Phillipians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." NIV

This truly is my favorite scripture. God revealed it to me right after my father passed away. It has helped me through some of the toughest times in my life, times when I wasn't even sure if I was going to get through another day. I like the way The Message Bible phrases it:

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

So often I turn to God during the toughest times in my life, yet so often forget to look towards Him to help me get through the everyday struggles, the strife and discontentment I bring on myself. It's easy to turn to God when you have hit rock bottom, where else can you turn? But ,what about those times when things just aren't turning out the way you think they should, or when you have done something so stupid you know you deserve to be right where you are at, times when your problems seem so minor compared to cancer, world peace, malnutrition etc. Is it as easy to turn to God then?? It should be but I know for me it's not. Instead, I worry, I fret, I allow the worry to become the center of my life. If God can handle our biggest problems, can't He also handle the little ones, the ones we have made for ourselves??

So, today instead of worrying where the parts are to the crib, instead of worrying where the money is coming from to go to Haiti to get Isaiah, instead of worrying about the lack of clothes we have for him, instead of worrying about how his presence is going to effect the other kids, instead of worrying about all the little things that have been eating away at me for the past week, I'm going to allow God to shape my worries into prayers, letting Him know my concerns and then take a deep breath and relax.

God is in control, not me. Holding my breath, getting tense, freaking out does not help God be in control, not one little bit. It probably just makes Him shake His head and think, she has so much to learn!!

So, if you see me today or talk to me...can you remind me to do just that, take a deep breath and relax. And I'll try to do the same for you!

Praying for our family and friends in Southern California

The current fires raging in SoCal could threaten many of our family and friends. Here is what we know as of today.

Jody talked to Andrew last night, he is fine and currently is not in the fires path.

My grandfather was in LA yesterday and was on his way home to Escondido. As of yesterday he was not in the mandatory evacuations but the fire was getting closer to his neighborhood. My foster brother Rod and his family live a few miles from grandpa so if he needs assistance getting out Rod is there to help.

We have friends in Ramona (entire city of 30,000 evacuated on Sunday) that we have not been able to contact, Rod and Lisa we are praying for you!

Jody lived in Poway for 30+ years before we moved to Northern California, he has numerous friends still there and we are praying for their safety. He also worked and played alongside most of the fire fighters in that area and again we are praying for their safety!

We also know a few family's affected by the Stevenson's Ranch fire, our prayers are with you as well!

As I get more information I will keep you posted.

Update from my recent trip to Haiti

I've taken a break from introducing all the kids to share with you what is currently happening with Isaiah.

We found out right before I went to Haiti that Isaiah was going to need surgery. He has an un-descended testicle. Normally, the necessary surgery to correct the problem would be put off until he was over 1 year old. Because of our move to Haiti soon after Isaiah turns one the urologist feels it is in his best interest to have the surgery now. I put together the necessary paperwork to obtain a medical visa for him with the hope of bringing him home with me last week. However, because of holiday's in Haiti and a delay getting Isaiah's birth certificate from our file at IBESR we were unable to get the visa.

The staff at Angel House is currently working on getting the birth certificate and his passport so I can fly back to Haiti and apply for a medical visa. We are praying that the Embassy will issue the visa based on the fact that we will be living in Haiti for at least one year and would need to leave Haiti in order for him to have surgery. We also need the visa to be issued as soon as possible because with Jody's current insurance Isaiah will be covered as soon as he arrives in the US. With the insurance that is offered while we are in Haiti, Isaiah must first be legally adopted in the US in order to be covered which would delay his surgery even longer.

Although this condition is not live threatening we know it is for Isaiah's best long term prognosis not to wait for this surgery to happen. Waiting could cause an increase in him developing cancer and an inability to produce sperm.

Please, join us in praying that we can bring our baby boy home as soon as possible. We now believe that God postponed our move to Haiti because of Zi. If we were already living in Haiti it would be nearly impossible for us to afford to get him this surgery until later!

One other thing... because we were not expecting Isaiah to come to the US until after we had lived in Haiti for quite awhile we are not prepared for him here. The weather has changed and we have no cool weather clothes for him. We also do not have a car seat. We have registered at http://www.walmart.com/ and http://www.target.com/ if you would like to help us with our needs. We also LOVE hand-me-downs!! He is a size 12 months ands wears a size 4 shoe!

Thanks everyone!!!!

Carsen

Carsen Michelle Gray was born July 22, 1988. She is my first born, I was only 19 when I gave birth to her. God has blessed us with an amazing, beautiful, talented, messy, loving, stubborn and wonderful child of God.

Carsen has spent most of her life making us laugh. She loves hard, lives hard and laughs hard. Carsen is a very talented writer (see her blog http://www.sissyloveshaiti.blogspot.com/) and a great actress. She can weave a story on paper then bring it to life on the stage. She is as stubborn as her father and mother.

Carsen has dedicated the last 4 months of her life to the children of Haiti. Sissy (as all her brothers and sisters call her as well as the children and staff of Angel House) gives of herself freely and without expectations. The children adore her! It is evident in the smiles on their faces and the joy in the voices as they call out to her.

(Sissy and Annabella)

In December when she returns to the US, she will continue her education to obtain a degree in nursing. I have no doubt that she will return to Haiti to continue to give of herself once school is done.

(Carsen helping Brit drain a wound)

I'm very proud to call her my daughter! She is the daughter I always dreamed of having and more!

Jimmy

Jimmy Louis (Gray) was born on Nov. 16, 1982. I met Jimmy in December of 2004. I knew as soon as I met him, he was meant to be a part of our lives. Jimmy had just moved into Angel House when Father Micheal passed away. Jimmy had been living with Father Micheal since he was a small boy and considered Father Micheal to be is dad.

Over the next few months Jimmy became more and more a part of Jody and I's hearts and lives. I'm not sure exactly when we began to think of him as our son but it didn't take long! God had a plan when He brought Jimmy into our lives that's for sure. Although he is not a "Gray" legally he is as much our son in our hearts, and we believe in God's eyes, as our other children are.

Jimmy graduated from high school this past June and is waiting for his diploma to be issued (it takes 4-6 months in Haiti to get the legal diploma). Once he gets it he will start applying to colleges in the US so he can further his education. He currently works as the accountant for Three Angel's and is a very valued employee there.

We are truly blessed to have Jimmy as a son. He has a loving and caring heart. He looks after his siblings when they are in Haiti. Our life would not be the same if Jimmy was not a part of it.

(Thank you Todd Burnett for the amazing pictures of Jimmy!)

Andrew

I've been spending a lot of time lately explaining our family to people. Because not all of our children live here in Redding with us, most people are confused by us saying we have 9 kids. I thought I'd take the next few posts and introduce you to the whole family. I will start with the oldest and work my way through all 9 of them!!

Andrew Thomas Gray was born Sept. 7, 1982, he is 25 years old. When I married Jody, I knew he was a "package deal". I wasn't just marrying Jody, I was also agreeing to be Andrew's step-mother. Man, I hate that word!! I never wanted to be thought of as the step-mom and I try not to refer to him as my step-son, he is simply my son!

Andrew was 4 when Jody and I got married. It hasn't always been easy but I'm happy to now call him my friend! We don't see him nearly as often as we would like to but when he does visit we always have a great time!

Do-do (as the kids like to call him) lives in San Diego. Andrew can thank Carsen for the nickname, she could not say Andrew when she was little. We would spend hours saying to her "ANDREW" and she would nod her head and say "do-do". After awhile we just gave up!

Andrew is a metal fabricator (I think, that's what it is called!!). He works on high-rise buildings and other metal structures. Although he works long hours, he seems to enjoy his work.

Andrew and his girlfriend Ciji (pronounced see-gee)

Andrew and Carsen (and yes, he really is that tall!!)

One of the things I love the most about Andrew is his love for animals. He is one of those rare people that can make friends with even the most stand-offish cat or meanest dog. Andrew is loving and giving and his siblings adore him!

We love you, Andrew!!!!