Holiday Inn

After all the sickness the past couple weeks, Tony , Allie, and I, enjoyed a really great day today.  Started off not to fun for Allie because she had to give a blood sample at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, (long story, preventative thing), but she was able to say after today was over  "Mom, I had a very, very, very fun day today!"  Which is music to my ears.  We surprised her and took her to see Tangled.  She loved it.  Tony and I actually really enjoyed it too.  Then Allie got to go swimming at the hotel pool, which ranks pretty high on her favorite things to do list.  We finished up the evening with a little Yahtzee Jr., and now all is calm.  My little family is fast asleep as I type away.  No one got any fancy toys or expensive clothes today, yes we went to a movie, but it was more about,we were there together. 
I have been given the most amazing little lady, that I have the privilege to call my daughter.  Her trust in Tony and I is nothing like I've ever seen.  She is my life's ambition, and I strive everyday to grow her into a strong and confident woman.
And this man...this man I have been blessed with.  This man that will go back down to the hotel restaurant to get me  a piece of chocolate cake, when we just came from there:)  I don't tell him often enough, how awesome he is and how lucky I am.  He holds me together and for that he deserves an award:) There really are no words for the love I have for him, and I truly thank God for allowing me to call him my husband.  
I know I've asked God for some miracles on David Ave....but first I have to give him thanks as I look at these 2, tucked in and fast asleep.. my miracles at the Holiday Inn:)

It won't be one second late.

While on couch duty because Tony was sick, I was flipping through the channels alittle before midnight a couple weeks ago.  I happened upon  Joel Osteen's broadcast on ABC Family.  It wasn't even on yet, I was just flipping through the guide to see what was up next.  And something said, you need to watch this.  I'll be the first to admit, I don't normally care for TV preaching, but I hit select and prepared to watch.  By the end of his first sentence, I was crying.  It wasn't just something that had told me to watch, It was God.  That show, that sermon was meant for me and my family.  I copied from Joel's website, because he says he much better:

The moment God puts a promise in your heart, He establishes a set time to bring it to pass. Habakkuk 2:3 says, “The vision is for an appointed time. Though it tarry, wait earnestly for it. It will surely come.” It won’t be one second late. When we understand this, we won’t live frustrated and discouraged when things aren’t happening as quickly as we would like because we know God is lining up everything as it should be for the appointed time.  When it’s your time, nothing can stop it from happening. You can stay in faith knowing with full confidence that your time is coming!

That was so meant for me.  He says too, that when God gives us these promises, he sometimes will take a step back to see how we handle not getting things immediately.  How if we wait patiently and trust in him, whatever it is,it'll happen, but on God's timetable and not a second late. 

So the day we found out that Mill's Pride was closing, God put in our hearts that a new job would find Tony.  And we know now it will not be a second late:)

And the day God showed me that there is precious little boy out there that is meant to be our son, we know now that we will find each other, and it won't be one second late:)

Quarantine lifted

OK...finally after weeks of passing coughs and sneezes back and forth, we have "knock on wood" seen the worst of it.  And as usual, I was the last to see it:)  We have all 3 learned that breathing through your nose is not an action to take for granted.  I thank God for our health, and hope we have seen the worst of it, at least for this year, even if that is just for a few more days.

Here we go....

The Christmas season is now in full swing and the new year is right around the corner, and the Castina household is bracing itself for big changes.  We are in the midst of an adoption process and an unavoidable job change for Tony.  We have worked so hard to get to the point we are at and we know there is always a light at the end of every tunnel.  We know God has a plan for us and we know he has us in his hands.  I know the trials and the triumphs we will face in the coming months will only strengthen us as a family.  I decided to start this blog to help us reach as many people as we can, whether it be for support, inspiration for others, or for however God wants to use it.  Please keep us in your prayers as we trust God for a miracle on David Ave.:)