In a nut shell...

Our Journey to Truth (in a nut shell)...

In August of 2010 Ryan threw me a curve ball. He tole me one day after church that God told him to go to Ethiopia and bring his daughter home. Knowing my Husband this is HUGE Ryan BELIEVING that GOD SPOKE TO HIM!!! I had thought that we were "taking a break" and maybe would parent more children in the future. We started to research agencies and found that WACAP was the only agency that lined up with what we were looking for. One of our key questions had been "what would happen if we were matched and then became pregnant?" WACAPs response was that it would be up to us if we continued with the match (we were sold). Everything went SO FAST!!!...

November 2010...sent in application to WACAP and started Homestudy

Ryan drops another bomb that he believes that it is to be TWO girls!!!!!!!!

December 2010..."approval" of application to WACAP
February 2011...Homestudy is completed and sent to WACAP (for 2 girls)
Early March 2011..WACAP decides they will only allow 1 girl
March 29 2011...Introduction phone call from WACAP...during this phone call we expressed our desires for the age and situation of our daughter.
April 1 2011...WE ARE MATCHED!!!
June 1 2011...WE ARE PREGNANT...

LOL so there will be 2 girls ;)

August 2011...WACAP stopped our adoption due to our pregnancy
January 2012...Selah is Born!!!
February 2012...I e-mail WACAP about Truth ;)...they respond that we need to wait 6 months from Selah's birth (which would be July)
June 2012...I e-mailed again ;) asking if I could at least start the paperwork that would be needed to BRING TRUTH HOME
June 2012...WACAP said YES!!

PAPERWORK...$$$...Homestudy...$$$...

October 2012... Re-matched with TRUTH
January 23 2013...SUBMITTED TO COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Upcoming...
March 29 2013...Truth's court date

To clarify in Ethiopia there are multiple things that need to happen before a child can be adopted. First there is a whole gathering of documents and getting things ready. There then has to be a court date (March 29, 2012) on this date it has to be proven that Truth is an orphan and "needs" to be adopted. On the day of that court date or soon after the court will assign a date for Ryan and I to attend to adopt Truth!...

I hope that this catches anyone up to speed that may just to joining us :) We are open to questions!!!

Beauty in the waiting...

I am finding, through this journey to Truth that there is true beauty in the waiting. We first laid eyes on our daughter April 1 2010 it has been almost 2 years that I have been over the top in love with this child I have yet to meet. God has been able to show me many things in this period of waiting such as a new appreciation for my friends and family who are waiting with me coming along side us through monetary donations to ensure that we can BRING TRUTH HOME. I have learned better how to parent my 5 children, how to truly believe that time with others is so much more important then a tide house, that cereal is an acceptable dinner, to relax. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is absolutely necessary for Truth to remain in Ethiopia as long as she safely can. She is with very loving and caring house mothers and a bunch of amazing children she has grown to love and trust. Taking her from that is going to cause pain beyond our understanding! I feel blessed to be waiting...because now that Truth is "marked" as ours her wait has ended. Though she may not know it yet it is our time to wait she HAS a family no matter how long it takes for her to be here physically with us!! I carry the burden of waiting with great joy knowing that my DAUGHTER is at the other end!!!

We received news today that the court system has once again changed and that our travel will now most likely not happen until late April or Early May. I was first hit with sadness and a slight feeling of loss BUT then I looked to where my strength comes from and was reminded that Truth NEEDS every minute, hour, day, week, month that she can get in Ethiopia before she becomes a Fasnacht and I NEED to want that for her! It is beyond selfish of me to rush her time with everyone that she knows and trusts. So I am boldly saying that I am MORE THEN WILLING to wait for my daughter!

During this extra time I will enjoy crafting more items to help BRING TRUTH HOME. We will complete the basement, decorate Truths room, enjoy the time, and not wish a day away :)

We ask for continued prayers for everyone who comes into contact with any part of this adoption!!! WACAP already knows us ;) and we pray that others will know us to for being that family WILLING TO WAIT on God's perfect timing!!! Truth is an amazing little lady we are sure of that!

Are you positive...

A question was asked of me recently..."ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO ADOPT "TRUTH""??? My response was "Yes we are positive..." From fall 2010 when God told Ryan to "Bring your daughter home from Ethiopia" we have been on a journey to Truth. There have been many bumps and for a time we thought that Truth may be a different child then the one we were matched with in the first place...but after almost a year of "waiting" after becoming pregnant Truth was still there waiting, needing a family. I was positive that if it were Gods will to bring Truth home then he would lay it on Ryan's heart again so I waited (and waited and waited) and finally Ryan says to me randomly "we would never have an abortion would we?" I believe I just looked at him and he continued with "then how can WE stop our adoption" and we were positive again and started to process when Selah was 5 months old. We are positive that this little lady may NOT want a family, we are positive that bringing home a 12 year old girl is going to be beyond challenging, We are positive that she will use the famous "you are not my mother/father/brother/sister/family" lines, We are positive that she WILL long to return to Ethiopia, We are positive that we have a long road ahead, We are positive that we already have a great therapy team ready and waiting on Truth (Drs, therapists, counselors, friends, neighbors, family), We are positive that we love this child no matter if she loves us back, We positive that the pieces of joy are worth the struggle, and WE ARE POSITIVE THAT NO MATTER WHAT JESUS IS HERE/THERE/EVERYWHERE WITH US!!!! This question was asked of me out of a very sad very hurt place but I appreciate it. I appreciate that this friend took the time to ask and make sure that we are prepared for the worst BUT looking forward to the best :).

Christmas project 2012...

A Christmas time challenge...

Last year around this time I challenged my friends and family to give to a Christmas project...I challenged them with out many details...This year I get to challenge you with the FULL details :) We are once again raising money to send to Fields of Promise, they help support a project in Ethiopia called "Operation Rescue Ethiopia" in Mekkele Ethiopia. Last year through the wonderful donations of everyone we were able to touch the lives of over 80 children! These children were able to see our love through the gifts purchased with the money donated!!!! Please consider once again to help in the cause!

The challenge...
What can you do without? Your daily coffee? Eating out once a week? That new toy that your child just HAS TO HAVE!!! I challenge EVERYONE who dares read this to take this to your family and ask "Is there something that we can do without to show a child in Ethiopia love?" Last year my children decided to do without their Christmas gifts and we sent all budgeted Christmas funds to Ethiopia...and guess what my children SO BLESSED because of their decision!!!! They may not have received the lasted toy last year but they did receive an understanding of GIVING that goes SO far beyond my ability to put it into words it is unbelievable! We have not talked with the children yet about Christmas this year and today I dumped a toy box out and made the boys re-sort it (a tiny OCD on my part) BUT while doing so Graham or Everett made reference to how much they have and that their sister does not. They talked about how they gave kids their "toys" last year and how they still have SO MANY toys!!! It was very cute to hear! Also last year we were blessed by many random gifts for my children so please do not think that they had a totally giftless Christmas but we did not spend money on them.

So after you have talked, prayed, thought about this I challenge you to GIVE! Give with your resource, time, space, belongings, words. Give without worry...trust that when God asks you to GIVE HE WILL PROVIDE!!!!

I am NOT saying just give to my Christmas project. I am saying to ASK GOD where you should give and DO IT don't worry in your giving. If God says that Fields of Promised should be blessed though you then I will be more then happy to pass it along! Just give something...

Am I?...

A new perspective...

I have allowed my self one too many minutes of feeling upset about my current circumstances. I allowed myself to feel sorry for myself that my children are in an endless circle of Strep, ear infections, lice (YUCK), growth issues, med issues, school issues and so on and so forth...enough is enough.

Tonight I was challenged by a friend that maybe God is allowing ALL this to prepare me for the arrival of TRUTH.

I have now allowed myself to ponder this ;)...I like this perspective. It is as if instead of throwing me into a marathon with no training HE is totally preparing me for it! The more I think about this the more it makes sense!!!! I have been able to experience the many therapies that my children have needed over the past 6 years, I have visited many hospitals (CHOP, St Christophers, DuPont, Lancaster General, Pinnacle, Hershey, and even a hospital in Dover-Foxcroft Me), I have met many specialists...I can see how God has used each of those to help build on so that the next Dr is easier then the one before. This new venture of illness upon illness and the need to meet and greet new Drs and new places can only make the next leg of this AMAZING PARENTING JOURNEY a tad easier!

Truth is going to be coming and God needs me to be prepared...How gracious is HE to prepare me instead of just throw me into the fire!!!

If you find yourself having a crappy day maybe God is just giving you a crash coarse in how to be a better you, how to help a friend tomorrow, how to be prepared for something greater then you can imagine!!!

Thank you Jesus for trusting me enough to ask me to care for Everett with his ear infection, Aurora with her strep, With the privilege of homeschooling Graham, advocating for Israel's invisible disabilities, and believing that I can be strong enough in you to care for Selah while she struggles with growing properly...AMEN!!!

The song "Strong Enough" by Matthew West is what I said OVER AND OVER in my head while in the hospital with my PE and baby Selah...here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knuHDPbE5es

Loving our neighbors...

Loving our neighbors...

Are our neighbors JUST our family in our home, JUST those we pass on a day to day basis, JUST those willing to give back in a relationship? I believe that through the ability to travel and communicate worldwide that we are neighbors to ALL. Loving your neighbor does not always look pretty either...just like you have to "get dirty" to plant a beautiful garden you may need to sacrifice something for the sake of someone.

Defining “Neighbor”

Luke 10:

²⁵ Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”

²⁶ He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”

²⁷ He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

²⁸ “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”

²⁹ Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”

^30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

^33-35 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

³⁶ “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

³⁷ “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

I have seen so many facebook posts about not having the time, energy, or willingness to help those who need it...I have seen too many posts criticizing the needs of others...I have seen TOO MANY CHRISTIANS saying that it is not their responsibility or that they cannot afford it as they sip their starbucks...um no

Jesus is very clear as to who our neighbors are and how we are to help. There are MANY verses to reference to on this topic!!! My favorite verse is our "family verse" for the year Proverbs 3:27-29

Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
your hand is God’s hand for that person.
Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time”
or “Try me tomorrow”
when the money’s right there in your pocket.
Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.

As I was "walking down my road" last week I came across a friend of mine who looked to need help. I very easily could have "walked past" and thought to myself "someone else can deal with her"...or "it does not effect me". Over the past year I have gotten to know this girl, she is amazing and sweet and has been through more tough stuff in her short years then many of us will ever even see. She had a very tough path to travel last year and I was privileged to be allowed to travel along with her. It appeared last week that this girl may be starting down the same "path" as last year. I had a decision to make...Do I keep the peace and "walk by" or do I value life over peace and make some hard decisions. Now just as the Samaritan had to sacrifice his time, possessions, and money along with other things this decision would require me to sacrifice a friendship, time from my family, and resources. I am still in the middle of this so there is no peace to be seen but I would not trade this mud for a nicely manicured lawn any day!!! When God asks something of us it may cost us in the here and now but the worth of it so surpassed the time and possible inconvenience!!

So dear friends and family I ask you to value your neighbor more then clean dishes, a spotless house, having every toy and being a super parent. I believe our children are taught more through watching us say yes to God then keeping them in a well kept little bubble of total convenience.

Selfish...or not?

This post is coming from a place so deep within only God could have encouraged me to write what is to follow...

Can one be Selfish and Selfless? I honestly do not believe so, and that may offend many. I was encouraged recently to "stop giving so much to others" and to "give more to myself, take more for myself". More what? I am confused at this piece of advice (given by a licenced professional)...if God would like me to take more for myself I am MORE THEN SURE that He will provide. What is being asked of me is for me to say "No" to what God has asked me, called me, to do...who am I to say no? My words are meaningless in the grand scheme of things so I will share with you what God has highlighted from His word for me.

Romans:
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

 11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

 14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

 17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

  20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

I must be missing the part about satisfying my selfish wants...or perceived needs. Who determines what a "need" truly is? All we need is God and in Him, through Him, we will have everything. I would rather my children were starved of food then of the knowledge of Jesus Christ!

James:  ^14-17Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

What if we all took a step back when an interruption is thrown in our path and see what opportunity God is giving us to meet Jesus? Would we be able to be selfish if we were seeing Jesus everyday? Touching Jesus everyday?...

 Proverbs 27-29 has been our "family verse" for 2012...we as a family are longing for a closer relationship with Jesus. Through trying to live by this verse for the entire year I honestly believe we are being changed from the inside out and the outside in. My children are learning that life is not always a pretty picture, if God has given us the time, ability, money we MUST say YES. My children are showing me a level of compassion towards others that I did not know could exist in a child, they are learning to put others first (yes even each other :) and everyday I am excited to hear of their encounters with Jesus!!!!!!

^27-29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
your hand is God's hand for that person.
Don't tell your neighbor "Maybe some other time"
or "Try me tomorrow"
when the money's right there in your pocket.
Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
when he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.

I pray that when my children are grown and they think back to our way of living that one of their first thoughts is "I love seeing Jesus!". Too many of us miss out on encounters from our savior because we are too selfish!! Lift your eyes from yourself and see what God has for you...whatever it is I am sure it will be amazing!