Friday, January 29, 2016

As Surely As The Sun Rises

What are you waiting for?

We are all waiting for something. I wait. I wait for many things. I wait for the snow to melt, flowers to bloom, kids to come home from school, cookies to be baked, to lose 10 pounds from all the cookies I ate, coffee time with a friend, date night, a magical email from my adoption agency!

Others wait. Others wait for Mr. Right to come along, a marriage proposal, a positive pregnancy test, a cancer scan test result, debt to be paid down, a divorce to be final, wisdom to come to on how to handle a broken relationship, a call back for a second interview, a house to sell or a college term to be over already!

Six years. It has been six years since we said hello and goodbye to my Michael Jesse. I miss him. I miss him so much I don’t know what to do other then be reassured that I will see him soon. I am humbly reminded that we all have longings and are waiting. After we had Minchel, it was clear to us that we wanted to continue to build our family. So we begun by faith the process of adoption. In February 2013, we officially received our first log in number to the Honduras program. Three years later, we still wait. I don’t like to wait.

Some of those things awaited for are joyous and at times we may be tempted to believe that the world is “now perfect”. I’ll be honest, at times when I think about receiving our referral from Honduras, that “this is it”! I don’t have to wait anymore”!! I wish that were the case. However, I am reminded of people in my life waiting for some life determining facts to be revealed. You know, the answers that will knock you off your very own feet. This can’t be true. I don’t believe it. You have the wrong person.  You know, the ones that take you to a place that is oh so low that you physically….can’t ….breath.....

I have been here.

But...

There is always hope. I have hope. I have hope that this is not as good as it gets. I have so much to look forward to. I WAIT FOR MY SAVIOUR JESUS TO COME!! And He WILL! He WILL!!! So for all of you who are waiting those oh so very horrible things. I know. I have been in those places. But don’t stay there. This is not it. It isn’t . There is so much more. If you don’t believe me, ask me and I will show you in His word.  

The sun came up today in Cary, IL.  Did it rise where you live? Every time I see the sun, I am reminded of his promises. His promises that HE will come to heal, restore, and rebuild His people.

Let us acknowledge the Lord;    let us press on to acknowledge him.As surely as the sun rises,    he will appear;he will come to us like the winter rains,    like the spring rains that water the earth.Hosea 6:3
Surely as the sun rises, he will come too. He will.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

As Easy as 123

As is the case with the timing of events in most adoptions, especially international, the posting on this blog is proving to be far apart. It is a waiting game... thus for the adoptive mom becomes a long, drawn out pregnancy.  So while I intend to use this blog to inform our family and friends of prayer requests and updates, many wonder what has happened to our adoption process?

I assure you, it is still going strong and in process. A couple of weeks ago we were informed by America World, our adoption agency, that our dossier (that paper baby we delivered to Honduras last August) has been accepted by the Honduran Authorities and we have been placed on the wait list - #123 - for receiving a referral to a child.  That's the good news - actually great news!

The other news is that these numbers have historically been very slow to counting down to one.  Actually - the list decreased only by about 10 numbers in 2012 alone. Simple math will tell you that that seems like very bad news for us.  However, we serve a God who, at any moment, can open up the floodgates for seeing Honduran children adopted out.

I would ask that you pray a very bold prayer with us.  My prayer is that at this time next year, we would have a child placed in our forever family.  All the odds seem against this.  Financially and numerically it doesn't make sense.  That's why I call this kind of prayer a faith prayer. Ultimately we trust in God's timing, but I have also seen Him answer bold prayers of faith when they reflect His heart, and we know His heart is for the orphan.

I am reminded of missionary to the orphan, George Mueller, and I quote him:
I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for the glory of God, I go on praying for it until the answer comes.
Thank you for your continued prayers with us!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

I Like Adoption

As we start out the new year, Summer and I wanted to give you the gift of this video.  You will be blessed as you watch it.

Is one enough?



New Film Premiere - I Like Adoption. from ILikeGiving.com on Vimeo.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Orphanology: What each family should consider about adoption

This is a repost from The Blog of Famly Research Council at http://www.frcblog.com/2012/07/orphanology-what-each-family-should-consider-about-adoption// by Rob Schwarzwalder July 13, 2012

Adoption is one of the crying needs not just of our culture but of our world.

Here at home, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2009 there were more than 114,000 children in public foster care alone who needed to become part of a loving family. This number does not include the many thousands of children awaiting adoption through private agencies.

Worldwide, it is estimated that there are 15 million children growing up without either a mother or father.

Christians should have a special place in their hearts for adoption because all who know Christ are themselves adopted into God’s family. Paul the apostle writes that believers have been adopted by God through the Savior (Romans 8:15, 23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). The Lord Jesus was Himself raised by an adoptive father.

Last year, FRC was honored to host Ryan Bomberger, himself an adoptee who shared with us his beautiful testimony of love and healing. You can watch it here. Additionally, FRC’s Marriage and Religion Research Institute has shown that “Adoption Works Well.”

Pastor Tony Merida, in his new book Orphanology, describes both the theological foundation for adoption and the way that individuals and churches can be involved embracing little ones who so greatly need a mom and a dad. Pastor Merida is strongly pro-life and is the adoptive dad of five children. His book is a gracious exhortation to Christians to consider how they can partner with precious young lives to create families where affection and hope and security transform not just the lives of children, but of the parents who adopt them.

Pastor Merida is a realist. For that reason, he makes a compelling point about practical aid for children in desperate need:
In many countries, you can’t bring children home. The church should be thinking creatively and intentionally about how to care for these kids in terms of maybe sponsorship, in terms of helping to educate them, in terms of taking the Gospel to them. A big one would be transitional assistance for children who are not adoptable — how can we get them jobs, how can we get them into society and help them have a successful life? Churches could even underwrite an orphanage.

Later in the same interview, he asks a poignant question: “Let’s say Roe v. Wade is overturned and there are more orphans than ever before. Are we willing to pay the price to care for them, to do all that is necessary to provide for them?”

That’s a humbling question, and one all Christians should ponder — even as, at the same time, we do all we can to end the horror of abortion itself.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Both Hands Project - Still Time To Give


Thank you for your prayers and support of the Both Hands Project last month. Because of your support, a widow was blessed and an orphan was brought closer to home.  To experience the project visually, watch this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5TuQ9y2lc4&feature=youtu.be or read the article in our local newspaper: http://crystallake.patch.com/articles/cary-couple-helps-widow-adoption-fund-through-both-hands-program

Our team was able to paint Sandy's whole house and give it a fresh and beautiful look. A service door to her garage was replaced to keep unwanted critters out. Rotted siding was replaced. AND she has a beautiful new deck to sit and relax on and enjoy God's providence through this project. Over $5000 of materials were donated by area businesses toward her house to make this happen!  Out of Sandy's own words: "Every time I look at the house, the deck, swing and doors, - everything - my heart just swells. I am so amazed at all that has been accomplished in just one day."

The project is not complete! We still need to meet our sponsorship goal to see the orphan brought home. If you have not given, or have been praying about how God would lead you to give, please consider a donation today. http://bothhandsfoundation.org/rick-and-summer-george.aspx

Monday, June 25, 2012

Trashed Boots on a Blessed Day

My 7 year old work boots, my favorite steel toe boots, have hit the trash can. And what a way to go - while blessing others!

A team with joyful hearts, a widow's home in need of some help, area businesses providing materials, and hundreds of sponsors ready to assist in bringing an orphan home.

Sandy has a new, and better, deck. Her whole house (HER WHOLE HOUSE) was painted (even the swing)! The trim, with a new color, has a fresh and beautiful look. Rotted siding was replaced. A new service door to the garage was replaced, keeping out unwanted critters. The rotted retaining wall was removed and the front graded downward and seeded for easier mowing. And a whole team of almost 40 people were fed and children babysat.

We began our morning with a short devotional from Matthew 25 "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matt 25:40). We were reminded and encouraged that the acts of service done in His name is a sacrifice of worship to Him. The work was physically tiring and hard, but it was eternal work. Yes, the house will one day pass away, just like my boots are now no longer, but, as according to Matt. 25, God will remember what we have done for the stranger - both the widow and the orphan. It is our acts of kindness that have eternal value.

And the day could not have started without a Honduran mission trip style of singing "This is the Day"! And it was truly a worshipful day and the smiles on the volunteers as they left after a days work told the whole story. It was well worth trashing the boots over!

http://bothhandsfoundation.org/rick-and-summer-george.aspx

Front of House - BEFORE

Front of House - AFTER
Deck - BEFORE
Deck - AFTER
Garage Service Door - BEFORE

Garage Service Door - AFTER