tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47287813743831762662024-03-12T16:05:54.600-07:00Welcome HomeThe Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-49066016861009291512013-08-08T11:39:00.000-07:002013-08-08T11:39:08.258-07:00So Close....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>By: The Folsoms</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are SO close!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Please lift this handsome young man up in your prayers tonight.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnDOoeP3I7fuLdGErmu4vVxJ26_pzKkx4Es0mDf-er_92mlVfYIQe03QYDqt5C6m-0yysbl6JK98qMhH8hhqdSepDn53QBZiSy25Xwwau3RQycjUfW1dIZMIuIk6KZzb70VS6LtNi5OyC/s1600/Yeabsira+May+update+photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnDOoeP3I7fuLdGErmu4vVxJ26_pzKkx4Es0mDf-er_92mlVfYIQe03QYDqt5C6m-0yysbl6JK98qMhH8hhqdSepDn53QBZiSy25Xwwau3RQycjUfW1dIZMIuIk6KZzb70VS6LtNi5OyC/s400/Yeabsira+May+update+photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pray that the Lord will be preparing his heart,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">our hearts, and the hearts of our other children.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are waiting on the US Embassy to approve us.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are so close!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PRAY for clearance so we can get this baby home ASAP!</span></div>
The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-38333345694634369712013-07-26T12:03:00.001-07:002013-07-26T12:03:56.941-07:00ETHIOPIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>By the Folsoms:</i></div>
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With just a one week notice - we jumped on a plane to Ethiopia to FINALLY see our <b><i>SON</i></b>!</div>
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There were feelings of excitement, nervousness, and even fear. The trip was a whirlwind! </div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Many of our pictures we cannot show because they include other children.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">So here are a few....</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First stop on our trip was Dubai. We stayed there overnight to save us a</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">couple of thousand dollars on flights.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz7IAkb2-AH3GwBTS_ervQ0iYHKxjiSvOSM8iW5dlfXYdfaqFf8FOGtz8K__GDSXWO7kpLx28Z-1XAM7u7-EkUsu5Y11TzTo47DgkmsVfZ7SpIl-FuOsVfGEd1FNKS_v283W15zmDiMaP/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz7IAkb2-AH3GwBTS_ervQ0iYHKxjiSvOSM8iW5dlfXYdfaqFf8FOGtz8K__GDSXWO7kpLx28Z-1XAM7u7-EkUsu5Y11TzTo47DgkmsVfZ7SpIl-FuOsVfGEd1FNKS_v283W15zmDiMaP/s320/3.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkkUnCj2TrioG9XXGccyMdwTKJJ0SYjlgGRJRexikKqU9jQplqkKVaYoECFOlPuw86hLFFqcs6tTDZbxEAzp6j8rk3L3gwJKkLkhXb0XjRaEnuWJ1pTPmkyHExqlKF4_T_TiAb_iXhpgj/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkkUnCj2TrioG9XXGccyMdwTKJJ0SYjlgGRJRexikKqU9jQplqkKVaYoECFOlPuw86hLFFqcs6tTDZbxEAzp6j8rk3L3gwJKkLkhXb0XjRaEnuWJ1pTPmkyHExqlKF4_T_TiAb_iXhpgj/s320/7.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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There we saw: The world's tallest building, a building that had a tennis court on top,</div>
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the world's largest mall.... </div>
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Nice EVERYTHING. The airport looked like Las Vegas. It was unbelievable.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvdV-HbzUIS7rDfwkDa6w70AFc9aE6MLyBhRofGVT2CV3yt-w3f5gzurxIfb20PqUds6Zz5bObGYcMv8Vo7C2n407ugQ68nTErkPM3XanmH6C7jUtCnVmx4y6bvKNp_nWICftkdzt-AUh/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvdV-HbzUIS7rDfwkDa6w70AFc9aE6MLyBhRofGVT2CV3yt-w3f5gzurxIfb20PqUds6Zz5bObGYcMv8Vo7C2n407ugQ68nTErkPM3XanmH6C7jUtCnVmx4y6bvKNp_nWICftkdzt-AUh/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My beautiful hunk of a man. ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu-3GfMdIGdXO0NdZrhgo8dAzJYNlMt2OIMhp00WAvl3naldyyo_TN9sUJ7LNi8zyngDUtvZlriQW7zhgGf7TOssdbUvBqldBSSiHfJAjm9bcji-CIQ7huJmNDPOzWla6TwRWk5nn5K8T/s1600/IMG_7961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu-3GfMdIGdXO0NdZrhgo8dAzJYNlMt2OIMhp00WAvl3naldyyo_TN9sUJ7LNi8zyngDUtvZlriQW7zhgGf7TOssdbUvBqldBSSiHfJAjm9bcji-CIQ7huJmNDPOzWla6TwRWk5nn5K8T/s320/IMG_7961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matt can make friends with <i>ANYONE - ANYWHERE</i>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV1tr2lf1JQ8g1FhMTwwaH6fBxsxquMDiU6CRegAwzSVbEfKQefYItYvO1TH449tE3gH9iBI-mk3nylZNjYOLIsp7XXMiZvB8ACd_9GutUsWN7VnX85oIstt8X2Fi4JF17JY1c8oFd5Ka/s1600/IMG_7959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV1tr2lf1JQ8g1FhMTwwaH6fBxsxquMDiU6CRegAwzSVbEfKQefYItYvO1TH449tE3gH9iBI-mk3nylZNjYOLIsp7XXMiZvB8ACd_9GutUsWN7VnX85oIstt8X2Fi4JF17JY1c8oFd5Ka/s320/IMG_7959.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57q-gOot_7_eVLFlg6RRSgHgU5rJhfRyDVooCjcKCgMfDnRVQSMoy2k1atnBv-vz4bk_wKquWSa_AMwOkE951EnhByewS1iGmMcP_InB7kbg1ORDvucU-Q07VIFv_uWGdniFoQ9Qdh8bl/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57q-gOot_7_eVLFlg6RRSgHgU5rJhfRyDVooCjcKCgMfDnRVQSMoy2k1atnBv-vz4bk_wKquWSa_AMwOkE951EnhByewS1iGmMcP_InB7kbg1ORDvucU-Q07VIFv_uWGdniFoQ9Qdh8bl/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">FINALLY TO ETHIOPIA!</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAgyAeHogPopW5drfE6AGYNEmPV0Xp1ZIaX_E-Vh632ueGZPnjYj-xlli4ArEaXCh2ejSu0-wvSItqwoiwR9JK2jsct1LxnxUoc2gCeAdEJYAyX1IvApnZIoT_LXxTLW1q8GIHZf8c9fB/s1600/photo-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAgyAeHogPopW5drfE6AGYNEmPV0Xp1ZIaX_E-Vh632ueGZPnjYj-xlli4ArEaXCh2ejSu0-wvSItqwoiwR9JK2jsct1LxnxUoc2gCeAdEJYAyX1IvApnZIoT_LXxTLW1q8GIHZf8c9fB/s320/photo-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Matt playing soccer with our son- Yabsira.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRWRWHx-zPN3ToyQ-gpYYAZT_8ucbRe-0lczc-vVTIKeF3D23O6ModAt6WFm3tojlaYbqkFRcDaFe1csn3XHgIzrd_Mqoa_NZge3TK_LwLNI20NKaoqtcl2Xzu-M8JSP96cgDv45S9Iu9/s1600/IMG_8119-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRWRWHx-zPN3ToyQ-gpYYAZT_8ucbRe-0lczc-vVTIKeF3D23O6ModAt6WFm3tojlaYbqkFRcDaFe1csn3XHgIzrd_Mqoa_NZge3TK_LwLNI20NKaoqtcl2Xzu-M8JSP96cgDv45S9Iu9/s320/IMG_8119-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is scaffolding.... say what?!?!</div>
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The pictures below are of some AMAZING families that God placed in our lives while in Ethiopia. (Have I mentioned how awesome God is??!??!)</div>
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WHAT A BLESSING these families were to us! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvt2RQYGE5h3NJyDooH2ruNbvuhpPS0t6CSUO3vOj11KNQLtDClJrNct5cdPceNumMB1rJPagVDE9vJtUYD7TuYjMI0OiRFYPZqJ129Boa5e_GxszqUJjFKwhmOMgQ9fp1q-OLKmc4r2o/s1600/IMG_8193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvt2RQYGE5h3NJyDooH2ruNbvuhpPS0t6CSUO3vOj11KNQLtDClJrNct5cdPceNumMB1rJPagVDE9vJtUYD7TuYjMI0OiRFYPZqJ129Boa5e_GxszqUJjFKwhmOMgQ9fp1q-OLKmc4r2o/s320/IMG_8193.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXH_nnc9jFfKrZ40rAUZW2AdTu6DMZ1mAvWcxQFtomQEihlrWhYlv1mILet8OUxIIh3kNKqvAXZRFm9P8yL2czhmC_AWOulciSSU03nCrwaxsKjEowtoaumbyFtD-bV0hp5zLwtxqevwJH/s1600/IMG_8189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXH_nnc9jFfKrZ40rAUZW2AdTu6DMZ1mAvWcxQFtomQEihlrWhYlv1mILet8OUxIIh3kNKqvAXZRFm9P8yL2czhmC_AWOulciSSU03nCrwaxsKjEowtoaumbyFtD-bV0hp5zLwtxqevwJH/s320/IMG_8189.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We LOVED Ethiopia.</span></i></b></div>
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The streets were alive! The culture is beautiful. Coffee is everywhere. There is no such thing as late. (<i>Which I happen to love!</i>)<br />
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The people were beautiful. LIKE FOR REAL! Matt & I said we should open up a modeling agency & start scouting there. Every single day when we walked down the road we saw someone that looked like a model. WHOA. It's insane!<br />
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Speaking of insane.... <i>Traffic</i> like I have never seen! Our daily ventures out in a van were both terrifying and mesmerizing. I loved seeing the people, the businesses, the landscapes, the culture as we dodged in & out of traffic daily.<br />
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Ethiopians are entrepreneurs! There are businesses and people doing business everywhere. You can buy a soccer ball at a stand that is next to a stand where you can buy clothes that is next to a stand where you can get your shoes shined that is next to a stand where you can buy a goat. You could find coffee on pretty much any street. (which I also loved!)<br />
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I loved, loved, <i>LOVED</i> the food. That is one thing that I cannot wait for when we return. (and I am going to attempt to cook some of these dishes!) Our (AMAZING) guide took us to an authentic Ethiopian family restaurant with live music & dancing while we were there. It is something that I will never forget! (should I post the video of them getting Matt up & trying to get him to dance!???!)<br />
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<i>OH MY. My mouth is watering just by looking at this picture. SO GOOD.</i></div>
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Matt feeding me the first bite is supposed to symbolize that he is saying he promises to take care of me. (by Ethiopian tradition) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFpPweIANms-wUrtYbaGiIAZnoLO9bO5Lw9oKaAgdy9ICQkVw69FcteuMt4gOrfQL6PwOd-e_RZD0xdxnrjhoHDcblDf1l052X2bMAwfxdwtImDtzXFQ09oiU6bbTAH4dpTQaFb4xeqPl/s1600/photo-122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFpPweIANms-wUrtYbaGiIAZnoLO9bO5Lw9oKaAgdy9ICQkVw69FcteuMt4gOrfQL6PwOd-e_RZD0xdxnrjhoHDcblDf1l052X2bMAwfxdwtImDtzXFQ09oiU6bbTAH4dpTQaFb4xeqPl/s320/photo-122.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKogT9hPg4z8x8HA1s67Ec3RWifAfwfoiKlzS5dI-BukuCT411d9G25rsSI_ynO1GTNm995Ffkq06odMNydo3_rrpIUO2AH2rtWGIx5NuOJssVVt9qbX1bioiUXznHJCrGzeZeR3Nk6ca/s1600/IMG_1402.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKogT9hPg4z8x8HA1s67Ec3RWifAfwfoiKlzS5dI-BukuCT411d9G25rsSI_ynO1GTNm995Ffkq06odMNydo3_rrpIUO2AH2rtWGIx5NuOJssVVt9qbX1bioiUXznHJCrGzeZeR3Nk6ca/s320/IMG_1402.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>These were just after we passed court & Yabsira officially became OUR SON!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>PRAISE GOD! </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So now that we are home, I have answered this questions</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">19 billion times....</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Where is he?!?"</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, right now we are waiting on the US Embassy to clear us. We should be returning to Ethiopia sometime in August to bring our boy</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><u>HOME!</u></b></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*When we return to Ethiopia we are wanting to take back a few suitcases filled with donations for the orphanage where Yabsira has lived. We are asking for your help!</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next time you run to Walmart pick up ONE extra item. Yeah - just ONE! That's all it takes to HELP & make a difference!</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Children's medicines, hygiene items, croc shoes, baby items, first aid items, baby wipes....</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are interested in making a donation let me know. I can get you a list of items needed.</span></i></div>
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The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-79120277014126732962013-06-20T11:51:00.001-07:002013-06-20T11:51:24.115-07:00COURT DATE<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">WE HAVE A COURT DATE!!!!!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I cannot believe it!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">WE TRAVEL SOOOOOOO SOON!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I cannot believe it!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">PRAY FOR US!!!!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">-Matt & Courtney</span></b></div>
The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-88737938626279572882013-06-13T13:24:00.001-07:002013-06-13T13:24:56.470-07:00The Folsom's Adoption Journey: Take Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Adoption Journey: TAKE TWO</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS288G6a92NswSz1ZKyBVCm_ZH90aB5onsHBXUO9ors468weOV6WwC8JbgB0S9Ixy-nf2kjkoP2gauWVm86UkOEVpr7djepF72ZycNSkBDgaleMLFvNFcFk8H9CHOu0iDs0lH4sLuO5l_/s1600/take2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS288G6a92NswSz1ZKyBVCm_ZH90aB5onsHBXUO9ors468weOV6WwC8JbgB0S9Ixy-nf2kjkoP2gauWVm86UkOEVpr7djepF72ZycNSkBDgaleMLFvNFcFk8H9CHOu0iDs0lH4sLuO5l_/s320/take2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our initial adoption journey began over <b>two years ago</b>! It hasn't been the smoothest of journeys. It seemed as if things could go wrong, they DID! Even after all of the bumps in the road our personal case faced, adoptions in the country of Ghana had an entire struggle all their own. If you are keeping up with the adoption world at all, you will find that adoptions are being halted in Ghana and it is unknown when or <i><b>if</b></i> they will open in the future. I have been avoiding blogging about this topic because it is very difficult, very private, and I felt like if I announced it it was too official and I was admitting failure or giving up. (this <i>will</i> be a blog for another day...)<br />
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We Please know, we are NOT abandoning our initial adoption. But do know that we believe God has provided us with an incredible opportunity to adopt!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is our SECOND dossier! </span></b></div>
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It is all submitted! (<i>phew</i>!) I am not going to lie, it was a bit daunting starting the adoption paper chase, yet <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>again</b></span>! But this time, I knew what it meant to get a document apostiled. I knew where to go to get fingerprinted. I had read the books and researched the professionals. Yes, we had another home study!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We CANNOT wait until the day we can share information about this adoption!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We cannot wait to show you all pictures of his sweet face and happy grin!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Trusting in God's perfect plan and timing,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Matt & Courtney</span></div>
<br />The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-70797260263889019832013-05-06T18:00:00.000-07:002013-05-06T18:00:01.824-07:00Poo Day<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>By: Khylee Forgety </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">(<i>I have no other purpose to share this with you all than I needed to write it down for my sanity. After reading it, I laughed and thought some of you might need a laugh today too. So although it is longer than my usual post, stay with me till the end.)</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It has been one of those days. You know the kind. The one where you look back and can only laugh because if something was going to go wrong, it did.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Let me back up though. Before we had kids in our home, I lived in a fantasy. You all know the one. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It plays out something like this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My children wake up at 8:00, refreshed and rested and ready to listen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Breakfast is home made, biscuits and gravy, of course.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I prepare it with ease, and answer all my littles request with patience and kindness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I sit and drink my coffee, feet propped up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I read them books. We do crafts. We only eat local, prepared from scratch food. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nothing, and I mean nothing, ruffles my feathers. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The house is magically clean, all the time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cool, calm and collected, that's me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Think Martha Stewart meets Mother Theresa. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And here is my reality today:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">5:30 a.m.: A child wakes up for no reason at all other than just because it is Sunday.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Since it is Sunday and I am a minister's wife, I am by myself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Like any good mother, I set up the netflix, give a stern command to remain on the coach and be quiet and put myself back to bed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">7:30 a.m. I better get up now or we will be rushing. I let the dogs out, get the smallest out of his crib, take the trash out and discover the gate to the backyard is WIDE open and the two little furballs are nowhere in sight. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Open gate = home free</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Doned in nothing than my night clothes and flip flops, I frantically call for the dogs and start walking down the street. Nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Run inside, tell the kids whats up, give a stern "be good" and then run out the front door.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Spot Capo crossing the street. Be still my heart. And starting lovingly calling her name. Dumb as rock that dog, she comes running and I scope her up. One down, one to go.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Go back to check on the kids, where are they? O, you know, they had to get that music box down from the chest of drawers, and coincidentally knocked off lamp. Whatever.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Go to my purse to get the keys out of it. And what do you know. My sweet husband didn't put them back after he had to use them last night. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For the love. Could anything go right?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Frantic call. Frantic call. Frantic call. Nothing. He is practicing the band. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Finally an answer. Annoyed, stressed, worried, I say (maybe scream? It is kinda fuzzy): </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u>Me: </u>Where are my keys? The dogs are out!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u>Adam:</u> I'm coming, I'm coming home now. Sweet, he is always so sweet to me even when I don't deserve it. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Love that man more every day.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Gather the kids in their pajamas. Put on their shoes. Throw some granola bars at them. The search party is ready.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Adam comes home, and goes out to look for Luna. All I can think about is the big bad world she is traipsing around in. She doesn't know to look both ways before she crosses the street. She is fluffy baby, not a street dog.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The car pulls up, <b>she is home</b>. Praise the Lord!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All is well. Until it isn't.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Me and the littlest are just vacuuming the floor (don't ask, my OCD is a discussion for another day, cleaning is how I handle stress) and I look over and the princess has something brown on her princess dress. I look down, and see it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Poop. Dog poop. Multiple pieces. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And one that is smashed into the floor. Of course in all their escapades the dogs had forgotten the reason they were supposed to be outside in the first place.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Strip down sister and put her in the tub, requesting her not to touch anything. And please, just this once, <b><i><u>don't drink the bath water.</u> </i></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Round the corner to do some damage control and I see two little feet sitting. Sitting in the poop. And not just sitting but holding a nerf gun and swirling it around in it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For.the.love.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Strip kid #2, look at him and angrily say something about not playing in poop. That's nasty.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And as if it couldn't get worse, as I am taking off his diaper, I see something brown. Yep, more poop. Thanks little man for dropping a huge load. Your timing couldn't have been better.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After an obscene mound of diaper wipes, and another strong reminder to not drink the bath water. Project clean the dog-poo commenced.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And at the end of it all. I just had to laugh. Perfect, as much as I want to be, does not describe me, or our family. It is not our reality, it is a dream. Thank you Jesus for loving us despite our messiness.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #222222; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eg1cb56RSbkqq3krIEglrQvAFyu-CgjPn5PZ0gm8tyYOX8vfOmMconnxK084RDu-8NDssYE_vPsdjK3dz1-3ZiCZntMfqTRATl2IPu-UjEgW3-_CgYrY97NMgVMpt8hiIjyis8JWfKGI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eg1cb56RSbkqq3krIEglrQvAFyu-CgjPn5PZ0gm8tyYOX8vfOmMconnxK084RDu-8NDssYE_vPsdjK3dz1-3ZiCZntMfqTRATl2IPu-UjEgW3-_CgYrY97NMgVMpt8hiIjyis8JWfKGI/s400/photo.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our reality....pre-poo discovery. Just keeping it real. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-68055063574257061542013-05-01T15:01:00.000-07:002013-05-01T15:01:32.057-07:00Forgety Family: Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO8MfVcw_TRkUNlFr7Qffj-cBRSAbshdz_m9LSHRHb6nEfeElrxozhiCjAA1PUTlxzDqEDMhTI9c2NSh50rniXs5SbFfFAfiUOmJAT0JYV-bxjZTcKYlTNWFH8eRRAmoucs_wkyDLjm4b/s1600/number+67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO8MfVcw_TRkUNlFr7Qffj-cBRSAbshdz_m9LSHRHb6nEfeElrxozhiCjAA1PUTlxzDqEDMhTI9c2NSh50rniXs5SbFfFAfiUOmJAT0JYV-bxjZTcKYlTNWFH8eRRAmoucs_wkyDLjm4b/s1600/number+67.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I received a birthday card from one of my aunt’s back in March, who is so sweet and always sends me a card, with a comment that she misses the updates on the blog. And I thought to myself, “Has it really been that long since I updated? I just posted last week.”<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well, it’s been more like 4 months. Whatev.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">So…here is quick recap of our adoption progress over the last 4 months:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">January 9<sup>th</sup>: Received our updated number of 76<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">February 16<sup>th</sup>: Received our new number of 74<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">April 9<sup>th</sup>: Received our new number of 67<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nothing terribly exciting but still progress none-the-less towards bringing our kiddo(s) home. We are about to have to start the process of updating all our paperwork/fingerprints/etc. and that thought alone makes me have a mini panic attack. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Until then we are hanging out with our two small tator tots that:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">are learning to use the big potty,</span></li>
<li style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">like to give hugs straight out of the bath tub while they are still soaking wet, </span></li>
<li style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">call us "Ty-lee" and "A-don", </span></li>
<li style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">like to pray about their poop, </span></li>
<li style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">change clothes at an alarming rate, </span></li>
<li style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">throw wild-eye hissy fits because we cannot magically produce juice at any given moment in time, and on command</span></li>
<li style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">love us despite all the flaws Adam and I have.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
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The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-12367915991560021842013-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:002013-01-15T12:52:35.865-08:00Forgety Family: Our First Number<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By: Khylee Forgety</span></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe77eeLCLDBMA4r2baptK03gg26ImNddsGAzijdMKyDzaNbslokpFmjAcQLsGtYI1upzSdM6mTvAUJcjjf8ZeUk45brkeEnueTmoXFqQZn3Z4uZaw2BQltvm-U5ROY2SrOyl1NQ9Oh1BJ/s1600/81F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe77eeLCLDBMA4r2baptK03gg26ImNddsGAzijdMKyDzaNbslokpFmjAcQLsGtYI1upzSdM6mTvAUJcjjf8ZeUk45brkeEnueTmoXFqQZn3Z4uZaw2BQltvm-U5ROY2SrOyl1NQ9Oh1BJ/s1600/81F.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">WE FINALLY GOT OUR NUMBER! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">(Back
in September, but life has been crazy with the two extras at our house, <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">so
thanks for the grace and prayer)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is a
big step forward for our adoption process and we couldn’t be more happy to
finally be at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what does
it mean?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">In Honduras,
the process for getting a referral is a little bit different than other countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone that is adopting from the country gets
put on ONE BIG list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are #81 on that
list to get a referral for a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
families lower on the list are assigned a referral than our number will
drop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could drop one, two, or five numbers
or not drop at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">So now we
wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait for that number to get lower
and lower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Thankfully,
we have TWO little rugrats at the house keeping us busy by teaching us how to kiss
boo-boos, play dress-up and horsey, fix kid friendly meals, and how to be a
parent. </span></span></div>
The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-37032024622770511372012-12-26T19:56:00.001-08:002012-12-26T19:56:28.982-08:00Where have we been? (The Folsoms)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em>By: Courtney</em></div>
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Update… A long (really long) time coming,</div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?????<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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Four long months of silence…<o:p></o:p></div>
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An update is LONG overdue. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have had several people approach me and ask me about the blog, so I decided I<em> must</em> carve out time and update you all! I am actually only getting the time to do this now because I have been sick with the flu and my mother-in-law is fabulous and is entertaining our kiddos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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WHAT? OUR KIDDOS?!?!?!<br />Are you wondering what you have missed?<o:p></o:p></div>
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No, we have not brought home our little one from Ghana.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, we have had 2 children in our home for the last 4 months. (Hence the cyber absence…)<br />I TOTALLY should have blogged about our experience over the last 4 months. It probably would have been therapeutic (which I cannot lie I probably needed some therapy every now in then in those months). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Matt and I went from family of 2, into overnight an instant family of 4.<o:p></o:p></div>
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TOTAL SHOCK.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No lie.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In our new life thrust into parenthood, time has flown by. </div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last 4 months have been a whirlwind of:</span></em></div>
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morning hustle & bustle<o:p></o:p></div>
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sporting events<o:p></o:p></div>
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soccer in the yard<o:p></o:p></div>
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clothes shopping<o:p></o:p></div>
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grocery shopping (x50!!!!!!!!!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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homework<o:p></o:p></div>
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reading books<o:p></o:p></div>
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temper tantrums (both mine and the children)<o:p></o:p></div>
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lots of “firsts” and learning new things<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now why didn’t I blog in all my free time?<br />That’s right! I was trying to find time to bathe MYSELF and sleep every now and then. (I SALUTE SINGLE MOTHERS! THIS JOB IS HARD ENOUGH WITH 2 OF US!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was an obvious and LARGE learning curve. Yet, there were maternal/paternal instincts that take over that you never knew existed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are learning to:<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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cook kid friendly meals<o:p></o:p></div>
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stop dreaming of a clean house<o:p></o:p></div>
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give the right amount of love and discipline<o:p></o:p></div>
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navigate 2 opposite ends of the spectrum of discipline with a preschooler & a teenager<o:p></o:p></div>
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throw away the idea of the way you always thought things would be<o:p></o:p></div>
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make time for US together as a married couple<o:p></o:p></div>
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seek God’s grace daily (understatement of the year)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I so badly want to share the plethora of things the Lord has been showing me through this process. But those will probably be 30 different blogs. WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much to fit here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So where have we been?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the trenches, living life, trying to figure it all out.</div>
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<br /><em>Updates on the adoption coming soon...<o:p></o:p></em></div>
The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-8290444687527639192012-08-02T08:00:00.001-07:002012-08-02T08:00:35.270-07:00A New Journey<br />
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_11_1343917169387634" style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>By: Khylee</i></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_11_1343917169387634" style="font-size: 12pt;">Being a mother. No one can prepare you for it. You can read all the books required by your adoption agency, but when those little eyes are staring back at you in defiance and you hear “I don’t want to” all that knowledge flies out the window.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For those of you who don’t know, Adam and I have become <b>foster parents</b> to two precious kiddos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">To be honest we weren’t looking for this. When we started the adoption process the words came out of my mouth that we would NEVER do foster care. But, the Lord has changed both Adam and I’s heart so much over the last year that when we found out these babies needed a home, where they could be safe and loved on, without hesitation we said “yes.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don’t mean that in anyway to say “look at us and what we are doing.” Far from it. I don’t feel qualified. We didn’t feel “ready” to be parents. We.are.stressed.beyond.belief. But like Scott, a friend of Adam’s said, God equips the called. And we know we are called, and he is being faithful to give us what we need EACH day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the last two weeks I have learned that:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Shaving your legs is not a necessity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How do women with children always look so pulled together and cute. I am lucky if my outfit matches and that I haven’t already worn it that week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Don’t wear a v-neck shirt/dress (or any low neck-line) while toting around a 19 month old…you will be exposed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you wear a t-shirt and underwear in the morning while getting kids ready, the painter will see you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hallelujah if dinner gets on the table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sleep…oh sweet, sweet sleep. I need you in order to function.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Discipline looks completely different for an almost 3 year old and a 19 month old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Discipline=love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I need more patience. And I need to learn how to ask for help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There is nothing better than hearing at 6:45 in the morning “Ty-lee” “Oh Ty-lee”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kids who have experienced hurt or loss and are toddler age, won’t always know how to tell you what they are feeling so they will act it out, throw tantrums, refuse to eat dinner, push you away when you are trying to love on them. We are learning how to love them through it…and it isn’t always easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s ok to cry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Routine. Routine. Routine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cuddling and rocking our little man are gifts from God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Visit days are hard days. The kids just don’t completely understand what is going on and so they act it out in their behavior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Through this process I have also learned ways that people have helped that have blessed us so much (and that made me cry in gratitude). So if you know of a family that is fostering, or has just adopted, here are some sure fire ways that you can help out:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">TAKE THEM A MEAL.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I cannot express how much this can help a family whose dynamics have completely changed overnight. We have had a couple of families at our church do this and it is SOO nice knowing that you don’t have to worry about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">HELP THEM UNLOAD THE KIDS.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> At church on Sunday, a man I know well in our church saw me pull up and helped me unload the kids out of the car and take them to their class. I am crying as I type this for how much I appreciated this small gesture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">TOYS/FURNITURE/CLOTHING/ETC.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> If you have extra stuff laying around the house that isn’t being used, see if the family needs any of it. Many times the kiddos don’t come with much so there is a lot of items that the family needs to purchase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt;"><span>·<span> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BABYSIT FOR FREE. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">While you may not feel called to foster a child, this is a service you can provide that would help the mom and dad to have a night to reconnect and reenergize.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv58208967text"><i><sup>14 </sup></i></span><span class="yiv58208967text"><i><span>But I trust in You, </span></i></span><span class="yiv58208967small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="yiv58208967text"><i><span>;</span></i></span><i><span><br /><span class="yiv58208967text">I say, “You are my God.” </span><br /><span class="yiv58208967text"><sup>15 </sup>The course of my life is in Your power;</span></span></i></div>
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<i> -Psalm 31:14-15a</i></div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-19841471895042296222012-07-24T21:47:00.000-07:002012-07-24T21:48:11.010-07:00Sleep Deprived Spiritual High<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em>By: Courtney</em></div>
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I just got back from Falls Creek where I spent the last week as a sponsor for our church's junior high students.</div>
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The beginning of camp is always so exciting. What will the week hold?? Spirits are high. Everyone is so cheerful and excited. And you are willing to take part in the fun, silly, outrageous stuff like this....<br />
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Love these girls! They are rockin the "Neon Night" theme.</div>
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Yet, with camp, it never fails. By the end of these week you end up like this...</div>
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I cannot lie - at 9pm on Thursday evening (even after drinking a coke) I was bartering whatever I had on me for a cup of coffee!</div>
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I feel like that as the adult at camp we often ask the students what they learned but we don't ask that of ourselves. I honestly feel like the Lord speaks to the adults just as much as he does the actual campers. (at least I know he did with me!) But I think we can often miss it. We focus on the students (whether it be their involvement, discipline, or even their spiritual or physical well being) but don't take the time to hear God and see what He is trying to say to <i>US</i>.<br />
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How could you <i>not</i> hear from God while at Falls Creek? You wake up, have a quiet time, praise & worship, hear a biblical lesson, discuss with a small group, praise & worship again, hear an amazing speaker/preacher, praise & worship again, and discuss with a small group. Your day is (or at least should be) focused on GOD!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week the Lord showed me a few things.</span><br />
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1. He is POWERFUL.<br />
Like really, really, really beyond my comprehension, holds the universe in His hands, knows how many hairs are on my head, we will never even come close to understanding even an ounce of His power - -POWERFUL.<br />
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2. He wants everyday to be missional - not just while at camp.<br />
Why do we feel like we have to wait until we are at church, gone to camp, or on a missions trip to share Christ? If we truly love Christ it should spill out of lips everyday. Our lives should shout His glory.<br />
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3. When it is all said and done I will answer to God and NO ONE ELSE.<br />
It doesn't matter what others think, what others say, if others disagree with me, if I don't please every single person I come in contact with (I might have a tiny issue in this area).<br />
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<i>These girls were so great! It truly blessed my heart to see the Lord speaking to them and moving in the hearts and lives.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I'm so sad Emily Estes was sick and missed out on our group photo! :( Emily rocks!</span></i></div>
<br />The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-17844890065130084102012-07-09T06:48:00.001-07:002012-07-09T06:48:11.763-07:00One Step Closer<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">By: Khylee</span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVSa1v0-Krsd7P4fmF8jp1zL2Nth1_fMz2_7I-qKHISGJBbM0FfgynAZE9xpHsq1cM2UUQXTgM2po7ZDrgzGdIjY2kNd_AgFvCbK7qYQ7Tv-8rvfqJ7K7Uu5p_n194xAptoKl2ooUUaKV/s1600/IMG_8798-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVSa1v0-Krsd7P4fmF8jp1zL2Nth1_fMz2_7I-qKHISGJBbM0FfgynAZE9xpHsq1cM2UUQXTgM2po7ZDrgzGdIjY2kNd_AgFvCbK7qYQ7Tv-8rvfqJ7K7Uu5p_n194xAptoKl2ooUUaKV/s640/IMG_8798-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: Courtney Folsom Photography</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well we received some awesome, stupendous, triple fist pump kinda news here in Forgety household. Our dossier was translated and officially submitted to the INHFA committee for approval on June 8<sup>th</sup>, 2012! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Praise the Lord! Halleljuah!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Translation- all we are waiting on now is for this committee to approve our dossier and then we will be assigned our waitlist number! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It could be this month, it could be next month, it could be the September. But once we are on that blessed waitlist we will finally start the “official” wait for our children. (Yes, that’s right, we haven’t even started our 2-4 year estimated wait-time that our agency gave.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, please be praying this month that our documents won’t be expired, that the committee will meet, and that we get approved and assigned a number!</span></span>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-10836877328279898512012-06-26T08:40:00.002-07:002012-06-26T08:40:59.400-07:00New Perspective<i>By: Courtney</i><br />
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I truly believe that God's timing is perfect. How many of us can look back at events in our lives and see God's hand ALL over it? At the time it might have seemed so dark and lonely but looking back it was all part of His master plan.<br />
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That exact reason is why I am trusting 100% in God's timing with our adoption. I have faith that His timing is perfect. While the wait can be grueling, I know he is using it to teach me. I can already see the work He is doing in me in this short (<i>or not so short</i>) period of time.<br />
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He has given me a new perspective in so many areas. One area the Lord has truly opened my eyes and my heart to recently is foster care.<br />
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In the past I had such a misconception about foster care. (I believe many of us do!) What is the first thing you hear when you say "foster care"? "Oh, I could never do that. It would be too hard to give them back."<br />
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This comment now ignites a fire in me. I, too, have previously thought and said this statement. But man oh man, the Lord has changed my perspective.<br />
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<i>First</i>, it started with the facts. I heard a sermon about foster care in Oklahoma. The facts were staggering. The pastor's call to the church was heart wrenching. The Holy Spirit tugging at my heart was undeniable.<br />
(<a href="http://citychurchtulsa.com/" target="_blank">City Church Tulsa</a> - <a href="http://citychurchtulsa.com/media/page/3">http://citychurchtulsa.com/media/page/3</a> 111Project:Defending the Fatherless)<br />
<a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18930861">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18930861</a><br />
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Here are some facts -<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Research shows that young people in foster care are far more likely to endure homelessness, poverty, compromised health, unemployment and incarceration after they leave the foster care system.</span></div>
<ul style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 18px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">54 % earn a high school diploma</span></li>
<li style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2% earn a Bachelor’s degree or higher</span></li>
<li style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">84% become parents too soon, exposing their children to a repeated cycle of neglect and abuse</span></li>
<li style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">51% are unemployed</span></li>
<li style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30% have no health insurance</span></li>
<li style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25% experience homelessness</span></li>
<li style="background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30% receive public assistance</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(angelfoster.org)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>the above facts are national and not specific to Oklahoma</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Forty-five percent of Americans believe that kids are in foster care because they committed a crime. The reality is that children enter foster care as victims of neglect, abandonment, or abuse. It’s not their fault they don’t have a home. The average age of a foster child is nine, but they range from infants to teens.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(parentsociety.com)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>the above facts are national and not specific to Oklahoma</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Oklahoma DHS statistics, in January of 2011 there were over 8000 children in foster care in the state of Oklahoma; of those 8000 over </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">40%</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> were under the age of four. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(http://www.annashousefoundation.org/)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;">A little education goes a long way. I was blown away by the statistics!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;">I started thinking. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><i>Ok, maybe we could foster a little baby.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><i>Second</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;">, it continued with experience. I met foster children, foster parents, and former foster children. Once you you have a real life encounter and put a face to a specific injustice, you will never be the same. It is one thing to say "foster children" in a generic term that means some children far away somewhere. But it is different when you say "Sarah" or "Billy" and you know this person on a personal level.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">I saw real families, real people I know, loving foster children and pouring into their lives for a few short months or some even for years. I saw the love of Christ displayed through these families.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">I saw sweet, innocent little children living in a youth shelter because there were no foster homes.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">I started thinking. <i>Ok, maybe we could foster a young child</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Every time you allow the Lord into one small part of your heart he shows you more and more and continues to make you grow more and more. Every single time I start opening myself up to the possibility that the Lord could use me in some tiny way, the Lord blows the doors wide open and shows me so much more.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Because then I met a sweet teenage girl without a family to take care of her.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">The Lord was showing me - <b>THESE ARE MY CHILDREN</b>.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><b><i>ALL</i></b> of these children are mine and I love EACH and EVERY one of them!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Then I started thinking. <i>We could and WOULD be open to fostering or adopting any age child. Why don't I stop putting limitations on what I will do for the Lord and just say YES, LORD! Whatever it is! Whatever you are calling us to do - the answer is YES!</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">"Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them. For the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14</span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia;"><em><strong>"Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:5</strong></em></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><em>"<strong>The harvest is plenty, the workers are few." Matthew 9:37 </strong></em></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><b><i>He says it time and time again:</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Seek justice.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Love mercy.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Defend the fatherless.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Welcome a little child.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">We are all fearfully and wonderfully made.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">He knows the number of hairs on each child's head.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Love your neighbor as yourself.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: large;"><b><i>When will I start listening?</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;">Yes, we are still adopting. Yes, we are still adopting internationally. Yes, we are going to wait as long as it takes to bring our little Richmond home. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">But - YES I think the Lord has called us to love and protect children. I believe he has specifically called our family to be an advocate for children. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">There is such NEED. There is such need EVERYWHERE!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Garamond, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I strongly encourage you to consider foster care, adoption, or even just volunteering your time. Be a tutor, a mentor, a friend. Step out there for the "least of these".</span></strong></span></div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-21807196756596179652012-06-08T13:52:00.001-07:002012-06-08T13:52:10.633-07:00Update - The Folsoms<em>By Courtney:</em><br />
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Something I have discovered through this process is I'm an avoider. I avoid confrontation. I avoid the difficult stuff. I definitely avoid sharing my feelings if at all possible.<br />
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Perhaps that is why I have found blogging so difficult. Something we all (the Forgety family and Matt and I) decided from the very beginning was to be as open and honest as possible with our blog. So I put it off and I put it off.....<br />
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"Soooooo..... have you heard anything?"<br />
Matt and I probably get this question more than once every single day.<br />
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For the longest time we honestly just had nothing to update. We had no news to share because we had received no news.<br />
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But then there was news to give, I just didn't want to give it.<br />
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"Soooooo..... have you heard anything?"<br />
Who wants me to bombard them with the pain? The tears? The truth?<br />
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So instead I just lie and say, "No news". I lie because I feel like the majority of people are only asking to make small talk. They honestly don't really want to hear all the hairy details. And honestly it is just too emotionally exhausting to share every single detail with everyone.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So here is the update:</span></i><br />
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At one point we believed our adoption was over. It was probably one of the darkest weeks of my life. I had a day where I struggled to even get out of bed. I actually became physically ill. I felt awful. I could barely function for an entire week. I doubted God. I was mad at God. I was sad. I was beyond sad. I was grieving. I was mourning. This child is already considered part of our family and when we were told the adoption might never happen, it felt as though I had just experienced a death. I was mourning the potential loss of our child.<br />
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Yes, recently we received news from our agency that the adoption might never happen. At a later date we were updated and we did receive clarification that the adoption will more than likely still happen, they just have no idea when. The Ghanaian government interviewed Richmond's grandmother (his only known living relative) as part of the adoption finalization. During the intervew it was mentioned that there is also a living uncle. (which was not known before) Well, he is now important to this process since he is the oldest living male in the family. They need to interview him in order to move forward with the adoption. Sounds simple, right? There is one little problem... Uncle is working in ANOTHER COUNTRY! He will return and can be interviewed at that time. No one knows when that might be, though.<br />
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At this point it is just a waiting game. All we can do is wait and pray. Pray and pray and pray. (feel free to join us here!) I cannot do anything about our situation but God can. My God - the God of Ada, Oklahoma is also the God of Ghana. He is mighty and powerful and sovereign.<br />
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When we do update people and explain the situation people often wonder how we are so calm (as you read it hasn't always been that way!) All we can say is the Lord has given us a peace that surpasses all understanding. God is in control. His hand is over Richmond. He is guiding us. We have faith. We don't understand everything but we don't have to. All we have to do is trust HIM!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">John 16:33</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Joshua 1:9</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Romans 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.</span></div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-91395802021007744222012-06-04T19:46:00.001-07:002012-06-04T19:46:45.517-07:00Unexpected blessing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>By Khylee:</i></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">This past weekend we had a garage sale to raise money for our adoption. For an individual who likes her home tidy, clean with everything in its place, my home has literally been a thrift store dumping ground for over a month. All of this was INSIDE my house:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7 long tables, 5 round tables. All with stuff on top of them and underneath them. FULL OF STUFF that had previously been sitting, useless and disregarded in people's homes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Here was the "clothing corner." We had boxes and boxes of clothing and shoes. So much so that we couldn't display it all. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> And lest we forget, the front yard had a slew of stuff in it as well:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgNvLeBxn1g/T81nSqis3dI/AAAAAAAAANM/z-WfyZQjaH0/s1600/DSCN0899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgNvLeBxn1g/T81nSqis3dI/AAAAAAAAANM/z-WfyZQjaH0/s640/DSCN0899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had people at the house starting at 6:30 Friday morning and had constant flow the entire day. Matt, Courtney, Matt's Mom, Adam, and a slew of other volunteers were busy moving the product ALL.DAY.LONG.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We posted signs that said "Proceeds to benefit adopting family" and through that little statement we had the opportunity to hear the stories of people who had adopted, were adopted, had been in the foster care system, or had grandkids that were adopting. We had one set of neighbors that we barely know donate a pool table, another set of neighbor boys helped people carry things to people's car, another neighbor helped us all day Friday and Saturday with whatever we needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What started out as an event to raise money for the adoption, turned into an event that helped Adam and I connect with our neighbors. IT WAS AWESOME!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can a garage sale seriously become a spiritual experience, ordained by God? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have been praying that God would give us opportunities to get to know those that live around us, and this garage sale was the answer to that prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So thank you to each one of you that contributed your time, your stuff that was sitting useless in the corner, or came and shopped. Not only did you help us to raise money to bring our kiddos home, but you also became a part of something bigger, something eternal, to potentially change the course of lives of people living on 16th street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, now for the part that you all have been waiting for. The GRAND TOTAL that we raised this weekend was:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">$2004</span> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Only God could have taken our pile of leftovers and turned it into that! </span></span></span><br />
<br />The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-82873400893993355692012-05-17T16:52:00.000-07:002012-05-17T16:52:10.479-07:00Adoption "Maternity" Photo Session<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>By: Khylee</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For my birthday, my incredible hunk-of-a-man decided to have us get professional photos done with one of our best friends, Courtney Folsom. Courtney did AN AMAZING JOB of capturing this gestational period of waiting on our children (because we will have "carried" our children for a longer period of time than a mama elephant). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Enjoy!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Matt was Courtney's assistant and didn't even realize he got in this shoot (and neither did Courtney!) </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Courtney! We couldn't be more happier with how EVERY picture turned out! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And this is only a sneak peak friends...there is more to come :) </span></span>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-3840368752861699052012-05-04T18:39:00.001-07:002012-05-04T18:39:48.946-07:00the Dump<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i>By: Khylee Forgety</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Disclaimer: Sorry to disappoint, but my post has nothing to do with fecal matter or the ever-so-popular youth camp song.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Change. Making a difference. I can be a part of it, but more often than not I choose my own comfort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since the beginning of March I have been wrestling over this verse in Isaiah 42:20:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>"You see and understand what is right but <b>refuse </b>to act on it. You hear, but you don't really listen."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to The Dump. A place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras that people call home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I was in college I went and did ministry at a dump in Matamoras, Mexico. I watched as people dug through rotten food, used toliet paper, paper, plastic in order to try and find either something to eat or something to sell. And they did that every day. Old. Young. Adult. Child. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To survive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is in my children's country. The place they call home right now. And when I see pictures and video of children, women, and men digging through the filthy leftovers, I cannot help but think that could my kid, their birth parent, their grandparent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to quit refusing to act when I see something that breaks my heart and plagues my minds for days. I want to quit listening to my selfish, sinful nature that makes 101 excuses and start loving lavishly and sacrificially like my Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take 5 minutes, watch this video. </span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-25-34" id="en-NIV-24043" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><br /><a href="http://treymorgan.net/" target="_blank"> </a></span></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/38141181?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=decf85" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/38141181">The Dump at Tegucigalpa</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/dulockproductions">Dulock Productions</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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<span class="text Matt-25-34" id="en-NIV-24043"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://treymorgan.net/" target="_blank"></a></span></sup></span></span><span class="text Matt-25-34" id="en-NIV-24043" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">For more information on the Dump you can check out this man's website: </sup></span></span><span class="text Matt-25-34" id="en-NIV-24043" style="font-size: small;"><span class="woj"><a href="http://treymorgan.net/" target="_blank">http://treymorgan.net/. </a></span></span></div>
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-34" id="en-NIV-24043" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom<sup> </sup>prepared for you since the creation of the world.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-35" id="en-NIV-24044" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,</span></span><span class="text Matt-25-36" id="en-NIV-24045" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-37" id="en-NIV-24046" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-38" id="en-NIV-24047" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-39" id="en-NIV-24048" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="text Matt-25-40" id="en-NIV-24049" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>“The
King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’</span></span></i></div>
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<span class="text Matt-25-40" id="en-NIV-24049" style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><sup> -Matthew 25:34-40</sup></span></span></div>
<br />The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-16756370882620447202012-04-28T08:12:00.002-07:002012-04-28T08:12:30.182-07:00Thank You is not enough!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Words cannot express the appreciation we feel. THANK YOU is just not enough. The people of <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Velma</placename> <placename w:st="on">Baptist</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place> have truly shown us what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ and what it means to be brothers and sisters in Christ! I am literally getting teary-eyed as I type this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend of mine (Dana Rose -my life-long friend!) had asked me recently on one of our early morning chats (I find these calls, and her friendship, to be refreshing to my soul!) if we would be free for a dinner fundraiser. I was thinking just a simple, spaghetti dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, my little dreams.... wow.... were BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, at church Sunday morning they surprised us with “Change an Orphan’s World” change buckets that families had taken home months ago and filled with their change. It is amazing how far loose change can go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday evening Matt and I came into the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Fellowship</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place> where the dinner was going to be held. I could not believe my eyes! (or ears!) The decorations were all in the colors of the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ghana</place></country-region> flag. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a huge <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ghana</place></country-region> flag! (thank you to the Sanner family for this amazing flag! I actually want to hang it in our house!) There was even a children’s choir from <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Ghana</place></country-region> playing over the sound system. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could not hold back the tears!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the kitchen were the young (selfless) ladies working away! Some of the ladies I have known their entire life and some I did not even know. It made me so proud to see these young ladies being the women of the church! They cooked. They cleaned. They decorated. They served.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s more….</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a dessert auction set up. Several members of the church had made desserts for the dessert auction. (Even a college boy made a dessert! Thank you Cord Gothard! That just blows my mind! AND his dessert was amazing!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the people….</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was so great to get to talk with all the people there. They are all like family! Each and every person was genuinely concerned about our adoption, about our son. They all hugged us, loved on us, and encouraged us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Velma</placename> <placename w:st="on">Baptist</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place> is not the largest church out there. They don’t have thousands of members. (shoot, Velma doesn’t have thousands of people!) But they do have LOVING and GENEROUS people! They do have families that have a heart for orphans, families that are willing to give to help out others, families that choose to live out what the Bible says.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so blessed to have EVER been part of such a wonderful church and a loving community. I am so blessed to have life-long friends that love me and care about my needs. I am so blessed that others in my life are faithful to live out the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">TO ALL OF YOU THAT HELPED OUT IN ANY WAY –</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!</strong></em> MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU TENFOLD! YOU HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND! YOU <strong><em>ARE</em> </strong>CHANGING THE LIFE OF AN ORPHAN. YOUR SELFLESS GIVING IS HAVING AN <em>ETERNAL IMPACT</em>! YOUR ACTS OF LOVE MEAN MORE TO US THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-7472280844783655972012-04-23T18:13:00.001-07:002012-04-23T18:13:13.232-07:00In Honduras<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wRpNzcyPfuRuHO4xVThWBuKdZKLRNldhp-xBOggNL7ZtkGxxcSvKQWqSWwDlVExeTT2aIYfUnacjEux4Rj1NwMtakNaH5RM79tsKX6EgujgljhBCQn3aXKI70ZfFv2n5jjgdfqQNrv_a/s1600/honduras+picture.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wRpNzcyPfuRuHO4xVThWBuKdZKLRNldhp-xBOggNL7ZtkGxxcSvKQWqSWwDlVExeTT2aIYfUnacjEux4Rj1NwMtakNaH5RM79tsKX6EgujgljhBCQn3aXKI70ZfFv2n5jjgdfqQNrv_a/s400/honduras+picture.GIF" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>By: Khylee</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our dossier is in officially in HONDURAS!!!!!! Excited is an understatement for all the emotions Adam and I are feeling!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I received word from our agency this afternoon that our little stack of love has made it from the United States all the way to the Tegucigalpa, Honduras. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So lets recap:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">May 21, 2011: Came back from vacation and decided to adopt...who does that?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">June 2011: Sent off Application #1 to Dillon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">July 2011: Sent off Application #2 to Dillon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">August 2011: Approved for Home Study</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">October 2011: Finished both home study visits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">December 16, 2011: Approved by Dillon to begin Dossier</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">February 02, 2012: Approval for fingerprints at the USCIS office</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">February 24, 2012: Fingerprinting at the USCIS Office</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">March 28, 2012: Received 171-H, our last document for our dossier </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">April 12, 2012: Sent dossier to Buckner</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">April 23, 2012: Dossier officially in Honduras</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So from here our dossier is in the process of translation, approval from INHFA in Honduras, and then we will be on the waitlist for our kiddos. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We still have a while before our children come home, but today we are rejoicing that we are one step closer to them! (triple fist pump....) </span></span></span>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-84239928569049822872012-04-16T18:04:00.000-07:002012-04-16T18:04:41.237-07:00the Dossier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92zay1EuGiVSN35LE72LwlaqjNPD8grpeKAeLCg0XTZHc4FS0keCuk7OSdYVEr5dqFSxUntzZt9_PYsvfH_zUGZy30zI1DSBXY76KVukZYUEF040O38FtvZWvorV7GpQI8I_i0GEwR02p/s1600/dossier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92zay1EuGiVSN35LE72LwlaqjNPD8grpeKAeLCg0XTZHc4FS0keCuk7OSdYVEr5dqFSxUntzZt9_PYsvfH_zUGZy30zI1DSBXY76KVukZYUEF040O38FtvZWvorV7GpQI8I_i0GEwR02p/s640/dossier.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>By: Khylee</i></span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This 6 lb beauty left our house Thursday of last week, that's right, I birthed a 6 lb paper stack! Many of you may be wondering, what is that thing? Well it is the beloved Dossier, the final set of paperwork that will actually be submitted to Honduras, and it has been my life for the last 5 months. With this small stack of paperwork, we will FINALLY be on the list to begin waiting for our children. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we started this process in June of 2011, my goal was to have this thing submitted by January 2012. We came up a little short of that goal, but four months later, and few thousand dollars poorer we are done, finished, finito. Through this entire process I have learned a few things about my need to always be in control. Courtney sent me this quote the other day: </span></div><br />
<div style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 18px;"><span>"When our [plans] are interrupted, His are not. His plans are proceeding exactly as scheduled, moving us always (including those minutes or hours or years which seem most useless or wasted or unendurable) "toward the goal of true maturity" (Rom 12:2 JBP)."</span> - Elisabeth Elliot</span></span></div><div style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There have been countless days that have felt wasted and useless throughout the last 10 months. But God is the author of this adoption story, not Khylee and Adam. As much as I want it to go quicker, to be done, to know who our kids are, I also know that there is a purpose, a reason for every wait that we have encountered and every piece of paperwork that has had to be redone. We will be on the perfect spot on the wait list, so that we will get OUR kids, the ones that the Lord has chosen to become a part of our family.</span> </span></span></span></span></div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-45659325529246166242012-04-05T08:26:00.000-07:002012-04-05T08:26:48.252-07:00On Egg Shells<div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><i>By Courtney:</i></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><i>The silence is always so loud.</i> It’s like you can hear the egg shells crunching. It is that exact awkward moment when you realize the person you are conversing with does not agree with or has a problem with what you have just said. And that even more awkward moment following where you have no idea how to respond or what you want to say is <i>soooo </i>not lady like.</div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“Hey! I saw you on the cover of the HUB. So you are adopting? From <i>here</i>?”</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">crunch.</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“We are adopting from Ghana.”</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">crunch. crunch. crunch. CRUNCH.</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“Oh.”</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">CRUNCH! CRUNCH CRUNCH!!!</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Unfortunately, this is the exact conversation I had this morning.</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sometimes the result isn’t awkward silence. Sometimes it is really unkind or hurtful words.</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A while back a missionary spoke at our church. I wish I had the video to show here. His message spoke directly to my heart. I wanted to give a fist pump and shout “AMEN, BROTHER!” </span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This missionary said that when he returns to the United States he always gets the same question - “Why <i>there</i> when there is so much need <i>here</i>?” This struck home with me because we have gotten this question multiple times referring to our adoption.</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This missionary said if you look at life that way you could use it as an excuse to never do anything for God. Why help another country when our country needs help? Why help in another state when our state needs help? Why help in another community when our community needs help? Why help another family when my family has so much need? Why help another person when I have so much need?</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have no doubt this is NOT what God wants from us. Focused on self. Lame excuses. Apathy. Fulfilling selfish desires.</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I believe that all humans are made in God’s image. Therefore, they are all valuable and special creatures of the utmost worth. ALL of them. I believe that all men are equal in the eyes of God. Being born in a specific place does not make you more important than someone born on another continent, in another state, or to another family. </span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">God loves us. GOD LOVES US ALL.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">God calls us to love. GOD CALLS US TO LOVE <b>ALL</b>.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><em>"Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?"</em> Malachi 2:10</span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><em>"There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism."</em> Romans 2:9-11</span></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><em>"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." </em>Galatians 3:28</span></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><em>"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."</em> Genesis 1:27</span></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><em>"Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done."</em> Psalm 105:1</span></span></div><div style="font: 14px "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px 0px 18px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><em>"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."</em> Mark 16:15</span></span></div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-31036213107303872702012-03-21T16:41:00.000-07:002012-03-21T16:41:24.188-07:00Thanks, thanks, many thanks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>By: Khylee</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-myEGK_booi8tMVhYUKnxh2PtT4t3deLOjrCTGDbcywJvaIPCqMeXTfgTnazrHJXUVOUtQNc4tz-evatw7Jx2O03ddl-qpt3n8NJFDn6gG7RUbghT3jk87Q0UkqD9coQhN63yohuR7_lw/s1600/forgety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-myEGK_booi8tMVhYUKnxh2PtT4t3deLOjrCTGDbcywJvaIPCqMeXTfgTnazrHJXUVOUtQNc4tz-evatw7Jx2O03ddl-qpt3n8NJFDn6gG7RUbghT3jk87Q0UkqD9coQhN63yohuR7_lw/s400/forgety.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Courtney, Matt, Adam and I would like to thank EVERYONE of you who ordered a t-shirt, bought a bracelet, ordered a calendar, or have donated just because you felt led, and prayed with us and for us. Thank you honestly cannot begin to describe how much we appreciate your help in helping us bring our children home. We still have a few extra t-shirts in both designs if anyone you know has commented on what a rocking t-shirt you are wearing <i>(<a href="http://www.ourwelcomehomejourney.blogspot.com/p/store.html" target="_blank">click here</a> to see designs)</i>. </span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">And because I couldn't resist, here is Adam and I with the two precious girls from His Little Feet that stayed with us for 4 days in February.</span> <b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjQlOWbAaZSxjqZG2aO2SjZRv1mBIKYhQwCDp_lDHCu6QF5QBBIKGsiIswJMN2w164WijWYrLHhyphenhyphen6oSnOcuNa2aN3XZvWh3utWxFK5jSOT44mgpcW4fjALBN3ctmUlApH97cwplO-lUCc/s1600/IMG_1698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjQlOWbAaZSxjqZG2aO2SjZRv1mBIKYhQwCDp_lDHCu6QF5QBBIKGsiIswJMN2w164WijWYrLHhyphenhyphen6oSnOcuNa2aN3XZvWh3utWxFK5jSOT44mgpcW4fjALBN3ctmUlApH97cwplO-lUCc/s400/IMG_1698.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARE THEY BOTH NOT ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tsion & Gracia- We love you both and miss your smiles, your laughs, your singing, the large amount of fruit that you eat, recording with Uncle Adam, fixing Auntie Khylee's hair, saving Tsion from the dogs and playing Just Dance! Big, big, big hugs!!!!!!</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Give Auntie Brooke a big hug from us too!!! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><i> </i>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-69911105619644249932012-03-06T15:33:00.000-08:002012-03-06T15:33:41.616-08:00It's Independence Day!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><em>By:Courtney</em></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Today Ghana celebrates independence!</span></b></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In honor of this day, I wanted to share with you some facts about Ghana.<br />
</div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Ghana Independence Day: 6th March 1957</b></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Ghana was the first black African country to gain independence on the 6th March 1957. Dr Kwame Nkrumah was the first prime minister of Ghana and in his first speech said "<b>Ghana, your beloved country is free forever"</b></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ghana is a beautiful country blessed with gold, diamonds, and many other minerals but what really makes Ghana special is its diverse and culturally warm atmosphere which touches and embraces everyone. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ghana is located in West Africa and is bordered on the north by Burkina Faso, on the west by Côte d’Ivoire, on the east by Togo and on the south by the Gulf of Guinea. The capital of Ghana is Accra and is situated on the southern coast. Ghana was once a British colony and was formerly known as the Gold Coast.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">General Information on Ghana</span></span> </div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Capital:</b> Accra (also largest city)</span></span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Population:</b> 23 million (estimate 2008)</span></span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Area:</b> 238,535 km/92,098 square miles</span></span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Official Language:</b> English</span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700;">Languages of Ghana: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">More than 250 languages and dialects are spoken in Ghana. Nine languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: Akan, Dagaare/Wale, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, and Nzema.</span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700;">Currency: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;">Ghanaian Cedi</span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Drives on the: </b>right</span></span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Calling Code:</b> 233</span></span></span></div></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ghana is divided into 10 Regions:</b> Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta and Western</span></span></span></div></div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Motto: </b>Freedom and Justice</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Anthem: </b>God Bless Our Homeland Ghana</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Government: </b>Constitutional Presidential Republic</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>President: </b>John Atta Mills</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Vice President: </b>John Dramani Mahama</span></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Our son is currently in an orphanage in Kumasi. He speaks Twi. (I have an app on my phone and I'm trying to learn some essential phrases!)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot wait to see this beautiful land & more im</span><span style="font-size: large;">portantly my child's beautiful face!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-67355726999472121542012-02-28T07:40:00.000-08:002012-02-28T07:40:37.506-08:00I'm Human....<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">By: Khylee</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">To say that I have been frustrated during the last month would be an understatement. For the first time since we have started this process I have felt hopelessness …. We are no where closer to finishing our dossier than when I updated everyone last month. We have almost 90% of our documents in our folder waiting to be apostiled (another level of notary done by the State Attorney General), but several BIG things are still in the process.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me just paint a picture for you about how this month has went:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have read many a blog where women have divulged that they forgot an important piece of paperwork, or didn’t read something right in a set of agency instructions and had to redo an item…and my Type A self would say “I will never do that, I have got things under control.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh how very wrong I was.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, I discover that we were supposed to have our psychological evaluation completed during the home study process, BACK IN OCTOBER. I had no idea, none, zero. I’m floating around in Lala land think we are just trucking right along making great progress. “The psychological evaluation will only take one appointment and it will be a quick process,” I said to myself. Oh how very, very wrong I was. Our agency was good to let us go ahead and continue on (I hope that means that they don’t think we are crazy) and one month later we are just now finishing it up…..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second scenario went down something like this. Standing on the front porch I see a big white envelope hanging out of the mail and joyfully open it expecting to see a date for us to go to get our fingerprints completed and instead I am greeted with a sweet love note from the Federal Government stating our fingerprint application is not complete. We forgot a signature. That’s right. <i>A. SIGNATURE.</i> How many times did I check those documents before they were mailed, oh you know, a thousand, but whatever. I was sick to my stomach and mad at myself for wasting more precious time when our children could potentially be out there, waiting. There goes another 2 weeks on something so small, yet so significant. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, through it all, the Lord continues to remind and comfort me:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently. For it will surely take place. It will NOT be delayed."</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"...I will not forget you. See I have engraved you on the palms of my hand." Isaiah 49:15b-16a</i><i> </i> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">His timing is <b><i><u>always</u> </i></b>perfect, and I am learning to completely trust in this truth.</span> </div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-42798309217186878172012-02-23T21:02:00.000-08:002012-02-23T21:02:33.442-08:00Lord, take this hurt away. On second thought...<div style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><i>By Matt:</i></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I want to start out by saying that this is my first blog. EVER!</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">There is a lot I want to say but don’t want to make it too long.</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Lord rocked my world this weekend as well as many others in this community when he brought us “His Little Feet.” It is an orphan choir that travels around the country promoting orphan awareness. There are four things you can do to help and I want to do all of them! </span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Give. Sponsor. Go. Adopt.</span></b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hopefully soon we can be four for four. </span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We had the pleasure of hosting two of the most precious little boys I have ever met.</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Javier was 11 years old from Honduras. He was loving, kind, & funny. Yabsira was 11 years old from Ethiopia. He was a boy’s boy. He liked wrestling, laughing, and scaring Courtney. Their sponsor who stayed with us was Uncle Aaron (more on him later).</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 10px Arial; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 10px Arial; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfygyxdcJu8luvJyzI90VnKel2V6pGHCnSeoBoGCgvMosz-XgfcezlZ9SXYQiTT1Mnp1prVJMZ2E73UCyM8SvngNmHcWEKquenjVEz3D_BiiToBQ8w8h9JRGQWD9HliYUhBrvZVVVjY_Qr/s1600/IMG_9120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfygyxdcJu8luvJyzI90VnKel2V6pGHCnSeoBoGCgvMosz-XgfcezlZ9SXYQiTT1Mnp1prVJMZ2E73UCyM8SvngNmHcWEKquenjVEz3D_BiiToBQ8w8h9JRGQWD9HliYUhBrvZVVVjY_Qr/s320/IMG_9120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwbozO7WG0DsV0gFbIeGqkYir37pMI-c-MALafl4aKsekN9EfsKspcUT7PEU1gClVfSHfHotQTkdWPEWuYv14MBhOApYOhX_yYnvh_qK5oLl3jF9ANIDnIv9BGexCbVuMk-edtMOfNkP9/s1600/IMG_9166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwbozO7WG0DsV0gFbIeGqkYir37pMI-c-MALafl4aKsekN9EfsKspcUT7PEU1gClVfSHfHotQTkdWPEWuYv14MBhOApYOhX_yYnvh_qK5oLl3jF9ANIDnIv9BGexCbVuMk-edtMOfNkP9/s320/IMG_9166.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJj_nNDK8E-tioRt6fT_sTlu0jUOvhO68VoTR-Ufke0GNX1llFBPP5tNXRzx-fZxPhUSzG5FGnbUFwthh4LGg4_FLsfy8zOw-jdsSo7q5DSR5dNSxBuS1tRPpiFFyCRPtpZsmni85JAjM/s1600/IMG_9049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJj_nNDK8E-tioRt6fT_sTlu0jUOvhO68VoTR-Ufke0GNX1llFBPP5tNXRzx-fZxPhUSzG5FGnbUFwthh4LGg4_FLsfy8zOw-jdsSo7q5DSR5dNSxBuS1tRPpiFFyCRPtpZsmni85JAjM/s320/IMG_9049.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">This weekend was an emotional roller-coaster for all of us. When we first agreed to let them stay in our home, I thought we would cater to them and do “our good deed”. Boy was I wrong. These boys touched our hearts and souls and we will never be the same. The words I type from here on out do not do justice to how I feel about these three who stayed with us and the organization as a whole. </span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">All of the children in the choir were amazing. They all had their own unique personalities and were so polite. They just wanted someone to love them. Let me say that differently. They just <b>need</b> someone to love them. It is amazing how close you can grow to someone in five days. I felt like when they got on the bus to leave, I was losing a part of me. The fire that burns within me now is solely consumed with helping orphans, giving to the needy, and being the hands and feet of Christ. I don’t have any other cares in the world at the moment and I hope it never goes away. I do not want to “move on” in a couple of weeks and go back to the status quo. This pain I feel inside of me makes me know that I am called to do something about this cause and I pray that it does not stop. In fact, I have been praying for this pain to remain so that I know a fraction of what these children must feel. There are kids out there who have no voice and have to survive on their own when they shouldn’t have to. We cannot solve the problem by ourselves but we can each do ONE thing! Or several things like I, and many others in this city that were affected by His Little Feet this weekend, plan to do. I don’t know what yet, but I now have a life mission. <i>Something bigger than myself. </i></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 10px Arial; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">During the His Little Feet performance, the choir sings and there is also a video shown. It is below. <b><i>Please watch this video.</i></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 10px Arial; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 10px Arial; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UWHJ6-YhSYQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 10px Arial; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: 10px Arial; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">This hit very close to home. How can you watch that and not be moved??? That is my son that we are adopting! There were not very many dry eyes in the audience when they showed this. In fact, my eyes have not been dry ever since. I have cried while driving the past two days just thinking of the experience and how much love I felt for these two kids. These were only two kids out of 147 million in the world. They are no longer out of sight and out of mind. They are all I think about. These children were a representation of the millions of orphans in the world - and ALL of these orphans are God’s children!</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We had some great talks with Aaron, the sponsor who stayed with us, and he is amazing beyond words, as well. We became really close to him, also. He is 20 years old and feels called to be a part of this phenomenal ministry. I have never met someone who had a stronger will to follow and live for the Lord than him. He motivated me to constantly pray. About everything!! I pray that he will continue to do what he is called to do because he was amazing. </span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It was completely our pleasure to have them in our home this past weekend. Please take a look at their website <a href="http://www.hislittlefeet.org/Home.html" target="_blank">(His Little Feet)</a> and find out more about this ministry. I don’t really know how to close this and not sound like a crazy person. My life changed completely just from this weekend. I don’t quite know what I am supposed to do about it yet, but I do know I am going to do something. If not, I am ignoring them and I am ignoring God. I am ignoring the passion God has given me to help this cause. I will not stay in my comfortable bubble and expect the world to change. It starts with me. </span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><u><a href="http://www.hislittlefeet.org/Home.html" target="_blank">His Little Feet - Reaching Children One Step at a Time</a></u></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728781374383176266.post-1717776084615752352012-02-13T13:51:00.000-08:002012-02-13T13:51:42.401-08:00One Year Ago Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>By: Courtney</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">God DOES answer prayers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was one year ago today that he answered our prayers in a crystal clear way. We had been praying for months about adoption. We prayed and asked God to make it clear to us. AND HE DID!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I read --AGAIN-- the devotional that changed our lives. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwZX-vDB-WeIvYhejVRjJwShIAx7nGnm7Lwi2PUBmBKWNKgAbi5_uQJlvwinY6NQrrHZKPj48XUhL7nzbCJL4HHDlnVUXImLk-fufOrEIDRNslnzn-hvAMjriXPG92PWlM59PWGqN4Pvl/s1600/213devo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwZX-vDB-WeIvYhejVRjJwShIAx7nGnm7Lwi2PUBmBKWNKgAbi5_uQJlvwinY6NQrrHZKPj48XUhL7nzbCJL4HHDlnVUXImLk-fufOrEIDRNslnzn-hvAMjriXPG92PWlM59PWGqN4Pvl/s320/213devo.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> (Read our full story <a href="http://www.ourwelcomehomejourney.blogspot.com/2011/10/our-journey-continued-why-adopt.html" target="_blank">here</a>) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a difference a year makes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The Forgety and Folsom Familieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746106716205820977noreply@blogger.com0