Tangible Hope

The story behind these bracelets is awesome!
It is literally one of the things that keeps me up at night.
I am excited about supporting a worthy cause along with the pursuit of our own adoption.
Check out our Project Bracelets page for more details.

The more I learn about some of the desperate realities going on in the world, the less "normal" I want to be.  God continues to TRANSFORM my heart and the life of our family.  There is so much need right here and around the world.  Our family is certainly on a mission to rescue one sweet heart, and God has so much more in between and beyond.
I am thankful to be surrounded by amazing, Godly people who are always working and loving for the Lord.  In the midst of it all, there is a beautiful, tangible hope in seeing the hands of Christ!
I want to be a part of that Hope!

Lovin' Family Night

We LOVED our fellowship at Family Night!!!
Our friends and family were a tremendous blessing!

Cheesy at the Post Office

AMAZING Mother's Day!
God's love is alive and working all around me!  I have so many beautiful people in my life.

All of the adults and kids who worked the Car Wash on Saturday blessed us tremendously.  Just the fact that they were willing to sacrifice so much time and effort is awesome.  God blessed their work and used so many more generous people to make the day a huge success.  The FCA gave Kevin $1,000 today!!

Our family, church family and friends keep giving and encouraging and praying.  I promise you each and every bit means so much, and we feel it all.  It's hard to put it into words.

All of this generosity has brought us to this special time.  For Mother's Day, Kevin and I were able to complete some paperwork and fully launch into the 1st phase of the process.  Drew and I mailed our special package today, and we giggled and celebrated the whole time. :)
Best trip to the post office I've ever had.

Proud big brother and big sister

A stack of adoption shirts to give out!!! Thanks to everyone who ordered one!  Drew and Kate were so proud to wear their shirts for the first time today...actually all 4 of us were excited to wear them. 

The tangible things like this help us feel like we have a little something to grasp.  Many times throughout the day my heart aches, and my mind worries.  Time passes, and I know our sweet little one needs us.  The anxiety is not for me to feel something or feel better, but to rescue her.  I can resolve to patience when it is for my own purpose, but patience for the well-being of a child, my child.  Overwhelming.  And even more overwhelming that so many children need to be rescued.

That's when God steps in.  Every time, He steps in.  He moves, and He moves me.  I keep doing.  Kevin keeps doing.  Another yard.  A little more baking.  On my knees.  On our knees together.  God is sovereign.

So many of you are praying, loving and giving.  We feel it all and are truly blessed and lifted by each and every part.  I am confident that our little girl feels it, too.  I know she does.  Words will never be enough to express our gratitude.  I pray you each know the impact you have.

I am thankful for you!  for a God who loves!   for a God who is moving and working!  and for a God who works in spite of me!

It's Getting Cloudy

I'm not talking rain clouds, ya'll.
I'm talking witnesses, a CLOUD of WITNESSES.
We are in a downpour of blessings from the amazing people who surround us.  We are just drenched with all the love.
The prayers, the kind words and gifts are leaving us speechless.
Each one means so much to us, more than we could ever express.

Our church, Salem UMC, is showering on us with the surprise of a special Mother's Day giving opportunity.  They are also allowing us to host our Family Nights in the gym.  Their kind words and prayers are doing more than we can explain.

Our friends and coworkers have us soaked with love and support, too.  Every single day we are lifted by a sweet comment or act of kindness.  The MCHS FCA has even volunteered a car wash on our behalf. 

Our family.  You know our family.  God's love is so evident in such a tangible way within our family, and it always has been.  Kevin and I thank God daily for the people who surround us.

Simply Speechless.
There are no words that can express the gratitude we feel.
I can't wait for our little girl to see this!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.   Hebrews 12:1

Why can't we?

Today in the middle of  Wal-Mart, we were talking about not wanting things and asking for so many things (you know the standard mom-child conversation).  We have so much and others don't have what we do.  It's a basic life-lesson, but an important one.  I talked about that being one of the reasons we want to bring our new little sister home, so she can have what she needs and enjoy the things we do.  Drew agreed saying, "everyone should have good fruits and vegetables".  :) 
A few aisles down, Drew wanted to know if we could "just get all the kids who need a home when we go get her, because the other kids will be sad, so can't we just get all of them?"

In my mind... there's no good answer for that.
I know, Drew. "Why can't we?"

I did answer.  The best answer I have.
That's why so many people help, and why so many people adopt.
God uses all of us.

I have normal kids, who still continued the trip asking for popcorn chicken, pickles and mini pancakes.  But their hearts are changing...growing, just like mine.  More and more of each day takes on a new perspective.
Transforming Love.  We are seeing it in all areas of our life and family.  Only true Love does that.

So fast

Every night at the end of Drew's prayers he asks God to take care of our new little sister.  Last night, when Kate was alone in her bed, we overheard her prayers.  She said, "God, please bring my sister so fast."


Amen.