We're Almost There!!!

It has been a long, slow process, but we're just about ready to be wait listed again!!  After Charles lost his job this summer (and then found a new one in the fall), we were frozen right at the number we were at  - #53.  Before we could continue on, we had to update our paperwork and complete a new home study.  For this paperwork-challenged, busy mama of four, that was no small feat.  It literally felt like a towering mountain of clearances, medical records, fingerprint appointments, and financial statements were standing before us.  Some days I felt defeated just THINKING about all that had to be done to bring us to where we are today.

But here we stand.

Paperwork in.

Signed.

Dated.

Notarized.

Home study written up.

Ready for the next step in our adoption journey.

And what is that you ask??

Currently, we are waiting for re-approval to continue moving down the wait list.  Last week we had our dreaded home visit (again).  Momentarily, it looked like perhaps things would end right there.  We ran into a couple obstacles THAT MORNING regarding immigration expiration, followed by child abuse and criminal clearance expirations.  The threat of having to start all over at the very beginning of this entire, crazy process loomed in front of us.  And literally....the thought of THAT.....of having to start all over again.....made me cry.  I literally shed tears of frustration, sadness, panic, and fear.  GOD!!  WHERE ARE YOU??   HAVEN'T WE DONE WHAT YOU ASKED OF US?

But as history proves, He is not a God who backs down from obstacles.  He doesn't shy away from mountains that may rise up in our path.  Instead, He many times uses those very obstacles to bring Himself maximum glory.  And so, as we prayed.....as we begged.....just like those Israelites did......for God not to bring us out into the wilderness just to allow us to be boxed in by the Red Sea on one side and the Egyptian army on the other.....God moved.  Providentially again.  Not with the miraculous hand that we had witnessed last year, but in the steady, seemingly-coincidental hand of providence.

And we were humbled.  And ashamed.  That again, we had doubted.  And again, He had made a way.

I just spent the last couple hours reading over our old adoption posts from the last two years.  Minuscule and monumental roadblocks alike that God had hurdled over. Left me in awe of Him all over again.  And so tonight I praise Him for this journey.  This crazy journey that He has had us on for over two years now.  This journey that I had thought would be over by now (surely, right??).  And yet I know God is in control.  I know that in ALL things He is working together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose...even when times are tough and things don't seem to make sense.  Even when God shows you things that you don't think will ever come to pass.  Even though you wait...and wait some more.

And I wonder....is this a small glimpse of what it was like for Sarah?  For David?  For the Jews anxiously awaiting their Messiah?  Promises and callings that took what may have seemed a lifetime to see the fruit of.  Yet in some strange way, knowing what I know about how THEIR stories end, it brings me some solace as I stand in a place of waiting myself.

He is God, and He is still on His throne.  No matter how our story ends.  Nothing is out from under His divine control.  The wait.  The struggle.  The ups.  The downs.  All of it.  All for His glory as He weaves our story into His master plan.

So wait we do. Yet as we wait, we set our eyes on the One who is not limited by timeframes and immigration expiration dates.  The One who is above all things.   And we thank Him that we can confidently say, we are almost there!!!



Kirsten

THANKFUL!

I realize it's been awhile since I've updated.  Two months to be exact.  :)  Between dishes, laundry, school work, home study updates, birthday party plans, sewing Halloween costumes, and well, just LIFE, my blog has kind-of taken a back burner.  And really, I'm OK with that.....one less thing on my "list" is fine with me right now.  Buuuutttttt...... many of you have asked about Charles' new job and the status of our adoption, so I thought it was time for an update.

Here's how life has been treating us.....

ON THE JOB FRONT - Charles working again has definitely been an adjustment for the entire family, but we are so THANKFUL he has a job!!!  His new job comes with very early mornings, however, it (most days) leads to earlier afternoons as well.  THAT makes mama happy. :)  Overall, we have seen some wonderful things come from this new position.  Things that we may not ever have thought to have prayed for.  Things that we know could only have come from a detail-oriented God.  So, so THANKFUL!!!  THANKS friends for your prayers!

IT'S A PARTY!!! - Since my last post, we celebrated a birthday around here!!!  My second oldest, Joseph, turned SEVEN!!!  We are so proud of the little man he is becoming.  This year he celebrated with a Star Wars themed birthday party in our backyard.

A Death Star Birthday Cake for one very special Jedi

I had a gazillion more pics, but unfortunately they were lost to an untimely incident between a mug of hot chocolate and my MAC book.   Ahhhh......life with kids.  :)

Joe's most favorite present (besides the gobs of Lego Ninjagos he got)???  Losing a tooth right before bed.  And then, he literally LOST it.  So......he wrote the tooth fairy this little note......

Apparently in our house, if you lose a tooth ON your birthday, it gets you $5.  Lucky dude.  :)

HURRICANE NEWS - Unless you live in a hole, you've undoubtedly heard about a little Hurricane named Sandy wreaking havoc up and down the East Coast last month.  Fortunately, we live far from the coast and didn't experience any damage in terms of water.  The biggest concern where we live was the wind.  More specifically:  trees falling down due to the wind.  And OH!!  were there a TON of trees that fell!!!  During the height of the storm, we took our flashlights, pillows, and blankets down into the basement and camped out for the night.  Despite losing power early in the evening, we made the most of it by eating ice cream (Hey!! You can't let that stuff go bad!), playing Pictionary (by candlelight!!), and reading Detectives in Togas.   Memories were most certainly made!!

When we awoke the next morning, it seemed that everywhere we went, trees were down.  Blocking roads, on top of houses and cars, and resting precariously upon telephone wires.  In my brother's wooded backyard, approximately 20-30 trees fell, all piled up in a neat, not-so-little stack.  This is actually where we spent the week.  Our power went out on a Monday night and wasn't back on until the following Sunday afternoon.  With temperatures drastically dropping, it made for one really cold house.  :)  Honestly though, seeing the stories of the victims in New Jersey and New York, we felt quite fortunate that we merely experienced a slight inconvenience.  We spent the week at my brother and sister-in-law's house. My nieces had off from school for the WHOLE WEEK due to the storm, so we got to spend time with cousins.  It was an instant party!  So THANKFUL for family and friends in the area who helped during this time!!!

IT'S HALLOWEEN!!! - Really, I'm not sure where the year went!  Just a minute ago it felt like the beginning of 2012!!  Before I knew it, Halloween was here, and with it came the costume demands.  So......out came the sewing machine, and with a little bit of creativity, here is what we came up with.....

An Egyptian Princess...

A red ninja...

A green ninja...

And a princess....

SCHOOL - As if hurricanes, birthdays, and job changes didn't keep us busy enough these past couple months, there is always school!!  Our year has gotten off to a great start.  We have managed to keep quite busy.   Here are a few of the highlights so far....

Making mummies using paper mache.....poor Barbie. :)

Haha.  An attempt at marshmallow pyramids....

Class trip to Crystal Caves

Inside the caves with my little love bug.

Apparently soaking a raw egg in vinegar for 72 hours creates a "naked egg" (the shell has dissolved) that you can hold in your hand!  Who knew??!  My kids had so much fun with this experiment!

Field trip to the local dairy farm....

followed by a hayride out to the pumpkin patch.

Gearing up for the Presidential Election....took a tour of the Capital Building in Harrisburg, PA.

The outside was beautiful, but OH MY, the inside!!!!  So fun!  We even got to tour the Senate, House of Representatives, and Supreme Court!

Voting Booth!!!  Tonight's decision??  Honey, I Shrunk the Kids or Orphan Annie and brownies or ice cream for dessert.

 (for the record, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and ice cream won)  :)

The three oldest stayed up late watching the results come in and coloring in their Electoral College Maps.   

Philadelphia Art Museum field trip!!!

By far, the kids favorite was the Arms and Armor room.

Taking a break to play some chess.....

ADOPTION - And finally, our adoption.....all is trucking along there as well.   Due to Charles' new job (and the fact that 18 months are up), we are having to update parts of our portfolio.  Financial statements, insurance information, medical records, FBI fingerprints, clearances, and such.  I'm not at all excited to be back doing paperwork again (it's A LOT!!!!), however, THANKFUL to still be in the process! Once we finish up with our updates, we can be added back onto the wait list at the number we were "frozen" at.  Looking forward to moving DOWN that list again real soon!!!

THANKS again friends for all your thoughts and prayers!  We are certain that without them, we would have struggled much more than we did during this time.  We have so much to be THANKFUL for going into this season of THANKFULNESS.  We even managed to steal away last month for a little date night:

Dead Sea Scroll Exhibit - Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA

Have a wonderful THANKSGIVING!!!

Kirsten

Mustard Seeds

I just got done packing 6 lunches, five of which are going with my children and I to class tomorrow.  The other, will be accompanying my husband to his first day of his NEW JOB. Yes, God is good.  :)

That's right!  You read correctly!  He got a job!!   We couldn't be more thrilled.  Thank you all for praying for us.  It has been a long, uncertain journey, yet exciting as well.  We have learned much about His provision, as we never went without.  When we were faithless, He was faithful (2 Tim. 2:13).  So very true.

Oh, I wish I could say that we never once doubted.  I wish I could say that I knew all along that a job would open up quickly....but....well, that would be a lie.  Many, MANY times during this process, I stressed.  I worried.  I wondered - What if He doesn't provide??  What if a job doesn't open up in time? What if.....

And every time, God nudged me to look backwards.  He reminded me to look at all the times He HAD provided.  All the times He HAD "pulled through".  We've received many emails and sweet cards over the past few months marveling at our faith.  Friends encouraging us that our faith has inspired them in their journeys.  And you know what??  Every time it would make me laugh.  Literally LOL.  Why?  Because there were MANY dark days where I pleaded with God to increase my faith.  I begged Him to "fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen (2 Cor. 4:18)".  In my own strength, I didn't really have much of anything.  All I could see were my surroundings, and well, they looked kind-of bleak. :)

Yet, as I prayed though, something happened.  My faith would increase ever so slightly.  Not much.  Just enough to get me through the next hurdle.  Then again, the Bible doesn't call us to have much faith.  It merely asks us to have the faith of a mustard seed.  Ever seen one of those??

And so, with mustard seed-size faith we persevered.  Or shall I say, persevere?  It is not over yet.  Now begins a whole new round of paperwork.  With new employment comes updated home studies and such.  Charles' new job will need to be approved by our social worker, and our finances combed through again.  We're praying that all will proceed smoothly, although we're learning when it comes to adoption, there may not really be such a thing.  :)

Here's how you can continue to pray for us...

1.  Pray that Charles' new job would be a good fit for him and our family (he is working for a company that is subcontracted by Merck Pharmaceuticals).

2.  Pray that our updated home study, along with Charles' new employment, would be approved so that we could continue on in our adoption.

3.  Pray that we would continue to see movement in our adoption, and that we would continue to be able to raise the funds necessary (we need about $10,000 more).

4.  We need a car!!!  Pray that we could find a good deal on one within the next couple months. We don't want to take out a loan, so it will have to be for a price we can afford!!  For Charles' previous job, he drove a work vehicle to and from the shop in the morning.  We had one personal vehicle for our family.  Upon losing his job, we went down to one car.  We do temporarily have access to a second car for the time being, however, we will eventually need a car of our own.

5.  Lastly, pray that our faith would continue to increase.  Pray that we would not forgot what God has done.

Thank you, thank you, thank you friends!!!  We are so thankful for your friendship, your encouragement, and your prayers!!  We are so incredibly blessed.

Alright, going to bed now.... 5:00 am will be coming early. :)





Kirsten

It Just So Happens....Again :)

For anyone who has been keeping up with our story on here, you will know that many curious incidences have "just so happened" to occur over the past couple months or so.  Things that could merely be chalked up to coincidence or chance.  WE know that these "just so happenings" have been nothing short than the providence of a loving, Almighty God.  And so, here we find ourselves again.  Shaking our heads.  Sighing a deep sigh of relief.  Marveling at God's perfect timing.  Saying that phrase over and over to each other at night.....it just so happens....again. :)

Well, it just so happens this time, that we received a call from our social worker the other day.  Didn't seem too out of the ordinary at first.  How are you doing?  How's the job search?  Any new news on our part?  And then....it came.  News we weren't even expecting.  Weren't even praying for.  News that our agency had reevaluated their policy on job loss, and had determined that instead of a 3 month grace period, they were extending that to 12 months.


12 MONTHS!



Now, certainly, we are hoping and praying that Charles finds a job MUCH sooner than that.  In fact, he has been called back for a second job interview tomorrow morning.  Still, the weight of a thousand tons seemed to lift off of both of us upon hearing that we were being given more time to secure a job.  Isn't God good??

Today I am praising Him for little glimmers of hope that He reveals just when we need it the most.  Just when we are beginning to feel down...alone...unsure.  He shows up in a "just so happens" kind of way.  Still gets me every time.

Won't you praise Him tonight with us??!?




Kirsten

It Just So Happens.....

It just so happens that I've been listening to a Mark Driscoll sermon series on the book of Ruth this month.  And it just so happens that that sermon series has been speaking right to where I am these days.  I kind-of love how God orchestrates things like that. :)

The story of Ruth is a beautiful story of redemption.  An ostracized foreigner.  A bitter, old mother-in-law.  A godly business-owner.  Each playing an integral part in the plot.  The curtain opens introducing us to the family of a man named Elimelech.  Elimelech, from the town of Bethlehem, the tribe of Judah, moves his family to live among the Moabites when a severe famine overtakes the land.  While in Moab, Elimelech's two sons both marry and start their lives over.  Tragically though, Elimelech, and both his sons die an untimely death, leaving the three widows to care for themselves.  In a patriarchal society such as this one, this is a terrible fate. Upon hearing that the famine has lifted in the town of Bethlehem, Naomi, the widow of Elimelech, makes the decision to return home to her people with her newly-widowed daughter-in-laws.  Along the way, she comes to the realization that her daughter-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah, deserve better than to care for an aging mother-in-law who has nothing left to offer.  She bids them farewell and pleads with them to return to their father's homes and to their gods.....to marry again, and start their lives over.  Orpah, takes her mother-in-law up on this, and returns home.  Ruth, however, has grown to genuinely love and care for Naomi and insists on continuing on the long, dangerous journey to Bethlehem.  The widows are destitute, homeless, and alone, yet their faith in the one, true God of Israel, just so happens to lead them to a godly businessman named Boaz.  Boaz provides for them, and ultimately ends up marrying Ruth, redeeming her and offering her a second chance at life (the entire story can be found in the book of Ruth).  A foreshadowing of what Christ has done for us.

One thing that stood out to me while I listened to this series, was that God works in two ways.  Obviously, God answers prayer through the use of miracles.  We saw this miracle-working God in the life of our dear sister Anna just this past year.  More often than not, however, God answers prayer through His providence.  Seas don't part.  Manna doesn't fall from the sky.  Fire doesn't rain down from heaven.  We see his care manifest itself in the ordinary, seemingly coincidental providence of a loving God as he provides for the needs of his people.

This is where I have been living the past couple months.  Nothing miraculous has happened.  A job has not fallen from the sky and landed in our laps. Yet, we see evidence of His provision everywhere we look.  To some, it may seem purely coincidental.  But to us, as we've grown to intimately know the ways of this God spoken of in the book of Ruth, the God whom the Bible says is the "same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)", we know it not to be anything other than the hand of a providential and loving God.

When we first received word that our adoption agency would grant us a three-month grace period to secure employment, we were also told that there were a couple stipulations that we had to abide by as well.  The obvious, we needed to find a job that met the financial criteria for the country of Ethiopia.  Secondly, we needed to be careful not to touch our savings account, so as to prove when all was said and done, that we still had the means to continue with our adoption.  Easier said than done, when we still have not received any unemployment checks to date.  YET, through it all, God has remained faithful.  Despite having not received an official paycheck in over two months, we have still been able to pay all our bills on time, provide food for our little family, and continue to provide for our kids in a manner in which they do not even feel as thought they are without.  Only He can receive credit.

Each time I have doubted his goodness, it just so happens that a meal shows up to our home.  Every time I have wondered how we would get by, a gift card has been handed to us.  Or a bag of groceries.  Or a check.  Or an invitation to pick in someone's garden.  When I have worried about paying bills without tapping into our savings, He has so lovingly reminded me how He provides even for the lilies of the field.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow?  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, 

O you of little faith!"

~Matthew 6:26-33

He reminds me how he cares even that much more for me, and then his hand of provision blesses us with a side job.  No more, or no less than we need for that month.  He has left us marveling at His seemingly coincidental providence over and over.

He is so faithful.

So good.

So loving.

Not only has He provided our needs, but some desires as well.  Undeserved grace being lavishly poured out upon our heads.   This is the God that we serve.

To date, Charles still has not found a job.  He has had several leads, filled out a couple applications, and has had an interview.  We are waiting on one job in particular, as it has seemed somewhat promising.  Please continue to pray that God would open a door for him and that the job He just so happens to provide will pay what we need to continue with our adoption.  We are trusting that God has not brought us this far, only to allow us to be defeated.  Pray that our faith would be strong, and that we would set out eyes firmly on Him.

In an ironic twist, as uncertainty has consumed our job-search, our adoption has begun to pick up speed.  We know that God's timing is perfect, though not always making sense to us with our human eyes.  Over the past year that we have sat waiting on the list, we have S-L-O-W-L-Y plodded down a couple spaces each month.  Frustratingly, it has seemed that we would be in this stage of waiting forever.  Yet, these past two months alone, we have seen our numbers drop from #67 to #53.

#53!!!

That's 14 spaces!  About as much movement as we have seen in almost a year. :)


We are thankful for this story of redemption, much like Ruth, that God is writing in our own lives, and in the life of our child, an ocean away.  We pray that His providence would be just as evident in our hearts, as it was in the life of a poor, widowed Moabite woman.  Only God knew the end of her story.  Only God knew, in the midst of her sorrow.....her turmoil....her pain....that He had a greater story yet to write.  That in the end, from Ruth's lineage, would come a Redeemer, much like Boaz, who would come to this earth to redeem the world.   It just so happens that His ways are always better.  And so, like Ruth, we wait.

We wait on our Redeemer.

Adoption News!

The wait is over.  After two loooonnnnggggg weeks of waiting for a decision regarding the possible termination of our adoption, we heard back from our case worker today.  And....it was the good news we had hoped for. :)

Our adoption agency has determined that we are still in good financial standing to continue on with our adoption.  They are granting us a 90-day grace period to secure employment and health insurance for our entire family. We will not lose our position on the wait list, and will continue to move down on the list as new referrals are assigned each month.  Such a HUGE, HUGE answer to prayer!!

Obviously, the hurdles are not finished for us.  In order to meet our end of the deal, Charles still needs to find a job that meets the income requirements for the Ethiopia program; all the while, being careful not to drain our savings, as this will reflect poorly on our financial status.  Time is ticking.  We also need to keep our dossier up-to-date, as many of our documents are beginning to expire.  So, the future holds more fingerprint appointments, criminal and child abuse clearances, and physical exams, but that is OK with me. :)  BRING IT!

As of today, we have moved down THREE more spots to #67.  We are expecting to move again, as the end of the month is rapidly approaching (can it be almost August ALREADY??!?!?).  

Thanks everyone for praying us through this obstacle.  If there is one thing the Lord is teaching me through this trial, it is that the body of Christ is exactly that, a body.  We were never meant to live this life alone.  We were never meant to bear the weight of our struggles independent from others.  We were meant for community.  A community of believers who bands together to lift each other up when they fall.  This is where we have lived this week.  Groceries have shown up on our doorstep.  Meals.  Thoughtful cards and emails.  Bible verses.  Prayers offered up on our behalf.  

"All of the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had."

~Acts 4:32

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."

~Romans 12:4-6

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of different parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ."

~ 1 Corinthians 12:12

We are beyond grateful for your friendships and humbled by the love we have received over the past several weeks.  Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus, the body of Christ.  Please continue to pray for us, if you would.  Pray specifically for Charles to find a job within the next 90 days (preferably sooner!! :).  We anticipate the day when we can share what God has done.  What ONLY He is capable of doing!  He is so good, and so worthy of our praise.  

Kirsten

We Need Your Prayers! :)

Well, it's been some time since I last posted, and a lot has transpired since then.  Let me try and bring you up to speed......

It all started three weeks ago, when my husband came home from work with the news that he had lost his job.  The following day, my Mimi, the matriarch of our family, passed away.  It was not a surprise; she had been on hospice for about a week.  But still, it was a very, very sad day for our entire family.  A sad weekend, I suppose.

The next week was a little bit of a blur.  It was spent making funeral arrangements, sorting through unemployment procedures, and figuring out a plan to continue receiving insurance for our kids.  All along, I was dreading the discussion that would inevitably have to take place with our case worker regarding Charles' recent status to unemployed.  What would it mean for our adoption??  Surely, it couldn't be good. :(

As expected, losing our sole income will have an impact on our pending adoption.  What kind of an impact?  That we do not know yet.  As of right now, we need to fill out a financial statement that is to be evaluated next week by a team of social workers at our agency.  Depending on their findings, it will determine whether we will be allowed to continue, or not, in the Ethiopia program.

Through it all, I must say, God has been so faithful to us.   He has rallied friends and family around us, and has given both Charles and I a peace that passes all understanding.  As we look back over the past few years, we see how our experiences, both good and bad, have been preparing us for this current trial we find ourselves in.  A few things I know, that I know, that I know about God....

1.  God is good.  All the time.  In every circumstance, good and bad.  He is good.
2.  God is sovereign and in control of ALL things.  Not a single hair on our heads can be touched without Him allowing it.
3.  God is all-powerful and certainly ABLE to change situations.
4.  Prayer WORKS!!
5.  Often God allows everything to be stripped away before showing up BIG, thus bringing Him the most glory (example, Anna).

We do not know what the future holds, but we are confident in the One who holds the future.  2,000 years ago, on an unassuming Friday afternoon, a stone was rolled in front of a tomb, and the Roman soldiers and chief priests who stood by watching declared it finished.  But God had other plans, as He so often does.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than 
your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."    

~Isaiah 55:9

Three days later, as the disciples were hiding away in a room, confused and saddened by the weekend's events, God's plan was unfolding.  A plan to redeem the world.  A plan to bring beauty from the ashes.

And so it was on that day, that Jesus rose and conquered death and sin forevermore.  God's plan, perhaps not making sense at the time to the mere minds of humans, was the only thing that could rescue the world.  

Although, this is not the way WE would have ever chosen to write OUR life story, we trust that God's ways are better.  That He sees the whole picture, and works accordingly.  We know that the call to adopt that was placed on our hearts two years ago, is still very real to this day and cannot be thwarted by human hands.  We ask you to join us in praying that God would make a way, where man says it is impossible.  Here are some specific, tangible ways in which you can pray for us this upcoming week:

1.  Charles would find a new job quickly (and smoothly!!).

2.  The financial statement that we are busy preparing would favorably describe our family.

3.  When the case workers gather next week to review our case, that we would find favor in their eyes and would be allowed to continue with our adoption.

4.  Continued peace and endurance for Charles and I during this trial.

5.  Grace to accept plans that may be different than what we had envisioned.

Thank you so much for your prayers!!  We have already begun to feel them.  We are blessed beyond measure to call you friends.  

Much love,

Kirsten

So What Is Taking So Long??

At least once a week, I get asked the question, "So, what is taking so long?"  Meaning, our adoption.  If there are indeed (and there are!) millions of orphans in the world, why does it take so long for an adoption to get finalized?

Great question!  We have wondered the same thing ourselves from time to time.  My parents and brother just recently returned from a missions trip to Kenya.  Everyday, in the small villages of Bungoma and Nakuru where they stayed, they were surrounded by hundreds of children who had been orphaned due to HIV, malaria, famine, war, etc....  Surrounded by immense poverty that we as Americans could never, EVER come close to understanding.  Children living in trash dumps, scavenging for anything that could sustain them from among the heap....if they're lucky.

Yes, orphans exist, and the numbers are staggering.  But when it comes to adoption, both domestic and international, you are at the mercy of governments, legislation, and protocol.  Things could change in an instant, or plod along for years and years....there is no way of knowing outright.

What I do know is this.  Adoption alone is not the answer to the orphan crisis.  Even if every single one of the 147 million orphans in the world were adopted tomorrow, in their place would come more.  And more.  And more.  As long as we live in a fallen world, disease and heartache and corrupt governments run rampant.  They destroy families and rip babies from mothers who truly love them enough to let them go.  There is no escape from the devastation of sin this side of eternity.  Only the overwhelming grace and hope that is offered through Jesus.

What I also know is that in the midst of it all, God is sovereign and the Great Controller of all things.  He alone holds our adoption (and our little one) in His hands.  What seems like an eternity of a wait to us, is only a blip on the radar for Him. His timing is perfect, and the day that we receive a call letting us know that we have been matched with a waiting child, will be perfect too....because it will be in His timing.  We are trusting that only God knows the specific dynamics of our family, including the personalized needs of each of our children.  Praying that at just the right time, "for such a time as this", He would open the door, and our hearts, to a child in need.

So, where are we at in the process you ask?  As of the end of April, we were holding fast at #73.  While I was hoping to have moved into the 60's this month, I am, again, thankful to see any movement at all.  Today, we moved down three more places and are weighing in at....

#70

Thanks for continuing to pray for us!  We have been so blessed by this journey, despite the wait.  Thanks for thinking to ask from time to time about how things are going!!  Our adoption is something we are passionate about and have LOVED sharing our experience with others.  To God be the Glory!

Kirsten

Hello again!!

It's been awhile....and quite frankly, I've been enjoying the break.  :)

Since my last post, life has just been, well,  really busy.  Here are a couple of the highlights though....

Last year, in the beginning of September, Kaya had decided that she wanted to go for something called, "Memory Masters".  It is a really big honor within Classical Conversations (the homeschool group that we are apart of).  MM is completely optional.  It is an oral exam in which the student must recall from memory EVERYTHING they have learned this year.  This includes: skip counting through the 15's (plus the squares and cubes), geometric formulas and equations, listing all 44 presidents of the United States in order of their terms, recalling a 160 point timeline beginning at Creation and going all the way to the Obama presidency, the periodic table of the elements, human anatomy, 24 history sentences, with dates, of major historical significance, conjugating irregular verb tenses, locating all 50 states and their capitals on a map, locating major geographical U.S. landmarks (rivers, mountain ranges, prominent features such as the Grand Canyon, etc....), memorizing John 1 in Latin and then translating to English, and many other terms to be defined.  All together, the facts that the student needs to recall total over 500.  In order to get MM, students need to be able to answer EVERY question correctly.  No room for error, people!

Well, on Monday morning she went for it.....And......SHE GOT IT.

It was a fun, but stressful morning for all the moms and kids involved.  8 students total from our campus went for it.  There were tears of happiness, anxiety, lots of hugs, shouts of joy and nerves on end.  Each student tests individually with their tutor, with testing taking a little over an hour per child.  But in the end, ALL 8 students achieved Memory Master.  What a celebration we had after!!!  So, SO proud of each and every one of these kiddos.  Sitting in and testing with these kids really gave me an appreciation of our Creator and this amazing brain He has gifted us with for learning.  Truly a miraculous organ!!

Here are Kaya and I last night celebrating her accomplishment on a Mommy-Daddy-Kaya date at the Melting Pot. :)


                           

She's beautiful, isn't she?? :)

In other news, today is my hubby's birthday.  We are celebrating by heading down to Georgia to spend the week with family.  WE.  CAN'T.  WAIT.  Tonight is birthday dinner and packing the car up.  Then, tomorrow, bright and early, we head out.  12 hours. 7 states.  4 kids.  It will be quite the adventure, I'm sure. :)    Either I'm very naive, or incredibly confident in my children's car-riding abilities.  Haha!  Not sure which (probably naive!), but I do love long car rides and am really excited.  We'll be staying with Charles' brother, Dan (who coincidentally, happens to have the same b-day as Charles, just 5 years apart), his wife, Rebecca, and their 7 children.  It's going to be a BLAST!

Lastly, we have adoption numbers for you from last month.  We moved down another three to.....

#73

Seriously, are we cruising or what??!?  ;)

Thanks for all your continued prayers!!  We have been really blessed by each of you along this journey.





Kirsten 

Moving on DOWN!!!

Yes, that's right....we are moving on DOWN!!  Down the list, that is. :)

The end of March brought in slightly cooler weather, but it also meant an update from our social worker.  As of last month, we had dropped down to #80 - a HUGE feat, considering we hadn't moved much at all in about five months.  Today??

Let me give you a couple hints......

It's an important year for our country AND it also happens to be the name of the professional basketball team here in Philly.  Give up?

This month we moved down FOUR SPACES to.....

 

Woohoo!!!!!  So excited to see ANY movement at this point.  Well, any movement in the right direction, that is. :)  Each month as we've moved down, I've seen my faith increase.  Last month I shared about audacious prayers.  Just the other day I read this and I was nearly doing backflips on the inside:

 

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.'  And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me.  The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.  So I say to you:  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.  Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"'

Luke 11:5-13

Jesus WANTS us to audaciously, in faith, approach his throne.  Not from a "name it and claim it" standpoint, but as a child approaches his/her parent with complete trust that they have their best interests at heart.  So thankful that we serve a God whose attention to detail is unmatched.  Whose hand is guiding our adoption process from beginning to end and sees each day before it ever comes to pass.  Whose very heart is for the orphaned and the widowed and the down-trodden.

So thankful that He has led us on this journey and has brought us to this point.  Continuing to pray audaciously that He would continue to bless our journey, leading us even closer to bringing our little one home.  All glory and honor go to Him!




Kirsten

Classic Re-post: One Small Act

Classic re-post from March 2011.....A look back at our journey to Ethiopia....

One comment that we’ve heard over and over by people as we’ve told them about our plans to adopt, is, “Wow!  What an awesome thing you are doing for that child!”

Years ago, I would have thought the same thing.  After all, isn’t it noble to provide a home and clothing and food for a helpless child without?  Isn’t it admirable to love on “the least of these” as Jesus commands?  Isn’t it the responsibility of the church to “help orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27)?  While obviously, all this is good, I am struck by the fact that it is a view that places us as the rich westerner riding in on our white horse to “rescue” some poor, helpless, forlorn child from poverty and what we deem unacceptable.   In reality, instead of God using ME to “rescue" this child, I believe that God is using THEM to rescue me. 

Rescue me from what, you ask?  The idols of materialism, “The American Dream”, etc…  Their presence in my life and in the lives of the people they touch, is doing much more for us, then we could ever possibly do for them.  Already I have seen how God is using this one child, a child whom we have never met….a child whom may not even be born yet, to impact a community.  To stir hearts.  To change lives.  This child, by simply being whom God created him/her to be, is allowing us to catch a glimpse of Jesus. 

Now, understand when I say, that adoption is a beautiful thing.  It is a beautiful picture of how God has rescued us all from our spiritual “orphanages” and made us a new creation in Christ.  Just like a bride and groom depict Jesus (the bridegroom) and the church….or how the love of a parent for a child models the agape love that God has for His people.  Adoption portrays how God has loved us, pursued us, and given us an inheritance far greater than what we were destined for.  It is a picture of the place we hold in the family of God.  But God is at work, and He is doing something even bigger.

So how did we get here?  Honestly, we just felt that God was calling us in this direction.  We felt that we wanted to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.  Right now, there are 145 MILLION orphans in the world.  We are hoping that when we return from Ethiopia, there will be one less.   But sadly, that will still leave 144,999,999.  We are but one.  And so, some may wonder (quietly, to themselves), “So, what’s the point?”  The point, for us, is to in some way inspire others to follow God’s leading.  That may look differently for you, than it does for me.  God may not be leading you to adopt at this time.  But certainly He is leading you somewhere?  How can we climb out of our comfort zones to truly be the hands and feet?

Many of us are looking for Jesus in the churches.  We are looking for him in Christian books and theology.  In worship music and Christian radio.  And while all these things are well and good (and necessary!!), I can’t help but to remember that that is not where Jesus hung out.  He hung out with the prostitutes…the tax collectors…the blatant “sinners”.  He was more commonly found amongst the poor and the needy, than the rich and the affluent.  So while I do recognize that adoption is a beautiful thing, a noble act that mirrors how God has taken us, and adopted us as His sons and daughters and bestowed upon us all of His inheritance, I see how this “thing” is so much bigger than us.  It is so much bigger than this one simple act.  God is using it, and HAS used it already, to reach others.  To show His glory.  And He’s doing it through one small child.

I’d love to hear how God is revealing Himself to you.  How is He using “the least of these” to make Himself known to you?  God is constantly at work…often times we are too busy doing “His work” to notice though.  But HE is there…in the face of a homeless man who climbs into your dumpster at work to collect scrap metal…..in the face of a single mother who is working two jobs to support her children….in the face of a small Ethiopian baby who has already captured the hearts of so many.  He is there.  Will you see Him?  Or will you walk right past?

So what small acts are YOU doing today??  Might I interest you in running/walking a 5k and/or a 1 mile walk to raise money that will build an orphanage in Kenya??  My parents and brother are heading there in a couple months with their church to do just that.  They'd LOVE your support!  Check out the link here to register for this event.



Visit here to register.  Scroll to 4/14/12 - Jamison, PA: 5k for Kenya Kids and 1 mile walk for more details.

                                                             

And.....here is Kaya working on one small act of her own.....



Joining us for a girls-night-out to help sew dresses for little girls in Kenya.  So proud of her!!!



Right now as I type, a group of guys are playing poker to help us raise money for our adoption. I have said it before, but we are truly blessed with some GREAT friends. 

So, SO many ways to get involved and create some small acts of your own.  What is God laying on YOUR heart?? I guarantee that what you intend as a small act to bless someone else, God will use to bless YOU. 




Kirsten                                                  

It's Spring!!

It's Spring!!  Or at least it feels like it!  And what better way to celebrate Spring, and the new beginnings that it represents, than with a couple new fundraisers!!??!!

GUYS POKER NIGHT

A good friend of ours is organizing a poker night for guys in the local area. 

Friday, March 23rd
7:00 pm

If you're in the area, enjoy a good game of poker, and are interested in helping us reach our goal, let us know!!!  I know Charles would love to have you join them.  Email us at ckgregoire2@yahoo.com for more information.

Pokers not your thing?  Me either.  But what about cupcakes?  Now I KNOW this is something you can get on board for!

SISTERS' SWEETS

And they don't just LOOK good, they TASTE delicious too!!  What started as a hobby of my talented sister-in-law's, has turned into a cool little side business for her.  Of which, she's offered to donate HALF of her profits to our adoption! 

Every order is custom-made using fresh, made-from-scratch ingredients.  And OH!  the varieties!

~ Vanilla ~ Vanilla Bean ~ Chocolate ~ CHOCOLATE MOCHA ~ Pound ~ Banana Pound ~ LEMON POUND ~ Lemon ~ Key Lime ~ Spice ~ Fresh Strawberry ~ Coconut ~

And DON'T even get me started on the fillings (can I say Chocolate Ganache, Triple-Berry Preserves, and Lemon Curd!?!) and the delicious homemade frostings such as, but not limited to, Vanilla Buttercream, Salted Caramel Buttercream, and Peanut Butter Buttercream.  And SO MUCH MORE!!

Cookies and scones also!

Email Sarah directly at sisterssweetsphilly@gmail.com to place an order!

 

And as always, we also have some of our old fundraisers still in effect.  Photography, Real estate, Book Sales, Wooden toys, Coffee.....  Just click on our fundraising tab to check those out! 

Don't we have just about the greatest bunch of friends and family EVER??!!?  Since the moment we announced that we were adopting, so many of you have rallied around us with your time, talents and resources. We are so, so blessed!! 

Thanks for loving on us!!

Kirsten

Our Monthly Update :)

The past few weeks, God has really been stirring me to begin praying for our adoption. Not simple, "Bless our adoption" type prayers; but bold, specific, faith-filled prayers.  He's awoken me in the wee hours of the morning to pray, roused me in the shower, and kept it at the forefront of my thoughts for days on end.  I know He is moving, even when it seems like not much is happening these days.

Specifically, I had been praying that God would allow us to be encouraged this month.  That there would be SOME movement in the right direction.  Over and over this month, God has reminded me that HE alone causes governments to rise and fall. That HE is in control of ALL things.  That HE is good, and we can trust Him.  Time and time again, I have had to allow myself  to be comforted by these truths.  Strengthened.  Emboldened even.

Well, the end of the month brought our monthly update for our adoption.  Honestly, given the past few months, and how it has seemed like we have BARELY moved, our expectations weren't too high, despite specific prayers to the contrary.

At the end of January, we were holding steady at #85.  Today?



Surprise!  We moved FIVE spots!  That is the most movement we've seen in months. We'll take it. 

This morning, our pastor talked about praying audacious prayers.  It's been on my heart all day.  Are my simple-minded, faithless, rote prayers insulting to the King of the universe?  Isn't He capable of so much more than I even dare to ask for??

So, for next month, I'm shamelessly asking God to move us down another five spots.  Charles told me to ask for 20.  I'm not quite THAT audacious yet. ;)  Baby steps people!

In the meantime, I'm thinking through some other areas in my life where I could afford to ask more boldly.  What about you?  What has He put on YOUR heart lately??  What is He waiting for you to pray specifically about today?





Kirsten

One Year Ago Today....

One year ago today, on February 16th, 2011, we went FB "out" for the world to see.  We were adopting. 

Shortly after, you may remember our pickle jar??  Haha, have I gotten your attention yet?  Yes, a pickle jar.  For those who are new to our story, let me catch you up to speed.....

Post from 2/21/11:

Last night after dinner, our family gathered around the table and we read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000.  A crowd had assembled on the hilltop to hear Jesus' teachings, but the day had grown long, and the people, hungry.  I was struck by the fact that when  it came time for Jesus to feed the crowd, he did not miraculously just make food appear from the heavens (although he could have!).  Instead, he first required something on the part of his disciples.  As always, God, in His mysterious nature, CHOOSES to use earthly creatures to carry out His heavenly plans. 

"By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him.  'This is a remote place,' they said, 'and it's already getting late.  Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.'

But [Jesus] answered, 'You give them something to eat.'

The disciples said to him, 'That would take eight months of a man's wages!  Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?'

'How many loaves do you have?' Jesus asked, 'Go and see.'"

-Mark 6: 35-38

Before Jesus ever even performed any miracles that afternoon, He first required his followers to step out in faith.  They needed to take the first step!  We see this pattern over and over throughout scripture.  Peter, walking on water....the friends who lowered the paralyzed man down through a roof and at the feet of Jesus....Abraham leaving his homeland to follow God. 

As we talked with our children about the application of this story to our lives, my daughter spoke up and said,  "Mommy, this reminds me of our adoption.  Just like God took what little food the disciples were able to find and turned it into enough to feed 5,000 people, God can take our little money jar, and multiply it to overflowing."  Wow.

"From the lips of children and infants, you have ordained praise!" 

~Psalm 8:2

Enter, our pickle jar:

When we first began our journey towards adoption, we emptied out a huge pickle jar and stuck it on our counter.  We thought it would be a fun way to get the kids involved in collecting money for our adoption.  They have had a blast finding spare change throughout the house and adding it to our jar.  



Well, last night, we took that big ole' pickle jar, and stuck it on the middle of our table.  And as a family, we prayed that God would multiply our "5 small loaves of bread - and 2 fish".  We prayed Malachi 3:10 over our pickle jar:

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  'Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.'"

Won't you please join us in praying that God would do just that!  That He would multiply our pickle jar. That He would take our "loaves of bread" and multiply it to feed 5,000.  Or, in our case, just one orphan. :)

Fast-forward one year and take a look at the thermometer to the right of our page.  God is good. :)

Certainly, I believed God was capable (didn't I???) when we prayed that little prayer together around our dining room table.  But NEVER in my wildest dreams, did I imagine we would be where we are today.  $22,000 raised in exactly one year. 

A.  MAZING. 

And still, I find myself daily trying to muster up the faith to believe.  Oh, not in the raising of funds anymore.  I trust that when the time comes, we will have what we need.  That's the easy part.  God already proved himself MORE than capable there.  No, I'm speaking more of the bureaucracy and red tape that is involved in an international adoption.  Any adoption, really.  The uneasiness that comes from the unknown. 

And so, as always, when doubts come, I find myself clinging to His promises and reminding myself over and over again of His past provisions.  How He knit my husband and my hearts together towards the common goal of adopting.  How He has provided the necessary funds.  How He has overcome obstacle after obstacle. 

Even in slow seasons, where He doesn't seem to be moving, I am choosing to trust.  When we look around and wonder, 'Is this too big for even God?'  I'm choosing to have faith.   

And so, again, I lift my five little loaves and two fish up to Him.  My mustard seed-size of faith.  And pray that even now, as we creep.....literally.....down the list towards bringing our child home, we would sense His presence.  His blessing.  His favor.  That we would know HE is the provider God.  That He alone can move mountains.  We know that no government can stand in His way.  That in fact, "the government [is] upon his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6)."  We trust His timing, knowing that it is absolutely perfect.  Praying all the while for a heart of faith.  

Can't WAIT to see where we are one year from today!  Won't you pray along with us?

Kirsten