Heart Touchers

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*She's a Sweetheart!* 10/31/01

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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.
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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!

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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.
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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/

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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
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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."

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_
/_/\/\    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
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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
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