I have told you before about several of our friends that are adopting. In fact, since my last post, every other family in our small group are currently in the process of adoption with the exception of us. Anyone else of the opinion that God is trying to tell us something?
One of the families that I previously told you about are the DeGries, who are getting a precious little girl from Africa. At the end of last year it became clear that Royce was not going to be able to travel with Eve when the time came for her to go for their court date. So, they asked me if I would like to go with her.
For those of you that know me well, you know that I may or may not be a bit of a homebody. I like to go. I like to have fun. I like to travel. But I LOVE home. There is safety and comfort in these four walls. I am a fan of safety and comfort.
I knew saying yes to this would be a gigantic step, forget step, how about leap out of my comfort zone. And honestly, part of me wanted to say no. A large part of me. But God had been working in my heart about this for weeks before I was even asked to go. He and I had been having a lot of these conversations... Are you really a person a faith or do you just talk about it? Do your children see you live in obedience or do they just see you talk about it? How can you live a life of faith if you are busy trying to create a life that doesn't need faith?
I was convicted. I wanted more than that for myself and for my children. I want Peyton and Mason to think it is normal to risk everything in obedience. I want them to have memories of thinking that our family was crazy for how much we sacrificed, how much we gave up, how much we trusted, and how powerfully God showed up.
So this Monday afternoon, Eve and I will board a plane and begin a 20+ hour trip to Africa. Another step in the process of bringing their sweet girl home and one less orphan in this world.
Am I nervous? You bet. Is this exactly where God wants me to be? No doubt.
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Adoption A'Plenty
What an honor it is when God places people in your life that lead by example. People that understand God's heart for orphans. People that want to be obedient to God's calling. People that are willing to take a leap of faith. We have some of those people in our lives, and we are blessed to be able to call them our friends.
Royce is Ryan's good friend and co-worker. He and his wife Eve and their two girls have been on their adoption journey for quite a while. The DeGrie's just got a referral for a sweet, teeny, tiny little lump of sugar in Africa. I know they are ready to have that sweet baby in their arms. They have done their share of waiting and then some. But it won't be long now, and we could not be happier for them! You can follow them on their journey here.
Casey and TJ are some of the first friends we made when we started going to our church. We actually started our small group with them almost five years ago now. I remember Ryan being so excited when he came home from church one Wednesday night because he met this great guy and his wife's name is Casey, and "it ends in a y like yours does." Um, okay Ryan; in that case, I am sure we will be best friends! Bless him. But the truth is, we did become friends. We were able to be a part of their surprise of little Will after there struggle with infertility, and now we are blessed to see them walk this journey of adoption as well. The Overstreet's started the adoption process a few months ago and have chosen a special needs child off of a waiting list in Eastern Europe. I know they are counting the days until they get their little guy home. You can follow them on their journey here.
Jason and Kelly are also friends that we made not long after we started attending our church. We are connected through our children (who are very close in age), our church, our small group, and of course, our friendship. J and Kelly are just beginning their adoption journey for a little boy in Ethiopia. And I already have his name picked out! Right Kelly?! We are so excited to watch God show up big for them through their journey. Cause we know He will! You can follow them on their journey here.
We love each of these families. We consider it a privilege to pray for them and love on them as they seek to obey God's calling on their lives through adoption. May He be glorified!
Royce is Ryan's good friend and co-worker. He and his wife Eve and their two girls have been on their adoption journey for quite a while. The DeGrie's just got a referral for a sweet, teeny, tiny little lump of sugar in Africa. I know they are ready to have that sweet baby in their arms. They have done their share of waiting and then some. But it won't be long now, and we could not be happier for them! You can follow them on their journey here.
Casey and TJ are some of the first friends we made when we started going to our church. We actually started our small group with them almost five years ago now. I remember Ryan being so excited when he came home from church one Wednesday night because he met this great guy and his wife's name is Casey, and "it ends in a y like yours does." Um, okay Ryan; in that case, I am sure we will be best friends! Bless him. But the truth is, we did become friends. We were able to be a part of their surprise of little Will after there struggle with infertility, and now we are blessed to see them walk this journey of adoption as well. The Overstreet's started the adoption process a few months ago and have chosen a special needs child off of a waiting list in Eastern Europe. I know they are counting the days until they get their little guy home. You can follow them on their journey here.
Jason and Kelly are also friends that we made not long after we started attending our church. We are connected through our children (who are very close in age), our church, our small group, and of course, our friendship. J and Kelly are just beginning their adoption journey for a little boy in Ethiopia. And I already have his name picked out! Right Kelly?! We are so excited to watch God show up big for them through their journey. Cause we know He will! You can follow them on their journey here.
We love each of these families. We consider it a privilege to pray for them and love on them as they seek to obey God's calling on their lives through adoption. May He be glorified!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Myrtle Beach and Sunsets
Thanks to this guy always doing this...
we get to enjoy these...
Wishing I was there again right now.
we get to enjoy these...
Wishing I was there again right now.
Myrtle
Fall break fell the first week of October this year, and we took our first, hopefully of many, vacations to the beach. We have been to the beach before when we have visited family, but we have never taken a trip just for beachin'.
With it being October, it was considered the off season, and we got a great rate for a week. We stayed in a condo on the third floor of a quaint, little beach front complex. There is just nothing like going to sleep to the sound of waves crashing. This is what we got to wake up to every morning...
Pure bliss I tell you.
Our unit had two bedrooms with a kitchen and living area. Nothing fancy, but was beach front with a great view and perfect for our little fam.
But, we didn't go it alone. Just to keep things interesting, we went with three other families; the Hales, Stewarts, and Coxs. 10 kids. 8 adults.
We are no strangers to these families, and truth be told do most of 'life' with them, but this was the first time we have vacationed together as families. I was cautiously optimistic that all of the kids would do well spending every day together for a week. For the most part they get along really well, but the older girls sometimes have a bit of trouble acting like...well, girls. And all in all, I think they did great. It is always interesting and sometimes quite comical to watch the dynamic of them together, but they truly love each other, and my prayer is that they are forming relationships that will be true and authentic for a lifetime.
There was some golf, shopping, eating out, date nights, and putt putt thrown in the mix, but we all spent the majority of our time on the beach. Each family had their own condo, and we would all make our way to the beach in the mornings and set up camp for the day. Man, there is a lot of gear that goes with beachin'. We looked like pack-mules making our way down in the mornings.
This is Parker and P on boogie boards. P loved being in the water. She was always out there on a board ever in pursuit of the next big wave.
P + a boogie board = a cute buns photo op. (Shhhh, don't tell! She would be oh so embarrased)
There was some serious bocce ball games that took place on that beach. Kids and adults alike. Doesn't matter where we go, we always find a way to make a competition out of something!
This was a great get-away for us! I loved the no schedule, reading, walking, playing, talking, eating, relaxing, swimming, and just hanging vacation that going to the beach provided. We had so much fun and made memories that we will have for years to come. I am grateful to these families for sharing a week of vacation with us. We are blessed to have them in our lives.
And here is just a bit a proof that vacation or no vacation.... some things never change.
With it being October, it was considered the off season, and we got a great rate for a week. We stayed in a condo on the third floor of a quaint, little beach front complex. There is just nothing like going to sleep to the sound of waves crashing. This is what we got to wake up to every morning...
Pure bliss I tell you.
Our unit had two bedrooms with a kitchen and living area. Nothing fancy, but was beach front with a great view and perfect for our little fam.
But, we didn't go it alone. Just to keep things interesting, we went with three other families; the Hales, Stewarts, and Coxs. 10 kids. 8 adults.
We are no strangers to these families, and truth be told do most of 'life' with them, but this was the first time we have vacationed together as families. I was cautiously optimistic that all of the kids would do well spending every day together for a week. For the most part they get along really well, but the older girls sometimes have a bit of trouble acting like...well, girls. And all in all, I think they did great. It is always interesting and sometimes quite comical to watch the dynamic of them together, but they truly love each other, and my prayer is that they are forming relationships that will be true and authentic for a lifetime.
There was some golf, shopping, eating out, date nights, and putt putt thrown in the mix, but we all spent the majority of our time on the beach. Each family had their own condo, and we would all make our way to the beach in the mornings and set up camp for the day. Man, there is a lot of gear that goes with beachin'. We looked like pack-mules making our way down in the mornings.
This is Parker and P on boogie boards. P loved being in the water. She was always out there on a board ever in pursuit of the next big wave.
P + a boogie board = a cute buns photo op. (Shhhh, don't tell! She would be oh so embarrased)
There was some serious bocce ball games that took place on that beach. Kids and adults alike. Doesn't matter where we go, we always find a way to make a competition out of something!
This was a great get-away for us! I loved the no schedule, reading, walking, playing, talking, eating, relaxing, swimming, and just hanging vacation that going to the beach provided. We had so much fun and made memories that we will have for years to come. I am grateful to these families for sharing a week of vacation with us. We are blessed to have them in our lives.
And here is just a bit a proof that vacation or no vacation.... some things never change.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!
To celebrate Peyton's graduation from Kindergarten we had a little party of sorts at our house last Friday night. P's friends Evan, Parker, and Emery were invited to the festivities, all of whom just had graduations of their own. These girls are all about some fun! They are very sweet together and play really well with each other.
Our friends, who just happen to be the parents of the aforementioned girlies, and Nick and ML were present and accounted for as well. We grilled out, stuffed our faces, played some Wii, and all in all had a blast. Gotta love fun times and good friends... You know who you are... thanks for sharing in our lives!
Our friends, who just happen to be the parents of the aforementioned girlies, and Nick and ML were present and accounted for as well. We grilled out, stuffed our faces, played some Wii, and all in all had a blast. Gotta love fun times and good friends... You know who you are... thanks for sharing in our lives!
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