Not much to update. We are still working through the paperwork. We are not moving very fast! (Please see the prayer list at the end of this blog.) David and I got our physicals last week. That was a BIG deal, as David cannot stand going to the doctor. He braved it out, though, and found that he is healthy and ready to be a father to a new child! Again, all of this is moving us one step closer to our son or daughter in Ethiopia! I'm just so excited! Some days I wonder what David and I are thinking. Other days, I cannot wipe the smile from my face. God has given me a deep joy about this! We are continuing to try to move in HIS will. That is the only way we know how...
Please continue to pray for our journey. Here are some specifics you can pray for us:
-that our child is surrounded by love
-that our child is healthy and growing strong
-that David and I don't get bogged down in the paperwork. It really can be overwhelming at times, especially when life at our home/work is demanding and busy
-pray that in the mist of our busyness, God will show Himself mighty, that we will continue to seek His will in our lives, and that we can truly REST in Him.
-He has been so faithful in our lives! We need prayer to be faithful back.
-that God's timing will be made true and the two trips we will need to make to Ethiopia will be right when they need to be!
We are so grateful for your prayers and support! We love you all! God's blessings to you!
Ashley
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Paperwork
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
God Moment!
Yesterday - in the gale-force winds and rain, David and I went to get our fingerprints at the Metro Jail downtown. It was a little strange...just glad we were getting fingerprinted for this reason instead of another!
I went to the post office today to mail our two sets (one for AGCI and one for our Home Agency). I had to get a money order for both, as well as a tracking number. So, at the end of it all, I had four small receipts and a piece of 81/2 x 11 paper. As I turned to leave I thought to myself, "I really need a paperclip to hold all these items together so I don't loose anything. Post Offices don't have containers of paperclips lying around, but it would be cool if God dropped one on the counter for me." No sooner had I thought that when - passing the main counter - I did not see one. However, I rounded the corner and tucked behind a display was sitting a paperclip! How cool is that?!?!? Now, some might call that coincidence, but I call that a God moment! I laughed out loud and praised God for His reassurance! I have asked for prayer about God being in the details. I have no doubt that at that moment someone was praying exactly that for us and God provided in a mighty way. Who thought a paperclip could bring so much joy? He is in even the littlest of things! AMEN!
I went to the post office today to mail our two sets (one for AGCI and one for our Home Agency). I had to get a money order for both, as well as a tracking number. So, at the end of it all, I had four small receipts and a piece of 81/2 x 11 paper. As I turned to leave I thought to myself, "I really need a paperclip to hold all these items together so I don't loose anything. Post Offices don't have containers of paperclips lying around, but it would be cool if God dropped one on the counter for me." No sooner had I thought that when - passing the main counter - I did not see one. However, I rounded the corner and tucked behind a display was sitting a paperclip! How cool is that?!?!? Now, some might call that coincidence, but I call that a God moment! I laughed out loud and praised God for His reassurance! I have asked for prayer about God being in the details. I have no doubt that at that moment someone was praying exactly that for us and God provided in a mighty way. Who thought a paperclip could bring so much joy? He is in even the littlest of things! AMEN!
Ordinary Hero Fallapalooza!
Evanne and I went to Fallapalooza, a fundraiser for Ordinary Hero. We met up with Chris, Michelle, Connor and Emma. Evanne had a great time with her precious cousin!
Evanne and Emma
Rockin' out to Shoof
Friday, October 8, 2010
Adoption Planner
We received our Adoption Planner from All God's Children, Inc. yesterday in the mail! The kids were ecstatic!
Once we fill these papers out, along with fingerprinting, paperwork from Catholic Charities (Home Study Ageny), three more home studies, etc., etc., then we can be put on the waiting list for our child! It is very exciting, but a lot of work. The kids are trying to keep us on task. The first exercise was to draw a picture of what we thought our child would look like. We got a lot of laughs out of that one, as I am not an artist (but am better at it then David)! The kids want us to be finished with all the paperwork NOW. "One day at a time," I say. Pray that I will stay diligent, as life is busy right now.
Once we fill these papers out, along with fingerprinting, paperwork from Catholic Charities (Home Study Ageny), three more home studies, etc., etc., then we can be put on the waiting list for our child! It is very exciting, but a lot of work. The kids are trying to keep us on task. The first exercise was to draw a picture of what we thought our child would look like. We got a lot of laughs out of that one, as I am not an artist (but am better at it then David)! The kids want us to be finished with all the paperwork NOW. "One day at a time," I say. Pray that I will stay diligent, as life is busy right now.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Beginning...
Well, I'm still trying to figure things out, so understand this is a work in progress! I sit and READ, punch buttons, READ some more, delete, READ it again, and still cannot seem to put script and pictures where I want them! Good thing that I have a fourteen-year-old who not only thinks she knows it all, but actually does know it all! She sat down and created this awesome blog in about an hour. Her last comment to me was, "If you need anything Mom, just call me." I think she's afraid I'll mess up all of her hard work!!!
It's hard to believe that I am sitting at the computer entering my first blog about our adoption process! Our journey to J actually began in April 2007. As a family, we traveled with Kids Across America (KAA) to Rwanda. What an amazing experience! God put a soft spot in our hearts for the beautiful people of Africa. He put an extra soft spot in Evanne's heart for the orphans. She began talking to us about adoption for our family. It did not take long for her to get her brother on board with the idea. The two of them together were quite persuasive! Still, David and I were very much stiff-arming the idea. Adoption had never been on our radar screen!
Well, as the story goes, it may not have been on our radar screen, but it was on God's! He used Evanne and Watson over the years to melt our hearts. What do you say when your child says, "If you can give a child who doesn't have a home a home, and you can love them and show them the love of Jesus, why wouldn't you do that?" Not much! Soon it became clear to me that I needed to live the life I proclaimed to live.
I'm not a really adventurous soul, so God has to continually poke and prod me. In January 2010, He really started laying it on! Several things were introduced to my life in a sequence of events. I was in a book club at my church and read the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Talk about hitting me between the eyes with a 2x4! (Being "luke warm and spit out" by God is not something I desire!) Then He put in our path the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia on a Medical Mission trip in April. Again, David and I closed the idea because it was not spring break for our kids. But, as everyone knows, you cannot stop God! He once again used Evanne. She was relentless about going, so, you guessed it, she and I went. What an amazing experience! Brandon Heath's song kept playing in my mind while there: "Give Me Your Eyes". Again, God's power working in my life. Through much prayer and soul searching and rustling with God, I finally woke up to realize that God is in control - so I need to start trusting His leading! Again, how slow can I be??
I came back from Ethiopia with God's resolve and peace in my heart. God had three of us on board, now He had to work on David. Not an easy task. David is a black and white guy. It is difficult for both of us to upset the apple cart, so to speak. God has blessed us in amazing ways! We have a comfortable life with two beautiful, healthy children. He has blessed us with wonderful extended family and great opportunities! So...why adopt? That's crazy talk!
God spoke and finally got through. He said, "Why not? Your excuses limit my power in your life." He laid on my heart His word in Luke 6, verse 46, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I say?" Again, he used a book to speak deep into my soul: "Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Sterns. Please read this book. It will change your life!
As they say, the rest is history! David announced to the family in late July that he was willing to start finding out more information. His prayer was that God would make the process so easy and smooth that we could not deny that it is His will. So far, as usual, He's been faithful in answering that prayer! Not that we expected anything less from Almighty God! To Him be the Glory forever and ever! AMEN!
So, that is how I came to start this blog. I hope our journey will encourage and inspire each of you in the calling God has placed in your life. Be all in!
Blessing,
Ashley
It's hard to believe that I am sitting at the computer entering my first blog about our adoption process! Our journey to J actually began in April 2007. As a family, we traveled with Kids Across America (KAA) to Rwanda. What an amazing experience! God put a soft spot in our hearts for the beautiful people of Africa. He put an extra soft spot in Evanne's heart for the orphans. She began talking to us about adoption for our family. It did not take long for her to get her brother on board with the idea. The two of them together were quite persuasive! Still, David and I were very much stiff-arming the idea. Adoption had never been on our radar screen!
Well, as the story goes, it may not have been on our radar screen, but it was on God's! He used Evanne and Watson over the years to melt our hearts. What do you say when your child says, "If you can give a child who doesn't have a home a home, and you can love them and show them the love of Jesus, why wouldn't you do that?" Not much! Soon it became clear to me that I needed to live the life I proclaimed to live.
I'm not a really adventurous soul, so God has to continually poke and prod me. In January 2010, He really started laying it on! Several things were introduced to my life in a sequence of events. I was in a book club at my church and read the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Talk about hitting me between the eyes with a 2x4! (Being "luke warm and spit out" by God is not something I desire!) Then He put in our path the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia on a Medical Mission trip in April. Again, David and I closed the idea because it was not spring break for our kids. But, as everyone knows, you cannot stop God! He once again used Evanne. She was relentless about going, so, you guessed it, she and I went. What an amazing experience! Brandon Heath's song kept playing in my mind while there: "Give Me Your Eyes". Again, God's power working in my life. Through much prayer and soul searching and rustling with God, I finally woke up to realize that God is in control - so I need to start trusting His leading! Again, how slow can I be??
I came back from Ethiopia with God's resolve and peace in my heart. God had three of us on board, now He had to work on David. Not an easy task. David is a black and white guy. It is difficult for both of us to upset the apple cart, so to speak. God has blessed us in amazing ways! We have a comfortable life with two beautiful, healthy children. He has blessed us with wonderful extended family and great opportunities! So...why adopt? That's crazy talk!
God spoke and finally got through. He said, "Why not? Your excuses limit my power in your life." He laid on my heart His word in Luke 6, verse 46, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I say?" Again, he used a book to speak deep into my soul: "Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Sterns. Please read this book. It will change your life!
As they say, the rest is history! David announced to the family in late July that he was willing to start finding out more information. His prayer was that God would make the process so easy and smooth that we could not deny that it is His will. So far, as usual, He's been faithful in answering that prayer! Not that we expected anything less from Almighty God! To Him be the Glory forever and ever! AMEN!
So, that is how I came to start this blog. I hope our journey will encourage and inspire each of you in the calling God has placed in your life. Be all in!
Blessing,
Ashley
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