status

First of all...have I shared this picture with you yet? 

Those of you that have ordered shirts or given donations have already gotten it, but I thought I would share it with everyone else too.....

(you can enlarge it by clicking on the picture)

I can't wait to take that same picture again. Only with a precious little one in that seat.

So..........our status???

Still. trying. to. finish. our. house.

Yep. Believe it or not, that's it. Mitch is working hard and trying to get it done quickly, but his free time seems to be limited lately. Realistically, it will probably be another two months before it's done. Which means another two months before our home study. Which means another two months before this whole process can really get up and running. In all honesty, it is hard sometimes to know that we could already be 4 months into this process if it wasn't for this crazy project we started two years ago, never knowing what all it would entail. Ugh. 

But, in the end, I know it will be worth it. 

We will have a bigger house to be able to fill with more kids!!! :)

In the meantime.....we are still doing fundraising and praying fervently for our child. Please continue to pray for her, and us, as well.

AND.....please watch this video. It's about 8 minutes long, but it is worth it. It is a perfect reminder of God's true plan for the orphan and fatherless.....and any one of God's children that is hurting and in need. 

Be strong....and courageous....

I stumbled across this video today. And cried. So many things touched my heart in it. Take a few minutes and watch it please. I know it looks like a cartoon and has the possibility of being cheesy. But watch it, it's worth it.....















Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.


Now, we will not walk up to an orphanage and "choose" a child.  That's not really how that works most of the time. There won't be a little big-eyed girl waiting by a window hoping she is pretty enough for us.

But, the symbolism of this video is correct.....

We, as privileged Americans (and yes, that means us...who are by NO means wealthy), have a choice. We have a choice to either help save an orphan from a love-less life,

 or choose to pretend they don't exist. 

When God spoke to us about adoption, as scary and intimidating as all that was (and still is), we could have said no. We had that choice. No one was forcing that upon us. There was all of a sudden this big, scary cliff and we could either choose to jump....or choose to turn around and head back to a safer place.

There are times now that I can't believe we chose to jump. My husband is not a jumper. He might make it down the cliff eventually, but he does so by scaling the rocks with ropes and harnesses and helmets. But, this time...he jumped. We jumped. And the funny thing about a cliff is (are you tired of this metaphor yet?) that there is no way to get back up. You make the decision to "jump" and your journey becomes God's and not yours.

So, I want to encourage you today that if God is speaking to your heart about adoption or foster care (which my sweet friend knows a lot about and can give you info if you are interested), even if it's just a whisper......please, don't ignore it.

Here is your cliff. You can choose to jump and rescue a precious life or you can choose to turn around and head back to your nice and comfy existence. I know it's scary. I say that in the midst of the scary. But, I also know that there is a reason God has softened your heart to that and what He wants from you is obedience. That's it. He will carry you through those scary moments. He will figure out the hard stuff. (I am telling myself this as much as you!!)

There are 147 million orphans in the world. One less doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But, I want you to do something. I want you to watch that video again and picture that sweet little big-eyed cartoon character as your daughter. Or your son. Does it break your heart more to picture your little one, who you adore and dote over.... all by themselves.....waiting?    Waiting for someone to love them?

Caring for orphans is a reflection of what God has done for you and me. He has rescued us from a pit and has adopted us as heirs in the Kingdom of God.

It is the heart of God that we care for the fatherless....the orphans.....

The helpless put their trust in you. You are the defender of orphans . . . . Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. 

Psalm 10:14, 17

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27

God's heart is also for you, dear friend. He will not leave you.

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.

Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9 happened to be Sam's memory verse a couple of weeks ago from church. Memory verse for a 2 yr old, you say? Yeah, that's what I thought too. But, one day in the middle of HEB, he started quoting the first part of Joshua 1:9. He now says it all the time. It is just about the cutest thing ever and I love how he says/yells "be strong and dageous.........joshua.....joshua...9 9 9!!!!" But besides the cuteness factor, it also seems like God was trying to figure out a way to make me hear it over and over again. 

And maybe you too????

So, I know this was kind of a "soap box" post. But, I felt like God was telling me to write it. Even if it is just for one person out there considering adoption or foster care. I hope it was encouraging to you. 

Be strong and courageous!!!!!!! :)

Update

Well, we got our fancy schmancy, cost way too much, computer back today. The hard drive had failed and had to be replaced. Which means LOTS of data was lost....well, maybe. We are going to attempt to send the old hard drive to some 'magic people' who claim they can recover lost data from damaged hardware.
I know that may not seem like urgent or important news, but really, all of Mitch's work related invoices, budgets, bids, etc...plus ALL the pictures I've taken over the last year and a half could all be lost forever. We would both be heartbroken. But, we are hoping for the best.

So, like I said before, I lost my super organized spreadsheet of tshirt orders when my computer decided to get sick. So, if I am a little slow getting your tshirt to you, please be patient with me. I promise it will get there and never mistake my slowness for lack of appreciation for your donation and support! We are so grateful for those of you who have been more than gracious to us. God continually shows me His mercy and providence through the most unlikely people. And I am amazed at the obedience those people have showed in doing what God has asked of them to help bring an orphan home.

So.....

update on the process....

We were advised by our agent at our agency (which is All God's Children International....I don't think I have ever mentioned that before) that we can't move forward until our addition on the house is completed. The first step in this whole process, after the application part of course, is the home study. And they want to see our "home" finished. So, Mitch has been working his booty off nights and weekends to make progress on it. And he has made leaps and bounds compared to just a month or so ago. He is awesome.

Our goal is to be completely finished by Christmas (inside and out) so we can have our home study in January. Once that is completed, the long paper work process begins. Then once that is done, we wait for an official "approval" from our agency and the Ethiopian government. Then, we wait. And hopefully that won't be long, but it will more than likely be at least 6 months before we get a referral for a child. Then the travel planning begins.....then.....she can come home!!!

Wow. Does that seem like forever to you too? Sometimes that part can just be so discouraging. But, I have to believe that it is all in God's timing. Cause I know for sure that that is not my timing at all. I have to remember that there is a work God is doing in our hearts during this season of waiting.

So, please continue to pray for us. For an abundance of time for Mitch to finish the house. For an abundance of finances to make it possible. For patience for this pretty impatient mama who is ready to get this ball rolling. For our children's hearts. For God to help us reassure them that there is enough love in our family for them and another little one. (I told Addie tonight that she was my favorite little girl, and she said "what about when the new little girl comes??....."). Pray for our fundraising efforts and that some ideas we are hatching would come to fruition and be successful. But most of all, please pray for that sweet child out there and her mama that will either have to make an extremely hard decision soon, or maybe already has.  And pray protection over that sweet little one's life and heart.

Thank you for your love and encouragement. It is so good to hear sweet words from people who believe in what God is doing. There are days when life seems overwhelming, but when I receive an email or a comment or a kind word I am reminded that we are not doing this alone, and God restores my heart.

I love you all.