Every Supporting Ligament

If you'd like to take a ride on a true emotional rollercoaster....adopt a child! This process has gone very well for Bobby and I. I would say we both have a strength in realizing when there are things we cannot control and give our concerns to God. But, not only does adoption come with so many uncertainties, it also comes with facing people who are against adoption, against biracial families, or people who just don't understand why.

I try not to let comments get to me, but I will admit there have been times when my heart just sinks and I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs! Whether it's someone simply saying:

"But adoption is soooo much money" or
"You're going to have ANOTHER child?" or
"Gee you really like a busy house, huh?" or
"I don't understand why people adopt but each to their own" or
"I don't think people should adopt unless they have the funds to do so."

and the list goes on.

Not one of these comments makes us ever question what we are doing or why we are doing it. BUT, it still hurts a mother's heart! Even though we have heard each of those above comments, 90% of people we know are extremely supportive and joyful for us. I often let little moments pass by without giving thanks and so I thought I would share some of the sweetest things we have encountered:

• Our parents were all overjoyed when we told them we were going to adopt and have supported us 100% throughout the process
• We have so many people constantly telling us they are praying for our family
• My sister-in-law Ally graciously watches our kiddos for us on Wednesdays while I worked from 8-11....allowing us no child care costs and more money to put toward our adoption.
• My mother watches our children on Tuesdays and Thursdays while I work...again from the kindness of her motherly heart!
• Dear friends Rayma, Maria. and Clara have watched our kiddos for us while we run adoption errands to the post office, doctor appointments, etc.
• At our lasagna dinner one family put a bag full of coins in the collection with a note from a child reading "For you to bring your baby home." PRICELESS
• Our friends Kevin and Mandy told their daughter about our adoption and she is choosing to give her "giving" portion of her allowance to our adoption
• We have been given donations from high school friends, college friends, and a few people we hardly even know
• Our dear friends Brian and Becky supported us and included a note from Becky that read, "We want to be a part of this adoption. Thank you for letting us be a part of changing a child's life."
• Numerous other family and friends have given us donations through attending our dinner, buying a shirt, or just giving to us.
• Friends Bill and Joan gave us a buck (deer) that is helping us feed our family and bringing down our grocery bills for this winter (again, more funds for our adoption!)
• One of my bestest friends Sarah did a fundraising Premier Designs Jewelry show for us and gave 90% of her earnings to us (right around $800!!!!)
• We've made many blogging and adopting family friends that continually give us emotional support
• Even though we are just waiting, we have dozens of friends who continually ask us about the process, how things are going, etc--showing they care!

This list could go on and on...but I can only say we are truly blessed! Yes, we may be the adopting family...but this process goes much futher than us. We alone could not do this---financially, physcially, or emotionally without the support we are provided. Those of you specifically listed or those of you who fit any of the bullets, know that you are needed and cherished! Each of you are helping change the life of TWO beautiful children.

This support and love reminded me of Ephesians 4 when Paul reminds us that God calls us each to do different things but yet we must work together, giving each other support.

Ephesians 4:16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

We all are not called to adopt, but we can ALL do something to help HIS fatherless children of the world.

Love from our family to yours!

Leap of Faith

You may have noticed the change in our blog header... we have changed the name of our blog to...
Waiting on SEVEN.

Yes, it's true.  We are taking a complete leap of faith and following what God is calling us to do.  We were provisionally approved by AWAA for a concurrent adoption.  In these last few days I have spent numerous hours on the phone and online searching out agencies, timelines, costs, etc.  The way this all came about is just crazy and seems quite spontaneous....but we have no doubts this is right for our family.

(If you haven't read my previous post, you may want to do so before reading this one...may be a little easier to understand)


Many different agencies will tell you that you cannot adopt from the DRC if you have more than 2 children already at home.  When we first started the adoption process we didn't even consider the fact that those types of requirements could be waived in certain cases (and therefore didn't even look at the DRC).  When we decided to go ahead with a concurrent adoption we would have totally overlooked the Congo if it weren't for our social worker, Larissa. 


As soon as we told her we were thinking about a concurrent adoption she was thinking the DRC for our family (her family has recently accepted a referral from the DRC!!).  She did know one of our big concerns was the funding, but being a Godly women, she knew we should not put monetary concerns as our road block. 

Larissa quickly got me in contact with A Love Beyond Borders and from there we were hooked.  As I said in the previous post, we always knew we would SOME DAY adopt two children....just didn't know it would come this quickly.    God obviously had a plan for our family and the children we will welcome into our home!!!!!  How absolutely perfect will it be to have two African children to grow in our home together?!?!??  They will share some cultural background and will have each other to share their life experiences with.

Soooo....we have mailed in our application to A Love Beyond Borders for a baby girl from the DRC!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I still cannot believe it.  We are still unsure how the funding will come together but we are certain this is right.  We are certain this is God's plan for our family. 

A few details into what this is looking like for our family:

1.  ALBB agency does not currently have a wait list for the DRC.  That means we are (as soon as our contract is in their hands) #1 on their baby girl list.
2. They are anticipating (not set in stone but a good guess) that as soon as our paperwork is ready we will get a referral for a baby girl within 1-3 months.
3.  After we accept our referral our dossier will be sent, a court date will be set up, certification and paperwork will be done in the DRC, we wait for the USCIS to give us the okay to bring this child home, and then we travel to pick our baby girl up!  The process from referral to being home will be a 5-6 month time frame.
4. We are currently # 70 on the unofficial wait list through America World for our Ethiopian adoption. 
5. After welcoming home a baby girl from the DRC we will be changing our request for EITHER gender 0-2 from Ethiopia.
6. Nothing is official (as things continue to change with wait times in Ethiopia) but we are expecting a wait time of 1-3 years for a referral from Ethiopia. 
7. We will have at least a year between welcoming our two children home.  If we feel like we need more time, AWAA will allow us to keep our "spot in line" until we are ready to welcome our second child home.

To be honest, I am scared.  I have no hesitancies about welcoming these children into our home.  BUT, the finances are going to be tough.  We are willing to sacrafice so we can help these children.  I cannot even type the numbers we will need for both adoptions...but we are open, willing, and ready to face what is needed to make it work.


PLEASE be praying for our family and for the finances to come together.  I will be posting many updates...posts, timeline, info about the DRC, etc in the next few days!
Our inspiration today:

You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more. 

Psalms 10:14,17-18

On Thursday night after I wrote my last blog post, Bobby and I were sitting on the couch and Eli came up to me out of the blue and said, "Mommy, you should trust Jesus."  He had no clue what we were wrestling with.  I asked why he said that and he responded, "I just wanted you to know that."  I just love when God uses my children to open my eyes.  I pray each day that they continue to live their lives with faith like a child.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love from our family to yours!

Here we go again!

Well, it looks like God may be answering some prayers in a VERY different way than we had expected!  If you read my previous post you know that we have really been praying and hoping to welcome a little one into our family in 2012.  Of course we thought if that were to happen, it would be a child from Ethiopia. 

We signed an application today with America World to pursue a concurrent adoption.  The wait times for Ethiopia have increased in the last few months and it is projected that the wait times will only continue to increase at this time.  Not only do the wait times continue to increase, but we are #70 on the "unofficial" wait list through our agency.  Nothing is confirmed, but Bobby and I feel we are being realistic in thinking/preparing for a MUCH longer wait than we had anticipated (maybe into a couple or a few years).

That realization made us really start questioning what our role is supposed to be NOW in caring for orphans.  Our hearts are 100% open to welcoming a child SOON.  As soon as we decided to adopt we knew we'd either adopt siblings or adopt two children at some point.  We really feel that for two adoptive children to grow up together would be very beneficial for them and their experiences/loss/etc.  BUT we never considered the fact that could mean another adoption BEFORE our Ethiopian adoption.
God quickly showed us that sometimes we just need to ignore the excuses and listen to what He is telling us.  Both Bobby and I feel that we are ready and willing to bring home a child NOW. 


On Tuesday I spoke with our family coordinator from AWAA and our social worker who did our home study.  We were first throwing around the idea of adopting through the foster care system, as that would mean hardly any extra costs.  Larissa (our social worker) informed us that the wait for an infant/toddler through foster care is very long and a rare situation.  She suggested if we were wanting domestic, we look into a domestic infant adoption (which typically means $20-30K). 


Obviously our only hurdle at this point is the funding.  I was up all night asking God, "HOW? There is NO WAY we could afford another adoption right now.  Our hearts are there and we are willing, but it's impossible." I woke up with a reassuring feeling that God has led us down this path.  He equipped us both from a very young age to work with children and be parents.  He has led us into a ministry of caring for orphans and He is using us to bring hope to fatherless children.  The numbers are overwhelming and large, but He is MUCH bigger.  If this is the road He has laid before us we are willing to suffer a little.

Wednesday morning I got a call from Larissa telling us that the adoption agency her family is using for the DRC (Congo) is looking for a family for twin girls.  Unfortunately I was in meetings all day but as soon as I got home I pulled their picture up and almost fell over.  We know now that these girls are not meant to be our daughters, but I cannot explain the feeling that came over me!  I couldn't stop the tears from falling and my heart from racing.  There is just something about those black babies that gets my heart just a pounding!!!  God definitely has given me a heart for Africa and this confirmed those feelings I knew all along. 

 

Though nothing is signed and set in stone, Bobby and I are leaning at a concurrent adoption through the DRC.  The agency we have been talking to for the DRC tells us we would be #1 on their list for a baby girl....and the baby could easily be VERY young.  But, the process through the DRC is quite different than Ethiopia.  We would more than likely receive a referral within 1-2 months after we submit our paperwork.  BUT, for this program we would not travel there for another 5-6 months (AHHH...I can't imagine seeing our baby's face and waiting another 5-6 months to meet her!). 

I wanted to share this info with all of you so you could pray for our family through this tough decision/process!  Pray that we get some guidance in our decisions and that if this is where we are meant to be that we will figure out a financial plan to make an adoption work SO QUICKLY. 

Just as He has rescued us, we are called to stand in the strength of His unconditional love to embrace the homeless children of the world.  He is calling us to redeem lives crushed by the circumstances of their birth.  He is calling us to save them, to lift them out.  And then, like the Father has carried us, we must carry them in love, with the strength of His mercy....and bring them home.
 --Jan Beazely "The Strength of Mercy"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Prov 3:5-6

Love from our family to YOURS!

Celebrate Good Times

This week began the start of 2012. I have to say, 2011 treated our family well and we are hoping for the same this year. Of course my biggest prayer is to welcome a new member into our family this year....we've been on a roll with our kiddos: 2006, 2008, 2010....and praying for 2012!! 

We celebrated the New Year by having a few friends over on New Year's Eve. We ate some yummy grub, played games, and watched our children interact...all in our 99% FINISHED basement remodel. It is sure wonderful to have the basement done; a place to relax and play!

Ayla, Eli, Baker, and Beau making some NOISE!

The ball drop....okay so it was NYC time, but they didn't know the difference;)

Happy New Year from the Williams clan...

(and the Braatens: Jens, Rayma and Antonio)

I just started a new book and am inspired by this quote as I look into 2012:

"I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do." Corrie Ten Boom

In 2011 we made the best decision of our lives...to start listening when He is speaking.  And by doing so we are now adopting a daughter from Ethiopia and are starting the paperwork for foster care...both things we knew all along we were meant to do and both things that God has prepared us for in our life experiences. 

I cannot wait to see what is in store for our family in 2012 and the years following!

By the way, today marks our TWO MONTHS of waiting for our baby girl (or sibling group)!!!  The road ahead looks long and tiresome, but we will make it through;)

Love from our family to yours!

The ONLY Miracle Maker

Well, the inlaws were unable to come over for Christmas, but we kept very busy with all the family we have in town! 


Christmas Eve was spent opening presents in the morning, out at the farm with the Kolar clan duing the day, and at the candlelight church service and Grandma Gayda's house in the evening.  On Christmas Day we opened more presents (Santa) and went over to my parent's house for our annual prime rib FEAST! 


I don't know why, but I took fewer pictures this year than ever before!  But here are a few highlights:

Eli, Ayla, and Owen on Christmas Eve

This year I started having reservations about the celebration of Santa...why it's done, where our hearts are focused, etc.  At the same time, I truly believe in supporting childrens' imaginations and therefore had a hard time giving it up completely.  Bobby and I agreed we would still get Santa gifts but if our kids ever asked, we would tell them the truth.  For some reason (God's planning???) shortly after our discussion, Eli started asking MANY questions about Santa.  The first question a few weeks before Christmas was, "So mommy, Santa is kind of like a helper to God, right?  He has powers like God?"  I was dumbfounded (why, I don't know) at his logic and was quick to tell him that ONLY God has "magical" powers.  He didn't ask anything more at the time but I could tell the gears were clicking.  Then the questions started coming....why all the santas around the world look different (on tv, in malls, etc), why some kids don't get gifts, how does Santa deliver all the gifts if he can't do magic, etc.  And then one morning while my SIL, Ally, was watching the kids they decided to write letters to Santa.  Here is Eli's letter:

You can tell the gears were clicking this entire time.  We were trying to get around the questions without answering them, and of course sticking to our promise of no lying!  Then came Christmas night.  After two long days of celebrating (celebrating Christ's birth, that is--not Santa) while being put to bed Eli probes some more, "Daddy, tell me the truth.  Is Santa real."  For some reason I walked into Eli's room right at this moment and Bobby and I were able to have an open discussion with Eli about the TRUTH.  He took our answers very seriously and well.  It is obvious that he knew this entire Christmas season that Santa wasn't real.  Maybe it was because we never say the typical parenting remarks, "you better be good or Santa won't come" or didn't focus this season on getting more more more. 

To be honest, I was a little saddened that this "dream" has ended in his heart...but all along it was in God's timing.  This was the first year ever that Bobby and I questioned celebrating Santa and we were easily reminded how far off our society is in keeping Christ the center of Christmas. 

We will still do stockings and "pretend" that Santa leaves gifts....but our children will know the truth about the one and only miracle maker!  Still not sure how this will work out (Ayla was not a part of the conversation and Eli hasn't said anything to her---which we didn't even bring up).  You'll have to stay tuned for next year's CHRISTmas season to find out what happens with our Santa saga;) 

I hope your Christmas was a wonderful celebration filled with lots of love, laughter, and happiness!

P.S. In Ethiopia gift giving is a very small part of Christmas celebration. Children usually receive very simple presents such as clothing and Santa is not celebrated (*wink*)

Merry CHRISTmas from the Williams'

Our 2011 Christmas letter:



This year we are looking forward to having my inlaws visit (our second Christmas with them...first since we've had kiddos!) this coming week.  We just recently finished our basement remodel and cannot wait to put it to good use;)  The kids are extremely anxious for them to come and ask everyday when Gpa and Gma from Montana will be here!


This time of year Bobby and I also celebrate our anniversary on December 17th!  Yesterday marked 7 years of marriage for us!!  We had a great date night together...and both believe this next year is going to be our best yet!  Our love for one another grows so much each year and we are thankful for the life we've been given together. 
We take a picture together each year on our anniversary evening (about the time we were married) and this year we had a talented 5 year old photographer standing on a stool taking our photo with a super heavy camera....next year we'll be sure to have the babysitter take one (we took five and this is the clearest we got!).

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  May you remember the reason we celebrate.  Take a quick lesson from 5 year old Eli and remember it is ALL about Him! 

Love from our family to yours!

One Month Waiting...and SLACKING!

I'm often asked how I get so much done all the time while being committed to so many things....the truth is, it takes a lot to stress me out, I love being busy, and the busier I am the more I get done. 

December 4th marked our 1 month waiting mark (our dossier was sent to Ethiopia on 11/4/11).  When I started this blog I had plans to write a post each month on our DTE monthly "anniversary."  Well, looks like I missed the boat on the FIRST month!  I told myself numerous times that week not to miss it....and I did. 

I guess you can say I wasn't so busy that week and found myself resting and reading when I'd usually be running in twenty directions!  BUT, this week the slack has been picked up and we are busily preparing for numerous Christmas get togethers, a going away party, and all the other fun things this time brings. 

This past Saturday was spent in the kitchen baking our yearly Christmas goodies....Friday night Ayla and Owen helped me prepare for Saturday by unwrapping two packages of kisses, a bag of rollos, and two bags of peppermint patties (and could you believe they didn't eat ONE piece of candy while working?!?!?).

Saturday we were in the kitchen baking from 10am until 10pm....my sister-in-law Ally came to help for most the day as did my grandma (she spent most of the day chasing after the 3 rugrats and giving in to all their demands!).

To be honest, this month of waiting has FLOWN by!  I have really found peace lately in knowing that God's timing is the best...we are in the final stages of designing our future house (we plan on building this spring/summer) and I can see now how building the house and getting moved in BEFORE we welcome a new little one (or ones) into our family will be a huge blessing!  When we started this process we were under the impression we'd have a child HOME by the summer/fall of 2012....which would fall directly into the craziness of us building our home (literally US building our home).  I'm not saying we won't welcome any speed up in the process that would miraculously bring us a child quicker than we are now expecting....but if we are to wait a bit longer than we had hoped, I pray we will continue to remember that God's timing is always the perfect timing!

Between the parties, school work, house work, and family time this week I'll even shoot out another post this week including our holiday letter and card:) 

Love from our family to yours!

Thanksgiving Changes...

Thanksgiving has always brought such fun and joy to my life.  


As a mother I have been determined to keep our family traditions alive...and add a few of our own to the list.  Having both my mom and dad's families in town we are usually well over the average 4,000 calorie intake most americans have between our two gynormous meals.  Other than the two thanksgiving meals we also have a traiditon of holding hands in a big circle and sharing what we are each most thankful for in the past year.  We also use black Friday as a day for the women to congregate baking THOUSANDS of cookies. 


This year is turning out quite differently than my memories recall and how I planned to spend thanksgivings with my children.


Between the two families combined it's safe to say we usually spend thanksgiving with around 50 family members including a varitey of men, women, and children of 4 generations.  So the first big change this year will be us missing about half of the typical family clan.....and in turn will be much milder, quieter, and even maybe a bit relaxing (but if you know me, I DO NOT like relaxing holidays...I LIVE FOR the hustle and bustle this time of year brings). 


Also, my grandma has been out of town for a few weeks (doesn't she know she belongs at home with her local relatives for the holidays----j/k) and therfore we will not be holding our bake day on Friday (big gasp!).


BUT the biggest change this year is the change within my heart.  I've said this before but when we decided to adopt I did not realize it would be a huge spiritual journey for our family.  Our eyes have been opened wider than ever and I feel as if our hearts have grown tremendously as well.

How can we even fathom the love and devotion we have been given by our heavenly Father?  I know on Thanksgiving we all say, "God has been so great," or "We have so much to thank Him for this year," or "Let's give thanks to God on this day," and so on.  Then we go on to eating our largest meal of the year, watching football, or playing a few games.  How often do we REALLY think about those statements we make....and why do we often only make those "public" statements when it's a holiday in which we are celebrating? 


Don't get me wrong, I am not going to be a grinch this year by not eating a large meal--knowing of the millions of people who are STARVING around the world.  I'm not going to stop the traditions and live a life just grumbling over the things we take for granted.  BUT, I AM going to start to live a life of thanksgiving each and every day.  I AM going to think about the starving, less fortunate people and DO something about it. 


A few months ago a wonderful lady from our church challanged others to a three day fast on rice and beans (living like 85% of the world does) and to give the money saved on groceries to those who are less fortunate.  That challange got me thinking...I plan meals at our house each week, then buy only groceries that are needed for those meals (meal planning alone saves a lot each month!).  If I plan the meals, I get to decide what we eat...and therefore I have decided that our family is going to try a ONE YEAR weekly "fast." 

Starting next week we are going to have one supper a week that consists of food that is eaten by poor stricken communities (mostly rice and beans).  We will eat small portions and will use that night as a night of fasting, reflecting, and GIVING.  As a family we want to do more for the less fortunate and I believe this will allow us to do so.  We often want to give more but cannot find the room in our budget to give much more...by doing the math I believe by cutting out (almost) four suppers a month we will have close to $50 extra dollars that we can GIVE to others who are DESPERATE.  $50 dollars to us means nothing...but can mean so much to a family in need.

We would love to have other families join us in this challange!  Will it be hard, yes.  But it will be worth it...and there are MILLIONS of others who need the money soooooooo much more than we do, living in the "American Dream."

So this Thanksgiving despite the changes to our typical routine, I give thanks to the Lord who has given us EVERYTHING.  And may I always remember that EVERYTHING which He gives us belongs to HIM....how can we repay Him for that which has been given?  I believe the answer lies within HIS people who are needy, poor, orphaned, homeless, less fortunate. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  May we all give thanks to the One who has provided for us.


I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:12


Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!        Psalm 107:1


Love from our family to yours!

Mother to FIVE!!!

Early Saturday morning my dear friend Becky went into labor at 32 weeks.  She was transported to Bismarck (an hour away) and delived her THIRD baby boy, Benton.  Because the hospital is an hour away and they are from Oklahoma with no family close, we stepped into the role of parenting their 2 and 3 year old boys (along with our three).  We had the boys from Saturday morning until Tuesday evening...and I learned a lot in those few days!!! 

The boys are both fun-loving, silly, typical toddler boys....and they easily adjusted to our schedule and home...BUT I realized quickly there are so many little routines that each family sets up (when baths are given, how to wash their hair, when to change undies, bed time routines, etc).  I learned that caring for children overnight is much different than the few hours I often do.


Getting in and out of the car was a treat....trying to get all three boosters buckled in the back of the van was a process in itself...trying to keep everyone together and counted for was another issue!  We got a number of stares on our few jaunts out of the house.  While eating at Wendy's after church on Sunday I almost busted out laughing at the people in line who were watching me try to get all five of them to the bathroom and situated at the table while Bobby ordered our food.  One lady moved her hand across the air motioning at the five kiddos I was wrestling, obviously asking if they were all mine.  Another family was in line to order and the mom and teenage daugther turned around at least 20 times then would turn back to each other whispering....a few minutes later their dad/husband came up to me and asked, "I don't want to be rude, but are ALL OF THESE your kids???" 


This statement got me thinking....what if they WERE all my kids???  I understand having a 1, 2, 3, 3, and 5 year old is pretty uncommon and maybe even a bit crazy....but what if we adopt two children, one being close to Ayla's age and one close to Owen's...AND two of them are black.  What kind of stares will we get THEN?!??! 


We've all heard the old saying "God doesn't give you more than you can handle."  But Katie Davis (Kisses from Katie) made me look at this statement through a different lens.  She (and I) believe God does give you more than you can handle.  God puts tough, hard, challanging, stressful situations in our lives so that we become dependent on HIM.  Times like these are when God takes over, makes us surrender, and does the impossible in our lives.


Our days with Baker and Beau were not a test....it was not a test to see if we can parent five children.  It was a blessing.  A blessing God gave us to be able to show love to our friends.  To be able to reach out to these two boys who will be living in transistion for awhile.  It was tough, exhausting, and overwhelming at times.  The four days may have seemed more like a week or two....but it was good.

Bobby and I have decided to get trained for foster care while we wait for our referral...down the road we may just get a phone call in the middle of the night that some children need our home...need our love....and we will welcome them into our home just as we did Baker and Beau. 


I always prayed and hoped I would marry a man who loves children the way I do.  I am often approached by wives who say, "How did you get Bobby on board with your adoption."  What people don't understand is that his heart for children is just as big as mine!!!  HE is the one that had to get ME on board with adoption.  HE is the one that after a very long church service/sunday school (orphan Sunday), a long weekend with five kiddos, and when we had plans to work on our remodel project, decided it was best if we jump in the car and travel to Bismarck so the boys could see their parents and meet their baby brother.  It was Bobby who pointed out that the other things didn't matter and "if it were our kids we'd want them to be there." 


I know foster care, adoption, or whatever else God has in our future will not be easy.  It will be more than we can handle.  But He will be with us and we will depend on Him.


When Baker and Beau left our house on Tuesday evening Ayla cried....she wanted them to stay....to come live with us.  Don't children have such huge hearts?!??!  Children are welcoming, loving, kind, and joyful!!  Oh what joys they bring to our life...just as all the other children God has in store for our family will!


Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength

Love from our family to yours!

Orphan Sunday Recap....

I  thought I'd get to this post yesterday...but I've been blessed with having two other children to care for the last few days and find myself running in circles chasing after five children ages 5 and younger!!!  A post about THAT experience will come soon....stay tuned!

On Sunday we celebrated Orphan Sunday at our church...and it was such a blessing for us to share about the orphan crisis with others!  We were blessed to have two other families share with us: one on foster care, and one on their story of bringing home their daughter from Russia.  I am guessing there were around 80-100 people in attendance and we were delighted with the number of people God brought to listen!!  We had numerous people come up to us after Sunday School saying how they were touched in one way or another...and I can honestly say Bobby and I were touched 10 times more! 
When we first started this adoption journey we thought the process was about our family and what God wanted us to do for an orphaned child.  Now we know that His plans were much greater!!!  Bobby and I have grown an INTENSE passion for orphans, Africa, and the less fortunate.  To be able to share that passion with others and to see how God is moving in the hearts of others in our church makes my heart skip a few beats!!!  We had FOUR families pick up applications for foster care, and one family approach us with questions about adoption....that means at least five families were touched in some way.  We will be praying that the Lord works in their lives as He did ours. 
Here is a video we shared that puts a few things into perspective:

I often find myself feeling jealousy of my "friends" who have great support close by them....people from places like, NC, TX, OK, VA, IN, and OH.  The movement to care for orphans is growing so rapidly in places down south and out east...and I yearn for those connections and support here in North Dakota!!    BUT, I can see how God brought us back to ND in just the right time!!  We are now ready to take our ministry further and will be sharing our vision/dream with other chruches in Dickinson very soon.  In the past nine months God has definitely been working in our lives and has placed the right people and opportunities smack dab in front of us!!!!

I cannot wait to see the posts I'll be writing a year from now, two years from now, or five years from now!  I cannot wait to see the plans He has for us, our church, and our community!!! 


Love from our family to yours!

DTE!!!

We received wonderful news today!!!!!!  We are officially DTE (dossier to Ethiopia) for a girl (0-2) or sibling group (0-4) including one girl.  Those three words mean soooo much in the adoption world!  Today's date means we are officially "waiting" and will determine when we receive our referral.

Right now there are a lot of changes going on in Ethiopia.  When we first started this process we were told we were expected to wait 9-12 months for a referral...today the wait times are stated as 12-18 months....and that number is projected to increase....possibly A LOT!  Just yesterday a lady from our adoption "community" shared what the wait time trends are looking like.  For us, it was not good news.  To be honest, I was quite discouraged to hear that news. Thinking we were going to be DTE today and seeing those wait times was very hard and frustrating.

Bobby came home from work, could tell I was discouraged, and after sharing my feelings wish him he says, "Courtney, there is nothing we can do about it. God is in control, we both know we were called to Ethiopia and so we wait." 

I can honestly say that it will be hard, tough, and discouraging at times...but I know that the Lord has a plan for us and I am at peace knowing this is where we are supposed to be....so today we will rejoice knowing we are finally DTE and will wait for the plans which He has made for us!

A little glimpse of the paperwork involved with adoption:



Mailing our dossier last week
(we woke up on a Saturday morning knowing we had to get one document notarized before we could send our dossier in...I made a post on FB looking for a notary, thinking we were out of luck for a Saturday. I had a friend reply that she could meet us in 10 minutes...I had just jumped out of the shower, kids weren't dressed, and we were by no means "ready."  We scrambled as fast as we could, jumped in the car, got the document notarized, ran to make copies, and ran to the post office to over-night our dossier package....if we would have missed her that day our DTE date would have been a week later--which is a lot when you're talking DTE dates!)

At the post office nervous to send this baby off!!!! 

So, tonight we celebrate!!  We are taking my parents to a nice restaurant in Medora to enjoy the three beautiful blessings we already have and to celebrate the children (because we all know that I will not stop at just one!) who WILL BE joining our family one day...hopefully not too long from now!

Eli (5)

Ayla (3)

Owen (1)

Love from our family to yours!
(P.S. this Sunday is national Orphan Sunday....we are so ecstatic that we will be able to share our hearts with others and to charge others to get involved....will share more on Monday!)

Kisses from Katie

Most of you who know me know I am an avid reader.  I don't know the last time I went to bed without reading, took a trip without a book by my side, or didn't read at least two stories to my children on a given day.  I'm in a book club, a couple Bible studies, and my job revolves around reading.  If you can't tell, I LOVE TO READ! 

I love to read many different genres but usually end up choosing some sort of historical fiction or a good memoir.  But to me, the best book is one that I read in less than a week, one that I refuse to not pass on, and one that makes a difference in the way I live my life.

Kisses from Katie is that book.  I absolutely could not put this book down and would not only recommend it, but I will be personally handing the book on to many others, because it's
just that good.
From the inside cover:

"What would cause and 18 year old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, TN to disobey and disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother's heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because they think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person and didn't even speak the language?           

A passion to follow Jesus."

Katie's heart is poured out on the pages of her book.  Her emotions are true, her life is unbelievable and her passion to live a life following Jesus is nothing but inspiring.  She has adopted 13 beautiful Ugandan girls, has started an awesome ministry (Amazima) and is called "mommy" to hundreds of children each day. 

After writing about a couple of precious little boys Katie writes:

"And the truth is that these are only the children I know, in a very small faction of a very small country.  The truth is that there are children like this all over the world, sick, starving, dying, unloved, and uncared for.

The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children.  And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.

The truth is that if only 8% of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left.

This is the truth.  I have the freedom to believe it.  The freedom, the opportunity to do something about it.  The truth is that He loves these children just as much as He loves me and now that I know, I am responsible."

Katie takes that responsibility serious.  Her book shares hundreds of stories of lives she has changed by simply showing them love.  Love to poor, needy, hungry, hurt, lost, lonely, and dying children.  Love to children who suffer from HIV, scabies, malnutrition, and who have jiggers living in their feet. 

Often while building legos or playing "house" I'll hear my children singing their favorite songs.  The one worship song that they sing over and over again is "Glory to God Forever."  I'll hear little Ayla belting "Take my life and let it be" and Eli "All for you and for your glory. Take my life and let it be yours." 
I can tell you I will never hear those lyrics come out of their mouths again without thinking about Katie.  I have never read a story that fit those words better.  Katie lives every single day of her life for the Lord and answering His call for her life.  She is willing to give it all for Him. 

I pray that I instill a "Katie attitude" in my children's heart.  A heart that would give anything and everything to live the life God has made for them....because really, it is all for Him, isn't it????

Love from our family to yours!

I-171H Arrived

Rejoicing today!!! We received our I-171H in the mail today which means our dossier is COMPLETE!! Will be making copies tonight then overnighting the packet to AWAA tomorrow!

Dossier will get approved from AWAA then we will officially be DTE (dossier to ethiopia). 

Have a great weekend!

Living a Faith that Bleeds

I've gotten behind a bit on my blogging again...and it's not because I've been relaxing or slacking! In fact, I've been acomplishing much lately and have been in awe with the way the Lord has been speaking to me...so much that I don't even know how to respond yet try blogging about it or discussing it!

I'm not going to lie, moving to Africa has been thrown around in our house a number of times. I don't really think it will ever happen and don't necessarily feel that's what God has in store for our family...but that is definitely a little glimpse into the feelings we've had and convictions we're feeling.

We've been reading some great adoption books as well as inpirational, missional living books and each book we read brings about life transformations and realizations. The latest book I read (which Bobby is now reading) is Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds by Tom Davis (same author who wrote the book Fields of the Fatherless which I blogged about in the past). Below are some points from the book (in italics) and some thoughts I had while reading and reflecting:

Jesus didn't come to earth and identify with the rich, the successful, and the most influential.   

God hid the mystery of the kingdom in the most needy. 

Jesus always stopped what He was doing to help. 

He reached out because his heart was overflowing with compassion.
As his people we are called to go and do the same.   

Who do I identify with?  Who do I spend my time with?  Who do I reach out to?  I've always thought I was a compassionate person.  Sure, I am compassionate with my husband, my children, my family.  BUT, do I show compassion to those in need?  Do I reach out to them on a day to day basis or only when I am asked to volunteer at an event or when I want an ego booster for doing good?  I most definitely do not reach out with compassion on a day to day basis as Jesus did.  Which leads me to the next point... 

It's not easy to actually DO what Jesus said to do.  How different would our world be if Christians were really living as little Christs?

What matters most is having a heart that goes out to those in need and then act on that need. Far too many of us take the easy route, the path of least resistance. The path of doing nothing. I don't think it's because we are evil, or because we want to see harm come to others; it's just easier. Safer. 

Wow.  Little Christs?!?!?!  But I am only one person.  One small itty-bitty person on this huge overwhelming earth.  What can ONE person do to make a difference?

Have you ever been evaluated by a supervisor at work?  I have.  I know that when a principal steps into my classroom I put on a game face and show them my best teaching skills and abilities.  I want them to be impressed.  I want them to see I care about education and my students. 

God is watching.  He is here with me at every moment of my life.  Watching, evaluating, calling, reaching out...I can only imgaine the life I would live and the lives I would touch if I remembered that He is not only with me, but He is watching at every moment.   I would put on a game face and live the life He wants me to at every moment.

Do we as Americans take the time in our fast paced, "keeping up with the Jones'" lifestyle?  Do we look at those in need and live out a compassionate life full of choices Jesus would make?  This books goes on to share facts of the HIV pandemic and crisis in Africa and shares stories of others who are ordinary people doing extraordinary things for people half-way around the world.  Can you fathom the life WE are living compared to THEM? 

Compared to those who live in poverty, Western and developed nations live in unbelievable abundance. 

4 billion of the 6.5 billion people in the world live on $1-2/day.

For children with no parents, no food, and no money, school is an impossible dream. (not college, SCHOOL)

12 million African children have already lost one or both parents to AIDS

17 million children die from malnutrition and starvation each year.  

33% of the world's population is malnourished.

And the list goes on.
I'm not saying we should drop everything and move to Africa.  Some are called to third-world countries to live, do work, or adopt.  Others are not.  BUT we are ALL called to do SOMETHING.   God is clear.  He wants us to reach out to the least of these and live our lives for Him, through them.  Yes, those people.  The people who we often walk by, turn our cheeks to, or roll our eyes at.  The people who live so far away that we think we can do nothing to help.

What kind of people do we want to be?  What kind of people do we want our children to be?  What kind of morals, examples, teachings and choices are we living? 

Psalm 82:3Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Proverbs 31:8-9
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Matthew 25:40I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

Thanks, Tom Davis, for doing it again!  Breaking my heart, changing my life, and bringing me closer to our wonderful Lord! (P.S this book is only $5.60 on Amazon, as is Fields of the Fatherless!) 
(be on your toes for my next blog post that will be on another life-changing book Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis)

Love from our family to yours!