Complete Surrender

We found out last week there is another family reviewing Isaac's file.  No, they haven't decided to move forward yet, but (and this is a big but) they might. 

I have always worried.  It's what I do.  I worry when I don't have anything to worry about. 

I keep reminding God that Isaac is ours and he doesn't need other families reviewing his file.  This morning God led me to James 4:13-17.  The NIV reads "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  15 Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'  16 As it is you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil.  17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

Ok, that got my attention!

Dear Lord,

I believe you have set us on this path and yet I worry about how you are going to see us through.  I am so sorry!  I do not doubt your power.  Please help me remember that though I am weak, you are strong.  I give my worries and anxieties to you. 

Amen.

 

A letter to Isaac

Dear Isaac,

I think about you constantly.  There are things a mother knows about her children, that I don't know about you yet.  What's your favorite toy, do you sleep with a special blanket, do you liked to be rocked to sleep, do you like to snuggle, have you ever been taken to church?  Even with so many unknowns you are most certainly mine!

I wonder what it will be like for you once you are home.  What will you think about your brother and sister?  Andrew is so serious.  He's like an 83 year old man in a 5 year old's body.  He is protective, compassionate, kind, and instead of playing sports he likes to play chess.  Olivia is spirited.  I used to say she was stubborn, but your Moe (you will LOVE her) told me I shouldn't call her that so I decided she is spirited.  There is never a dull moment when Olivia is here.  She is loyal, tender hearted, and getting sweeter by the day.  Oh and her baby doll is her favorite possession. 

You have a new cousin that was born this past Tuesday.  Hunter was born weighing in at 10lbs 8oz.  He weighed 3 times what your brother did when he was born. 

It is so hard not knowing when you will be coming home, but your Dad and I know that God knows exactly how this will unfold and we put our trust in Him.  Just know that we love you and we will continue to pray for all things as we wait for you!

Love,
Mommy

Christmas

With all the craziness that goes with Christmas, have you stopped to remember what it is we are really celebrating?  Sure, the gifts are fun, but this year it's hard for me to get excited about them.  The gift I am excited about is Jesus Christ.  A gift that doesn't require a penny, but that is worth everything! 

Hebrews 13:5-6
5 "Your life should be free from the love of money.  Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.  6 Therefore, we may boldly say:  The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"

Praying for all things,
Necia

Our First Fundraiser

I'm sure most of you are aware that adoption is expensive.  Our cost for the home study, country fee,  US processing fee, postplacement fee, travel expenses, and other things that will have to be done will be somewhere around $31,000.  That is a lot of money!  But, God is faithful!  I know that He will provide according to his plan.  We can't ask for anything more.

This is the first fundraiser we will be doing.  A portion of all sales will go towards Isaac's adoption fees.

You are invited to an Usborne Books & More eShow to explore the world of Usborne and Kane Miller Books.  A child's interest in reading and learning is stimulated by the lavish illustrations and informative content.  There are over 1500 bright, colorful and fun titles covering activities, puzzles and a wide range of subjects for children of all ages.

You can go to http://www.myubam.com/HOS209825 to check it out.

Please join us in praying for all things as we wait for Isaac!

I'm not sure where to start

Mat and I've been talking about adoption for a couple of years, but it was always in the future, it was safe.  We weren't ready to jump in just yet.  In the last year we have talked about it a little more serious, but we didn't think it was the "right" time.  Little by little we have both been convincted.  James 1:27 became very real and personal for us.  "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."  Of course there are numerous ways to "look after orphans", but for us we know that we are supposed to be someone's forever family.

We've spent about 6 months looking at different adoption agencies and praying about which one is right for us.  I found an agency during that time that I would go to their website and look through the waiting children.  I had done that several times, but on Friday, October 28 I saw a new listing.  I clicked on his profile to read about him and felt a tug that I hadn't felt before.  I was convinced that this little boy was supposed to join our family.  We have filled out a pre-application with the agency, but because of a medication that I take we can't begin our home study yet.  I have to be off of it for 6 months before the home study can be approved.  When we found that out I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.  I was so sure that he was supposed to be ours.  Mat and I continued to pray about him and we felt God tell us that He is in control and his way is always perfect.  We were to be patient.  Now for Mat that's not that hard, but those of you that know me, well that's a post for another day.

About a month before we found his profile I told Mat that I wanted to wean off my medicine.  I have taken an antidepressant/anxiety medicine for a little over 3 years, but I felt like it was time to come off.  He was supportive and we decided to work with my doctor so that I could safely be weaned off of it.  I had no idea at that time that we would be trying to adopt a little boy from a country that will not approve an adoption for someone that is on that kind of medication.  God did.  I have gone from 375mg daily to 75mg daily in about 2 months.  This has only happened because God made it happen.  I give him ALL the glory!  I have always been embarrased because of the medicine and not many people know that I take it.  I felt like I needed to share that here so that someone might see that God can use ordinary, messed up people for His glory!  We aren't "special" or "super holy", we just want to follow God's command.

We humbly ask that you will join us in prayer as we pray for God's guidance throughout this process, for his provision to make this happen, but most of all we pray that He will receive glory and praise.  Please join us in praying for all things while we wait for Isaac Paul.

Thankful

We're just a few days away from Thanksgiving and I want to take a few minutes to reflect on some of the ways God has blessed our family.  We found out a little over a year ago that we would be moving.  I couldn't imagine why God was taking us from a place we loved to move us to a town that is known for it's Italian food and the state penitentiary.  I don't even like Italian food.  Well, those of you that know me know that I can be a tad stubborn.  I just was not excited about this move.  I was making wonderful friends that I loved dearly, we were growing in our walk with Jesus Christ, we loved our church, Andrew was doing great in school.  Why in the world were we supposed to move? 

We have been here for almost a year and I have once again been shown that God's plan is ALWAYS perfect!!  He has blessed us again with friends that I love.  We are growing even closer to God, we love our church, both Andrew and Olivia are doing great in school, and the list goes on.  I am so thankful!

Deep Breath And...

The Lord has blessed me in so many ways.  Too many ways to count.  A few of those blessings are being married to my best friend and mother to two amazing kids (and an aunt to someone arriving in December).  After having extremely hard pregnancies, we were told that we shouldn't have more children.  That I should just be thankful for the two that we have and move on.  Thankful doesn't start to describe the way I feel about those kids! 

I have no doubt that God created me to be a mom.  I also believe that God has a purpose for everything.  While I was coming to terms with not being able to have more biological children I started to wonder why God didn't want us to have more kids.  He, in his infinite wisdom, has shown me that wasn't the case.  I will be a mom to kids, who while they were not born to me, they will be mine none the less.  And so the journey begins.