Our MIGHTY God......

Last night Clay and I looked over our adoption finances and were amazed at how God has provided. In an early post I've mentioned details about some of what God has done but I have to share and give him the glory. I want this to ENCOURAGE you to step out and step up!! Over a year ago God made it clear that we were to adopt. He confirmed it over and over. We weren't sure how we would come up with $20-30K but knew he would provide. All of our fees so far have been raised through donations, raffles, T shirt sales, garage sales, ect.... IS THAT NOT AMAZING!!! He has blessed us beyond words!!! We are so thankful for everyone who has show his love and been supportive on this journey.

There are so many children out there that need moms and dads to rock them, love on them, to give them a bed, food and most importantly to teach them about our Savior!

"O LORD, you are my God;

I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness

you have done marvelous things,

things planned long ago."

Isaiah 25:1

I feel hopeless, and I cry out to you from a faraway land.
Psalm 61:2

Africa T shirt junkie?

I AM!!!

I want them all!!

You have to check out these!

My new favorites that my friend is making to fund their adoption!!! Yes, its the talented Laura Kelley, owner of Pitter Patter Art. She can do it all! Click here to check all of the different ones out!

A wonderful Ethiopian filled day......

We spent Sunday night at our Ethiopian fellowship that we have once a month. This month everyone brought their kids with them. It was a full house!!! We had a blast and left feeling totally blessed and so excited that we have such a wonderful support group. I am sure we will always meet and grow with these families.

My kids love making faces in the mirrors.

This beautiful little girl from Ethiopia loved Anslee.

This is Rachel who lived in Ethiopia and she is getting to see a child that she was with for months in the orphange. He is now home with his forever family. It was a sweet reunion.

Three beautiful girls with big hearts and always smiling. Two of these little girls recognized each other from their orphanage in Ethiopia. They have been here for a year.

OK let me tell you about some ROCK STARS that we met. The Weimers, my heros!! They had 3 children, adopted 3 more from Ethiopia and are in the process to adopt 3 more. #7, 8 and 9!!! Is that not AWESOME!! I told them that when I heard about them I expected them to be 50 or 60 yrs old, NO THEY ARE 31!!! I cannot even imagine but am very challenged by their testimony!

After we left the fellowship we went and ate at an Ethiopian restaurant in Nashville. The kids loved the music and danced the entire time. While there we met a family from Ethiopia. They are super sweet and thanked us for adopting. It was so encouraging to talk to them and to see their excitement for us.

Checking that food out...not too sure!

Clay loved using his hands to eat.

Interesting!

It was a great experience and made us so excited to go to Africa and get our baby or babies!!

Huge Success!!!!

"Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness." Psalm 150:2

After a final calculation we made a HUGE amount today. More than we could have imagined!!

We have soooooooooo many people to thank for the success!!

Our final total from today was: $3726.25

Praise the Lord!!!

OUR BIG SALE IS TOMORROW

Oh we have been working, working and we are finally about to head to bed. We will be up in the morning at 5am to start unloading. I cannot even describe how much we have!!! TONS!! We could probably fill 4 Uhauls up with great stuff. I have had 25+ families bring donations. We are so excited about the sale tomorrow! We are praying that this will be our last fundraiser for the adoption! I will report back with how much we made tomorrow night!!!

HUGE PRAISE: We received over $600 today in donations. PRAISE GOD!!

OK so now all we need is shoppers!! Pray for lots of shoppers.
Here are the details:

HUGE ADOPTION YARD SALE & BAKE SALE
DATE: APRIL 18TH
TIME: 8-4
LOCATION: Next to VOLUNTEER STATE BANK HENDERSONVILLE

(Main Street AND Walton Ferry Rd.)
MULTI FAMILY DONATIONS FROM HOME DÉCOR, TREADMILL HOME FURNISHINGS, ART, BOOKS, BABY ITEMS, BAKED GOODS AND MUCH MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$10 HAIR CUTS BY SHERRY WILLIAMS OF TANGLES, FACE PAINTING, ECT....

IF WE HAVE THE HELP AND WEATHER WE WILL START A CARWASH AT NOON!!

Racial Diversity in Hell

April 1, 2009
By: John Piper

The difference between heaven and hell is not that heaven will be ethnically diverse and hell won’t be. Both will be diverse. All races and all ethnicities and all cultures will be present in hell.
The difference between heaven and hell is that in heaven—that is, in the new heaven and new earth—there will be perfect racial and ethnic harmony, but in hell, racial and ethnic animosities will reach their fullest fury and last forever.
Paul spoke of the ethnic diversity of hell in Romans 2:9,
There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek.
“Jew and Greek” was shorthand for all ethnic groups.
We know he is talking about hell here because the opposite is eternal life:
To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. (Romans 2:7)
Therefore, everyone who loves racial diversity and racial harmony will call all ethnic groups everywhere to believe on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, because
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)
Heaven will be all the sweeter because the ethnic diversity that God designed for the good of his creation and the glory of his grace will last forever in perfect harmony and joy.

Month 4

Once again another month down and we are that much closer to our baby/babies being home!! It’s a weird feeling adopting. It's not like being pregnant and having a due date. I like dates, something set in stone, I am a planner! But who better to plan out all of the details than God. I know that he has a precious child/children that he knit together for our family. Our agency tells you to expect to wait 5 more months or so but I can see that referrals are coming fast and we are about #10ish in line for an infant boy. In the back of my mind I think "don't get your hopes up" but it’s exciting! I did feel a little panicked last week that I may not be as prepared as I need to be. So I ordered 5 more books to read related to adoption, transracial adoption, parenting, ect....on top of the 10 or so I've already read. I now feel a little better prepared after just having these books in my possession.My favorite so far has been In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Storiesby Rita James Simon, Rhonda M. Roorda. Just in reading the first 4 chapters I have learned so much.

I am constantly getting this questions/comments.
Why would you adopt?
Because there are children homeless, dying in the streets.
Because Jesus loves and tells us to care for the orphans/fatherless.
Because we have love to give.
Because this life is not our own.
Because these children need parents.
Ultimately, for us, because God told us to.

I don't have that kind of money.
Seriously, this is the life of a child. How much did your car cost?

OK so for some fun Ethiopian facts:Ethiopians have a very beautiful traditional coffee ceremony, its unimaginable for most Ethiopians to start a new day without several cups of coffee. Coffee is the best drink an Ethiopian family offers to honor guests, as coffee ceremony is the best occasion for a get-together with neighbors and friends. I've also learned that they use salt in their coffee instead of sugar.

Next Saturday............

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING A WEEK FROM TODAY. WE ARE SO EXCITED AND VERY BUSY. I HAVE TONS OF GREAT STUFF FOR THIS SALE. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus we have added a CAR WASH!!

Quit your hidin'

Hey peeps I am about to reach hit # 10,000! Who reads this anyways! Haha. Mom are you really on here that much? I know there are so many blog stalkers like myself. Leave a comment every once in awhile. I would love to hear your thoughts! I run into people and they mention my blog and I think OH they read my blog.

I am giving away a T Shirts to # 10,000 plus for everyone that leaves a comment and tells me who they are I will put your name in a drawing for one of our Ts!

Love you all!!

Donation praises!!!

Last night we picked up a trailer full of garage sale items! We have lots of stuff stored 3 different places. Thanks to all of the families donating items! We will be happy to pick anything up that you have if you cannot make it to the Friday drop off or if you need a manly man to load everything up for you. Just let us know! Next week we will be picking some items up in Nashville and Hendersonville. We are so thankful for all of the donations!! We just had Sweet and Sassy offer to donate some yummies to sale too!!


**Pray for pretty weather and spread the word!


Here are the details again:

ADOPTION YARD SALE & BAKE SALE

DATE: APRIL 18TH

TIME: 8-4

LOCATION: VOLUNTEER STATE BANK HENDERSONVILLE (Main Street and Walton Ferry Rd.)

MULTI FAMILY DONATIONS FROM HOME DÉCOR, HOME FURNISHINGS, ART, BOOKS, BABY ITEMS, TOOLS, BIKES, TOYS, CLOTHES AND MUCH MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will have face painting, bake sale, and a CAR WASH!!!

Click here for all of the details from an earlier post.