Video you have to take the time to watch

This is a shorter version of a video that was sent to me today on FB. I wish I could have found the full length video.

What a powerful example of life, adoption, and God's perfect plan. Please watch.

I want to make clear though a few things. Not ever adoption happens because a birth mother has the desire to get rid of her child. Many, as most of us know, happen because a mother is incapable due to illness, death, critical circumstances, severe poverty, or they simply are not prepared to take on the role. Whatever the circumstance I commend those who choose to give their child life.

Again please watch and be reminded that God's hand is in every bit of his creation, even those that some mark to be without purpose.

Your hands made me and formed me; Psalm 119:73

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13

Overwhelmed by God's People

It has been quite a week here at our household!

As you know our adult t-shirts came in at the end of last week and they are selling very well. On Monday our youth shirts were delivered and they also are going quicker then I imagined. I think it has to do with the adorable models that have been wearing them! ; ) They are the same shirt just in navy. We have sizes small-large left in the youth. They are $17 and adults are $20. ($1.50 per shirt to ship anywhere) A BIG thank you to all of you that have purchased!!

G-bug was freshly bathed and had to be the one to "model" the t-shirts!!

(she made a seriously great plead on her own behalf ..we just might have thought a little more and at least combed the hair!! LOL)

We also received a card and a donation from the great people at New Hope Church. They are rural church about 25miles away from us. It was so sweet! They stated that they were "so honored & blessed to be a small part in bringing her (Alexandria) home". It totally blessed our socks off!!! Josh got the mail the day it came and right away texted me to say "God is so good". Every time we think we have seen the best. He amazes us and calls those we would have never have suspected. We are thankful for the financial gifts but are even more honored that He has given us the privilege to share with others his passion for the orphan. Our prayer is that all those we come in contact with might also discover this passion.

We have truly been blessed by your generosity in many ways!

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:12-15

Fall Festival & True Love

Yesterday was the Fall Festival at the Baptist Children's Home. During the Fall Festival the children's home campus and staff host many churches through out Illinois that come and set up booths. Everything from hamburgers, funnel cakes, lemon shake-ups, inflatable rides/games, a dunking booth, volleyball tournament, and much more. All of it is for free and it gives the community we are based in a great opportunity to come visit with us. Yesterday as in years past, turned out to be a wonderful day on the campus.

Genna with some of our friends' little girls.

I am pretty sure the girls visited each booth a couple dozen times!

Delaney took this pic with a little help. She said she wanted a shot of her BFF!! ; )

D standing around the horse area, but not getting on any of the horses. She called for the horses, but really wanted nothing to do with them.

This morning I heard it said from the pulpit, that love is not a feeling but something we choose to do. I know that we live in a world where more often then not, love is conditional. It is based on what one can do for us and/or how someone makes us feel. This kind of love is not only present in marriages today but also in families and friendships.

The only real example of love is what flows from the Father. If we are to have a true love in our lives it must come from beyond us. We have to tap into the true source to find it. Thankfully He gives the opportunity freely. We just have to be willing and open to receive it.

1 John 4:7-12 states Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

So whether it is within your marriage, with your children, your parents, your neighbor, your best friend, or a total stranger remember it is not simply a decision each day as to whether you feel in love or not, but if you choose to love. We are not only loved we are also commanded to do likewise.

Check them out!!!

They are here!!!!

Our t-shirts arrived yesterday afternoon.

They are $20 each if you are in the area or $21.50, if we are shipping them to you.

These are not only going to be a great way to help us raise some more funds, but also to get the word out about adoption.

Here is the front of the shirt:

It says~ BRING HOPE HOME

This is the back:

At the top~ FROM LAND TO LAND
REACHING HAND TO HAND

At the bottom~ IN HIS NAME NATIONS WILL PUT THEIR HOPE MATT 12:21

They are lake blue color. If you would like to order for us to ship click on the paypal link on the right hand column. In the "Purpose" field put the size (S-XL) and how many you want. If you are in the area shoot me an e-mail ( jabigg_98 at hotmail.com ) and we would be happy to meet or bring them by! We will have some kids sizes but they will not be in until next week.

My Simple Unsuspecting Prayer

If you remember in our story of how we had came to adoption. I had been the one that for many years had the desire to adopt and how it had taken Josh a while (ok 9yrs!) for God to move him to the same desire. Well tonight I was looking through one of my notebooks and I found a prayer that I had wrote only about 12 days prior to him coming to me and stating he was being led to this. It is AWESOME how God works!! The first part of the prayer was for the ministry that I work in full-time and this was the next:

I also ask that you will move Josh and I's hearts to the same place. That you will place the same desires on us both. Keep him Father at the spiritual front of our home, help him to lead us in your ministry and plans for us. Lord thank you for life and the opportunity to be in your ministry. I love you and thank you!

While I pray often about these things I haven't found that I have wrote it in such a direct manner anytime recent. How wonderful that God was raising up in me a desire that had been there for many years and that He again brought me to pray for the unity of our desires. I love how he works!! ...FYI: I know my prayer is not grammatically correct but it is what I wrote! = )

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:22-24

I am thankful also for a husband who is a great leader in our household. Who even when things are hard stays the course and continues to lead us down the path of the Lord.

Update and Weekend fun!

Our weekend has been full to say the least!

On Friday we had a surprise party for Gracie.

Her birthday isn't until this Friday. So I will post some pics then and tell you more about the excitement!

Saturday we spent the day at home watching Notre Dames football! Josh is a HUGE ND fan and has been for most of his life. Watching the game is a little different now, then it was even 5 years ago for him.

It started out with just one and then pretty soon the whole crew was sitting on him!

There was also dancing, singing, and lots of laughs during most of the game.

Poor guy can't get a break! I think he loves it though!!

We spent this afternoon out back playing with the girls. You got to love this weather! It seems almost perfect!

They are all three at such fun ages!

On a different note...We found out on Friday that there needed to be some revisions made on our homestudy before our agency submits it to the state. Most of them are small things that we have already discussed and taken care of this weekend. One however threw us for a loop. Our guardianship plan has to be redone. We weren't aware but the people we list on the plan also have to meet Ethiopian adoption guidelines. So we are currently praying for some answers and waiting to talk to AGCI tomorrow to find out more information. Would love if you all would say a prayer for us!

Hope you all have a great week ~ Andrea

Friends, Food, & Fun

Well on Labor Day, the only laboring we did was to cook!!! We had a wonderful day cooking and spending time with the girls. Then during the evening we had friends over. They came to help us celebrate Josh's big news! Last week he returned to his prior role within the company. He had been displaced for the last year and a half due to the economy and boy was he ever so happy to be back! He had stayed with the company during that time just in a different position.

The last year and half has stretched our patience and strength as a couple and a family. The good news is it has made us stronger and has helped us to be where we are at today, ADOPTING!! It is amazing sometimes what God will bring forward out of a trying situation.

We are so blessed to have people in our life who enjoy some of the simplest things. Like an endless evening of food, talking, and kids playing!!!

Forgive me for the shabby pics. I wish I had gotten a pic of all the kiddos.

I didn't get out the camera until after dark and the SD slot is still not clean.