Wonders

I WONDER

IF HE WONDERS

 

WHERE WE'VE BEEN ALL HIS LIFE????

I WONDER WHAT HE REMEMBERS OF HIS PAST LIFE.

I WONDER IF HE EVER WONDERS.

WE'VE BEEN HOME 2 MONTHS AND THE TRANSFORMATION IS JUST NEARLY UNBELIEVABLE. THIS LITTLE GUY HAS THE FUNNIEST PERSONALITY, THE SWEETEST KISSES, THE TIGHTEST HUGS AND THE MOST AMAZING LAUGH.



WHAT A BLESSING. WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING!

GOD OF WONDERS, BEYOND OUR GALAXY

YOU ARE HOLY, HOLY

THE UNIVERSE DECLARES YOU MAJESTY

YOU ARE HOLY, HOLY.

Gabe's Friends

When we announced in January of this year that we were adopting another child, I think we had lots of people shaking their heads. It was a shock to some of our own family members too! But for the most part, we did have support. We had old friends, new friends, and then friends we didn't even know we had, and still have never met, that helped us love our boy home. Some gave money, some gave hugs, some gave time and energy, some gave words of encouragement, some gave uplifting prayers....... and ALL GAVE HEART. How blessed we felt then and how blessed we still feel  for having these friends in our lives.

I'd like to re-introduce you to one of them.

Back in July I told you in this post about a little girl named Alyssa. Well, we finally got to meet her and her brother Lendon and actually it was quite by chance! Orrrrrr maybe not. You see, her grandma and I both thought it was actually one of those "God moments". See, we were going to eat in town that day and decided on the DQ but then changed to Madi's and then at the last minute changed our minds again and went ahead to the DQ. I wasn't paying attention to who was coming in and out but thank goodness Rick was. He was like " hey....isn't that the little girl who raised money for Gabe???" By now she had her back to us and I couldn't see her face. Rick kept saying "I know thats her!" (he had only seen that one picture and post I had done back in July so I wasn't really thinking he knew!) Anyway, she turned around and we were pretty sure. I went up to her and asked if her name was Ali. She looked at me like I was a total stranger (which I was!!)and quietly said, "yyyeeess." Bless her heart, I then told her who I was and that Gabe was right over there and wanted to meet her. Her little eyes lit up and a big smile came across her face. So.....Ali and her brother Lendon, who by the way helped her with her "Gabe project!", got to meet Gabe with his mouth full of chicken tenders and fries! Best of all, we got to meet this young girl and boy whose hearts lead them to take action, and become the hands and feet of Jesus. Ali and Lendon, thank you again for helping us love Gabe home. Hope to see you at the DQ sometime soon!!!

The next little friend I want you to meet is Kayton Shahan.

Kayton's mom and I grew up in the same town and then we ended up some years later in the same town again just 20 miles or so down the road! Anyway, while we were in the process of trying to bring Gabe home, this little guy told his mom he wanted to give his $20 to help Love Gabe Home. How bout that!! Well, we kept missing each other and then before we knew it we were off to Russia without giving Kayton the chance to give this special gift to us. But he held onto it and when we ran into him at the circus in town, guess what I got??!! Thank you Kayton for having love in your heart and helping us love Gabe home.

"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another."

John 1:16 

ROMANS 8:28

When we learned that Gabe had been transferred to an orphanage for the mentally impaired, just weeks before we were to get him, we were devastated. I couldn't believe this was happening. They knew we were coming for him. They knew how tramatic it would be for him. He would be taken from the only place he had ever known. Taken from the only caregivers he had ever known. Placed in a car, another something he didn't know, and taken 4 hrs. away and placed among 400 other kids, in an unfamiliar environment, with strangers to care for him the best they could.

I didn't understand. And I cried out to God......why??? why now??? why at all???

We worried for days, imagining what he must be going through, how scared he must be. But we clung to our faith, and we held on to Gods promises, and we kept believing God would provide everything Gabe needed and everything we needed to see this adoption through. And we knew that there had to be a reason that this transfer happened the way it did.

Maybe we were suppose to see something there. Maybe the Lord was preparing us for something down the road. We didn't know, but we trusted that one day we would. Now here is where it gets good!!!!!

I received an email on Friday from one of the coordinators from Reece's Rainbow that said this:
"Hi Kim -- 

I have 3 lovely little girls listed, who I've been told are in "Gabe Decker's" previous orphanage -- the one he had been transferred to.  The girls are Tiana, Jolene, and Claire on the region 26 page. 

Also, I want you to know -- without you going to adopt Gabe, Claire would've likely been lost in the system.

We were told she had a sister, and did not have DS.  They (the govt) had apparently mixed her up with a different little girl!  Now, she's relisted and will absolutely be able to be adopted -- and we have new pictures of her.

The agency has told us, it's all because of Gabe Decker :)
Kim, this is truly all because Gabe was transferred here.  The agency has told me this -- several times -- that it's all thanks to Gabe.

This boy is now listed:  http://reecesrainbow.org/dexter-26ha and Marina tells me she has other children to list -- I'm assuming from the same place.

Claire was lost in the system, and now she's found -- that's just amazing.  I'm so grateful we can give these children a voice now!"

Can you believe it????!!!!! I get goose bumps every time I think about it! 3 more kiddos now have a chance of finding a home. A home filled with love, a home with a mama and papa and family that will hold them when they are hurt and scared, feed them when they are hungry and teach them of a Fathers love that goes beyond anything even we will ever understand. And all because Gabe was transferred to this mental facility. Wow. Here are the 3 little treasures who are waiting for their forever family.

Jolene

Tiana


Claire


Thank you Lord for continuing to show me your promises. Thank you for saving this little boy of ours and for leading us to him, and Father, thank you for using him to shed light on this hidden place where only a few outsiders have gone. Lord, my prayer is that someone reading this will say "yes" to Your nudging and allow You to work through them to bring one of these little ones home to the family they deserve, and Lord in doing that, all glory and praise will go to You and You alone. Thank you Lord for blessing our family and bringing Gabe into our home. Amen.

"And we know that in all things God works together for good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28



p.s. i have no idea why the spacing looks like it does! It looks correct and then when I post, it goes all weird???!! drives me crazy! :)

BUSY!!

I have about 3 different posts started and for the life of me......i cannot get them finished!!! It has been a bit crazy around here I must admit. But Gabe is still doing great. He is absorbing his new life like a sponge:) Cole, on the other hand, has been having a hard time. This is nothing new for us and certainly won't be the last time we face these "trying times". If you know anything about FAS and Autism, then you can identify with what I'm talking about. Change is not our friend! And for the past 3 months, there have been alot of changes in Cole's life. Changes in daily routines, school beginning and changes there, me being gone for 3 weeks and changes during that time, and then getting home with Gabe and changes with a new brother in the house. Sooooo, he finally just had all he could take and has been letting us know he is not a happy camper. So therefore, I have been alittle pre-occupied with trying to keep everything better for him and to be quite honest.......I always want to keep this blog real and honest.......I'm just drained and can't get my thoughts together for the posts I have started but not finished. Soooooooo, I'm just gonna let you see some of the pictures I have been taking of our much blessed life here in Goree, Tx.  Hope you enjoy, and I will get those posts finished soon.  I promise!!

Gabe, Jake and Pee Wee sharing snacks.

Ummmmm, something about this doesn't look safe!!

(the tractor isn't running!)

Takin a water break.

We love to eat!

Rick and Cole workin on tractor.

My boys here at home.

STOP takin my picture!

Oh! and we have new glasses too.(one of the unfinished posts:) ) Say hi kitty!

The monarchs loved our forest.

Pee Wee loves to stroll around!

Monkey see....monkey do!!

I love YOU!

Hope you guys have a great week. We intend to:)