Happy New Year

Here we are... two hours till the start of a new year. Looking back, this year has been filled with so much change. We started the year out with Matthew receiving his Autism diagnosis in January. A few days later that same month, Gabe turned one year old. Mike and I celebrated six years of marriage in March. Then, in May, we sold our house after having it on the market for six years. We packed everything up and moved to Enterprise. In August, Gabe was also diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum. Matthew turned four years old in September and started preschool in October. In late October, Mike suffered a heart attack at work. In November, we FINALLY completed our Deciding Together adoption classes, and in December we signed papers to begin the process of building our "dream home" on the land we bought back when we got married. There was so much else involved in all of this...planning and scheduling, researching and praying, phone calls and paperwork, testing and lab work, therapies and vitamins.
It has been a trying year... one of literal blood, sweat and tears, but God has brought us through it all. We have suffered losses. We took financial losses to be able to sell our house and move. We have mourned the loss of loved ones who have passed away. We have found out who our friends are and who they are not. Some of the ones you think will never let you down or betray you, will in fact do so. We have learned that blood doesn't make a family. Some of the people that will impact your life and support you the most will share no DNA with you. We are thankful for the people that God has placed in our lives, both family and friends. We believe that He works all things together for our good and that there are no such things as coincidences. Every thing that happens does so for a reason, and each person in our lives is here because God knows we will need them to impact our life in some significant way to keep His plan moving forward. Every detail shapes us on our journey to be what He desires us to be and to fulfill the plans that He has for us.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

We know that God is with us. He has brought us so far in the past year, strengthening us in our marriage and as parents. He has taught us alot about love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
New International Version (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We can love because God first loved us. We are thankful for His perfect love that shows us how to love others. We are thankful for those that bless us with their love and for those that God gave us to love.
With many memories made and lessons learned, we are saying 'goodbye' to 2013 and 'hello' to 2014. We don't know what the future holds, but we do not fear tomorrow because we know that God is already there.

The Bright Side

Our Christmas tree and decorations are all taken down and packed away. The multitude of artificial pine needles have been vacuumed up and the furniture moved back into it's original setup. It was a LOT of work, and I am tired. The bright side (other than being done now): The next time these things are taken out of their Tupperware boxes will be to decorate our new house for its first Christmas. Brings a smile to my face to think of that. God has been so good to us. We can look back over this past year and see His works in our life. He has given us so much. We have also experienced losses. BUT blessed be the name of the Lord. He gives and takes away. Through it all He is God. He loves us. He is always working things together for our ultimate good, and He is worthy of all praise.

Moving Along

Everything is moving right along! We met our construction superintendent out at our land yesterday to go over our plans. Soon they will begin clearing our land and prepping our home site to build.
Today we turned in more paperwork toward our adoption. I called and scheduled our fingerprinting, which will be January 9 in Dothan. Our fingerprints will be taken via Live Scan which is virtually instant and certainly beats the 6 to 8 week wait of traditional fingerprinting. Each day is one day closer to building our home and growing our family. 2014 is going to be a great year!

Merry Christmas

To all our family and friends near and far, God bless you and Merry Christmas! We may not all be together or see each other often, but you are always in our hearts. We wish each of you a Christmas filled with love, peace and happiness, and may you always remember the true meaning of Christmas. Happy birthday, Jesus! Thank you for your love and for giving us the ultimate gift through your life, death and resurrection. Everyone, please have an enjoyable and safe time surrounded by those you love. Make memories to cherish. Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Give Thanks: Day 26 - Deciding Together

It's official!!  :)

Today we completed our Deciding Together classes. We are thankful to have one phase of the journey behind us because we know that it means that we are just that much closer to welcoming a child into our home. We are thankful for all those who have been a part of this journey, from our supportive family and friends to our oh so patient social worker. We still have a long road ahead filled with paperwork, fingerprinting, background checks, the actual home study and so much more. But we'll take it one day at a time and with God's guidance we will get there.

Give Thanks: Day 25 - Stability and Peace of Mind

We are thankful for stability and peace of mind. We have a house to come home to. It is structurally sound and efficiently heated and cooled. It is located in a safe neighborhood. We can sleep peacefully at night in our comfy beds. We have a dependable steady income. We have food, lots of it. Our fridge, freezer and cabinets are full of food... not just what we need, but things we want also. We know that we won't miss a meal. Many cannot say the same. All of this is a blessing. Thank you, God, for taking care of our family and blessing us with soooo much.

Give Thanks: Day 24 - The Bible

We are thankful for the Bible. It is a history book, a record of the life and teachings of Jesus, and a guidebook for our lives today. It is not fiction. It is very much real, and it is just as relevant today as it was the day it was written. We are thankful that God provided it for us, and that we live in a country where it is still legal to own a Bible. We are thankful that copies of the Bible are so easily obtainable. You can buy a traditional printed book version of the Bible. You can also view the Bible online in any number of translations. You can even get a Bible app on your phone. Many of these are free. It is a blessing to live in a country where the Bible is so accessible, and we pray that everyone takes advantage of the beautiful opportunity they have to read God's word and to share it with everyone they know.

Give Thanks: Day 23 - Adoption

Today is National Adoption Day!! We are thankful for adoption and what it means to us. We are thankful to be hopeful adoptive parents. It's exciting to say the least. We are thankful for all of the wonderful people we have met. We are thankful for all the adoptive parents and adoptees that have shared their stories with us. There is no greater support than that which comes from people who have been there. Thank you all. Each of you are a blessing.
Being that today is National Adoption Day, we want to encourage each of you to explore the link below. Whether you are considering adopting or not, knowing the facts is good for everyone.

Click the link above.
Link will open in new window.

Give Thanks: Day 22 - Brotherly Love / First Friends

Matthew and Gabe

We are thankful for our two sweet boys and the love that they share for each other. They are just so sweet together. Matthew is such an amazing big brother. It is a great blessing to watch Gabe light up to see Matthew and to see Matthew reciprocate. Matthew loves to take care of Gabe. He doesn't like hearing Gabe cry. At the ripe age of 4, he will drop anything he is doing to take care of his baby brother. Gabe watches Matthew's every move. Matthew knows this and takes every opportunity to make Gabe laugh, even if he has to resort to just tickling him, and Gabe knows exactly how to make Matthew laugh too. All he has to do is look at him. Matthew thinks everything about Gabe is funny. Watching them interact together just blesses our hearts, because they are more than brothers; they are friends. It is our prayer that they will always be like this. We know that time will bring them tests and curve balls, but we pray that they will appreciate and always be there for each other, that they will understand how irreplaceable they are in each others lives and that they will always remember the first friend that they have had in each other.

Give Thanks: Day 21 - Home Cooked Meals

Today we are thankful for home cooked meals... especially the pizzas we had for supper. Eating out is quick and easy, and that's great! But there are so many wonderful memories to be made by cooking at home and getting the whole family involved. You just can't say the same about waiting at a restaurant for your order to be ready. We are thankful for the fun we had tonight making our pizzas. They were so good! But more than our bodies were nourished tonight. We're thankful for the memories that blessed our hearts.

Give Thanks: Day 20 - Good Neighbors

Good neighbors can be hard to come by. We are thankful to have such wonderful neighbors and near neighbors. It is a blessing to have such good and kind people living so close. We are thankful to God for bringing us to Enterprise and for leading us to the house we live in. We moved here from "the country" and didn't expect to like "neighborhood life" near as much as we have actually come to enjoy it. We look back on all the stress of trying to get moved and settled in and realize how perfectly God timed everything. We think about other houses we looked at renting and loved but that didn't work out for one reason or another and realize that they just weren't meant to be. We couldn't ask for a better neighborhood or better neighbors. Our "new" home has been everything we have needed it to be. We know that this home is temporary, be we also know that we are right where God intends us to be for this time in our life. With that reassurance we trust Him to guide us to the rest of our way home.

Give Thanks: Day 19 - Coupons

We are thankful for coupons. We fell away from couponing around the time we were moving. We were just so busy that we could barely keep with the day of the week, little less the circulars and match-ups. Since being settled, we recently decided it was time to dive back in. Thanks to couponing we currently have a full pantry and cabinets. Our fridge and freezer are loaded. It was easy to decide what to eat for supper tonight. It was the family size tray of lasagna we got today that we didn't have any room for in the fridge! We also recently made a HUGE dent in our Christmas shopping. With coupons, we were able to buy $102 worth of great name brand toys for our boys for only $28. We have friends who coupon to help charities. They donate items that they get and don't use to those in need. That is a great ministry in itself. It proves that couponing isn't for hoarders, it's for people who want to make a difference for their families and in their communities. It's not easy. It takes time and dedication, but the rewards are worth it.

Give Thanks: Day 18 - Innocence of Children

Today, we are thankful for the innocence of children. We tend to get so caught up in the seriousness of life. Sometimes we need some small reminders to give us something to laugh about. When Mike and I got home from Wal-Mart earlier, we found a rock with a message written on it sitting on our front door handle. These are rocks from our front flower bed, and I guess the kid travels with a Sharpie. Later that night after we have come and gone out the door all the rest of evening, Mike goes out to take some garbage to the can and comes back to notice a second stone sitting in front of the door. He had stepped right over it when going out. Apparently the kid regretted writing on our rocks and decided to let us know by writing on another rock. I don't know the kid. It wasn't our dog that was loose. She was safely and quietly sitting in the backyard at the time. We appreciate his efforts, but bless his heart... I want to give him a notepad. We had never had anything like this happen before, so it surprised us, but ultimately we just couldn't help but smile.

Give Thanks: Day 17 - Birthdays

Today we are thankful for birthdays. While they mark us being another year older, they also landmark another year passed full of memories made and wisdom gained. The Lord allowed you another full year on Earth. Each new day is a chance to make a difference. That is 365 opportunities (minimum) to be a blessing per year. Make the best of each day and use it to glorify God. Be a blessing to others, so that one day when you are near the end of your birthdays you can look back and know that your life has meant something and made a difference. What does it matter that you lived 100 years if you did nothing with them? You will be blessed in more ways than you can even imagine by blessing others. God gave you the gift of life. Say 'thanks' by using each day to His glory. Don't waste it. Make it count.

Give Thanks: Day 16 - People Who Care

We are thankful for those who are dedicated family and friends, the ones who are THERE. Some exist but you rarely see them or hear from them. But the ones who prioritize and rearrange to make things happen are the ones who care. They go above and beyond to be a part of our lives and be there for all the special moments despite convenience. They go the extra mile out of love. They wouldn't have it any other way. Such people are precious and cannot be replaced. The memories we make with them will far outlast their life on this Earth.

Give Thanks: Day 15 - Alone Time

We are thankful for alone time. As parents, we love our children and enjoy spending every minute possible with our babies. But we also appreciate the occasional night out together for dinner and a movie. This doesn't mean ditching the kids every weekend so that we can live it up kid free. Those days should be well behind any parent. Parting is never easy. We still struggle with he guilt of having fun without them. BUT the occasional day alone as a couple is healthy and deserved. Then there are times when it's just better for the kiddos to be elsewhere: birthday shopping, Christmas shopping,emergency situations, funerals. We are thankful that whenever any of these times come we can leave them knowing that our babies are taken care of and having fun. They love going to Grandma's. ;)We appreciate our time out, but nothing compares to the excitement of picking our boys up and seeing those sweet smiles.

Give Thanks: Day 14 - Family Time

Today we are thankful for family time. Whether it be a movie at home or a trip to the zoo. Every minute spent with family is a blessing. Our marriage is a gift from God. Our children are a gift given to us by God. We feel blessed to have them, and to have the opportunity to guide them, teach them, love them, share God and Jesus with them. We are thankful for the financial ability to spend time with them and go places as a family. We are thankful for health that allows us enjoy being together and going places together. We are humbled that God entrusted us with two such special little people. Even the littlest things are so special. Every moment we spend with them is an opportunity to make a memory, and we don't want to miss a thing.

Give Thanks: Day 13 - Wholesome Entertainment

VeggieTales

We are thankful for wholesome entertainment. It's no secret that the entertainment industry has gone nuts. It isn't cool to be conservative anymore, if it every truly was to begin with. The world has an "anything goes" perspective. No rules. No morals. Be whatever you want to be. Do whatever you want to do with whoever you want to do it with, no questions asked. No limits. No worries. As Christians we know that not everything is acceptable. Everyone believer and non-believer will still one day answer to God. Conservative Christian values still apply. It's nice to know that there are Christian radio stations, TV channels, books, movies. Though they are few and not as pushed, promoted or "popular", they are there. We are thankful for their owners and management that stand firm for Christian beliefs and provide us with places and entertainment that we don't have to be afraid of what's coming next or what our kids will hear or see.

Colossians 3:1-17
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Galatians 5:19-21
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Give Thanks: Day 12 - Progress

Today we are thankful for progress... Gabe's progress that is. He has come so far in such a short amount of time. He went from a toddler that wouldn't play with toys and would barely babble to a little man bursting with personality. He is gradually yet steadily conquering his obstacles. He has a distinct since of humor. We hear more and more of his sweet voice. We gain a few words each week. However, he's stubborn and doesn't always perform on cue. He is letting us know what he wants and needs in his own little ways. He is showing preferences. He is engaging his surroundings and those around him. We have literally watched him blossom right before our eyes, and it is truly amazing. We are thankful to the huge and ever-growing team of supporters Gabe has, from his doctors and therapists to our sweet friends. Maybe this is what they mean by "it takes a village to raise a baby."

Give Thanks: Day 11 - Veterans

We are thankful for those who serve, past and present. We are thankful for the sacrifices they and their families have made. Their courage, integrity and selflessness are commendable more than mere words can express. We are thankful for the legacy they leave behind, the pride, character and values that they instill in future generations through their actions. We appreciate all you do. Thank you all for your service.

Christy's Grandfathers

Give Thanks: Day 10 - Sunday

Today is Sunday. We are thankful that we were able to wake up this morning, that we were able to get dressed and go to church as a family. We are thankful that we have a church to attend and that we don't have to live in fear or go there in secret. We are free to say that we are Christians without fear for our lives. So many in other countries are not able to say any of this. Their stand as Christians requires so much more strength and courage. They risk it all to simply proclaim their salvation. To speak the name of Jesus may cost them their lives, but they do it anyway. Let these be in your prayers.

Give Thanks: Day 9 - Technology

Today we are thankful to God for Technology... everything from simple life conveniences like toaster overs to top of the line medical equipment. Some would argue that God has nothing to do with it. But we know that God has everything to do with it. There is nothing that we have by our own hands. God is all knowing, all seeing, all powerful. We only see a small portion and understand even less. There is nothing we have that God didn't allow us. There is no knowledge that was not privileged to us from God. It is a gift He allows us to help us and improve our lives because He loves us. We are thankful that He loves us so much as to give us such wonderful blessings.

Give Thanks: Day 8 - God's Presence

We are thankful for God's presence in our lives. It's easy to say 'Praise God' and 'Thank the Lord' during good times, but it can be so hard to say the same during hard times. We need only to seek Him and we will find Him. We just have to have faith and know that God is extra close to us in our times of need. He is our peace and strength in hard times, our guiding light in times of uncertainty. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He is everything we need.

Exodus 33:14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Give Thanks: Day 7 - Teachers

We are thankful for dedicated teachers. Teaching is not a glamorous job. It can often be quite thankless. Teachers are the first to get blamed when a child fails, but the last to be thanked when they succeed. Teachers have an opportunity like no other to impact the lives of the children in their classes. It takes special people to be teachers, especially teachers that work with special needs. It requires dedication, love and patience. We are thankful that Matthew has so many wonderful teachers. His preschool teachers are amazing at working with him and guiding him. They understand him, don't judge him and are helping him learn to interact with others. They are creating a beautiful foundation that he will be able to build on for years and years to come. We are also thankful for his teachers at church. We credit some of the biggest changes in Matthew to God placing such wonderful church teachers in Matthew's life. We can remember what he was like before he met two sweet young ladies that would be his teachers. We also remember those first few days and how hard they worked to reach him, understand him and gain his trust. And we know how fast they got into his heart. We watched Matthew blossom before our eyes week by week. We now see the same and other sweet ladies working with Gabe, and it makes our hearts smile. It fills us with hope knowing how much growing Matthew has done and knowing that Gabe has the same opportunity and availability to love, kindness and support from such amazing church and preschool teachers. As parents we want the very best for our babies, and we feel confident in saying that Matthew and Gabe have the best possible team of teachers in their lives. Their futures are as bright as the smiles on their faces. For that we are thankful.

Give Thanks: Day 6 - Answers to Prayers

Today we are thankful for answers to prayers. There is a misconception that 'answered prayers' are only the ones that come true. Not so. 'Yes' is the answer we want from God, but 'no' and 'not now' are equally important answers. Sometimes we want something so bad, and it's hard to understand why we can't have it and have it now. We pray and pray and it seems that nothing is happening. That is never the case. God is always working. Something IS happening. It's just not happening our way. God is doing it His way, His PERFECT way. What may make us feel discouraged by seeming like a 'no' is sometimes not a 'no' at all... just a 'not now'. It's hard to tell the difference at times. You just have to have faith that God is working everything out for your own good whether the answer is 'yes', 'no' or 'not now'. Sometimes (many times) we pick a path and think it is the only way to achieve our dreams. We want the quickest route from A to B. But our impatience may cause us to miss out on many blessings along the way. Our all knowing, all seeing Father has greater plans. He may be taking you on a beautiful detour that will change your life and or the life of others. You may feel lost, but God knows exactly where you are and exactly where he is taking you. Let God be the pilot of your life, not the co-pilot. He's shouldn't be your Plan B. He should be your only plan. Let Him direct your paths and know that He will get you to where you need to be when you need to be there. You will arrive at every destination along the way just as you should, and when the time comes you will reach that perfect destination God has planned for you, and it will far exceed any plan you could have made for yourself.

Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 16:1-9
1 The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved.
4 The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.
9 A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.

Give Thanks: Day 5 - Church Family

We are thankful for our Hillcrest Baptist Church family. We are thankful that God led us to such a wonderful church that has been everything we have needed it to be just when we needed it most. It has been a source of love and understanding. The Children's Ministry has been such an excellent resource for both Matthew and Gabe. Matthew's teachers reached in and pulled out the Matthew we know and helped him to grow as a person. He has made such HUGE strides having such wonderful people surrounding him and believing in him. He looks forward to going the church and seeing his teachers and being with his friends. That's enough to make any parent feel thankful. Gabe has had a slow start but he makes strides everyday. I love seeing how much he is loved by those who keep him. They take care of him and play with him. We tell them things we are working with him on at home (like learning concepts and skills), and they will work with him on it in the nursery also. They care so much about the progress he makes. They rejoice with us when our boys accomplish goals and milestones. That is very special to us that they care so much. We love them for that. We have been blessed to make some great friends and form relationships with people who have "been there before". It helps to know that others have walked the paths you are on, that they made it through and that they are praying for you. We are honored and humbled to know that we have an army of prayer warriors ready to pray at a moments notice. We are also thankful for the opportunities we have been given to serve through our church such as the choir and Mission Friends. We are thankful for groups like our Sunday School class and MOPS that provide opportunities to fellowship and build relationships. We just can't thank God enough for leading us to Hillcrest Baptist Church.

Give Thanks: Day 4 - Family & Friends

We are thankful for our wonderful family and our friends that feel like family. It may sound cliche, but we don't know what we would do without them. They are always there when we need them. They love us and support us. It makes all the difference in a bad day and a good day to have someone to talk to about problems. We always know that when those days come we are just a text or phone call away from being covered in prayer by an army of prayer warriors. Family and friends like that are truly a blessing from God. It's amazing how God has brought so many wonderful people into our lives. We love you all and are thankful for each of you.

Give Thanks: Day 3 - Our Children

Today we are thankful for our children. God has blessed us with two beautiful boys: Matthew and Gabe. Parenthood changed our hearts and life in more ways than we can ever express or understand. There are places in your heart you don't even know exist until you experience the love and happiness that comes from being a parent. Matthew and Gabe are so alike and so different at the same time. They are sunshine on cloudy days. Those sweet boys are truly a blessing. When it seemed that they would be our only two, God had other plans. Now here we are on our adoption journey. While we haven't had any children placed with us yet, we know it is in the works. We don't know who the child is or when it will happen, but God does. We know that God already knows the child that will one day join our family. To us they are our child already. Maybe there is more than one child meant to join our family. Whatever the case may be, we trust God. We love them and are preparing our lives for them just as we prepared for the births of Matthew and Gabe. We are thankful that God has blessed us so much as parents, and we are thankful for our children... ALL of them.

Give Thanks: Day 2 - Jesus

We are thankful for Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who left Heaven and became flesh. He lived as a man and was temped as a man, but led a sinless life. He paid the ultimate price for our sins. He was a spotless and pure sacrifice. He endured the cross, died and rose again to not only pay the price for our sins and overcome death but to also give us Hope.. hope of an eternal life spent with Him in Heaven. Even now He intercedes on our behalf. Nothing we could ever do, no good deed, no charitable act could ever earn or be worthy of the grace that we are shown through Jesus. We are thankful that we do not have to the face the fate that we deserve, that as Christians saved by the blood of Christ we are forgiven.

Give Thanks: Day 1 - God Seeing Us Through

We have so much to be thankful for, it's difficult to know where to start. We are especially thankful to God for seeing us through our recent trial. As many already know Mike had a heart attack earlier this week. As scary and stressful as it was, we know it could have been much worse. We are thankful to God for seeing us through, for keeping His hands of protection on us, for guiding the doctors' and nurses' hands and decisions. We are thankful for our supportive and loving family. We are thankful that my mom was able to keep the boys and get Matthew to school, and that her coworkers are so understanding and supportive that she was able to leave at a moments notice. We are thankful that my dad was able to go with me to Dothan. We are thankful for our prayer warriors. We are here to say that prayer works. We have had MANY occasions to prove the power of prayer in our lives. NO ONE can get enough prayer or pray enough prayers of their own. We are thankful for all of our friends who came, called, texted, sent Facebook messages and/or commented on our updates. We are thankful that God has put sooooo many wonderful people in our lives. Every single one of you is a blessing to us, and we are thankful for you. God bless.

Preschool: Week One? Success!!

Matthew had a GREAT first week of school! He's adjusting well and learning so much. He has already made great progress. He is learning how to behave in a classroom environment, take turns, share, use computers and anythings and everything else he will need to be ready for Kindergarten. Plus he is having fun doing it. We are so thankful for those who are teaching him and working with him. God  has been planning and working everything out to get us to this very point. Thank you to all of our prayer warriors who have been praying with us. Our prayers are definitely being answered. We look forward to the school year ahead, knowing that God has brought us this far and that everything is in His hands. He makes all things work together for our good. Praising Him for a good school week and the hope that it gives us that everything is going to be fine.  :)

Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

First Day of Preschool

A new chapter begins today. Matthew spent his first day at school. He was excited to get ready and happy to stay. We went in with him expecting we might have to walk him to his room the first day, but instead Matthew came up to us in the lobby and gave us kisses, told us "bye" and that he'd see us soon. He was so happy. We left hearing him being introduced to new friends. So proud of our big boy. I think it was harder on us as parents knowing that our baby was growing up before our eyes.  Truth is, he was more ready than we were. We anxiously counted the minutes until it was time to go pick him up. It was a beautiful sight to watch him come walking out that school door. He got in the truck talking about how he played with "the boys" and that they are his friends. He also said he played on the computer. His Daddy asked if he had fun, and he said "Yes, lots of fun".I asked if he likes his teacher and with a huge smile he said "Uh huh". When asked if he wanted to go back tomorrow, he said "I go back tomorrow. I go to my school tomorrow." It was like music to our ears. He LOVES going to school.

I Cooked Supper

     Mike and I have spent very little time apart since August 8, 2005, the day we met eight years ago. I was attending college, and he lived in Panama City, Florida at that time. Even then, he was was working in a fire department. He would drive to see me every shift he was off.  He would be waiting for me to get out of class. He would spend the whole day with me and would leave just in time to get home and in the bed. On March 10, 2007, I married my best friend. Nothing has changed about how much time we still spend together. We still enjoy being together. Work is literally the ONLY thing that separates us now, but I am blessed to be a stay at home mother. We love going on dates, with and without the kiddos. When Mike is off work, we do everything together. We go grocery shopping together. I even schedule the boys doctor appointments and therapies for days that Mike can go too. You should see my planner-- cryptic to say the least from keeping up with schedules and making them all fit together. He accompanies me on shopping trips and will even hold my purse. I will go tromping through the woods and work outdoors dragging limbs with him. It doesn't matter what it is that we are doing, we are a team.
     After all this time of being together, I just wasn't prepared for tonight. But let's start at the beginning. Before we had kids and Mike was at work, I wouldn't cook supper for one. I didn't see the point. I'd keep easy microwave meals handy, eat leftovers or a sandwich... maybe even order takeout. After having kids, takeout meals decreased, but we I would still take advantage of the leftovers (the kids can be picky eaters). At that time, Mike was just working every other day.  Leftovers could easily stretch the extra night so that fresh cooked meals could be enjoyed together as a family. Now that there are four of us and he works two days on at a time, leftovers just don't stretch as far. Add that to the fact that Matthew is actually a viable consumer at the dinner table now. So tonight I did something that in 6 years of marriage I hadn't done before: I cooked supper on a night that Mike wasn't home. That may not sound like much to many (and mind you it was a very basic meal), but it meant so much more to me.
     Some may think I'm weird, but to me it's a tragic situation when a couple can be used to and comfortable with being apart. I'm not saying that you should just be all bent out of shape that they aren't with you at all times. The world is not ending, but there should always be the longing to be with your other half.

Genesis 2:24 ESV
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 ESV
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?

If it doesn't bother you to be without them, then it might be time and cause for concern. Pray for your marriage always. Strengthen and support each other.
     That being said, you never know how much you will miss something (or someone) until they aren't there. As a firefighter, Mike is gone long hours, but I have had to adjust to the schedule over time. It has become bearable, but never easy. It's harder now that we have kids. We wish we could be together 24/7, but reality also takes hold. Tonight was yet another reality check. Even after all this time, I didn't realize how sad it would make me to cook a meal that Mike wouldn't be here to eat with us until it completely hit me. That being said, if you are blessed to have your spouse at home every night for supper, don't take it for granted. Don't complain about the "burdens" of cooking and cleaning everything up.  Somewhere out there, the wife of a firefighter, oil rig worker, or any of various other extended hour jobs would gladly break out the cooking supplies to have her hubby home for supper. Don't miss a moment. Don't waste time complaining. Cherish every chance to make a memory.

Less Is More

We've heard the adage forever... "Less is more". But what does that mean? Well, that is open to interpretation. Answers will vary depending on who you ask. Some will go back to basics and recall other sayings like a "a little dot will do alot", a saying we learn when working with glue as kids. Others may also recall the phrase "a little goes a long way." Both refer to using something sparingly.  Philosophical individuals may liken "less is more" to the the words of Gandhi: "Live simply so others may simply live." Many would  attribute it to the Biblical teachings of living simply and not building up treasures in this world
(Matthew 6:19-21) or of charity and giving to others who are less fortunate (James 1:27 among many, MANY others).  Some may also interpret the saying as being about thankfulness. Those who have little are appreciative of what they have. They live a simple life, not corrupted by greed. They have what they need (sometimes barely that). They are also some of the richest people you will ever meet, because they know what matters most in life.
Well, today I learned "Less is more" from a special needs and sensory perspective. We try to surround Gabe with all these great educational toys. We hope that just one will spark his interest and that he will actually PLAY. We put them in his play yard with him and we leave them in hopes that just one will catch his eye. The reality: he'll poke at them, maybe look it over once, but ultimately toys hold no thrills for him. Recently we noticed how crowded his space was getting in there. Apparently, Gabe wasn't fond of the clutter either. He would get frustrated and start throwing toys out! Matthew, being the good big brother, would pick them up and put each and every one back in there with him.  That being said, Matthew is also largely responsible for the masses of toys that are in there to begin with.  Matthew is making sure that Gabe does not go without any of the cool toys, so he will go dig through Gabe's toy box and bring them by he arm loads and dump them into the play yard. Well, Gabe is a simple little man. He likes simple life.  Nothing much rials him up, but when he has had enough he will let you know about it.  Well, after several rounds of fetch between Matthew and Gabe, we decided to clean out. We removed all but just a few "cool toys". You know what happened next??  Gabe did the amazing.  He walked over to one of his toys, picked it up and started playing with it. Less is in fact more. What we forget when dealing with special needs is that they can overload. Educational toys are great, and we want to give our children every opportunity to learn and explore, BUT don't give them every single opportunity at once. If you give them too much to take in, they may just block it all out, and you are defeating your purpose. You would typically think of overloads as happening with too much sound, odd textures or too much change in their surroundings, but not because of excessive toys, but the key word is "excess"... too much to take in, too many to choose from, so their mind blocks it out to keep from getting frustrated by it. If you don't buy into the sensory overload theory, then at the very least consider that they have too many toys to be able to even see half of what they have and are lost in the heaps. The trick with any child is to get them to focus and keep their attention.  Give them just a few items, and remove as many distractions as possible. Less is more. The less distraction, the more of their attention you will have. The less toys to choose from at once, the more likely they are to choose one and stick with it and learn with it.
I'm sure much of this may sound weird, especially if you have never had a special needs child in your life. Here are a few simple facts to always remember when dealing with special needs children.

• Special needs kids are perfect. They are not broken.  They are just as wonderfully made in the image of God as any other child.
• It is not the job of a special needs child to "fit in" or conform to the world around them. They don't perceive the world around them the same as a neuro-typical person would. It is an honor for those who love them to be in the world of that child. Go inside their world.  We are to meet them on their grounds with LOVE and gradually pull out that wonderful person we see for the rest of the world to see.
• As a parent, the world will not appreciate your child the way you do. Don't even expect it to happen. Your child is a precious gift to you from God because He knew you were right for the job. You do what is best for your child and advocate for them.  God will place special individuals in your life in just the right places and at just the right times when you need them most. Trust Him.

With all that being said, I don't proclaim to be an expert.  I still have alot to learn also. I am a mom who loves her boys and has a heart for children, whether they are special needs or neuro-typical.  God made each and every one of us. It is my desire to advocate for children and to support and encourage other parents. If you are struggling with similar issues to what I have talked about, I hope that this post has been insightful to you. Know that God is setting the right people in your path and you aren't on this road alone. Trust Him with all your burdens and worries. He is able to do exceedingly above all you hope and imagine. Day by day, He will reveal to what you need, guide you and show you glimmers of hope. For us today, that came in the form of Gabe seeing play with a little toy, and we know that small victory is only the beginning!

Blessings Day After Day

We have been praying for certain situations pertaining to our family, finances and adoption. We know that God has been working out our situations all along, but recently He has been letting the blessings flow out. We have been busy for sure, but busy hands are better than empty hearts. Gabe continues to improve.  He is starting to let the words roll out, a new word a week at times. He is so much more alert these days.  He is becoming more social and personable. This is all a long way from where he started several weeks ago. We thank God for the people he has put in our path... our pediatrician who first saw the signs of Autism and started us on the tasks of evaluation, our speech therapist who dedicates so much of herself to reaching in and pulling Gabe out each week, and our pediatrician's wife who is working with us and teaching us the ins and outs of Autism, vitamins and therapies. Did I mention that our pediatrician and his wife are also the parents of an Autistic son?? Yes, God has been preparing our path that long... Four years he has been our family pediatrician, not to mention the pediatrician of my now 17 year old nephew.  And though the staffing has changed over the course of 27 years, it is the same pediatric office I went to as a child. So, Yep!  God has been working with us a long time.  :)
Our oldest son Matthew turned 4 years old this past Saturday. Mike and I took the boys out to eat at Cracker Barrel for supper Friday night to celebrate.  Our waitress brought Matthew a chocolate sundae and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He was so surprised and really loved it. In the words of Matthew: "It was all so cool!" Saturday we celebrated with a birthday party for Matthew. We were blessed to make such sweet memories with family and friends. After the party, Gabe went home with Grandma and Grandpa so that we could surprise Matthew by taking him to a movie.  We went to see Planes. We love love LOVED it, such a good movie.  When we got back to the car, Mike went to get in the driver seat and crank the truck while I buckled Matthew in. Matthew looked at me, smiled and said, "Thank you, Mom."  Then he leaned into the front seat and hugged his Daddy and told him 'thank you'. It was such a sweet moment.  We know that God truly blessed our lives the day He made us parents and started us out with Matthew.  We won't say it has always been easy... parenthood never is, but oh boy is it worth it!
Then came Sunday.  We enjoyed Sunday School followed by a message on Conquering Circumstances in Your Life. Sunday evening we attended the first of six sessions of New Members Class.  Technically we are not that new of members, but this is the first time this class has been offered.  We enjoyed learning about the history of our church and the Disciple Life model and meeting other new(er) members. From there we went across campus to PS33, a praise and worship experience like no other. We enjoyed food, fellowship and upbeat music and a hard hitting message entitled "What are you passionate about?" based on Psalm 33:20-22. If you are wondering where the kiddos were during all of this, they were having fun with their friends in the children's department while learning about God and Jesus.  :)
Just when you think things can't get better, here comes Monday. Bright and early Mike got a call telling him that he got the promotion that we have been praying for!! WHAT A BLESSING!! This will open up so many doors for our family. It will help us to afford the vitamins, diet/food and therapies that both of our boys need. It sets us on the path to finally build the house we have only been able to dream about thus far. It also will allow us to move on with our adoption process, knowing that we will have adequate space and finances for our current and future children.
These past few days have literally been filled with blessings and answered prayers! We are thrilled, excited, amazed and humbled. The road has been hard.  We have lost friends and family along the way. God has never forsaken us.  He has been a constant presence in our lives, filling us with a peace that can only be found through a relationship with Him. We didn't know how or when things would work out, but we DID know that they would indeed work out how and when GOD intended. Though it would seem as if everything is a "happy ending", we know that this is only the beginning. Each day ahead will hold its own challenges and circumstances, but we don't worry about them knowing that God is already there.

Blood

God is always busy working things out before they even happen.  He looks into our future and knows exactly what we will need and when we will need it.  It may not make complete sense at the time, but He has it under control.  Maybe you think you have it all figured out, when in fact God's plan is so much bigger than mere human understanding can fathom. We had always thought that adoption was God's answer to our being advised not to attempt pregnancy anymore. We see now that when God set us on the path to adoption, He had more in mind for us than just raising kids. He has used adoption to teach us lessons that we are applying to every aspect in life.  We have said that "DNA doesn't make family". I've shared many pics on Facebook that feature that very sentiment as a part of advocating that adoptive children are just as much family as any other child, regardless of blood.  Recently trials have showed us that God meant us to learn that lesson for other reasons.

What is a family?
Life is full of choices. Some people will choose to love, support and be there for you, and some will choose not to. Some people will choose to knock you down, and others will be there to pick you up.  DNA alone doesn't make a family.  Being family is a choice.  A true family is made up of individuals who love each other regardless of blood.  It is a commitment that is held together by honesty, trust and a desire to lift each other up, to support each other and to encourage each other through life. It should be rooted in Biblical teaching and fully relying on God and God's will.

Blood That Matters
There is ONE blood that does make a family. The blood of Jesus Christ. His is the blood that matters most, the only blood that really matters at all.  Jesus, God's own son, sees no divisions of DNA or color.  He loves ALL.  As a family of Christians bought and paid for by the precious blood of Christ, we are to live a life that reflects Christ in us. We are new creatures, born again... co-heirs in Glory with Jesus (our brother). We are family. We are BLESSED to have so many brothers and sisters by THIS blood.

Laramore Family Adventures

After having our beautiful epiphany concerning our changing life (see "Lessons and Blessings"), we have decided to change the name of our blog and Facebook page.

Our blog will from hence forth be titled
"Our Beautiful Journey... God's Great Plan."

Please "follow us" and feel free to share our blog or any individual post with your friends.

Please also visit our revised Facebook Page:

Laramore Family Adventures

https://www.facebook.com/LaramoreFamilyAdventures

Facebook users:  Please visit our page. While there, "like" and "share" it with your friends.

We say it often, but it's just as true now as the first time we said it... We feel blessed to be on this journey.  We are thankful to God.  We know that we are not alone in the changes we have faced and will face, and that means so much to us.  God is with us, and He has placed wonderful, caring and supportive family and friends in our lives to count and lean on, to laugh and cry with, to pray and rejoice with.  He is supplying our every need in His own timing and according His plan.  Thank you all for your continued love, support and prayers. We are blessed to have each of you.  God bless you all.

Lessons and Blessings

Matthew & Gabe

We started our blog in June 2012. It's hard to believe over a year has passed since then. As I said in a previous entry, this year has been filled with changes. Changes changes everywhere. Perhaps the biggest changes came in January when Matthew (age 4 years) was diagnosed with Autism, likely Aspergers. There has been no change in how much we love him. He is the same beautiful, wonderful, intelligent ray of sunshine that he has always been.  But we have had to change many of our approaches in how we work with him and handle his behaviors. I struggled with the idea of sharing details about our adventures with Autism due to the fact that this blog was created to update on our adoption process, but lately I have come to realize a few things.
First, the back story...
As some of you may know, last week Gabe (age 18 months) was diagnosed with moderate to severe Autism also-- more moderate than severe. He is very delayed in his speech and social skills. For over a month now, we have been attending weekly speech therapy with Gabe and have recently found out that he is extremely Vitamin D deficient. We don't know how it happened or what caused it, but being as D deficient as he is COULD play a part in his delay. For the experts out there, his D level should be between 80 and 100. Gabe's is 16. So we have started daily Vitamin D supplement drops (3,000 units daily) to try to get his level up as well as a daily multivitamin. We can tell a small difference in Gabe already.  He really seems to be more interactive with his surroundings. He plays with his toys. He is babbling alot more and actually pointing and making more words. He lets us know that he wants us and needs things now. We have heard and read about great results coming from getting Vitamin D levels in check, so we are praying that this is the case with Gabe.
Matthew continues to improve and make great strides. He will hopefully be starting Pre-K in the next few weeks, and we are excited to see the wonderful things that await him and the progress we know he will make.
Here comes the newest change... or the revelation. Rather, it was more of an "Ah Ha!" and "Duh!" moment all in one... Our adoption journey is directly related to our adventures in Autism. We are FAMILY. What affects one of us affects all of us, whether that be current family members or future ones. Autism isn't going to leave. It is a part of who we are and who our family is. Even if Matthew and Gabe are able to fully work through Autism and be symptom free, we will always be Autism advocates.  As adoptive parents, we won't be guaranteed not to face Autism with our future children also, and that is OK!! God is using both of  these situations to make us into what He needs us to be. Where we are headed we don't know, but God is there. He knows what is ahead, and He is preparing us to deal with it.  He is shaping us into what we need to be and teaching us what we need to know. It is not for us to ask why but for us to trust God. He holds the whole world in his hands and keeps everything balanced and working together. He created heavens and earth, land and seas, light and life. I'm pretty sure He can manage little things like Autism and adoption.  ;) We do ask for your continued prayers for our family as our story unfolds. From this point on I will be posting everything, so Prayer Warriors, stay on your toes! We have many lessons and blessings ahead, and we look forward to sharing them with you. We are so thankful to have each of you to share our journey with. God bless each of you.

You Never Know

Before we began our adoption journey, we probably couldn't name more than five people that we knew who were adopted or were touched by adoption in some way. That's the amazing thing, whether you realize they exist or not doesn't change the fact that they do. Since beginning the adoption process, we have become aware of several friends whose lives have been touched by adoption. Some were themselves adopted. Some are birth parents. We have also met many adoptive families and hopeful adoptive families. Some of these people we have known a while but were never aware of their adoption story. It just goes to show that you never really know what a person is going through or has been through. You can assume alot, but you never know for sure. Many people are fighting silent battles that no one else knows. They could have many reasons for not talking about their adoption. It may still be painful to them, or maybe they've moved on from it to where they don't consider it anymore. I know when we first started our process we didn't realize how common adoption really is, so we were concerned that others would think it odd or something; that people wouldn't understand. Maybe many adoptees and birth parents have the same fear, wondering what others will think.
To everyone I say this: adoption is a beautiful thing. The circumstances that brought you to the adoption process may not be, but adoption itself is a gift, a second chance from God. It is the chance to turn a mess into a blessing. It is the most selfless gift a birth mother can give her child. There is no shame in that. Adoption is a beautiful part of God's plan for us, a direct model of our Salvation. As born again Christians we are adopted by Him as sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ. Though we started out in a seemingly hopeless mess, through the love of Christ, we have a chance at a beautiful future. Is being a born again Christian easy? No. It is met with much persecution. We are different. We are called to be set apart from the rest of the world. Is being adopted easy? No, not at all. Adoptees face many challenges that most can not understand, separations, losses, grieving, uncertainty of who they really.
There is no easy role in the adoption process. There is no role in the adoption process that is easy. It is not easy for the birth mother to make the decision to place her baby for adoption. It is not easy on the child to hear and accept that they were placed for adoption. It's not easy to be the parent whose child is taken into care due to mistakes and circumstance of your life. It's not easy to be the child who has to cope with the changes and moves that are a part of being in care. It's not easy on Foster parents to pick up the pieces and help the child move through the process, and it's not easy explaining to the child that they won't be living with their birth families again. It is not easy on the adoptive parents either. They have to watch their child go through alot emotionally, but as good parents they are there for them... to help them, to guide them, to love them. It's hard on the social workers and agency workers too. They don't enjoy seeing children separated from their birth families (for whatever reason), but they want what is best for the child as well. Adoption is NOT easy.
We are so thankful to all of our friends who have opened their hearts to us and shared their adoption story. God has a beautiful plan for your life, and He has definitely blessed us through knowing you. Much love to each of you! :)

Changes

Today, I have been reflecting on our adoption journey.  I have been thinking about all the changes that have occurred along the way... starting with the event that changed it all.  We went from a couple that had brought two beautiful babies into the world and was looking forward to a third to the the couple who has two beautiful boys and they would be the only ones. That was a difficult change to swallow, but God threw in a game changer. He had already been tugging at us to adopt. We had never thought it would be our only method to having more children.  We had thought it would be an additional method.  But knowing we had the option to adopt at all helped us get through the bad news. We initially thought that we would adopt an infant.  Older children didn't really seem appealing. We just wanted a sweet little newborn to raise. Who wouldn't??? Then God laid a burden on our heart for all the children that are waiting right now for a home.  They aren't newborns, and therefore they aren't as quick to find forever families for, and THAT is sad. Many of these children will eventually age out of the system without a family to call their own or a place to call home. That is heartbreaking. So here we are... exploring the possibility of adopting a child through the Heart Gallery of Alabama. It's a pretty big jump from adopting a newborn to possibly adopting an older child. Many would ask, "What changed?" Did God change His mind? No. To say that God changed His mind would be like saying that He went to Plan B. God has no Plan B. His plans are perfect and require no backups. His plan is what it has always been. His calling on our lives is what it was all along. "Help the children." He never put an age group on it.

Romans 11:29-
God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them.

Numbers 23:19-
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

James 1:17-
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

So what did change?? Us. From the very beginning, God has been phasing the events and using them to mold us.... to CHANGE us into the people He wants us to be... into the family He needs us to be to help the child that He already has in mind for us. He has been changing our hearts and growing us in ways we cannot even explain and placing a burden on us that keeps us moving through the process with a passion.  Most people think of a burden as being a bad thing. Not so. This burden is a complete blessing, a glorious beautiful blessing. God handpicked us to be parents to two very special little boys, and now we know that He has handpicked us to be parents to some other sweet child we haven't even met yet. This burden is our hope. It is our sign gift  from God that He is working in and has special plans for our lives... that He is using us. We give Him all the glory for this. We know that the changes are far from over. Some of the best changes are yet to come: the changes that come when you bring a child into your home. We know it will take some adjustments, but we know that God has already got it covered. He is already working on it and preparing the way.

Philippians 1:6-
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

We know that God will see us through. Thank you all for your continued prayers, love and support. God bless each of you.

Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy (or Cheap)

Today we attended another training class. We went through and discussed Book 4 in our Deciding Together series (6 books total). We now have Book 5 to complete. We also found out today that we are about to enter the expensive part of the adoption journey. After we complete Book 6, which will be soon, we will be completing our home study. The home study will cost us $1,000.00. This will be divided into two payments: $500.00 due before the home study and the remaining $500.00 due upon completion of the home study. Plus $100.00 for Mike and I ($50.00 each) to have finger printing and background checks done. Basically we are looking at $1,100 in expenses in the next couple of months. This does not include any attorney fees or placement fees that will come a little later on when we are matched with a child. Right now our total from our fundraising is $348.75... so we are still a little on the short side to say the least, but we know that God will provide.

We are continuing with our fundraisers...

We still have our Adoption Bug T-Shirt fundraiser going:
www.adoptionbug.com/laramoreadoption

We also still have several copies of our cookbook available:
http://www.facebook.com/events/611094082248271/

We are also looking for more Fundraiser ideas. We will gladly host online parties if you are a representative or consultant for a brand that offers online parties and fundraising. Above all please continue to pray for us as we move forward through the adoption process. We have come so far, but still have a long way to go also. Thank you all for your prayers and support and for sharing our journey with us.

Sister Talk

We have always felt that it is very important that family be involved in our adoption process.  We don't want anyone feeling like an outsider or spectator, especially our children.  We have made a point to talk to Matthew about it all along. Conversations with Matthew began when I was pregnant with Gabe, so we were explaining that Mommy had a baby in her belly and that soon we'd go to the hospital and the Dr. would help the baby come out.  When Gabe was born, Matthew was so excited.  He loved bringing baby home, so we used it to help explain adoption a little more.  We told him that we were going to bring another baby home one day.  He loved that idea... "More Gabey Babies! Yay!"  lol
Well, here we are... Gabe is almost 18 months old, and Matthew will be 4 years old in September, and it just occurred to us... we have been talking about another BABY coming to live with us.  What if the child we adopt is not a baby actually?  What if she is Matthew's age or a little older.  So I asked the question:  "Matthew, would you like a sister to live with us?"  He replied, "A sister? No."  Then I realized: This kid doesn't know what a sister even is! We are a family full of little boys.  'Sister' is not a familiar word at all! So I rephrased it.. "Matthew, would you like a girl to come live with us?"  Matthew responded, "A girl?  Yes!!!"  Just when I thought I was on to something, he added, "A girl like Grandma!"
We'll get there in time I guess.  :)

The Blessing of New Horizons

God is really working overtime right now.  He is steadily guiding us through our Autism journey with Matthew and Gabe, but He is moving in our adoption journey in awesome ways too. It has felt like we have been sitting still since January, but we are starting to feel the pulls again.  God has been laying a few thoughts on our hearts. Don't worry! All is well, and we are definitely not second guessing our calling to adoption. On the contrary, God is expanding our horizons to possibilities hat we had thought were out of our reach or beyond our capabilities, experience and  knowledge. We are realizing that what may be beyond us is NOT beyond God. If He leads us to something, He will equip us and guide us. He will never leave us. He will give us the strength and knowledge we need. I hope this doesn't sound too cryptic. It's not a huge secret of anything. We just don't have any solid update to share. It's just a feeling... a wonderful feeling that something big is coming. We just don't know where He's headed with us, but it is exciting. We know doors are going to be opening... praising Him in the hallway until then.  :) Thank you all for your support.  Please continue your prayers for us and our family as we continue the process of adoption. Thank you, Lord, for choosing us for this path and for the grace you have shown us and the blessings that you have given us along the way. We know even bigger blessings are yet to come. :)

 

Luke 1:37

For nothing is impossible with God

Hebrews 13:20-21

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.