I wanted to share the story of how we chose our adoption agency. Once we decided that we were really going to pursue adoption and we felt called to adopt internationally, I started researching agencies. If you want anything electronic, Chris is your man. If you want thoroughly researched homeschool curriculum, parenting resources, crafts for holidays, or adoption agencies, that would be my department. If you've ever tried to research adoption agencies, you will know that it is incredibly overwhelming. Every agency sounds great and there are so many to choose from. It's even hard to narrow it down. So, I started praying. I prayed for God to help me pick out an agency-THE agency that had our child or children. As many with children know, you end up getting a variety of catchy songs stuck in your head throughout the day (ours are more JOY FM now, but we certainly had our share of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Backyardigans) but it's rare that I wake up with a song in my head, although usually if I do it's a song that I heard the other day or that I can link to something. So one morning I woke up with the song, "All God's Children Got Rhythm" in my head. I used to sing this song as a child, but I hadn't heard it in at least 20 years. Right away I felt that I was supposed to look for All God's Children for adoption. Seriously. I didn't even know if there was an All God's Children adoption agency, but I searched and found it. Then I researched it and loved that they were established in each country that they did adoptions from and I loved that they were a Christian agency and I told Chris we had found our agency. Since then I have been impressed by their openness, thoroughness, convictions and their dedication to the countries they have connections with. I have faith that this is leading us to the children who God has planned for us. I also love that I can tell this story to our future children to show them how God led us to them.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:10-11
We started by documenting our Ethiopian adoption, which has now changed to pursuing a little boy waiting in China! We are trusting in God's plan and enjoying the journey.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Changes
I think it's putting it mildly when I say that I'm not really huge on change. I have lived in St. Louis my whole life, minus the four years in college. I even live in the same area that I grew up in where I could get to my elementary school in about five minutes. Although my lovely husband has expanded my palate, I still like to eat rice for dinner and I still like watching "Little House On The Prairie".
Now there are changes that I plan on and then there are the changes that God has planned for you that you can accept and go with or fight (ie. the story of Jonah). Part of my journey with my Christian walk has included learning to let go and let God. Even though I am not in control, I do admit that I like to feel like I am. This is not a great quality when dealing with adoption...or kids....or life in general. Ha!
Lately we have been feeling like our life will be changing. Now, my more planning brain likes to think of all of the possibilities and plan for each one of them. God must roll his eyes at me sometimes. I have become much more of a go with the flow kind of person-homeschooling will do that to you-but I still like to know what is ahead. I actually want to read the spoiler alert and find out what to be prepared for in a movie. I have read the last part of a book to see if someone survives. Although my 30th surprise birthday party was lots of fun, it put me out of my comfort zone.
What I am learning, though, is that God wants us out of our comfort zone. He never says that we will be comfortable, in fact he says quite the opposite. However, and this is a big however, he promises that he can do amazing things with our lives! He can't do these things, though, if we insist on maintaing our control. I am just learning these things and it's scary, but if I can't trust the creator of our universe and instead choose to trust myself, then I know now that I am passing up some great opportunities.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:31-34
Now there are changes that I plan on and then there are the changes that God has planned for you that you can accept and go with or fight (ie. the story of Jonah). Part of my journey with my Christian walk has included learning to let go and let God. Even though I am not in control, I do admit that I like to feel like I am. This is not a great quality when dealing with adoption...or kids....or life in general. Ha!
Lately we have been feeling like our life will be changing. Now, my more planning brain likes to think of all of the possibilities and plan for each one of them. God must roll his eyes at me sometimes. I have become much more of a go with the flow kind of person-homeschooling will do that to you-but I still like to know what is ahead. I actually want to read the spoiler alert and find out what to be prepared for in a movie. I have read the last part of a book to see if someone survives. Although my 30th surprise birthday party was lots of fun, it put me out of my comfort zone.
What I am learning, though, is that God wants us out of our comfort zone. He never says that we will be comfortable, in fact he says quite the opposite. However, and this is a big however, he promises that he can do amazing things with our lives! He can't do these things, though, if we insist on maintaing our control. I am just learning these things and it's scary, but if I can't trust the creator of our universe and instead choose to trust myself, then I know now that I am passing up some great opportunities.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:31-34
Sunday, December 30, 2012
A Different Kind of Christmas
We had a really great Christmas! We decided to do things differently this year and focus more on giving to people who don't have basic necessities instead of giving to people we knew who already have enough and asking for things for ourselves. I read The Advent Conspiracy this year after finding out about it through our church last year. I would highly recommend it to anyone and it is a very short book, which helps to fit into anyone's schedule too. :) So we did hand made gifts, which of course the girls love to do, we asked people to donate any money they would have spent on gifts for us and we were able to make donations to the Charles Mulli Foundation as well as to our church's Advent Conspiracy projects to help Syrian Refugees as well as a really cool organization in St. Louis that helps immigrants who have come here but are now struggling. I really loved the focus we were able to have and the stress we did not have and the girls were really happy to get to help out others. We really loved it!
We also learned about Christmas traditions in other countries, of course including Ethiopia. So we learned about Ganna, both the holiday and the game, and the three circles of the church. We learned about Timkat, the celebration of the baptism of Jesus celebrated on January 19. When I told the girls about the game they play, yeferas guks, A thought it was such a funny name she laughed and spit water across the classroom. I love learning more about Ethiopia and the wonderful culture. I think about our babies over there and wonder what their life is like and if they're being taken care of and then I think about all of the children that already exist around the world who are most definitely in broken situations, unthinkable situations, they are not safe and they are not taken care of, and it breaks my heart truly and deeply. I just pray to God to show us direction on how we can help and to move the hearts of others to become informed and find ways to help. There are so many wonderful organizations all around the world and sometimes we can give prayers, or money, or mission trips, or adoption, or child sponsorship, or Operation Christmas shoeboxes or anything to let people know that we care.
There is so much that each and every one of us can do. Just do something......
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:40
We also learned about Christmas traditions in other countries, of course including Ethiopia. So we learned about Ganna, both the holiday and the game, and the three circles of the church. We learned about Timkat, the celebration of the baptism of Jesus celebrated on January 19. When I told the girls about the game they play, yeferas guks, A thought it was such a funny name she laughed and spit water across the classroom. I love learning more about Ethiopia and the wonderful culture. I think about our babies over there and wonder what their life is like and if they're being taken care of and then I think about all of the children that already exist around the world who are most definitely in broken situations, unthinkable situations, they are not safe and they are not taken care of, and it breaks my heart truly and deeply. I just pray to God to show us direction on how we can help and to move the hearts of others to become informed and find ways to help. There are so many wonderful organizations all around the world and sometimes we can give prayers, or money, or mission trips, or adoption, or child sponsorship, or Operation Christmas shoeboxes or anything to let people know that we care.
There is so much that each and every one of us can do. Just do something......
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:40
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Giving
'Tis the season to talk about giving. This year we've changed our perspective on giving. I guess we have been slowly over the last few years, but I read The Advent Conspiracy and really loved it, so we decided to skip gifts or do homemade gifts this year and donate to the Charles Mulli House instead.
It got me thinking about giving, though, because I think that this time of year people focus so much on obligatory giving, giving certain amounts as well as focusing on feeling guilty about what we can't give. I have definitely had times in my life when I have been able to give more than others, but I've realized that giving doesn't have to be just about money. I remember when I joined the Methodist church the promise was to support it with prayers, presence, gifts and service. I remember someone along the way saying that there are times when each of these is more prevalent and that we can be happy about focusing about what we can give.
My girls are so great about giving what they can, whether it is toys or books or clothes that they have, or money that they have gotten, or sending a card or a text or email. I have learned from them, and from God's guidance that if we just focus on what we can give and not feel guilty about what we cannot give, it brings forth so many more great opportunities to participate in giving every day.
Some examples that I have found inspiring and helpful are: giving someone a book or movie that you watched and don't need to keep, giving someone a text to let them know that you are thinking about them, offering to pick up someone's kids, giving someone a card (handwritten is pretty rare these days!), when you go through a drive-through and realize that you could afford your bill if it was $5 more you can get a $5 gift card to give to someone who doesn't get to eat out a lot, giving your time to pick up something for a friend at the store, letting your kids mail a picture they drew to someone, sending a text of a Bible verse or a picture to someone, giving an invitation to someone to meet for tea after the kids go to bed, offering to watch someone's kids so they can do some shopping or go out on a date night, giving time to take food to a shelter that someone else collected, making some extra food to take to someone so they don't have to worry about a meal, giving extra coats or gloves or hats so someone else is not cold, giving Bibles (we can usually find them at Dollar Tree), giving time to help someone with a project, volunteering to help at a short term project at church or school, and even giving a smile to someone who doesn't expect it.
Giving really does breed good feelings and community and can change someone else's day. I have also notice that the spirit of giving leads to the desire to find more ways to give. Try to find your own creative ways, especially now during the season of giving. You never know what kind of effect it could have on someone else.
It got me thinking about giving, though, because I think that this time of year people focus so much on obligatory giving, giving certain amounts as well as focusing on feeling guilty about what we can't give. I have definitely had times in my life when I have been able to give more than others, but I've realized that giving doesn't have to be just about money. I remember when I joined the Methodist church the promise was to support it with prayers, presence, gifts and service. I remember someone along the way saying that there are times when each of these is more prevalent and that we can be happy about focusing about what we can give.
My girls are so great about giving what they can, whether it is toys or books or clothes that they have, or money that they have gotten, or sending a card or a text or email. I have learned from them, and from God's guidance that if we just focus on what we can give and not feel guilty about what we cannot give, it brings forth so many more great opportunities to participate in giving every day.
Some examples that I have found inspiring and helpful are: giving someone a book or movie that you watched and don't need to keep, giving someone a text to let them know that you are thinking about them, offering to pick up someone's kids, giving someone a card (handwritten is pretty rare these days!), when you go through a drive-through and realize that you could afford your bill if it was $5 more you can get a $5 gift card to give to someone who doesn't get to eat out a lot, giving your time to pick up something for a friend at the store, letting your kids mail a picture they drew to someone, sending a text of a Bible verse or a picture to someone, giving an invitation to someone to meet for tea after the kids go to bed, offering to watch someone's kids so they can do some shopping or go out on a date night, giving time to take food to a shelter that someone else collected, making some extra food to take to someone so they don't have to worry about a meal, giving extra coats or gloves or hats so someone else is not cold, giving Bibles (we can usually find them at Dollar Tree), giving time to help someone with a project, volunteering to help at a short term project at church or school, and even giving a smile to someone who doesn't expect it.
Giving really does breed good feelings and community and can change someone else's day. I have also notice that the spirit of giving leads to the desire to find more ways to give. Try to find your own creative ways, especially now during the season of giving. You never know what kind of effect it could have on someone else.
So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then? He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Luke 3:10-11
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Fundraisers
I know that one of the things that I search other adoption blogs for is a great fundraiser idea. I thought I would blog about some of the ones that we have had. We started the process about a year and a half ago, so we have been doing intermittent fundraisers for a while now.
Garage Sales-We have probably had between 4-6 garages sales already. We email all of our friends ahead of time and ask them to start saving up all of their junk. We try to let people know a couple of months ahead of time, then a month or so and then we start picking items up, and then we send out a last minute reminder about a week before. Our first garage sale was MASSIVE!! The funny thing is that we do not have a garage. LOL We had some wonderful friends volunteer their double garage to store everything and then hold the sale at their house. That first garage sale made us $1000!! We had so much stuff that we had another one the Wednesday after with the leftovers. Since then we have tended to take whatever is left right to donation spots, because we do not have storage in our house for much, so it takes over the whole basement. At that particular garage sale, we even had someone stop by and ask if he could pick up any of our items that we had leftover to take to Joplin, since it was soon after the tornado had hit there. We have also had people mention that they were having a garage sale in the next couple of weeks and we have offered some of our leftover items for them to sell. We have tried to resell items on craigslist or at Once Upon A Child, but that hasn't really worked out for us, so we just choose to donate and bless others now with the leftovers.
Bows-Last year I decided I wanted to learn how to make bows, like the girls hair bows. My mom's best friend is awesome at it and she taught me how to make them. So, I made up lots and lots of bows and we sold them at craft fairs last year. It did take a lot of time, but I just made them slowly at night and gathered up lots of types. The holiday ones went really well and I've heard that school colors and sports teams go well too. We were able to sell them at a homeschool craft fair that was only $20 per table as well as at a church who, when they heard that it was a fundraiser, gave us our table for free!
Fundraising sites-We have joined some fundraising sites, like Ordinary Hero and 147 Million Orphans, but we haven't had too much from these. We haven't really promoted them too much either, though.
Yogurtland-A local business, Yogurtland, let us do a fundraiser where we were able to keep 10% of the profits from a 2 or 3 hour period. We did check with a couple of bigger restaurant chains (Chic-Fila and Applebees, etc.) and they said that they really only do that for bigger organizations. It might be worth it to look into more local places, though. This is one we would like to try again.
Water Bottles-Sounds funny, right? Well each time we did a craft fair we printed up labels and put them on water bottles and gave them away or sold them for $.25. Last year we promoted Ordinary Hero and this year we promoted Chris's quarter rings and attached a link to our blog. People are definitely happy to take a free water bottle!!
IPad drawing-When the IPads first came out, Chris bought one and we did a drawing. We sold tickets for $20 I think, and then we did the drawing with a video of our daughters drawing the winning name and posting it. We also guaranteed we wouldn't sell more than 100 tickets so each ticket would be a guaranteed 1 in 100 chance of winning. We didn't even sell a full 100, so the odds were even better.
Quarter Rings-Right now we are focusing on the quarter rings, because they are really so cool and people were really interested in them at the craft fair. Chris also has a real talent for jewelry, unlike my many hours learning how to make bows including hot glueing my fingers to the point of major blisters! We promise we will get a link up here for the rings soon.
The other thing I would recommend to anyone is just to be open to what God can put in your path. We have had opportunities where we could just say that we would do something for someone "for an adoption donation" and we have just needed to be open to opportunities we hear about. We have also had friends just hand us checks out of the blue! We also have a separate account just for the adoption, so all of our money goes right into that. Obviously, anythings we don't have money for in that account comes out of our regular account, but it is a good way to keep it separate.
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8
Garage Sales-We have probably had between 4-6 garages sales already. We email all of our friends ahead of time and ask them to start saving up all of their junk. We try to let people know a couple of months ahead of time, then a month or so and then we start picking items up, and then we send out a last minute reminder about a week before. Our first garage sale was MASSIVE!! The funny thing is that we do not have a garage. LOL We had some wonderful friends volunteer their double garage to store everything and then hold the sale at their house. That first garage sale made us $1000!! We had so much stuff that we had another one the Wednesday after with the leftovers. Since then we have tended to take whatever is left right to donation spots, because we do not have storage in our house for much, so it takes over the whole basement. At that particular garage sale, we even had someone stop by and ask if he could pick up any of our items that we had leftover to take to Joplin, since it was soon after the tornado had hit there. We have also had people mention that they were having a garage sale in the next couple of weeks and we have offered some of our leftover items for them to sell. We have tried to resell items on craigslist or at Once Upon A Child, but that hasn't really worked out for us, so we just choose to donate and bless others now with the leftovers.
Bows-Last year I decided I wanted to learn how to make bows, like the girls hair bows. My mom's best friend is awesome at it and she taught me how to make them. So, I made up lots and lots of bows and we sold them at craft fairs last year. It did take a lot of time, but I just made them slowly at night and gathered up lots of types. The holiday ones went really well and I've heard that school colors and sports teams go well too. We were able to sell them at a homeschool craft fair that was only $20 per table as well as at a church who, when they heard that it was a fundraiser, gave us our table for free!
Fundraising sites-We have joined some fundraising sites, like Ordinary Hero and 147 Million Orphans, but we haven't had too much from these. We haven't really promoted them too much either, though.
Yogurtland-A local business, Yogurtland, let us do a fundraiser where we were able to keep 10% of the profits from a 2 or 3 hour period. We did check with a couple of bigger restaurant chains (Chic-Fila and Applebees, etc.) and they said that they really only do that for bigger organizations. It might be worth it to look into more local places, though. This is one we would like to try again.
Water Bottles-Sounds funny, right? Well each time we did a craft fair we printed up labels and put them on water bottles and gave them away or sold them for $.25. Last year we promoted Ordinary Hero and this year we promoted Chris's quarter rings and attached a link to our blog. People are definitely happy to take a free water bottle!!
IPad drawing-When the IPads first came out, Chris bought one and we did a drawing. We sold tickets for $20 I think, and then we did the drawing with a video of our daughters drawing the winning name and posting it. We also guaranteed we wouldn't sell more than 100 tickets so each ticket would be a guaranteed 1 in 100 chance of winning. We didn't even sell a full 100, so the odds were even better.
Quarter Rings-Right now we are focusing on the quarter rings, because they are really so cool and people were really interested in them at the craft fair. Chris also has a real talent for jewelry, unlike my many hours learning how to make bows including hot glueing my fingers to the point of major blisters! We promise we will get a link up here for the rings soon.
The other thing I would recommend to anyone is just to be open to what God can put in your path. We have had opportunities where we could just say that we would do something for someone "for an adoption donation" and we have just needed to be open to opportunities we hear about. We have also had friends just hand us checks out of the blue! We also have a separate account just for the adoption, so all of our money goes right into that. Obviously, anythings we don't have money for in that account comes out of our regular account, but it is a good way to keep it separate.
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Saying Goodbye
I didn't think it would be so hard to leave my job. I know I only work part time, and on the flip side I know that it's been a part of my life for 10 years. It's the relationships I've built that are hard to say good bye to. I told all of my students this week and many of them were upset or sad or even angry at me. One of my students tonight came in and I knew she was upset, so I asked her if she was mad at me. She said that she wasn't as long as I would be coming back at least by next year. I said I probably wasn't, so she said that yes she was mad at me then. :)
My problem is that I get really attached to kids. God made me a caretaker by nature which makes me good at some things, but not so good at letting go. I hope this will make me a good adoptive mom. I think it would make me a bad foster mom, but some of my wonderful friends who do foster probably have just as hard of a time letting each precious child go, especially if it is to a less than great situation.
Someone told me today not to doubt in the dark what you are sure of in the light. So I won't. I know that it's the season to let this job go, so I will. It will be hard to say goodbye, but isn't it always? I have to focus on what I am saying hello to instead of focusing on what (and who) I am saying good bye to.
I heard the song, "All Things Possible" by Mark Shultz tonight as I was driving home.
Even when it feels like my heart is breaking
Hold on, there is strength
Knowing I belong to the One who’s making
All things possible
I know mountains can move
I’ve seen what You can do
In my weakness
So my heart will believe
If I wait I will see
My God doing, what only He can do
My God is strong and mighty
My God is faithful
My hope is in the Lord
For He is able
Look it up. It's a great song. It's uplifting and reminds you of the strength and power of God. Our future children are going to have to say good bye to their country, their comfort that they have known, their caregivers, etc in addition to whatever else they have had to say good bye to in their lives. I have faith that God can use me to remind them that all things are possible.
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
My problem is that I get really attached to kids. God made me a caretaker by nature which makes me good at some things, but not so good at letting go. I hope this will make me a good adoptive mom. I think it would make me a bad foster mom, but some of my wonderful friends who do foster probably have just as hard of a time letting each precious child go, especially if it is to a less than great situation.
Someone told me today not to doubt in the dark what you are sure of in the light. So I won't. I know that it's the season to let this job go, so I will. It will be hard to say goodbye, but isn't it always? I have to focus on what I am saying hello to instead of focusing on what (and who) I am saying good bye to.
I heard the song, "All Things Possible" by Mark Shultz tonight as I was driving home.
Even when it feels like my heart is breaking
Hold on, there is strength
Knowing I belong to the One who’s making
All things possible
I know mountains can move
I’ve seen what You can do
In my weakness
So my heart will believe
If I wait I will see
My God doing, what only He can do
My God is strong and mighty
My God is faithful
My hope is in the Lord
For He is able
Look it up. It's a great song. It's uplifting and reminds you of the strength and power of God. Our future children are going to have to say good bye to their country, their comfort that they have known, their caregivers, etc in addition to whatever else they have had to say good bye to in their lives. I have faith that God can use me to remind them that all things are possible.
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Saturday, November 3, 2012
New Fundraiser
Chris has started a new fundraiser for the adoption! He studied different kinds of art in college, including jewelry and metal work. So, when he saw a video about how to make rings out of quarters, he wanted to try it. They're really great, and you can read the imprint of the quarter on the inside and outside of the ring. I will post some pictures on here as soon as I figure out how!
We are going to have a link on this blog where you can order them, but right now he's working on making enough for the Homeschool Craft Fair next weekend. So, if you're in the St. Louis area on Saturday, November 10, come to West County Assembly of God Church, 13431 North Outer 40, Chesterfield, MO, 63017.
We also hope to be able to make some out of coins from different countries (Ethiopia, China, India, etc.) and Chris has played around with some coins he got in Guatemala last year.
Yet again, God has been faithful in bringing us our next fundraising opportunity!!
On a personal note, it looks like someone will be taking over my tutoring position in a few weeks, so that will be a big and exciting change for us. We also received our adoption numbers this month, and our siblings numbers went up by 3 spots again (i.e. we are further away from adopting a sibling group), but it makes me happy that it means that more families are making the decision to be open to siblings, so that more siblings can stay together.
Feel free to email me or Chris if you are just so excited to see the rings, and we can send you pictures.
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
We are going to have a link on this blog where you can order them, but right now he's working on making enough for the Homeschool Craft Fair next weekend. So, if you're in the St. Louis area on Saturday, November 10, come to West County Assembly of God Church, 13431 North Outer 40, Chesterfield, MO, 63017.
We also hope to be able to make some out of coins from different countries (Ethiopia, China, India, etc.) and Chris has played around with some coins he got in Guatemala last year.
Yet again, God has been faithful in bringing us our next fundraising opportunity!!
On a personal note, it looks like someone will be taking over my tutoring position in a few weeks, so that will be a big and exciting change for us. We also received our adoption numbers this month, and our siblings numbers went up by 3 spots again (i.e. we are further away from adopting a sibling group), but it makes me happy that it means that more families are making the decision to be open to siblings, so that more siblings can stay together.
Feel free to email me or Chris if you are just so excited to see the rings, and we can send you pictures.
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
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