I know it sounds funny to be writing about Christmas at the end of January, but we are still celebrating Christmas at our house! Tomorrow, my parents, uncle, bro, sis in law, niece and nephew are coming over to have Christmas. Over the Christmas season we drove (yes, drove) to Miami, Florida to be with Scott's family. Now at the end of January we are getting together with my immediate family. Christmas is my favorite time of year so I don't mind that we are still celebrating.
And yes, my Christmas decorations are down!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Quiet
Quiet. It is what I have been a lot lately. I haven't had much to say, which if you know me is a total shock! I think more than anything I have been processing what has been going on around me. It seems that things just aren't going the way I thought they would and while I am not trying to figure out why they didn't work I am just trying not to get mad. I'm not even mad at people, just the situation. I have learned that when I am angry it is best to say nothing.
God has really been prodding into my heart over the last few months. I have made decisions I never thought I would make. I have taken many steps back in order to re-evaluate my life. Last night I lay awake pondering the fact that I am clay in the hands of the Potter. I feel that He has had to break me over and over again and I am exhausted. I am tired of being broken. I keep telling myself it will be beautiful and for His glory when it is all over. God is creating a beautiful masterpiece and I have to let Him work. It is the process that is hard.
Like I said, I don't have a lot to say right now so this post is short. I pray that when He is finished with this part I will be able to say more.
God has really been prodding into my heart over the last few months. I have made decisions I never thought I would make. I have taken many steps back in order to re-evaluate my life. Last night I lay awake pondering the fact that I am clay in the hands of the Potter. I feel that He has had to break me over and over again and I am exhausted. I am tired of being broken. I keep telling myself it will be beautiful and for His glory when it is all over. God is creating a beautiful masterpiece and I have to let Him work. It is the process that is hard.
Like I said, I don't have a lot to say right now so this post is short. I pray that when He is finished with this part I will be able to say more.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Concert
We had a great time with The Ascension. They did a great job and we were so happy to have them. Things didn't quite go the way we planned, but we still had a wonderful time and God was glorified.
We are really excited to finally going to the reception for the Director and Secretary of IHNFA on Thursday. We are also excited to have a question and answer time with them. We hope to be able to find out more information on adopting from Honduras. I can't wait to give you a report on what we find out!
Have a great day!
We are really excited to finally going to the reception for the Director and Secretary of IHNFA on Thursday. We are also excited to have a question and answer time with them. We hope to be able to find out more information on adopting from Honduras. I can't wait to give you a report on what we find out!
Have a great day!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Adoption Spotlight
I just found out that we are going to be spotlighted on an adoption blog on April 4th on filledwithpraise.blogspot.com. I am super excited!! I got to thinking about how much I ADORE this idea and decided that I wanted to do the same thing on my blog. So...
I have decided to spotlight one adoptive family per week for the next 10 weeks. If you would like to be spotlighted then just email the following information to me at thejourneyhome.todd@gmail.com.
1. Your name(s)
2. A pic of your family
3. The agency you are working with and the contact person.
4. Your fundraiser and any info on it.
5. Your adoption story
6. Your blog address
7. The country you are adopting from.
I really want my friends to know that there are so many of us out there trying to raise money to bring our children home. I can't promise any orders for your fundraiser but I can promise that we are constantly raising awareness for adoption. If you know of someone that is fundraising to complete an adoption, send them my way!!
Thanks so much to Amy at filledwithpraise.blogspot.com for the awesome idea and for spotlighting us in the future!! I pray that God will bless your efforts.
I have decided to spotlight one adoptive family per week for the next 10 weeks. If you would like to be spotlighted then just email the following information to me at thejourneyhome.todd@gmail.com.
1. Your name(s)
2. A pic of your family
3. The agency you are working with and the contact person.
4. Your fundraiser and any info on it.
5. Your adoption story
6. Your blog address
7. The country you are adopting from.
I really want my friends to know that there are so many of us out there trying to raise money to bring our children home. I can't promise any orders for your fundraiser but I can promise that we are constantly raising awareness for adoption. If you know of someone that is fundraising to complete an adoption, send them my way!!
Thanks so much to Amy at filledwithpraise.blogspot.com for the awesome idea and for spotlighting us in the future!! I pray that God will bless your efforts.
No News is Good News?
I haven't written much lately because there really hasn't been anything to report. We are on the final stretch to completing our next fundraiser. The concert is THIS Saturday and ticket sales have been VERY low. This isn't at all what I expected. I really thought we would have no problem filling up the auditorium. We have put up posters all over town, we have a HUGE sign in our front yard and we have given tickets to the local radio station to give away. I really don't know what else to do.
I guess these are the times that God shows His strength in our weakness. There is no way that I can convince people to come. There is no way that I can fill the auditorium. I have done all I can. Now I have to sit back and watch God work. I am praying that He just blows us away.
Satan has fought us every step of the way and each time God has proven Himself victorious. I know He will be victorious again.
Many of you live no where near us and I know you would be here if you could. I just want to ask that you pray for us this week. Pray that whatever happens, happens but most importantly God will be glorified. He is on the throne and He is in control. He knows our heart and that is all that matters.
I guess these are the times that God shows His strength in our weakness. There is no way that I can convince people to come. There is no way that I can fill the auditorium. I have done all I can. Now I have to sit back and watch God work. I am praying that He just blows us away.
Satan has fought us every step of the way and each time God has proven Himself victorious. I know He will be victorious again.
Many of you live no where near us and I know you would be here if you could. I just want to ask that you pray for us this week. Pray that whatever happens, happens but most importantly God will be glorified. He is on the throne and He is in control. He knows our heart and that is all that matters.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
New Year's Hopes
I have always been really bad about making New Year's Resolutions. I start off well, but by week 3 or 4 of the year I have all ready forgotten what they were. A couple of years ago I quit making resolutions, instead I have hopes for the year. 2010 ended with God showing Himself to me in ways I never thought possible. I pray that 2011 continues in that same fashion.
In 2010, we decided to adopt again. In 2011, I hope to see that become a reality. Every day I pray that God will supply the money that we need to bring our babies home. He has answered that prayer over and over again. $20 here, $500 there. It has been AMAZING!!
We are now working toward completing the next step in our adoption process. This step includes the next payment of the first half of the agency fee and our homestudy fee. We will then begin the process of completing our homestudy. After our homestudy is complete we will begin our INS approval and we will also be able to apply for grants. These grants will go a long way in helping us reach our financial goals.
Another hope I have is that our Adoption Benefit Concert will be a success. I must admit I have been very nervous about this one. I want it to go so well. I want the auditorium to be packed out, not just to raise money for our adoption but to begin educating people on adoption. I want people to meet us and see our hearts. I want them to catch the vision. I want others to decide to start this journey. I have been on my knees before God so many times trying to leave this at His feet and I keep finding myself picking it back up again. It is a vicious cycle! Please pray that God will calm my heart and that I will COMPETELY trust Him to take care of this fundraiser!!
My third hope is to begin the process of setting up an organization that will work to educate people on adoption, provide grants for those in the adoption process, to aid foster care families with clothing, toys, etc that they need when children come to their home and to educate churches on adoption. This has been a dream of mine for some time and I hope that this will be the year I make this dream a reality.
So, do you have any hopes? Maybe God has been prodding your heart to adopt. Will this be the year you step out on faith? Maybe God wants you to become a foster parent? Do you need more information or help getting started? Let me encourage you to send me an email and I would LOVE to help or you can leave a comment and let me know what your plans are this year!
In 2010, we decided to adopt again. In 2011, I hope to see that become a reality. Every day I pray that God will supply the money that we need to bring our babies home. He has answered that prayer over and over again. $20 here, $500 there. It has been AMAZING!!
We are now working toward completing the next step in our adoption process. This step includes the next payment of the first half of the agency fee and our homestudy fee. We will then begin the process of completing our homestudy. After our homestudy is complete we will begin our INS approval and we will also be able to apply for grants. These grants will go a long way in helping us reach our financial goals.
Another hope I have is that our Adoption Benefit Concert will be a success. I must admit I have been very nervous about this one. I want it to go so well. I want the auditorium to be packed out, not just to raise money for our adoption but to begin educating people on adoption. I want people to meet us and see our hearts. I want them to catch the vision. I want others to decide to start this journey. I have been on my knees before God so many times trying to leave this at His feet and I keep finding myself picking it back up again. It is a vicious cycle! Please pray that God will calm my heart and that I will COMPETELY trust Him to take care of this fundraiser!!
My third hope is to begin the process of setting up an organization that will work to educate people on adoption, provide grants for those in the adoption process, to aid foster care families with clothing, toys, etc that they need when children come to their home and to educate churches on adoption. This has been a dream of mine for some time and I hope that this will be the year I make this dream a reality.
So, do you have any hopes? Maybe God has been prodding your heart to adopt. Will this be the year you step out on faith? Maybe God wants you to become a foster parent? Do you need more information or help getting started? Let me encourage you to send me an email and I would LOVE to help or you can leave a comment and let me know what your plans are this year!
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