Waiting for a Court Date

Post #82
This is an update I posted on my private FB group about our adoptions.

It's been awhile since I posted but that is the adoption world- a bustle and then.... nothing. 
LOL! A little bit over a week ago we sent some missing documents from our Dossier to Uganda and I got word this morning that the attorney received them and he is planning on filing them tomorrow to apply for a court date. Keep us in your prayers. 

I have been filling out Adoption Grant Applications tonight and am a little weary. 

Perseverance. That is what you do for love and what you really want. If you want to be a big part of our adoptions then you can donate or pass along our profile on ADOPT TOGETHER. Here is the website.  http://adopttogether.org/carterunitednations

I long to go to Africa Soon

PLANE TICKET REFUNDS THAT NEVER GOT ISSUED

From my FB adoption group: 

Post #38 So as I was digging through documents trying to find birth certificates for ALL of my kids, I came up on two letters that I had received from Northwest/KLM after I had come back home from Uganda back in 2008 with no kids. They were approvals of 4 plane tickets to be refunded. In the Merger of NW and KLM, we had never received the refunds. I felt like I should write KLM and explain that even though it was years ago, I just wanted to know if they would still honor us getting those refunds back? It doesn't hurt to ask does it? So here's hoping that they will have compassion and possibly give us 4 plane tickets or the money back. I know its a long shot but it is a FEW $1000's . Wouldn't that be awesome? Wanna join us in prayer for a miracle? 

smile emotico ‪#‎KLM‬

Our Friends are Adopting AGAIN!!!!! What You Can do To Help!

An incredible family, Morgan and Chanel, has been found for our 2 sweet girls from Africa that we have been an interim/emotional healing home for these last few months!

 The Best Part is, is that the family is our good friends and they are incredible parents. We couldn't be more excited as we get to remain in their lives! Unfortunately, the cost for the adoption even in the States is $10,000. And most of it is needed next week. Duane and I love this family and their hearts. We know Heaven loves this family too! If you feel like you want to give to this adoption. Here is a link. I will get the money to them.  If my friends would donate $1-$5 each, it will be amazing! Every one that donates $1-$24, will be entered into a drawing to receive a pack of 10 note cards featuring various paintings of mine. There will be 2 drawings for this.  Everyone that donates $25 plus, will be entered into a drawing for a 16x20 giclee signed print of my painting, "INNER STRENGTH". 

Here is a a link to donate: SEND SOME LOVE TO MORGAN AND CHANEL

Here is a little blurb from Morgan and Chanel : 
"Chanel and I are about to go on an adventure that we knew would one day come but did not anticipate so soon. Ever since we heard about failed international adoptions and the massive problem it can become with adoptive parents literally finding strangers on craigs list and handing their adopted child to them with no questions asked we knew it was part of our future. Recently two sisters originally from Ghana have crossed our path and we have fallen in love with them. They need a family to give them the love, hope and future they deserve. We want to be that family!!! We have been approved to make them part of our family and it needs to happen pretty quickly. The process is going to cost about $10,000 with about $7000 of that in about the next week. That is scary but we serve a scary awesome God if any of you would like to sow into this adoption it would be amazing!!! I know we are crazy but hey crazy is the only way I know to live life!!"

BLACK FRIDAY SALE IS HERE!

I HOPE YOU WILL STOP BY AND PURCHASE A CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT FOR YOUR TREE AND  CHECK OUT SOME GREAT GIFT ITEMS! GO TO MELISSA'S CAFEPRESS STORE  TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE! 
 Everything marked BLACK FRIDAY SALE has been marked down 30%-40%  and then you can get additional deals using your Promo codes I have provided. 
Be sure and buy two Christmas ornaments and get your third free with the promo code!! 
Blessings, Melissa

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! BLACK FRIDAY SALE STARTS AT MIDNIGHT!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Melissa Carter Creations BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY SALE starts tonight!  Be a part of giving orphans in Nigeria food and school fees and giving two adoptive families a deserving vacation!

I found some CAFEPRESS PROMO CODES to use on top of the sale. 1& 2 expire the 25th of November. 3&4 expire December 31st.

1. BUY 3 ORNAMENTS, GET ONE FREE!  11AFF301F

2. BUY 2 TEES, GET ONE FREE!  11AFF2T1F

3. SPEND $100, GET $10 off     FAB

4. SPEND $75, GET $5 off         GREAT

You can check out the details here at another blog post

Thanks Bunches! Melissa

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL!!

Well, I have been in the kitchen baking and cooking all day!  I must say I enjoyed myself. I got several pies made, several sides put in the fridge and the turkey brining.  Tomorrow will be more fun getting ready for our big meal. Typically we usually have a bunch of people over but this year, time got away from me, I forgot to invite some people early enough.  But we are still planning on having a good meal.  

I am also writing about my BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY SPECIALS in my Cafepress Store.   We need 250 purchases to be able to give 2 adoptive families a vacation through our Melissa Carter Creations Vacation Giveaway!  Please share this on other blogs and with your facebook friends.  
Here is the link to the extra details Melissa Carter Creations Giveaway

We also need nominations - Let us know who the Adoptive family is either by emailing us at kdcarter@mac.com or by visiting Melissa Carter Creations Facebook page and commenting. ( You can like my page while you are there too! ) 

We really want to give away these vacations, so please help spread the word. 

Happy Thanksgiving!! Melissa

New Ornaments and Gifts featuring my Art

Well, that time of the year is just about on us and I am excited to announce that I have updated my
cafepress store with new paintings. There are new Christmas ornaments featuring my paintings. There are ipad covers, t-shirts, plaques, mugs, and many other great gifts that feature my paintings. You can also order your Christmas cards featuring my art work. I will be getting those up on the site today. You can get there from here. Melissa's Cafepress Store If you want to purchase any prints or original paintings, then head over to my website and you can purchase things from there.  Melissa Carter Creations
Check back often as I am adding new products daily!!  Be on the lookout as I have a surprise I am going to announce pertaining to  your purchases!

DEFENDER AMONG THEM ORNAMENT

I'm Thankful I'm Not an Orphan

Some thoughts have been on my heart and I thought I would share.

The title of this blog may offend some I know, but I meant for it to be an attention getter. Those of you that know my heart, know I am one of the orphan's biggest supporters. There are millions, in fact over 145 million of orphans that cannot make that statement. They are ORPHANS. They are FATHERLESS. This breaks my heart.

I am behind sometimes in the media arena, but I just now got around to watching "Slumdog Millionaire"
I was not expecting what came across the screen. I was not expecting the story of an orphan rising above his impossible circumstances by persevering and never giving up on love being found.
The storyline in "Slumdog Millionaire" though fiction, portrayed so well the trauma and the life that a majority of orphans have to go through. Most never rise above their terrible circumstances. They end up living in the dumpsters, being exploited as beggars and prostitutes, or doing anything they can do to survive and eventually living lives of crime if they ended up living that long.
Jamal in the movie, got a lucky break and knew every answer in that game show because every experience of his life had given him the answer.
Viewing this movie through my worldview, I saw that God took every trauma and every suffering that the enemy used to kill the heart and soul of this child and turned it into good. Yes, Jamal made choices of integrity and God honored him in that.
Orphans like Jamal though are rare. They are not strong enough to withstand the hardships and overcome the people who prey on them. They have no one to live for. They have no one pursuing after them, no hope of anyone coming to their rescue.
Where are they? Where are the ones who will pursue them? I constantly ask God this question. Where are the ones who will sacrifice of themselves to save the girls from the pimps and the human traffickers, and the boys from gangs who use them to kill, steal and harm? Who will scoop into the garbage dumps of India, Guatemala and Africa and protect them? Who will go into the brothels and bars of India, Europe and Thailand and rescue them? Who will go to the bush villages of Africa and give the homeless children a home? Where are they?

Even the rare ones who do make it and don't become criminal or prostitutes, are just existing. My older children have found some of their orphanage buddies on Facebook and you know what they told them in their limited English? " We don't like our lives." Yes, they are alive and working, but they have no family. They have no one to share the ups and downs of their lives with, they have no one to celebrate Holidays with. They live with that sense of rejection, always wondering if someone in the world could ever love them.

I must admit, I think we the church people have failed in this as a whole. We turn a blind eye, hoping we won't see or hear about it. the church's thinking seems to be that there are special people who can take care of those kids, God has to call you to do something like that.
Now, I agree that God calls certain ones to be his hands and feet to the least of these.
He calls those who are HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
He does not call a CERTAIN FEW to do this. He call those who have been adopted by Him to impart his love to the orphan, the widow and the poor. This would be the whole church. this would be every family in the church. This would be YOU.
You CAN do it by the power of the Love of God living in you.
In fact Isaiah 58 tells us about God's thoughts on the subject.
All those people you see supporting a child, adopting a child, fostering a child, helping widows, feeding the poor, living overseas rescuing child prostitutes, loving the gogo and brothel girls, living among the poor and healing the sick through their prayer and love, not just in a one time mission trip but who are sacrificing daily to give the Love of God to others, have one thing in common. They really are no different from you except in one thing. They have made a choice to hear God's heart. To say yes to His desires. To fast the way God spoke of in Isaiah 58.
They have chosen to "Break forth their light like the dawn and let their light rise in the darkness" (Isaiah 58:8, 10) They have chosen to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth."Your kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Isn't His Will, that none perish? Are we not supposed to be the carriers of this Heavenly Love? If so, we have failed miserably while the children suffer, losing hope. Oh Church! When will you wake up and care?
So while I can say, I'm thankful, I'm not an orphan. They cannot.

New Photos of my Kiddos!

Mama Beatrice, Carol and Isaiah

Allenni and Andrew

Allenni and Andrew
My little man is growing
Sweet Isaiah looks like he is happy to get his bag!

Carol, Isaiah's foster sister, and Isaiah. I sent her a bag too.

My sweet boy
Allenni and Andrew, wondered who Jason was and Jason told them we loved them. He said Allenni took right up with him but Andrew was pretty shy. I guess he is beginning to wonder if we will ever come. Isaiah is fostered by a different family than the other kids and Jason had to ride around and find Allenni and Andrew as they were between school and the home they stay in.

Carol and Isaiah clutching their gifts

Well, I am a little behind on blogging. I have lots of things to share but just have not felt like getting it done. I have lots of photos from when the African Children's choir was here and other activities but just haven't made it around to the blogging. But Before all of that, I have to share thephotos I got the other day of my kids. Jason our friend adopting from Sanyu went and searched them out in Kampala and took the care packages to them and got some photos. As I mentioned before he may also have found an open door to getting passports for them. We still haven't heard from him since he got back but hope to in a few days. In the meantime we received and email from john our Ugandan friend who is helping us and he says that the attorney says Isaiah's passport should be printed on April 14th. If that is the case, he says that I will need to travel so they can see the guardian. Why this hasn't been done before beats me. Can we say frustration? I may just go and park my self at immigration until I get 3 passports. Just sit and pray.

Shop at 3 stores and Help Kids in Africa

I love GAP Clothes (not only because my sister in law is a manager at one) but because their clothes are heavy duty and last quite a while and because they give back to help the poor in Africa. You can help this weekend too in their effort while receiving a discount.
Click here to get a coupon to shop at GAP, OLD NAVY, and BANANA REPUBLIC from March 12- 15, 2009. By shopping, not only do you get a discount but I have chosen the Charity GLOBAL FUND to receive a portion of your sales to help kids in Africa suffering from Poverty, Malaria, and AIDS. Thanks so much for your help and feel free to pass this on.
Melissa

I got photos today!

Andrew
Allenni
Allenni and Andrew


I got pictures today of my kids!!!! He said he would send Isaiah's later but here is Allenni and Andrew.
This is the report we got from Mr. Kabonge:

"Sorry for not getting to you soon.
Andrew and Allenni are doing fine, only that Allenni had been getting frequent attacks but they have subsidized (reduced in frequency),then also some minor health issues that we are taking care of.
The pictures that I have attached have been taken today whilst they were at school, they leave school everyday after 4:00 o'clock.
I have not attached Trevor because the camera I used to take his picture is away from me now but I will also be sending his picture.
Thank you.
God Bless.

David.

A New Painting: AFRICAN MANGOES

I just finished a new painting: Right now I am calling it " AFRICAN MANGOES." You can see a larger photo of it at http://melissacartercreations.com
ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Mangoes are a very common and staple fruit in Africa, so this painting is representative of Africa. I also wanted to bring about awareness of the orphan situation and awareness of HIV/AIDS, so I have done that by adding an element of texture to the leaves. There are approximately 48 million orphans in Africa alone. 12 million of those orphaned are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Every circle on the leaves represents an African orphan and every red circle further represents an orphan left alone by HIV/AIDS. There are approximately 2000 circles on this painting. That is less than 1/2 of the children that became orphans in Africa today. My hope is that every time an individual looks at this painting that they don't just see mangoes but that they see orphans affected by HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and poverty. My hope is that they will not only see the need but will be motivated to do something about it to change it for the better. To change the life of a child.

We heard something!

We got an email today from Africa saying that some details for Isaiah's passport were being finished up and that I would be notified when I could travel. Please continue to pray for the release of the kids(Allenni and Andrew) passports from Ugandan immigration.
Thanks so much.

No Word Today.

Well, No word came today from Africa. Please continue to pray. I know God is working on our behalf. We are ready to get them home!
I am on facebook now so ...if you want to be my friend..........
You can look me up with the name melissa carter. Just be sure to put the note, Blog reader so I will know you are my friend. smile. I really do need to do some blogging but just haven't had the time to.
I will admit that I have felt a little stressed these last few days. My kids don't seem to take me serious about school this year. though they are doing pretty good on some fronts, they don't seem to understand what an assignment due date means. ugh!
We had a family meeting which is our custom to do on Monday nights and AGAIN laid out the problems and the easy solutions. So maybe this time it will sink in. (I hope)
I'll get over it and we will move on.
I have been having a little fun finding old friends on facebook. People from College that I have wondered about for years and old childhood friends I grew up with in Africa have finally gotten in touch with them. It is great!
You have to make yourself get off.
I have also been painting and hope to have a new painting finished this week.
Pretty soon I will have some christmas ornaments available that will profit a couple of organizations. So keep your eyes out for the announcements. I have also been revamping my Melissa Carter Creations site so if you get a chance check it out.
I better get to bed because I have to get up very early to take the kids to their co-op classes.

Hoping to Hear from Africa this week

I haven't posted much on my blog lately except pictures. It has been quiet busy around here. But isn't everyday? After vacation it is a little hard to get back in sync but I think we did a pretty good job. I started this blog post a few days ago but never got around to finishing it. We have waited for a week to hear that we could make plans to travel to Uganda but as of yesterday did not hear anything.
Though I am not anxious, my heart is beginning to ache to have them home. They are missing. It is weird in a sense though. Even though they have not stepped foot in this house, it feels like we have people missing. There are three seats at the table that are empty. There are three beds that are empty. There are dresses, pants and shirts hanging in the closet unused. There are toys not being played with and Eli asks for somebody to play with EVERY day. There are three seats in a 15 passenger van that are empty.
Up until recently, it has not felt like this at all. We have not really missed what or who has not been here, but now our hearts long for them and know that pieces of us are missing. I daydream of the meeting of the reunion with them and I envision when we step foot into the airport and America, Family and Belonging become reality for Allenni, Andrew and Isaiah.
I have been holding onto the promise that "surely goodness and mercy will follow me" and declare it over my children. For where God's goodness is, miracles happen. And I believe, a miracle is about to happen for those kids and us.

GOOD NEWS!!!!

We got word today that Isaiah's passport will be finalized on September 22!!!!!!
I am going to get my baby!
As for Allenni and Andrew, we are not sure but are hoping that in the next 2 weeks some progress will be made towards bringing them home. PLEASE PRAY!

We are headed for vacation for 10 days so Loo for new pictures soon.
I'll have to tell you about the 15 passenger van God gave us last week when we weren't looking!
I'll keep you posted as we hear.

RED LETTERS - The Book - A Review

I am writing a review of a book that every Christian needs to read. The book, "RED LETTERS , Living a Life that Bleeds Jesus" is written by Tom Davis. Tom has written about a tough topic, the topic of living Jesus' words, of taking to heart the very words portrayed in our Bibles as words of Jesus and applying them to our hearts so we can apply Jesus to the lives of others. The church has not been living the words of Jesus. Jesus was a doer. We need to be doers of His word and we need not to condemn people. Too long we have ignored the issues of HIV and AIDS that are wiping out families and countries that are leaving millions of orphans and widows hopeless. We have forgotten them because they are not in our world. I recommend you do something, First read this book, then visit http://redletterscampaign.com then go do something to change a life and be Jesus to someone.
You can click on my Shelfari below and it will take you to where you can purchase the book.
You can also click on the logo below and it will take you to the Red Letters Campaign website.

First Day of Homeschool Co-op

Well, Today We had to get up EARLY!!!!! 6:45 am can me toooo soon!
None of us liked it! We Never get up that Early! But we actually broke a record and were ready on time and left on time with NOBODY being left! (Just ask Nathaniel what happens if you are not ready to leave When I am) Yes, you guessed it. We all wave bye to you as we drive down the road. So this morning was a bustling morning as we rushed to make our lunches and gather our school supplies and drive across to town to take classes with other homeschoolers.
There were Chemistry classes, Geography classes, Math classes, Drama classes, and many more. I actually got to sit around in the "Parent's Lounge" as It is not my month to teach. It was very nice.
Eli's social studies teacher told me that in the middle of class Eli raised his hand and said, "Well, I am ready to be finished with this class now." Thankfully, she thought it was funny. His favorite class was P.E. of course.
The other kids came home, looking like deer with headlights in their eyes. All of a sudden , my teaching doesn't seem so hard!

We have heard nothing from Uganda. So we still wait. I did get a toddler bed and twin bed for Allenni and Isaiah's room as I figured the bunk bed just wasn't going to work.
Of course, I had to recruit my dear, sweet husband to take apart the bunk beds, move them and put them back together and help me move some heavy furniture. It looks so cute! That little bed is just perfect for Isaiah!
The missionary that helped me before in Uganda, returned there today. So I am hoping that we will hear some news soon after they recuperate from jet lag and get settled back in.
Well, I better get going. I think I have a pinched nerve in my neck and the pain is stepping up a notch.

Update on Africa

Well, there is none. I have written my attorney 3 times and there has been no response.
We still wait.