Mercy Me/Casting Crowns Weight Loss Challenge

A lot of us think about our weight this time of year. Being a music star doesn't make you immune. I thought you'd enjoy this video featuring Bart Millard from MercyMe and Mark Hall from Casting Crowns. Click here.

I'm Watching You Dad

I thought you might like this video I found on God Tube. Just imagine your own son or daughter talking to you. When you listen, just don't be anywhere you wouldn't mind people seeing you cry! Hugs. ~Amy

Hug Your Kids A Little Tighter

I can't imagine what it must of felt like at the time. Check this video out. I can't imagine the relief. What a great reminder to be thankful for every moment God has given us with those we love!

Family Man

If you were touched by Andrew Peterson's song Family Man on our morning show -- check out this video to go with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIOczph6nQE

We're ALL Home!!

Thanks for all the prayers and notes of encouragement as my family and I have gone through our journey to bring Meyer our adopted son home from Haiti. We got back earlier this week and there is so much to tell you about I don't even know how to unpack it all. So I will at least get started with this post and then try to follow up with others later on. Meyer has done very well. The director of the orphanage described him as an "even keel kind of guy." That's really turned out to be true. Not much has phased him -- except when he first met our pets. He was terrified for the first day. We literally had to carry him around the house. But by the next morning he was feeling much better about it - and now he loves our dog and cats. One of my projects right now is to help him learn to ride a bike. He has seen a bike before - he knew what it was - but I don't know if he'd ever been on one before. He wasn't sure which way to pedal and he had no idea how to steer. The steering thing was a problem for me. At six years old once he gets the hang of pedaling he is capable of going fast enough to do some damage! So I've been working with him on steering and yesterday he started getting the hang of it!

Meyer and Camille have really bonded. She was the first name he said and she was the first of us to make him laugh. One of my favorite memories from our trip was on the first day we had him, Gaye and I were walking behind the two kids. And Camille reached over and took his hand. It was very sweet. (Not that it affected me emotionally or anything like that!) ;)

Adoption Update: FINALLY!!!!!!

My head is spinning right now. My wife Gaye just called and asked if I was doing anything next Wednesday. I said I think I'm going to be at the WMHK booth at the SC State Fair. She nonchalantly said "oh well I was just wondering...." and then what she said after that was completely incoherent. A lot of screaming. Screams of joy. The only word I was able to make out was Haiti. When she calmed down she told me that Meyer's visa had come in. We'll be going to get him most likely on Wednesday. It's real. I've been walking around a little dazed since then. When I can get my act together and express myself better I will write another post. After three years of working, waiting, and praying. Our son is coming home.

What Me Worry?

I don't know if I've ever quoted Alfred E. Newman before! Remember the gap-toothed guy on the cover of Mad Magazine? He was famous for saying "what, me worry?" With everything that's been going on in the financial world

it seems like we're being encouraged to worry like never before. People are going on TV and saying there's NO HOPE! Wow.

Here's the bad news. I have no financial advice for anybody. I took one economics class in college. On the first day the professor came in and said "this is the first time I've ever taught undergrads, so this should be interesting." That was it. I was done! I squeaked by with a C with a lot of help from friends who were business majors!

Here's the good news: I know something about worry. I could be a professional worrier. I worry about things that might possibly someday happen no matter how far-fetched they are. But I've learned something funny along the way. At some of the times I've had the most need to worry I've worried least. I once had a job I worried a lot about losing. I lost it. But what followed was not disaster, but peace! If you look at logically I should have come apart at the seems. But it never happened. That was God. Not only did He provide, but He rode the storm out with me.

Here's more good news: God is BIGGER than our financial crisis. He spoke the universe into existence -- including what eventually became Wall Street! I don't know what will happen to our economy. But I do know what Jesus said:

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Jesus didn't die for the birds or the lilies. He died for YOU. Someone who speaks the universe into existence and then willingly dies to pay for everything you and I have ever done wrong - just so He can spend forever with us - someone like that is someone who is not going to abandon us simply because some investment banks are going out of business.

Now back to my worrying...did I say this in a way that is helpful? ;^)

Get that pie AWAY FROM ME!!

What's the one food you won't allow yourself to make? You know that thing you make that serves 10-12 people and you can eat all by yourself. Aha! You just thought of it didn't you!? Mine, is this chocolate pie. I realized my gluttony for this pie when during the summer I made it several times and noticed we could finish it in about a day. I say we . . .but what I mean is me. As my husband, Lloyd, had pointed out to me the last time. . .between him and our four year old Quinn, I ate all but 1 1/2 slices by myself!! I didn't want to believe it! I made a promise to myself (6 pounds gained later), that I would not make this pie ever again. UNLESS, we were going to take it with us to someone's house. This is a great tactic. You still get to have a slice of the very thing you love so much but are less likely to show your glutton side in front of your neighbors, friends or family. They provide accountability.

Amy's Only Take To Your Neighbor's Chocolate Pie Recipe

1 Large Tub of Cool Whip
6 Almond Hershey's Candy Bars
1 Graham Cracker Crust

Melt Hershey's bars in Microwave on Low until completely melted. Mix with Cool Whip. Spoon into Graham Cracker Crust. Refrigerate. Eat only one. . .or two. . or three. . . :)

Adoption Update: More Good News!

Over the past three years it has seemed like we have gone long in every step of our adoption process. So maybe its not surprising that when we found out that after the government met with the birth parents, our final stretch would take about one month or two if they decided they needed to do a DNA on Meyer and his birth mom. They do this if there are any red flags (even small ones) in the interview or paperwork. We just found out that they will NOT need a DNA test - which means we should be traveling to bring our son home within a month or so!! God is good!

Adoption Update: Getting Close!

Just to get you up to date: my wife Gaye and I are in the process of adopting a little boy in Haiti. Last week Gaye was in Haiti to file the final papers in a meeting that included our son and his birth mom. Unfortunately after everyone got there they found out that the rules had changed and the birth mom couldn't be seen on the same day. So she and the birth parents of a sibling group came into the city for their appointments for no reason! Amy had a good point this morning. She pointed out that if we had been told that the rules had changed and the birth mom wouldn't be needed until another date, Gaye would not have met Meyer on this trip. So it seems that God was at work even when things seemed to be chaotic and out of control.

Otherwise Gaye had a great trip! She met our son Meyer -neither of us had before. We know that he is shy so Gaye didn't expect him to take to her instantly. But as soon as he saw her he ran into her arms. I wish I could have been there. She did put him on the phone with me. He learned to say in English "hello Daddy, I Love You." I was dumbstruck! We're also grateful to God for getting her there safely - in spite of the presence Hanna and Ike.

Well today is the day that the birth mom has her appointment. After that the only step we have left is to actually go get him. It's been three long years. He was almost three when we started. Now he's about to turn six.

Everywhere I go it seems I run into people who say they are praying for our adoption. Thank you! You have no idea what an encouragement you have been to may family! Please don't stop praying!

Welcome

Welcome to our blog! If you are a WMHK listener, this is your chance to read some thoughts that we have that may not go on the air. If you are not yet a WMHK listener, I hope you will check us out at www.wmhk.com.