Matching opportunity!

Greetings! We are so amazed at the generosity that has been shown us so far as we have been trying to fund our adoption. God has been providing through His people, and we have only $10,000 left to raise to complete our adoption. This is still a big number, but a matching grant we have a chance to receive could cut that big old number in half!

We are so thankful to have been given an adoption matching grant for $2500 from Legacy 685 (a ministry of Houston First Baptist Church), who partners with Lifesong for Orphans. The goal is to raise the entire amount by December 31st, 2015. However, funds will be accepted until the adoption is complete. Legacy 685/Lifesong will match every donation, dollar for dollar, up to $2500, meaning we have the possibility of raising $5000!

Would you consider helping us bring our daughter home by donating? We know that so many of you have already contributed (and we are so thankful for you by the way!), so there is no need to feel like you need to give again. No guilt trips here, folks! Although we would still appreciate your prayers...(-: If you would like to help us be able to claim the matching grant here's how:

    •    Checks should be payable to “Lifesong for Orphans". In the memo, note “family name” and “family account number” (Freerks / #5659) to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744. Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
    •    To pay online go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select “Give to an Adoptive Family.” Complete the online form and fill in “Family Account Number” and “Family Name” fields. Note PayPal charges an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction). Your donation will be decreased by the amount of this fee.
    •    In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request. Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

Thank you for considering investing in God's Kingdom in this way. We desire above all to honor and glorify God through this wild journey and would love for you to join us!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21

Crazy generous people

It is just the best to see God at work. We've been so blessed by the extreme generosity of some special folks and wanted to share what He has done!

As we wait on our paperwork process, we are trying to raise the funds we need to complete this adoption. You lovely people contributed $340 through our t-shirt sale! Thank you! And we've received some really generous checks and encouraging notes in the mail that always fill my heart with joy. Thank you too! We were also blown away by an amazing family who a)we've never even met in person, b) are in the midst of their own adoption process and c) have a busy family of 4 young kids themselves. They felt led to do a fundraiser selling their beautiful handmade furniture on our behalf. In their selfless generosity they raised $4000 for our adoption! Seriously?!? In the words of the mother of this sweet family: "Behold the Lord's heart for the fatherless!" Amen!

We are so humbled and encouraged by the kindness of these dear people. It is always a confirmation for us that we are walking in the Lord's plan and that He has big plans for our little girl.

Happy birthday to our daughter, from afar.

T-Shirt Fun!

First of all, thank you all for your kind words and encouragement in our next adoption journey! We are still deep in the paperwork phase right now, and hoping all goes quickly and smoothly (ha! not sure that is possible.)

With our referral coming as somewhat of a surprise, we have some big fees due sooner than expected. We've been saving our pennies, and raised almost $300 at our thrift sale last weekend. (Big thanks to our wonderful helpers!) But we've still got quite a ways to go financially. We emptied our savings account to pay $17,600 in fees so far (thank you Lord!), and will need another $14,000 to complete the process. Yikes. We have seen God provide for us before, and trust that He will do it again. We cannot do this alone!

That's where these t-shirts come in...we are partnering again with the lovely company Chrome Buffalo to raise money for adoption fees by selling t-shirts! We loved working with this company last time around and we're excited to do it again with a new t-shirt design.

Here is how it works. Chrome Buffalo designs and makes stylin' t-shirts that they sell for $22. For every t-shirt sold, we get $11 towards our adoption fund! They come in mens, womens and youth sizes. The shirts are printed on Next Level Apparel products, which is an awesome company that doesn't use sweatshops or child labor, is WRAP certified (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), and is committed to ethical practice in their work.  The t-shirts are so soft and comfortable, I wear mine all the time! If you don't like the design we've chosen, you can choose from any of their other designs and the proceeds will still go to our fund. I personally love all of them. (-:

We have 10 days to sell as many shirts as possible. So check out our page HERE and consider buying a shirt to help us get one step closer to bringing our daughter into our family! Thanks guys!

News!

I didn't expect to be writing a post like this right now, but it turns out that God had other plans. Good, good plans! To sum up an amazing story He is writing in our lives, we are adopting again! Our 3rd daughter (who will be our middle child) is waiting for us in Ethiopia and we cannot wait to bring her home!

We fell in love with this little lady when we met her last year, and in God's perfect plan and timing, He has allowed us the chance to add her to our family. Our girls are so excited, they can't stop talking about what life will be like with another sister. (I try to add in some reality here and there (-:) Big Sister has already told me not to let her new sister have markers in bed because she might write on the walls. Good thinking. Little Sister has been praying for her by name on a daily basis for about a year now: "Dear Geesus, Gank you for ******, and our food. Amen." God was listening.

 We are excited, humbled and scared, knowing to an extent what is ahead, but yet being faced with so many unknowns. There will be storms ahead, we have no doubt. I can truly say that our trust in our great God allows us to step forward where He leads with confidence, knowing that He is with us every step. We pray that His greatness would be on display through weak, ordinary people such as us.

Sending our papers to make it official!

We would love your prayers as we face the hurdles of the adoption process and the financial barriers involved. We are planning a thrift sale fundraiser this week and t-shirt sale in the near future to help out with the costs. If you would like to support us in bringing our daughter home, you can also use the "Donate" button on the side of the blog to donate via Paypal. We would be so grateful! And most of all, please pray for our precious girl halfway across the world!

Our sweet family gave us an awesome "Congratulations" celebration

One year!

It's hard to believe that we are approaching the one year anniversary of K joining our family. And what a year it has been! This blog has been seriously lacking this year (apologies), but every time I tried to write, it just didn't feel right. I strive to be open and honest, but yet not hurt or offend anyone else in the process. So while I would love to sit down and chat with you privately about the ups and downs of life these days, this public space may be rather quiet. (-:

July 2014, Ethiopia

 That being said, this has been one of the hardest and one of the best years of my life. God has stretched me, broken me, and is putting me back together. I've been more amazed every day at this man I get to call my husband. And my girls are a challenge and a great joy.

August 2014

To answer the popular question about K: "How's she adjusting?", I always say that she is doing really well, considering the circumstances and all of the obstacles she has had to overcome.  I don't know anyone more brave, strong, resilient, loyal and courageous than my daughter. She's a survivor, and to survive in a harsh world you must build defenses to protect yourself. These walls, that served her well in a dangerous environment, are now not necessary and often get in the way of trusting and connecting. It has been a painful process with beautiful results as we have got to see some of these walls coming down. We pray for continued healing and wholeness for our little girl!

September 2014

Our days are filled with dancing, singing the wrong lyrics to songs, Barbies, broken English, books, hairstyling, jokes, school, dolls and more dolls. K laughs and has a sister that adores her. She struggles and I struggle and we learn how to understand each other better. She plays and dreams about her orphanage friends and giggles when I hug her goodnight (hugs-miraculous!).

October 2014 (the realness of this photo was just too good and awkward not to post. please note happy smiling family taking perfect family photo behind us. ha!)

One year. What else can I say? Thank you to our friends and family who have been respectful and helpful with our sometimes strange requests (i.e.-please don't hug my daughter). (-: God is faithful, He has never left us even in our darkest days. He has given us hope and light in Him that will never fade. In the highs and the lows He is teaching me to say "Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1)

November 2014

December 2014

January 2015

February 2015

March 2015

April 2015

May 2015

June 2015

A few seconds before someone put their dancing foot through the wall

First cotton candy

Learning how to splash in puddles

Birthday girl!

July 2015

K, you are loved!