Adoption IS Possible!

Adoption is expensive. There, I said it. I decided to be blunt and straight to the point for once in my life. There are so many families out there that have considered adoption, but won't pursue it because of the cost. Of course the answer that comes straight to most of our minds is, don't worry about the cost! It's a small price to pay considering what you get in return, right? Well, right. But that big amount of $28,000 can be the scariest thing ever. It has been to us. So, here's a little encouragment if you're like we were and wondering how we will ever fulfill what God has called us to do. Let me start out by saying, it IS possible. Really. While browsing one of my many go-to blogs, I came upon a book that a family had recommended reading that had given there family ideas on how to cover their adoption costs. The book is called Adopt Without Debt: Creative Ways to Cover the Cost of Adoption. The women that wrote it, Julie Gumm, has gone through the adoption process twice through Ethiopia. I decided to order it and got it a couple days later. I read it all in one day. I couldn't put the thing down! Whether I was making bottles, doing laundry, or sewing, I was reading. At the turn of very page I was thinking of all the things we could do to help us save up enough money. There are many, MANY helpful tips. Ways to fund-raise, grants to apply for and simply making a budget and cutting back on the things you can do without. I'm telling you, pure genius. ;) Anyways, here is the link to buy this fabulous book.

My hope is that if the Lord has called you to adopt, that you won't let the big, scary $ sign keep you from that. Yes, this book can help you find ways to achieve that, but we have a mighty God that will never leave you. I have no doubt that He will be with us every step of this journey and will provide in those times that seem like we will never make it. He is ALWAYS faithful. Thank goodness. :)

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We are beyond thankful for each one of your prayers and kind words. Thank you a million times!

Ethiopia or Bust!

Ethiopia it is! We have finally(what a long two weeks!) decided, after much prayer, investigating, and weighing our options, that we will pursue adopting from Ethiopia. Now, like I said in my last post, I believe God sometimes closes one door and opens another. We are putting complete trust in Him and if that means allowing us to adopt from another country instead of Ethiopia, then that's what we whole heartily do! We are beyond excited. My nights now consist of putting Ellie to bed, immediately grabbing my computer and researching anything and everything about Ethiopia, adoptions and blogs from families who have either adopted from Ethiopia or are in the process. I can't lie when I say they give me hope and encouragement. Please continue to be in prayer for our family as we go through this wonderful journey. We are so thankful for your love and support. Here are some interesting facts about our future baby's birth country:

There are an estimated 6 million orphans in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia's primary religion is Muslim. 

With living in poverty and diseases like AIDS their life expectancy is 49.

They have a literacy rate of 40 percent.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. ~Isaiah 1:17

              

             

               

Go love...

I must confess something. Writing is not my thing. It would take me five hours to write one paragraph for an assignment in college. Sitting down and concentrating on something is difficult for me. I get easily distracted. It's true. While just writing the last two sentences I saw fireworks out my window, realized my favorite show was coming on and decided I needed a snack. So, with that said, please forgive me for not updating as often as I would like. Hopefully, I am not talking to myself and my last post encouraged you in some way. Now for the good stuff...

As a youth pastors wife, one of the coolest things about the 'job' is all the awesome experiences we get to have. My favorite thing in particular are the mission trips. This past week we got the opportunity to take our Middle School students to Memphis, Tennessee. Two words describe that trip. Life changing. I believe that most everyone that went on that trip would agree with me. Seeing the faces of beautiful, smiling little ones everyday ,who just wanted some love and attention , couldn't help but pull at your heartstrings. We started off with worshiping with a Sudanese church on Sunday morning. We would be spending most our time with them through out the 3 days we were there. Their service beautifully depicted their culture in many ways. So glad our students got to be a part of that.  We were able to hold a VBS at their church, the River Nile, on Monday and Tuesday. Getting to love on kids and teach them about our Father's love is one of my hobbies, so that was a highlight. 

We were able to spend some time at an apartment complex that housed many Sudan, Somalia and Kenya refugees, and do the same on Monday night. The children would run to us from every direction. More times than not the first thing out of their mouths would be, 'can I ride on yo back?' or 'can I get on yo neck?'. Our Middle School students didn't mind that at all! 

Tuesday night may have been the most 'out of your comfort zone' part of the trip. We served food and held a chapel service for about 150 men at a homeless shelter. We told our students that is why we came. To love God and love people. Getting out of your comfort zone is what it's all about my friends! 

Now, I need to brag on our students for a minute. We have the coolest, most loving, awesome Middle School students around. The one's that were able to go really stepped up and shared the love of Christ with everyone they saw. They never complained about anything. They did awesome! So proud of each one of them and every sponsor that took time out of their lives to help love our students and love Memphis. I think I could write pages and pages of our experience there. God was really shown to those wonderful people. 

 Here are a couple picture of our trip that one of my best friends, the very talented Kourtni Reynolds took. She captured the trip beautifully, but you can't fully understand until you actually experience it yourself. I encourage you to GO. Share Christ with every person whether they're small, old, young, big, African, Mexican, American, or Asian. Just GO.

   

Now for the part I have been waiting to scream from the mountain tops! My heart is happy my friends. Well, mine AND Dustin's hearts are very happy. Remember how I said this trip was life changing? If you don't, then shame on you. Go back and read all those words again! ;) God worked in our hearts this trip. I believe that when God shuts one door for a while, He opens another and that is exactly what He has done in our family. God gave us a burden while we were in Memphis and that burden was for orphans. For children who need a family to love them unconditionally and to take care of them.There are approximately 143,000,000 orphans in the world. My mind can't even comprehend that number. 

So, if you haven't figured it out already, Dustin and I have decided to adopt. Adoption was something that was always a part of the 'plan', but we never thought would over whelm our hearts so quickly. We understand that most people keep this between their families and don't really let it out there until it's closer. We both believe in the power of prayer. So in telling you all this exciting part of our lives we hope that you will start to pray with us as we begin the journey of raising money and the roller coaster ride of the adoption process. 

We believe that this is God's will for us. We believe that He will provide. It will take work and sacrifice, but in the end we get the precious gift to raise up a child for the Kingdom of Christ. Please be in prayer for our family, and I will use this blog to update along the way of this new journey we are starting. God is good my friends. So unbelievably good. Thank you for taking the time to read this and get a glimpse in to how wonderful this past week has been. 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8-9