Sacrifice

Sorry for any awful grammar, it is not my gift.

So often I am amazed at how excited and connected my girls are to this process despite the long journey. They still pray for their little brother or his parents every night. Our oldest Gabbie has surprised Jason and I on her spiritual wisdom at the young age of 6. Her and I had a chance to have some quiet time one afternoon due to the fact that she was being disciplined (lol). We began discussing some of the details of our adoption. She was inquiring when we would get her little brother, and who would go get him. She often says that she hopes he is our Christmas present next year. She even went as far as to tell one of her teachers that she would be fine if he was her only Christmas present. Not so sure she could stand by this one. After we talked for a while, she asked, "Why would God put a baby in a mommy's tummy just so she has to give it away? My brother's mom isn't a bad mom, she just maybe doesn't have enough money to take care of him or she is too sick."

My heart dropped. She really understands that while adoption is a celebration of a child finding his/her forever family, it also is an amazing picture of true sacrifice. I talked with her about how her brother's birth parents will love him so much that they will be willing to give him up so that he can have a better chance at life. I explained to her that God did indeed put the baby in the mommy's tummy, but because of sin in our world; things like disease, poverty, and family brokenness are present. I also explained that the good thing is that God can take a broken situation and turn it for His own good. Our "little man" will get the chance to grow up knowing not only that his parents loved him enough to sacrifice a life with him, but that Christ loved him enough to sacrifice a life so he could be WITH him for eternity.

Tonight I am praying for our "little man's" birth parents. Although I do not know them and may never meet them, we are eternally grateful.

Blog Auction Update

Family Happenings

We have had so much fun in the snow this winter!





The neighbors make an igloo. This is all the kids on our street. We are so blessed with amazing neighbors!!!




My sister crochets and was featured on a local talk show. She needed models, so Gabbie, Alexa and my niece Lily got to be on the show. You can see the actual segment on my sister's blog (www.thedaintydaisyblog.blogspot.com). Here are a few pictures from the day.

Blog Auction

My younger but more creative sister called me earlier this week and asked if she could do an online auction for us to help with some of our adoption expenses. Of course my answer was "ABSOLUTELY!". Jason and I had decided to organize only one fundraiser ourselves, but if someone else would like to organize one we will definitely not turn it down. I hope you will check out her blog. She crochets the most adorable hats, headbands, and booties for infants up to adults. She was just featured on a local talk show. Please check her blog out and consider being a part of her online auction.

I cannot get blogger insert my link so you may have to cut and paste. I am not the most computer savvy.

www.thedaintydaisyblog.blogspot.com

new numbers and a bit bummed

Our number came today. I had a feeling we were not going to see a big jump, but I wasn't prepared to be at the exact same number. I will admit it was a big let down. I had caught word through the adoption blog world that there had not been many referrals this month, but I was thinking at least we would move one number. Our case worker did leave these reasons why we may not have seen a jump in our numbers:

As you receive your numbers this month we want to remind you all of a few factors that go into the calculation of official numbers.

· At anytime we are issuing new numbers there may be families currently in the referral process. Families are not removed from the waitlist until all their official acceptance of referral documents are received by our office.

· Families may return to the waitlist at anytime due to extenuating circumstances including the difficult situation of losing a referral.

· Families ahead of you on the waitlist may alter their parameters at anytime assuming they have the approval of their social worker as well as our social services department.

I understand these reasons, but it still is hard to not move at all. As I write a song I sang in elementary school keeps coming to mind-

"They wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up on wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary they shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait."

TEACH ME LORD TO WAIT

Chapel

Thanks so much for your prayers. Chapel went great!!!! This process of writing down our testimony was so good for both of us. God really orchestrated the entire thing, and for that we are truly grateful.

I wish I had a video to show you all, but no such luck.

January Number

We are glad that we jumped more than last month and it feels good to be in the
30's.

On a quick note: Jason and I would appreciate your prayers this week into the next. We will be giving our testimony at his school in chapel. The theme is trust, and we will be speaking on our adoption journey thus far. We covet your prayers as we try to decide what will be the best way to get high school kids to truly understand what it means to lay your life in God's hands and follow His will.