Hold them a little tighter

Through our first adoption, I did not trust God very well most days. I was impatient, worried, fearful. I did not enjoy my three children in my home some days because I was so focused on getting Samuel and Helen home. Was that wrong? Well, I think there are two answers to that question. First, I learned on that journey that I must trust with every ounce I have. I must give my beautiful children living halfway across the world into my Savior's hands and TRUST Him. They are His children. He has only chosen me to be their earthly mother. He loves them....and more than I can even begin to imagine. So after walking that journey a year ago and now walking it again, I think I see things from a different perspective. I see His hand in the day to day. I want to enjoy my 5 children here and live life to the fullest with them as we wait. All 7 of us are waiting and what an incredible gift and example of God's love we are giving our children when we wait with a blessed heart, instead of an impatient one. Now, let me clarify, I have plenty of days where I am impatient, where I long to bring my boys home, where I cry at the thought of them not being here. However, I long to be an example to my children here and teach them of God's unfailing love and POSSIBLY teach them what it is to completely trust my Heavenly Father who knows all things, sees all things, and plans all things for His perfect purpose.

So tonight my prayer is when I wake in the morning, it will be with a smile on my face, a thankful heart that I am now one day closer to holding the boys God chose to be my sons, and another day to train my children in the way they should go, which is following hard after HIM.

Adoption update

We started the process for 2 sweet boys in February of this year, just 3 months after bringing Samuel and Helen home from Ghana. Crazy? Yes, but crazy for Jesus. Longing to follow Him at all costs. Doing whatever He asks of us.

We sped through the first part of the process because everything was already current from our first adoption. We were able to bypass many of the steps the other families had to wait on. So we have been ready for court for months and months, just like everyone else. However, Ghana is trying to establish a way to protect their children better. Therefore, we are in a holding position.

Today we knew there was a possibility for some movement on our case. As I talked to my in country coordinator tonight and he told me it will be next week, I trusted. I trusted my Jesus to know EXACTLY what He is doing. He has a plan, a story He wants to write, but I need to wait for Him. All of us adoptive parents need to wait and be patient. We need to be still and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10. I know at the end of the journey it will be so worth it. Those little hugs will be worth the wait, worth the heartache and it will all go away once they are in my arms forever.

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31

Correction on the shirts

So there have been some minor changes on the shirts. We are still selling them and we have added sizes 2T, 3T, and 4T available any day now. However, all proceeds from the shirts will now only go to our dear sweet friends, the Bowlings. You see, the last few weeks have been tough. Actually, more than tough. Words cannot express what they have been through and my heart breaks each time I think of them. To read more about their story and how they have stepped out in faith, click the Bowling family. They are an amazing family and we are so thankful God brought them to our lives!!!

Anyways, they need to raise the remaining funds to bring their babies home, a 6 year old girl and a baby boy. So click the sidebar to order a shirt, or two, or MORE and help us help them!!! Be a part of helping two children find their FOREVER FAMILY!!!

(For those of you wondering, yes, we are still adopting our boys.)

Worth the Wait

New shirts! We have new shirts to sell for our adoption and also our dear friends, Chad and Stephanie Bowling.

As all of you know, we brought Samuel and Helen home almost 10 months ago. It was a faith walk for us (as most of you know from personal experience). We watched God provide every penny for them. From fundraisers to garage sales to cutting off our cable and other budget stuff, God made it happen. He is faithful and He funds what He favors!!!

When we started this second adoption 3 months after bringing them home, my first question was, "How can I mother 7 children?" My 2nd, "How can we afford this?" A few months ago, I was out for a girls night out and expressed to a sweet friend of mine about my concerns. I knew God would provide, but had momentarily lost my focus. She gave me this awesome shirt design. As I thought more and more about it, I realized what an awesome idea it is.

You see, this sweet girl

and her brother were WORTH THE WAIT. What better shirt for her to be in??? And for me, it is so WORTH THE WAIT for my sweet children to come home from Africa.

By the way for those of you who are wondering, this is not me, but my Sydney with Helen.

So, we are selling these shirts for $22 each and that includes shipping. All proceeds will go to bring 4 sweet children home from Ghana, Africa. A boy and girl for the Bowlings and 2 boys for us. We will post pics of our treasures as soon as we all pass court. In the meantime, here's a "glimpse".

If you want to order, click the sidebar. We have youth sizes and unisex adult sizes. These shirts are a tri-blend so they are extra soft. If there is enough interest, I will order some onesies so please let me know if you would like one. The x-small youth runs a little big right now.

Thanks to each of you for being on this journey with us, but ALSO we are thankful to walk your journeys with you!!!

How can I?

How can I tell these sweet faces "Jesus loves you", when they are hungry?

When they are thirsty? Will they even hear me? Probably not, because their tummies are empty. They are thirsty, they are hurting. For them to see Jesus and His love, we have to be Jesus and His love. We have to live it every minute. How? I ask myself that each morning when I wake. How, God, am I supposed to be a mother to 5 children here, waiting for my 2 boys to come home, homeschool all of them (which is exactly what God has called me to do), be a wife to my husband, a good friend, daughter, helper, and advocate for the fatherless of the world? I am not. That's just it, I am not. It is Him. This is His story, His life. I have to choose each day to give it to Him before I crawl out of bed. I have to die to self every morning. I have to reach out beyond me when there is nothing left. I have to seek Him and ask for His strength to be what He has called me to be. I have to rely upon Him for each breath. Only then is it possible.

And these faces keep me going.

They remind me of my sweet Savior who gave His life for me. They remind me of the joy that comes from Him. Pure, simple, childlike faith and joy. They encourage me to help more children. They tell me they want to adopt again once B & J are home. They are already deciding who will be next in our family. They remind me that I CAN DO THIS WITH HIM.

They make the waiting for their brothers a bit easier.

A bit. However, I long to hold them. I long to see their little faces, to hug them until it hurts, to tell them I love them over and over and over. Will they tire of it? Oh, I am sure because I am relentless!!

Today I pray for His love to shine through, for Him to receive all Glory and honor and praise. I pray for each hurting child around the world to be comforted by the Almighty Comforter. I pray for hearts to be completely and utterly broken for the orphaned child. I pray for the Church to be broken. Hearts physically aching for the children that need Him. And I pray that when someone sees my beautiful children, they will be moved. And not to ask me if I wake up each morning, look in the mirror and bang my head saying, "What have I done? What have I done?" (And yes, someone really did ask me this.) No, I pray they will be touched by the love of Jesus and they will see His strength shining through.

I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives me strength. Phillipians 4:13

If you would like to sponsor a child or make a huge difference in the life of a child in another way, please visit FEEDING THE ORPHANS.