Lord, I Need You

As we move into a week filled with fundraising and parties, nervousness and anxiety plague my heart.  I pray that we've done our part and I yearn for the faithfulness to trust God to do the rest.  The financial aspect of adoption has been a stressor for me and I have often found myself desperate for a way to make this all make sense on paper.  But you see that's not really what God wants me to learn from this challenge.  I know he's wanting me to sit back and let him "show me his stuff!" and being the human being I am, I often in some capacity send the same message right back to him.  Up until this point we have been able to make each payment that has been due, but by the time our dossier is approved later this summer, we will owe close to another $12,000, most of which I have no earthly idea as to where it will come from.  Just like anything else the Lord places in our life we have two choices as my mom would say, "you're either going to like it or lump it, you decide!"  So I've chosen to "like" it, to see it as a challenge of my faithfulness in my Creator, to sit back and trust that this is in His control, to realize that making myself vulnerable to my community and friends is going to be ok because He goes with me, to remember that this call in our life is so much bigger than anything I can manage myself, and so I'm hour by hour making the choice to trust God for all I need and honestly, it's a really great place to be...

Adoption Fundraiser-Save The Date!

(click on picture to see larger)

ViBella Jewelry-  www.vibellajewelry.com

Thirty-One Gifts-  www.mythirtyone.com/akoelewyn

Hope to see you there!

Oversize Load

 

It's been one of those weeks (months actually!) where life is feeling a little out of control.  I was driving the other day and got behind this semi-load of bales with an "oversize load" sign on the back, I thought to myself "I know exactly what you mean!"  You see these bales had to have been sitting all winter, they were a little worse for ware.  When the driver started picking up speed, you guessed it, hay flew everywhere, they had a heck of a time "keeping it all together," and I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road.  That's sort of how life is in our house too.  For far too long we've been doing the comfortable thing, sitting around doing "status-quo" but now God's got us out on the hi-way of a crazy life called to do hard things that stretch us.   There are days we feel a bit frazzled, like there is a little bit too much wind in our hair, a bit like we may fall apart at even the slightest curve, a bit like we can't keep our focus.  I knew when we said "yes" to adoption it wouldn't be easy, I knew there would be spiritual warfare in our hearts and minds, I knew we would be discouraged but I also knew that the ONE who called us on this journey would be right there holding us up.  

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

JOSHUA 1:9

 

So, when appointments get rescheduled last minute, and home study visits get cancelled because of snow and then the flu, when someone thinks the many hours we put into our homework isn't enough, or when finances keep us awake at night, we are focusing on HIS word...Do not be afraid about the money, I've got this.  Do not be discouraged that things aren't happening on your timeline, Mine's better anyway.  I have never left your side and I don't plan on leaving any time soon.-GOD

Leaving you with a few pictures, have a great weekend!

Fingerprints for our FBI check...

more fingerprints...

 

bloodwork and shots for homestudy and dossier!

 

 

Homework..check!

Part of our requirements for the adoption process is education.  Part of our adoption education is eating Ethiopian food.  I'm not going to lie, I'm a picky eater and the better part of me really just wanted to cheat, make it up, avoid it all together.  You see my gag reflux, works over time.  I can almost talk myself into it right now, gagging that is when I think about the textures of foods my mind deems, yucky.  I do not like vegetables, I do not like many things just simply because of the way they feel in my mouth.  And if you are telling the truth there are lots of you out there who are the same way, right?  So what's a girl to do?  Well, take one for the team, swallowing hard here folks. 

Step 1-  Google Ethiopian restaurants + Sioux Falls.
Step 2-  Read their reviews.
Step 3-  Make a date and just do it!

Did I mention it's a finger meal, no silverware folks!

 

Guess what?  I (we) loved it!  There was a slight amount of having to talk myself into taking the first bite but I was pleasantly suprised!  The injera (doughy tortilla?) was much different than I was expecting and so that threw me for a loop but honestly it was good, like I can't wait to go again good.  There was even a family there from Sioux Center with their bio and adopted kids which was a comfort for us newbies. 

Scott enjoyed the spicy beef, I loved the potatoes and beef curry.

 

We left the collard greens for ya'll.  Enjoy!

Grand Total!

A super HUGE "thank you" to everyone who stopped by and supported us last week at the rummage!  We are overwhelmed by your kind words, generous giving and support.  So many people I don't even know could some how relate to adoption, Ethiopia, you name it.  It was fun to sit back and watch people who would come in and "shop," their body language would change when they realized that what they were shopping for was making a difference somehow, even if in a small way.  Some people would get to the checkout, read the signs we had posted, and go back and look for more items to buy.  God was there in that place, no doubt.  In return, I hope that in some way we were a blessing to at least one person who walked into that garage over the 3 days.  I hope in some way we were able to be a light for someone, for His glory.  Our grand total......$802!!  Woo hoo!  God is so good. 



Trying to stay warm! (Who said she could be this big already?)

 

 Bake Sale items were a hit, thanks mom!!

 

For those looking for something to pray for, I just maybe have some requests...

 

1.  Clarity in regards to the "rights" and "wrongs" of fundraising.  It's hard to "take" something for nothing.  Many of the grants we would like to apply for require proof we are in some way fundraising and so we ask for wisdom, humility and all the things it takes to be a family on the receiving end of the financial spectrum.  It's hard, humbling, and complicated to say the least.  Some days it seems easier to just borrow the money but when I pray and research things online it feels like God is showing me something different, he wants me to involve others in this whole thing.  Doesn't he know that's out of my comfort zone?  Doesn't he know Scott's a "do-it-yourself-er?"  Ahhh!

 

2.  Patience, patience, patience.  Did I say patience?

 

3.  A supportive group of people to surround us, some days feel kind of lonely here in the adoption world. 

 

4.  That God would use us to bring glory to Him.  We have already learned there is so much more He is using us for through this process than just bringing a child into our home. 

 

 

Garage and Bake Sale!

 

 

We are officially hosting our first fundraising event this week!  It's the city wide rummages here in the Valley and were #4 on the list!  Come join us for some sweet bargains and some yummy baked goods too!  All items marked with an Africa logo will help us bring home baby Saeger, hope to see you there!