Putting together the perfect Dianabol Cycle
4 years ago
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Simply Love T-Shirt Sale!
We have a limited number of Simply Love Moldova t-shirts left and are offering them at a discounted rate in order to move them out. Shirts are now $15 each (plus $2.50 for shipping if applicable)! There are still several women's small and medium shirts left (and remember, they all fit like unisex shirts). And there are literally a total of 8 men's shirts left. We do not plan on reordering shirts any time soon, so if you've been wanting a t-shirt, now is the time to buy!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Waiting....still...
On October 9th we hit the mark of our second month of waiting. Now I realize in terms of adoption processes, our wait hasn't been that long yet. But every day that passes seems so long to us. Especially since the paperwork part of our process went so quickly! We honestly expected to have a referral by now, but it hasn't happened like we thought. We don't have a timeline of when things will happen. We do know the process has slowed down but referrals are still being made. There are two families in front of us using our same agency that are wanting to adopt a girl around the same age as us. They have to receive their referrals before we will receive ours. They have been waiting over 2 months.
So here's me being vulnerable. I'm having a really hard time waiting. REALLY HARD. I just grapple with the timeline and that fact that this isn't going like I want it to. I just don't understand. I don't get why we moved along so fast just to be at a stand still. Just to wait. I don't get why we were called to adopt when we were only to find ourselves waiting for our referral. I just feel this intense sense of urgency not only to get our daughter home, but to have a referral before the end of the year. And I'm just tired of being patient!
As we were driving to Gatlinburg this past weekend for our annual college retreat, I stared in awe at the magnificent beauty around me. To think that the God of the universe created all of the mountains and the beautiful views I saw, a thought struck me. If our God can create the entire universe with all of its amazing features in just 6 days, why do I have such a hard time BELIEVING that He can move our process as quickly as He desires! He is choosing not to act right now. And while we sit and wait, He wants us to trust Him. Trust that His timing is perfect. Trust that our daughter is not yet ready for us. Trust that He is working in our hearts so that we will be the parents to her that He's called us to be. Trust that He's working all things out for our good. But it's so hard to trust when you cannot see. FAITH. He is growing our faith in Him. Every painful step of the way.
I must remember that God is sovereign, and that I am not. He chooses to do things in ways that don't always make sense. Look at Abraham waiting until he was over 100 years old to have a son! Look at Noah building the ark, waiting for a flood when rain had never even occurred. Look at Joseph, who had to become a slave and who was imprisoned for something he didn't do...only to later be in charge of Egypt! Look at Joshua and the battle of Jericho...marching around the walled city and finally blowing trumpets and shouting, all which destroyed the city. Look at David, who at age 15 was anointed by God to be king over Israel...and yet it wasn't until 22 years later that he actually took the throne promised to him. Time after time in the Bible we see evidence of the Lord at work in strange ways. And let's not forget how He chose to save the world...through a virgin who bore Jesus in a manger who ultimately died a horrific death on a cross when He never sinned and was raised from the dead three days later, giving us a WAY to know Him! Yes, indeed, God's ways don't make sense and are often strange. But that's how God works.
So I have a choice: I can choose to allow worry and fear to grip me and then try to take control and do things my way, or I can choose to trust Him and take Him at His Word even when things don't make sense. It is a daily decision that I must choose to make. And God promises that as I choose to trust Him, He will direct me each step of the way.
Please pray for these specifics:
1. Pray that all of the officials looking over our dossier will feel compelled to move our family forward in the adoption process before the end of the year. Pray that God moves in their hearts and places a sense of urgency especially with placing the child who will become our daughter.
2. Don't stop praying for our daughter. Specifically that the Lord will hasten her arrival home. Pray that as it continues to get colder that she will have enough warm clothing and heat to keep her warm. Pray also that the Lord begins to prepare her for the huge change coming. Pray even that she might see us and hear our voices in her dreams so that when we do meet, she will already know about us.
3. Pray for Caleb. He will also be affected by the huge change coming. Pray that his heart will be tender and that he will love his sister. Pray that the Lord prepares him to become a brother (and whether he is a big or little brother, that the Lord gives him everything he needs for that role).
4. Pray for Austin and me. Pray that the Lord will continue to comfort us and give us peace while we wait. Pray that we will trust Him and His timing. Pray that when the enemy strikes and fear grips us because of all of the unknowns that we will stand strong in the TRUTH and will be able to withstand his attacks. Pray that this adoption process will bring glory to Him.
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
So here's me being vulnerable. I'm having a really hard time waiting. REALLY HARD. I just grapple with the timeline and that fact that this isn't going like I want it to. I just don't understand. I don't get why we moved along so fast just to be at a stand still. Just to wait. I don't get why we were called to adopt when we were only to find ourselves waiting for our referral. I just feel this intense sense of urgency not only to get our daughter home, but to have a referral before the end of the year. And I'm just tired of being patient!
As we were driving to Gatlinburg this past weekend for our annual college retreat, I stared in awe at the magnificent beauty around me. To think that the God of the universe created all of the mountains and the beautiful views I saw, a thought struck me. If our God can create the entire universe with all of its amazing features in just 6 days, why do I have such a hard time BELIEVING that He can move our process as quickly as He desires! He is choosing not to act right now. And while we sit and wait, He wants us to trust Him. Trust that His timing is perfect. Trust that our daughter is not yet ready for us. Trust that He is working in our hearts so that we will be the parents to her that He's called us to be. Trust that He's working all things out for our good. But it's so hard to trust when you cannot see. FAITH. He is growing our faith in Him. Every painful step of the way.
I must remember that God is sovereign, and that I am not. He chooses to do things in ways that don't always make sense. Look at Abraham waiting until he was over 100 years old to have a son! Look at Noah building the ark, waiting for a flood when rain had never even occurred. Look at Joseph, who had to become a slave and who was imprisoned for something he didn't do...only to later be in charge of Egypt! Look at Joshua and the battle of Jericho...marching around the walled city and finally blowing trumpets and shouting, all which destroyed the city. Look at David, who at age 15 was anointed by God to be king over Israel...and yet it wasn't until 22 years later that he actually took the throne promised to him. Time after time in the Bible we see evidence of the Lord at work in strange ways. And let's not forget how He chose to save the world...through a virgin who bore Jesus in a manger who ultimately died a horrific death on a cross when He never sinned and was raised from the dead three days later, giving us a WAY to know Him! Yes, indeed, God's ways don't make sense and are often strange. But that's how God works.
So I have a choice: I can choose to allow worry and fear to grip me and then try to take control and do things my way, or I can choose to trust Him and take Him at His Word even when things don't make sense. It is a daily decision that I must choose to make. And God promises that as I choose to trust Him, He will direct me each step of the way.
Please pray for these specifics:
1. Pray that all of the officials looking over our dossier will feel compelled to move our family forward in the adoption process before the end of the year. Pray that God moves in their hearts and places a sense of urgency especially with placing the child who will become our daughter.
2. Don't stop praying for our daughter. Specifically that the Lord will hasten her arrival home. Pray that as it continues to get colder that she will have enough warm clothing and heat to keep her warm. Pray also that the Lord begins to prepare her for the huge change coming. Pray even that she might see us and hear our voices in her dreams so that when we do meet, she will already know about us.
3. Pray for Caleb. He will also be affected by the huge change coming. Pray that his heart will be tender and that he will love his sister. Pray that the Lord prepares him to become a brother (and whether he is a big or little brother, that the Lord gives him everything he needs for that role).
4. Pray for Austin and me. Pray that the Lord will continue to comfort us and give us peace while we wait. Pray that we will trust Him and His timing. Pray that when the enemy strikes and fear grips us because of all of the unknowns that we will stand strong in the TRUTH and will be able to withstand his attacks. Pray that this adoption process will bring glory to Him.
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
Friday, October 1, 2010
Quote of the Day
Remember: If (correction: WHEN) you come up against obstacles or doubts during your adoption (either during the process or post-adoption), remember it's Satan that wants to keep children orphans. He's fighting like mad for them. You must fight harder. Get mad.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Where God Guides, He Provides...
We got an email on Friday from Trudy at Hand in Hand Christian Adoption with the final numbers on our matching grant. We will be receiving $12,950 toward our adoption! We had no idea we would receive SO much! We are amazed at the Lord's provision and overwhelmed by the generosity of those who donated!
Austin and I spent some time on Sunday afternoon crunching numbers, and with the money received from the grant and the garage sale plus the adoption tax credit we'll get back after the adoption is complete (~$13,000), we have a little over $6,500 left to pay in estimated fees! Isn't God so good?! In less than 6 months He has provided over $23,000 through various means to pay for our adoption!
When the Lord called us to adopt, the financial aspect of adoption (our total costs are estimated to be about $50,000) was one of the scariest things for us. Even though we knew the stories of how God has provided for His children from the very beginning, we were still afraid. But we stepped out in faith and proceeded through the adoption process even though we didn't know how it would all work out financially. The Lord has provided for us every single step of the way and mostly in ways we would have never imagined and through people we didn't expect. Seeing the Lord take care of our needs in His way has been one of the most amazing experiences for us and has grown our faith in Him so much more. It makes us wonder why didn't we just trust Him from the beginning?
1 John 5:14-15 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."
We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has called us to adopt, and seeing Him at work in our adoption process each step of the way just reaffirms that we are doing exactly what He has called us to do and that He is completely in control.
Lord, as we continue to wait on Your timing for us to meet our daughter and to bring her home to us, help us not forget how You've provided for our needs so far. Let us set them as "stones of remembrance" in our hearts and mind. Help us to remember that You will continue to give us exactly what we need along the way. Thank you for Your faithfulness, Father!
Austin and I spent some time on Sunday afternoon crunching numbers, and with the money received from the grant and the garage sale plus the adoption tax credit we'll get back after the adoption is complete (~$13,000), we have a little over $6,500 left to pay in estimated fees! Isn't God so good?! In less than 6 months He has provided over $23,000 through various means to pay for our adoption!
When the Lord called us to adopt, the financial aspect of adoption (our total costs are estimated to be about $50,000) was one of the scariest things for us. Even though we knew the stories of how God has provided for His children from the very beginning, we were still afraid. But we stepped out in faith and proceeded through the adoption process even though we didn't know how it would all work out financially. The Lord has provided for us every single step of the way and mostly in ways we would have never imagined and through people we didn't expect. Seeing the Lord take care of our needs in His way has been one of the most amazing experiences for us and has grown our faith in Him so much more. It makes us wonder why didn't we just trust Him from the beginning?
1 John 5:14-15 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."
We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has called us to adopt, and seeing Him at work in our adoption process each step of the way just reaffirms that we are doing exactly what He has called us to do and that He is completely in control.
Lord, as we continue to wait on Your timing for us to meet our daughter and to bring her home to us, help us not forget how You've provided for our needs so far. Let us set them as "stones of remembrance" in our hearts and mind. Help us to remember that You will continue to give us exactly what we need along the way. Thank you for Your faithfulness, Father!
Garage Sale Results!!!
The Lord once again provided for us beyond our wildest imagination at our garage sale this past weekend! After 3 days and over 25 families donating items, we raised $2,370.11. WOW!
Thank you to our family and friends who gave us their stuff for us to sell. We appreciate each of you and your willingness to give your things for our sale. What a blessing you are to us! And thanks to everyone who came out in support of our sale. It means so much to us to see how many people are so excited to help us bring our little girl home!
Now, some pictures for you to enjoy...
Before Pictures...
And After Pictures (there was hardly anything left!)...
Thank You, Lord, for the good weather, our generous family/friends who donated their stuff for us to sell, and all of the people who came out and bought stuff, often giving us more for it than what we asked. Thank You for Your provision!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Waiting and Waiting and Waiting
One month has passed since we submitted the last piece of our paperwork. One LONG month. Not too long ago there was a sign at a church that I pass by on the way home. It said Being Patient is Trusting God's Timing. I'm grateful for such a reminder...the Lord knows how much I need that reminder on a daily basis!
This waiting stage of this adoption process is HARD. Other adoptive families warned me that it would be, but I really thought I would be okay with the wait. After all, having a nearly 14 month old certainly keeps me busy! But even with our busy days, I long to know who my daughter is and know that she is on her way home to us. I find myself daydreaming about what she looks like and what type of personality she'll have. I think about what I will feel the first time I see her sweet little face in a photo and then how I'll react when I hold her for the first time in Moldova. There are days that I feel like I'm going crazy as we wait for THE CALL. We really have no indication of when we might hear something...whether it's next week, next month, or 6+ months from now.
Last night at Bible study I was reminded of Isaiah 55:8-9, which says, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" What a wonderful reminder to me that the Lord is orchestrating our whole adoption journey to bring our daughter home to us in HIS perfect timing! He is in control of every detail and knows exactly the right time for us to receive THE CALL so that we can travel to bring her home. So even when I don't feel like we have control of anything in this process, HE DOES. And He is working out all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Please pray that we will get THE CALL soon. Pray that we will trust the Lord's timing and lean not on our own understanding. Pray that in all of this the Lord is glorified. And please, please continue to pray for our little girl...for her health, safety, and extra love from her caretakers until we can go get her and bring her home. We're asking the Lord for a miracle...we're asking Him to bring her home before Christmas. It's a little crazy, but we know that with God ALL things are possible!
This waiting stage of this adoption process is HARD. Other adoptive families warned me that it would be, but I really thought I would be okay with the wait. After all, having a nearly 14 month old certainly keeps me busy! But even with our busy days, I long to know who my daughter is and know that she is on her way home to us. I find myself daydreaming about what she looks like and what type of personality she'll have. I think about what I will feel the first time I see her sweet little face in a photo and then how I'll react when I hold her for the first time in Moldova. There are days that I feel like I'm going crazy as we wait for THE CALL. We really have no indication of when we might hear something...whether it's next week, next month, or 6+ months from now.
Last night at Bible study I was reminded of Isaiah 55:8-9, which says, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" What a wonderful reminder to me that the Lord is orchestrating our whole adoption journey to bring our daughter home to us in HIS perfect timing! He is in control of every detail and knows exactly the right time for us to receive THE CALL so that we can travel to bring her home. So even when I don't feel like we have control of anything in this process, HE DOES. And He is working out all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Please pray that we will get THE CALL soon. Pray that we will trust the Lord's timing and lean not on our own understanding. Pray that in all of this the Lord is glorified. And please, please continue to pray for our little girl...for her health, safety, and extra love from her caretakers until we can go get her and bring her home. We're asking the Lord for a miracle...we're asking Him to bring her home before Christmas. It's a little crazy, but we know that with God ALL things are possible!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Adoption Benefit Garage Sale...ROUND 2
We are in the midst of preparing for another Adoption Benefit Garage Sale! We had quite a few people approach us after our first garage sale to ask if we had plans for another sale because they had items to donate...so...it's time for Round 2! Let the craziness begin!
We will be having the garage sale at our house again on Thursday, September 23 through Saturday, September 25, which is now about three weeks away. If you have anything that you'd like to donate for our sale, please let us know, and we will be happy to make arrangements to pick it up.
Please cover this garage sale in your prayers and ask the Lord to provide in crazy ways again like last time. Please also pray for good (i.e. cooler) weather, lots of stuff to sell, and lots of people to buy.
We will be having the garage sale at our house again on Thursday, September 23 through Saturday, September 25, which is now about three weeks away. If you have anything that you'd like to donate for our sale, please let us know, and we will be happy to make arrangements to pick it up.
Please cover this garage sale in your prayers and ask the Lord to provide in crazy ways again like last time. Please also pray for good (i.e. cooler) weather, lots of stuff to sell, and lots of people to buy.
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