P A S S P O R T

Can I say....."PASSPORT!"

January...WOW, what a MONTH!

In a God size SUPER NATURAL way...January wraps up as being one of the hardest spiritual, emotional and physical battles our family has had since the start of Gabriels journey.

So many people prayed! So many people felt such a DARKness pressing in all around us in Jan.

Jan 27th, one by one the phone calls started coming in.

• "Carrie and Dave, we really feel like something has lifted"
• "Carrie, the urgency to pray has ceased"
• "Carrie and Dave, we have been feeling like we needed to cover you...that feeling does not seem as urgent"

*these were different circles of people, friends, family, adoptive friends, people from other states all pressing in to the throne room on our behalf....all having the same feelings.

God does amaze me!

Also I am blessed to have a circle of people who will listen to the Holy Spirit on our behalf.

Adoption is warfare...so glad we are equipped to FIGHT and do not have to do so on our own power.

FEBRUARY 1, 2010 NEW month, NEW day, NEW news...

Phone call comes from Ghana "Carrie guess what I have in my hand?"

P A S S P O R T

Then some of my favorite words I get to hear from the Director at Beacon House....

"Oh yes, oh YES"

As different families have walked this passport journey in the last few years...each family's adoption journey is soooooo different, but pretty much across the board...PASSPORTS tend to be the section of the adoption process that is very dificult.

The ride is like no other!

Each Beacon House family that I have been able to call and say "your PASSPORT is in" ....has been a JOYFILLED celebration when it is IN the HAND and correct!

I have been able to joyfully celebrate with many families!

One thing I know for sure in the last 2 years of doing the Volunteer BH coordinator job:

...when it is time for a child, who does not have a forever family,

to come home to forever family...a family who will lead them in the way everlasting through the powerful perfect love of Jesus...

The enemy FIGHTS!

Passports coming out seem to be a good target for sure!!

We stand in a position of victory and do not have to fight for victory...even when we can not see the how and why...GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Today we celebrate the PASSPORT....the tireless efforts of the BH Director and staff,

the ALL POWERFUL personal GOD who holds it all in His hands and lets us come along for the RIDE OF A LIFE time if we trust, believe and love HIM only!

I 600 approval, Visa and TRAVEL coming NEXT....will keep you updated!

*the passport on the top is the cover of John's passport...Gabriels is safely still in Ghana awaiting his VIsa / exit!

Daughter!

The Love of this mommy heart is FULL,

by the KIND and GOD FILLED words of my amazing oldest daughter.

Her view of our family story is on her blog....well said sweetheart!

http://www.aarghistheperfectword.blogspot.com/

We are all praying and thankful for God's PLAN for all of our lives!

"Through the intimacy of our relationship, you are being transformed from the inside out.

As you keep your focus on Me, I form you into the one I desire you to be.

Your part is to yield to My creative work in you, neither resisting it nor trying to speed it up.

Enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life by letting Me set the pace. Hold My hand in child-like trust, and the way before you will open up step by step."

"Jesus Calling Devotional" Jan 25th

Gabriel Blaske

Dear Jesus,
Tonight I sit and look at this sweet tender warrior you have so carefully fashioned by your hand, and I am in awe of Your POWER and LOVE!

THANK YOU for his LIFE!

I PRAISE YOU for all the workers at his first place of care, that cared for him

I DELIGHT that you connected him to BH, put him in the hands of those who speak LIFE........TRUE LIFE to his sweet lil life each day from your word....feed him, teach him, cloth him, show him what PLAY is....and seek out a forever family for him.

US

Really...it is US! How can that be? How can hearts get connected that are so many miles and oceans apart! Lord I PRAISE YOU for what YOU have done and continue to do!

HOME

There comes a time in the adoption journey where the Spiritual realm knows that there is a HOME for a child...and that progress is getting made to the HOME-COMING.

What was a fight is now an all out war...papers disappear, computers crash, backs get injured, trucks get crashed, family members get sick, sink pipes break and leak all over the floors, process gets back logged...........one waiting child starts to lose hope as his lil child like heart and mind does not understand "time and process" sees the hope start to slip through his grasp of understanding.

C O N F I D E N C E

Dear Gabriel, SON.....from the moment we first saw you in Jan 2008....as we watched your littleness skip around the play area and on the trampoline...we knew you were a very

"sweet" boy.

Many families who have come to BH come out saying

"we are praying for a family for sweet Gabriel"

We prayed for you since then...and being C O N F I D E N T that GOD had begun a good work in you...He chose us to be a part of that work.

WE ARE BLESSED TO CALL YOU SON, for you are a GIFT and already soooooo loved!

Sweet boy....hang on to the WORD of the ONE who created you.

Philippians 1:6 is a life verse for you.

I pray this prayer for you as we draw our swords and hold up our shields and fight well to the finish for you! The finish is not your home coming, but to see you grow in the design God set out for you...the PLANS that He has already started....and will complete.

We are just thankful that we get to be a part of seeing how God does it all,

and BE THE ONES Who's ARMS YOU CAN SNUGGLE UP INTO no matter how old you are.

Sweet boy....the concept of mommy is new to you, and son, I can not wait to play that out each day with you as you!

THANK YOU LORD FOR HIS SW REPORT, PASSPORT, VISA, and TRAVEL to his HOME!

(We know that You know, we NEED these four things and we are confident that you will complete it)

With LOVE....

Snap shot

Take a snap shot view of what has been happening in the busy Blaske house!

I took the kids to the Lynden Lighted Christmas parade. My much complaining thought was "you can not make a memory if you do not go" so we went and had a great time. We FROZE, but the delight of the kids as they stood in the cold, waving, catching candy and singing to the music of the lighted floats as they passed.....made the freezing worth it.

I like to say that this is "me and mini me" Tristan is 14 and an amazing young man....kinda looks like his mommy...dont you think?

Tradition...for 10 years now, we have made ginger bread houses on Thanksgiving day! Ashlie was very creative this year and did not go for best design or color scheme, but very carefully place ALL the candy she LOVED on to her house in layers...so when she took it home she could munch on it! FUNNY, but clever!


The week before Thanksgiving we did a mini trial run on the ginger bread house making with our dear friends! These three great guys take FUNNY to a whole new level!
The joy in the room when they get to be together is a GIFT that I will not ever fully be able to comprehend!

The girls did a great job! There is a place in my heart that often has a hard time finding words to describe the love and life these two have shared together. To have them here in the USA so close to each other after growing up together in Ghana, really is a God size picture that I have only seen a small view of! LOVE THEM!

Brock and his sweet girl went to homecoming. There is not a dull moment when they are together. They LAUGH more than any two I have been around. (they are pretty good at ping pong too:O) She looked stunning in her purple dress and Brock had to buy dress pants, because he did not own any. Looked smashing!

I love this pic for MANY reasons! The adoptive moms that God has surrounded me with astound me! His Kids did a "Falling for kids" adoption clothing sale in the fall. The event was a fund raiser for families at our church in the process of adopting. This is a pic of 4 of the 9 women that are FRONT line warriors for adoption and kids in crisis that I get to live life with.

The great shirts were designed by the mom in the middle, as a fund raiser for their adoption. We all proudly wear them and she has sold ALOT of them!

*email me if you would like to get one .....bhcarrie@gmail.com

We worked, the community shopped and in the end we are all a bit closer to our adoption fund goal! (thanks K for the GREAT idea!)

Our sweet girl turned 11! In her 11 years, she has seen more "life" than I have in my 40 years.

I continue to be amazed at her pure JOY for all things. He out loud laughter at the simple and sweet things of life. Also her great ability to speak truth and defend the gospel and her deep love for God!

~hApPy BiRtHdAy ViCtOrIa~

In the view of time, things can FLY by or go very slowly.

It is an interesting space to be in, where both happen at the same time.

In a land far away lives a wiggly toothed 6 yr old boy.

He is quick, smart, full of questions and has a smile so big you almost lose his eyes due to his little cheeks pushing up.

He is cared for, gets to play with friends, is taught, and loved ....all the things a child need. Except he is WAITING.

Waiting for his forever family to come and "collect him."

I know I said I would post once a week....and really I think I did okay for some of the time up to now. However...seeing that things FLY by and things go soooooo SLOWLY.....I am caught in a place of life happening all around me all while I wait....to hold this sweet little boy.

Those around me who have adopted or are in process, know the pull that happens daily on our hearts as we trust in the Lord and wait.

I hope you have enjoyed a small "snap shot" into the picture

of the day to day of the Blaske Bunch!

Potty Training the Puppy

Yes, we have a new member of the Blaske family. (call me crazy...Really call me crazy)

Her name is Juliet and she is an early Christmas present from Ashlie to our whole family.

She is a 3 pound wonder!

It is CRAZY how a puppy can bring kids/family together in great ways!

This a.m....due to the crate training I have chosen to do as the method of potty training, (notice I said "I have chosen"...yes the kids LOVE LOVE LOVE her...and I get to train, feed and be with her all day. Which really is kind of lovely as she sits on my lap most of the day while I work in the office)

Today, 6:00....like everyday (she does not understand weekends) she whimpers, whines and is ready to get OUT of her crate.

Stumbling around, coat for me, slip Daves shoes on, grab leash, treats and off we go to stand OUTSIDE to go potty.

On my way to get the coat etc...out the kitchen window I see a striking neon pink thin line over the mountains forming out of the dark morning..."wow, I bet this sunrise is going to be amazing God....THANK YOU" I say in my heart.

Outside....Jewls wont go(Sunrise is now turning pink to dark orange and getting taller....we stand, use cues, stand some more. She goes! Yeah...treat and inside we go. Go inside, Leash off, coat off, shoes off...strong desire for coffee...walk toward kitchen....see Jewels scooting around under kitchen table...she pauses, squats to poop...REALLY!

Swoop her up...shoes on, no coat, leash in hand, no treats...OUTSIDE again...and NO POOP...

walking, sniffing, use word cues, walking, playing with cat. I am getting CRANKY! Dave opens the door and smiles...seeing me in my jammies in front yard.

Mean time...sunrise has blown up in the entire sky to radiant pink, orange, yellows and very top clear blue dancing off the high clouds...AMAZING!

Jewls NEVER goes...15 mins of standing in the cold.

Bring her in, put her down, lean down to take off my shoes...she squats on the tile, poops and skips off into the kitchen...happy happy happy puppy!

Seriously! Not a good start to a Sunday!

Grumble grumble grumble...cranky cranky cranky...lots of unkind thoughts dancing through my head about my very cozy warm sleeping children at this point!

Coffee...ahhhh, ....Bible.....ahhh,....Holy Spirit, Tap tap tap on my heart....owww ohhh!

Word picture life lesson coming at me FULL tilt! (love it and year for it, but really feel like there is some correction coming...YEP it did!)

God says:

"Carrie, like standing in the yard today...you can SEE a whole big picture of your surroundings, like a 360 view from the place you stand. BIG telephoto lens! You see Me and my power, strength and beauty...just like the commanding sunrise I made for you this a.m.

You love and trust me and look at this view often....where you need to practice is the IN and OUT movement of your picture lens."

My Big Picture NEVER changes! I am UNCHANGING!

"Carrie, do not let the details and situations (ie: puppy frustrations, kid challenges, work loads, Adoption stretches and heart aches) cause you to forget that in the ZOOM in times of situations,

THE SUNRISE that is happening is in that SAME view...you just can not see it because of the close focus needed at that given time. It is STILL there!

"Like a muscle, you must get better at using the lens of your heart to move in and out of BIG PICTURE (where you rest and see me most) and ZOOM focus (where you tend to cry out ot me during times of trouble, but yearn for big pictures times of peace) and be ACTIVE in lens movement for sustainable PEACE in you....now matter what view you see.....move in and out of both views during the times of focus.

When you are cranky, frustrated, hurt or angry...pull back a bit on the view...my power has not changed, this will not change the situations I have put CLOSE by you....but it will cause a deep peace which will allow you to be in ZOOM in situations with my power not your own"

OKAY! Can I say that God uses word pictures to talk to my often...and today I wanted to share this on the blog because the reality of my aching heart for Gabriel to come home has been gaining some sadness as the weeks go by. I have had times in the last 12 weeks of ZOOM focus that has caused my sweet family to have to tip toe around a sometimes emotional, cranky mommy.

God used His Grand Sunrise, a tiny puppy and poop to express His heart for me today!

SUSTAINABLE PEACE using the lens of my heart! THANK you God!

Weekend update!

This last weekend I paused for a few seconds to look around our house. I decided to pick up my camera and do a 360 in our upstairs and capture ONE moment of BLASKE-ness.
Reason: In moments like this, it causes a great THANKFULNESS to rise up in me to the LORD and all HE is in our lives.
Imagine the noise, the laughter, the frustrations, the play....all going on at one time as life happens.
Ashlie: She is our resident Apple comp WIZ! She was hanging out with us and trying to get some CD music onto Daddy's I phone. Tanner is usually close by because he usually has added some "special feature" or up load to the computer that no one can work but him :O)

There is a BIG play area in John's room, downstairs, and even in the front room...but 99% of the time I find Johnny in the kitchen where I am. Just when I start to feel the frustration about kicking marbles, tripping on toys, stepping over train tracks...my heart stops and I OPEN my eyes to the AMAZING little boy who is MY boy playing in the kitchen to be close to me...and realize, some day the kitchen will be clear and quite and oh how sad that will be! For now...PLAY ON Johnny Man!

Lunches...each day the kids pack their lunches the night before school...or I should say, the idea would be that "each night" lunches get packed. (many a morning there are some mad dashes slathering peanut butter onto bread and shoving into a bag and into the back pack as some child forgot to do lunch the night before runs to catch the bus)

Over all...25 lunches get packed Mon-Friday.....and If Victoria had her choice she would pack every ones lunch. She is a great cook and a great lunch packer.

Reports: Oh I do remember the day of hand written reports....but I guess that dates me a bit. (I could even admit the papers I did in the "typewriter" hummmm!)

Tristan is here working on a Book report/short essay. He has a great Language Arts mind and I enjoy reading his papers.

Science project: 3D model of a plant cell....Tanner had this project in hand for a week...but being the "on top of it all momma" that I am, I did not make it to the craft store to get the supplies until two days before. Here he is with his almost complete project. (thankfully Ash was over hanging out and came up with the idea of "wires" to stick the labels on.

PLAY: Okay, I know John is in here 2 times..it is because he is 2 times as busy:O)

Dave and John have great games of UNO, Sorry, Zingo (thanks Kathy) and lots of building projects....like this one.

Overall, in the span of the few seconds it took me to take these few pictures, it is really good for me to STOP life in motion at times a TAKE in the ACTION frame by frame!

One Weekend, One moment, MANY BLESSINGS!

*no worries all you friends and family wondering about Gabriel:....more to come soon.

We are anxiously awaiting a court date....then we will be on a weekly update on time frame.

Soon that little man will be in our Weekends, Moments and YES we already count him as one of our BLESSINGS!

"V" is for VICTORIA!

This post is for VICTORIA!
Not for anything special,
Not that All my kiddos could / should / will have a post,
Not that alot of words are needed.....................
Just simply said, there are some days as her mommy, that I gaze across the room at her, or watch her on the soccer field, or hear her beautiful LAUGHTER (larger than life), peek at her trying on my lip gloss, and think.......
Her life tells 1,000 plus stories and I now get to be in them!"

I love you lovie!