I dream of sharing this with you our baby girl...

Catch butterflies
Count the stars
Make cookies
Build a pile of leaves to jump in
Swing high in a tree
Mark how much you've grown on the wall
Tuck you safe into bed at night

Sing while we drive in the car with the windows rolled down

Walk barefoot in the surf
Sail a kite high in the sky
Play in the sprinklers
Share a popcicle
Make sand castles
Play in the rain puddles
Make mud pies
Rock you to sleep
Feel your breath on my cheek...

2010 Spring & Summer adventures getting ready for Aerie...

                                                                06/10- Colorado hiking

                                                                    Mountain jeeping

                                                             Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings

                                                                          Gold mining

                                   07/02/10- Daddy & Mommy applied for USCIS fingerprints

                             07/23/10- Daddy & Mommy in Indy to have fingerprints taken

                                                08/06/10- Dossier paperchase complete


                                  
                                                         & Dossier Fed-Ex'd to AWAA

                                         08/25/10- Dossier packet arrived in Ethiopia today!


The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has annointed me to preach the good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide a crown of beauty instead of ashes, and the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  Isiah 61: 1-4 

Thank you God for your promises, for hearing our cries and for answering our pleas.

A letter I wrote about a year ago...

Dear Biological Parents,

We want you to know that we believe that God makes no mistakes and there are no coincidences.  We fully believe that God intends for you to be the life giving parents and that we are to raise this child.   We believe that God in his divine wisdom has given you the role to carry, nourish, love, and supply the needs of this child for this portion of their life and has planned for us to do the same after their birth.  We believe that neither of these acts is greater than the other, that all of us have been given the assignment to care for this child so he/she can be all God intends for them to become.   We believe what the bible says when it teaches that God knows us before we are born, that God knows the child you carry, and that God loves you, this child, and us.  We believe that God as our loving Father wants the best for all of us, that as our Heavenly Father he teaches and trains us all every day.  We believe our infertility is not a mistake, but that it is part of God’s plan to lead us to better understand his love.  We believe that Joseph as Jesus’ adoptive earthly parent was not a mistake.  God chose Joseph for the special task of raising Jesus within his home in those circumstances, just as he intended Mary to be pregnant as an unwed mother.  We believe as the bible teaches that this was no mistake but part of Jesus’ life plan designed by God.  Jesus’ life start was as important as the rest of his life; it put him in a certain place... at a certain time so he could become all he was meant to be- just as we believe this child has.  We take the opportunity to raise a child very seriously and joyfully.   We have planned many, many years for this little one.  We have lots of hopes, dreams and love to share.  We give thanks to God for you; we pray for you and know God has great plans for you and your baby’s life.      

God has made you an heir... through adoption

ADOPTION, GOD’s MISSION




Adoption- The act of taking the child of other parents to be one’s own child. Paul used the term to show privilege of sonship bestowed by God upon those who accept Jesus as Lord.

Adoption by God the Father:

But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1

Jesus said to her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go tell my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your father, and to my God and your God. John 20

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8

And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord almighty. Cor.6

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Eph.1



Sons of God

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3: 26-29

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time is set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights as sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the spirit who calls out “Abba, Father”. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. Galatians 4: 1-7

Adoption seed planted in the heart of a 12 year old child...

Four months after the release of "We Are the World", USA for Africa had taken in almost $10.8 million. The majority of the money came from record sales within the US. Members of the public also donated money—almost $1.3 million within the same time period.

In May 1985, USA for Africa officials estimated that they had sold between $45 million and $47 million worth of official merchandise around the world. In June 1985, the first USA for Africa cargo jet carrying food, medicine and clothing departed for Ethiopia and the Sudan. It stopped en route in New York, where 15,000 T-shirts were added to the cargo. Included in the supplies were high-protein biscuits, high-protein vitamins, medicine, tents, blankets and refrigeration equipment.

One year after the release of "We Are the World", organizers noted that $44.5 million had been raised for USA for Africa's humanitarian fund. They stated that they were confident that they would reach an initial set target of $50 million. By October 1986, it was revealed that their $50 million target had been met and exceeded; CBS Records gave USA for Africa a check for $2.5 million, drawing the total amount of money to $51.2 million. 

Since its release, "We Are the World" has raised over $63 million for humanitarian causes.

                                     Remember?  "We are the World"song & campaign

1985- 12 years old, caucasian daughter of middle class working family, new Christian, bold child of God,  burdened heart for God's children in Ethiopia, pledge made "I will adopt from Ethiopia when I grow up."

If you are around my age you remember the "We are the World" Campaign, pictures of starving children plastered our T.V. sets.  I couldn't believe I had so much and they had NOTHING!  Not even clothes!  When I had been worrying about getting brand-name jeans they had NO CLOTHES, NO FOOD, NO WATER, NO PARENTS, AND NO SHELTER! 

Funny how the boldness of a child sometimes gets lost, or pushed back, as we age.  The desire still there, but life gets busy...  That is until God comes calling on the promise, the pledge :)  

2009- 36 year old, caucasian wife of High School sweetheart(Tim), middle-class working family, Christians, bold children of God, burdened hearts for God's orphaned children,  now following up on the pledge...