Sunday, September 20, 2009

Why are we doing this?

Ok so couldn't do a post without a pic....so here is Jonathan- being completely cute!
Here he is playing around.......
And although he doesn't know it yet....this is his last night in a crib. Tomorrow we buy a mattress for him to sleep on the bunk bed with his brothers. The crib will be taken apart and put in the girls' room for Naomi. Really he doesn't need to be in a crib. Only for mommy's sake he was there because you know have to keep them young for as long as I can. Hey, I am having a hard time because in a few months my oldest turns- 10! Too old.

So Why are we doing another adoption? Easy answer....because we feel called to take in another child. We loved our experience with All God's Children International. We love when the staff offer to pray with us. We love the fact that they stop and answer questions for us all the time- even when they are really busy. We love our social workers we have had, and of course we love Almaz (the director of Hannah's Hope orphanage/transitional home in Ethiopia run by AGCI).

We love the country of Ethiopia! It broke our hearts, and opened our eyes in ways we can not explain. It helped us to see GOD in a way that also is indescribable. Ethiopia is in our heart and on our minds. And this is not the last of us Ethiopia will ever see- we feel called to help in various ways in the future with as much as we are Blessed with.

Because we do not want our children to ever think this house is full. I mean that our job is never over....no matter how many children we are Blessed with. God gives, in order to Bless. We want our children to see that- feel it- know it- live it. It does us no good to have love in our hearts, and go to church if we do not live our faith. This is one way we do that. Knowing that although our lives are not easy.....that is not ours to decide- only God can give us strength to do what we do. Believe me when there are times I doubt that, but I do know deep in my heart it is true!

Because we feel called to live what we preach. You know it is easy to preach about orphans, poor, needy, widows, but to live it with all your heart- is HARD. So we are trying- we are not perfect nor should we be put on a pedestal- JUST a family that has been inspired by God to do HIS WILL. Hey, we are a walking billboard for love across borders of color, of status quo, of family size, of testimonies that reach many people, of homeschooling, of what a family should be, and so much more! We love getting the opportunity all the time to share parts of our stories with so many- the clerks at the store, at our church, on the streets, at our camp, and anywhere else we are privileged to go.

Why would we want a special needs child- my thoughts are every child has special needs. Just because a lot of people think we are crazy for wanting to bring on the doctors' visits, bills that go with that, and loads of heartache and time......yep it won't be easy. I will probably be asking for loads of prayer, I will probably have many many many moments of what were we thinking? In the end.....we will have a child that has been given a chance to thrive, a chance to live, a chance to grow to however old to learn about God, to see HIM in others, and to have a relationship with the ultimate HEALER!

Yep, we are certified crazy- I agree! Crazy in Love with God and the Family He has given us!!!! Crazy in love with our new little one- Naomi, crazy in love with all of our angels- Abigail, Andrew, Joshua, Matthew, Sarah, Elizabeth, & Jonathan! Crazy in Love with the fact that God is pushing us in sometimes uncomfortable places. To borrow a phrase from a fellow blogger- THIS LIFE IS NOT MY OWN! That is what we want to share and spread to others- to catch the vision of God Alive in our World in a personal up close in your face way!

That is why we do this...........

18 comments:

  1. So inspired and thrilled with reading about your journey--can't wait to see who the Lord brings into your amazing family. What a heritage these children will have because of you and your precious husband!

    Prayers and blessings!

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  2. SOOO excited to watch you fall more in love with Naomi and all your babies!! Love being on this ride with you guys! Praying for Naomi!!!

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  3. Naomi is so Blessed to be a part of your amazing family. I'm excited to see how the Lord's going to provide for this adoption. You guys are an inspiration.

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  4. I want to thank you for always visiting our blog and for your kind comments! I must admit, I have not been to your blog in well over a month....and I did not know that you were adopting again! I have enjoyed catching up with where your family has been and I am so happy for you! We felt the same way when making the decision to adopt...there was another place at our table! (Although our table is a little bit smaller than yours!) :) It doesn't matter, though. Just taking that step of faith, knowing that God will provide and it is His heart to care for these children, makes it EASY! You have a beautiful family! The love that you have for each other is so evident in everyone's smiles! Can't wait to follow you back to Ethiopia! Praying for sweet Naomi! She is the same age as our Will! Blessings!

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  5. I am so happy for all of you. It's not always easy, but it is a blessing to be stretched by God, and to learn more about who He is and just how BIG He is through that journey! You are such an inspiration, and we are praying for you as you embark once again on the roller-coaster of adoption.

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  6. What a beautiful post! We are praying for you.
    I hope that we are blessed to be able to adopt someday. It is something that has been on my heart for a long time.

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  7. Thank you for sharing! God is surely smiling down on you all. ;o)

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  8. Beautiful post!
    Praying for your family and your soon-to-be newest addition.

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  9. That's awesome! We're not here to please the world, so it's good to look crazy. I hope you can bring Naomi home super fast!

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  10. AMEN and I for one am crazy right along with you!! SO INSPIRED by your big, beautiful, blessed family!! Amy

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  11. So enjoy being on this journey with you!

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  12. Amazing story--- keep up the inspirational walk!

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  13. Beautiful post and a wonderful and inspiring story your that your family is able to share! I am so amazed at the faith of the friends on have met on line through our adoption journey! I aspire to be more like all of you! I just love that so many are willing to share such a personal calling with so many! Preople are being reaached and moved by the stories shared by families like yours!

    Thank you so much! I am so exicted to see her come home! :)

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  14. Congratulations on your new adoption!! The more the merrier, I've learned along the way and special needs children bring are such a blessing. We are adopting our daughter's 8 yr. old brother and are saddened by comments that "four children might be too much" and the other children might not get enough attention if we adopt a boy with special needs. That is not how God views people- as a burden. EVERY child is a blessing!

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  15. wow! i love what you wrote here...as i'm still in "treading water" mode even with being home almost 4 weeks now, i am not very eloquent these days ;) we, too, were changed with our trip to addis and HH and look forward to the time when we are privileged enough to return. i hope and pray that God will abundantly bless you both, your family (including Naomi!) and this entire process. so exciting (every time)!!

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  16. Loved this post!!! Thanks for sharing it so beautifully!! I hope you're getting all the paperwork & such done ok so that you can get Naomi home as SOON as possible!! I love the pictures of her sitting in the bumpo seat in your other post. I hope we get to meet her & you guys!!! We're so excited to hear!
    Melissa

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  17. I love this post...I certainly don't think you're crazy..i'm right there with you...And, so excited about Naomi's healing...Praise God!! kristi

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  18. My first time here. Our last adoption was also through AGCI...found you on the Ethiopian Adoption Blog.

    I love your heart. May God bless your journey to His newest for you.

    So nice to meet you, we have kindred hearts.

    Kimmie
    mama to 7
    one homemade and 6 adopted

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