Customer Service: The Alpharetta Public Library vs. AutoZone

Raleigh and I are really excited to be leaving for the beach Saturday morning with my parents. We are looking forward to lazy days in the sun and the peaceful sound of the ocean.

In preparation for our trip, I had a list of errands to run today. The first stop was the library. Raleigh put books on hold for us several weeks ago. This allows the Fulton County Library system to find the books at any of their libraries. On the designated date, all you have to do is go to the library and check out the books you have reserved. Well, at least that is supposed to be how it works.

I went to the library with a smile and politely walked to the desk. I gave the librarian my name and explained that I was checking out books my husband had put on hold for us. She explained in a very rude tone that I would be unable to check out any books using my husband's library card. Furthermore, since the books were on hold under his name, she would not be able to tell me if the books were ready or not. She said it would violate the library's privacy rules. I nicely told her that I could get Raleigh on the phone and he could give permission for me to check out the books. Another librarian overheard what was happening and said it would be ok for me to at least know whether or not the books were ready to be checked out. As it turns out, the books were not ready. At this point, I was still very calm and understood that the books were not on hold for us, even though Raleigh has completed the request several weeks ago.

I asked if they could please print a list of the books we requested, so that we could see if any of them were available. After much conversation, and pulling a third librarian into the discussion, they agreed. However, they said there would be no way for me to know if the books even existed at their local branch (Alpharetta) of the library. The printed list only had titles, but no call numbers. One of the ladies reluctantly wrote down a few of the call numbers for me. I then explained that this was my first time at this branch, and asked if one of them would be willing to help me look for a few of the books. I thought this was a totally reasonable request. I was at a library. There were three librarians that were just having casual conversation before I arrived. The librarians know the layout of the library better than me. However, they refused to help me. All three of them said no...they could not (or would not) help me locate any books. WHAT??? I was so shocked. In the end, I left the library without any books.

My next errand was to get a replacement windshield wiper for my car. I arrived at AutoZone. After the poor customer service I received at the library, I did not have my hopes up. However, I was pleasantly surprised. After stating my request, the man walked me to the isle and helped me locate the correct wiper. He then took it outside to my car to make sure that it was correct. After purchasing the wiper, he even offered to put on the wiper and refill my car's supply of windshield wiper fluid. I thanked him and went on my way .

Moral of the story... I hope your local library is better than mine.

Yippee Jesus!

God is so cool! It is awesome to know that the God who controls the sky and the sea, also dearly loves his people and desires to know them intimately. Let me back up...As you probably assume, there are lots of expenses associated with adoption, just as there are with having a biological child. Although there are fees due throughout the process, there are a few times when large chunks of the expenses are due. One of these times is at the final homestudy visit when the social worker visits your home. Raleigh and I have been waiting on our tax refund check so that we can schedule this visit with our social worker. Some days I waited patiently, other days I was not so patient. Raleigh always reminded me that this whole process will take place according to God's timing. Since we are just at the beginning of the waiting process, I should not start to get impatient now.

Well...yesterday on our 3 year anniversary, our tax refund check finally arrived. How cool is it that God planned for the check to arrive on our anniversary? I do not think this was a coincidence. No. This was definitely part of God's plan. The God who hears the prayers of people from every nation, also knows my heart. I literally jumped for joy when I opened the mail and saw the check! Yippee Jesus!

Beauty for Ashes

The Chapman family has been on my heart a lot recently. Please continue to lift up this sweet family in prayer as God makes beauty for ashes. If you do not know the story, last May, Maria Chapman saw her brother coming home and she ran towards the car to ask him to help her get on the monkey bars. Will Franklin was unable to stop the car.

Will Franklin graduated from high school yesterday on the very stage where Maria's funeral was held, exactly one year ago. God is making beauty, where once there were only ashes. The graduates honored Will Franklin and Maria by graduating bare foot, acknowledging that they were on holy ground. Mary Beth puts it much more elequently than I can so I encourage you to read her blog post from May 24.

Mary Beth's Blog

Please Pray for the Chapman Family

Today, May 21, marks the one year anniversary of the tragic death of Maria Chapman. Please take a moment to pray for the entire Chapman family. (Steven, Mary Beth, Emily, Caleb, and especially Will Franklin)

Mary Beth wrote a beautiful blog today about her journey through this tragedy. I encourage you to read her blog entry from today as you lift up this sweet family.

Mary Beth's Blog Read the post from May 21, 2009 "A Mother's Heart for Two Very Brave Chapman Children"

The Facts About Orphans (source www.showhope.org)

The Facts

What is the need?

* Over 143 million children have lost one or both parents.
* Every 18 seconds another child becomes an orphan, without a mother or father.
* At least 16.2 million children worldwide have lost both parents.
* Every 14 seconds a child loses a parent due to AIDS.
* Conflict has orphaned or separated 1 million children from their families in the 1990s.



What about AIDS?

* More than 14 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS, the vast majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
* By 2010, the number of children orphaned by AIDS globally is expected to exceed 25 million.
* AIDS is more likely than other cause of death to result in children losing both parents.
* As the infection spreads, the number of children who have lost parents to AIDS is beginning to grow in other regions as well, including Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.

Is there hope?
YES!!! There is something you can do right now...PRAY! Pray for all of the sweet boys and girls that need a family. Pray for the social workers, foster families, and the staff at orphanages across the world that care for these children. Each orphan has a name and a story. Pray for these children to know the love and peace that can only come from God.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these." John 14:12

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work in us, to Him be the glory" (Eph 3:20).

Sweet Sweet Smile!!!

Our adoption agency, Bethany Christian Services, just received referrals of 40 beautiful Chinese children. All of these children are considered "special needs" because of a disability or simply because of their age. I have fallen in love with this cute little boy. His name is Fan and he just turned 6 at the beginning of May. He is the age of the students in my class and it totally breaks my heart to know that he does not have a family to love on him and give him lots of hugs! His only disability is his slightly deformed left foot and his age. Please pray for this little boy and the other children that need a forever family.

Raleigh and I do not qualify for adoptions from China because of the age requirement. The adoptive mom and dad have to both be at least 30 to adopt from China. Raleigh is 28 and I am 26.

I know that the heart of God aches for these children. Please pray for Fan to find a forever family very soon.

Roll Tide!

Congrats Mom...I mean Dr. Gill!!

Happy Mother's Day to Our Moms!

What is a mom?
By Bridgette

A mom lets you play in the sink and splash water on the kitchen cabinets. A mom makes you homemade playdough and plays with you at the Little Tikes table. A mom spends hours dressing Barbies and fixing their hair for a beauty pageant. A mom is a chauffeur. A mom thinks all then laundry is done…until her daughter cleans her room and brings in a pile of dirty clothes. A mom lets her daughter decorate a dorm room like it is a mansion. A mom does not hear the words “thank you” often enough. A mom helps plan every detail of a perfect wedding day. A mom scratches bird poop off a mailbox with her nails…because it is the mailbox at her daughter and son-in-law’s first house. A mom deserves a loooong vacation. Thanks for being a great mom, mom!


What is a mom?
By Raleigh

A mom is someone who understands. When words won't help, she's there with something even better - comfort. A mom contrasts sharply with the harsher approach of the "real world." She knows better than anyone why things happen, and even more importantly, how they might bother us. She then takes this knowledge and magically "moms" them away. On this earth, we are not capable of understanding a love that is not limited by human weakness, but a mom is one of God's most tangible ways of showing this kind of Love on earth.

Adoption Festival

Raleigh and I went to an adoption festival tonight at a local Korean Church. The church has an English ministry that sponsored the event. I think Raleigh and I were the only couple without a little one with us. The event is an annual gathering of families with children that are adopted from Korea. There was a guest speaker who shared about her life as an adoptee. There was also Korean music, food, and demonstrations. Raleigh and I were definitely glad we went to get a little taste of Korean culture.

Once our child is home, events like this will be even more important so that he or she can stay connected to the Korean culture.