has contacted our agency TWICE about us. well, about me. I had a hysterectomy in March 2005 and they are quetioning it like crazy.
PLEASE be in prayer that CCAA give us PA (pre-approval). They wanted a doctors letter last friday (the 27th) and our doctor had it to them within TWO HOURS! Today, they wanted to know from me, WHY I had the surgery.

I had the surgery b/c I had endometriosis and 5 pregnancy losess.

please please pray both for that and for my heart to calm down..