Open Arms

Open Arms
...caring for orphans and adoptive families...

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Children


A few pictures to enjoy!



She loves to make things to send us.



What beautiful smiles!



Holding the flowers Galia sent us until we can hold the children.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above...

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend

Hi Everyone,

Learning Russian is still a daily event. Word by word we keep trying to improve. We have one class a week with a Ukrainian tutor. She asked us last week if we would have a translator or be traveling alone. We told her both....She shook her head, "God help you...He will, it will be okay, He will help you." I think she was just trying to comfort herself. We're too ignorant to be concerned. Walking through the house there are little yellow stickers on various items. No real rhyme or reason, just the stickers I happen to have and know what they mean. I just have to remember to read the stickers, they're not just there to be pretty! Pray for us, please!

We have a new addition to the family. Emily and Tim now have a baby girl. Caitlin Grace Ellisor arrived last Sunday morning, very early, 10 weeks earlier than planned. She weighed in at 3lbs. 8 oz. There were many complications but we are so thrilled to say that Mom and baby are both doing great. Hopefully she can come home in a couple of weeks. Grace is such an perfect name. God's grace brought her here!

There is one other addition to announce. Rebekah and Tim2 announced they are expecting baby #3. She's due in January. Grandbaby number 7 on the way! Yeah!

Steve and JD are in DC this weekend to attend Rolling Thunder with two of my brothers and some other friends. I can't wait to hear the details. It's always a very emotional weekend.

We've been giving a lot of thought to the plight of orphans, our real motivation behind our decision to adopt and what our part of the solution really looks like. One dear friend challenged me at the beginning of the process. She said, "I don't think you will look back in ten years and regret this if you do it. But you most probably will regret it for the rest of your life if you don't." She's right.

I heard a song yesterday that says it best. (words below) There is so much to do. We don't need to ask if He wants us to do something, but rather what He has for us to do. You can listen to the song on You Tube.

Wanting to give everything,
Carol


The Motions
by Matthew West

This might hurt, it's not safe, But I know that I've gotta make a change, I don't care if I break, At least I'll be feeling something, 'Cause just okay is not enough, Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions, I don't wanna go one more day, without Your all consuming passion inside of me, I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, "What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time, I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind, Let Your love make me whole, I think I'm finally feeling something, 'Cause just okay is not enough, Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions, I don't wanna go one more day, without Your all consuming passion inside of me, I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, "What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"