has generously offered to host a fundraiser in honor of our adoption. Book a photo session during the month of May, and sitting fee payment proceeds will go to our adoption fund. Such a sweet and amazing gift. Rachel is an amazing photographer and also has a wonderful heart, so if you're looking for some family photos, check her out!
As some of you probably know, we took a group of our high school students on a short term missions trip to Tijuana, Mexico over spring break a few weeks ago.
Thanks to everyone who prayed for our safety and time in Tijuana
Many eyes were opened
Relationships were built
Love was shared
This trip was a bit different than trips done in the past, it was a lot more relational-which was awesome.
We were able to visit 3 orphanages
Built onto a house that will provide shelter for three families (and we got to meet one of them!)
The boys were able to go into the Juvenile hall (which is called the Semi) and hang out with some of the boys who call the Semi home
We shared meals together, laughed together and shared Jesus together.
Here's just a snapshot: (sorry it's a little blurry)
Tomorrow we head to USCIS and get fingerprinted, it's the last thing that we have to check off our paperwork list; once we get our letter back from USCIS, we will send our dossier to Ethiopia and can officially be a waiting family! We "officially" started this journey back in the end of November, and it has been amazing how God has broke us, changed us, blessed us and opened our eyes more throughout these last 5-6 months.
We have the amazing opportunity to be the featured family on Give1Save1 this week. I found about about Give1Save1 a while back and was so amazed at how these women just basically started a place where all you do is get adoption out there, share peoples stories and donate just $1 (or more). That's all, donate $1 help to bring a child home. I love it, and I love the community that has been formed through it. Below is just a little of our story, stop on over to
Justin and I had been trying to get pregnant for a while, when my mom asked me "Do you think you're not able to get pregnant right now because God wants you to adopt?" It's funny because by that time, God had began to tug at my heart for adoption-I had no idea what to do with that call at that time, but I knew I needed to begin to pray for Justin's heart-that it would be softened towards adoption as well, as so I did. For a long time. About a year before we "officially" began the process, we read over various countries statistics, criteria, needs, ect. I was shocked at what I was reading and learning-much of which kept me up at night in a panic knowing what was happening in our world. God was beginning to soften and open my heart to caring for the orphans and the widows.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
-James 1:27
It's amazing how even the little things bring me happiness now, turning on the faucet to get some water (which much of the world can't do) having 3 (plus more at times) meals at day, not having to walk miles and miles just to GET water.
I am so thankful that when my mom asked me that question, I was willing to listen, I would encourage that if you ever even thought about adoption or foster care, that you listen to those thoughts, you're not having them just because,
maybe your life is about to be wrecked too,
in an amazing way.
We love you all so much! Thank you for being a part of our families story.
"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act."
My view of shopping and what I "need" has changed a lot since starting this adoption. As I read statistics, learned more about our world's poverty and was rocked out of my comfort zone, I have found that sometimes I feel guilty when I walk into Target, or think to stop at the mall. Not that I am not beyond thankful for what I've been given, but I just tend to play statistics over and over again in my head, and I find myself laying in bed at night wondering what I can sell, who I can support or how I can "change the world." I quickly learned that I can't do that, I can't change the world at all, that's not my job-that's God's job-I'm simply just called to do what He commands and share about His love with others. A while back i read an article on Give1Save1 (an awesome website) about shopping with a purpose; and that changed my view on what I can do be a part of changing the world for someone. So now, if I need to buy a gift, buy a shirt or whatever, I'll search high and low to see if there is something I can buy out there that will help to support someone else too, it makes me feel like I'm a part of something bigger. :)
And now you can also have the opportunity to be a part of something bigger, we have partnered with 147MillionOrphans, to help fundraise for our adoption. We have set up an online store with a few things for now (more to come) so check them out if you'd like, the items are not only helping to support our adoption, but also helping to raise awareness to the estimated 147 million orphans throughout our world.
we're having our first tailgater party Friday April 27th! From 5-?
Have kids? Bring them!
Just yourself? Come!
Your spouse? Bring them!
Your friends? Yes!
Our purpose is to basically build community and enjoy friends new and old! Bring something to bbq if you want, drinks if you want-basically whatever you want just bring it hang out-it'll be fun, I promise.
We took a ferry ride out to the Golden Gate, and then around the famous Alcatraz
If you're a fish lover, I'm sure you can find something to tickle your taste buds at
Fisherman's Wharf
Lots of windsurfers and sail boats were out enjoying the wonderful weather
Lots of boats, old and new-I wondered about their stories, had any sailed the world?
There was a fun arcade on the pier with all games that were antiques! Some from the 1800's! They were not easy to win either
I love where we live, we are close to the ocean, mountains, wine country, gold country and San Francisco. If you're willing to drive 1-2 hours in any direction, you're bound to find something to do.
Community has been on my mind a lot lately, in many different ways. We've been completely overwhelmed by the community that has surrounded us in regards to our adoption. From the second we announced our plans, we've had people at our side-supporting us through prayer, being willing to answer crazy texts from me about who knows what, supporting us financially the list goes on. It makes me think about that phrase "it takes a village to raise a child" for us, that is so true.
If it weren't for our village, I don't know how we'd do it sometimes.
One thing I'm incredibly thankful for are the friends I've met while on this journey, although we've only been on this road for about 5 months, I've met (thanks to the wonderful WorldWideWeb) many people who are also on this journey and get emails about how we're doing, where we are at in the process, ect. It's so encouraging to be able to talk with people who have been there, and are there. It makes me miss "real" community. I wish these women just lived down the street from me, so I could just go to their house, instead of emailing (don't get me wrong, I am BEYOND thankful for the invention of email, it has saved my life sometimes, seriously).
Justin's going to be starting a series with our high schoolers about social media and it's dangers. While I am SO incredibly thankful for the Internet and Facebook and things like that, sometimes I just long to be able to run down the hall like I did in college and talk with a friend. Our season in life seems to be changing, and deep down, I know that I'm growing up, and you know what? It's hard to make friends when you're a grown up! Not that I don't have friends, I do and I am SO thankful for each one of you; but I'm feeling the need for community, real community.
So with that being said, we (Justin and I) are doing something about it. Starting in May, the first Friday of every month, we're going to open our house up to, whoever. Just come over sometime after 5 and bring some meat if you want to BBQ it up, we'll set up some games, music, chairs, fire pit, whatev' just come and bring yourself, your spouse your kiddos. The idea came one day when I was complaining about not having time for friends anymore (when did that happen?!) and Justin (being his realistic self) just asked me why I don't do anything about it (don't you hate/love when that happens?) So he came up with this 'tailgater' parry type thing, just come as you are, invite your friends, and we'll continue to grow our village.
A little adoption update, we're just waiting for our biometrics appt. on the 23rd of this month and once we get that lovely little paper, we're good to send our dossier to Ethiopia! We're almost a waiting family!
We got back from Tijuana last night, late. After a long day of driving and about 3 hours at the boarder, we were happy to be home. Here are a few pictures of our trip, I hope to write more about it in detail maybe tomorrow, once I accomplish all our laundry and unpacking, but for now, a few pictures!
What happens when you give a 4 year old your camera
Make shift homes at the dump
The market
Visiting families in La Trencha (the trenches, a neighborhood)
Buying burritos from a bike vendor
View before crossing
ANNNNNNNDDD.....I'm happy and excited to report that we had letters with our USCIS fingerprint dates when we got home! Yay! Monday April 23rd we get our prints done. God. Is. Awesome.
