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/