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*She's a Sweetheart!* 10/31/01 ___________________________ If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join the thousands of Heart Touchers readers around the world by sending an e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration of Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages of true short stories filled with love and laughter await you! Visit our web site to order the EBook, or to order by credit card! You can also read some sample stories from the book here! http://HeartTouchers.com/michael_t__powers/ To order your autographed copy at no extra charge, send a check or money order for $18 ($14.95 for the book and $3.05 for shipping and handling) made out to Michael T. Powers, and then send to: Michael T. Powers 1918 Liberty Lane Janesville, WI 53545 For two books add $4 for shipping and handling and for three books add $5 for shipping and handling. If you want four or more autographed copies of our book you only pay $5 for shipping and handling. Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for and then allow about two weeks for us to sign it and send it on its way to you. _________________________________________ Today, Trisha K. LaCoste honors some very special people: those who go through the process of adoption. These people bring a child who most likely has never known what kindness is, to a home that is filled to the rafters with love and warmth. I know, because it is the "home" that Trisha was raised in. And I would be hard pressed to think of a more Godly, well adjusted, and compassionate young lady than Trisha. Even if you are the type of reader who never responds to the writers who share their stories with us, take some time to let Trisha know what you thought of hers... May her story touch your heart... Trisha, I had forgotten how much we missed you until you sent me this story... Move back to Wisconsin soon!!! We love ya dearly! From my family to yours, Michael P.S. Be sure to visit the link at the end of Trisha's story today to see just how special we think this young lady is! _________________________________________ She's a Sweetheart! By Trisha K. LaCoste "She's a sweetheart," came the words over the phone from Margie, the orphanage director. It was all my mom needed to hear before her eyes welled up with tears. Margie had just returned from a trip to the orphanage in Haiti. "She loved the little doll that you sent and was excited to see pictures of the family," Margie added. As my family sat around and chattered in excitement about the phone call, I sat back and watched. "What an awesome God we have," was the only thought that filled my mind. Then I let my thoughts drift back to when this all began. The story really began years ago when God put a compassion for orphaned children in the heart of a young child. This child happened to be my mother. Over the years, her desire to adopt grew stronger, even though she eventually had four biological children. In the early 90's, my parents, Dan and Cindy Lippincott, began the long process to adopt. In 1993, their dreams were fulfilled through the private adoption of my youngest brother, Trevor. Now, eight years later, the emotions we have felt are reminiscent of that time. My parents have again responded to the call of God. In May, they began the paperwork for an international adoption from Haiti. The process has been long and emotionally exhausting. There have been times when my mom and dad felt as if this dream was ridiculous. Why did a 46-year-old couple with three grown children and two others at home want to start over and raise another child? The reason was obvious to me: God had called and prepared them to fulfill this purpose -- to adopt Estania. Estania is a six-year-old girl from Haiti who has been abandoned due to poverty. She has a sweet smile and eyes that shine. Looking at her, one would never know that she has lived a hard life in the slums of Haiti. A few months after my parents had begun the adoption process, they found Estania's picture on the Internet. Both of them were drawn to her, so they began asking questions. The orphanage director informed them that she wasn't in the orphanage at that time. When her mother had brought her to the orphanage, there was no room for her. In hopes that they would be able to find a home for her, the workers at the orphanage took a picture of Estania to put on the Internet photo listing. The Lord works in such miraculous ways! It was that picture that drew my parents to Estania. As time went on, Margie, the director of the orphanage, revealed that they were unable to locate Estania. Her family had moved to the mountains. The orphanage workers had tried to find her, but to no avail. My parents were disappointed and confused about who the Lord had in mind for them to adopt. Two days later, my mom spoke to Margie again. "Cindy, Estania's mother has abandoned her once again and she is in our orphanage right now!" My parents now knew why they had been so attracted to Estania. She was the one that God had chosen to be their daughter. As of today, all of the adoption paperwork is in the hands of the Haitian government. Now comes the hard part -- the wait. The wait could be as long as six months, but we're praying that it will be shorter. We are all eager for the arrival of Estania! I am so proud to have parents that are willing to follow the call of God. When they started the adoption process they didn't know if they could handle the financial burden of an international adoption. However, they were still willing to step out on their own, trusting that God would provide, and He has! They have received many financial gifts, and through God's provision, everything is paid for! There are still many unknowns that go hand-in-hand with any adoption, but my parents are at peace knowing that God called them to be Estania's parents. They are confident that God will provide them with the wisdom they will need along the way as they raise a black child in a white family. They know that he will help get past the language barrier. They don't doubt that there will be tough times along the way, but they also know that the blessings that will come out of this adoption are going to be greater than imaginable. I only pray that as I "grow up" spiritually, I will be able to take steps by faith as they have done, knowing that when God leads He will also provide all that I need for the journey! Trisha K. LaCoste ajlacoste@gulftel.com Write Trisha and let her know what you thought of her story. Copyright c 2001 by Trisha K. LaCoste, All rights reserved. ________________________________________________ Trisha lives in Silverhill, Alabama with her husband, Anthony and their nine-month-old son, Hunter. She is a stay-at-home mom who enjoys writing stories and poems when she isn't chasing Hunter around the house or removing the mouthfuls of dirt he has eaten. She is expecting her second child now and hopes to follow in her parents' footsteps and adopt one day. ******** If you missed Trisha's previous writing, check out her poem "Let Me Watch You Daddy" in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/061801/ _________________________________________ Reader Feedback! Betty Jo's husband, Rowland Mings, and I were members of the Pasadena Junior College Bible Club over 60 years ago, and thus I became "acquainted" with Betty Jo through correspondence a few years ago. I have been richly blessed ever since by her outstanding way of expressing her faith in poetry, prose, and testimony. She is one of GOD's special gifts to our generation. Thank you for including some of her gifts for all of us. Wellington Wwwpres@aol.com Dear Michael, I just want to thank you for using my poem "The Way God Sees" on your site. I have had so many wonderful, encouraging responses, and I am grateful for each one of them. I feel my poems are from the Lord, and if anyone can be blessed by something I have written, then I am more blessed. Your site is one of my favorites on the whole web, and I appreciate all your dedication and hard work. May the Lord continue to bless your ministry. With my love, Betty Jo Mings bmings@netzero.net Thank you for having an e-zine with great stories. They teach so much. With appreciation and God bless be upon you and yours, Dorothy Dot8Texas@aol.com _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing." Verse for the Day: "Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." --1 Peter 2:21 Kid's Thought For The Day: "You work so hard pedaling up the hill that you hate to brake on the way down." Parent's Thought For The Day: "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." -- Frederick Douglas Coach's Thought For The Day: "The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the others willing to let them." -- Robert Frost Deep Thought For The Day: "Can you believe how many award shows they have now? They have awards for commercials. The Cleo Awards. A whole show full of commercials. I taped it and then I fast forwarded through the whole thing." ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@aol.com /_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no \_\/\ \ longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I \_\/ live in the body I live for the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ The copyrights to the stories that appear in Heart Touchers are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted and been given permission by the individual writer. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business "I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched--they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!" Kelli-- College Station, TX Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies! Check out the web page for Michael's video production business! Visit: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: Video Imagery ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in Heart Touchers? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/ AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines ___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" To become a Heart Touchers Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@AOL.COM Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: All you have to do is send an e-mail with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Give it a day or two to be processed... __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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