One year ago today I wrote from a truly heart-wrenching place. Even as I tried to go back and read the post "No Words" today, it was too much for me to remember the pain I felt in writing it. Wow has God turned our life around this year. We are extremely and magnificently blessed. I look forward to sharing more details of how our Lord has been true to all of his promises and revealed a plan so different from our own and SO MUCH BETTER!! Never lose hope, people! Trust in His divine plan, always!!!
"Standing on this mountain top
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us"
Tomorrow I will go to the holiday market I went to last year and hid my face so that strangers wouldn't see me cry. This year I will shop for a very special little angel!!
Never Once by Matt Redman
Friday, November 22, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
How Many Times
Adoption is a constant cycle. It goes.... Excitement > Anticipation > Disappointment > Heartbreak.
Athough I have heard that eventually those last two emotions are replaced with Elation > Relief. The trick is to stay with it.
It is very discouraging when we see so many opportunities for babies every week, but we are not yet back in the budget for most situations. Some times we are only short by around $4,000 - other times we are more than twice our current budget away from the match. And every one that is in our budget, we go for full speed ahead without pumping the brakes.
No matter how many times we put ourselves out there and are not chosen, we know that when it's right, we WILL be chosen. So we will continue to try because that is all we can do. We continue to ask God one more time to give us the strength, courage and willingness to do it again. And every day there is a renewed faith that He will provide a child for us to love.
Need You Now (How Many Times) by Plumb
Athough I have heard that eventually those last two emotions are replaced with Elation > Relief. The trick is to stay with it.
It is very discouraging when we see so many opportunities for babies every week, but we are not yet back in the budget for most situations. Some times we are only short by around $4,000 - other times we are more than twice our current budget away from the match. And every one that is in our budget, we go for full speed ahead without pumping the brakes.
No matter how many times we put ourselves out there and are not chosen, we know that when it's right, we WILL be chosen. So we will continue to try because that is all we can do. We continue to ask God one more time to give us the strength, courage and willingness to do it again. And every day there is a renewed faith that He will provide a child for us to love.
Need You Now (How Many Times) by Plumb
Saturday, February 2, 2013
$uper $uccessful Garage $ale
All we can say is thank you, and all we feel is thankful, well a little exhausted too! Thank you to all who donated items, spent time helping us, shopped and shared the word about the garage sale. And thank you God for giving us the abundance of donations that led to a severe lack of sleep and then the drive to make it through the day!
This fundraiser was a HUGE success. The final outcome exceeded all our expectations. And friends, it truly takes a village!! We could not have done this on our own without our generous, hard-working friends and family. Our gratitude is enormous. Our hearts are full. We love you all so much!!
This fundraiser was a HUGE success. The final outcome exceeded all our expectations. And friends, it truly takes a village!! We could not have done this on our own without our generous, hard-working friends and family. Our gratitude is enormous. Our hearts are full. We love you all so much!!
Friday, January 25, 2013
And the collecting begins...
For those that have offered to donate for our garage sale next weekend, we will begin picking up tomorrow. I will be in Madison tomorrow (Saturday) and Brandon on Sunday. I will be picking up in the Castlewoods/Reservoir area one night next week.
Please let me know when and where I can pick up from you.
Thank you!!
Please let me know when and where I can pick up from you.
Thank you!!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Moment in the Sun
I realized at work today that I have stopped checking my phone incessantly throughout the day waiting and watching for the e-mail that will change it all. I am not sure if I should be sad or glad about that.
I am still very hopeful that the right situation will come up soon, and that in no time, we will have our baby. However, I guess it is sinking in that I cannot will that happen on my time. I am basically going on with life daily as I always have. I am reviewing our budget daily. I am planning fundraisers, counting donations, filling shirt orders and responding to well wishes from strangers and friends. So my day is a little different than it was before adoption became my world. But it is much more normal than I could have imagined 2 months ago. At that time, I optimistically said we would be fine, and life goes on, and when the time comes this will be a distant memory. I did not mean any of it. I was hurt, and I was angry. And I did not want to not be hurt and angry. I wanted to feel that loss.
God placed a protective veil over me so that I could have my grief but look to the future. I am thankful for His blessings in scripture and sunny days and friends that send me a text on a random day and let me know I am loved. I am thankful to have choices and to be able to speak to Him when it is time to make those choices.
We have had to turn away two seemingly perfect situations in the last month because we simply do not have the money to cover the costs. Those stung really badly. I think about the baby boy that is with another woman now instead of me and pray for him, and for her, every day. And every once in a while when I am walking down the sidewalk or watching a movie the pain of our loss washes over me. But usually as quickly as it comes, it is gone. I still truly believe that was not meant to be our baby. God needed us to live that situation for a greater purpose that I hope to see.
I am not sure this post is any more or less than rambling on as I do sometimes. The message I want to give and receive is hope. Our hope is alive in our Lord. Tomorrow could change everything. When the time comes, sigh, it will be... beyond words.
Moment in the Sun by Clem Snide
I am still very hopeful that the right situation will come up soon, and that in no time, we will have our baby. However, I guess it is sinking in that I cannot will that happen on my time. I am basically going on with life daily as I always have. I am reviewing our budget daily. I am planning fundraisers, counting donations, filling shirt orders and responding to well wishes from strangers and friends. So my day is a little different than it was before adoption became my world. But it is much more normal than I could have imagined 2 months ago. At that time, I optimistically said we would be fine, and life goes on, and when the time comes this will be a distant memory. I did not mean any of it. I was hurt, and I was angry. And I did not want to not be hurt and angry. I wanted to feel that loss.
God placed a protective veil over me so that I could have my grief but look to the future. I am thankful for His blessings in scripture and sunny days and friends that send me a text on a random day and let me know I am loved. I am thankful to have choices and to be able to speak to Him when it is time to make those choices.
We have had to turn away two seemingly perfect situations in the last month because we simply do not have the money to cover the costs. Those stung really badly. I think about the baby boy that is with another woman now instead of me and pray for him, and for her, every day. And every once in a while when I am walking down the sidewalk or watching a movie the pain of our loss washes over me. But usually as quickly as it comes, it is gone. I still truly believe that was not meant to be our baby. God needed us to live that situation for a greater purpose that I hope to see.
I am not sure this post is any more or less than rambling on as I do sometimes. The message I want to give and receive is hope. Our hope is alive in our Lord. Tomorrow could change everything. When the time comes, sigh, it will be... beyond words.
Moment in the Sun by Clem Snide
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Thank You!
To all the wonderful people who read this blog and who have reposted and participated in our fundraisers, THANK YOU!! We got a great boost to our baby fund thanks to you. But don't forget about us!! We've still got t-shirts to sell, bottles to fill, and we are getting some great items for our garage sale on Sat. Feb. 2. So far, we've got books, clothes, lamps and accessories, furniture, appliances and nearly new 4-wheeler tires!! Please call on us to pick up your junk.. err... treasures! And don't forget to shop it!!
Thank you so much support in the form of prayers, purchases, donations, encouraging messages and more. We are very blessed!
Thank You by Dido
Thank you so much support in the form of prayers, purchases, donations, encouraging messages and more. We are very blessed!
Thank You by Dido
Thursday, January 10, 2013
New Fundraiser - Garage Sale
It's time for some early spring cleaning. My sweet friends, the Colemans, have offered to host a garage sale for us on Saturday, February 2. I know you all have things in your house/yard/garage that are taking up space - we want that stuff! We will pick up your donations locally the week before the sale. Set aside your tools, sports equipment, books, furniture and appliances in good condition, toys and children's gently used clothing. And remember to come to the sale! More information on location will be posted closer to time.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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