Getting Things Done

If there is one thing this is teaching me, it's that I don't have as much control over things as I think I do! We are meeting with a woman this week at Lifeline here in Birmingham, and I am so excited to just place some of those things into someone else's hands, even though I know that at the end of the day, it's all in God's hands regardless. Everytime I feel like something is telling me to stop or starts to make me anxious I just have to hand it back to Him and take myself out of the equation.

We are starting the fundraising process now, and have t-shirts and will be having a Pampered Chef fundraiser this weekend! Hopefully I can post some pictures soon!

Z&A

Yesterday I left a little early and took Zoe and Addie to breakfast at Panera. It's always nice to have that time with them alone. It's so funny the things they bring up and what they tell you about when there's no pressure and you're just enjoying a pastry (or in my case a sandwich) together. I learned that Addie wants to be a farmer. She will have cows to milk and an apple orchard, along with strawberries and carrots (or as she spells it careits). She also told me that she wants to have 4 children (or maybe 1, 2, or 3), and 2 of them are going to be adopted. Zoe, while telling me about her dream home on the Weatherly Ledges and how her sister is going to bring her strawberries everyday, is going to have 6 children. She says she is going to have 3 of her own and adopt 3. I just thought about how the preacher was speaking on Sunday about leaving a legacy, and what will that be? How long will each accomplishment I have made take to say at my funeral? What will my impact be for the Kingdom? I hope that I can teach them to be compassionate and tender-hearted, but I know that the real thing I must teach them is about God's grace and mercy, and how that should extend to every other person they meet. I can't say that one day they will adopt, because I don't think that every person is called to do that. But we are all called to care for those in need around us, and to make a difference in the world.

Lifeline

We are meeting next week with an adoption agency called Lifeline. They are based here in AL, and are highly recommended by people we know who have adopted from both Ukraine and the U.S. We will see what they have to offer, but I know it would be less stressful for me to use an agency like this rather than going it alone with an adoption attorney. We have some major questions though, so we're going to try and have those answered before we make the decision. I asked the kids if they wanted to come with us to this meeting, but once they figured out they wouldn't be meeting any kids they declined, LOL. Here are a couple resouces I have been directed to and stumbled upon in my searchings:
Lifeline Adoptions
Children's Health System Adoption Program

Beginning the Journey

When I was a 16 I met my husband. We knew almost from the beginning that we wanted to be married. I knew that I wanted to adopt one day. He thought I was crazy. But one day in May of last year, my husband Dave looked at me and told me he was ready. He felt the Lord change his heart and we started the process of "thinking about adoption". Our 2 girls are with us all the way... Ready to bring their siblings home, and not understanding that this is a marathon not a sprint.

We wanted to be able to keep people updated about our progress and allow people to share this journey with us! We're so excited about what's happening in our family and would love for you to pray with us along the way!