FINALLY FINISHED

The carpet was laid today and the room is now finished. The girls will be so excited when they return Sunday to be in their new room. Thank you, Lord for being able to finish this project before our children come home. Parker is moving to the girl's old room and he is very excited to have a brother. Michael has worked so hard and it looks beautiful. I am so blessed to be his wife. He is a wondeful husband, dad and best friend.

COUNT THE COST

I have really been considering adoption and its various aspects and the thing I have found myself truly pondering is the cost. Not so much the financial cost for us to adopt, but the cost of the God of the universe- His Son's life, for my adoption into His family. Some people have commented, we could purchase a "nice, new car for the cost of this adoption". I have been heart broken over the hard-hearted responses and lack of understanding to help invest in someones life. These are two precious children, our children, who deserve a chance at a life learning about their need of the Savior they otherwise may not have. The price that is paid for this adoption, whether through a loan or financial donations, it doesn't equate to the investment in a child's life for the Kingdom of God. Nor does it in anyway equate to the cost of our Savior's life. It may cost us another payment for several years to pay this off, but if doesn't cost me, Michael or our children our lives. I love Jesus more each day as I ponder what my adoption cost Him. You cannot repay someone for the gift that was given and sacrificed for my ransom to satisfy my debt to God. I am so humbled by this gift of mercy. I pray that I may be His servant in a manner worthy of His gospel. I have too often not taken the time to consider the things the Lord has placed before me. Lord, please continue to refine and sanctify me for Your work.
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. Habbakuk 2:3

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! We had a wonderful Christmas eve with our new church in Jacksonville. We feel very blessed to be a part of such loving people who care about pleasing and glorifying the Lord. It was simple, but so sweet. We both miss our church family in Montgomery, but God has proven to us time and time again His Word is truth and He is all we need. Michael and I both got our fingerprinting letters. That is the last thing we need to do. After the fingerprints, we wait for the golden 171-H from Immigration, then the court date and then the embassy date. Then we pick up our children and forever bring them home with us. We are happy and blessed to be a part of something so spectacular. The Lord has shown us much about ourselves, His love and His plan in adoption. I can only imagine what it will be like to have these two precious ones home after desiring to have them for so long. I know it will be an overwhelming experience to hold and kiss two more children the Lord has so graciously given us. For now, I will have to only imagine until we are able to go. Jesus, I am resting in you.

DOSSIER IN THE MAIL TO DC

Our dossier is on its way to Washington DC to be authenticated with the US State Department and the Ethiopian Embassy. I can't believe we are finally getting closer to getting our children. My heart is so anxious to hold them. But I am ever trying to rest in my Savior and be patient. Please continue to pray for the Lord to bless our finances, so we may send it to Ethiopia soon. We are also waiting to be fingerprinted by USCIS( Immigration). We are hoping to hear of an appointment in the next two weeks. It may be longer with the holidays, but we will go as soon as we hear. After that, we wait for the approval to bring the children to the US. We cannot even schedule a court date in Ethiopia without this document, so we are praying it will come quickly along with the money to send the dossier. Please pray for our children's safety and health. Also, that the Lord would begin to prepare their young hearts for the transition that will take place hopefully very soon.

COLOSSIANS 3:12-15

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-15

OUR FAMILY'S BELIEFS

I have been wanting to sit down and write down some of my family's beliefs so here goes.
1. We believe that our one aim in life and death should be to glorify God and enjoy Him in His Word.
2. We believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit, written by man and is without error. God's Word should be our only standard for our faith and daily conduct.
3. We believe in the Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is one, but three persons. It is in our Creator that we put our trust.
4. We believe that the heavens and earth and all that is in them, are the work of God's hands. God governs all their actions so that they will fulfill the purpose for which He created them.
5.We believe God created man in His own image.
6. We believe man willfully sinned against God by Adam and Eve and every descendant after him was conceived and born into sin.
7. We believe we are by nature children of wrath, hostil toward God and under His condemnation. We are prone to evil and liable to eternal death except through the unmerited grace of God. He has given us a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.
8. We believe out of God's great love, He has graciously chosen unto Himself a multitude of sinners to deliver us out of our sin and save us unto righteousness.
9. We believe God has redeemed His people unto Himself through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, and through Christ alone.
10. We believe that Jesus Christ is co-equal with God, though He humbled Himself and became a man, the perfect God-man. He chose to bear the penalty of our sins for His rightousness and has presented us to God the Father as His possession. We are declared holy and righteousness only by His shed blood. We will praise and glory in His grace forever, through no merit of our own, but through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
11. We believe Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for the sins of those who would believe, and was raised again from the dead for our justification. He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for His people. He is the head of the Church. If Jesus had not been had a spiritual geneology, sin's seed would have been passed to him through His father. Since, God is His Father, sin was not to be found in Him.
12. We believe the redemption Christ purchased for us is effectually applied by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who raises us to life and works faith and repentance in us and unites us to Christ. Only through redemption is our hostility removed.
13. We believe having been justified by God for Christ's sake, it is required that we walk in the Spirit and likeness of Jesus Christ. The Spirit's goal is to conform us to the image of Christ. We are sanctified by God for His work.
14. We believe Christ came in grace and will also return in glory to judge the word in righteousness.

This is not an exhaustive list of our beliefs, but it is where we are rooted in God's truth.

ALMOST FINISHED

Tonight we started priming the bonus room. This has been about 6 months coming. I am so thankful Michael knows how to do just about everything. It saves us a lot of time and money. Saving money right now is very important trying to come up with the remaining amount for the dossier and travel expenses. He is very efficient and talented with his hands. Hopefully, we will have the room painted within the next few days and the carpet can be put down next week. We would love to have the girls moved upstairs by Christmas. If not Christmas, maybe by New Years. They are excited about this new room and where their furniture is going to go. Our daughter is going to share a king bed with Madison and Kylie is on the other side of the room. The girls are looking forward to having their little sister with them upstairs. Parker's always saying he can't wait to teach his brother how to play soccer, football and baseball. I am so thankful the kids are as excited about this adoption as we are. God has worked in the hearts of our entire family to prepare us for our children. We each already love them so much. Yes, Lord, I know patience. My heart is really trying to rest in Christ at this time. Resting is not something I do well either, but I am able in the strength of my Savior alone. Why is it so hard to realize that we are unable to do anything apart from Christ, when Scripture clearly tells us these things. I believe it is because of what Scripture also tells us of our pride. Lord, please continue to refine me and my family. Please prepare the hearts of Madison, Parker and our new children that they would one day repent and trust you as Savior and Lord. Thank you, Father for the work you have done in my heart. I am your creation.

WHEN LOVE TAKES YOU IN by Steven Curtis Chapman

Before you start this video, stop the music in the bottom right hand corner. This is a video that I saw on someone else's blog and it really spoke to my heart. This is a song he wrote about his adopted daughter.

DOSSIER READY TO GO!!!

We got the approval that our dossier is ready to go. We are only waiting on the money and it to be authenticated in DC. I also mailed our final stuff to USCIS (Immigration) to wait for the golden paper that gives us permission to bring our children home. Only God knows what He has in store for us. We have been so blessed. We have always been able to give our excess to others especially clothing. Only God could use us to provide for others while we were needing provision. Our Great God owns a cattle on a thousand hills, and allows some of that provision to pass through our hands into the lives of those around us. God has blessed us tremendously and I don't want to ever take that for granite. He is always faithful. We have been offered some clothing from a good friend (too much to mail... PRAISE GOD!!!) I am learning to trust God, this has been so hard for me. But, I am learning. Thankfully, our Lord is a perfect teacher. God's provision always exceed my thoughts. I'm excited about watching Him work in our lives. As hard as this has been, my prayer and desire still remain, God refine me as gold.

JUST ABOUT DONE

Michael is just about to finish the bonus room and all we'll need then is our children. It has been very hard being a little disabled with my neck and shoulder and not be able to help more. Very frustrating. I 'm not the type to sit back and watch. The three girls are going to sleep upstairs. It may sound tight, but it is about 455 sq ft, and there is a half bath and a huge walk in closet. They should have plenty of room. We also built alot of built- ins for storage. The boys are going to share a room downstairs, we think. We would like to keep a guest room, not that we have many visitors, but it would be nice. It will be nice to have this project finished. I think I have just about killed my poor husband with my projects. I am sooooo thankful he loves me. We just have to get used to the idea of hurry up and wait with this adoption process. Now that things are coming down to the wire, I find myself so much more anxious. Patience is not my thing as the Lord knows. So, I will have to continue to trust and pray; pray alot more.

DOSSIER SENT FOR APPROVAL

We sent our dossier for approval on Friday. We are also waiting to be fingerprinted with Immigration, and waiting for them to approve us to bring our children home. There is a form called 171-H that you must have in order to get a court date in Ethiopia. Once you receive the form from Immigration, you call and fax it to your case manager. She will then call Ethiopia and tell them to schedule a court date. So many details and so much to happen before we can bring our children home. This has been a lengthy process, but they are worth it and even more our obedience to our God is worth it. Praying that the Lord will give us peace about His perfect timing for our children to come home. Can't wait to hug and kiss our babies.

EVEN I CAN BLOG!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!! We have soooo much to be thankful for. We seldom thank God as often as we should for His provision in our lives. We are blessed by our Lord each day. I can even do a blog site. You see, I'm not computer saavy. Thanks Joy P! Michael and I stayed home for Thanksgiving to finish a bonus room we've been working on for our new kids. Why is it kids require so much room. Anyway, in the next blog I'll give you a family update and explain "new kids". Lord, thank you for the means and ability to be able to do this project.