The ELEPHANT in the room and our prayer requests:

May 1, 2014, 5:00 am

(Please understand...my posts are somewhat for adoption updates for our friends and family and somewhat for people like me beginning the adoption process...Googling anything and everything

hoping for some tid-bit of information about adopting I didn't know before.) :)

There he is....the elephant in the room......money. (We'll call him BILL)

I know you're all probably thinking 1 of 2 things:

1) They must be loaded to afford adoption!

2) Where are they going to get all the money they need to adopt?

(I know you already Googled how much adoption costs...lol. Shocking, isn't it?)

Well, we might as well be open here people. Funny how when you get pregnant, most things are kept private. When it comes to adoption, I feel like everything is just out there for everyone to see. Weird.

Anyways...Todd, and I, feel that "fundraising" to adopt is not really for our family.

(If you do for yours, great. We just at this point, aren't.)

We have put off starting the adoption process for some months to save more before we begin.

We have a LARGE "piggy bank" in our room that we keep throwing our pennies in.

(PENNIES? you say...yes, they too add up)

There's the "piggy bank" :)

For those of you who know Todd and his "scrap-metaling adventures"...ha ha....

Todd continues to strip wire, tear apart tv's, collect tin vegetable cans and pick up

pop/beer cans/bottles along-side the road. :) Meijer probably wonders why there is mud stuck

to a bunch of the returned cans. lol

I'm still cut, coloring and twirling hair over here. :) And I'm following in my Mom's footsteps...

I clean someone's house every other week. (not mine...lol)

I have also started making jewelry. All proceeds from the sale of any of my personalized jewelry will go into our "piggy bank". CHECK OUT THE JEWELRY TAB!

(I know what you're going to say, Mom..."You're always making/doing something"...

you're right Mom, you know I'm always crafting.)

I also CROCHET, so if you are interested in a scarf or baby gifts

(such as hats, booties, etc.) I can make those too.

(Check out the CROCHET tab to see what I can make)

I have gone through every cupboard, drawer, closet, nook and cranny of our house, clearing out items that we don't need, don't use or can live without. All of that has gone into a GARAGE SALE pile.

Our garage sale is scheduled for MAY 23-24, so please pray for good weather and lots of traffic!

I am holding it at Todd's Aunt's house because she has much more traffic than us.

We will also be applying for some adoption grants. MUCH paperwork is involved in applying for these, but if we get just 1, it will be worth it. PLEASE pray that God will open the hearts of the board members that go over these applications. Pray that they will look favorably on our family!

We believe that if God calls you to do something HE will provide

I have read so many blog posts, Pinterest pins, etc. on adoption....one mother put it this way when talking about being called to adopt and affording it....she said

"In our house, delayed disobedience is STILL disobedience."

Do we continue to put something off that God calls us to do?

I have also been reading a book that some other blog recommended...it's called:

"The Autobiography of George Muller"

Written in the 1830's....but he was a minister who truly relied upon God

and prayer to supply all of his needs.

We truly believe that God DOES and WILL provide all that we need!

Another blog post said this:

"...there is NO price on saving a child's life and bringing a child into a home where

the gospel can be taught."

Anyways...did I get off-topic? Probably. So many thoughts swirling and only 2 hands to type. :)

That's all I've got for now...I'm sure there'll be more where that came from.

↧

Step #1

May 7, 2014, 8:24 pm

≫ Next: Success!

≪ Previous: The ELEPHANT in the room and our prayer requests:

We have begun STEP #1 of the adoption process. The HOME STUDY.
That means, ONE STEP CLOSER to bringing our baby home!!!!

Here are links that explain and prepare you for your homestudy:
http://gracefilledmess.blogspot.com/2013/05/your-home-study-survival-guide-mini.html

http://www.divinecaroline.com/life-etc/tips-getting-your-house-ready-home-study

The paperwork alone is quite something..20 pages thus far, which I am guessing is ONLY the beginning!
We have to answer questions such as:
- How do you plan to incorporate and teach your child about their cultural heritage and birth country?
- What are you hopes and aspirations as a family? Please address both short and long term.
- Describe how your family celebrated holidays and special occasions (include who was involved):
- Describe your school experience, including – how well you liked school (include reasons), your
grades (in general), your relationships with your teachers and peers, and the type(s) of
extracurricular activities you participate in:

ANYWAYS....it will all be worth it. :)

I have had the opportunity to email/talk on the phone/facebook/etc. with some Marshallese adoptive families lately. Very informative. One family particularly lives only about 10 minutes away from us and adopted an infant girl who is now 6 months old! (They also used the same home study agency). So that is very nice to have someone so close.
Then, the other day, I emailed a lady off a Marshallese chat group just to ask some questions. She ended up calling me, and we talked for about 40 minutes. She lived in Cincinnati.
Needless to say, I have learned A LOT...and I know there is still A LOT to learn!
Pretty much, moral of the story......everyone's adoption story is different! Scary. :)
Please pray that we have a very "boring" adoption story!!!! (non-eventful, shall I say)

I also have been in contact with the attorney who, more than likely, will be representing us for the adoption. She is in Hawaii. (bummer...I'm so jealous of their weather) She has been excellent at getting back to me, which I like. (Her name is Linda Lach, in case anyone wanted to know).
The reason why I'm telling you this, is because I was informed of another attorney in the 48 who also represents families going through Marshallese adoptions, and he SPEAKS Marshallese, which is nice. However, I hear he is hard to get a hold of. Yep...can hardly find ANY information on the guy online, got his email address and phone #. So far I have sent 2 emails and left 1 voicemail and not heard anything back. Me 3, him 0. MAJOR turn-off for me. Linda has responded within hours of every email I have sent her. I don't want to have to continuously have to track my attorney down when I have a question. No thanks.

So, that is where we are at. Todd and I just got done watching 2 short You Tube videos on the Marshall Islands. (Approx. 22 minutes total) Very interesting....have a look if you have the time.

↧

Success!

May 24, 2014, 1:02 pm

≫ Next: Scheduled!

≪ Previous: Step #1

We had our garage sale yesterday and today, it was a success!

A BIG "THANK YOU" to:
-Rita and Jeff for allowing us to use their barn-front and drive-way for the garage sale, for extra tables and for taking the boys on golf-cart rides to keep them occupied
-Mike and Jenny next door for lending us some tables (and with delivery!) :)
-Mom and Dad B for taking the boys for a bit to keep them occupied while I set-up
-Mom P for all the help with the sale and the boys, especially while Hoyt was under the weather!
-Dad P for helping pick up :)

We had perfect weather, sunny and not too hot!

We profited $421.25.....into the adoption fund it goes!

Thanks to all the family, friends and passers-by (if that's even a word) for your support and kind words regarding our adoption!

It truly is amazing how many lives adoption has touched once the word gets out. I have met and heard more people who have been adopted, adopted themselves, or know someone who has adopted. It's awesome! We really appreciate the encouragement as well.

Here is a great post by an adoptive Mom.....
http://showhope.org/guest-post-stefanie/?fb_action_ids=1510056649215679&fb_action_types=og.likes

We will continue to keep you posted on the road ahead. Have a great Memorial weekend everyone!!

↧

Scheduled!

May 28, 2014, 5:40 pm

≫ Next: Home Study meeting #1, completed!

≪ Previous: Success!

***We have our first home study meeting scheduled! Next week Tuesday is the big day. Pray that all goes smoothly (and that the kids behave)!

**I've also been asked by a few different people if we are thinking of baby names.....I have a few names on a little list, but I don't think Todd has anything yet. :) With all 3 boys I had a long list and he went through it and crossed off pretty much all of them. :) So, for now, I'll just keep my list to myself.

On another note, Chase has been playing t-ball. It's hilarious and also frustrating at the same time to watch. lol. Those poor boys don't have much of a clue and by the 3rd inning, their attention has been lost and they are all playing/kicking in the dirt. It's cute though, and I'm sure they'll pick up on the game sometime. :) (Pictures to come)

↧

Home Study meeting #1, completed!

June 4, 2014, 11:20 am

≫ Next: God works in mysterious ways....

≪ Previous: Scheduled!

We had our 1st home study meeting last night. It went well. Our social worker is Mary. A very nice lady who makes you feel very comfortable. The kids warmed up to her quite quickly, and were busy running in and out of the room showing her their coloring papers. Boys. :)

Before she came, we told the boys that she was coming to talk to us about adoption. Karston immediately thought she was bringing the baby! So cute. He is quite excited. For those of you who know Karston, he LOVES babies...to the point of squishing them!

Being the oldest, Chase got to give Mary a tour of our house. I think he liked that. :)

As far as the questions, there were a lot of them. Mainly we went over the FTA contract, what's expected of us and them. Risks of adopting (costs can change, time frames can change, child's health is not guaranteed, etc.) Many questions regarding our families, jobs, school, etc. And more ?'s to come!

We meet again next Thursday. Mary will be talking with the boys about adoption, what they think and if they have any questions. She also legally must speak with both Todd and I separately, no big deal.

I think that is all for now. Please continue to pray that all goes smoothly! I was quite nervous right before she showed up, but was put at ease immediately after meeting her. (Thanks for your prayers!!!!)

↧

God works in mysterious ways....

June 5, 2014, 6:46 pm

≫ Next: 2nd Home Study visit...DONE!

≪ Previous: Home Study meeting #1, completed!

It is just amazing to me how many people God has placed in our lives these last few months when contemplating/beginning the adoption process. Also, how many people's lives adoption has touched in some form or another.

The world just gets smaller and smaller. :)

To name a few instances:
~My friend Teresa introduced me to her friend Julie who has adopted 2 children from Ethiopia and is waiting to go to Ethiopia to bring home 2 more girls!
~Julie M. introduced me to Char at FTA...social worker who does home studies
~Char L., within the first 5 minutes of speaking with her, told me about the Marshallese "program"
~Char L. introduced me to Linda L., who is the adoption attorney in Hawaii, working with the Marshallese (who has been MORE than helpful in answering all of my questions)
~On becoming Facebook "friends" with Char, I see that Patti V. is a mutual friend of hers (Come to find out, Patti & Daniel (A brother of a friend of ours) used FTA for their home study) AND Patti said that also Travis and EJ (a couple from our church) used FTA for their home study)
~So, both Patti and EJ told me about their experiences with FTA, which was great
~Char told me about a couple that adopted a Marshallese girl, that live in Zeeland. Called Rachel V. the mom of little Annie. Come to find out, they live only 10 minutes away! She gave me much information as well.
~I began making and selling jewelry....Kelli M. who I know through a few different connections (elementary school and doing hair) placed an order, and come to find out she adopted domestically a little Hispanic girl. Adorable!
~Ran into Marianne H. at the Dandelion Festival. We have talked about adoption before when I had done her hair in the past. So we got to catch up on adoption talk. :)
~Jeanne, who I bought my current horse from, Facebooked me to tell me that she was adopted, and how wonderful adoption is. It was so thoughtful of her to just contact me to tell me that.
~I am part of a few Marshallese adoption groups online, I asked a question and Christy responded. She gave me her phone #. She lived out of state. We spoke for about an hour. It was very thoughtful of her to share her experience with a complete stranger!
~Mary M. is our assigned social worker. Patti and EJ both had her for their home studies as well!
~The day before our home study Chase had a t-ball game and Todd got talking to Kevin M. on the playground....(His son is in Chase's class in school), so I got talking with Kevin's wife Sarah. They adopted a little girl from Ethiopia about a year and a 1/2 ago. So we got to talk adoption as well. :)
~Adrianna, a girl whose hair I did today for 8th grade graduation told me that her class at school has been praying for us in our adoption process! I have to say, this has to be the most touching. :)

Anyways....like my title says...God works in mysterious ways...He places certain people in certain places at specific times!!!!!!

(Sorry if this whole thing is a rambling mess...some of this is for my later records) :)

↧

2nd Home Study visit...DONE!

June 13, 2014, 11:17 am

≫ Next: Just a few pics...playing catch-up here....

≪ Previous: God works in mysterious ways....

Last night was home study visit #2. Todd and I both talked together and separately with Mary our social worker, as did Chase.
Questions to the both of us were:
-How did you meet?
-How long did you date, etc.?
We also talked about what people's responses to our future trans-racial family may be. How we will respond to their questions. What part of our child's story will we share and what part will we let her share? (Lots of things to think about)
Questions to us separately were:
-What are your strengths and weaknesses?
-What are you spouses strengths and weaknesses?
Questions to Chase were:
-Do you know what adoption means?
-Do you know anyone who has a different color skin than you?
-What would you do if someone teased or said something to you about your adopted "sister"?

It was so cute to hear Chase's answers. :)

We continue to plug along on the paper trail. What remains is:
-Fingerprinting...scheduled for next week Thursday for both of us
-Well-child checks for the boys...we need a letter from their doctor stating they are in good health and up to date on all vaccinations
-Physical for Todd....we each need a health form filled out by the doctor
-References were sent paperwork and so all 3 need to be completed and sent back to FTA agency

As far as our placing attorney...we can "sign-up" (I really don't know what you call it) contract? with her any time. We do not have to have our home study COMPLETE to sign up with her. And then, we wait for a call that there is a Mom for us!

During that wait time, I will be seriously filling out grant applications. There are many, but not all do we qualify for. I have done a major exhaustive search online and in books from the library for a listing of current grants. Please pray the boards that look over the applications look at us favorably.

I found an excellent "documentary" on Pinterest from PBS on the Marshallese people in Arkansas.
Forewarning...it is an hour long. :)
http://www.aetn.org/programs/anewisland
At one point, they show a woman who just gave birth....I'll be honest...my eyes welled up with tears seeing that little baby that could be so similar to ours in just a few months!!!
(I think I have pregnancy brain/emotions even though I am not physically pregnant! They call it being "paper pregnant". Either way....I think it's true. :))

↧

Just a few pics...playing catch-up here....

June 17, 2014, 6:34 pm

≫ Next: Update:

≪ Previous: 2nd Home Study visit...DONE!

Memorial Day we went to an area "Natural Area" and "hiked" with the boys. Taking kids "hiking" is always an adventure.... there was an awful lot of complaining (such as: "My legs are hot", "My legs are going to fall off", "I'm hungry", "When are we going to go back?", etc.....) Needless to say, we are not planning on going out West on vacation until they can hack a 1 hour hike. :)

Hoyt always gets into the cupboard while I am baking/cooking. He found the cornstarch, obviously. Thankfully it wasn't too full! What a mess!

Here's Chase playing t-ball. Such a business-like look. :)

A mama Robin decided to make her nest right in our landscaping this year. We have a decorative metal "bird-feeder" type thing, and that is right where to made her nest. I actually thought it was fake at first because her nest was so perfect. Truly you see how God has everything meticulously planned, even a little bird can make the most perfect nest for her babies. And her eggs were so blue!

5/26/2014 - After I took this picture, she ended up having 2 more eggs...so 4 total.

6/9/2014 - Only a mother could love that face.

6/11

6/13

6/16

6/17 - They are kind of filling up the nest. :) As you can see this one is hungry. It seems every time I am outside I see that poor mama robin with a worm in her mouth. Feeding 4 babies must keep her pretty busy. She probably just wishes I'd quit taking pictures of her nest so she can feed them already!

My pretty geraniums. I love this salmon color.

A few words to live by...quotes found on Pinterest. Both I thought were fitting

for where we are at in the adoption process. We are now in the process of writing our "Dear Birth Mother" letter and also our letter to the grant boards. I am not good at writing...I have been searching online for examples. Pray that the correct words come to mind when writing these! (Maybe I will have to ask my friend Barb...I hear she's pretty good at writing letters...lol.)

↧

Update:

July 11, 2014, 7:16 pm

≫ Next: Moving forward..........

≪ Previous: Just a few pics...playing catch-up here....

First of all....thank you to whoever dropped off a bag of returnable pop/beer cans in our front yard this morning. What a surprise! :)

We met again with our social worker last night to review the rough draft of our home study. It was sent out to the state for approval and takes approx. 2 - 3 weeks to get back. After that, we make 100 copies of the home study (or what seems like it). 1 copy gets sent all the way to Hawaii to our placing attorney and the rest are going to be sent out with each grant application we apply for. (Which I am still diligently plugging away at)

Also I have been doing a little room re-arranging to prepare for baby, whenever he/she comes! We bought a loft bed on Craigslist and I painted it. So now the boys have 2 bunk beds in their room. They love it. And the loft part adds storage.
And I got a dresser for baby's room. That room doesn't have a closet, so we have an armoire and we have had a very simple changing table since before Chase, that we got for free. So I am in the process of painting that too. :) Poor Todd...some day he'll be able to park in the garage.

That's all for now.....
Check out the tab: ADOPTION TIMELINE for more details of things

↧

Moving forward..........

July 22, 2014, 11:30 am

≫ Next: STACKS of paper...............

≪ Previous: Update:

Progress moves slowly in the adoption world it seems, but we are moving forward, none-the-less.

Saturday, July 19 we went to FTA's (our home study agency) annual picnic. It was amazing to look around at such a diverse group. (After the fact I got thinking about what that looked like and thought, "Isn't this what Heaven will look like?")

At the picnic, our social worker told us our home study had been approved by the state and came in Friday evening. Yippee!!!

We got to meet 1 family at the picnic who has been through the same program we are going to do. Very informative and neat to hear someone else's experience with it. Gets me excited!! They have a little 18 month old Marshallese boy. Such beautiful brown sparkly eyes!

Hoyt was thoroughly enthralled with ALL of his hair. :)

Today (Tuesday) we went to pick up our home study paperwork...all signed and notarized and ready to go. It was our social worker's birthday too! (Todd & the boys made her a cake a few weeks ago when she came over....she knew they made cakes, so she brought them a book of cakes she made in her childhood...the boys picked one to make for her out of her book)

So, off to the post office to send out our home study paperwork, signed agreements, and the ol' Check-er-roo. ($) It should be received by Friday....

Anticipating this moment...I'm thinking, what a photo-worthy momentous time of sending off our paperwork to get this process rolling. HA....with 3 rambunctious boys, we first go to the copy shop to make copies...as they ram around while all I get is 20 copies made, then to the post office. Karston is hiding under the counter playing with the trash can, Chase is wandering and Hoyt is throwing mini flailing fits in my left arm, while I am trying to address my envelope, and trying not to make it look like chicken scratch. And then I think....I hope the mail lady doesn't read who this goes to (for Adoption) or she will think I am NUTS at this point. Kids, they definitely keep you humble...or just plain make you look really stupid. Either way...what do you do. Package was still sent out, amidst the chaos....

then, we WAIT................................

Ah, the WAIT.....in adoption, WAIT is a word no one looks forward to. We have no idea how long we will wait. We do know that the Lord has everything perfectly planned and orchestrated, and that we need not worry or try to speed things along by our own strength....but in my head, that is hard to wrap my mind around sometimes. :) We as humans want to take the bull by the horns and do things ourselves!

Please PRAY for patience for our family, me especially! Patience is not a virtue I have mastered by ANY stretch of the imagination! Pray that in the WAIT, we would be drawn closer to HIM who has all things planned.

Please PRAY for the Mom (and Dad) out there trying to decide on putting their unborn child up for adoption. Pray for strength and peace for them.

Isaiah 40:31New King James Version (NKJV)

31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

↧

STACKS of paper...............

July 24, 2014, 6:47 pm

≫ Next: While we wait........

≪ Previous: Moving forward..........

Well, now that the official documents are out of the way..............on to the grant applications. I have a cover letter written, etc., so we are good to go there. (I say that so flippantly, but that letter took me weeks to write.....how do you convey to a board in such a brief written letter what you want to say/explain?!?!?!?)
As we speak I am printing off 12 (yes I said TWELVE) months of bank statements for EACH account.
(Total pages for 3 accounts.........20 pages)

Um....DO I GET TO WRITE MY PRINTER INK AS AN ADOPTION EXPENSE!?!?!? YIKES!!!!!

And they'll probably be like........"She spent HOW MUCH at Kohls!?" lol.
Oh well, I give them credit for checking into people, rather than just handing it out. :)

I have 9 applications I'm working on.
They all include some sort of application (some much longer than others)
Financial information
An introductory letter
Photos of your family and home
Reference letters from church pastor/elder and friend/family
Verification of Employment & income
Tax returns from the last 2 years
Detailed family income vs. expense info.
Faith statement(s)
Explanation of why you want to adopt
Adoption expense break-down
And SO ON and so forth..................

Please PRAY for patience and perseverance on my end! Whew!

**************************************************************************
Also, just a "heads-up"
A few very generous friends have offered to host:
~an adoption fundraiser dinner (hamburg fry)
~LOCATION: it will be held/hosted by our church
~DATE: date will be Saturday, September 20.
~TIME: probably 5:30 - 8pm
Many more details will be posted as we go along.

I am beyond words on how to thank people for being so willing to help our family in any capacity!

It is absolutely amazing and down-right humbling to hear and talk to so many friends/family/people we meet who would love to be involved somehow with our adoption process. We are SO blessed!

↧

While we wait........

August 13, 2014, 11:13 am

≫ Next: The latest.........

≪ Previous: STACKS of paper...............

"As for God, HIS way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him."
2 Samuel 22:31

**First, an adoption update:**
Not a whole lot to say.
I have sent in 3 grant applications and have 4 more ready to mail out this week.
(as for the 3 I mailed out......1, we were denied b/c we don't attend that particular church denomination, I guess I misunderstood their website, and 1, I received an email telling me to send them the application, that I ALREADY sent them....oh boy)

As for our attorney...she told me just this week that she has a new coordinator working with the prospective birthmothers in Arkansas, so hopefully that speeds things along. There are 3 or 4 of us on the "wait list" with this her.

**While we wait....**
I have been doing a lot of reading (books and blogs). On 1 blog I read, the lady referred to "adoption waiting" being similar to the story of Abram & Sarai. So, I have been doing some research. Here is what I found:
Genesis 12 - entitled "Promises to Abram"(The MacArthur Student Bible, NKJV)
Gen. 12:2 - "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great"
Gen. 12:4 - says that Abram is 75 years old
Gen. 12:7a - "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land."
Gen. 13:14-16 - "And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him; "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are - northward, southward, eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever, and I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered."
Gen. 15:2-5 - "But Abram said, "Look God, what will you give me, seeing I go childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" Then Abram said "Look, you have given me no offspring, indeed one born in my house is my heir! And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
Gen. 15:18a -"On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying; "To your descendants I have given this land......."
Gen. 16 - Sarai had bore Abram no children (after 10 years). She gave Abram her maid Hagar, who bore Ishmael. Abram was 86 at this time.
Gen. 17 - Abram, now 99 years old, God tells him he will multiply him EXCEEDINGLY and he will be a father of many nations. God said He would bless Sarah with a son, in turn, Abraham laughed. At that time, Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 90.
Gen. 21 - 1 year later, Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was 100 years old.......he waited 25 years from the time God tells him he will make him a great nation!

In the Matthew Henry Commentary for Genesis 21:1-8 it says:
"Isaac was born according to the promise, He was born at the set time of which God had spoken."
"vs. 2, Note, God is always punctual in His time; though His promised mercies come not at the time we set, they will certainly come at the time HE sets, and that is the best time."

I think that sums up the whole "adoption waiting game" pretty well, don't you!?!?

**How we request you to pray for us:**
~Please continue to pray that the boards that review these grant application will look favorably on our family.
~Pray for patience. Right now, it FEELS like we are going to wait 25 years like Abraham did...lol.
~Pray for the baby, (whether already conceived or not) for health and well-being.
~Pray for the birth family, to have peace about their adoption plan.

I think that is all for now.
Oooh.....we do have new additions to our family, as of last night/early this morning. "June", our dog had puppies. They are adorable. Only 3, so that is good.

all 3 puppies

Black male

Brown female

Brown male

↧

The latest.........

August 26, 2014, 1:52 am

≫ Next: Time goes on...................................

≪ Previous: While we wait........

It's nearly 4:30am and once again I am up with a migraine (what's new?). I could have worse ailments, right? SOOOOO, I figured while I am up, kid-free, I might as well update you all on the latest happenings with our adoption journey. A few things have happened:

~We receive little news from our attorney, but she did contact all of us waiting couples last week to tell us she had 2 or 3 prospective moms, located in Arkansas. We are the 3rd couple "in line", so-to-speak. This makes me excited and panicked all at once. :) Honestly, I don't really know how to pray at this point....pray that these moms decide to give their child up for adoption? Lately my prayer has been for these mothers, that they would make the best, informed decision, for both themselves and the child growing inside them.

~I've said on here that I have applied for 7 grants thus far.....
1, we were denied b/c we weren't members of a certain church denomination
1, we received a letter stating they received our info, would be sending out questionnaires to the references we listed on the application, and then would make a decision at their bi-monthly meeting.
1, I just received a phone call last night from a grant at a Community Church located in Minnesota. The pastor's wife actually was calling, she said they received our application and "approved" it, at this time their grant fund is low, so they are not awarding us any funds at this time, but she told us to keep them updated via email on where we are at in the adoption....she said, God always provides and the money comes in to their fund as needed. So, please pray for that as well!

Also, I stand in awe by the amount of love, kindness and support shown to us since we announced we are adopting. God truly has blessed us with amazing friends, family and people around us! Just to name a few:
1) A fundraising dinner is being put together on our behalf
DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 5-7pm
*** Dinner Menu: Hamburgers, Potato Salad, Beans, & Cake
Location: Faith URC in West Olive
(please contact me if you need directions)
***Silent Auction- We are just adding this...a few people have offered
to donate items for a silent auction. At first we were unsure, but if
someone would like to be a blessing to us by donating
something, how can we turn this away!? We are not
going to be going out and asking for donations, but we
are not turning down people volunteering items.
(My hope is, after our adoption is final, to set up an adoption
fund/grant through our church...we have been so blessed by
others, and would like to turn around and be a blessing to
someone else who is adopting)
***Adoption Information.....If you are interested in adoption, we
will have many different materials for you to read and/or take
home. We want to SPREAD THE WORD about adopting!

2) So many people have come up to me asking who they need to contact in order to help with this dinner.

3) I have had people contact me about making monetary donations and also item donations.

4) Many have donated "scrap" to Todd's scrap-metal pile. :) He's loving it. :) lol

Truly overwhelmed by the support we have been shown. I can't send out enough "thank-yous", so THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It means the world to us!

↧

Time goes on...................................

September 8, 2014, 6:35 pm

≫ Next: Thank you....................

≪ Previous: The latest.........

As my post title states, "Time goes on...". In our adoption journey we continue to wait. We have been officially waiting since July 29.

We continue to be overwhelmed with generous love and support from friends, family and friends of friends/family. God continues to be faithful and remind us that HE is the one orchestrating our family's adoption story. A simple "thank you" doesn't suffice, but for now, that is all I can think of to say.

↧

Thank you....................

September 22, 2014, 7:19 pm

≫ Next: God's goodness.

≪ Previous: Time goes on...................................

This past Saturday was our adoption fundraiser dinner.

Our God continues to show how He cares and provides for His people.

We have truly been blessed thus far in our adoption process with prayers, kind words, cards and monetary support. All of it is appreciated greatly and I feel like there are no words to say or write to "repay" all of our friends, family and even a few acquaintances!

We continue to WAIT for a call or email from our attorney, saying we are matched with a birth family. We are now #1 in "line" as a waiting couple. The 2 couples ahead of us have recently been matched. (In the last 2 weeks or so)

Please continue to pray!!!!!!!!

↧

God's goodness.

October 1, 2014, 7:12 pm

≫ Next: Wherever I go.....

≪ Previous: Thank you....................

Psalm 33:5b "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." (NKJV)

It's Fall.....God's amazing masterpiece of creation is all around us. (Not my pic)

Tuesday, we just caught this full rainbow before it faded away.

God's PROMISE remains true yet today!

Had a great Bible Study today....

regardless of me, being in a rush to get there on time and

forgetting my Bible Study book. Duh. Oh well.

We are doing a book from Nancy Leigh DeMoss (pictured below)

Today the topic was HUMILITY. Definitely a hard one to look at. We all want to have others look at us, think highly of us, etc. But to "clothe yourselves in humility"...wow. But to hear how Nancy worded pride vs. humility really made sense.

If we put ourselves higher (pride), we are bringing God lower.

(And if we do that, God WILL bring us down)

If we put God higher (humility), God will bring us up.

All I could think of when talking about this was this verse:

On to the ADOPTION topic:

We had our adoption fundraiser dinner, which I think was a huge success. Many people have asked how it went and if it went as I expected. To tell you the truth, I didn't know what to expect. God has truly placed many awesome friends, family, church members, fellow school families and neighbors in our lives. We had a great turn out, and really, to me it had nothing to do with the $, to me it just shows that all the people that came were showing their support of us adopting. We also have received many kind words and cards as well. All of the support means so much to us.

I just got to talk to a fellow "waiting mom" - who is actually matched. We talked for nary an hour. It is amazing...once you get into the "adoption world" there is a whole new family you walk into! You learn something new every time you talk to an adoptive family. This whole adoption world is such a learning thing....every time you turn around there is something new and/or changing.

As for us, we continue to wait.....

"As for God, His way is perfect" Psalm 18:30a

↧

Wherever I go.....

October 20, 2014, 11:35 am

≫ Next: NOVEMBER

≪ Previous: God's goodness.

I had another great Sunday yesterday, filled with a pastor passionate about the message God laid on his heart to preach.
Sunday evening he preached out of Joshua......

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

and then he referenced the following verse from Paul......

2 Cor. 12:10 "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

We have been officially on the adoption wait-list for 82 days. We were #1 on the wait-list for about a month, but have since been "de-moted" to #2 due to the couple ahead of us adoption falling through.

Somehow I knew that this whole adoption process was going to be a very big test for me. God knows I am not very patient...so does my family. :) So, here I sit....waiting. BUT....like Joshua 1:9b says, "...do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." and in 2 Cor. 12:10b, "in hardships...in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." in Christ.

There is nothing WE can do.

God has our child picked out for us, whether this baby is already near birth, or not even conceived yet. God has the timing planned out for us, whether we have to wait 1 month of 1 year. I am comforted in the fact that God has it all written in His book, and I have the feeling I will look back in a few years and wonder why I was so anxious and just didn't wait on HIM patiently. :) But for now, I remain busy with my men and try to keep my mind on other things.

I have to say, the other day I was quite "down", hearing we are now back to #2 on the wait list. But then someone I met on Facebook (an adoptive parent to a Marshallese girl) posted a picture of her daughter, and it just made me remember what we are doing this whole journey for! (So, thanks Jennifer .H. for sharing a pic of precious Olina at just the perfect time!)

Would you please continue to pray for us as we wait?
Pray for patience, for calm nerves/emotions, for finances, for the birth family and developing child God has chosen for us, for the family ahead of us on the wait-list and for all the professionals we are working with. (attorney,etc.)

↧

NOVEMBER

October 31, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Waiting on the Lord...............................

≪ Previous: Wherever I go.....

↧

Waiting on the Lord...............................

November 4, 2014, 11:22 am

≫ Next: The ROCK

≪ Previous: NOVEMBER

So many things have been running through my mind...so please forgive me if this post is ALL OVER THE PLACE!

A few videos for today.........so fitting................

I feel like I should wear this on a shirt as I walk around. :)
However, I am so thankful for all those who continue to inquire on our adoption status.

I haven't listened to my I-Pod in a bit...today I did, and this song came on. Totally stopped me in my tracks. ("While I'm Waiting" by John Waller - on the movie Fire Proof with Kirk Cameron)

I have also been reading a book and it was talking about the question:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. To glorify God and enjoy HIM forever

So....this adoption wait I feel like has been long and hard. I know, I know, we have only been officially waiting 99 days (tomorrow marks 100!) BUT, we have been working on the adoption about 9 months...that is an entire pregnancy already.

When we had no kids, but wanted them, it was hard to see others around us getting pregnant and having babies. I felt like they were all around us! Coming out of the woodwork in fact!
When we went through miscarriages, but had 2 kids of our own, it was still hard. I was grateful on the 1 hand for the gift of my 2 boys, but yet I longed to have more.
And now It seems I am in a similar situation. God has placed it on our hearts to add another child to our family, but we wait on HIS timing again.
I used to think that if you had children and for one reason or another couldn't have more, but wanted more, it wouldn't be as hard because you already had kids. (does that even make sense? ..lol) But, I am in that boat now. I love my 3 boys, but yet when I see a pregnant mom, or a newborn, or a tan-skinned toddler at the store, it makes me want it even more. Not to mention, that you are not treated the same when you are "paper-pregnant" as if you were physically pregnant.
A good friend of ours, who has cancer, said it best about his health...."The "worst" part is, is there is nothing I can do. I can only depend on God." Now, my health is not failing at this point in time, but I think he said it best, and that it best describes our adoption situation as well. The "worst" part about it is, there is nothing I can do. We fully depend on God for His perfect timing.

Soooo, after that long confusing paragraph...I will do as God says, and what John Waller reminds me to do in his song. I will choose to SERVE and WORSHIP Him, faithfully waiting, taking every step in obedience. And just as the Westminster Larger Catechism Q&A#1 states....My main goal in life is to GLORIFY GOD & ENJOY HIM FOREVER. If I have to wait a year for the baby God has set to be part of our family, then that is what I will do in the mean-time. I will serve and worship Him and I will glorify and enjoy Him in all that I do.

Please continue to pray for our family....especially for patience for me. :)
Continue to pray for the birth-mom we will be matched with, whether she is currently pregnant or not.
Continue to pray for the child this Mom will give up for adoption. Pray for strong development both physically and mentally and for a healthy delivery.

Also, please take note of my last post........NOVEMBER is National Adoption Month.
Have you ever considered adoption for your family?
Or, please be supportive of those you know that have adopted or are currently interested in adopting!

↧

The ROCK

November 10, 2014, 10:18 am

≫ Next: Christmas is upon us.....

≪ Previous: Waiting on the Lord...............................

A few months back I had posted that one of the grants (A church in MN) we applied for had called. They said they were not awarding us an amount at this time, b/c their funds were low, but they said they would keep us updated and basically that God has always brought the funds in when needed.

About 2 weeks ago, they called again to tell us that they would be sending us a check. Usually they wait to issue a check until the adoptive families are close to travel, but they are actually discontinuing this particular grant fund and are going to combine with another area church. So, they were sending out checks to the last people they were awarding adoption grants to.