In seven day's I'm taking off to Rwanda with some dear friends. There are so many emotions going on in my head right now excitement, anxiousness, nervousness, anticipation the list goes on. I wish I could put into words how I'm feeling, I'll give it a shot.
Excitement...I have been desperately wanting to go to Africa for so so long..and it's happening. It honestly doesn't feel real at all. I don't even know when it will feel real..maybe when it's over? Who knows, but I am so excited. I get to meet the women who work with Noonday Collection in Rwanda..the women whose stories I've been sharing for almost a year..I am MEETING them. I know I'll cry when I do, probably bawl like a baby. They're so strong and their stories are so powerful..and I get to meet them. Ahh! Not only that, I'm getting the chance to visit the orphanage where my dear friends little guy once lived. Such an honor. I can't wait to see their reactions when they see pictures of the amazing little boy he's become.
We're going with Africa New Life, check out their website and poke around to see what they're doing, they have so many areas where they assist the people of their country. It really is an amazing ministry.
I'm anxious, I hate-no wait-loathe flying, and we're flying for a day and a half. Time to face my fears.
Nervousness- My hubby is traveling to Ecuador at the same time I'll be in Rwanda, we'll be all spread out over the globe, I think that's really cool, but I'm nervous to travel without him. We've had the opportunity to travel many times on missions trips and this will be the first time (well since we've been married) that we'll travel separately. I'm used to traveling with him..it's comfortable, but I need to be uncomfortable. I know we're both going to have some amazing stories to share with each other. If you're a praying person, can you pray for that for me? I'll love ya for it :)
Anticipation- This is will be closest I'll ever be to our children (besides when we go travel to meet them and bring them home). They are not from Rwanda, but other countries in Africa but it's way closer than Fairfield, California and for that I am so thankful. We'll kind of (kind of) even be in the same time zone. Gives me chills (sidenote: no, I'm not returning with either of our boys, I've had a few people ask if I'm going to get them and no, not yet :) but thanks for being excited for us anyway, I'm just excited to be closer in distance. I think it will bring a peace to my heart)
So that's it folks, 7 days and counting...
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
A little bit of Noonday love
You've heard me talk about Noonday on here before, you've heard my heart about social justice and being a voice for the oppressed, now YOU have the opportunity to be a voice too! My good friend Rachel of Rachel Wurzbach Photography is hosting a giveaway on her Facebook page-it's super easy to enter and literally anyone could enter. Here's how you can be involved:
1. go like Rachel Wurzbach Photography on Facebook.
2. Share or tag yourself in the photo
3. Wait until March 10th to see if you win!
See? Super easy
Curious about how you can get involved in Noonday Collection and open your homes to be a voice?
Check out Noonday here and see if hosting a trunk show is something you'd be interested in.
Adopting? Noonday can help you there too :)
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9
Sunday, March 3, 2013
She Does Justice, a Fundraiser
I'm so excited to share this awesome opportunity we have to fundraise towards our second adoption. God provided every penny we needed for our Ethiopian adoption, and it sits safely in our agencies eternal family fund so that we can access it when needed. It was amazing to watch God show up in huge ways over the last year, and I always wondered why He funded us as early as He did, it seemed like we never had the money until we needed it, and we were cool with that, then the money just kept coming and opportunities for extra work would come up and we were cool with that too, then-we were funded! Boom! Just like that. Now I know why God funded us when He did, He knew we'd be bringing home another little one! So, we're totally ready to watch God show up and make Himself famous yet again. We're anticipating roughly $15,000 for this adoption, thankfully we should be able to use some of the same documents for this adoption that we used for our Ethiopian adoption, and our home study is current (which is so great) so we can update that to our new country requirements, but we will still have agency fees, orphanage fees and travel fees. $15,000 seems like nothing compared to what we watched God do this last year, and we're not worried. We continued to save even though we reached our goal and that has helped us with some of our beginning expenses.
We are now in full paperwork mode with #2, and we have been given the amazing opportunity to partner with SheDoesJustice as a fundraising family for her affiliate program. With the affiliate program, any purchases you make through our link to her shop, we will get 25% of every purchase towards our adoption expenses. An added plus? SheDoesJustice is also an adoptive mom who is raising money to bring their child home as well..so by shopping thorough our link you can support not 1 but 2 adoptions!
Here are a few things from the shop:
Canvases
Prints
Scarves
Headbands
Super cute right?! I'm so excited for this opportunity and for the community that we've found that stands with you on this crazy ride!
Over in the left corner of the blog, we've added our button that goes straight to our link in the SheDoesJustice shop, you can also click on the button below to check things out! And make sure you check out her blog too, she features awesome causes each month and this month's cause is SoleHope!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Is it really worth it?
Justice is worth it.
Would trafficking be okay for someone in your family? For your child?
Would you want to spend your life in bonded labor?
Is it okay for your child to miss meals?
Is it okay for your child to not get proper medical care?
What if someone in your family was dying because they didn't have access to clean water?
It's not ok for me either.
That's why it is worth it.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
In an attempt to answers some questions on #2
First off we'd like to say thank you to all the responses we've been given to our news of adding another little one to our family, we genuinely feel loved and supported by all of our family friends (both cyber and "real life" :) )
I'll do my best to attempt to answer some of the questions we've gotten so far, because there's been quite a few, and we know you're all so excited for us! We aren't able to share much about our second adoption online, but we'd love to tell you in person! But here's a few of the big questions and answers:
Where is he from?! We can't share that right now, I'll leave you with West Africa
Are your boys siblings? Not yet :) They are from different countries, but will be brothers :)
How far apart will your boys be: Well, our newest venture, we'll call him "little man" he's around 2, we're guessing he'll be close to 3 when we bring him home, our Ethiopian son will be anywhere between 0-18 months when we're matched with him. So they'll be maybe a year and a half apart we're thinking.
Are you sill adopting from Ethiopia? Yes! We are! Our Ethiopian adoption is fully paid for (well at least we have all the funds in order for it to be paid for :) ) This is how our two adoptions will work. Once little man gets home we will spend all our time focusing on bonding and attachment with him, teaching him about his new family, 6 months after he's home we'll assess how's he's doing, and if he's attaching and bonding well, we'll let America World (our agency for Ethiopia) know that we're ready to be matched. We don't loose our "spot" in line, just move up and aren't able to receive a referral (match) until little man has been home 6 months, so with the way things are looking in Ethiopia we'll have great timing between the 2 adoptions.
Do you have to come up with all that money again?! Yes :) We do, not as much as before, but we do. We watched God provide in amazing ways for our Ethiopian adoption and don't doubt He will show up big again. Luckily, we are able to use some of our same paperwork for our second adoption so that will save some money for sure. The amazing thing is, when Justin and I were praying about this second adoption, the biggest part was how we were going to pay for it. Is no secret that we don't make that much money. We've always had our needs met and have never went without anything we've needed. 2 days in a row we were both approached about some part time jobs. Tutoring for me, and refereeing sporting games for Justin, they're not long term jobs, but they are an amazing way to bring in some extra money that will go straight towards our adoption. Definitely confirmation. We had already made some pretty big cuts to live more simply, and that helped in saving some extra money that will help us out in the beginning of all the paperwork fun.
When we he be here?! This one is a favorite, and I wish I had an exact date to give you-but not yet :) The soonest we could pick him up would be the end of July, we're telling people "Fall" that way we have a few months and don't get our hopes up for a specific date :) Right now we're working on paperwork like ca-razy people, the sooner that gets done the sooner we can send it over :)
How can we help? Pray, pray for our little man, he's had a lot happen in his little life, he is being cared for right now and for this we are very thankful-he's getting 3 meals a day and has a place to sleep and play-this is a big deal. Pray as we begin this process again, it's exhausting but so so worth it, and it's easier this time around with a cue picture staring at us while we pushing paperwork for sure. Pray for our time, we're entering an incredibly busy season with Justin's work and from the end of March on, we're pretty much on crazy mode. Pray for us as we prepare to parent this sweet boy. We feel so blessed that God choose us for him and so thankful we were sought out for him.
I'll do my best to attempt to answer some of the questions we've gotten so far, because there's been quite a few, and we know you're all so excited for us! We aren't able to share much about our second adoption online, but we'd love to tell you in person! But here's a few of the big questions and answers:
Where is he from?! We can't share that right now, I'll leave you with West Africa
Are your boys siblings? Not yet :) They are from different countries, but will be brothers :)
How far apart will your boys be: Well, our newest venture, we'll call him "little man" he's around 2, we're guessing he'll be close to 3 when we bring him home, our Ethiopian son will be anywhere between 0-18 months when we're matched with him. So they'll be maybe a year and a half apart we're thinking.
Are you sill adopting from Ethiopia? Yes! We are! Our Ethiopian adoption is fully paid for (well at least we have all the funds in order for it to be paid for :) ) This is how our two adoptions will work. Once little man gets home we will spend all our time focusing on bonding and attachment with him, teaching him about his new family, 6 months after he's home we'll assess how's he's doing, and if he's attaching and bonding well, we'll let America World (our agency for Ethiopia) know that we're ready to be matched. We don't loose our "spot" in line, just move up and aren't able to receive a referral (match) until little man has been home 6 months, so with the way things are looking in Ethiopia we'll have great timing between the 2 adoptions.
Do you have to come up with all that money again?! Yes :) We do, not as much as before, but we do. We watched God provide in amazing ways for our Ethiopian adoption and don't doubt He will show up big again. Luckily, we are able to use some of our same paperwork for our second adoption so that will save some money for sure. The amazing thing is, when Justin and I were praying about this second adoption, the biggest part was how we were going to pay for it. Is no secret that we don't make that much money. We've always had our needs met and have never went without anything we've needed. 2 days in a row we were both approached about some part time jobs. Tutoring for me, and refereeing sporting games for Justin, they're not long term jobs, but they are an amazing way to bring in some extra money that will go straight towards our adoption. Definitely confirmation. We had already made some pretty big cuts to live more simply, and that helped in saving some extra money that will help us out in the beginning of all the paperwork fun.
When we he be here?! This one is a favorite, and I wish I had an exact date to give you-but not yet :) The soonest we could pick him up would be the end of July, we're telling people "Fall" that way we have a few months and don't get our hopes up for a specific date :) Right now we're working on paperwork like ca-razy people, the sooner that gets done the sooner we can send it over :)
How can we help? Pray, pray for our little man, he's had a lot happen in his little life, he is being cared for right now and for this we are very thankful-he's getting 3 meals a day and has a place to sleep and play-this is a big deal. Pray as we begin this process again, it's exhausting but so so worth it, and it's easier this time around with a cue picture staring at us while we pushing paperwork for sure. Pray for our time, we're entering an incredibly busy season with Justin's work and from the end of March on, we're pretty much on crazy mode. Pray for us as we prepare to parent this sweet boy. We feel so blessed that God choose us for him and so thankful we were sought out for him.
Thanks for playing a part in our story, we can't wait to watch it unfold more.
"My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him."
-Derek Loux
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
STUCK
I'm so excited to share with you an opportunity I have to volunteer with Both Ends Burning on the upcoming STUCK tour. What is STUCK? Well...
The film follows Tihun from Ethiopia, Nate from Vietnam, and Erickson and Therline from Haiti on their individual voyages from orphanages in their native countries to their homes with families in the United States. Filmmaker Thaddaeus Scheel tracks the chapters in the lives of these four children, and the three couples seeking to be their parents, revealing along the way the intense hope and disappointment they experience on the odyssey to unite as families. Some stories are heartwarming, showing incredible examples of kids who blossom after joining their families, while others offer insight into the emotional and physical impact institutional life can have on these kids.
STUCK is a testament to the power of human love and the inexplicable connection between parent and child – even when separated by thousands of miles and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It is a love story of a different kind that celebrates the indefatigable human spirit, the loyalty and the devotion that bonds these parents and kids together as families."
Grab a Kleenex and watch the trailer...
"STUCK steps into the complex human experience of adoption, exploring the challenges faced by birth parents, prospective adoptive parents – and children.
The film follows Tihun from Ethiopia, Nate from Vietnam, and Erickson and Therline from Haiti on their individual voyages from orphanages in their native countries to their homes with families in the United States. Filmmaker Thaddaeus Scheel tracks the chapters in the lives of these four children, and the three couples seeking to be their parents, revealing along the way the intense hope and disappointment they experience on the odyssey to unite as families. Some stories are heartwarming, showing incredible examples of kids who blossom after joining their families, while others offer insight into the emotional and physical impact institutional life can have on these kids.
Through the lens of personal, real-life stories the film asks how the global community can take care of these children, safeguarding them from the very real dangers of child trafficking and corruption while also answering their need to move from institutions into loving homes and a normal life.
STUCK is a testament to the power of human love and the inexplicable connection between parent and child – even when separated by thousands of miles and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It is a love story of a different kind that celebrates the indefatigable human spirit, the loyalty and the devotion that bonds these parents and kids together as families."
"The right to a family is a basic human right"
STUCK will be coming to Sacramento Monday April 1st.
If you would like more information on attending this event please let me know, you don't have to be adopting or even have a heart for adoption, just a heart to see children without families given them and a desire to fight injustice.
Grab a Kleenex and watch the trailer...
Monday, February 11, 2013
We're at it again...take 2!
Sometimes when you say "yes" you never know what God has in store. Let me tell you, if you would've told me a year ago where we'd be today, I would laugh in your face. Funny how our plans change but when they do, they feel right.
So there's no really creative way to tell you the newest turn in our crazy adoption journey, I put off writing because I really didn't know how to explain it and still will probably leave a lot of you guessing..but here it goes....
So there's no really creative way to tell you the newest turn in our crazy adoption journey, I put off writing because I really didn't know how to explain it and still will probably leave a lot of you guessing..but here it goes....
We. are. adoption. AGAIN!
(pardon the awkward picture, I don't know why I never changed my facial expression, those totally weird, take you back to jr.high photo booth things are so weird)
Yep, you read that right. I'll do my best to share with you what I can. There is a little boy in West Africa who needs a family, he is absolutely precious. We were chosen to be his family!
We are still adopting from Ethiopia
Yep, that's right. 2 adoptions at the same time from two totally different countries
A little crazy
But that's okay, we're good with crazy ;)
We can't wait to see what God continues to write in this crazy story.
We can't wait to watch children who were once orphans become sons
to become brothers
Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem totally crazy to the world, but totally right with Him.
We covet your prayers
We are SO excited!
Here we go again, take 2!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)