I saw this video today while reading a blog that I follow often. It reminds me of our time in Uganda, but it also reminds me of why we are in this adoption process at all. Our little girl could have been these children. I just weep at the thought of that, but I know that for so many children, this is reality.
I am burdened to make a difference. What about you?
Oh God, forgive us for the times we have overlooked your children, your creation. Forgive us for not being thankful for our abundance and for not finding ways to share it with the world around us. Open our eyes, God. Let us be disturbed and burdened to act when we see these images. Give us your heart, Father. Teach us to love like you do.
For those who want to know how to make a difference, here is a place to start.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
A Bold Statement
Last night, Jeff & I saw "Wicked".
I was blown away. It was the best thing I have ever seen.
It was even better than seeing Kenny Rogers live.
Enough said.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
ch-ch-ch-changes
Our house is looking a bit different these days. This weekend was a whirlwind of home improvement, and we had a blast!
On Friday, Jeff and I started painting Ellie's room in preparation for bringing her home. I have to say that when that pink paint went on the walls, I got all teary-eyed. WOW.. I never thought I would be doing that! God is so good...
Saturday, we finished up her room, and decided while we were at it, we should go ahead and do some things in Bryan's room as well. I won't keep you waiting any longer. Here are the pics.
Never thought I would need pink paint....
My favorite part of the room. So true... she is most definitely a miracle!
Drum heads from Bryan's first set (spells p-u-n-k), two authentic samurai swords, and some old skateboards... very cool!
On Friday, Jeff and I started painting Ellie's room in preparation for bringing her home. I have to say that when that pink paint went on the walls, I got all teary-eyed. WOW.. I never thought I would be doing that! God is so good...
Saturday, we finished up her room, and decided while we were at it, we should go ahead and do some things in Bryan's room as well. I won't keep you waiting any longer. Here are the pics.
Never thought I would need pink paint....
Just making sure that I liked the color
The dresser, obviously. Horton is hanging out in there too!
headboard and cute lamp from Nana. There will be a lime green chair rail in between the pink and white eventually.
My favorite part of the room. So true... she is most definitely a miracle!
Bryan's "beastly" drumset (his words!), and the newly added stripe on the wall. Very teenage-ish, huh?
Drum heads from Bryan's first set (spells p-u-n-k), two authentic samurai swords, and some old skateboards... very cool!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
So Proud...
Last week, Bryan participated in his school's Geography Bee. First of all, let me say that this was not mandatory, and I was excited that he chose to participate at all. I was even more excited when he made the highest score in the 8th grade for the 2nd round. That got him into the finals.
Jeff and I went to cheer him on. Quite frankly, I was surprised that we were the only parents there. This is a big deal, people! These students were being asked HARD questions. I was a nervous wreck for Bryan!
He was eliminated in the 3rd round of the finals, but it doesn't matter.
Bryan, I am proud of you. You stood confidently and answered those questions to the best of your ability. I was so proud to watch you standing there, knowing that it was making you nervous. Yet, you persevered, and I can't say enough about how proud I was to watch that. You are an amazing young man, and on days like that one I get a glimpse of the man you are growing to be. It makes my heart almost burst with love and pride. I couldn't ask for more in a son, Bryan!
In honor of Bryan, I thought we could have a little Geography quiz here ourselves. Go here and take the US Geography quiz. How did you do? I scored 135/150. Good luck!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009 riddle....
What's 32 inches, 22 pounds and has the most beautiful smile imaginable?
This is the post I have waited to write for so long!! We know who she is!
Yes, you heard me correctly.. we KNOW WHO SHE IS!
I am trembling as I write these words. It's not that I am cold or scared. I am truly in awe of God and how He hears us. You see, if you look back at this blog throughout the year (and if you have talked to Jeff or I at all this year), you will see a consistent theme to our prayers. We have prayed diligently, along with our family and friends, to know who it is that God has designed for our family, to be our daughter. Specifically though, we asked that He show us her by the end of the year.
This is where it starts to get really good...
On December 20th, I got online to check some emails, and like I always do, I looked at the website for our adoption agency to see if there were any new girls listed. I didn't really expect it, but it's become a routine to me. Anyway, much to my surprise there was a new little face smiling at me there. There was no more information, so I emailed our director asking for some specifics and thinking she would get back with me in a few days (it was a Saturday after all!) Sue, our director, emailed me back immediately asking if she could call me.
She called me minutes later and told me about this little girl... as much as she knew at that time. There wasn't a lot of information known, if truth be told, but what we learned was sad and exciting all at once. I shared all of this with Jeff while Sue emailed us more pictures of this girl. We felt a connection immediately. Precious doesn't begin to describe her! We were told that a video of her would be sent to us to view, but also we were told that another couple was considering her for adoption as well. We began to pray, along with many others.
On December 22nd, we learned that the other family had decided to wait for an infant girl, as they had originally planned.
On December 27th, we received a DVD of this little girl in the mail. I was a nervous wreck as we began to watch it! We were able to see her playing with a ball, and it was such a blessing to see her healthy and with all of her developmental skills as they should be. We wept as we watched her take the hand of the nanny and walk outside. Wow... what else can I say?
Jeff and I decided that we would not make any decision until the medical evaluation was complete. On December 30th, we received word that she had been evaluated and that there were no medical concerns. We knew that she was the one for us. God had indeed answered our prayers faithfully... and just when we had asked (by the end of the year). For good measure, He also gave us a bonus... our dossier was returned to us on December 31st, authenticated and sealed by the US Department of State and the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC!
Today, we received the complete medical evaluation, and it has only made us more and more certain that this child is truly meant to be ours. We feel a tremendous connection with her, and we want to rescue her from where she is currently living. Please pray for her as she deals with severe malnutrition (and little hope of having that improved in her current placement), some minor and common illnesses (we are talking about a third world country), and mostly for her emotional well-being. All reports indicate that she is a very scared and sad little girl. Who wouldn't be? She's experienced a great deal of hurt and loss in her life, so we see this as a normal response. We are fully aware of the extra time she will need to trust us once she is home with us. She hasn't exactly had a lot of reason to trust people in her life.
We trust that God has held her protectively and lovingly in His hands throughout her life. And we trust that He has brought us to her, shown us her face and overwhelmed us with a love for her that is amazing. We trust that His love is ever-healing, and that she will eventually blossom and flourish in our home.
"Now to Him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph. 3:20)
Our little girl!
This is the post I have waited to write for so long!! We know who she is!
Yes, you heard me correctly.. we KNOW WHO SHE IS!
I am trembling as I write these words. It's not that I am cold or scared. I am truly in awe of God and how He hears us. You see, if you look back at this blog throughout the year (and if you have talked to Jeff or I at all this year), you will see a consistent theme to our prayers. We have prayed diligently, along with our family and friends, to know who it is that God has designed for our family, to be our daughter. Specifically though, we asked that He show us her by the end of the year.
This is where it starts to get really good...
On December 20th, I got online to check some emails, and like I always do, I looked at the website for our adoption agency to see if there were any new girls listed. I didn't really expect it, but it's become a routine to me. Anyway, much to my surprise there was a new little face smiling at me there. There was no more information, so I emailed our director asking for some specifics and thinking she would get back with me in a few days (it was a Saturday after all!) Sue, our director, emailed me back immediately asking if she could call me.
She called me minutes later and told me about this little girl... as much as she knew at that time. There wasn't a lot of information known, if truth be told, but what we learned was sad and exciting all at once. I shared all of this with Jeff while Sue emailed us more pictures of this girl. We felt a connection immediately. Precious doesn't begin to describe her! We were told that a video of her would be sent to us to view, but also we were told that another couple was considering her for adoption as well. We began to pray, along with many others.
On December 22nd, we learned that the other family had decided to wait for an infant girl, as they had originally planned.
On December 27th, we received a DVD of this little girl in the mail. I was a nervous wreck as we began to watch it! We were able to see her playing with a ball, and it was such a blessing to see her healthy and with all of her developmental skills as they should be. We wept as we watched her take the hand of the nanny and walk outside. Wow... what else can I say?
Jeff and I decided that we would not make any decision until the medical evaluation was complete. On December 30th, we received word that she had been evaluated and that there were no medical concerns. We knew that she was the one for us. God had indeed answered our prayers faithfully... and just when we had asked (by the end of the year). For good measure, He also gave us a bonus... our dossier was returned to us on December 31st, authenticated and sealed by the US Department of State and the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC!
Today, we received the complete medical evaluation, and it has only made us more and more certain that this child is truly meant to be ours. We feel a tremendous connection with her, and we want to rescue her from where she is currently living. Please pray for her as she deals with severe malnutrition (and little hope of having that improved in her current placement), some minor and common illnesses (we are talking about a third world country), and mostly for her emotional well-being. All reports indicate that she is a very scared and sad little girl. Who wouldn't be? She's experienced a great deal of hurt and loss in her life, so we see this as a normal response. We are fully aware of the extra time she will need to trust us once she is home with us. She hasn't exactly had a lot of reason to trust people in her life.
We trust that God has held her protectively and lovingly in His hands throughout her life. And we trust that He has brought us to her, shown us her face and overwhelmed us with a love for her that is amazing. We trust that His love is ever-healing, and that she will eventually blossom and flourish in our home.
"Now to Him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph. 3:20)
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