"The Wheels Are In Motion"

Whew.....The wheels are really in motion on our adoption journey. In some ways it is going so fast, we can't necessarily keep up. But God is good and I have been reminded that His hand is guiding me and holding me fast and I praise Him for that.

You can check out the Adoption Timeline periodically to see where we are at on our journey. Early March will be our home study visits and once the home study is completed we can officially apply for grants and adoption loans. This is good news as we have had set backs in the financial area. I am still looking for a job (another long term sub position is open right now---that I am praying to get and you can join me in that request :) ). And I guess I never blogged about it, but my Chris had an emergency appedectomy on Jan. 28th. We literally got the bill today and at this point our part is $900. (Chris says $900 isn't too bad to save his life---which I have to agree. :)) He never was really sick and bounced back very quickly, however, that thing could have burst any second and we are grateful that we got it out before things could have been worse (another HUGE praise). Of course, $900 is our next major fee due to Citizenship and Naturalization Services, along with $500 to complete the home study. Please pray that we can get the job & that perhaps we will qualify for payment assistance/scholarship with the hospital.

My best friend and I are working together to put on our first fundraiser. It will be a 5K run/walk and 1 mile fun run (for the kids), tentatively planned for May 7th, the saturday before Mother's Day. So that is exciting--anyone and everyone in the Franklin County area can save the date and participate!!! I am debating on what other events to hold or do in order to raise funds, however none of these ideas can just be pulled off quickly. So that is prayer request #2, for wisdom and such so that people don't easily tire of our fundraisers too soon and that we will know when to or when not to stop.

So....story to warm your heart: Sunday after church, we were eating lunch when Eli (5 yrs) says, "Mom, there are six of us here." I, confused, said "Six? Who are the six people here?" And Eli quickly counts all physically present in our family and then smiles at me and adds "Chloe makes six!" My heart just lept for joy, as I know that I am constantly thinking of her, but to know my Eli knows she is present in our hearts and minds is mindnumbing to me (in a good mindnumbing kind of way).....Even though she isn't physically here, God knows where she physically is and we are all over here praying for her to join us as quickly as God will allow. Meanwhile, below is a pic of our family having fun on an upteen snow day in January. Based on some of the referrels some families have been getting, it is not unrealistic to think by next January our family picture will be different with, all six of us in it.

A Healthy Expectancy

Do you know what the problem is with adopting? :) You have all these other opportunites to find out about others who are adopting and help them fund their adoption and even recieve some of the cutest crafts/jewelry/art that is reminiscent of the country you are adopting from or a verse that is special and relevant. It is really hard to not buy everything you want when you need to be saving yourself. But that is my problem, I am expecting. :) (In a good way....)

All that to say, there is some B-E-E-E-autiful art that I have learned about within the last month and it is hard to pick my favorite. I love what she does with a newspaper and some paint!!! She is adopting a child from Ethiopia (she already has one adopted child and two biological---if I am correct in my readings) and is on the waiting list....she has been waiting for 3 months is having a 3 month waiting giveaway here. Also take some time to look at some of her fantastic art. Obviously, at the present moment, I am not buying any art---but I am trying to win the giveaway and perhaps some day down the road, I can buy some. (I am on a winning streak with some blog giveaways). :)


Adoption is so crazy....It is amazing that there are so many orphans out there (in case you don't know the number=147 MILLION) and yet "the man" makes it so hard to actually adopt. Even when you decide to, there are so many questions/hurdles to overcome. We are in what will be possibly over a year long journey, + or - several months. I remember when Chris shared that he was ready to adopt---something we had been praying about for years---I felt like I was "expecting" without the expecting. I did share with a couple of friends, who definately shared in my excitement. But after reading the above blog.....I have to prepare myself to know and understand that that excitement may dwindle (although I DO have some amazing friends). After all I don't have a baby bump or ultrasound pic to prove it, a due date to look forward to, or an insurance plan to cover it. I figured rather than a 9 month pregnancy I'm in a who knows how long "expectancy" (and I thought 9 months was long!). I had to look up whether or not I made up that word or if it was a real word. Duh! Well of course it is, but more often we think about it in regards to life expectancy rather than a pregnancy. (Side note: the average life expectancy in Ethiopia is 55 yrs). The good news is: God has already taken the ultrasound pic, He know the hairs on her head and when she is to be born, and He has provided me with the greatest insurance policy known to living man. I can expect good things from Him, because He has promised that to me (Jeremiah 29:11). I want to have a healthy expectany while I wait on our baby to be known to us, I want to not disappoint God while I wait. I love the song "Worship While I Wait" (from the Fireproof soundtrack). That is my plan--to worship while I wait. The funny thing is I'm not even close to a waiting list yet....but I am still waiting on all the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place. I know they will.


Some good thoughts to look up on a healthy expectancy:

Lamentations 3:24-25 (Amplified Version)
Psalm 27:14 (King James)
Psalm 5:3 (NIV)
James 1:6-7 (NLT)


Devotional Blog that discusses "lively expectation"


I am excited about this expectancy and I am excited about expecting God to act in the life of our family, here and in Ethiopia. The cool thing about having high & lively expectations with God, He is the only one that won't disappoint!!!

Thanks for listening to my sentiments!

Adoption Auction for a friend....

Our friends Jennifer & Trevor who have been such an encouragement to us at the beginning of our adoption journey are having an Adoption Auction in 1 WEEK!!! They are opening their home to a sibling group from Ethiopia and are already on the waiting list with the same agency that we are using, Children's Hope International. They are such a Godly couple and example of what it means to live life abudantly in the name of Jesus. If you like to shop online anyway for cute crafty items or jewelry and such, please visit their blog and check out the items that will be up for bid. Just in time for Valentine's Day!!!

Make your own free slideshow

Here is a winter slideshow. Even though winter is not over, I shall go ahead and post in hopes that it will get over sooner than later. lol. I really have been an awful mom on the upteen snow days we've had. Not very creative and a lack of energy for playing outside with the kids in the snow. ( I HATE playing in the snow...so I put it off as long as I can. Not sure when this Hate occurred , being that I distinctly remember enjoying it as a child--but just like your taste buds can change, I guess so can your seasonal playtime preferences)...so I got real excited when a fellow MOPS mom shared about snowcream. I had not heard of it before Friday. And lo and behold, I had all the ingredients to mix together in my house (very rare). It only has 3 ingredeints plus the snow, so I guess that might not be as impressive as it initially sounded. Anyways, I let the kids help me with the measuring and mixing and we made a HUGE bowl of snowcream and it was delicous. Eden shared that "from now on this is a new family tradition!" We were having lots of fun. Eden said "Dig in!" and so we did. A bit later Eli shouted "NECK FREEZE!!!" and then he said "Heart Freeze!" He is such a funny kid. Anyways snowcream was a big hit in my house and a tradition I don't mind, because it brings the snow inside where it is warm & cozy---where I like it.

I'm No Marathon Runner......or Am I?

Being that this is a family blog....I gave Chris permission to post posts if he so desired...he finally did so. (I love him & am proud to be his wife by the way!!!)

A marathon runner? No, not me. Running 26.2 miles (in a row) seems quite daunting. Although I have a few friends who have done this numerous times and enjoy it immensely, I’m not sure I will ever be up for the challenge of a run like a marathon…or am I actually running in about 4 of them as we speak?
I have struggled with being at healthy weight for years.(Insert "Fatter Than I Want To Be" by Shack) About 15 years ago, I was at a weight I wish I was at now. It has taken me 15 years to get to the unhealthy point I am right now. I have made some strides toward getting healthier in the last few years but sometimes it seems as if I’m going two steps forward and one step back. It is progress none the less, but not as fast as I would wish. Why should I be discouraged when the solution doesn’t happen over night? It took me 15 years to get here so it might take me some time to turn it around. It isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon run. I’m in it for the long haul, the long run.
I have been married to my wife for almost 12 years. She is beautiful, amazing, and my best friend. We currently have 3 kids, true blue blessings from God. I love my family. But there are times when Amber and I just aren’t connecting, the kids are running us a little ragged, and family life seems a bit crazy. We also just recently jumped in head first into the world of international adoption. Something we have prayed about for literally years. We are excited but know there are many hurdles to clear before we have a beautiful baby girl from Ethiopia in our arms. (Insert the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children” here) Even with all the excitement, it sometimes seems overwhelming; the time, the money, the unknown. I have to remember, I’m in it for the long haul, the long run. It is not a sprint in time like a few bad days, weeks, months or even a few tough years. I want to glorify God in my marriage, be the best husband I can be, show Jesus to my kids and help bring them to a saving relationship with Him. My family life is a marathon run.
Being a part of ministry is a blessing. Being able to help people come to Jesus, care for people, and help lead them in worship is great! There are times when, believe it or not, discouragement sets in. Church attendance was down one week, offering seemed a bit low, no one showed up for the event we planned, and someone is calling to let me know my choice of songs wasn’t quite their cup of tea. The church is in it for the long haul, not the short sprint from week to week. I want to be a part of what God is doing in the life of those who are in my community. None of us is perfect; we are all growing and learning, and running a marathon in ministry.
The most important race I am in is a race to eternity. New life in Christ is a race. I have to set my life and my mind on the things that are eternal and stay focused. I can get tripped up with all kinds of worldly distractions, my own sin issues, feeling discouraged or tired, but I keep running. (Insert 33miles song, “Today” here) Paul said in Hebrews 12:1-3 “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (The Message) I got a feeling that if I am running THIS race focused, and on target, the other races will come along nicely.
A marathon runner? Hmmm….maybe I am. Maybe we would all do well to remember that life is a journey not a destination (insert NewFire song, “Journey” here). Let’s start and keep running!
(Sorry for all the song references, my life sometimes seems best played out in a musical)