T-Shirts, A Website And An Update

I just love it when God confirms something that I think I'm supposed to do.  I had just told Chris that my next blog post was going to be about T-shirts.  Last week, I was on some blog websites and I saw some people's fundraisers, some of which were T-shirts.    I thought, how cool would that be when I feel like I need some new shirts to be able to bless someone's efforts towards adoption AND be able to use my choice in clothing to witness to and inspire people who see me.  Earlier in the week, I had received an email for people who were frequent sponsors of the Birthday Buddy program here to purchase a Foster and Adoptive Care T-shirt, which I did.  That got me thinking about using what we wear as a way to witness, start conversations and speak to other people.  We all have shirts that promote our favorite team, our favorite places to visit and our favorite brands, so why not use this as a new platform?  I often tend to notice people's shirts, and I think everyone does if you are standing in a long line somewhere or traveling where you might see the same person for long periods of time, so what a great way to promote your favorite charity or organization or fund. 

So, how did God confirm this blog post?  My sweet niece found a website where you can enter a shape and words, and these words are put into the shape onto a T-shirt, so tonight thanks to my wonderful brother-in-law, sister-in-law and nieces, I received the T-shirt pictured below.  Beautiful!!

The other thing I wanted to email about was the coolest website I have discovered!  If you have never checked out www.goodmorninggirls.com, you should!  It has some awesome free Bible studies, inspirational videos and there is a book study starting up in a week!!  I have really loved finding this website and I want to definitely share it with others!!

So, for the update on the adoption.  We just had a phone webinar with our agency (and I really love how proactive they have been since the beginning about any changes) this week to talk about possible upcoming change with Ethiopia.  Basically, Ethiopia is re-evaluating the process, the programs and corruption, so changes could be ahead, although no one really knows exactly what that could entail, but what it will definitely entail will be longer wait times.  They are preparing parents now for 3 and 1/2 years at this point.  We would love to ask for your prayers as we process everything and decide how this looks for us.  We will also no longer be receiving wait list numbers, so after April 2013, our wait list numbers will not be listed on here. 

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.  Acts 20:24

How To Help The Orphan Crisis

When we first decided to adopt, I had no idea how controversial the topic of adoption is.  Although some people say, "Good for you," many have other feelings.  People think it is a bad idea to adopt from other countries, people think it is a waste of a lot of time and money, people think that you are contributing to a corrupt system, people think that your choice of countries is bad, and on and on.  I can find articles and blogs all over the internet talking about how great adoption is and how terrible it is.  However, I bet that a child in the U.S. foster care system doesn't really care about the controversy, I bet a child in an orphanage in China doesn't care about the paperwork it takes to adopt, I bet a hungry child in Africa isn't thinking about the debate of red tape.  They just want to be part of a family who cares for them and protects and guides them.  

So, what to do in the midst of controversy?  I don't know.  That's the real answer.  Everyone has to decide for themselves-pray about it, research, read up, ask questions, but just don't ignore it because it is controversial.  We have prayed about our decisions and God has moved us in different ways since we started this process.  There are so many ways that you can help children who need it.  Our foster care system in St. Louis has wonderful programs to support kids in foster care system.  I just found an organization this weekend that takes care of kids in Uganda and fosters them and they were doing an online auction because they had just received 40 new children from an orphanage that had shut down.  Everyone can find child sponsorship programs that help feed children all over the world to donate to and even start a relationship with a child.  Feel called towards adoption, but not ready to do it yourself?  Check out etsy and look at all of the wonderful things people are making and selling to support their adoptions.  Take a mission trip-it will change your life.  There are so many ways to become part of the help. 

I don't know what is the answer.  There are corrupt systems.  There are not enough programs to support people in poverty.  There is way too much red tape for adoption.  There are not enough programs to prevent poverty and corruption and provide education and support.  Children are starving, dying, living in conditions we would not even fathom, growing up thinking no one in the world cares about them, they are being used and neglected and abused.  The first step really is to just make yourself think about them.  It is not pleasant, but you can't help but care when you put faces to the issues and put feelings to the faces.  These children are part of our world and they will be the adults of the future. 

OH, and if you don't know where to start or can't find a charity that you love, ask me and I would absolutely love to help you find something you are passionate about.  :)

"If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?  Does not he who guards your life know it?  Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?"
Proverbs 24:12

While I'm Waiting...

So, today marks our one year anniversary on the waiting list for our sweet adopted African child.  Of course there is a part of me that would love to say that we were closer to adding to our family, but we are probably less than halfway through our wait.  It is difficult to know how many children around our world desperately need care and a family and it is hard to see how long it takes to do everything necessary to overcome possible corruption and do the best to protect these children in the long run.  HOWEVER, Biblically there are so many reasons to wait, grow patience and learn during this time.  

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:2-8

I am doing a wonderful Bible Study right now about Esther.  It's easy to overlook how long she waited to become queen.  It's pretty awesome what God did while she was waiting to have the second banquet.  I am also doing a Bible study with M in our homeschool about Joseph.  Again, when you know the ending, it's easy to overlook how long he waited in jail for the cupbearer to remember to tell Pharoah about him, or how long he waited to get to see his family again.  

The Bible is full of stories where character was built and the glory in lives were written BECAUSE of the waiting.  If everything came easily, we would not appreciate it nearly as much.  So, we wait.  We wait for God to lead us to the child or children that He has planned for us and we have faith that it will happen in His perfect timing.  

Most importantly, we enjoy the meantime.  We appreciate everything that we have now and live in thankfulness.  We pray for our future children, the children who are in bad situations now and for the parents and loved ones of them who are trapped by poverty, illness, lack of resources, and all of the other trials that they are facing, and we pray that God shows us ways that we can help.  We pray for the children that God has already blessed us with and we pray that He will work in their lives.  

When I thought about writing this, I thought of the song "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller.  It's so beautiful and just gives a peace about times of waiting.  

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  James 5:7-8

AGCI

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

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

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

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.  

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