Be blessed by this amazing blog...

Since beginning our adoption process in the Summer of 2010, I've really become thrust in to the world of blogging.  It has been such a blessing to read about people who share the same passion and pour out their lives to care for orphans.  One of my favorite blogs that has touched my heart and brought me to tears is this one:

http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Katie, a girl in her twenties, moved to Uganda and has been living there the past four years caring for 13 little girls, her "daughters", several of whom she's adopted.  She began a ministry called Amazima and she spends her days living in Uganda pouring out her life caring for people in the community, helping women make a living creating necklaces, and caring for her family of daughters.  I was so touched reading one of her recent posts "Around Here We Live Bent Low".

Check out this amazing blog and be blessed by it!

Is the American Dream Keeping Us From Adopting?

This video was created by an adoption ministry called The Zoe Foundation.  They are working hard to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion by helping families fund the cost of adoption, educating the church about the redemptive power of adoption, and providing quality care for birthmothers who decide to place their child for adoption.  The following is a short video they made which provides some food for thought:

I don't believe that everyone is called to adopt.  However, I do wonder with over 147 million orphans in the world, if there are people who are called that are NOT considering adoption because of their pursuit of the American dream. 

We felt a clear call to adopt, are doing it, and I still wrestle with the fundamental question of how much is enough.  I, like everyone else, want my stuff and my comfort.  I cannot, however, deny that God has rescued me, not so that I can spend my life focusing on my own spiritual development, doing a couple of good deeds here and there or chasing after the world's definition of success.  He has rescued me for something more--something greater.  President and CEO of International Justice Mission, Gary Haugen, said in his book, Just Courage,  "God calls us to make the transition from being those who have been rescued from the world, to those through whom God is literally rescuing the world."  He went on to say:

"Indeed, many Western Christians simply have no idea what an utter, desperate disaster is taking place twenty-four hours a day around our world.  They have no vivid picture of what life is like for hundreds of millions of people in our world who live in crushing, spiritual darkness, humiliation and despair.  They just don't realize that there are millions of people crying out every day to be rescued from aching, urgent hunger; from degrading and hopeless poverty; from the ravages of painful disease; from torture, slavery, rape and abuse.  The vast abundance and isolation on the Disneyland island of the world's affluent communities means that many Western Christians miss God's great calling to a life of heroic rescue simply because they are largely oblivious to the need.  They just can't imagine that there could really be any great heroic struggle that would need their help."

There is a great heroic struggle that needs our help, and may we all be better for considering whether or not the American dream or our own indifference is keeping us from it.

 "And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  --Micah 6:8

May God Bless You

Fransiscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort

at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships

so that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger

at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people

so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace

May God bless you with tears

to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war

so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and

to turn their pain into joy

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference in the world

so that you can do what others claim cannot be done

to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

 

While We Wait: Nesting (and other Pregnancy Parallels)

I'm nesting.  Big time.  In fact, I feel like this summer is a time to really get my act together so that I'm completely prepared for what's ahead.  If that's even possible.  I've been reading this great book about making a family mission statement, clearing the clutter out of your home, and spending your time and money better.  "Living holistically with your life's purpose", as the author calls it. 

Sounds nice, doesn't it?  This book has brought up a lot of great conversation between my husband and I.  We've asked ourselves things like: what is our purpose as a family? what would people say about our family as a whole? what would we like them to say in 30 years? when are we at our worst?  when are we at our best? what we could do better? and what is the main purpose of our home? 

It's been good and hard to reflect on these things.  Good because it gets me focused and excited for what's ahead, and hard because I have to admit my downfalls and be reminded that I'm not exactly where I want to be.  I praise God for His patience with me!

I'm hoping that this mission statement does what it's supposed to do and helps us to better stay focused in a world filled with distractions.

I've also ordered one of my favorite child-rearing books and am determined to become more pro-active in my parenting.  Of course, as usual, I'll read as much of it as I can to my husband. :)

Also, I'm eagerly, joyously awaiting a phone call from our adoption agency to let us know that they have our referral.  We could get the call any day now, or it could be another couple of months.  I find myself sometimes running to the phone when it rings during the day.  The last month of my pregnancy with each of our girls was kind of like this--wondering daily if it would be the day that something would happen.  How my heart longs to lay eyes on our little one!

However, this time around, I'm praising God that I don't have morning sickness or swollen ankles.

147 Million Orphans Fundraising Gear

We have partnered with 147 Million Orphans to sell fundraising gear that has 3 great purposes: 

1) To bring awareness to the fact that there are approximately 147 million orphans worldwide.

By wearing the gear, people are reminded of the fact that there are over 147 million orphaned children in the world today.

2) To provide food, water and medicine to children in need.

The profits that the 147 Million Orphans organization receives are used to provide for the basic needs of orphaned children.

3) To help our adoption fund. 

147 million orphans allows adoptive families to buy their gear for part of the cost and sell it at their retail value in order to make money to put toward their adoption.

Check out the gear and let us know if you'd like to purchase one of these great items:

                                                                                   

               Women's Cream/Black Baseball Tee $34.95

Women's Black/Cream Baseball Tee $34.95

Men's Brown T-Shirt $19.95

Kid's Mint Green T-Shirt $19.95

Silicone Cuff $9.95

Magazine Bead Necklace $19.95 (Handmade by women in Uganda)

We have limited quantities available of each item pictured.  We are also able to order more merchandise if anyone is interested.  Also, if there is an item pictured on the 147 Million Orphans website that you like but don't see here, let me know and I can see if it is available for adoptive families to purchase for fundraising.  Please let me know if you are interested in any of these items by leaving a comment, emailing or calling me. 

We still have between $10,000-$15,000 to raise, and every penny helps us get closer to reaching our goal!  Thank you so much for taking the time to look and consider!!

Happy Father's Day!

Today I honor the man that I love. 

What would we do without this hard working, deep thinking, God fearing, love giving, knee bending, sensitive soul that makes us laugh, comforts us when we're down, provides for our needs, and leads us in love as we seek more of Him?

Daily, I watch the children I dreamed of having since I was a young girl be loved by the man that I dreamed of having since I was a young girl. 

There's too much that I take for granted.  I am blessed.

  Happy Father's Day to our hero!  We love you SO much!!!

Book Recommendation

                                                            

I recently read Unplanned by Abby Johnson, a former pro-choice employee of Planned Parenthood turned pro-life member of Coalition for Life.  I highly recommend this book! 

The official Unplanned website says this about the book:
Unplanned is a heart-stopping personal drama of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle, and spiritual transformation that speaks hope and compassion into the political controversy that surrounds this complex issue. Telling Abby’s story from both sides of the abortion clinic property line, this book is a must-read…

There is also a documentary out on DVD about Abby's story.  View the trailer: