Our Advent Calendar

After admiring many advent calendars, I finally put this together yesterday.  A little late...I know.   I borrowed ideas from Ann Voskamp's jesse tree advent devotional.  She is offering it free here... http://www.aholyexperience.com/.  I love the idea.  Each day the kid's have a new challenge... all centered on celebrating God's love.  Today's challenge... they have to be extra special nice to each other ALL DAY LONG!  So far, so good!  :)

Our first update!

After waiting (im)patiently for 3 weeks, we got our first update.  YAY!!!

He has a brilliant smile in the top picture, and is showing off his 8 teeth!

Waiting....

I’ve never been good at it!  I’m learning patience in this process… well, I’m trying!  Our dossier is on its way to China!  Now we WAIT… and pray that it goes quickly!  There are no guarantees on how long this step will take.  The last few days have been hard.  I don’t even know why… maybe the holidays.  I should be celebrating our dossier… that’s a big deal!  But, instead I am hurting!  I just want Jude in my arms!  I didn’t expect this part to be so hard.  Adoption is messy!  It involves loss, brokenness, “broke-ness”, and tears.  It is also the most beautiful thing I have ever been a part of.  Jumping into something that I have absolutely no control over…. something that, in my own strength, I could never do.  Then, watching in amazement as God moves mountains.  I am thankful that God is bigger, that he heals broken hearts, and that he has reminded me over and over again of his love.  I am thankful for the love and support of friends… and even strangers.  I am thankful that God has given me the opportunity to love this precious little boy!  He is worth every falling tear!

It's in the mail!

I just mailed our dossier!!!  Please pray that it arrives safely... and that I didn't make any mistakes!  I also mailed a package to Jude!  We were able to send him a photo book and a lullaby CD.  As soon as our dossier is logged in, his caregivers will tell him that he has a FAMILY!!! 

Thanks to another adoptive Momma, we have been in contact with a foster home in Beijing.  We will be volunteering there for a few days before heading to Shanghai to meet Jude.  I've started collecting hats for the kids.  I'm so thankful for the people helping me with this project!  I got these in the mail today... So CUTE!

John 15:12

My heart hurts today and my arms are aching to hold my baby.  I pray so often that someone will take a few minutes today to hold Jude… to just love on him.  With 700 other kids in the orphanage, I’m sure the caregivers are extremely busy! The thought of one of them taking the time to show love to Jude makes me happier than you can imagine! 

 

Then it hit me…  All 700 of these orphans are God’s children!  The love and desperation I feel for Jude is just a fraction of the love God has for him.  The world is full of God's children.  So many who are lonely, hurting, and just needing someone to stop being “busy” for a couple of minutes and just show them love.  I wonder how that makes God feel. I wonder how many opportunities I have missed because I have been too “busy”.  God, break my heart for what breaks yours.

"My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you."  John 15:12

I Saw What I Saw

I saw what I saw and I can't forget it
I heard what I heard and I can't go back
I know what I know and I can't deny it

something on the road, cut me to the soul

your pain has changed me
your dream inspires
your face a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what I'm afraid of
and what I know of love

we've done what we've done and we can't erase it
we are what we are and it's more than enough
we have what we have but it's no substitution

something on the road, cut me to the soul

I say what I say with no hesitation
I have what I have but I'm giving it up
I do what I do with deep conviction

something on the road, cut me to the soul

your courage asks me what I’m afraid of
your courage asks me what I am made of
your courage asks me what I’m afraid of
and what I know of love
and what I know of God

By Sara Groves



Sunday Snapshot

A little sneak peek

I wish I could share more!  Trust me... he's PRECIOUS!

Exciting news!

I’m super excited to announce… we are having a beautiful baby boy!  He is just over a year old.  He has chubby little cheeks, a beautiful smile, and bright eyes.  I wish I could share a picture… because he is just so darn cute… and because I’m super excited to show him off!  His caregiver says that he is active, social, and a little naughty!  Ha… He’ll fit in well!  He was born without a right hand… but, they say that he doesn’t let that hold him back.  Now, before you read any further… go back to the top and read the verse in the title picture.

…..(waiting)…. 

 A fear of mine going into this was, how do you know?  How do you know that this is your child?  What if we accepted a referral for the wrong child.  Does this sound crazy?  I really need to stop worrying!  Throughout the adoption process, Isaiah 41:13 has been such a comfort to me.  When I started this blog, I decided to use it in the title.  I remember wondering why he said “right hand”.   Was there something significant about a right hand?  Do you think it is a coincidence that out of all of the verses, this is the one that I haven’t been able to get out of my head!  I think it’s a God thing!  :)

Some things I’ve learned from my kids….

Mia taught me that I LOVE being a mommy!  I absolutely LOVE it!!!  Sawyer taught me that there is no limit to the love I have in my heart.  I remember being worried that I would never be able to love another child as much as I love Mia.  Sawyer quickly laid my fears to rest!  I have already learned some important lessons from our new baby … and we haven’t even met yet.  Baby #3 is teaching me that God loves all of my kids more than I can even imagine!  I KNOW this… so, why do I still struggle?  My heart aches because we have a baby out there somewhere and I have no control over what is happening with our child.  This part is REALLY hard for me!  I know that God is in control… but, I keep fighting for the steering wheel.   Our new baby is teaching me, every day, to trust God!  Even when it hurts, even when I don’t understand, and even when the waiting seems like it will never end… I need to trust God! 

Be STILL, and know that I am God.   Psalm 46:10



Every 15 SECONDS!

Every 15 SECONDS, another child becomes an AIDS orphan in Africa
Every DAY 5,760 more children become orphans
Every YEAR 2,102,400 more children become orphans (in Africa alone)
143,000,000 Orphans in the world today spend an average of 10 years in an orphanage or foster home
Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…
Every YEAR 14,050,000 children still grow up as orphans and AGE OUT of the system
Every DAY 38,493 children AGE OUT
Every 2.2 SECONDS, another orphan child AGES OUT with no family to belong to and no place to call home
In Ukraine and Russia 10% -15% of children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide before age 18.
60% of the girls are lured into prostitution. 70% of the boys become hardened criminals.

Many of these children accept job offers that ultimately result in their being sold as slaves. Millions of girls
are sex slaves today, simply because they were unfortunate enough to grow up as orphans.
Courtesy of the Home For Good Foundation

Our shirts are in...

Our shirts are in... and they look AMAZING!  I'm super excited!  We are selling them for $20 each.  If you would like to place an order, you can use the donate button to the right.  Don't forget to leave me a note with your size (adult Small - XXL).  Also, if they need to be shipped, please add a few dollars to cover the shipping costs.  Thank you so much!

bare feet, giggles, and sticky licorice kisses!

Today I am so Thankful for

my family

good friends

our church

your amazing support and encouraging words

and for bare feet, giggles, and sticky licorice kisses!

The Starfish

There was an old writer that used to go to the beach in the mornings and walk, sometimes for hours, in search of inspiration for his writing.  On one such occasion he was taking his walk and as he looked down the beach he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. 

The old man smiled to himself at the vision of someone dancing with the sunrise and continued on his way, curiosity having got the better of him. As he came closer he saw that it was a young man and he was not dancing at all.  He was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As the old man got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I can see that, but WHY?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in they'll die."

 The boy stated this so matter-of-factly that the old man was taken aback at first, wondering if there was some logic he was missing.  He said quietly, "young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and thousands of starfish all along it? You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves.  He turned to the old man with a smile and said,

There was an old writer that used to go to the beach in the mornings and walk, sometimes for hours, in search of inspiration for his writing.  On one such occasion he was taking his walk and as he looked down the beach he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

 

The old man smiled to himself at the vision of someone dancing with the sunrise and continued on his way, curiosity having got the better of him. As he came closer he saw that it was a young man and he was not dancing at all.  He was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

 

 As the old man got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

 

 The young man paused and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

 

 "I can see that, but WHY?"

 

 "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in they'll die."   The boy stated this so matter-of-factly that the old man was taken aback at first, wondering if there was some logic he was missing.  He said quietly, "young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and thousands of starfish all along it? You can't possibly make a difference!"

 

 The young man listened politely then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves.  He turned to the old man with a smile and said,

 

 "it made a difference for that one."

 Based on "The Star Thrower" by Loren Eiseley

Holding My Hand

“Break my heart for what breaks yours.”  This prayer has changed my life.  My heart is broken and my eyes were opened to the orphan crisis.  Who would ask for a broken heart?  It HURTS!  It has challenged me and it has forced me out of my comfort zone.  It has been difficult…but, BEAUTIFUL!  Along this journey, I have learned so much about the heart of God that I would not have known otherwise.  I have learned that there is a difference in believing in God and having a personal relationship with him.  I have learned that God can use anyone… even me! 

The more I learned, the more I ached to adopt…. But, it seemed impossible.  There were many things that seemed to stand in our way.  In March of this year, a friend loaned me the book "Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman.  While I was lying in bed reading, my 3 year old son crawled up and cuddled in next to me.  I told him that he had to lay there quietly because I was really into this book!   Sawyer kept pulling on my arm, trying to get my attention... again, I told him to be quiet.  In the book, the Chapman family was releasing balloons in memory of their daughter Maria.  As they let go of the balloons, one of the kids looked down to see a ladybug on her hand.  Since Maria had always loved ladybugs, they saw this as a sign from God.  As I was reading, I began to ask myself if I am open to SEE God's plan for me.  I was specifically questioning adoption.  I began to pray.  I needed a sign… a giant, neon, flashing sign!  My son continued to pull at my arm.  I finally put the book down and looked at him.  He smiled at me, pointed at the ceiling, and said, "Look mom, a ladybug!!!  I think she's looking for her momma".   Yes, directly above my head, a ladybug was crawling on the ceiling!   So, I was sure … but, Mike was not.  My heart hurt!

The following Sunday, we listened to two men give their testimonies at church.  They were visiting that day and were on their way to Colombia to start an orphanage.  The first man started his testimony with James 1:27.  My tears began to fall.  This verse was everywhere lately!  I could relate so much to everything he was saying.  I looked over to Mike and he was wiping away his tears.  Mike doesn't cry... this was huge!   These men explained that they are nothing special.  That they are holding on tight to God's hand and he is leading them.  Things that had seemed impossible were made possible by trusting God!  I thought about everything that had happened in our life over the past year and I was overwhelmed by God's love and faithfulness!  Instead of going directly into the sermon, our pastor decided to take some time to pray. He said that he felt God was working in the hearts of some of the congregation.  Maybe he saw me crying… I don't know.  With our heads down and our eyes closed, he asked that if God is moving you to take action, raise your hand.  WE did!  This was us, taking our first steps together on our adoption journey! 

God has shown me that, with him, nothing is impossible!  We have taken a leap of faith and applied to adopt through a special needs program in China.  I still get scared.  Not everyone is supportive.  We don’t know how we will pay for it.  I have to remind myself everyday that God is in control.  I struggle… but, when I look back at what God has done in our life, I can’t help but get excited to see what happens next!  I’m so thankful that God is holding my hand through it all!