Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thanking God



“Learn to do what is right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow and the orphan.” Isaiah 1:17

What a week it has been for all of us! The biggest news we have is that thanks to your prayers and God's help last Friday and Saturday we were able to mail off two of the applications we have for adoption grants! Praise God. We seriously do not think we would have finished those two if it were not for prayers for Vanessa's sickness to pass. It passed enough that she could fill out the necessary paperwork, and get them in the mail. So, for now...two down, more to go!

We don't have a lot to post on this blog except to say that thanks goes out to you for praying (Vanessa asks that you don't stop yet!). Also, thanking God for being such a faithful God in all aspects of our lives, even a very sick pregnancy. :)

We hope you have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

National Adoption Month


For several days now, we have been praying that God would show us what to update in our blog. Yesterday, we felt that God gave us two things he wanted us to share.

First, November is National Adoption Month. There are 500,000 children in foster care. Of these children, 129,000 are "legally free" and waiting for a family. Many of you know that adoption is near and dear to our hearts. Not only because we are adopting is it so, but also because Vanessa comes from a family with nine adopted siblings. We know that adoption is not for everyone. However, we want to encourage each of you who reads this blog, to pray through the rest of the month of November. Ask God what He would have you do to support adoption. That might not mean fostering or adopting a child. However, maybe God wants you to come along side a family who is adopting, or who already adopted and support them in prayer and encouragement. As someone told Vanessa in a conversation very recently, "There is no greater show of what God has done for us, as His children, as what He does with adoption here on earth". Isn't that true? God has adopted us as his sons and daughters, and we can do the same for those here on earth who need that.

Secondly, we have had many people ask us where we are at financially for the adoption. So far, we have been pretty vague. However, after praying to God about this blog, we felt the Lord leading us to declare exactly what we still need. So here is the info. So far, through the support of so many amazing people, we have been able to pay for our home study. What does that cost? $3,000. How much does an adoption cost? Each adoption is different, but those we have heard about thus far, seem to average out to be about $15,000. We are asking, that you join us in prayer that we can raise this $15,000 to get this child home to us. Now, do realize that some of this money will (and we say will, because we are trusting God completely) come from grants. However, we have not got any of that paperwork out yet. We know, everything is in God's timing, yet every time we try to sit down to do it, something comes up. Pray especially, that we would have the time, energy, and that Vanessa would be well enough to do this paperwork.

The pregnancy is continuing to go by so quickly. Vanessa is still sick. However, there have been some good days amongst the bad ones. Pray specifically, that if this is not to pass soon, emotionally, Vanessa can keep her spirits up.

Lastly, our little baby girl Zoelle is going to be one and a half years old on Tuesday. My how fast time goes! We'll attach a picture of her at birth, and her now, just so you can see how much she has grown. What a joy to her mama and dada she is. We constantly are praying that God softens her heart to Him and that the plans He has for her shine through in everything she does.

Blessings to all of you for reading this long post. Thank you for your encouraging words and prayers. They mean the world to us!



Sunday, November 2, 2008

For Such A Time As This


"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

If you are now squinting and staring at your screen, going "Uh, no she didn't?!?", yes, she did! :) I did just post a beautiful picture of a pregnancy test. Not just any random pregnancy test, that test would belong to me. Yes, we are pregnant!

We were a bit surprised, but the only verse that kept going through my mind over and over again, was the verse above. For some reason, God used that verse to reassure me (Vanessa) that it was in His timing and for such a time as this. I need that reassuring as I get very sick in my pregnancies. God has been good though, and this pregnancy has been slightly easier then Z's pregnancy. Thus, no throwing up everyday, all day long. :)

So the big question everyone wants answered: Are we still adopting? YES! Absolutely! God has placed on our hearts adoption, and we truly feel that the time for that is still now, despite a pregnancy. If God calls both to us, then He will allow us to handle both. We sincerely look forward to it. There was not one bit of doubt in our minds that God had called us to still adopt.

When am I due? If you take a look at my pregnancy test, I have marked the date. Yep, that would make me 3 months pregnant. We have known for some time, but wanted to wait until our first appointment. Baby is due to come around May 22, 2009. Zoelle and this baby will be just two years apart. A very exciting time for us.

We ask that you, as our faithful supporters and prayer warriors uplift us in prayer. Specifically, I ask that you could pray my all day sickness ends soon. We also would ask that you would pray for God to give us the patience to wait out both an adoption and a pregnancy. Lastly, we ask prayer "for such a time as this", for God has called us to this time, a time that we are unsure of in the adoption world. Please pray that He would continue to love and guide our hearts in this adoption.