JOY!

Joy to the World! The Lord has come!

Yes, He has come...He has loved...He has redeemed....and He shall come again!

Merry Christmas....from the Johnston family!

Kenny and Julie

Evangeline Betsy (7)

Landis Miller (5)

Samuel Elias (2)

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

He came the first time....

and HOPE was born.

He is coming again....

AND JUSTICE WILL REIGN!!!!!

"And God will wipe every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

"Rejoice! Rejoice!Emmanuel,

Shall come to thee, O Israel!"

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

7 Months.....Waiting

Today marks the 7 month mark of being homestudy ready and officially waiting. And yes...that's in addition to the months prior when we started this adoption journey. We never, never, ever thought we we would be waiting this long. How to I find my heart today?
Quiet, calm.....and (for the moment:)...content with the wait.

Oh, don't get me wrong, we are ready for that call to come. We are longing to meet our peanut.
But this journey is the Lord's, written by Him...and we are willing to wait on our child.

When that day comes.....I know we will be filled with nothing but praise.

I cannot think about our baby without also praying for our birthmother. Seven months we have been waiting. Has she been pregnant these seven months? Is she even pregnant now? Has our child been in foster care all of these months? Has our birthmother lived at home with a family who loves her? Is she being treated with extra mercy and kindness this Christmas? Has she seen our profile yet? Does she want to choose our family for her baby, or are we her only choice? Does she know we don't "just want her baby", but long to meet her as well?

I have been asked the following question many times, and have asked it myself even more:

"If there is such a need, why are we waiting?"

Are there really children in the US who need homes, or are we simply adopting domestically to "get" a newborn.

Children are starving, dying, longing for a home all over the world.....and here we sit, profile ready...just. waiting.

I know the truth, though it is not always easy to "feel".

This journey is the Lord's. It is He who knows our child...who knit this child together. Yes, we pray and even long to adopt children internationally. Children who who are sick, have special needs, have never felt a mother's love.....who are HIV positive and life on earth could be cut short.

However...at this time, in this adoption.....our child is here. And we must wait on that child! We have "done" what we can in this adoption....and now we will wait.

Our baby isn't ready yet.

When the day comes that our baby is ready, that phone will ring. And the wait will be over.

And the celebration will begin.

********

We never thought we would pass through the summer without meeting our child. Much less the fall....and certainly not celebrate Christmas without our baby in our arms.

The journey is the Lords and we are blessed and thankful to be a part of it!

We cannot speed it up....try as we may.

This Christmas, I pray our birthmother may relish the moments her baby kicks within her. I pray she is shown love, grace and mercy.

And if our baby is in foster care, I pray this little one is doted on and celebrated......

and millions of pictures are taken:)

Seven months waiting.....means we are 7 months closer!

Future Men

Kenny came home late last night after a long day of work. He was greeted by a sick wife, a pitiful dinner and a broken dishwasher. Without so much as a grumble, he got down on the floor and started in. This would have been so much easier to accomplish without the "help" of two curious little boys.

Yet he patiently and gently let them climb all over him, whacking him with flashlights and screwdrivers as he talked through what he was doing.

Kenny knows he is not raising little boys, but future men.....

who may just one day have wives who clog up the dishwasher with popcorn kernels and sippy cup straws.

Please Pray for Tucker

Please pray for baby Tucker. He is a little guy in Ethiopia waiting to come home. His parents leave in just a month to meet him for the first time. He is very, very sick.......and I can only imagine the anguish Lauren and John are in aching to go and bring him home!A few weeks ago, I had the honor of doing a bit a sewing for baby Tucker. (Not sure if his Momma knows that yet:) It is always such a joy to sew for a little one....a precious child waiting in an orphanage...not knowing how hard his parents are working to bring them home! I always feel such a connection with these little peanuts after sewing for them and thinking of them with each stitch.Tucker....I am praying the Lord covers you with His healing power!(You can go here to read more about Tucker)

This Kid....

...is all boy...

I think he must dream in mud, bugs and sword fights.

It is such an honor...

a frightening, terrifying, blessed honor to raise tomorrow's men.

I am so thankful and humbled at the blessed gift of sons!

*************

"My son, keep your father's commandments and do not

forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them around your heart forever; fasten then around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you: when you sleep they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you."

Proverbs 6:20-22

Last Chance for Christmas Gifts!

It's not too late to order a Flitterbug for a special Christmas gift......but you need to go ahead and email me your order today or tomorrow so I can make it and mail it to you in time! (Gift certificates can be ordered anytime.)

Christmas day is just 2 weeks from tomorrow....can you believe it?!?

You can order dresses, wide ruffle pants, skirts and apron....pop on over to the HOME page to see the pattern selections!

You choose your favorite fabric HERE and I'll make your little one's Flitterbug! All of the dress styles can be worn with a turtleneck in the winter...so you have a year-round fit.

Add leggins as your peanut grows to squeak several seasons out of your dress....I love all things frugal:)

Have any questions? Pop on over HERE and see some FAQ's.

Email me at jubug231@aol.com if you would like to place an order.....and I'll have it to you in time to put under the tree.

Go ahead and place your order today.....I'll be taking a little break soon to spend time with my sweet hubby and kids over the holidays!

The Past Few Weeks......

Have been busy, busy, busy. A good, full busy...but busy!

And since blogger will not let me drag my pictures around today.....here is a peek at our "busy" in total, random order:)
I'm so thankful for our little family. I love my hubby and sweet kiddos more and more each day. What a privilege and joy to be a part of each of their lives! And yes...once again this year a fourth stocking does not hang along with the children's'....but "hope" does. Perhaps we will still yet hang a stocking this year?!?! Only the Lord knows!

I got to go with Evangeline and a sweet group of girlies from church to paint ornaments. I love getting to be with this little lady!
I have been sewing, sewing, sewing like crazy.
...For our kiddos....some special French handsewn and other southern heirloom style things for baby....Christmas gifts for everyone and yes,
lots of Flitterbugs! We are thankful for each order that comes in.

It has actually turned COLD in Georgia! I have to go bust the ice off of the chickens' water a couple times each day. (Sooo not typical for Georgia!)

Sweet baby girl. Evangeline is becoming more and more my helper with each passing day!

We went to see Kenny's family at Thanksgiving....and had such fun being with cousins.

How I love my little people! What a blessing and a joy!

We had one of the most amazing and humbling experiences several weeks ago. Kenny had met a man from Haiti named Vilmer Paul through his online seminary courses. Vilmer came to Mississippi to take some residency courses last month, and was able to come and meet our family one weekend. It was truly life changing for our family. I will have to tell you all about Vilmer and his ministry in another post!

Kenny has been hard at work lately....and I have to brag a bit:)

Kenny is a cabinet builder and carpenter....and yes, he is GOOD. The best:)

I snagged a picture of an entertainment center he did for a customer recently. The picture really doesn't do his work justice! If you live in GA and want some beautiful well made, handmade cabinets.....the Hubs is your guy!

Landis (5), Samuel (2) and Evangeline (7)
We love evenings at home just being together. One of our favorite new games....called "Pa's a crab!" Such a joy to hear the squeals of delight from the kids!

Me and my wonderful hubby....yes, posing with the compost bin my mother in law gave us:)

I was soooo excited! Who has a MIL cool enough to give her a compost bin?!?!

I love that lady.....she knows me well:)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am busy finishing up Flitterbug orders for Christmas gifts.

It's not too late to order something....just get the order to me soon so I can get it to you in time for Christmas!

You can also email me if you would like to give a gift certificate to someone....I will mail/email you one.

I have several new fabrics I am working on posting.....and sewing up a stash of dresses for a sale....and several pictures to post of little girls in Flitterbugs. Whew....can I get a few more hours for my day?!?!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has placed an order lately.......we so appreciate your support in our adoption! I can't wait until the day when I get to post those 4 coveted words....we got the call. Not yet, but longing for that day!

I'm Still Here and Sewing....

If you have sent in an order or email in the last few days.....and things have been quiet/silent on my end....I'm still here and sewing!

Our computer is having major struggles- I don't quite understand the virus things.....but they have pretty much shut us down:)

I have received orders...and am sewing and shipping out Christmas gift orders like crazy, I just am having trouble on the message/email end. Your orders are on their way!

(most boring post ever....don't you agree?:)