When it rains, it pours!

In January, we began our adoption process, and it is coming right along! And right now we are at the last legs of our homestudy! We are so excited to get this step behind us! Getting through it has NOT been easy. But God has been with us the whole way!

On January 19th, Jeremy kissed me before he headed to work. Normally I fall back to sleep for another hour. This time, I couldn't. I was wracked with fear for his safety! So I prayed, and prayed, and prayed for the Lord to keep him safe. (He was working on a roof that day.) I got out of bed, got ready for my chiropractor appointment, and out the door I went. I decided to call Jeremy on the way, to be sure he was ok, and I told him how much I struggled when he left that morning. He reassured me that the roof was dry, he was totally safe walking around up there, and that he had two guys working with him. That crew is really awesome, and they truly DO look out for each other.

Well, I completed my appointment, drove home, started hanging out with my friend, and I got the call... I knew what Jeremy's boss was calling to tell me. I answered the phone and his boss informed me that Jeremy had fallen off of the roof, and an ambulance was on its way to get him to the hospital. I asked if he was ok, but there was not much information to give at the moment, except that he could wiggle his toes a little bit. I am an extremely calm person under pressure, but I totally LOST IT! This was my husband! The man I love so much, the man I am spending forever with! And I didn't even know if he was ok! I rushed to the hospital, (thank God for my wonderful friend for taking my kids for me!!!) I made it to the hospital 20 minutes before Jeremy. Just enough time to get myself together.

The ambulance FINALLY pulled up, and I cannot explain the ache that I felt inside my chest when I saw my sturdy, strong, and healthy husband strapped to a gurney so he couldn't move anything. The first thing he said, was "Baby, I hurt!" The EMT taking care of Jeremy let me give him a kiss and let me touch his hand to reassure myself that he was ok. All I could say was "Thank God you're alive!!!"

We spent the next 6 to 8 hours in the ER getting scans, x rays, and pain meds taken care of. His injuries were extensive but most of the injuries were considered stable. His left foot had 5 crushed bones that ended up needing three screws for his torn ligaments, he cracked two vertebrae in his spine, but they were stable and didn't need surgery. His right foot had three crushed bones, but did not require surgery. He cracked a bone in his left knee, and tore his left ACL. But praise God! His ACL didn't require surgery since it was hardly torn!

Jeremy was wheelchair bound for weeks! He is now on crutches and is healing up nicely! Its been rough to see him go through so much! But God has taken care of all of our needs!! Which is an absolute miracle!

I am a blessed woman. I know God had his hand on Jeremy during the fall. If he had hit the ground differently, I would not have him here with me today. God cares about our lives, he cares about our fears, and our circumstances. He has big plans for us all. He loves his children.
                                                                      



 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11




http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/dunn-family-adoption/291379#.VO_gHa83JuU.facebook

It's Official!

The time has come! We have started paperwork, and we have officially been accepted into the program for Uganda Africa!!! We are so excited to finally start the adoption process to bring home our son!!!

Next stop...HOMESTUDY! Our application for this huge step, is in the mail!

And in the end of December, we did a bake sale, in conjunction with some friends that are also adopting. We raised over $1100 to split for our adoption funds! God provides for each and every step! (Natanya was very pleased for the success, since the bake sale was her idea, over a year ago! She even participated in the actual sale! My daughter has an incredible heart!)

More exciting things have happened in the last few months! In September, the Lord provided a minivan! We all fit in one vehicle with room to spare! Woo hoo!!! God is so good!

Also, we are moving into a new house with a beautiful yard full of fruit trees, berry bushes, and a garden! There will be plenty of space for all of my munchkins to play! (And I will need that big yard with all of the BOYS that will be running around! Natanya and I will be totally outnumbered!)

Now, as I fill out paperwork, and wait, and wait, for the time I go to my son, I need to remember to hang on the my patience. And cling to the Lord and trust that he will care for my little man while he waits for his family to get him. I have been struggling to sleep because I am consumed with thoughts of this little boy, somewhere out there, that I don't know, but love so much. I try to imagine his face. I pray that he is safe. I pray that he doesn't lose joy, and that he doesn't lose hope for his family to come. This year he will be in my arms! This year he will no longer be a mystery. I cant wait for that referral, just to see his face! I cant wait for the moment I see him and my soul rejoices! Thank you God that I get to bring home our son this year!!!! This Mama is ready! And there are 3 siblings and  Daddy ready for him too!

Almost Time!

We are just about down to it! PAPERWORK!!! In two short months, we will finally take steps into the direction of bringing home our son! We have been preparing ourselves the best we can through prayer, getting advise from people who have adopted, and researching, researching, researching, so that we make well informed decisions along the way. But no matter what bumps come along the road, we are in good hands! And the Lord directs us, and gives us the wisdom that we need!

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps!

Proverbs 16:9

 

 

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him!

Psalm 37:23

 

 



 

We have some wonderful fundraisers up and running. Just Love Coffees is one of them. What an amazing company full of integrity! They were founded by a family that truly has a heart for the fatherless! https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/faithlikecoffeebeans/

 

Another fundraiser was put on by my lovely friend Britany, whom sells Scentsy! https://britanyroberts.scentsy.us/?partyId=262515919. We are so grateful for the help and support!

 

I am also going to start selling children's aprons, that I make myself! Once I get those going, I will post a link to my etsy store!

 

PLUS! Natanya is planning a bake sale! (HER IDEA!!!) Im so proud of her for wanting to work hard to help bring her new brother home! She is so sweet! And she is a wonderful little baker!

 

Now I know some people wonder about fundraising for an adoption. I have heard a lot of comments. Both positive and negative. I personally think it is AWESOME! If we can raise funds for cancer treatments, funds for school athletics, funds for animal shelters, funds for camp, and funds for missionaries...why not adoption fees too? On average, an adoption costs $34,000.... That's a huge number to come up with, and Im sure most people don't have that much money in a savings account! Many families WON'T consider adopting because of that one reason. Meanwhile, approximately 150 million children live without the love of a family.

 

Jeremy and I have a couple of requests. PLEASE keep our family in your prayers. And please keep our new son in your prayers. I don't want him to lose hope of a family to love him, I want him to be safe, and taken care of while he waits. (Thank God for caretakers in the orphanages! They have such big hearts for the kids!) And please keep Africa in your prayers. Ebola is an awful reality there. And many children will be orphaned because of this disease. The Lord heals, and so many are in need of healing!

 

 

Thanks everyone, for the love, prayer, and support!

 



I cannot believe it is MARCH! Time is flying by! We are still saving up for the adoption. And I have spent so much time in prayer, just to ready myself for this process. I can hardly contain my excitement! Declan especially cant wait either! He has such a big heart!

Funny story about Declan; Jeremy and I go out for an annual "date day" every spring. This time we even spent the night some where and had the kids spend the night at a friends house. When we came back home, Declan started running through the house going from room to room in a big hurry. He was going nuts! I asked what he was doing and he said, "Looking for my brother!" I pointed at his little brother, Xander, and said, "he is right here!" Declan gave me a funny look and yelled, "No! My other brother! Didn't you and Daddy go to Ethiopia to get him!?"  I couldn't help but laugh! He thought when we told him we were going on a date over night,  that it meant that we were on our way to Africa! Silly boy! So I had to explain that we wont be going for awhile, but I sure love his excitement over this journey!


Anyways, to help pass the time, I spent a few months helping spread the word about a very special boy in China. Code named "Bennett". I became extremely attached to him. And I clung to every new update I could get about him. I would lose sleep because I knew that the Lord put him on my heart to be a prayer warrior for him. It made me sick that he still waited, and waited, and waited some more! He is SOOOOO precious! Why the wait??!! Yes, he had the special needs label on him. That probably scared a lot of people away..... But thank God! Someone looked past his SN and saw HIM! Bennett has a family! I was in a food court at the mall when I learned of this great news! I could have jumped up and down like a crazy lady!...I refrained.. But that news meant so much to me! God answers prayers!!! And He knows and cares for what is important to our hearts!

2014 Already!

Its 2014 already! That means I can say NEXT YEAR we start paperwork to bring home our newest family member! There is so much to be done! But we are making baby steps! This spring, Jeremy and I get our passports, we still plan on letting Natanya do her bake sale! And hopefully we will figure out some more fundraisers! (Anyone need their house cleaned???)

Waiting is not easy for me. Especially since I keep receiving info via email, on little boys that need Mommy's. Their eyes look so sad even if they happen to have  smiles on their faces... I just want to wrap my arms around them so they know that they are wanted by someone. Some of  these kids are completely healthy, and are passed up because they are older than 3 years old. Some are passed up because they are labeled "special needs". Some of these special needs are considered serious in Ethiopia, but are considered mild here in the states. Examples of these special needs can include: vision impairments, (aka needing glasses), rashes, (like eczema), asthma, and fungal infections. Such minor issues, and can be treated so easily if someone would just look past the label of "special needs".

 For now I just have to trust that the Lord will take care of our child. And that He will bring that child to us as soon as possible. I have to wait upon the Lord.
 
Wait with hope for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Yes, wait with hope for the LORD. Psalm 27:14







Don't forget! We still have our coffee fundraiser up and running as well!
https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/faithlikecoffeebeans/

Even if you are not going to adopt, educate yourself on the facts of HIV!

Since the 80's, the mindset on HIV has hardly changed. Which is preventing thousand of orphans from finding families! We are not planning on adopting a child from this particular special needs category, but I am glad that I read up on it anyways. And you all should too! Even if you don't plan on adopting, check out this short educational video! It makes a bigger impact than my words can. You will learn a lot in just 3 short minutes. And I bet you wont view HIV the same! Spread the word so these kids can find homes!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE9XnX7WRog

 

 

 

 

And don't forget to order up some coffee from our online store! All proceeds go directly to our adoption fund!

 

 

https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/faithlikecoffeebeans/

Adoption is redemption

There will be a day in our future, when we remove a little child from the grasp of a lonely life full of neglect, abuse, illness, hunger, and possibly much more than I can comprehend. A day that my family and I can change a life forever. A day that will break me, and complete me in a moment. A day that we become parents of a child that was brought into this world by someone else, and then couldn't care for them for some, possibly unknown, reason.

 

"A child born to another woman calls me Mom. The depth of that tragedy and the magnitude of that privilege, are not lost on me."-Jody Landers

 

 

Its easy for followers of Jesus to compare redemption and adoption. Because, to us, its the same thing! By definition, redemption means "deliverance" or "rescue" or "salvation". And adoption is "To take up and make one's own". When we bring a child out of such hard circumstances and "rescue" him/her, it gives a chance at a new life. Just as Jesus adopted us into his family, not judging us by our mistakes, but snatching us up and LOVING us! And then leading us into a new life with Him! He makes us His own, despite our blemishes and stains!

 

 

"He predestined us to be adopted as his sons
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—"
Ephesians 1:5


http://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/faithlikecoffeebeans/