I made a final shopping list and packing list. Tomorrow is shopping day rain or shine.
All the nifty baby supplies at my house have to stay at my house because my babies will still be there. It will be good to have a back up pack of all our stuff for when we get home.
I've packed clothing and a few supplies but Saturday is get-down-to-business day! We will be in China for 17 days and I've got to get busy!
I'm praying the Lord will guide my thoughts and direct my heart these next few days to draw especially close to my kids in these days before we leave. I made this (so not Pinterest-worthy) paper chain with the dates we will be gone and daily scriptures for my kids. They can tear off one link each day until we are home.
Our fabulous homeschool mom's group "Mom's Rest Stop" had a shower for me today. The décor was so sweet and really, really, REALLY made me ready to go get these babies!!! Isaac and Isabella are coming home. ISAAC AND ISABELLA ARE COMING HOME!
Another group of friends is having a shower on Sunday for us... (I know, I have the BEST friends, EVER!) If you would like to come and did not get an invite, please, please message Fiona or message me and get her info I'd LOVE to see you there before we go!
Please pray for God to prepare the hearts of our children. Pray for God to be glorified through this whole trip. Pray for our light to shine and His will to be done. Pray for our other children at home and my Dad as he leads this crew in our absence.
Thank you to all who have come along side of us. We are so blessed to have The Church all around us!
We have been asked to "Let the need be known" for our adoption. I figured I'd stick it here in a blog post for anyone who is interested.
So, here's the nutshell for those of you who want "Just the facts, Ma'am"
And I will give a more detailed account after that.
We need approximately $13,200
We owe about $21,900 coming up in the next few weeks.
We currently have $8200 which has been donated to AdoptTogether
And we have approximately $500 left in our savings account.
We have invested $13,692 so far.
We have received $2650 from two grants, we applied for ten.
I want to begin by saying we have some of the best friends and family in the entire world. Already, YOU have given about $10,000 (to AdoptTogether and personally) That is TRULY amazing and we are so very blessed.
THANK YOU! If you stuck with me to the end of this post!
And even bigger THANK YOU!!! to those who have given to us already. We so appreciate your generosity.
If you know anyone who would like a proven, previously-loved, practical 33 foot travel trailer that sleeps 10 we would love to sell it! Contact me by email.
There are ways to give and I will tell you we are currently waiting to see if we can get a matching grant. We applied in October, I called to follow up, they know our current timeline and are going to see if they can "do anything for us." I will post on Facebook and my blog when we hear back from them.
If you would like to give now, you can give to AdoptTogether.
So there ya have it folks, that's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Currently, "Not Yes" seems to be an answer we are getting frequently.
Our first "Not Yes" was in Washington while we were in the car with the real estate agent driving away from the property on which we were about to make an offer. Doug's phone and my phone rang at the same time. On my line was our Houston real estate agent informing us that the sale on our house had fallen through and on Doug's line was his boss back pedaling, insisting he come back to Houston in January after he had, on a previous call, told him he was sure it would be "no big deal" if we relocated to Washington.
We've had many "Not Yeses" since then.
The Legends House, perfect square footage, good location, and an IRS lien.
A very nice rental in a desirable neighborhood... not available until July.
A five bedroom, three bedroom, 4000 square foot house, in our price range... doesn't allow children, desires a retired couple. (Who does that?!)
House after house after house with offers made just before we arrived, sellers deciding not to sell, and so many other circumstances that prevented us from acquiring the house.
I have been praying for a home to just settle in.
And I feel like God is truly challenging me with this:
This world is not my home. I am not SUPPOSED TO feel settled here! Like a soldier on the battlefield I can have "base" but my "base" is not my home.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20
And this, so this. Philippians 4:12-13
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
We are still currently looking for a home to rent or buy if it's right. But are content to wait on the LORD. (OK, maybe content is a bit of a faith filled statement, but we are trying)
(Here's our specs in case you're wondering 5 bdrm, 3 bath, 3500sq ft minimum, with room for kids to play outside $350K or less or $2500/month)
And we are not sure if this is a NOT YES or not...
We now have more opportunity to trust the Lord since Doug's company was sold a few weeks ago and he gets to present his department to the bosses of the new company, "So they can know all that they will need to know." Nice. We've been down this road before and despite reassurances, we don't feel very reassured.
It's nice to sing this song, it's another thing entirely to live it.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
My husband assured me today that God hasn't forgotten us. I burst into tears. Truly, I did. He then relayed a conversation that he had this morning that is so GOD. No one will ever convince me it's a coincidence.
Doug had filled out a prayer request and took it to the little box on the wall, there was a guy standing there. This conversation ensued:
Doug: "Are you a prayer guy?"
Usher: "No, I'm an usher" Pause... "But I can pray, I guess."
Doug: "Well, I'm a training manager and my company was just bought out by a larger company and my job is a little uncertain right now"
Usher: Chuckling, "Well, now I know why God sent you to me. You see, I'm a trainer. A few weeks ago, my company was bought out and my job was uncertain. I ended up getting offered another position in the new company."
WHAT?! THE NOT-A-PRAYER-GUY STANDING AT THE EXACT SPOT MY (never-fills-out prayer-requests) HUSBAND WALKED TO!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
P.S.I had literally just finished writing this post and handing it to my husband to proofread for me when my six year old Sarah started shouting, "COME OUTSIDE AND SEE THE RAINBOW!" over and over. We all went and were inspired by the sign of God's promise. Truly, He has not forgotten us.
Mom was always quoting scripture, these were two of her favorites that came to mind this morning.
This is the day that The Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
They that wait upon The Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
Today we bury my mom. She loved Jesus with all of her heart. She prayed for everyone she knew. She believed that nothing was impossible with God. She saw friends healed of tumors, she saw headaches and backaches disappear. And now she has seen her own healing completed.
Over and over growing up we would have a need and mom would pray and the need would be met. There were times we would come home to groceries on our porch, money in the mailbox, or the very item we had been praying about just sitting there. I remember one time my mom wanted a new bible and for weeks she waited to see how God would provide it. I don't remember how she got it now, but the point is that I watched her wait expectantly.
Shortly after she was saved at a Billy Graham crusade she believed The Lord was telling her to go to Alaska. She packed her bags and went to Seatac. She walked up to the counter and asked if anyone had paid for a ticket for her. Praying, she waited all day. Later that evening she came home thinking perhaps her timing was off, but she never disbelieved God.
In 1984 God called her to go to YWAM for a Crossroads Discipleship Training school in Hawaii so we packed up and went! The trip was life changing for my brother and me. In the Philippines, Hong Kong, China, and Korea we saw raw poverty, orphans, Christians pulling together to serve and to pray. It was in the Philippines where I held a two year old baby the size of an infant that my heart for orphan care was born. But we learned through that trip that nothing was impossible. We saw God provide financially over and over during that period of months in such a sweet way that built our faith in Christ.
To say Mom was special would be a gross understatement. When Mom read Gods word she believed it. It wasn't a theological study for her or an academic practice, it was truth. Face value. She has a gift of faith and of everything Mom had, that's what I want, her faith, her childlike belief that God will do what His word says. And a double portion please, God, give me her faith.
I've just returned home from Maria's Big House of Hope and to say it has been an adventure would be an understatement!
After a fourteen hour flight, a twelve hour flip flop time change, and a night stay over in Beijing we finally arrived at Maria's. The staff heroes who deal with the heartbreak of orphan care day in and day out greeted us with such warmth and enthusiasm. We took a quick tour during which I could not keep my leaky eyes off the sweet babies in all the colorful Disney-themed rooms.
We familiarized ourselves with the facility and its workings, loved on big and little babies, and searched our hearts in an attempt to understand what God was beginning in us at Maria's. Brokenness is the recurring theme in us, in China, and yes, even at a place as wonderful as Maria's. The effects of the fall, sin, and death are simply overwhelming and oppressive. "BUT GOD", two of my favorite words (learned from painful trials in my own life)... But God is here. And God SEES and knows each of these children and has a life, a purpose, and a hope for them.
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Opening my daughters bible, which was brought with me because its smaller than mine, I saw psalm ten highlighted with a pink marker. Psalm ten is somewhat obscure, and I don't ever recall reading it with her. But because it caught my eye, I read it and the following verse just jumped off the page at me.
Psalm 10:14 says, "But you oh God do see trouble and grief, you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you, you are the helper of the fatherless."
Did you see that?! "BUT GOD!" He is the helper of the fatherless!
His word is true. God is their help. The cute ones, the strong ones, the frail and the weak, we all need a savior. And thankfully that savior is not me. It's Him and Him alone. God alone can do the massive work needed to bring relief and love to the orphans of China. And I'm so glad He will.
I was talking with someone today expressing my feelings of excitement and outright panic about my upcoming China trip. The last time I left my kids I went to San Antonio with my husband for 2 nights. It was at least three years ago. I just don't leave them... ever. I laughingly said, "It's not like a weekend get away across town But I am going to China, for NINE DAYS!!! and she sweetly said to me, "Well...
GO BIG OR GO HOME!"
I LOVE IT! When God does something where HE gets the glory it's bigger and more and harder and yes, even impossible. He is sending me. He has provided all the funds. And imagine, He even has a plan for my family while I'm gone! I am going to TRUST HIM! Logistically, I am so thankful God has provided a friend who lives in Chicago who will take me to the airport so the kids will be able to say "see you soon" without rushing or being shooed away by security. Doug and the kids plan to move to a new campsite in Wisconsin, maybe up north while I'm out of the country. For those keeping score, Caleb is still nursing but I've cut back. I've been able to pump a little for him to have while I'm gone, but mostly he will drink milk from a bottle and eat regular food. He continues to grow so quickly. His first birthday is July 19, the day I leave. I have to believe God orchestrated it that way for his reasons. I'm really not terribly concerned for his eating, it's his sleeping (or lack thereof) that I worry about. I have worked the night shift, and the day shift for a year. I guess it ends now. Or at least I get an extended break! If you'd make this a matter of prayer I'd be grateful.
Everyone else will manage fine. Doug took the week off work and Emily is already planning meals... mostly what junk food they'll eat while I'm gone.
The sweet fruit of training children to work is paying off big time now. I couldn't go on this trip if they're weren't as capable as they are. With Doug at the helm, and Emily as his first mate, I know things will go swimmingly. Ok, maybe not swimmingly, but the boat won't sink ;) I am told there is wifi at Maria's Big House, so I plan on using it to keep you all updated. Doug and Emily also can access my blog and facebook to update in my stead.
It's one of the most frequent questions that comes up.
In short the answer to this is:
James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,
and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
The deeper answer to the WHY question is:
My heart has been stirred over and over through the years following the adoption journeys of my friends Jen Johnson and Susanna Musser , and the very courageous Katie in Ugandaas they have followed the Lord by adopting children with special needs from (or in) foreign countries.
Their faith, persistence, hope, and compassion are truly inspiring. If you want to know Jesus, get to know these women.
The need is great, but our SAVIOR is even greater! He moves in all kinds of ways to accomplish His work in this fallen world, a world where parents die or can't or won't care for their children.
Not everyone is called to adopt. But everyone is called to DO SOMETHING. One of the very clear commands in scripture is to "visit orphans and widows in their distress." and that is what this trip is all about for me.
What are you doing to fulfill that command? What is God calling you to do?
Pray?
Give?
Go?
Adopt?
There are literally thousands of organizations you can work with to "visit orphans and widows in their distress." Ask the Lord what HE wants you to do and JUST DO IT!
If God can send me, a mom of nine children, living in a RV, traveling the U.S. He can send ANYONE!
Oh wow, I am pretty much speechless, so I'm writing a blog post, lol!!!
We just left The Creation Museum I feel saturated with truth, and hope, and boldness!
My kids are asking questions about sin and salvation, origins and the future.
If you have to choose between this and Disneyworld for a vacation, choose The Creation Museum. It's not as big or as expensive, but the quality of the exhibits and the TRUTH your family will take away from this are invaluable.
First of all I want to thank the two families who gave us passes so we could enjoy the museum FREE OF CHARGE! You read that right. What would have cost us around $200.00, was provided for us for free. All tickets are two day passes so we will be going back tomorrow to see more! It definitely takes two days to take it all in.
From the first display replicating the "Lucy" bones found in Africa to the last exhibit we experienced, the planetarium, God's word was the cornerstone of all the information presented.
Questions were raised about all the information which is so often presented as fact. How many times have you read or heard, "Millions and millions of years ago...". We just did recently when we visited Mammoth Cave, the Ranger who led our tour authoritatively informed us that the caves were ten million years old. In contrast, when he talked about what happened in the caves a few hundred years ago, he was more vague and willing to admit he didn't know how work was done by native peoples or how certain artifacts that were found in the caves were used. There was no question however, when he explained that the caves were formed over millions of years by underground rivers.
At The Creation Museum, there was so much to see and absorb and we were encouraged to ask questions and seek answers in God's Word.
Emily's favorite was The replica Garden of Eden which was absolutely beautiful. Considering the pre-fall condition of the world was a new experience. Imagine a world without pain or death. Stop. Really imagine that. It was perfect, and it's where we are headed in the future in the new heaven and the new earth. Lions lay down with lambs, it happened once, it will happen again, and you will want to be there!
Or maybe the espresso stand was Emily's favorite!
Doug's favorite was Walking through the life size Noah's ark where we considered that Noah was given a huge project by God to do. He was faithfully obedient to Gods instruction resulting in the salvation of himself and his family. God judged the entire planet, but provided a way of escape for the righteous who obeyed Him.
Ben's favorite was the planetarium where we flew through the skies and felt like we were really In a spaceship seeing the planets and stars. It prompted the kids to ask, "If there are so many galaxies, what makes Earth so special?" While we don't have a perfect answer, we can consider that because God sent His one and only Son here to die for mankind, He thinks the inhabitants He created for Earth are pretty special.
At the dragon exhibit we observed the connection of the phenomenon of dragon lore across the centuries and the continents, presented creatively with concepts of young earth and dinosaurs cohabiting with humans. This was both educational and entertaining.
We got to hear Buddy Davis talk about the T-Rex and how interpretations of it have changed over the years. Archeologists and paleo-artists are really part detective, part artist and much of what they create is interpretive. We made our own t-Rex sculptures from green clay, straws, and toothpicks.
Finally at the end of the day, we met Ken Ham the founder and creator of The Creation Museum. We were able to thank him for his work, tell him about the big billboard in North Houston we were excited to see go up, and take a few pictures with him. Being in the presence of believers was a breath of fresh air, a sigh of relief, and a sense of renewal.
Visit www.creationmuseum.org and start planning your trip today!
All the nifty baby supplies at my house have to stay at my house because my babies will still be there. It will be good to have a back up pack of all our stuff for when we get home.
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