What does the appendix really do?

Well this is a week of testimony I tell ya!  I LOVE suprises but I'm not sure we were prepared for this one!

Last week we were over by Detroit for a craft show, met the most AMAZING people there.  We were able to share our story of God working through us and about our Abigail.  It was awesome.  We left feeling SO blessed and the blessing received on our website and email were truely inspiring.

About 2:30 last Saturday I had to leave the show and went to the car, I was buckled over in severe stomach pains.  I think it was the longest 3 hour car ride of my entire life home.  Every bump was agonizing. We instantly went to the ER upon returning and after a CT scan of my belly found fluid in my pelvis, the only option was to do "exploratory surgery."  That has GOT to be the worst feeling in the world.  I felt like OH MY GOSH, whats wrong with me?  Why can't they tell what's wrong?  What do they have to explore in there?  BUT I did get to go in an ambulance ride from Paw Paw to Kalamazoo when they transferred me for surgery to a larger hospital.  I've never been in an ambulance before so my son thinks I'm pretty cool now. :)

So here's the awesome thing.  The doctors went in, found fluid in my pelvis causing the pain, figured out why it was there, removed it, no big deal, nothing life threatening.  However, here's the good part, while in there they noticed my appendix wasn't "looking" right and took it out.  When the surgeon explained this to me post surgery he said even though the appendix didn't have to come out right then and there, it would have caused a lot of problems and may have needed had to come out within the next few months.

I was blown away.  Because over the course of the next few months I will be in Africa for 2 of those!  Can you imagine if my appendix had burst while in Uganda?  Do they take Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance there?  The answer to that is NO and the whole situation would have equaled NOT GOOD.  It was like God telling the me to let them go in and take a look.  He allowed a large amount of fluid in the pelvis, allowed a substantial amount of pain, although nothing that will cause me harm, and then eliminated any possibility of a ruptured appendix when I travel.  PRAISE GOD.  As badly as I have hurt this week I felt like this is an answered prayer.  Oh and let me say that I'm extremely grateful they were able to take out an organ I don't need!  By the way, What DOES the appendix really do?

The funny thing is that I have prayed and prayed and continued to pray that he not allow ANYTHING to get in the way of this adoption and I think he just eliminated another brewing obstacle :)  Only HE could have known my appendix was on the fritz because it showed NOTHING on the CT scan.  May we always be reminded that only he answers our prayers in his time and in his way and sometimes it's not in the way I expect and sometimes it's not in the easiest way either.  I am so blessed.

As far as me, I feel much better.  I ended up back in the hospital for 2 days but I'm on the mend now. Very sore as to be expected, they shifted quite a few things around in there so I still get tired easily.  I will be heading back to work on Monday and Jason will be manning the craft show in Plainwell alone tomorrow so I may still take time to recover.  We continue to PRESS ON in our fundraising efforts!  We're so close now!  I keep envisioning stepping off that airplane with Abby in my arms!

Update on our paperwork.  I am personally asking for prayers for our package that was mailed almost a month ago that still seems to be delayed in customs in Uganda.  I pray that it arrives and reaches our attorney as soon as possible as we are very anxious to get our court date for travel. 

As I have had SO much time on our hand this week I've had much time to reflect.  I am so GRATEFUL for a God that loves me unconditionally as I am so undeserving of this.  I am blessed to have a God that listens to my needs and knows when and how my prayers will be answered.  I am so blessed to meet people all over this state who have a heart for Jesus and live a Christ following life.  I am forever grateful to have a voice that continues to speak to people about our story and I can give God the glory for all of it.  I am grateful to live in a world where I do believe that good people prevail and the heart of the human spirit is open. 

I will continue to seek him in all that I do.  Thanks for all your prayers this week! 

Heather

But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.



Psalm 9:18

Speak up, speak loud and be heard.

Happy Thursday!  What an awesome week.  We had a craft show last weekend and had an outpouring of love for our story and our beads.  As much as I love selling beads we have so much fun being able to testify to people and share our Abigail's story.  Caledonia was a great success and we pray for another weekend of spreading the word at Chippewa Valley High School on Saturday.

Last week Jason and I had so much happen!  On Tuesday we had our fingerprints taken.  No matter what anyone says, the people there were so unbelievably helpful and friendly.  They were just a pleasant surprise.  That is the LAST step on this side.  Now we wait for immigration.  And wait.  And wait some more.  And pray a whole lot!  And wait.............

Nolan was home sick with H1N1 last week.  That was by far the scariest thing I've ever been through.  I have never dealt with fevers so high and a feeling of helplessness all in one.  I just was beside myself.  With lots of prayer he has returned to school and is thankfully recovered.  

As our travels are aproaching my anxiety gets a little higher!  I have never left my son for more than 3 days and so this is a little overwhelming to think it will be for a few weeks.  The unknown I think seems like the scariest!  SO I'm trying with each step to give it ALL to God.  After all, this was a burning bush put before us by him and this has all happened for the glory of him so I have to completely put my faith and fears in him right now.  Easier said than done sometimes.  I'm a little bit of a control freak so sometimes letting go is a bit of a struggle for me :)

With this adoption and all the fundraising it has been my greatest hope to raise awareness.  I want to spread the news to all people that HEY, adoption can be for EVERYONE.  You just have to have an open heart.  That's it!  Jason and I get asked all the time if we can't have kids.  I think that people have formed an impression in their heads that families only adopt as a last resort.  When I tell them things like, "we're just chosing to adopt first" or "we put our own biological family plan on hold in order to adopt" they look at us like we're nuts.  I can't imagine having a family without adopting at least one or two.  It's always been in my vision since I was a kid.

Think of how many orphans could be saved if families could each adoption one.  There would be zero.  Sure, like have a child of your own is expensive, but so is the brand new cars people buy.  And the huge houses!  And you can be like us Fundraise and have lots and lots of faith.  He WILL provide.  That's what we've been going on!  When we think we're not going to be able to afford the rest, he provides and avenue for us to continue.

This entire thing is powered by his strength and we could NEVER have done this on our own.  He is an all powerful and amazing God.  The more I have faith in him the more he blesses my family.  The more I trust in him and give him control of my life, the more he blesses me.

Someone asked me the other day if I really thought that by talking to all these people about this adoption if I'd actually be able to convince anyone else to adopt.  They said "What if you talk to ten thousand people and only one person really hears you?"

First of all, I never want to CONVINCE someone of anything.  But if my story is a burning bush for someone else then that is simply God working through me.  I am only a vessel, it is his glory. If you know me, I have a voice, and it's pretty loud.  I'm not afraid to speak out or speak up and if I have to tell my testimony to ten thousand people in order to inspire one person, then it's the start of change.  It changes not only the life of the orphan, it changes their children and their children's children.  Look at how many people just one person can start with?
It takes only a small amount of people to really make a difference.  If you have a burning bush in your life or a testimony of how God is showing himself through you then tell people about it!  Speak up!  And keep telling as many people as you can.  "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." MATTHEW 10:32

There are 6,796,450,643 if Jason and I can inspire one in ten thousand to adopt that would be 679,450 orphans.  Well we better get started, that's a lot of ground to cover!  Good thing we're a couple of talkers! The starting point?  Chippewa Valley High School.  I will continue to share our story, I will speak up, speak loud and I will be heard.

Please pray for our 2nd package of paperwork to arrive safely in Uganda.  It was shipped 3 weeks ago and we believe it is help up in customs.  We are hoping to get notification this week that it has arrived.

Have an awesome week and through all things look to him.

“We must become the change we want to see.”


Mahatma Gandhi

Happy Fall!!!