The Joy of the Lord
Posted by: Sonya on: October 26, 2009
I’m working on my own personal study of the joy of the Lord is my strength from Nehemiah 8:10. As I am working through this study, I will probably be posting random thoughts and revelations. I am also going to be looking at how those of us who do experience the joy of the Lord can make it “contagious”. I would love to hear comments about your own personal reflections on the joy of the Lord in your lives.
It has been a while since I have had any deep writings. I have been reflecting a lot. Lots rolling around in my head. Much to get down on paper. Much to continue to pray about. I have certain passions and desires that are just trying to jump right out of me, but I’m just not sure how the Lord wants to use me at this point in my life. I have much I want to share. Please pray for me as I continue to seek the will of my Heavenly Father.
Today while we were up at South Mountain State Park, I couldn’t help but to just reflect for a moment at the place where this picture was taken. I felt pure joy and peace spring up inside of me at this beautiful sight. The colors were so vibrant. The water so calm. A moment with God. That is what it is all about!
Can you guess?
Posted by: Sonya on: October 26, 2009
Can you guess which Schweighardt this is?
Here is a sneak peak……….
Posted by: Sonya on: October 26, 2009
Can you guess who I am?
Oprah Winfrey Show…Favorite Families
Posted by: Sonya on: October 5, 2009
Well, here we are!
The Big Secret From This Past Spring…
Posted by: Sonya on: October 2, 2009
We received this exciting email today…..
Sorry for the short notice, but I just found out the Oprah taping we did in the spring is going to be on tomorrow. The episode is entitled “Fascinating Families.” Go to http://www.oprah.com/tows to see what’s on Oprah for the week. You can click on the photo for 10/2 to see a short clip from this episode. You can also go to http://www.oprah.com/locallistings to get more information about when it will be on in different areas.
Locally, it looks like it will be on at 4pm on channel 9 WSOC-TV. I believe it will re-air at 9 pm on WAXN-TV 64 as well.
This past spring, our family went through a series of telephone interviews with the Oprah Winfry Show. After all the interviews were completed, we were invited to go to Charlotte, NC to do a satellite show with Oprah. There were around 82-85 people on the show. It was a neat experience. Oprah’s people were great to work with and they were great with the kids! Being under those camera lights was very HOT!! Russell had to be patted down with stage makeup because he was “glowing” too much! 
There were four director chairs up front. I got to be in one of them and was individually miked.
Lysa TerKerust was on the show with us as this was a follow up show to the original Liberian adoption special they had several years ago. We had over a thousand people praying for this event. We prayed together as a group before we were live in Chicago. We prayed in small groups as well. It was a time for glorifying God amongst our selves and on world wide television. I have not seen the final clip that will be used for the show, but I am excited to see how they put it all together!
We were hoping to make a plea for Liberian adoptions and the fact that we were still waiting for Daniel. I am not sure if this will be broadcast or not. Oprah did not try to get any more information despite the fact that she was aware of that situation. We are hoping that the people in Liberia will see the show and will see how will all of the children are doing.
As of right now, adoptions are still halted. We continue to talk to Daniel on a weekly basis. My heart aches deeply each time I speak to him. The kids keep asking when Daniel will be home. Is there anyone out there who will listen? Anyone out there who will hear our cries? Is there anyone who will hear the voice of the children? We hope that maybe this show will help to make some sort of impact, but we just don’t know. Calls, letters, emails, facebook messages….we are getting the word out, but still no movement. So we sit and wait patiently on God’s timing, asking God to be with the children and to protect them. We are fortuate as Daniel has been moved to a foster care home. But others aren’t so fortunate. Please continue to pray for the children. For adoptions. For the families.
We can’t post any pictures until after the show….So I will post some after tomorrow.
Thinking of You, Daniel
Posted by: Sonya on: September 22, 2009
I love you, Daniel! Love, Mom xoxoxo
Samuel
Posted by: Sonya on: September 22, 2009
Samuel is playing soccer this year for the Piedmont Mavericks Home School soccer team. We have started a blog with pictures of each game. He is playing on a high school team at the age of 11. He is doing well. The team schedule is posted on there as well. Hope you enjoy!!
A New Star In the House
Posted by: Sonya on: September 21, 2009
We are so proud of Anthony. He auditioned for production this year at Clater Kaye Theatre Works and made it!! It was his first real audition. He had to type up a resume and submit a headshot.
I think he is such a handsome fellow…but of course I am a bit bias!
He is also a contract player on a new web-i-sode that will be coming out on the internet. The show is called “Studio 127″. When the first episode appears, I will let everyone know. Anthony is so excited. His character’s name is “Marlin”.
He loves acting. The “Studio 127″ project is part of his camera 2 class. He is heavily involved with dance, acting, and singing classes. This is his passion. He is getting wonderful training at CKT.
So watch out world!
A Sweet Song From My Son
Posted by: Sonya on: September 21, 2009
I haven’t had any updates on our precious Daniel because there really hasn’t been a whole lot to report. Daniel is still in Liberia. We pray every day for our sweet son to come home.
Over the summer, the orphanage went through some changes due to new policies, rules and regulations put out by the government. The Daniel Hoover Village has now turned into a boarding school. They went through much renovations this summer. All of the children were sent home to relatives during this process. In September the children returned for a new school year. We are praying that this transition goes smoothly.
So what happened to Daniel? Daniel was placed in a foster care home this summer with a wonderful Liberian woman named Helene. She is a Christian woman and very loving. Daniel receives money from us monthly to pay for his food, supplies and schooling. It is a much better environment, as he receives more individual care.
Sayfou is another child from the orphanage that is being adopted by a family in the Charlotte area. He is in the same home as Daniel. I speak with the boys on a weekly basis. Today the boys sang to me. Oh, to hear these precious young boys, singing praises to our King! I sat in my pantry listening. Crying. Praying to God to bring my boy home! After they finished, they were speaking praises to the Lord…”God is good.” “Praise God.” “Amen.” Oh how I wanted to be in the same room worshipping right along with them.
It is hard. The waiting is so hard. Daniel is a special boy. He still “fathers” Samuel, Jeremiah and Joel. He tells them to be good and to pray. Their faces light up when they speak to him. Especially Jeremiah. I want my boys to all be together again. I want our family to be together. It is an emotional roller coaster. There are days I try not to think about it and other days, like today, when it is all I can do to keep from crying!
I want that sweet voice to be singing in my living room. But yet here I sit and wait. Nothing I can do. Many are in this place with their children as they are sitting and waiting anxiously to hear news from LIberia. Many have not had the opportunity to hear their child’s voice on the phone or to even had met their child except for in their hearts. I feel so connected to Daniel. It is hard to describe. I know he will get home…I just want it to be now!
Please. I ask you to pray for my Daniel. Pray for Sayfou. Pray for all the Liberian children who are waiting to come home to their forever families. Pray that the government would allow the adoptions that were already in place to be allowed to be completed so that the children can be united with their families. Pray for Pastor Kofi and all he is doing for God through ACFI. Pray for the families who are waiting. The waiting is a hard place to be. Pray for us for strength to not give up hope.
God is faithful…His Word tells me so:
“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My loving-kindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the LORD who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” I Corinthians 1:9
“I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.” Psalm 89:34
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
“Yourloving-kindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Psalm 36:5
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13
“I will sing of the loving-kindness of the LORD forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.” Psalm 89:1
Daniel and Sayfou…waiting to come home
Recent Comments