Our key verse during our adoption.

When this whole process officially started for us in October this verse came to me and ever since then has been popping up all over the place. Well, I'm claiming it as our reassurance from God.

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. " Matthew 19:26

When Joel and I look at this adoption we don't know how it's going to happen. We didn't have hardly any money set aside to pay for it and don't have a wealthy relative to go to either. We are WAY overwhelmed with the overall cost of it all but know that we alone can not do this. I heard something on the TV concerning adoption one day and it hit me hard. The woman was praying to God about how any of it was going to happen and she said " I can't do this God!". His response was "You aren't going to do it, I am!". Wow! So believing that He is totally in control we have stepped out in faith and know that only He can make this happen. Praise Him for being more than able to take care of our needs.

Prayer of Jabez

In an attempt to get rid of some books and make some money I came across this little book that I haven't read in awhile, The Prayer of Jabez. Well, I didn't end up selling any of my books but I don't think it's an accident that I found this book either. I plowed through the pages and couldn't tear myself away until I was finished. To start off this is the actual prayer:
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.
1 Chronicles 4:10
Now if I was just reading in my Bible I would probably have just read it and thought that it seemed pretty cool but wouldn't have really thought much about it. Man, would I have been wrong! There is so much to this little prayer. First off that God would bless me indeed. This isn't necessarily a selfish prayer but one of blessing in the way that He chooses and desires to do in our lives. Secondly that our territory would be enlarged. Praying for more opportunities and chances to impact the Kingdom. Thirdly, that God's hand would be with us means that the Holy Spirit is guiding us. Last of all that He would keep us from evil is His protection. If we are actively moving and working for God than Satan is going to do all he can to stop us. He will throw obsticals in our way and try to make us fall or give up. There really is so much more to all of this but I wanted to give you just a glimpse of what I've learned. At the end of the book it challenges you to a 30 day plan. I've already started praying this prayer and have daily seen so great blessings so I decided to do the challenge. I'm sharing with you so I will keep myself accountable. I'm so excited for what God will do and show me through this time. May I challenge you to read and learn for yourself what this book has for you. If we would only ask for those blessings He has stored up in Heaven for us each day.

Where you can bless others!

I received a message from a wonderful lady named Karen who so kindly decided to put our blanket fundraiser on her blog page. What a blessing! She is trying to help those that are paying the ransom for their precious little ones to come home. Please visit her page and see some great ideas for Christmas gifts this year plus helping these adopting families in the mean time.
http://karendawkins.blogspot.com/

Eric Ludy - Depraved Indifference

My Struggle

I hesitate to write this because I don't want to seem like I'm pointing a finger....believe me this is not my intent. I am writing this because I want to keep a "journal" of the highs and lows of our adoption to our beautiful baby girl. Okay well here it goes! I have been struggling, alright I admit a lot. We have a ticking clock set before us to raise so much money to even start this whole adoption and I am freaking out. Sadly our fundraiser is not going tremendously well and we have yet to come across an envelope with thousands of dollars in it. :) It seems that I rack my brain everyday on what we could be doing, what aren't we doing right, and what more should we be doing. I admit I am horrible at waiting, especially for something that I really want. In my feeble human mind I am terrified that we will not be able to raise or come up with this money. Now on a different level my communication with God is at an all time high. The other day He finally had enough of my whining I suppose and helped me shift my thinking. I flat out thanked Him for what He is going to do and also just thanked Him for giving us this opportunity. Wow! What an opportunity we have. We are going to be adding a precious, beautiful addition to our family. Someone else to cuddle and kiss and watch grow! Awesome!!! He also pointed out to me that since Christmas is coming up I need to be thinking about and praying for those 147 million that don't have a family this year to celebrate with. What a heart breaking thought. Well, that really just slapped me in the face and I admit I needed it. I encourage you to think about what you can do for those little ones....pray, donate money to an organization that helps or a family that is adopting, or think about adopting yourself. Praise God that He is with these little ones when we can't be. I came across the above video from another friend's blog and just had to share.

Gavin turns 7

October 28th....I'm a little behind.

My silly Claire Bear!

I just love this girl!!!

Since we have shared our news on adoption we've gotten a huge spectrum of responses and questions. We realize that this is quite a shock for some and honestly doesn't make a whole lot of sense for others. Yes, we do have three children already of our own and yes we are very happy and content with our lives right now. The only way to describe it to others is that God has put this on our hearts as His desire for our lives. Taking on an endeavor that costs thousands of dollars that we don't have and bringing a child that we've never met from across the world that's of a different ethnicity seems crazy to most. I understand that but I can't turn a blind eye to God's command and to all those beautiful children that need love and attention. My husband knows that if I had the chance I would bring every child that I could that was hurting from this country and around the world home with me if I could. I'm not the best mom around, we don't have a huge money tree in our backyard and our house isn't a mansion but we can help at least one. There can be one less that sits alone in their crib all day, that cries but no one cares to pick up and hold, that always longs to be in a loving family of their own. I don't know how we are going to do this or what the future holds but I know that my God is bigger than all these questions,worries, and concerns. I know that He alone can do this and that He has for some reason chosen us to care for the one special child. What a blessing! What a time to build our faith and trust in Him.

Adoption

Well, we are very proud to announce that we are indeed adopting! We have decided on the lovely country of Ethiopia to bring a little girl home from. Many have asked how this all came about for us and it started around 2008. The year before we had lost our twin babies in a miscarriage and really came to the realization that all life is so precious. There were friends of ours that were adopting and we got to see through them the whole process. It was so exciting but yet full of its own ups and downs. God at this time planted a seed in us that this might be what He wanted for us, too. Stepping out in faith we sent in our preapplication and shortly after found out that I was pregnant so this abruptly stopped any ventures into adoption at that time. We were told that once the baby was 9 months old we could procede again. The thought of adoption never really left our minds and really intensified within this past year. When we first started the process we were thinking of going the domestic route but I really felt a pull towards international. Through lots of prayer and research we decided to put Ethiopia down for our first country of choice and the US for our second. In October of this year we were approved for Ethiopia and thus starts our journey. We are very excited but also completely trusting God because we can not do this on our own. The expenses alone are overwhelming and seem impossible but I am reminded over and over again that "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. " Matthew 19:26. In saying that we have until January 19th to come up with our first installment of funds to really start this process. We are doing some fundraising to help us out and have already been blessed beyond measure by the outpouring of love and blessings by others. Please feel free to follow along with us while we start this awesome adventure to where God is leading.
Please visit our Fundraising Page above and notice the paypal on the right to get your Tie Fleece Blankets!

Brodie's 1st Day of Preschool.

Brodie's 5th Birthday!

Claire's 1st Birthday!

Okay I realized recently that I haven't blogged in forever. A lot has happened in our lives since I last posted anything and thought that I should get caught up. It might take me awhile but I'll get there. We obviously have a new addition to our family Miss. Claire Kathryn Bailey. She is such a joy and delight for all of us. Gavin just recently started 1st grade and will be 7 soon. Brodie starts preschool in a couple of weeks and soon will be turning 5. Man does time fly by! We have made some serious renovations to our home and are loving it! I can't believe that summer is almost over and that my little baby will be a year old in just a few weeks!!! There's so much to share but that will come later.