Monday, March 29, 2010

T-shirt order


God has been telling us not to live life too safely. Well, He laid upon our hearts this t-shirt idea. We are taking orders and the shirts are $9 each. This is the cost we are paying for them. We have prayed over making it a fundraiser, but God is clearly saying NO. The purpose of the shirts is to be a witness tool. We want people to ask what it means. God desires for us to live our life completely obedient and trusting in Him. Many times that means our actions may not make sense to the world or we aren't living "safely" by the world's standards. However, God says we are to live by His standards, not our own. If you are interested, send me an email - 4oleary@msn.com. We are taking orders until April 15th. You can pay on our donate button or send us a check. Sizes are S, M, L children and S, M, L, XL adults. Please spread the word. Thanks!

God is SO GOOD!

God is so good, all the time! I know that, but He has the most awesome way of reminding me. Last week, we prepared for our big yard sale to raise money for the Beebe adoption and our adoption. We had so many people donate items! There were over 20 families who helped us with the treasures we laid out on Friday morning. Not only that, but there were so many wonderful people (friends) supporting us. From buying food from our kids at the concession stand, to sorting hours and hours worth of clothes for us to sell, to bringing lunch for us on Friday. I could go on and on and on! I am so amazed by everyone's willingness to give their time! Thank you so much for supporting our families! You are helping us bring our children home and it's so incredible to have people standing alongside us! We need that!

We raised $2600 total. Yay!!! What a blessing! Our kids worked hard both days and they made $350 (that's included in the total) on their concession stand. See, God is so good! Just a gentle reminder.

There were so many strangers who touched my heart this past weekend. We had huge signs up telling everyone it was an adoption fundraiser and the kids had flyers they handed out. Some people simply said, "Good luck!" or "I'll be praying for you." One sweet lady had two babies 20 months apart. This alone tugged at my heart because my two oldest are 17 months apart. When she got there she was interested in the double jogging stroller I had used with my two. After talking with her, I discovered she is a cross country coach and needs it everyday. She ended up buying it and as I was helping her load it she said, "I prayed this morning for God to lead me to the right yard sale to find a jogging stroller." And look where He led her! She was even happier to purchase ours to help us with our adoption. Not only that, but adoption is on her heart! Another lady handed me a check for no apparent reason and walked to her car. I was confused and looked toward her. She walked back and said, "That's for your adoption." I hugged her and she said she would be praying for our families and our children we are bringing home. She's spreading the word to her prayer warriors! Two sweet ladies saw pictures of my little ones and cried, which made me cry. Then, one hugged me and said she's so thankful to be a tiny part of our adoption. These people and everyone else who helped in any way or shopped this weekend are not a tiny part of our adoption. They are a HUGE part of it and my Ghanaian children will know the love and compassion of these strangers. I want them to know they were prayed over and loved by complete strangers. I want them to know Jesus' love that shines through His servants. People working for the glory of God and to further His kingdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone! Thank you for reaching out to our families and thank you for loving Jesus!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Dossier is on its way!

We received word from our agency today to send them our dossier. We haven't received our USCIS approval letter, but they are going to send it to Ghana anyways. Yay!!! As soon as they receive the copy of our letter, they'll schedule court. Another step closer! Please continue to pray our letter comes soon, soon, soon!

Garage sale

We are having a fundraising garage sale with the Beebes Friday 8-? and Saturday 7-1. Many families have donated so please join us at 3700 Stoneridge Drive Knoxville. The kids will be providing a concession stand, too. Hope to see you there!

On a side note, USCIS contacted us to reassure us our paperwork would be processed very soon. It should arrive with our caseworker any day and then we can expect an approval in 2 weeks. Keep praying! We need that letter!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Are you listening? part 2

I was teaching Sunday school yesterday at church while Righ went to the service. Ted had an awesome message (as many told me), but guess what Righ heard him say? DON'T LIVE LIFE TOO SAFELY!!! God is definitely trying to tell us something, don't you think?

Update

Today I contacted the local USCIS office via email. They are always so helpful and quick to respond. Anyways, they said our file has not gone to the officer reviewing it yet. I found this a bit strange. We were fingerprinted 2 weeks ago and normally it takes 2 weeks to receive the approval letter. However, Righ gently reminded me everything is in God's timing. I know this is true, but I would love to get to Africa ASAP. I am anxious to hold my little ones tight. :)

On another note, we will be making 2 trips to Africa. Originally, we thought there was a possibility we would only be required to make 1 trip. I emailed our agency yesterday and it's official. 2 trips it will be. In the beginning when we thought there was a possiblility of 2 trips, Righ was adamant that he would be making that first one. Never would he allow his wife (me) to travel alone. (He's very protective.) After looking at vacation and his work schedule, though, he will not be able to make both trips. That leaves me!!! I am very excited about meeting our children for the first time. On the other hand, I am nervous about traveling by myself. Once again, though, God has a plan and He's laying it out for us. This is His plan. My children here are VERY upset with me. They want to go with me. Flying to Africa is very expensive, though, and we cannot afford for them to go twice. So, Righ and our three children will stay here and I will go to Ghana for a short trip. Please pray for Righ and the kids while I will be gone. I'm the mother who never leaves for a trip. Pray Righ's work schedule will be light while I'm gone and that he will not be required to be out of town on business. Pray for patience for him and for everything to fall into place between now and then. And please pray for peace for my 3 children. Please pray for our approval letter to come soon. It is the last puzzle piece before our dossier can go to Ghana. We appreciate each and every one of you!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Are you listening?

Wednesday night I was putting clean sheets on our bed. All of a sudden, the radio came on and a preacher's voice was there. His words were, "I have 2 things I need you to know. One is to not live too safely. The other is to be ready to give up valuables that are not really valuable. These are the two things I need you to know." Then, he started telling some random story. I listened, but realized it had no relevance to me. However, I was amazed at the "2" things. God is up to something in our lives. Something big! Yes, we are in the middle of an adoption, but Righ and I sense it is so much more. If you read the "Jesus Calling" post from a few days ago, you saw it talks about not living too safely. In my mind, there are no coincidences so I know God is using these words to speak to me. Now I just need to be a better listener. :) Will you pray with us so we will be clear on what He is saying?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

We are working on our paperwork for our dossier. We should have it all completed by Friday. Then, we'll continue to wait for our approval letter from USCIS (immigration). That should be here soon! After that, our dossier will go to our agency and then on to Ghana. We have faith that our little ones will come home in God's time, but we are prayerful that it will be SOON!

Something I would like to share with you. This is not to "brag" on our daughter, only to say I wish we could all have childlike faith. This is one of my prayers, that I will have that faith and act upon it without asking questions. Our oldest is 10 and she has such a heart for little kids, especially orphans. A few weeks ago we learned of a baby in Ghana who is sick. She is so sick that the last time we had news they weren't sure she would live. Since then, our daughter has prayed for her each night (and during the day, I'm sure). She has prayed for healing of this little girl and that we could adopt her. Every so often, she will break down. It's at these times that she's thinking of that baby. I know God is laying that sweet baby on her heart, but I do not know the plans for her. All I know is my daughter's heart is breaking for a baby she has never met or even seen a picture of. That is hard for me to imagine. I can feel that same love, but I'm 34. She is 10! Today she said, "Momma, I have seen the baby in my heart." And then started telling me what this baby looks like. I cannot imagine the pain my daughter will feel if this baby dies. I have tried to prepare her for the reality that her living with Jesus may be God's plan. One way or another, though, I know this baby girl in Ghana, Africa is changing my daughter's life. I know God will use my daughter's faith to change mine.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Jesus Calling

My friend had a book titled "Jesus Calling". This was the entry for March 11.

WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.
As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do for you. If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you. When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That's why it is so wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you. The issue is not your strength, but Mine, which is limitless. By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength.

Galatians 5:25 - If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

2 Corinthians 5:7 - We walk by faith, not by sight.

I immediately loved this when I read it. I want to live by the Spirit all the time, but it is so hard. I needed the reminder that God can do anything. And He can use me to do it, not on my strength, but on His. Enjoy.

God will make a way!

Thank you, thank you to everyone who has been praying for our adoption! God hears our prayers! We have a true "God story" from last week!

Last Wednesday we were all in Nashville traveling to see our sweet friends who moved to Little Rock last year (oh how we miss them!). Anyways, we had been told the day before by a friend that just maybe we could drop into the USCIS office and get fingerprinted earlier than our actual appointment. Well, this place doesn't even have a phone number. They are virtually impossible to contact! As we were driving to the office, I prayed NONSTOP for God to move those mountains in front of us, that He would send favor before us to the workers, and on and on. When we got there, Righ went in. First thing they asked, "Where's your letter?" This letter is the one with the appointment time on it and they want it immediately. He says, "In my mailbox at home, but our appointment is in two weeks. However, we are in Nashville today and wondered if it would be possible to be fingerprinted early." A supervisor came up front, took his driver's license and left. A few minutes later she said, "Go get your wife." Yippee!!! So the five of us went in and got our fingerprints finished. The people were so nice and of course, we were so thankful! As we were leaving, there were about a dozen people standing in line waiting to be fingerprinted!!! Don't you know, though, that when we had arrived 10 minutes earlier, not a single person was in there! That was God! He cleared our way for us and He moved that mountain in front of us! As we walked out the door, the guard looked at Righ and said, "You lucked out!" Of course, to him maybe it was luck, but we know God was making the path in front of us. We know He opened that lady's heart to say "Come on in." So, basically we finished our immigration stuff 2 weeks before we were scheduled to. Now, we should be receiving our approval notice about the same time we should have been standing in line for our appointment. That puts us 2 weeks closer to our little ones in Africa! And we are so excited about that!

We have to say a huge thank you to our friend, Tiffany. Tuesday before we left she felt the need to send us an email telling us ONE TIME a friend had done the exact same thing. After feeling that need, she suddenly felt it was silly and we would just ignore it. However, she followed her initial "feeling", which was really GOD. Thanks to her for being an obedient servant, His messenger to us last week!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Every Child Deserves a Home

Righ took our oldest children to the Winter Jam concert here in Knoxville with a group over the weekend. The featured singers were Third Day, but NewSong was hosting. One of the boys bought a CD and I heard this song for the first time. It is so incredible and so true! Children do not choose to be hungry or homeless. They do not choose to live in an orphanage or foster home. They deserve the very best we can give them, which is ALL OF OURSELVES! They all deserve to have someone to wrap their arms around them and say, "I love you and you are precious because God created you and HE LOVES YOU!" Them knowing Jesus' love is the absolute most important thing in the world. They need to know God's love and we have the ability to show it to them. We can pray for them every day and pray for them to find homes. Prayer is so powerful!



I have often questioned myself and doubted the job I am doing raising the three children God has already blessed me with. Then I wonder how I am going to meet the needs of 5 children. Only with God can I do this! Only through Him living in me can I do anything! I cannot wait to hold our children in Ghana tight, tell them I love them and have missed them, but most of all to teach them how much their heavenly Father loves and adores them. How He made them wonderful!!!



I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me. Philippians 4:13 - He will strengthen all of us in our weaknesses. All we need to do is seek Him.



Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - We are a new creation through Jesus' death because He died for US!



Driving in the car today, our three children and I were listening to this song. Each had their own thoughts: our three year old said, "Mommy, are those children singing living in an orphanage right now?", one said it reminded them of our own children in Africa and how much they deserve a home, and the last one said, "We should just go to Ghana right now, Mom." Childlike faith! I wish it were that simple, but you know what? Maybe it is. I just need to completely trust and obey my Lord and Saviour. Complete obedience is the key. However, fear creeps in and we all know fear does not come from God. 2 Timothy 1:7: for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self control. I just pray our family can follow God in all He wants us to do because He only wants us to follow Him wherever He leads us.


Monday, March 8, 2010

Adoption excitement from a 3 year old

Our youngest sat in my lap today, wrapped his little arms around my neck and said, "Momma, when my little sister comes home you hold her first. Then when you are finished I want to hold her. And when my brother and sister come home, we are going to be one big, happy family!" Of course, lots of smiles and hugs in the middle of his sentences. :) Out of the mouths of babes! So, so sweet!

Fingerprint Appointment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We officially have our biometric fingerprint appointment!!!! Yes!!!! We are scheduled for March 22. We'll drive to Nashville, be fingerprinted and then wait for the "results", which is our I171H. That is the last thing we need for our dossier to go to Ghana. We are so thankful for your prayers and it means we are one step closer!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Update

No news this week from USCIS. God is in control and everything happens in His timing. We know this, but are still anxious to travel to see our little ones. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "for we walk by faith, not by sight." We walk according to His call and we walk in obedience to Him. He called us to adopt from Ghana, Africa and had chosen our children for us. Now it is our time to wait upon Him with complete faith. This is not an easy task, especially for me. For those of you who know me, you know I like to have my children close and be able to love on them at any given moment. Patience is not my best virtue, but "With God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26. So, we will wait for His time and pray for our children until we can hold them tight.

Pray for our friends, Tom and Steve, who will be traveling home from Eastern Europe Sunday. Pray for God to give them safe flight home and for rest. Also, pray for the Moros. Their sweet little girl should be home soon. Pray for her safety until she is safe in their arms.

Sam and Esther

I know many of you watched the Sam and Esther video Sydney talked about a few days ago. (If not, here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7ZQUzr0yo.) If so, I am sure your hearts were touched. There is a follow up story here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba-4WKcrb5s. What a difference a few months can make and what a difference when people are the hands and feet of Jesus! God calls us to take care of the fatherless, the widows and the needy. Pray about how He wants you to help His children.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Missions

I picked up a Bible study book Monday, flipped it open, and the title was "The Heart of Missions". Most of you are probaly saying, "And?" Well, missions has been on my heart for about 2 weeks now (at least very heavily, it is always on my heart). :) Last week, I kept praying for God to clearly show me what He was trying to tell me. On Sunday, our friend, Reid was preaching on 1 Corinthians 9. He ended by showing a world map. On it, he highlighted the 10/40 window. Basically, it is 10 degrees to 40 degrees latitude and reaches from western Africa to Japan. 2/3 of the world's non-believers live there. There are over 8,000 unreached people groups. People who have never heard about Jesus. Unbelievable! That is so hard for me to imagine. Here I am living a comfortable life in America and there are people who have never heard the Gospel. There are people and CHILDREN starving all over the world. We are Jesus' hands and feet. And we are called to serve him. Praying is a way we can help without ever leaving our house. And there are so many people who need our prayers. Psalm 86:6-7 says, "Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me." God hears our prayers. Please join us in prayer for the missionaries serving around the world, for new missionaries to be called to serve Him, for the unreached people groups to hear the glorious story of our King, and lastly for the children of the world. Pray for the ones going to bed hungry or cold tonight. Pray for God to send His servants to them whether here in America or abroad.

Some of the truths I have discovered from my missions bible study this week:
1. God's MISSION is to bring salvation to all his people.
2. MISSIONS is the activity of God in the world through His peole to fulfill the mission.

Matthew 9:37-38 - Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful,but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Not everyone can be missionaries. God has a plan for everyone's life, but we can show Jesus' love and shine His light everywhere. At the grocery store, to our children and our husbands. The possibilities are endless. Everyone bear with us. This post is truly my heart that I'm trying to sort out. Our hearts are heavy and burdened with so many things. We are seeking His wisdom and guidance. Please pray for us as we seek Him. Pray for our sweet children In Africa. We are ready to hold them close.