We have been studying the book, Crazy Love by Francis Chan at our church. It has been extremely challenging and makes you look at your life choices in a serious way. Today I was reading one of the chapters and was hit hard by what Francis said, "How we live our days.....is how we live our lives. We each need to discover for ourselves how to live this day in faithful surrender to God as we "continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2:12)"
It makes me ask myself the hard questions:
Do I surrender each day to God?
Do I see each day as an opportunity to live out my faith in Christ?
Do I make the most of each moment I have with my children?
Do I view my children as HIS, created for HIS service?
How do I spend my time during the day?
How do I spend my money?
Is my home used for HIS purpose and not just mine to look cute and organized?
and so on and and so on....
This book for sure has been life changing. My response is to take time to seek Him to see where in my life I need to change. I need to step out in faith and trust God will be there to see me through. I need to surrender my life to Him daily, and even hourly.
When I think of this adoption journey, it defintely has taken faith. We felt a strong calling, and God has been faithful every step. I need to trust that God will see us through to the end of this, and though I know there will be very difficult transitions, I need to trust that He will bless the surrender.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
September Number
We did get our email from our caseworker last night. I will admit I knew what number we were going to be because I found the blog of the family that is just before us on the wait list. They also want a 0-12 month. They received their numbers earlier this week so I pretty much knew we would be number:
It is crazy to think that we are now in the single digits!! Our caseworker will call us later this month to discuss the referral process. After 1 year and 6 months I never thought we would ever get to this point. Our girls still talk about him daily, and pray for him almost every night since we got on the wait list. We have his room all ready to go and Maia is now downstairs in a big girl bed. She still does not understand why "her" crib is in her brother's room. It was so fun to finally decorate a boy room.
On another note, I had the chance to meet with 8 other women who are either on the waiting list for adoption, or have just come home with their children. We met at 7:30 and did not leave the restaraunt until 10:30. It was such a God send!!! I needed to talk to other people who understand and know. I needed to hear the reality of the first few months, but also the blessings. I wish I could put into words what a blessing that night was to me. God knew just what I needed and connected me with one of these women back in May.
Now please pray as we near referral time that we will wait patiently for the Lord's plan.
It is crazy to think that we are now in the single digits!! Our caseworker will call us later this month to discuss the referral process. After 1 year and 6 months I never thought we would ever get to this point. Our girls still talk about him daily, and pray for him almost every night since we got on the wait list. We have his room all ready to go and Maia is now downstairs in a big girl bed. She still does not understand why "her" crib is in her brother's room. It was so fun to finally decorate a boy room.
On another note, I had the chance to meet with 8 other women who are either on the waiting list for adoption, or have just come home with their children. We met at 7:30 and did not leave the restaraunt until 10:30. It was such a God send!!! I needed to talk to other people who understand and know. I needed to hear the reality of the first few months, but also the blessings. I wish I could put into words what a blessing that night was to me. God knew just what I needed and connected me with one of these women back in May.
Now please pray as we near referral time that we will wait patiently for the Lord's plan.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
What Are You Waiting For?
"What Are You Waiting For?" That was the title of my devotions this morning. It was based off of Psalm 40:1-5. This is what it said,
We wait for everything. For the dryer to finish. For our husbands to get home. For the phone to ring. For the baby to wake. For the mail to come. For the car to pull up, returning our child safely home. For a job. For answers to prayer. With so much experience, we're remarkably unskilled at waiting well. Waiting seems to us a colossal waste of time. But the fact is that while we are waiting, God is working. To move us where he wants us to be. To readjust the lives of others so that his ultimate desires will be fulfilled. To bring about what will make us eventually Christlike, though not necessarily immediately comfortable. What are we waiting for? And more to the point, how well are you waiting for it?
I loved this! It is so true that my life is spent waiting for the next change in my life, or the next stage of kids, or things as trivial as stated above. Even though this adoption process has taken much longer than we anticipated, God knows the best time for us to bring our "little man" home. There are times when I am waiting patiently and enjoying our family life right now. However, there are also those times when I am annoyed and just wanting to get him home. I think both can be good, but I am thankful through our waiting, GOD is working.
We wait for everything. For the dryer to finish. For our husbands to get home. For the phone to ring. For the baby to wake. For the mail to come. For the car to pull up, returning our child safely home. For a job. For answers to prayer. With so much experience, we're remarkably unskilled at waiting well. Waiting seems to us a colossal waste of time. But the fact is that while we are waiting, God is working. To move us where he wants us to be. To readjust the lives of others so that his ultimate desires will be fulfilled. To bring about what will make us eventually Christlike, though not necessarily immediately comfortable. What are we waiting for? And more to the point, how well are you waiting for it?
I loved this! It is so true that my life is spent waiting for the next change in my life, or the next stage of kids, or things as trivial as stated above. Even though this adoption process has taken much longer than we anticipated, God knows the best time for us to bring our "little man" home. There are times when I am waiting patiently and enjoying our family life right now. However, there are also those times when I am annoyed and just wanting to get him home. I think both can be good, but I am thankful through our waiting, GOD is working.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
One year on the waitlist but the end is near
While we were camping this week we received our August number. I was happy with the movement seeing that the courts are closed for August and September.
We are.....
Yes we are number 12! This is becoming so real now. Being number 12 actually feels like this is really going to happen. This also causes a bit of anxiety for me. It causes me to be up during the night wondering what do we need to being doing to be ready for a referral.
We had a AGCI picnic today and it was such a blessing. Jason stayed home while Maia slept so it was just me and the girls. I had the chance to talk with families who have both been home for about 4-5 months. They were so helpful and answered my many questions. They let me know that the blessings far outweigh the difficulties, but that coming home and adjusting is hard. Please pray for us as we near the time of finally seeing our "Little Man's" face and also as we begin to discuss and learn about cocooning. I will explain more on that in another post.
We are.....
Yes we are number 12! This is becoming so real now. Being number 12 actually feels like this is really going to happen. This also causes a bit of anxiety for me. It causes me to be up during the night wondering what do we need to being doing to be ready for a referral.
We had a AGCI picnic today and it was such a blessing. Jason stayed home while Maia slept so it was just me and the girls. I had the chance to talk with families who have both been home for about 4-5 months. They were so helpful and answered my many questions. They let me know that the blessings far outweigh the difficulties, but that coming home and adjusting is hard. Please pray for us as we near the time of finally seeing our "Little Man's" face and also as we begin to discuss and learn about cocooning. I will explain more on that in another post.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
New Number and Feelin Really Good!!!!
OUR NEW NUMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so excited this month to have such big movement. God is so good!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
wedding pics
Here are a few pics from the wedding reception I did.
The bride wanted a "vintage" feel, and if you know me at all you know I am crazy about "vintage" right now. I have a variety of vintage glassware, and used it for some of the centerpieces. I used a variety of flowers from my mother-in-laws garden, and herbs. I made artichoke hearts into candle holders, and covered a few vases with asparagus. I even had a great vintage suitcase for the cards. I forgot to take a picture of the old wedding photos we displayed at one end of the building. The white wreaths you see I made from coffee filters. They cost me about $8.00 a piece to make. We also had paper lanterns, and lights hanging from the ceiling. I am not sure why I did not get a picture of that. It was a great experience and I would love to do another one. Here the pics...
This was what an example of what was in each centerpiece.
This was what I displayed the place cards on. It was an old window I had purchased from a thrift store for a few bucks, and knew something could be done with it. I stapled ribbon to it, added small clothespins, and hung it. I did have to use the table for a few of the place cards also. I put them on the table and secured them with strands of black ribbon.
The bride wanted a "vintage" feel, and if you know me at all you know I am crazy about "vintage" right now. I have a variety of vintage glassware, and used it for some of the centerpieces. I used a variety of flowers from my mother-in-laws garden, and herbs. I made artichoke hearts into candle holders, and covered a few vases with asparagus. I even had a great vintage suitcase for the cards. I forgot to take a picture of the old wedding photos we displayed at one end of the building. The white wreaths you see I made from coffee filters. They cost me about $8.00 a piece to make. We also had paper lanterns, and lights hanging from the ceiling. I am not sure why I did not get a picture of that. It was a great experience and I would love to do another one. Here the pics...
This was what an example of what was in each centerpiece.
This was what I displayed the place cards on. It was an old window I had purchased from a thrift store for a few bucks, and knew something could be done with it. I stapled ribbon to it, added small clothespins, and hung it. I did have to use the table for a few of the place cards also. I put them on the table and secured them with strands of black ribbon.
Friday, June 10, 2011
May number and June numbers
I am so sorry I never posted our May number. We were number....
I was ok with this small movement last month. Jason was more discouraged than I was. However I just opened our update email for June. Our new number this month is...
I am feeling a bit discouraged. I know they have prepared us for a longer wait time, but waiting is hard. I feel for those families who are waiting for their first child. I cannot imagine how the wait for them may seem soooo much longer.
I have three beautiful daughters at home to keep me busy. Sometimes it feels like we will never get there. I remember our social worker telling me there will be hard times during the wait, but I could not imagine that. I hate paperwork, so I thought as long as I was not doing paperwork life was grand. She was right, waiting is not as great as I thought it would be.
Spring is always busy for us. Jason coaches high school soccer, attends crazy amounts of graduation open houses, and has so many school obligations. I am on the steering committee for our community Vacation Bible School, and did my first wedding (I will try to post pics soon). The wedding was sooo fun, and would have been even better if it wasn't the week before VBS started. I am so glad to have Gabbie home for the summer. The girls have been in the pool nonstop, and playing with the neighbors. I love summer!!!!
That's all for now. Please continue to pray for this process.
I was ok with this small movement last month. Jason was more discouraged than I was. However I just opened our update email for June. Our new number this month is...
I am feeling a bit discouraged. I know they have prepared us for a longer wait time, but waiting is hard. I feel for those families who are waiting for their first child. I cannot imagine how the wait for them may seem soooo much longer.
I have three beautiful daughters at home to keep me busy. Sometimes it feels like we will never get there. I remember our social worker telling me there will be hard times during the wait, but I could not imagine that. I hate paperwork, so I thought as long as I was not doing paperwork life was grand. She was right, waiting is not as great as I thought it would be.
Spring is always busy for us. Jason coaches high school soccer, attends crazy amounts of graduation open houses, and has so many school obligations. I am on the steering committee for our community Vacation Bible School, and did my first wedding (I will try to post pics soon). The wedding was sooo fun, and would have been even better if it wasn't the week before VBS started. I am so glad to have Gabbie home for the summer. The girls have been in the pool nonstop, and playing with the neighbors. I love summer!!!!
That's all for now. Please continue to pray for this process.
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