Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
Happy Mother's Day, Virginia!
We love you both!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Happy Birthday, Hannah!
Today is Hannah's 12th birthday. It seems like yesterday she was a baby that we were rockin' in the rocking chair. She is going into a beautiful young lady.
She is a sweet heart. She's quite serious - in a good way. Hannah has a special place in her heart for little kids and takes such good care of them. I can't wait to see how she bonds with her two new brothers! She is excited to spend a week caring for the kids at the transition house we will be staying at in Africa.
Hannah is learning to play Violin. She works very hard at it and I love listening to her play. She also took up volleyball this year and it was so fun to watch her get better as the year progressed. Hannah is very determined. If she has her mind set that she can do something, nothing will stop her until she accomplishes what she set out to accomplish.
She's such a blessing and I'm so glad she's my little girl!
I'm so proud of you Hannah. I love you.
Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
In just days ...
In just days ... Less than a week ... We will be boarding an airplane and heading off to Africa. We have suitcases laid out. We have the formula that we received from the shower that my sweet friends put on for the boys stacked up ready to pack and bring with us. We have all the necessary paperwork we need tucked away in a carry on bag. We have photo albums full of pictures of us and the boys ready to give to the twins when we are in Africa.
I've been preparing my overjoyed heart to accept that we will get to love on the boys for a week and then need to leave them there until we hear about when our Embassy Appt is and go back to get them. I've been trying to let go of any thoughts about how the boys will react to us meeting them and comprehend how this is really a life long journey that we are on. Also, we don't know that we will not see any birth family on this trip. On our second trip there is time set aside specifically to meet with birth family- which I'm so thankful for. But, we've been told by our agency, that it is not impossible that we might run into birth family either at court or saying goodbye to the kids at the transition home. They reminded us that if we get to see any birth family on this trip we should count it as a blessing. We will.
Speaking of court. Our court date has changed. So, if you are praying over our court date - it is no longer May 18th. It is on May 16th. I'm so thankful that we were already going to be in country on that day. We do not need to change our airline tickets around, which would have likely meant that the kids would not have been able to go with us. We used airline points for quite a few of the kids' tickets, and once they are used we do not think there is anyway to transfer to a different ticket. I'll take that as another confirmation that the kids are supposed to be with us on this trip.
And... I'm overwhelmed with the support that we have been given. Dear friends that we've know for a long time now have reminded us of truth and are covering us in prayer. I've received emails, calls and and notes. Thank you for your encouragement and support. New friends that are on the journey of growing families through adoption that have sent notes with encouragement, are praying for us (people that I didn't even know that were following my blog and are praying for us - isn't the body of Christ amazing!) and have offered valuable advise and pointers about being in Ethiopia. I am very humbled ... Thank You Friends!
I've been preparing my overjoyed heart to accept that we will get to love on the boys for a week and then need to leave them there until we hear about when our Embassy Appt is and go back to get them. I've been trying to let go of any thoughts about how the boys will react to us meeting them and comprehend how this is really a life long journey that we are on. Also, we don't know that we will not see any birth family on this trip. On our second trip there is time set aside specifically to meet with birth family- which I'm so thankful for. But, we've been told by our agency, that it is not impossible that we might run into birth family either at court or saying goodbye to the kids at the transition home. They reminded us that if we get to see any birth family on this trip we should count it as a blessing. We will.
Speaking of court. Our court date has changed. So, if you are praying over our court date - it is no longer May 18th. It is on May 16th. I'm so thankful that we were already going to be in country on that day. We do not need to change our airline tickets around, which would have likely meant that the kids would not have been able to go with us. We used airline points for quite a few of the kids' tickets, and once they are used we do not think there is anyway to transfer to a different ticket. I'll take that as another confirmation that the kids are supposed to be with us on this trip.
And... I'm overwhelmed with the support that we have been given. Dear friends that we've know for a long time now have reminded us of truth and are covering us in prayer. I've received emails, calls and and notes. Thank you for your encouragement and support. New friends that are on the journey of growing families through adoption that have sent notes with encouragement, are praying for us (people that I didn't even know that were following my blog and are praying for us - isn't the body of Christ amazing!) and have offered valuable advise and pointers about being in Ethiopia. I am very humbled ... Thank You Friends!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Adopting Gods Dreams
About a year ago I found myself sitting at The Christian Alliance for Orphans Conference with some dear friends. It was a few days of really starting to dig into what it means to stand up for the orphan. The last year I've spent much time thinking and praying about the orphan. It seems so complicated to me at times. It seems so messy to me at times. There seems to be such controversy on what the best way to care for the orphan is and means and how that looks at times. I believe there is much spiritual warfare involved when it comes to taking care of the orphan. I'm such a work in progress and will always be and I'm so thankful that I have the Lord to lean on as I try to digest what justice is and looks like.
So, it was at this conference that I heard Mary Beth Chapman speak (along with many other amazing people). One of the things that she said stuck with me and I can still hear her saying today. She said - we need to adopt God's dreams. So, when I started this blog, it seemed right to title my blog Adopting God's Dreams. To me it meant, "Rachael - you need to set aside your selfish ways and see the bigger more amazing plan that God has already planned for you." I need to adopt God's dreams because they are so much grander and full filling than mine could ever be. I'm learning that I miss out big time when I am not willing to adopt God's dreams. But, that doesn't mean that I don't struggle with this whole concept. This week has proven to be a struggle. This week as my heart is leaping for joy that in just days I will be able to do what I've been waiting to for a year now - hold in my arms the children that the Lord has given me. Now, coming off of a weekend that our daughter shared in front of a whole church full of people how she has gone back and forth on adoption for our family and now God has reveled Himself so powerfully that she can not doubt anymore that we were not meant to bring home two precious little boys and call them our own... I have struggled with ... fear. Fear and doubt. But ... Strength Will Rise as I lean on my God.
If you would like to see the confirmation service/testimonies you can watch it here. Amanda was in the "Where are you going by Bobbie Batsole (10:30am)" choice.
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Fear and doubt. Yuck! There is no doubt in my mind that we were called to adopt. There is no doubt in my mind that God has lead us to two precious little boys in Ethiopia. But, I've found myself questioning the events that have happened in our world over the last few days and wondered if we should be traveling internationally with our 5 children. There are new warnings out in regards to traveling that I started to become fearful about. I started doubting that our whole family was supposed to be traveling together to Africa. When I let myself get into being "afraid" I start thinking up all kinds of "what-ifs". It is in these times that I am so very grateful for friends and family - there to remind me of the fact that God is a big God and so much more powerful than anything in this world. I do not need to be afraid. I've been reminded by my sweet mom that God is in control and that we've seen his hand in this process all along. I've been reminded by a dear friend that our hope is in the maker of heaven and earth. The maker of heaven and earth - wow!
Today am praying to the maker of heaven and earth for protection on our journey and trusting that He is in control. I'm reminded that I have an all powerful God to put my trust in. I'm reminded that I need to set aside myself and adopt His dreams - and really, I can not image the amazing dreams He has planned for us over the next weeks. We get to go to court asking to be legally parents of two beautiful little boys. I get to hold in my arms two little boys that I have been holding in my heart since I saw their picture for the first time on December 23, 2010. So, just like Mary Beth Chapman taught me ... I need to adopt God's dreams. I can not live in fear. I was reminded in many ways this week that I need to trust. Like Bobbie shared in her message on the confirmation video - "Where are you going?" - Where am I going? In the next week I'm going to Africa to walk down the next steps to call two little boys mine. I get to have my husband and 5 children with me - we get to do this as a family. The maker of heaven and earth will be right by my side. And, when my time has finished out on this earth, "Where am I going? To join the maker of heaven and earth in heaven. Wow - how amazing is that! The joy of the Lord is my strength. To God be the Glory!
So, it was at this conference that I heard Mary Beth Chapman speak (along with many other amazing people). One of the things that she said stuck with me and I can still hear her saying today. She said - we need to adopt God's dreams. So, when I started this blog, it seemed right to title my blog Adopting God's Dreams. To me it meant, "Rachael - you need to set aside your selfish ways and see the bigger more amazing plan that God has already planned for you." I need to adopt God's dreams because they are so much grander and full filling than mine could ever be. I'm learning that I miss out big time when I am not willing to adopt God's dreams. But, that doesn't mean that I don't struggle with this whole concept. This week has proven to be a struggle. This week as my heart is leaping for joy that in just days I will be able to do what I've been waiting to for a year now - hold in my arms the children that the Lord has given me. Now, coming off of a weekend that our daughter shared in front of a whole church full of people how she has gone back and forth on adoption for our family and now God has reveled Himself so powerfully that she can not doubt anymore that we were not meant to bring home two precious little boys and call them our own... I have struggled with ... fear. Fear and doubt. But ... Strength Will Rise as I lean on my God.
If you would like to see the confirmation service/testimonies you can watch it here. Amanda was in the "Where are you going by Bobbie Batsole (10:30am)" choice.
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Fear and doubt. Yuck! There is no doubt in my mind that we were called to adopt. There is no doubt in my mind that God has lead us to two precious little boys in Ethiopia. But, I've found myself questioning the events that have happened in our world over the last few days and wondered if we should be traveling internationally with our 5 children. There are new warnings out in regards to traveling that I started to become fearful about. I started doubting that our whole family was supposed to be traveling together to Africa. When I let myself get into being "afraid" I start thinking up all kinds of "what-ifs". It is in these times that I am so very grateful for friends and family - there to remind me of the fact that God is a big God and so much more powerful than anything in this world. I do not need to be afraid. I've been reminded by my sweet mom that God is in control and that we've seen his hand in this process all along. I've been reminded by a dear friend that our hope is in the maker of heaven and earth. The maker of heaven and earth - wow!
Today am praying to the maker of heaven and earth for protection on our journey and trusting that He is in control. I'm reminded that I have an all powerful God to put my trust in. I'm reminded that I need to set aside myself and adopt His dreams - and really, I can not image the amazing dreams He has planned for us over the next weeks. We get to go to court asking to be legally parents of two beautiful little boys. I get to hold in my arms two little boys that I have been holding in my heart since I saw their picture for the first time on December 23, 2010. So, just like Mary Beth Chapman taught me ... I need to adopt God's dreams. I can not live in fear. I was reminded in many ways this week that I need to trust. Like Bobbie shared in her message on the confirmation video - "Where are you going?" - Where am I going? In the next week I'm going to Africa to walk down the next steps to call two little boys mine. I get to have my husband and 5 children with me - we get to do this as a family. The maker of heaven and earth will be right by my side. And, when my time has finished out on this earth, "Where am I going? To join the maker of heaven and earth in heaven. Wow - how amazing is that! The joy of the Lord is my strength. To God be the Glory!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Miss Amanda
Our Miss Amanda was confirmed this weekend. What an amazing girlie God has given us! She shared her testimony in church yesterday. We were so proud of her. Thank you Lisa and Nancy for loving on her and being there her for the last few years. You are a blessing beyond words.
Thanks for sending us this picture, Jen. We were getting ready to pray over Amanda during the service. I'm so thankful for sweet friends that God has placed in our lives. Thanks for joining us in prayer, Laruen.
We are so thankful for family and friends that helped her celebrate - some in spirit and some physically present. Thank you for loving Amanda, praying for her and being there for her.
How special is it to have a great grandpa to hug on your confirmation day...
Jack Connor and Brynn hung out with us for the day too. They didn't want their picture taken and we had some camera malfunctions (or is it the camera operator error??) and we didn't get any pictures of them except his one. Will you join us in praying for our precious little nephew. He is having some medical tests done on his little heart today. Isn't he adorable.
And to my dear Amanda... You are on a journey. An amazing journey. Keep looking to the Lord to light your path, princess.
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
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