I am SO thankful for my family. Mike and I are SO blessed that we have very close-knit families. The support and love that we feel daily exceeds anything that this world has to offer. We weren't able to be with Mike's family this year because of sickness and Thanksgiving just wasn't the same!

We went to my mom's for our traditional dinner. As I sat at the table and looked at each one of the faces around the table, I couldn't help to send up a little prayer of thankfulness. My sister-in-law (LaneAnn) that passed away this year was an EXCELLENT cook. She always WOWED us with her yummy toll house pie. My brother decided that he was going to try and bake it this year (since she is no longer here to do it) and it was DELICIOUS!! We oooohed and aaaahed while we ate it. (While all three sisters just oozed about how proud we were of him!) It took us back to last year and how ill she was at our family dinner. Tears were shed as we spoke of how happy we are that she is healed and in heaven with our Savior. Their children seem to be doing well. They have definitely had their "healing moments" but overall, I feel that the Lord is giving them the strength the need for mourning.

We went to my brothers house to visit a few weeks ago. He had pumpkins picked, hayride ready, bonifre, and poles prepared for fishing! My family had an ABSOLUTE blast!

join us in celebrating with Project Hopeful! We will be forever grateful to Project Hopeful for encouraging us through the dark times in our adoption process with Josie Love. They are so passionate about encouraging the adoptions of HIV+ children. What a sweet, sweet blessing they are to me! Go purchase the newest edition of People magazine, read about their family and see if you can find the 147 Million Orphans item in one of their photos!!

During this season of thankfulness...I am thankful that God is a God of miracles. He makes himself known to me each and every day.

I've been reading in Genesis. In the past I have always read the bible and thought "well, that was in bible times." I mean, the stories seem ABSOLUTELY crazy to me. For instance, God spoke to Abraham when he was over 100 years old and told him that he was going to have a son. WHO DOES THAT!?!?!? As I continued to read it says that Sarah heard it from the tent door and started laughing and thought "YEA RIGHT! this old body? there is NO WAY that THIS OLD BODY can have a baby!" and God called her out.....questioned her about why she would laugh at was He said was going to happen...did she not believe that HE was capable of that? She lied and said that she didn't laugh because she was scared. and He called her out AGAIN.."yes you did! you laughed!"

That is me. I am a modern day Sarah. It's not that I do not believe that HE is capable of making things happen. But for him to use ME is comical. I continued to read Genesis chapters 17-22 and in chapter 19, God was going to spare Lot's life from the burning of Sodom and Gomorah. He told Lot to take his wife and daughters and run for the mountains so that their lives would be spared. Lot fled with his family. His wife wasn't so SURE she believed so she turned back towards the town and was turned into salt....dead. WHY DID SHE QUESTION? Why did she turn back and just WONDER if what God has promised was TRUTH?

That is me. What if every time I questioned what I THINK that God might be saying...death was the alternative? There would probably be more people living "radically" around here huh? You either believe this "crazy' life that you are called to live or you die....hhhhmmmm.

I was able to see my sweet friend Sarah (and her sister Katie) this weekend at our adoption conference. Sarah was with Mike and I when we were in Uganda and found out that Josie was positive. Seeing her took me back to the day that Josie lay limp in Mike's arms, with a HIGH fever. Not a word was spoken in the car on the road back to Jinja. Only tears and sniffles. My head lay on Mike's shoulder as we both wept on behalf of this sweet little angel that so innocently had contracted a virus that could take her life at any moment. To leave Josie Love in Uganda meant death. (maybe not for the next few years, but as children "age out" of the orphanage they basically are on their own.) They only have certain ARV's (meds for HIV) in Africa and not all that most HIV/AIDS people need to survive. what if I had turned back like Lot's wife in this situation? what if?

We have ONE chance at this life. ONE.

ONE.

Are you going to stay in your comfortable little place and make sure that you and every one else around you is happy and comfortable? We have the rest of our lives to be comfortable...in heaven...FOR ETERNITY. I wanna go outta her all wrinkled, tired, and ragged...LOOKIN like I have lived life to the fullest. At this ONE chance...a very SHORT chance (called life on earth)....DO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT to bring God and God alone glory.

Suzanne (my friend and partner in crimestopping) has asked me to blog while I am living a life completely foreign to me. I have the privilege of staying in the Mayernick home with Mike and Suzanne's 7 kids plus my 2 for the next 4 days! Me and my girls, Kenzie (14) and Tyler (13) got here last night and the fun hasn't stopped. This life is a HOOT!

One thing I've learned in my first 24 hours is that there is an abundance of wildlife at the Mayernick home (and I don't mean just the children). This morning we were having so much fun that a bird decided to join us INSIDE the house! Oh my, 9 kids (and me) running and screaming around the house chasing the bird (or running from it like I was) started our day off in the best way EVER! We have belly laughed about that one all day. Thankfully my prince charming, Mike (yes my husband is a Mike too... hmmm must be something about that name) had just arrived and he was able to catch the little birdie and set it free! I honestly think the bird would've just had to stay with us for the week if I had to get it out. Luckily Michael caught a pic from his phone of the temporary house guest...

And if that wasn't enough of nature for me in a day, tonight after dinner Michael Mayernick nearly stepped on a opossum that apparently hangs out here nightly!?! That ought to be exciting... Lord Please let that opossum stay OUTSIDE!!!

Seriously, I have laughed and smiled today more than anyone should! And those of you that know me know that I laugh A LOT!!! This is a busy life and I'm only 24 hours in, but it is a rewarding life. The Mayernick 7 are a FABULOUS group! The hugs make up for the spills and the smiles totally wipe away any mistakes I make (2 outfits in the laundry solely because doing diapers is NOT like riding a bike, it does not "just come back to you" after 12 years).

I am a tired momma tonight! For the past 24 hours I have lived a life I've often wondered about and have 3 days to go. I pray I can get us all to school on time tomorrow because If I get 6 kids tardy demerits it will be traumatic I'm sure! I will let you know how tomorrow goes... all prayers are welcomed! I will leave you with two more pics of the oldest girls in the house this week Grace and Kenzie...

Grace comes downstairs as I'm drowning in koolaid, jello, chicken casserole (thanks suzanne it was terrific) and I look up to see this...

Grace starts swim team practice for the first time tomorrow and said "Its gonna be a loooonnnggg season" hahahhahahaha I love this girl! So grateful she and Kenzie are such sweet friends.

Here is Kenzie who is used to being the princess of the house after today...

Peace and Blessings from the Mayernick Home!

Tosha Haynes

Some of our closest friends, Tara and Drew Maddux are in the process of adopting from Uganda. They are bringing home two sweet little boys from Josie Love's orphanage....Patrick and Nicholas. Drew is the basketball coach at our school and Tara is one of my dearest and closest friends. They have three little girls that are best friends with three of my children. I cannot wait to see the impact that their adoptions are going to make in our community. Drew reaches SO many families through athletics and his love for the younger generation. He has an unbelievable platform to share Christ's love for the orphan and how his life has been changed through adoption...just the thought of what their future holds makes me smile! Tara is one of the few "safe places" for my heart. Her friendship I hold so close to my heart, and I would do ANYTHING for her. She is truly a gift from above to me. SOOOO, all of that said.....Six Seeds has featured our family on their site for the month of November. Everyone that goes to this link http://sixseeds.tv/s/content/adoption/600-adoption_the_mayernick_family and leaves a comment, they will donate $2 dollars per comment to the Maddux's adoption! now, I know that MANY of you read my blog and never comment...but this time, I NEED you to comment!!! look at these little faces that will be coming home to their forever family in just a FEW weeks! thank you! thank you! thank you!