Thursday, February 24, 2011

ADOPTION T-SHIRT

Adoption T-shirts are now available for pre-sale now through March 15!
Please go to the ADOPTION T-SHIRT page in the list on the left for further information.
Thank you for supporting orphans and their forever families.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Hope has a family!

Right at this moment, my husband and a friend are cutting a hole in a wall in my house.  The bedroom that has been Amelia's is becoming hers and Hope's.  It is a great room for a couple of little girls, but it only has one small closet...for TWO GIRLS.  This will never do.  So as I "stay out of the way", they are turning wasted space into Hope's closet.  We are making room and preparing to bring our girl home. 

This week, somewhere around the holiday of love, Hope will find out about her forever family and receive pictures of us.  I wonder how it will go.  Will she love us at first site as we did her...will she think we are old?  As a way to begin the bonding process, we (adoptive parents) send care packages with other adoptive parents when they go to Ethiopia for court or embassy. 



Because packing space is VERY valuable, we can each send a one gallon bag full of goodies.  Can you believe I got a complete outfit (including a pair of jeans) in a one gallon bag?  I am excited to add that the person delivering our care package was also used by God to start the awakening in our souls that lead to an interrupted life.  I know she will love on our girl a little for us while we cannot.  Someday (hopefully very soon) we will be able to do the same for another family.  I love being a part of such an amazing group of people that have such a heart for the Lord and His children.

So...Hope has a family and I am busting at the seems with love and happiness, but what about all the other waiting children?  I can't stop thinking about the children in the transition home that Hope plays with, eats with, sleeps with, that don't have a forever family.  They haven't received a care package and they don't know that someone is coming for them.  What if you are their someone?  Just think about it.  I want to bring them all home with me...and I might...bring home one or two more.  We'll see.  Just imagine the difference you could make in the life of a child without a family.  My heart is breaking for them.  I pray that God will rise up families who will take that beautiful leap of faith.

While we wait for that call announcing our travel date (to become Hope's parents), we will prepare our home, our hearts and our lives for our girl.  Thank you Lord!

Friday, February 4, 2011

HOPE

What a strange week it has been!  We have been "iced in" all week with 13 degree highs and 9 degree lows....in TEXAS!  It's been GREAT; not the cold, but the time at home with the family.  I should have used the time to clean my house.  Where is the fun in that?  I have so many books I've been waiting to read, so I indulged myself by the fire in a couple of those (both about Africa, of course).  The overwhelming theme all week has been...HOPE.

Do you love Jeremiah 29:11?  I do.  Michela (my 14 year old) does; she has it written on her vanity mirror.
Here it is from The Message:

I know what I'm doing.  I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

I love the peace this verse gives me in any circumstance.  I can trust God!  He knows what He is doing and it is good for me!

BUT....did God mean this verse for EVERYBODY?  It's not too hard for us to believe; we've all been through ups and downs.  We know God brings us through the highs and lows.  He's done it before.  But what if you are a seven year old girl who has just lost everything?  It is pretty hard to believe that God knows what He is doing.  You feel VERY abandoned.  All you have is HOPE.  You HOPE that God has a plan.  You HOPE that He will not forget you.  You HOPE that He sends somebody to love you.

God does have a plan and a HOPE for the future...US!  We, His hands and feet, ARE the plan!  We ARE the HOPE for the orphaned and abandoned child!  Micah 6:8 says:

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.  It's quite simple:  Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously--take God seriously.

God has shown us what He takes seriously:  the poor, the sick, the widow and the orphan.

If you say,"Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook?  Someone is watching you closely, you know--Someone not impressed with weak excuses.
Proverbs 24:12

We are so thankful that God would allow us to be a part of His plan.  Don't miss the blessings He has planned for you.