The Vogel Family of 6?!

I'm thinking back to about 4 or so years ago when Jake (about 6yrs. old at the time) asked us for a brother. Since we knew that we could not physically have any more children, we told him that maybe we'd adopt one some day. He was very anxious and we told him that it would cost a lot of money and that it would have to be God's timing. Well Jake started saving his money in a glass jar so that he could adopt a brother. You can imagine our surprise when Debbi Butterbaugh came up to us in church one Sunday and offered her congratulations on our upcoming adoption. LOL Jake apparently told all of kids' church our news... that we were adopting a brother. Well folks, that was about four years ago.

We've never abandoned the idea of wanting to adopt some day. When pondering these things in my heart, I can see the seeds that God was planting there. Jake continued to save his money on and off for years, still holding us to our promise to adopt a brother one day. Well in recent months, more seeds have been sown. Unfortunately, Jake hasn't been able to save up quite enough money, but where God has a will, He will have a way. So we have given more serious consideration and prayer about adopting.

We've read through several packets of literature from different adoption agencies and have decided that we'll use the original one that God gave us. Isn't it great how God works that way? Why do we always question Him?? The agency is: www.allgodschildren.org We feel like God is leading us toward China, probably to a special needs child. One of China's requirements is that I be healthy though... so keep on praying!!

The kids are all very very excited. So am I! I feel so expectant, like when I was pregnant with my biological children. God has conceived this child in my heart! wow! John is more practical and is wondering and worrying about getting the money together to move forward. We haven't quite figured out where we're going to get the money yet; but have faith that God's seeds are beginning to sprout and we wait with expectant anticipation as to how He's going to put it all together and bring our precious child home.

Isn't it completely awesome, it fills me with awe, to know that God has a little Vogel, somewhere out there in the world, God has him in the palm of His hand, and that he is already part of our family, conceived in our hearts, and promised to be delivered?!?! Wow! It just blows me away. I know we can never fathom the depth of God's love for us: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those (US!) who love him" ~Isaiah 64:4, 1 Corinthians 2:9. A promise in both the Hebrew and Greek scriptures. Wow.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb (and heart). I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

~Psalms 139: 13-18

~Selah

Is Dr. House in the house??

Yes, we love that show House that comes on on Tuesday nights. There is just something endearing about the cocky, flippant, and rude doctor that always manages to save the day. And if any of you know anything about my recent health problems, you know that I wish Dr. House were my doc right about now. I could handle the arrogance and rudeness if it meant finding an answer to my blood pressure dilemma.

I go to the doctor (endocrinologist) tomorrow for some more poking and prodding. I hope he can find an answer. I'm praying that he does. I like this guy a lot though. He asked me if I liked House, and wasn't shy about his disgust for the show or the implications that doctors have to be rude and obnoxious to be good. He said that when he went to med. school, people did not need to take a class to learn how to be nice and to care about people. That's why people went to med. school in the first place. Now people want to go so they can be cocky, flippant, rude, and rich.... just another hint that society as we know it is headed down the toilet.

So I'd love you to pray that Dr. T. comes up with an answer. I know God puts people in our paths for reasons much bigger than we could ever fathom. But I'm hoping this blood pressure thing is nothing and that I can receive a clean bill of health....... because there's something/someone very exciting in our future!! Stay tuned!!

P.S.--I've had another crazy thought today..... You see, I've been sick with a virus and sore throat all week so I've traded my morning coffee for hot tea instead. (You know I'm sick if I trade in my morning cup o' joe!) But you know what?? My blood pressure has felt much lower and I haven't had as many or any heart palpitations today. Could it be that all this stuff is just a reaction to coffee??? Is that only wishful thinking?

You know, when I was in my early twenties, I all of a sudden became extremely allergic to melon....any kind of melon.... watermelon, honeydew, cantelope.... I ate these fruits all my life, and then one day...BAM! Hives all over!!! I have not been able to eat any type of melon since. In fact, I can't even come into contact with any kind of melon without breaking into hives. I can't even have it in my refrigerator. And now when I eat carrotts, my tongue itches. I thought my sister was lying about her tongue itching from carrotts for years. Sorry sister!!

Anway... is it possible that I've had an onset of being allergic to coffee??? I'm now remembering that episode of house where the nun almost dies from (what they figured out by the end of the show) an allergic response to an herbal tea. It manifested itself in all these other symptoms. Huh. Is Dr. House in the house?? I bet he could figure it out.

Love to all,
~K

SPRING FUN AT CAROWINDS

Who Are These people???? You can only imagine the look

on the lady's face at the Chick-fil-A drive-up window!! Priceless!

Faces only a mother could love!! And I DO love them!!

The value of friendship

This past weekend, Easter weekend, we went back to Spartanburg to spend the holiday with family and friends. It was a short stay, roughly 24 hours, but I learned a lot.

I learned that I underappreciate the value of family & friends.

Kirsten's family is a lot of fun, and I always have a good time while we are there. In order to procect my life I will not share some of the reasons they make me laugh (let's just say that we always end up talking about carrots and granny panties)

Whenever I visit with my in-laws, I realize how much I miss my family. With Kyle in California, Peter in NYC, Parents & Maya in Vermont, and Parents & Randy in New Jersey I don't get a lot of time with my siblings (not to mention the nephews).

I don't understand it, but I am feeling very sad lately. I thought that writing about it might help:

I am 37 years old-and I feel old (don't start with me, I realize that is relatively young). I can feel the time going by, and my relationships fading.

I miss:

Fred- the sound you make with your lip, the way you say "pickles", and our long conversations over a cup of Krispy Kreme coffee.
Marty- Your hearty laugh, Acquire, playing xbox until 2 in the morning, watching Tina's reactions to your comments.
Chris- Who else has a friend that can teach you to replace an entire engine? The way you make yourself laugh makes me smile.
Lance- our 2 hour meetings about what we were going to do to take over the church!
Mike- the perfect combination of country sarcasm and hearty compassion
Jim- Breakfast will never be the same. You taught me how to stop taking life so seriously

And these are just a few.

I have made some new friends in this new town, but watching the good friends from the past fade away is unbearable.

Please don't give me pity, or even words of encouragement. I know how much I am loved, really I do.

I just wanted to say out loud that I really miss all of my friends; and I hope that you will hold on and appreciate your friends.

-John