Easter Weekend 2011

We had a great Easter weekend!! We started off the weekend by going to an Easter egg hunt at one of Summer's friends house. It started around 10:30 am and we left around 12:30. Summer had a blast. Here are some pictures of the Easter egg hunt.









While we were at the Easter egg hunt I met a family that has adopted two kids domestically from BCS. He said for us to keep going and it will happen. He said sometimes he thought it would never happen then one day the call came. It was what I needed to hear. I was all upset that we didn't get a referral by Easter. My social worker told me it could be as early as July or up to November. Which is not what I wanted to hear. I was hoping to hear something sooner than that!! We are in it for the long haul it just makes me sad to know we have to wait even longer now.

Then we came home to dye some eggs before we went to church. Summer was doing the eggs most of the time by herself. She really didn't want us to help her in any way. However, I didn't want her to make a huge mess either so we did get to help. Here are a few of Summer dying some eggs.








Then we went to Hope Church on Saturday night at 7:30. My mom went with us so did Mark's parents. It was a great service. I think they all liked it.

Then on Sunday we got up did Easter baskets for Summer and Connor. Here are a few pictures of that.

Summer's Basket


Connor's basket



I am so ready to get Connor here to become part of our family. I can't wait to see a picture of him, find out how old he is, and what types of food he likes. I finished his room this past week for Easter. I want it to be ready when we get the call. I am so ready!!! I just need a referral then wait for him to join our family!!!

Then we went to my sisters house for lunch. It was good. Everyone got along well. Dad behaved himself by not saying too much about us adopting except that he doesn't think we need to. I really don't care if he agrees with us about this journey that our family is on. I mean I would LOVE for him to support us, but that is not going to happen right now. Mark and I are going to go through with this adoption because we feel that is what God has called us to do. It says in 1 John 3:1- " See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." If you are a Christian then you are His adopted child. This is why I should follow His example and keep going with this adoption. It is taking a while. Longer than what mark and I wanted. However, when it does happen it will be at the perfect time!!!!

Please keep praying for our family that we will get a referral soon and we will be prepared for whatever we face. This verse has helped me a lot over the past week. Romans 8:31- " if God is for us, who can be against us?"
Please keep praying!!! Connor will be with us soon!!!!



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Compassion Sunday 2011

This past Sunday, April 10 was Compassion Sunday 2011. Compassion is an organization where you can help children in need. You can help by sponsoring a child in another country while he or she still lives with their parents. Mark and I sponsor two kids from Haiti. We sponsor a six year old girl named Ylcia and a six year old boy named Chedson. We have been sponsoring them for over two years now and we love it!!! We write, send pictures of us and where we live, Summer draws them pictures and coloring pages. They write us back and we get an updated picture of them once a year. We begin start a relationship and it is great to hear from them and their family. You can even give them birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, and family gifts where they can buy food or whatever they might need at that time. Here are their pictures.






I love these two kids that live so far away!! Even though I have never met them I feel like I already know them. They are part of our family even though they don't live with us. One day Mark, Summer, Connor, and I will go to Haiti to meet them and their families. That will be an exciting time for all of us!! I pray for them everyday and I hope they know how much I do love them. It is so cool to sponsor kids and to know that they are doing good while still living with their parents. They get to go to school, church, and special church functions because of our sponsorship.

I believe sponsoring these two kids opened up the doors for us to consider international adoption.
Once we get Connor we will sponsor another child this time from Ethiopia close to the sane age as Connor. Summer loves drawing them pictures and receiving some too. I want the same for Connor.

If you can not adopt a child you could sponsor a child in need. It doesn't cost that much a month and you will be receiving so much more than you will know. Just a thought!!! What are you spending you money on? Is it helping others? If not, why don't you try this out and see if your life changes in so many ways!!
Acts 20:35- " In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ' It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Please keep our family in your prayers while we wait for a referral of our little boy in Ethiopia. I can't wait for the day when Connor becomes part of our forever family!!!!



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Not Much Going On

Well, there is nothing new to report about our adoption. I wish there was some good news- like a referral, but not yet. They have not shut down Ethiopia so that is great news to hear. It still might be a while before we get a referral, but it is out of our hands. Nothing more we can do except pray and get ourselves ready for Connor.

I am so ready to get Connor here to become part of our family. I have been really reading a lot of books that will help us get prepared. I have done about 20 hours of training just by reading books. Now I am reading more about the culture, the people, and of course the food. The Ethiopian food is spicy and very tasteful. We made only one dinner and going to try to make some more real soon. I think we might even go to an Ethiopian restaurant soon.

My social worker wants me to research the special needs that we said we could handle and how we would get him help. So I am trying to do this, but it is hard to research something not knowing if he will have these things or if he will be healthy. So I am doing my best. I do have an IA doctor for him already in place. I am trying to find a support group here around Memphis, Tn for Ethiopian adoptees and their families. Have not found that yet. Still looking.....

I am making it part of my daily routine to go somewhere quiet to be with the Lord. I have been doing this on my way to work which takes 45 mins., but then I feel like I am rushing. I need to be still and listen to what he is trying to tell me.

Habakkuk 2:1- ..." I will station myself.."
Psalm 37:7- " Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act."

These verses are going to help me stay focused on being still and waiting on Him. Good ones to memorize. I talk to Him throughout the day, but I try to start my day off praying and really talking to him. Telling about my frustrations, my happiness, and anything that I am going through. He already knows it anyway so why not share it with Him. So today on my way to work I was begging, pleading, and just calling out to Him to help direct my path concerning this adoption. Are we doing what you want us to do? Is this really what you want or do we want it for ourselves? Will this bring Glory to you? So I sit alone in the car at 4:10 am this morning going to work no music on. Nothing. Just me talking to God and literally crying out for help... I wait to hear something... I get almost to work then my mind starts thinking about kids in an orphanage and I could feel God saying keep going. It will happen when I want it to happen. Then today I take Summer to Chick-Fil-A to get for dinner. When we started to walk inside who do you think comes out of the door? An older white couple probably grandparents both holding hands with a little black boy around the age of 2. He was so cute. He looked up at us and smiled. I said he was cute then we went inside to order our food. We sat down to eat then it hit me hard!! Like God was saying see there that could be your family if you just keep going!! I thanked God for that little bit of grace that he just gave me and we started eating our dinner. That is what I needed from God to let me know we are on the right path. It is so cool to me to see some of God's paint strokes for our lives. We might not see the whole picture until years later when it is a masterpiece! Until then, I will cherish the bits and pieces of whatever or however God wants to reveal himself to me...

Please keep praying for us and our family while we wait on that phone call to come!!! I can not wait for that day!! I probably won't be able to sleep for a week once I know that we have a referral and then to see his precious little face.... What that day will be like??? I can only imagine...

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