Adoption. Ah, that seems like such a big word with SO MUCH meaning. My heart has always felt burdened towards the world of adoption, even at a very young age. I would hear about adoption stories and my heart would just melt or I would see pictures of orphans and my heart would break. Recently, I have really been searching my heart regarding the whole topic and spending lots of time in prayer about it. I always felt like the Lord was tugging at my heart and whispering the word of adoption because one day I would adopt; however, lately, I feel a real peace about being right where I need to be when it comes to adoption; and that is just spending LOTS of time in prayer for those that are going through the process. I have two very dear friends that have been going through the process for a while now. The Lord has burdened my heart to really pray for these ladies (and others), their kids awaiting forever homes, and their families as a whole. Brian did mention adoption the other day for us maybe eventually down the road, but right now, as I said, I feel a calling to just be in prayer about it and I have a peace about that being the only place we need to be right now.
With that said, let me introduce you to Kim & Elizabeth. If you click on their names, you can link to their blogs and learn a ton more about them and their adoption journey's so far. These ladies and their families, are remarkable and true warriors for the things that the Lord places on their hearts. Collectively they are waiting for 7. Yes. SEVEN!!!! children from Ethiopia. Kim & her hubby are waiting for their 4 children and Elizabeth and her hubby are waiting for their 3 boys.
I have learned through these ladies that adoption and waiting and the journey as a whole can be so difficult and tiring and stressful and sad and disappointing and joyful and exciting. Ah. Yet these women have continued to display so much grace through it all. The ups, the downs, the waiting...they are so graceful and they continue to bring Glory to the Lord. I know how it can be a thin line of wanting to trust and be patient but then also wanting to scream out, "Okay Lord! Any time now!!!" :) Even though I know their hearts are crying out to the Lord each day more that they wait for their kiddos to come home, they still do so with much grace and patience. Thank you Lord for these precious ladies in my life and their willingness to touch others through their journey's. Elizabeth wrote a wonderful post that especially touched me, entitled "What the Book Says" - You can click HERE to read it!
Aside from prayer, there are other sides of adoption that not many people know about and one of those things is FUNDRAISING. It certainly isn't free by any means to bring home SEVEN children from Ethiopia. So, I will close by asking you to please prayerfully consider donating, even the smallest amount is helpful and appreciated, so that these kids can come home to their FOREVER FAMILIES!!! An orphanage in Africa is not where these babies are meant to be; they have beautiful, loving homes waiting for them. Both ladies run different fundraisers at different times and you can keep up with their blogs to see what they are currently doing. One fundraiser that was done by Kim and her family, was a sale of these wonderful "Live out Love" shirts and also "Break My Heart for what Breaks Yours" shirts (I own them both and they are wonderful, if I might add)!!! They even still have some shirts left and if you are interested, or just want to look as cute as this.....you can go HERE to get one!
Elizabeth and her family also did a puzzle fundraiser...simply you pay $5 and they put your name on the back of a puzzle piece that will be put together and hung in their boys' room when they come home; this way when they look at the back of the puzzle, the boys will be able to see all the people that prayed and loved them home. Great idea, huh? You can check out more great donation opportunities for Elizabeth and her family on their blog.
Here is a picture of our "Puzzle Pieces" from The Boyd's and a note from The Sanford's. We keep these on Sierra's dry erase board in her school area so we are reminded to pray for them EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Money helps a lot, but prayer does unimaginable things!!!!
It is my prayer today that you would consider praying and/or donating to bring these sweet babies home to their families. There are so many orphans and God has called us to take care of the least of these. This is one way you can answer that calling!
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress." ~James 1:27 NIV~
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