treasu(RED) & ado(RED)

Our boys are truly treasured and adored, that's for sure. They are treasured and adored by Jesus and Mom and Dad! And lots of others too.

Thanks to another family, I got the heads up that Gap had some of their Product RED clothing on sale. Half of profits of each Product RED product go to helping women and children affected by AIDS in Africa. A concept after my own heart.

So I ordered a few things....hard because we don't what size our little guys will be just yet. Let's just say if you invite me to your baby shower, your baby might be getting a RED product. ;)

Several companies have joined in like, Gap, Converse, Hallmark and Apple.

Go here to find out more:

http://www.joinred.com/red/

I say if you're gonna shop, shop RED!

Waiting

I have seen this on some other blogs and decided to copy.

We have been waiting for our boys' referral for 5 weeks now. In the grand scheme of things, this is no time at all. But don't get me wrong....we're ready. :)

The time has moved pretty quickly considering all of the action for other families in our agency, two out of the last three weeks.

Praying for more activity this week! And for the families in the new waiting stage for court appointments and travel plans.

Thanks for checking in!

T-shirts will be here soon!

Yeah! I just found out that our t-shirts should be here soon. For those who ordered with the first batch, I'll either deliver them or get them in the mail ASAP.

We are still taking orders. Let me know if you'd like in on THE t-shirt of the season. It's getting cold, you say? Well, layer that bad boy up! That's very IN, you know!? ;)

I'll keep you posted!

Another good week for our agency!

Just read the "Weekly Update" and it said that 5 families received referrals (six children).

It's amazing how happy I feel for these families I have never even laid eyes on. How am I going to act when we get our referral?

Hopefully I can let you know soon. ;)

Adoption is option God chose for us

This is the title of the "Guest Sermon" in the Killeen Daily Herald (TX), 6 October edition. It came in the mail today from my parents. I HAVE to share this, written by Brian Thom, an elder at Killeen Bible Church. I love this so much that I am willing to retype the thing, word for word for you. Bear with me...it's worth it!

"Dad - just wanted you to know - we've decided not to put any racial limits on the adoption..."

In a calm voice on the phone earlier this spring, my youngest son was telling me that he and his wife simply could not restrict their adoption to "white kids only." They were willing to adopt any race.

I have to say that I took a deep breath. What were they thinking? What could possibly have motivated them to face a lifetime of strange looks and unasked questions from unthoughtful people? Why would they be willing to face the possible rejection of two cultures while trying to provide a loving Christian home to one child? Didn't they know the risks?

Of course, I didn't say anything to betray my true feelings - it just might have revealed something very ugly within me...and I knew it. Instead, I just mumbled some supportive comments, while selfishly wondering what lay ahead for all of us.

My son (an engineer, not a pastor) then proceeded to give me a theological lesson that I will never forget. He patiently reminded me of the extraordinary thing God has done in His adoption of His own children.

Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us that "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world...He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will..." (NASB).

There are several important things about God's adoption of us here. First, His choice is "free." No one coerced Him into adopting us - He did it because He chose to (Eph 1:4). Second, His adoption of us was "purposeful." He adopted us in accordance with "the kind intention of His will" (Eph 1:5). Third, His adoption is "permanent." There are no strings attached - once God adopts, the child is forever His. It's part of His will and purpose. Finally, His adoption was "prior"; that is, using Bible words, God "predestined us to adoption." This means that He did this before creation, before we ever chose Him.

Much of this is true with human adoption, as well. Adoptive parents freely initiate the legal arrangements, they have their own purpose in making this happen, and their decision is permanent. Unlike God, however, adoptive parents can't know much about their adoptive child beforehand. In contrast, God knew us completely when He made His choice - and He adopted us anyway!

This is what God did for us, and my son and his wife understood what they had to do in response. Talk about being humbled...through this two-pronged example of adoptive love, God showed me the wickedness of my own self-centered heart. How can we withhold love from potential adoptive kids when God has not withheld His love from us?

May God move couples desiring children and birth mothers considering abortion to unselfishly give the gift of life through adoption, regardless of race. We are grateful that this is what the birth mother of our newest grandchild, Joshua David, did on June 12, 2007...this is real love!

Look at the birds of the air....

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Matt 6:26

This verse was written on a note enclosed with a monetary gift we received this week. The Lord is truly blessing us through the generosity of others.

On this journey, we have to wait on a lot of things. One thing I can't wait to do with the boys is tell them how loved they are. They are loved by God, their Mom and Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, people we have never met, and the list goes on and on.

These two little ones, coming from a land that most of our community will never visit, have already captured the hearts of many. Mostly mine.

No news on the adoption. The activity of referrals for those five families and the hiring of two personnel and a transition home was so encouraging.

I emailed our family coordinator EVERY SINGLE phone number we have, written as you would dial it from the US and told her not to worry about the time of day that she called. We'll be ready. Thanks Laurel, for putting up with us. :)

Teeshirts should be coming soon. We are steadily building up and order for batch number 2.

That's all for now. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!!

Great week for our agency!

It was getting a little discouraging for the families in our agency. There were no referrals....all was quiet. This week, 5 families got referrals for 6 children, it was announced that a transition home in Addis Ababa was secured (referred children will be moved there until their parents can come pick them up), as well as two more staff for the work in Ethiopia were hired. We figured some action was going on behind the scenes, but we did not know what that was until yesterday when the "Weekly Update" came out.

The not knowing was a great lesson for me.

Thank You Lord, that You are working. We can't always see what You are doing, but you are ALWAYS at work.

Five families will welcome home six of Your precious children. How that must make You smile!

Lord, watch over our children. Let them know, deep in their little hearts, that their mommy and daddy are ready for them. We have been preparing a place for them like You are preparing a place for us. We don't have a house with many rooms :), like Your Father's house does, but we have a safe place full of love for them to call home. We do not want our hearts to be troubled, but we desire to trust in You. (See John 14:1-4)

Your timing is perfect. Your plan is perfect. Sustain us Lord! Protect our little ones, that are first and foremost Yours.

I love the FedEx tracker!

Because it told me that our dossier was picked up this morning by the in-country representative for our agency.

What does that mean?

Our dossier is in the right hands and we can be matched with our children.

How long will it take?

I wish we knew. Please pray for us as we wait.

Now we knuckle down and draw closer to our faithful God who is in complete control.

Thanks for your prayers!!

First TeeShirt Batch Ordered

Well, ya'll are awesome! We just put in the first order for tee-shirts. 41 of them!!

We have some wonderful friends, family and strangers. :)

If anyone else wants to order, I'm starting a new spreadsheet. I love me some spreadsheets!

Thank you and I'll keep you posted...

And nothing new, adoption related. Our dossier is in Ethiopia, but still at the FedEx office. That's understandable though....just running over to the FedEx office in Addis is not an easy task.

Please continue to pray in the wait!