Our First Day...

Good Day.... it is evening here and afternoon for you all! We slept a LONG time..... yep! a really long time... I think it was 9:30am when we first woke up and we talked a little.....then we both went back to sleep...until 2:20pm!!! YIkes right?!   I didn't realize that we would be in a place with mountain surrounding us! It is beautiful.  I hope we get to see it with a day that is full sun!  Sometimes the clouds were so thick you couldn't see the mountains, but it was amazing. Even flying in we could see so much.      We felt great after that! We got up and got ready for our afternoon, well what was left of it. We walked into the downtown area of the city. We will just call it "the city" of our Easter European Country.  It is an old city... at least the buildings all look old. I personally love history and wish I would have taken a little more time to read about the history here.  The buildings are almost all BIG... very tall.  It was so interesting to see the people out. We tried to notice things about them. As we were noticed by all!  Roger said that it must have been my "white" shirt, as most dress in dark colors here.... but I thought it may be our shoes.  Not many people wearing sneekers or hiking boots.  But really honestly, it must have been Roger's baseball cap!         We only went into 2 buildings as it is Sunday here and a lot of the shops were closed. Our waiter at the hotel last night told us that here, most everyone takes a break on Sunday, not like in America. He said that he had actually lived in America for 2 years.  I wish we weren't so tired last night I would have loved to hear what his thoughts were on America and why he was there.   We were gone a couple hours on our walk and seeing the heart of the city.  I would have to say that most people did not smile.  That made me sad. I would make eye contact with those passing by us and smile, but never got a response. Well....wait I did get a smile from one little boy. He was about 5 or 6 years old. The other smile we got was from a very friendly worker at McDonald's!  Yes we ate at Micky D's!  He was kind and funny as we tried to explain what we wanted.  But he was nice!  And the family at the corner market was nice too. The mom was friendly, she smiled too! I smiled because they sold Pepsi!     We walked back to our hotel and spent sometime in the Word to celebrate the resurrection of Christ today!  There were not any Easter celebrations here. I believe they are Orthodox Christians here and they will celebrate Easter in May.  But it wasn't anything like we would have seen back home. But we had a wonderful time exploring God's intentions in the Word as we read Mark's account of Jesus' death and resurrection!  We also listened to a message on Easter from Francis Chan.  Very very good. We are so thankful for the technology that God has blessed us with.  Finally, we worshiped Him in song. It was so emotional as we sang and thought of how much we love our Savior and think about the unimaginable depths of His love for us!  I love Easter!   Tonight they will set their clocks ahead an hour so we loose an hour of sleep! We will be up early as we get ready to make a 2 hour trip to another city, closer to where the boys are!  We are beyond excited and filled with anticipation to see them. We are prayerful about their hearts and those of the foster family!  Knowing that God has prepared all of us for this day!   As I close, I wanted to share something from my morning devotions from yesterday... so much of it speaks to my heart.  Speaking to that place of "wilderness" where I have come from in the past few weeks with regards to understanding Him and trusting in all of the goodness of the God we serve.     Beloved, never try to get out of a dark place except in God's timing and in His ways.  A time of trouble and darkness is meant to teach you lessons you desperately need.  Premature deliverance may circumvent God's work of grace in your life.  Commit the entire situation to Him, and be willing to abide in darkness knowing He is present.   and this one from today...   The storms of sorrow  through bereavement are intense, but they are one of the Father's ways of driving me to Himself. His purpose is to softy and tenderly speak to my heart in the secret place of His presence. There is a certain glory of the Master that can only be seen when the wind is contrary and my ship is being tossed by the waves!   OH I am so thankful for the waves and how He draws me to that secret place of His presence in my heart...in my life. As I am thankful and reminded of this special intimate relationship I have with my Father, I am once again, humbled by His love for me and the willingness He has to wait for me!  To put up with my tendency to "take it on by myself" as is certain trials in my life are not in need of His grace.  Thank you Father for loving me and seeing me as your innocent and whole and willing daughter!  And on Easter Sunday, I thank you for this great love and what you gave so that I could receive!       Prayer requests... For God's plans to unfold before us in our hearts.  That we would be sensitive and thoughtful to what He has planned for us to do.  Keeping us always dependent on Him for understanding and not our own For our boys hearts to be prepared to meet us.  That they would have a peace and comfort from the Father who loves them more than we can know. For the family caring for the boys. That we would be able to connect with them in heart, mind and spirit all for the good and love of the boys! For our family back home.  Whatever their hearts need...each one is so different! Health and safety! For my big boy Matthew and his little one Addi. They are sick please pray for their healing and health! For our journey to always be pointing back to God and that He would be glorified in and through it all!   Easter Blessings and love to you all! In His Embrace, laurie

on our way!!!

Hi friends

I am sorry this is so late!  Praise!!!! WE only paid for 3 bags of luggage!  Thank you Lord the rest of the donations of money we will use to purchase diapers and meds for the orphanages!

we are boarding soon...but would love prayers for the following

 

• first and foremost we ask for our hearts and minds to be completely focused on God's agenda for this trip! We want to hear His promptings and follow him completely. Pray that we not miss a single opportunity to honor him and bring glory to him!
• please pray for David and Jonathan. for their health, for their hearts to be warm and ready for us.  For their time with us to be covered in the protection of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!
• Please pray for our boys at home and those who are caring for them! All of them to be safe, and filled with comfort and peace from the Father!
• Please pray for our donations to be given to those who need them the most!  The needs are tremendous!
• Please pray for a good flight...the first flight to Detroit was not so good...a very rough descent and landing
• Pray for our hearts to be one with the Father!

Gotta run

love you all!

laurie

Redemption .....God's Way

I invite you to share in the post of another friend.  I encourage you to see it through the eyes of a loving family longing to see and hold their son!  And through the eyes of a Father who loves each and everyone of His precious children.  A Father who sees every tear and a Father who knows each one by name.....  And a Father who longs for all of His children to come home.

My heart is conflicted as I prepare to meet my sons..... but I know the depth of this family's love for their little one... for their Jonathan!  

Please read and watch the video...and on their behalf lift this family up in prayer to the throne of the One who loves like no other!

This is why we do it!

He Is All I Need....

God is so good to me... So attentive to my heart... So attentive to my calls for understanding.

At the end of the day this is it!  He is all I need.

Frances Ridley Havergal once said, "Every year I live-in fact, nearly every day-I seem to see more clearly how all the peace, happiness, and power of the Christian life hinges on one thing.  That one thing is taking God at His word, believing He really means exactly what He says, and accepting the very worlds that reveal His goodness and grace, without substituting other words or changing the precise moods and tenses He has seen fit to use.

Take Christ's Word-His promise- and Christ's sacrifice-His blood-with you to the throne of Grace through prayer, and not one of heaven's blessings can be denied you.  Adam Clarke

At peace, In His Embrace...
laurie

Plan On It....... Part 2 Understanding

 

I hope that my words make some sort of sense as my mind and heart are flooded with so much to say...and not always being able to put that into words. 

I have to be perfectly honest and say that I really struggled with the "changes" in our plans over the past few weeks.  I just didn't understand.  I doubted my purpose in this adoption journey. I questioned my own ability to discern what God was telling me.  I cried out to God many many times asking 'why'.  Seriously, not just once, but many times. 

Psalm 86:6-8 NIV

⁶ Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry for mercy.
⁷ When I am in distress, I call to you,
    because you answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.

I want to be very honest here! I want to share some of what I have been going through and what God has been showing me.  I do this out of obedience.  My hope is that you would see God at work in all of it now and in the future as more is revealed. All of the glory to God!  I am sharing part of my journal, parts that God used to bring me to this place of consecration and surrender. Really I have to surrender my Levi for the week. Leaving him (all of them) is now the hardest thing I have ever done!  Could it be that God is allowing me to feel a portion, just in a small way, how a mother feels when she surrenders her child to others.  A birth mother making the most incredible sacrifice...all for love.  All for LOVE.  Giving up and relinquishing control over the outcome of their life.  For me it is only a small fraction of or a glimpse into just a small part of the heart of an adoptive mother... well maybe I am off base.  Maybe I cannot compare the sacrifice of a mother that is for a lifetime to my 10 days away from my boys.  I don't mean to imply that my pain is as long lasting... or that it is equivalent to theirs.  I think it just may give me a better understanding of what it really means to surrender a child in every way.  When you can only rely on and depend on God's grace and strength to get you through each and every day and each and every thought about them.  I do get to come home and be their mom again.  AND I do want to be with my other boys "across the pond".  For whatever reason, the Lord has brought me to this place of surrender and obedience.  I don't know all of the "whys" and "what ifs".  However, I do know of another who endured that same pain of surrendering a child.  The pain that God experienced when He sacrificed His one and only son for LOVE.  For you. For me. For Levi. For David and Jonathan.  For all.... 

John 3:16 NIV

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.



Tuesday, March 19th
From my morning devotional....

It was the sinful persecution David endured at the hands of the wicked that brought forth his cries for God's help.  Then David's faint hope to Gods goodness blossomed into full songs of rejoicing, declaring the Lord's mighty deliverance's and multiplied mercies.  Every sorrow was yet another note from his harp and every deliverance another theme of praise.

Psalm 30:11-12

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Waiting on God and abiding in His will is to know Him in "the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings" Phil 3:10 and " to be conformed to the likeness of his Son" Romans 8:29.  Therefore if God's desire is to enlarge your capacity for spiritual understanding, do not be afraid by the great realm of suffering that awaits you.  The LORD'S capacity for sympathy is greater still, for the breath of the Holy Spirit into His new creation never makes a heart hard and insensitive, but affectionate, tender and true.

My notes that morning.......
Father God- you do all things well!  My head is full of confusion, well at least it was.  I am trying to understand the purpose in all of the recent changes.  You know me so well. You know my desires for planning and my lofty goals aimed at perfection. You know that I have a comfort in being in control.  I can see how that  won't be "good" for me.  Father God I don't want to feel sorry for myself. I want to understand.  Yet-those are the things that I see. Please forgive me Father! 

What I have learned......
I see things a bit differently now.  Somehow in my mind and heart I have sort of set myself "apart" from the sufferings and trials that are "worthy" of your grace.  As if I have some sort of ability or strength to endure these times without the help of and the dependence on the Father!  A little prideful?!  The reality is that He wants to use the wilderness to make me more like Him... to give me an understanding of who He is and How He suffered! Why would I try to hold on to what will only keep me where I am today when I can have more of Him and a deeper understanding of Him.  I am not saying I am not "willing" but I am saying that I am having a hard time letting go of my own understanding and perspective as I gain more of His!

Another word that keeps coming to me is wilderness.  Sometimes we are taken into the "wilderness" by God.  From another devotional  "God takes us through these wilderness times because He wants us to learn a walk of faith whereby, we trust Him for every step."

You see I had it all planned out... it wasn't going to be that difficult! I had EVERYTHING covered.  But my plans were not to be.  I had taken much, too much (complete) comfort in thinking that Levi would be cared for by his daddy while I was gone.  It was more than comfortable!

Philippians 3:7-11 NLT

⁷ But I gave up those things that were so important to me for Christ. ⁸ Even more than that, I think of everything as worth nothing. It is so much better to know Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for Him. And I think of these things as worth nothing so that I can have Christ. ⁹ I want to be as one with Him. I could not be right with God by what the Law said I must do. I was made right with God by faith in Christ. ¹⁰ I want to know Him. I want to have the same power in my life that raised Jesus from the dead. I want to understand and have a share in His sufferings and be like Christ in His death. ¹¹ Then I may be raised up from among the dead.

 

So where am I today?....

 

 I believe 100% with all my heart that God is using all of these changes to prepare me for what is to come next. I don't know what that will be or when it will be. But I do know that He has changed my heart once again. He, in his love for me, has changed my heart many times over the past 13 years since I gave it to him.  No one else loves like He does.  His love for us is far reaching and more than we can comprehend. 

Part of Chris Tomlin's song   Amazing Love 

Listen to it here

 

Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.

 

He has given me the gift of this trial and I am blessed in the suffering.  Now... the suffering is over. I am no longer wailing or face to the floor in tears. I am not even worrying anymore.  I am still somewhat emotional when I think about leaving my boys, especially Levi. (oh my how in the world did God protect him the first 4 years of his life when I wasn't in it?.... =) )   But in His grace I am able to move ahead and make the preparations for our trip. AND be excited to see my boys!  My sons who I will hold for the first time in just one week! My boys who will bring so much blessing, joy and purpose to our home.  The children God placed a desire in my heart for.  

 

I have been praying that I would be someone that others would say was "sold out for Christ".  That I would live every day on this earth "spent for God".  No doubt this is an answer to prayer and an opportunity to be continually transformed through the redemption of my life. My pride filled heart, my control issues and any other area of my heart that needs to be cleaned up in order for Jesus to fully reside there!  I know that He loves me for who He made me to be!  I am precious to Him.  Once I know this love how much more can I model and give it away to my children...and others!

I am certain that God wants me to not only surrender and accept His will for my life, but He also wants me to do it with a joyful heart. Wearing a smile when I tell of His grace and provision in my life.  Provision not only for me...but for my boys as well.  He wants me to truly "rejoice" in my sufferings. He wants me to follow where He leads me...in the valleys and up to the mountain tops. 

 

Philippians 4:4-5

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

 

James 1:2-4

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

 

Through it all I kept seeking Him.  I spent time in the word, time on my knees and time in prayer. He tells us that if we seek Him we will find him... 

 I am so thankful for our God who never ever leaves us!

 

Rejoicing In His Embrace,

laurie

I will send out an updated prayer request list at the end of the week!

 

 

 

Plan On It.....

Proverbs 19:21 NLT

 Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.

Lots to share about our upcoming trip as well as what God is doing in my heart!  I will start with the "details" as they are today..... at this moment in time....... 'cause you just never know when they will change!  Seriously!

A few weeks ago I shared with you that we were going to travel to meet our precious boys!  That date is still the same... Friday March 29th we will fly out and then see the boys for the first time on Monday, April 1st!!  Cannot even tell you all that goes through my mind when I have a few minutes to get lost thinking about that!  So excited! 

But there have been some changes in the past few weeks.... 



 

Romans 8:27-29 NIV

²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

If you remember in my post I told you that my dear friend Amy was going to be my traveling partner for this trip. That would allow for Roger to stay home with the kids....especially for Levi's sake... I/we have never been away from him for more than 1 night. Well ...... that has since changed.  We were informed that unless someone is a family member directly related to the adoption, they cannot accompany the family to the orphanage.  I was so bummed! Shocked is more like it!  So we quickly changed our ticket purchase so that now Roger will be going along.  As we prayed for peace and understanding from our Father, my husband simply told me ....  We will just leave Levi in God's hands.  Hhmmmm......  what a great idea right?   Well, We just didn't understand why this would be happening.... but just a little more than a week ago, we began to see at least part of the reason why.  Amy's father passed away.  We know that HE works things all together for good....but we got to see the why and gain some understanding.  Would you keep Amy, her family and her mother in your prayers as they begin to move forward without this wonderful man in all of their lives!  One memory that Amy shared with me about her dad was a phrase he used all the time when he prayed with them as a family.  He said  "and keep us ever mindful of the needs of others". I love that!  It has stayed with me and I want to always be mindful of others around me and the needs they have.  I am blessed with so much.  Thank you Father!

Isaiah 55:8-9

 

⁸ “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts

We certainly believe that God has worked out every detail of this trip, including who will be going.  Just as well as "where" we will be going!  Last week we received an email informing us that the boys were no longer in the orphanage.  They have been placed into a "foster home".  We were stunned.  Totally shocked. (as was our case manager)  The country the boys are in is trying to change the way they care for orphans.  Gradually doing away with orphanage care and going to foster care.  We ask you to join us in prayer for the boys and the family that they are living with!  That God would be glorified through our connection.  We don't have any information about them.....how old are they?  Do they have other children?  Why did they step forward to help care for the least of these?....  Honestly all kinds of questions run through my mind, and not all of the answers bring a warm fuzzy peace to my heart.  I am thankful that the boys will get the attention they need, the food and nutrition they need and the beginning of learning what life in a "family home" looks like.  A brand new experience for them.  My heart hurts thinking of them bonding with this other family and then us returning in 3-6 months to take them away from the only "family" they have ever known! I have shed many tears over this....and really sought the Lord for a peace in my heart.  My heart and mind fought each other as I ran the scenarios over and over in my mind.  How can I come back and take them from this place....  How can I even entertain the thought that life in the orphanage would possibly be better for them than enduring the pain of separation.  I know all of the blessing of the potential for their "physical needs" to be met on a daily basis.  I do get that and I am ever so thankful for that.  But I get stuck on their emotional needs. I wept for them.... for a day that is so far off in the future it seems downright silly now.  As I shared my internal struggles with a few friends, one of them reminded me of this....  It is better that they attach and have to "re-attach" than not be able to attach at all.   She is so right!  For the boys to be able to attach to someone after living in institutional care is a huge step in their healing and a blessing! This reminder and my time spent quietly with the Father, have been what gave me peace!  Ultimately, God was showing me that He does all things well. He has all things planned according to his purposes...not to mine! 

So those two big changes have brought more little changes.....and a lot more prep for me to leave.  Mainly, my three boys!  My older boys are over the top social otters! So for them this is almost like a vacation.  They love to hang with others...even if it is just for a meal.  It is my Levi that will require more before I leave.  More plans, more instruction more mommy time. More Prayer!  We just recently told him that we were  both leaving. Lots of fears running through his head.  Will we come back or leave him like everyone else does?  Will mom die while she is gone? Will people that are supposed to take care of me hurt me while my mom and dad are gone? Who will protect me?  What will I eat?  One question he actually asked me was "How do you know the plane will have enough gas to fly over the big ocean?"  Does that sound like  your 'average' 5 year old?.... Please pray for his little heart to have faith in all of the things we have told him and that God is the one watching over all of us, regardless of where we are!

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

I will share more of what God has taught me in a day or so.  I have been broken on a daily basis for my struggles to try and "figure" things out.  He loves me so much that He won't let me continue to set myself up for disappointment.  He is teaching me and loving me and comforting me.  Me. Me? Yes, me!

I would love and appreciate prayers for the following as we are brought to mind!

• Please pray for our time to be multiplied as we hit the home stretch running with lots to do yet! As well as being able to let go of the things that He shows me are just not necessary! 
• Please pray for our family and all of those helping to care for our boys while we are gone.  There will be allot of shuffling and the "norm" won't be in play.  Pray for their health and safety and peace as they help us once again in this journey!
• Please pray for Levi and the fears that occupy his mind.  For a peace that we will be back and that he will be safe and that he will not "worry" so much. But also, that he does miss both Roger and I.  It is a healthy sign for him to miss us!
• Please pray for Sam and Jacob as they take on some extra responsibilities while we are gone, specifically with Levi. They will doing allot of the things that only we would do with/for him.  Please pray that their hearts are filled with compassion and understanding for this little boy!  remember they are 14!  =)
• Please pray against all enemy attacks!  Protection for all of our boys and us!
• Please pray for our travels to be safe and on time and purposeful in how others see us... that we would glorify God in any encounter we have with those we travel with!
• Please pray for David and Jonathan!  For their growth in every way!  For their hearts to know that we are their parents. That they would not be afraid of us. That they would be safe!
• Please pray for the foster family!  Pray that they will be pure of heart and that they would be daily tending to the boys' needs.  Please pray that they will feel comfortable with us and that they will work in unity with us to love and care for the boys.
• Please pray for the donations!  We have been blessed!  In total there are 5 suitcase with donations of beautiful clothes from our friends! (and the suitcases to leave there)  Dental supplies from our Dentist at Dental Associates.  We have also been blessed with financial help to pay the "expected" extra baggage fees.  Please pray that the airlines will bless us with a break on those costs and the extra money will go toward more diapers and creams and necessities for the children in the orphanages!  Thank you all for your generous giving! 
• Please continue to pray for the children.  The orphans all over the world. That those He is calling to care for them will boldly step out to do just that! 
• Please pray that we will clearly know Gods agenda, leaving ours behind, for out time there as we need to.... not a moment before or a moment too late.  That we may be representative of the heart of God as we reach out to care.  As we reach out in love to share.  That He would be magnified and glorified in our thoughts, words and deeds!

We are ever so thankful for each of you!  We know we do not walk alone in this... God has given us so many wonderful friends (old and new) to come along with us on this journey! We will have our computer with us and hope to keep you informed about how things are going!

In His Embrace,
laurie

To and FRO!

I have so much on my heart to share.... but not enough time to put it into an email...
for now... how about a smile!  I hope to send a trip update in the next day or so! Thanks for understanding!

Today we were reminiscing about when Levi first came home... we watched some recordings of him saying his numbers and alphabet all with that sweet Amharic accent...and a little boys voice!  Someday I will figure out how to load that up onto the blog... but for now how about a couple of pictures to make you smile!

 

Getting to the FRO!

 

After the FRO!

 

 

Anyway you cut it..... handsome!

 

 



A Dose of Hard Truth....

Truth.....
As I pondered what or how to write this post I was burdened for the least of these.... yes.. I know many of you are saying "so what else in new"  Laurie you are burdened for them everyday... but I was more burdened for the hearts of those who "see" but turn away.... more on that in another post...but honestly, when I see pictures of the children who are "cast out"  and "hidden" away from their birth because they are different.... I ask myself, why?  WHY... so they aren't going to be on the star traveling team for baseball or soccer.... So they may never grace the cover of a popular magazine...  Why do they have to be labeled as unwanted, unlovable undesired?  Why do they have to live each and every day of their young lives in a place where they are hidden away from the world?  Where they are not picked up and not played with and not held by 2 very special people in their lives... a mommy and a daddy.  They don't ask for much... really they don't.  In fact they don't ask for anything.... but they deserve so much more than what they are given!  I know that God has a plan for each and every one of them.  I know that there are families out there for each of them.  I know that not everyone can be the parents of an orphan. But I do know that each of us is called to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others with less than we have.  God's word clearly tells us to care for the orphan...but also to feed, clothe and care for "the least of these"  If you read this part of Matthew 25 you will see what I think are consequences to our lack of "application".  See what you think....

Matthew 25:31-46

New Living Translation (NLT)

The Final Judgment

³¹ “But when the Son of Man^[a] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. ³² All the nations^[b] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[c] you were doing it to me!’
⁴¹ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.^{[d] 42} For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
⁴⁴ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
⁴⁵ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Some hard words to hear... but really if we are honest we all do this everyday... we get busy.. life is busy... kids, spouses, school, family time, etc...  But I hope that God will prick my heart with this each time I "miss" an opportunity... That my heart will be broken for those who suffer each day while I am able to go on... and continue each day over and over and over again!  So many times people will ask.... "why"  why would you guys adopt AGAIN!  (so much to say on that...but later) the short answer is because HE owns my life.... I hope that I die spent for the Lord!  I hope that I will get better at not missing an opportunity to feed, clothe and care for any of those in need that HE puts before me!
 

We will be leaving on March 29th! In just over 2 weeks. We have received some donations for the children over there and are thankful that we can bring them blessing!  But I would love to have more suitcases packed with donations than of my own clothes!  Just in case you thought about it and didn't have a chance to "go through those closets and dressers" you still can!  We still have time!  I want to extend this invitation again for donations for the children in the boys' orphanage.  We really do not have a true understanding of their daily lives... that will be a revelation of raw truth when we go!

Here are the needs again....

*clothing size 0-6 boys or girls

* money to purchase diapers and creams over there as our dollar will go much farther over there!

*money to help offset the cost for extra luggage

just a note.... when we brought donations to Ethiopia for Levi's transition home, we had 5 extra

bags! The sweet people at American Airlines waived our fees all the way to Ethiopia on our first

trip! But not on the second trip (different airline). We know and have faith that should God choose

to do that again. we will use the money to the benefit of the children in the orphanage there!

Thank you for considering and again, you may email me privately at acts16.31@sbcglobal.net

peace,

laurie

Spread the Word

Words of Wisdom from one special young lady!
Spread the Word to End the Word!  
A great post to share with our kids!
You can find it here!

way to go Sarah!

It's Time!!

Deuteronomy 7:9

  Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those

 who love him and obey his commands.

Great News! We have our official referral! 
I am so thankful for His faithfulness and that we can bring glory
to Him through our story and journey! Only God could write a story as beautiful as ours!
At the end of this month, I will be traveling to meet and hold my boys for the first time!
I cannot tell you how my heart is bursting with love and anticipation for these little guys.
I cannot wait to hold them ~one or two at a time! 
I do have a little experience with holding two at a time! 

I remember back in August when their pictures first came across my desk.
I knew, I just knew there was something about them. I didn't know what it was at first, and I
definitely didn't think that we would be adopting them as we were already planning to go back to
Ethiopia. But God led us to a place we never would have imagined. As Roger and I talked one day about "what in the world was God doing" I think he summed it up perfectly. He described it like this... "It is like God is leading us down a long hallway. He has a specific room that he is taking us to. We are excited and believe that we know exactly where we are going. Then, out of the blue God takes a turn in the completely opposite direction that we thought!" That was exactly how I felt too. We both knew that God was leading this journey. We were both willing to follow Him wherever He wanted us to go and do whatever He would ask of us! I am so amazed at my husband's heart and willingness to follow God on this journey and lead me in this new and unfamiliar area of special needs adoption! (I am not always the easiest person to lead.... )

  As soon as we began the paperwork and got the ball rolling they were mine! I held them in my
heart. I kept their pictures on the fridge and at my desk and in my purse. As our journey began
to unfold, I knew I was their mommy! I knew that I already loved them with a mothers heart.

It is hard to explain what it feels like when you begin an adoption journey and have this love for this little person or people that you have never seen or touched. But God does something in your heart. He is love and He gives us the ability to love because He first loved us!

What I didn't know was how God would change my heart for them. I cannot explain it fully, but something changed about a month ago. I suppose it could be like when you are pregnant and you start to feel your baby moving inside of you for the first time. Those subtle, but intentional movements inside of you. Something changed in my heart. God placed and grew this desire all along in my heart for the boys, but about a month ago, it turned into a longing and yearning for them. For them to be with me... and for me to be with them. I know now that He was preparing me and my heart for the news of our official referral and the first trip to see them!


I will be traveling the first week in April to meet our boys! I cannot even begin to express to you how my heart is bursting for them! Roger will be staying back this trip and one of my dear friends Amy, will be traveling with me. She will be a wonderful travel companion and one who has a heart for the orphan and a passion to see each and every one placed with a loving family! 

There is much to do to prepare our families for our absence! Schedules to plan, meals to prepare, and much needed time for each of us to just be together with our families before our trip. We would ask that you please keep us in your prayers as we prepare! If you would still like to help with donations for the children at David and Jonathans orphanage we would welcome them! 
Please contact me via the comments on the blog or privately.



I am so excited to meet our boys and I look forward to sharing it with you all who have been such a wonderful support for our family and for David and Jonathan!

Thankfully,

In His Embrace,

laurie