Bet your Wal-Mart doesn't have one of these!!!

OK, so when we went to Ohio a couple of weeks ago we had to stop in Wal-Mart because I had forgotten to pack the children's toothpaste! No, they can't use mine. The whines, groans, and drama of it just being "too hot" is totally over the top. So, I was glad to run in, not once, but twice. (Who knew "Burstin' Bubble Gum" flavor is "hot" too???!!) Yeah, well, the cool thing is this Wal-Mart is smack in the middle of Amish country. Oxymoron? Probably. But, over beside the "Tire & Lube" center they have this cool parking lot for Amish buggys! The sign in the middle says, "Buggy Parking Only"! Statistically, their parking spaces were just as full as the ones for cars!

Can't wait to hold you!!!

Our agency director went to Seoul on business two weeks ago and graciously brought us back new pictures!!!!! We just received these tonight! Look at those yummy cheeks!!!!

Kate, we are getting so close!!!!

OK, we have incredible news... When we returned from OH we had a message that Kate has gotten her passport (this is hurdle 2 of 3 - see previous post). Very exciting.

Well, it get's better... I then emailed the Atlanta immigration office to let them know that she was "clear" on the Korean side. ATL emailed me back the next day (miracle in itself), and just told me, moments ago, that her orphan petition was approved TODAY! This is absolutely HUGE! THIS is what you have been praying for! THIS is essentially unheard of in the ATL office. I KNOW there is another family still waiting on ATL, and their paperwork has been there 6 weeks already. I've heard quotes of 8-10 weeks. Kate was approved in LESS THAN THREE!!! I'm ashamed at my unbelief....

All major hurdles are clear. Washington and Seoul have to communicate and we will be given a green light to travel.... Hopefully Tim's work schedule will cooperate with this accelerated time frame! Small potatoes, right!!! My palms are clammy...

Lighter moments from our OH trip...

In loving memory

PARKMAN — Mardean Lynn ‘‘Mardy’’ Regal, 56, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008, at University Hospital in Cleveland of natural causes.She was born June 22, 1951, in Chardon, a daughter of Marilyn I. Crislip and Philip P. Petersen.Mrs. Regal was the CEO of Reactive Material and was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Warren.She is survived by her husband, Thomas; her parents, Marylin and Samuel Mullett of Parkman; six sons, Timothy C. of Rocky Face, Ga., Jeffrey B. of Akron, Daniel L. of Parkman, Thomas J. of Akron, William L. of Parkman and Michael P.G. of Parkman; four daughters, Heather S. Sullivan of Southington, Melissa R. Regal of Parkman, Teresa M. Robinson of Columbia, S.C., and Amy Regal of Georgia; 10 grandchildren; two brothers, Jim Petersen of Chardon and Nels Petersen of Claridon; and a sister, Dee Lehmann of Crofton, Md.Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carl W. Hall Funeral Home. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at First Assembly of God Church. Burial will be at Overlook Cemetery.

Walking hand in hand with grief, again

Not even 2 months since my Daddy went to be with Jesus, Tim's mother has suddenly passed away at age 56. A couple weeks before Christmas she was nauseated and couldn't keep anything down. Thinking it was a stomach flu, she went to the doctor and they found a stomach tumor during an endoscopy. The biopsies of the tumor came back postivie for a rare and aggresive form of cancer. The doctors were thinking they could remove the tumor; however, last Thursday during surgery they saw that the cancer had spread beyond surgical repair. She has lived with a heart condition for over 30 years, and apparently the stress of the surgery and the illness was too much strain for her weakend heart. She passed away unexpectedly Sunday afternoon while still at the hospital recovering from surgery.

We would so appreciate your prayers as we travel to Ohio this week. For traveling mercies as we go, for Tim, and especially extra grace for Callie as she walks through the death of another grandparent (mercifully, Claire still doesn't fully grasp what's happened). Tim's parents have 10 children. Many are not walking with Jesus. You can also pray that this occasion will be a catalyst to their salvation.

The morning of Mardy's surgery I heard this popular song on the radio, and for the first time I really heard the words:



My heart is to praise Him, no matter what storms come.
He's worthy of it!

And her name shall be called...

Martin Luther is one of my all time heros. Not to be confused with the, "I have a dream...." Martin Luther King; no, go further back to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany where Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses ~ an act that sparked the Protestant Reformation.


Living in a time when the edicts of the Catholic church were law, when there was no Bible in the common language, when church services were all in Latin, when the common people paid for the privilege of viewing "relics", and were frightened into purchasing "indulgences" for the pardon of sins, Martin Luther "challenged the authority of the papacy by teaching that salvation comes through faith, that Scripture is the sole source of religious authority, and that baptized Christians are a part of a gerneral priesthood". These concepts are widely embraced in today's church, however, in the 1500's they were viewed as heresy, punishable by death ~ most commonly, burning at the stake.



Did you know Martin Luther had a wife???? Yeah, so this renegade monk married a runaway nun! After becoming dissatisfied in their "religion", 12 nuns contacted Martin Luther and asked for his assistance to flee their convent (an offense also punishable by death). Martin Luther had it arranged so that they were smuggled out in herring barrels. Martin later married one of those nuns! She "is often considered one of the most important participants of the Reformation because of her role in helping to define Protestant family life and setting the tone for clergy marriages". She was an incredible woman, standing by Martin Luther's side, risking her own life, in support of his Biblical convictions.


I believe the church today is on the verge of yet another reformation. I believe the Holy Spirit is about to turn Christendom on it's head! So many are already becoming dissatisfied in their "religion", and looking for something MORE. In 1983, Mike Bickle, head of the International House of Prayer, heard the Holy Spirit say that in one generation the definition of church would be changed!!! WOW! That will be the generation of my children. My heart's desire is for them not to be "satisfied" in their Christian walk, but to have an insatiable thirst for more of the heart of the Father through the Holy Spirit.

So, we have decided to name our daughter Kate. In the tradition of Katherina von Bora, the wife of Martin Luther, who left all that was comfortable to her (the abby), to persue more of Christ.

Kate, soon you will be leaving all that is familiar and comfortable to you; but, our prayer is that you will follow hard after God all the days of your life. And, just as Katherina, may you support every reformation birthed through the Holy Spirit!

Kate Ha Mee, we welcome you!!!

Please pray for our family

Just before Christmas Tim's mom was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive stomach cancer. She had been throwing up for a little while and thought it was a stomach flu. When she went to the Dr they found a stomach tumor during an endoscopy. The biopsies showed signet ring cell carcinoma. She has met with a couple of surgeons, and this Thursday (tomorrow) has a major surgery scheduled. They plan to remove her stomach, spleen, and some of her small intestines. We don't know what her prognosis is yet, but we should know more after the surgery. It's been quite an unexpected blow.

Praying James 5:16 That the "fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much".

Preparing a place for you....

Carpet was installed upstairs in our baby's room this past week! Now we just need to decorate!!!!! Got any ideas???

We have EP!!!

OOOhhhh my goodness!!!! Our case worker called this morning to tell us we have EP ~ Emigration Permisson from the Korean government! What does this mean? Just this, Korea has acknowledged that Ha Mee meets the criteria as an orphan and she has been granted permisson to leave the country. Holy Molie!

This is one of the three hurdles left before she can come home. One down, two to go!!! Now, she will proceed to getting her Korean passport (hurdle #2). In the meantime, the paperwork that we sent to Atlanta (previous post) must get processed ~ our gov't. giving her permission to immigrate here (this is hurdle #3 - the BIGGIE!). When all three of the hurdles are cleared, she will be ready to come home!

Do you know those pneumatic tube systems they have at the bank drive through? You know, the tubes you put your money in, and it whiskes it off to the teller inside? That's what I'm praying for ~ that our daughter's paperwork will get whisked off to the right person (not hanging out in unnecessary la-la land), and then on to the next appropriate stop. Can you pray that with me?

Full Circle

OK, so the Hebrew New Year started back in September. We Gentiles are a little behind (as always).

Something soooo cool ~ this is the Hebrew year 5768 ~ The Year of the Full Circle of Life. Two of the most important men in my life will come "full circle" this year. My Dad has already gone "full circle" ~ I'm sure He's blissfully soaking in the Father's presence in heaven; and Tim will come "full circle" when we travel to Korea to pick up our daughter, having been adopted from Korea himself.

Pretty cool to think about. Are there any "full circles" in your life this year???