A day with Summer

Today Summer had a field day at FACS. I had to work last night, but I got there around 10:00 this morning and she was so excited to see me!! She came running up to me and gave me a big hug!!! I am happy that I was able to make it.




Then we went to chick-fil-a for lunch. We had a great early Mother's Day lunch and time together!! I just love my little girl!!
This is going to be another Mother's Day without a referral of our little boy. So I am happy and have some sadness going on during this Mother's Day, but God has a plan. One of God's promises is in Lamentations 3:25-
" Waiting for God's timing brings great rewards." So this is what I am leaning on at this moment. I can still be sad, happy and frustrated about our journey as long as I wait for God to act. I just pray it will happen soon. I can't wait to become a mommy again this time to a little boy named Connor.


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Waiting......

Well, no news to tell as of right now. Just waiting..... I hope and pray we will have a referral soon. I keep seeing people get referrals and that is a good thing. At least I know they are coming in. I just want a picture, a name and to see how old he is. I can handle not traveling right a way. At least that is what I think. So we are doing projects around the house to keep busy. At least the house will have everything done before Connor gets here.

A friend of mine made me a couple things out of metal for our house. One is an African Shadowbox for our wall to symbolize our adoption journey to get Connor. Here is a picture.








He also made me a cool metal cross. I wanted him to make it look distressed so he hammered it all over to get that look. Here is a picture.



Thanks Michael for your creations!!!! You are a great friend to Mark and I...

I am going to try to start a support group at Hope for families who are in the adoption process, have adopted, or just wanting to know more about adoption. So we will see. I want to help other families who want to adopt, but don't think they have the money or the support to do it. I have a desire to help the orphans out in the world. I don't know everything about orphans, but I do know that as Christians we must look after them.

James 1:27-" Religion that is pure and undefined before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus helping orphans in the world. So please pray that I will find a way to start something that will help the orphans in the world.

So we are waiting on Connor to join our family... Please Lord, help make our hearts prepared for him and for whatever lies ahead. Help prepare him for our family, that he will join our family that truly loves him. We love him so much already and have not seen a picture of him. I hope and pray that we will get a picture of our little boy that lives so far away-- very soon!!!!

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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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My Birthday Weekend

This past weekend was my birthday. I turned 37 years old this year. I don't feel like I am 37 which is good. Mark and I have been celebrating it since last weekend. My dad cooked out for me last Sunday since my mom would be out of town during my birthday weekend. My dad cooked hamburgers, hotdogs, and some baked beans. It was so good. My mom made me my favorite cake pound cake and it was so yummy!!! Here is a picture of Summer and I at my party at my dad's house.



We had a lot of fun. I received some money so I could get me a bagger for my riding lawn mower.

Then this weekend we were celebrating it again on Saturday by getting me my favorite donuts at Tas-T-O. So great!!! Then on Saturday night we went to Mark's parents house and we had an Italian dinner. It was so good. We had fun with his side of the family. Summer played with all of her cousins and was wore out when we got home later on that night. They gave me some really cool things for the house and some money to help with the bagger. So I will get it sometime soon.

Lots of candles!!!!



Mark knew I was a little upset that I didn't get what I really wanted for my birthday- a referral!!!! I am just going to keep praying that it will happen sometime soon!!! So at church on Sunday Mark goes and buys me a cross that I have been wanting for a while and a painted picture for the house.






They both look great on our kitchen area of our house. They both give a since of motivation to always put God first in everything that I do. I have such a great husband. I love you, Mark!!!!!

I have become friends with a women that I have met through an adoption blog. She is adopting from Ethiopia too. It is like we have always known each other!! We try to email back and forth each day to keep the other motivated while we both are waiting on a referral. God brought us together before all of this stuff going on in Ethiopia. I am so glad because it would have been too hard not to have someone to talk to about what was happening in Ethiopia. Today I received a birthday card from her and a bookmark with an African Angel on it.


When I saw the bookmark I started to cry!! It was so thoughtful of her to send me my own African Angel bookmark. Every time I use it I will think of her and how our friendship started while going through the journey of adoption. I pray that we will remain friends for a life time and one day we will meet. I hope we will meet for the first time in Ethiopia when we go get our boys!!!! How cool would that be???

Even though I didn't get a referral, I had a great birthday. I was able to spend time with family and friends. I am thankful for that!!! Maybe next year for my birthday our son Connor will be with us helping Summer blow out the candles!!! I can't wait for that day to come. Please keep praying for us while we stay on this roller coaster called adoption!!



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Went To The Zoo

Today Summer and I went to the zoo for her last day of spring break. We had an awesome time together. We went all over the zoo. I could not believe all the people that were there, but it didn't stop Summer from seeing almost every animal. We had some ice cream then it was time to go. Here are some pictures of our day at the zoo.










Ice cream so cold!!!




I am so thankful to have Summer as my daughter. I am so thankful God is letting me parent her while she is here on earth. I hope I am doing the job that God wants me to do by her. I am praying everyday that I am. I want to be a good role model for her. I want her to grow up knowing the Lord and loving Him more than anything else. When you love the Lord unconditionally you will want to love others as well.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: " Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second it like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

I have a friend at work that made Mark and I some matching rings for our 10 year anniversary. They are stainless steal with a cross engraved on the top of the rings. I wanted just one cross because that symbolizes there is only One Savior!! They really look good. I sold my engagement ring for our adoption and Mark's ring is messed up so I thought this would be nice to do for our anniversary. We were going to wait until July 21 to try to go to Florida and recite our vowels to one another, but we might have to wear them now. We are going to celebrate our everlasting love for one another and let God be in control of our marriage. It has been a happy 10 years and I can't wait to see what the next 10 may bring.



His



Hers

That has been my day!! Please keep praying for us while we wait to hear more from our adoption agency about what is happening in Ethiopia. We are in this for the long haul. I hope not too long!! We are going to keep following Him no matter where He leads us.

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