Anybody who knows anything about adoption will tell you that it’s a journey with lots of ups and downs, that it isn’t for the faint of heart. Being in the middle of it, I will confirm that it’s true. There are days when I’m busy doing paperwork or busy in the many other areas of life, and I’m satisfied with the pace of our adoption. And then there are days when I get sad and impatient. A longing rises up in me, and I get more emotional than usual. Well, today is just one of those days. I’m excited about where we are in the process. We had an orientation call with our placing agency yesterday, and Monday we’ll send in a large amount of money (and paperwork) to get the packet we need to get everything ready for our dossier. Our case worker, Lisa, is almost done writing up our home study, so we’re definitely chugging along. I guess I’m just kind of nervous about sending in the money. I want to send it in, but once we do, we’re back to pretty much nothing in our adoption fund. I know that’s to be expected, but to be honest, it makes me a little nervous. I’ve been praying a lot today, knowing that God loves us and loves orphans, knowing that He will make a way. I just get antsy and forget to rest in the reassurance that He’s always provided for us, that He’s faithful. So, we have to get some papers notarized on Monday, and then we’ll have them and the check in the mail to AGCI. I am SO thankful for the benefit concert and the money that was raised just a week ago! Without it, we would not be able to move forward yet. We’d have to wait, and that would make me really sad. So, again I want to say THANK YOU to those who came to the benefit, to those who have purchased t-shirts, to those who have given money through the Paypal button here on the blog, to those who have stood with us and prayed. We are so grateful for you. Thanks for listening to me think (ramble) out loud tonight. I think it’s just one of those days . . . and this sweet video got the best of me earlier this morning. I’m so excited for this family and can’t wait to put together a video like this one day!
Monthly Archives: February 2010
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a full heart
I’m sitting in the corner of a coffee shop having my own little worship service in my heart as I edit a session. My heart is so full right now that it’s hard not to just stand and lift my hands in praise of the God who loves me so much. My heart is full of His love, and I’m resting in the truth of this song today, rejoicing in it, living in it to the very best of my ability. I’m reading Crazy Love right now with my small group, and my world is continually being rocked. I’m so thankful, though. I’m praying that God will continue to move me out of my complacency into a life that pursues Him and loving others the way He’s always pursued me. We had some great discussion at small group last night, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow with friends and struggle through all of the things God’s teaching us together. My heart is full and overflowing with love for my Savior today.
say it ain’t so . . .
My “baby” is NINE today. I don’t even feel qualified to have a nine-year-old! Am I even old enough to have a nine-year-old – or am I just in denial that I’m actually in my 30s now?! It’s true, though.
Nine years ago today I called in and told my boss that I didn’t feel well and that I wouldn’t be coming in to work. He had been so gracious to me already, letting me work half-days for a few weeks. I got a shower and fell asleep on the couch. I had no idea how precious those couple of hours of sleep would be to me. I called Brad around noon and asked him if he could come home early. When he got home, I decided to call my doctor because I just didn’t feel right. She had us come in and sent us straight to the hospital. It was about 3 PM. Brad drove in the emergency lane with the hazard lights on, and I kept telling him to stop – that it was embarrassing! I think he was more nervous than I was! The labor and delivery went well, and at 11:02 PM, we finally got to meet the precious little boy that God had blessed us with. I will never, ever forget seeing him for the first time. I was exhausted, relieved, and overcome with all kinds of emotion. Our families drove up that night to be with us, and it was incredible to have them in the room right after he was born. I will always be grateful for them making the trip to be with us and celebrate with us.
There’s something unique about your firstborn, and there’s a special bond that I have with Riley because for a while it was just us. We spent our days together, and we learned together. I am so proud of who he is. He’s complex and that keeps me trying to figure him out. In a lot of ways, he marches to the beat of his own drum. He’s incredibly creative and imaginative, and I love the way he draws. He loves to play and spends the majority of his free time outside. It is my prayer that he will grow up with a passion for following God and loving Him with all his heart. That he will use the gifts and talents that God’s given him to the best of his ability. That he will find his niche and thrive in it. I am incredibly proud to be his mom, and I love him so much it hurts sometimes. He just might be the best surprise we’ve ever gotten! Happy birthday, Riley. I love you to the moon and back!
[picture captions]:
first pair of funky converse that he picked out (loved that he wanted something different!) . . .
his 8th birthday party (I will always love this picture – many battles have been fought in our backyard!) . . .
Cole took this picture of Riley & me at Radnor Lake. I like it even though he cut our feet off! . . .
crazy brothers in downtown Nashville . . .
Mama loves her boy. . .
Summer fun with good friends. (Riley’s friend, Seb, moved back to Australia last year. I was so sad for him. They were best buddies.) . . .
Brothers stick together . . .
They don’t come much more handsome than that!
what a fabulous night!!!
The Show Love benefit concert was Saturday night at Edgehill Studios Cafe. We had been planning and organizing all of the little details for weeks, and I really hadn’t stopped to think about what it would be like to have a big crowd of people rally around us and give money to go toward something our hearts are so connected to. I knew the performers would be amazing because we know all of them personally as friends. I knew the venue would be relaxed and cozy with just the right amount of Nashville funkiness. I knew the precious pictures from my friend Kaydee would look great on the tables and cause people to visualize what our little ones might look like. I knew the food and drinks would be yummy and that the volunteers would be great. I just hadn’t stopped thinking about the details long enough to realize what it would feel like to have people support us like that – some that we don’t even know.
Saturday morning I began to think about the significance of the evening and couldn’t stop thinking about our kids in Africa. Kids I don’t even know yet but love very much. I contemplated what it would be like one day to tell them stories of how so many people cared about them before they even knew them, how people sacrificed financially with us to get them home.
The night was great, and the artists who performed certainly did NOT disappoint! Josh, our worship leader at church, opened up, followed by Sarah Jane, and then Jason and his band rocked the house. They were all amazing, and I’m inspired by their talent, their love for music, and their hearts. I’m still touched by the fact that they donated their time and talent to our cause. I won’t even begin to list the names of those who contributed to making the night a success, but there are many, and you know who you are. We are grateful for every person who came out, donated items for the silent auction, or supported us from a distance because they were too far away to come! Thank you!!!
Get your SHOW LOVE T-shirt!
The t-shirts that I mentioned in THIS post have arrived, and you can get yours today! All proceeds, of course, go toward our adoption fund. Click on “T-Shirts” at the top of the page to order yours. There are two styles available for adults & a heather gray version for children. If you have questions about sizing, please email me using the “Contact” link at the top of the page. Lots of people wore theirs at the benefit concert Saturday night, and they look great! More about the benefit coming later today, so check back! . . .
CBS news story
every five seconds
First Lady Michelle Obama has unveiled a nationwide campaign to combat obesity. Over the past three
decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled; nearly one-third of children in America
are now overweight or obese. Mrs. Obama has made this one of her main causes and
wants to put the country on track to solve this problem in a generation.
I have no problem with Mrs. Obama’s plan. I want children in our country to be healthy. I want my kids to be healthy. I do, however, have a problem with the fact that nearly 1/3 of American children are overweight or obese when an estimated 16,000 children DIE every day from hunger-related causes. Sixteen. Thousand. That’s one every five seconds. I know there are all kinds of factors contributing to childhood obesity in our country, and I am certainly not saying that I’ve got a solution for either problem. It’s just something I find myself thinking about often. Especially when I read about Dorchelle and Raymond and Gedeon and Darlens. Do you know what Kwashiorkor is? Have you ever heard of Marasmus? I didn’t know what they were either until recently. But I do now. And my heart breaks for people who live in the reality of these terrible diseases. We are blessed in America. We also have a responsibility to use our resources wisely. If you’re a Christian, you are called to care and act. I can’t solve the world’s hunger problem. But I will CHOOSE to live my life with hungry people in mind. I will CHOOSE to love them and show my love for them through my actions. I will CHOOSE to remember than I am RICH and that I have so much to give. Just some food for thought (pun intended) . . .
Ethiopia
Sorry for the little “lull” here on the blog front. I came down with something on Friday, and I’m still feeling pretty rough. I tested negative for strep and flu, so the doctor said I must just have a virus . . . which just has to run its course . . . ugh! I haven’t been sick in years (literally), and these past few days have made me very thankful for good health. As I’ve been confined mostly to the bed or couch, I’ve been thinking a lot about people all over the world who feel this bad all the time with no promise of getting better. They can’t drive down the road to the walk-in clinic and get a diagnosis. Even in my sickness, I feel very blessed to have so many medical resources available to me. Just something I’ve been thinking about – how the way we view our life is all about perspective.
I’m reading THIS book right now, and I’m really enjoying learning about Ethiopia’s history and culture. Here are a few fun facts:
Birr – Ethiopian monetary unit, composed of 100 cents
Wat – thick traditional stews that are made with meat, chicken, lamb or vegetables and flavored with a variety of spices such as curry, pepper and tumeric.
Injera – flat, crepe-like sour bread made from the grain tef
(Wat is traditionally served atop injera. The injera is torn into small pieces and used in place of utensils.)
Amharic -official language of Ethiopia
The population of Ethiopia is approximately 85 million. There are an estimated 5 million orphans in that country alone.
Ethiopia underwent a series of tragic famines in the 1980s resulting in perhaps a million deaths. Slowly, however, the country has begun to recover, and today the Ethiopian economy is one of the fastest growing in Africa.
I have more to share, but that’s all the energy I have for now. We’ve been told (by our Ethiopian barista friend) about a great Ethiopian restaurant here in town. We’re planning to go to Abay soon to have some wat & injera ourselves!
OH, and I haven’t posted since our home visit last Thursday. It went great, and our case worker is writing up the home study now to be sent to our agency for approval. Yay!
Hannah’s Hope
**I know I said I was going to post some interesting facts about Ethiopian culture today, but I ran across a video again last night and really wanted to share it.**
This video is about the orphanage and transitional home in Ethiopia that is currently (or will be) home to our boy(s).
To see some more pictures of the new Hannah’s Hope facility, go HERE. I’m so thankful for this place and the people who love on these kids daily, and I CAN’T WAIT to go there!
home study update
Brad and I had our first home study interview today! We met up with Lisa of Adoption Assistance, Inc., and she is great to work with! She will come over for our home interview on Thursday, and I can’t tell you how excited I am for the “ball” to be rolling! We’re going to go ahead and submit our I-600A form with USCIS this week, too. Within a couple of weeks, they’ll send us fingerprint appointment times. It’s all part of the “paper chase” that you hear about when people talk about adoption. I’m thankful for people like Lisa who have a heart for helping people adopt.
Oh, and about the fire extinguisher . . . if you’re going to adopt, you need to have one of those on each floor of your house for your home interview. I know, I know. We probably should have already had those in place. But we’re slackers, and we didn’t. Do you? Anyway, we have them now.
We’ve been busy making plans for the Show Love benefit concert that will be held at 7 PM Saturday, February 20th at Edgehill Studios Cafe. If you’re in the Nashville area, we’d love to have you come out for a FUN night with us! Local artists Jason Eskridge, Josh Bronleewe & Sarah Jane Madole will be performing. We’ll be selling our Show Love t-shirts, and there will be a silent auction as well as some cool handmade goods for sale. All proceeds will go toward our adoption fund. YOU can play a role in a little boy (or little boys . . . have you heard, we’re open to siblings?!?!?!) having a real home with a family. If you can’t come but still want to contribute, you can use the paypal button here on the blog and make your donation. If you’d rather send a check, email us using the “contact” link above, and we’ll send you information on how to contribute that way. Thanks for reading and for all of your prayers and support!
Stay tuned for some interesting facts on Ethiopia . . . coming tomorrow . . .