Jun 6, 2011

Dirt & More Dirt

When your big sister loves softball, you tend to spend lots of time at the ballpark.......
in the dirt and sand!

Every moment of craziness (*by craziness, of course, I mean fun and chaos! ) our family has, just makes me realize even more that this is what each and every child deserves the opportunity to experience!
Well maybe not the crazy part, but definitely the family!!!
~ANDREA

Jun 4, 2011

The World in Our Bathroom!

Today I took a quick shopping trip with a friend. We hit up just a few craft stores and our family's fave Target! We live in a rural area, so Target is a treat and about an hour away. Anyway, there was something there that the girls and I have had our eye on.
I know exciting, huh?! Well we thought so!!
We found it probably three or four months back and the girls really wanted it for their bathroom. So after much thought, I took the plunge and splurged the whole $14.99 for the shower curtain.

You see since starting the adoption process our girls have become very interested in what is going on in the lives of other people in the US and in other countries. So this momma thought the shower curtain was perfect! (Who needs a new globe, when you can see the world in your bathroom!! ...heehee)

I brought it home tonight and we discussed that each time the girls go in the bathroom it can serve as a reminder for them to pray for others all over the world.
Keep in mind they are girls, they go in there a lot!

Plus look what is on the curtain........A*ddis Abbaba, E*thiopia!!!!!
Hope your weekend is blessed!
~ANDREA

Jun 2, 2011

Summit = New Challenges!

A few months back if you remember I posted a link to the Christian Alliance Orphan Summit. Well, Josh and I attended the conference earlier last month . WOW! The two days were great! I expected the conference to be every bit as inspiring as last year's and it was. People gathered from all over. Everyone there had at least two things in common. They love Jesus and want to know how to better care for the fatherless.
I wanted to share a few highlights of the jammed-packed two days. There were way too many to write all in one post. Hopefully, I will be able to share more later.

On the first day, we listened to Russell Moore speak. He is the author of the book Adopted for Life. I have not read the book yet. Josh has and says it is a must. After hearing Russell speak, I now have it on my ever growing reading list.
He discussed the things that are really holding us, as believers, from adopting: fear, cost, and unpredictability. He stated that we have an impoverished sense of freedom and fear of not being in control.
How true is that??? How many times do we claim how big and powerful are God is and yet we hesitate to get out of the boat when He commands us to.


We also sat in on a forum over our lunch. The topic was International Adoptions 2011: Challenges, Changes, and Difficult Questions. There were three speakers from the CCAI, NCA, and JCICS. One of the things that stuck out to me most was a comment made about doors closing on international adoptions. It was stated that International adoption is one of the only causes that when a minority of injustice occurs, it causes someone to propose for it to be shut down. They went on to say the same things happen in disaster relief, foster care, and etc. However you don't hear of anyone proposing to shut those programs down. Again..how true!

I believe the truth is there are injustices in all kinds of social services. We must fight to resolve the injustices and to improve the services, not to just wash our hands of them. The "systems" will only get better and the children get taken care of, if we are willing to go the distance. In other words if we are willingly to make sure we have jumped through every hoop necessary and have made sure we are responsible for investigating the agencies we use and help fund.

Well, I think that is enough for tonight. I am getting all charged up again just writing about it! Like I said hope to share more later. Praying what new info we have does lay dormant with us. Praying that action follows and we seek the direction of the Lord and continue to leap without hesitation.
~ANDREA

Jun 1, 2011

What's up?


So... what's up?

*Many have asked where we are at on the list. Unofficially we are number #43. ( the numbers really drive me crazy, so I haven't been the best at keeping everyone up to date)We are at a higher place then what we expected to be at this time. We know however God has a plan and our joy is not based on our circumstances but on how powerful and merciful our Savior is!*

Summer Break is here and man are we excited!! The girls love school but, they love the break as well.

We are already in the thick of softball season. Grace is playing on the Rippers rec team and the 14 & under all-star team. Gbug is playing softball for the first year and is on team Shock. Both girls enjoy playing ball and hanging with their friends during the summer. We have already had a few impromptu sleepovers, camped a bit, and spent a few days out in the sun! I can't wait for the rest!

D slippin' and slidin' with the help of her big sisters!

Fun with a friend!

Did I tell you we LOVE summertime?!!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

~ANDREA