Open Arms

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

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Great is Thy Faithfulness

THE ELLISOR FAMILY


What a season of change it's been. Only God's faithfulness could have brought us thru into 2010. It's been challenging, at times frustrating, painful, and scary. It's also been exhilarating, happy, joyful and exciting. Most often the problem was going from extreme to extreme with very little notice.


Since returning home with 4 new children, we have celebrated 6 birthdays, 2 weddings, the birth of a new grandchild, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Add to the transition that Carol is no longer working outside the home and we are now homeschooling again. Any way you slice that's just a lot of emotions to squeeze into two months.


Andrei who wants to be called Andrew- asked us the night after JD's wedding, What you gonna do with Lyonya's room when he meets a girl, gets married and moves out?" Guess he figures we always move this fast in life around here. We told him we would cross that bridge in a few years since Lyonya is only 15 right now.

All in all, everyone is doing remarkably well.
Tim and Emily (Aaron 5 and Caitlin 7 mo.) are living in Aiken and Tim has gone back to school.
Some of the boys in the family...


Tracy and Ja' (Marc Anthony 2 and Connor 1) are still thriving in Orangeburg.


Matthew married his long time sweetheart Becky on November 21st and they are living down the street from us here in Columbia.


Rebekah and Tim along with Samuel 3 and Josiah 20 mo. welcomed Caleb Simon Cook to their family on December 30th. He weighed 7lbs 14 oz.



Then for a grand finale Jeremiah (JD) married Margaret (Meg) Nelson on January 2nd. They are off on their honeymoon right now.


Lyonya and Pasha are taking English I and Biology, thru a home school co-op, and making friends in church youth group and Sunday School. Lyonya is hoping to sign up for soccer next month and he has a new favorite recording artist, Kim Walker. So glad she is one of our favorites too.

Pasha plays the French Horn with Ben Lippen's high school band and both of the boys enjoy riding bikes all over the neighborhood.


Galia starts piano lessons next week with a sweet lady from our church. She also loved dressing up and being a Jr. bridesmaid in JD's wedding.




We are so thankful to the Lord for His provision of family and for our family being where we are today. There are still many hurdles to cross in this journey in 2010...but we know He is faithful. Please pray for the Lords continued provision as we are still working through some of the property issues in Odessa and we still have the re-adoption process here in the states...(this will provide the children with a SC birth certificate). All of this takes time and money. Then there's the day to day matter of life and loving and learning and living as a family. So this year, just as Kim Walker sings about, we offer all that we have to Him in order to be one with Him. He is so amazing....just look what what He brought us this past year.

Happy New Year Everyone. May He bless you beyond all that you could hope or imagine.


YOU WON'T RELENT
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours

I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death, Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love

You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours

I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death, Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love

Waters cannot quench this love,
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
Waters cannot quench this love
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours

Come be the fire inside of me, Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me, Until You and I are one

Check out the video on You Tube....link below....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UQxp0YhRuM&feature=related