Coming Home

So sorry we have not had a chance to update! We have been busy here with the sweetest, cutest, funniest, MOST ACTIVE 13 month old I know! She has done so well and we cannot wait to get her home. We fly out in 5 hours and land in Memphis Thursday night at 6:50! Can't wait to see friends and family that have loved us and her for so long!

My heart is at peace for the first time since October 2007-- when we knew we were to adopt a baby girl. It has been a wild and crazy journey...one that has taken longer than I would have liked...but being on this side I can say God is good and IT WAS WORTH IT!

She has adjusted well... but pray for our long flight. Hoping she does well! Can't wait to update from home :)

Anna

Ethiopia, here we come!

We leave for Ethiopia in just over a week to go pick up our girl!! We are ecstatic!! This has been a long, long journey- one that brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it. We saw Lucy Samrawit's picture for the first time in September. I never would have dreamed it would have taken this long to clear court and embassy. But, it did. I would love to say I have been patient through every trial but that is not the case. Some days I have been filled with peace but then made it through others kicking and screaming.

I will say I have learned so much about God's nature....He has been so faithful during this time. I haven't understood every twist and turn or delay but I can say His promises are true. This adoption journey has brought on a whole new meaning to "lean not on your own understanding" and we have totally had to rely on His truths.

We are in a state of thankfulness right now. Tomorrow we find out if Baby #2 is a boy or girl. 1 week later we leave for Ethiopia. 1 week later we arrive back in the United States with one of the most precious gifts we have ever been given.

Please continue to pray for others still waiting to pass court and embassy. There are lots of mountains that are having to be overcome. We know God can level the mountains, break down the bars, make the rough places smooth, and make the crooked places straight. Please join us in praying that for these sweet families and precious children.

Thanks for loving us for the past two years we have been on this crazy ride! We are so thankful.

Submitted

We got an email from our amazing social worker Kristin today! We were submitted to the U.S. embassy this morning! We now wait 3-5 days (or a little longer) to see if they approve us or need more paperwork. Hopefully, they will approve us and then give us a travel date. We hear (not sure if it is true or not) that embassy dates are currently 3 weeks out. So, we shall see. I know one thing....Russ and I will be on the first flight out if they will just give us a date soon!! Can't believe we are one step closer.

Praising God for moving and working. His promises are true and we are clinging to that.

Please pray for all of the families that are still waiting. There are many that are still waiting to pass court...some that traveled before us and some that traveled after us. Others are waiting for referrals. These have become dear friends to us and the waiting and not knowing is hard. Also praying for people to be called to adopt from Ethiopia...adoption is not the final solution to orphans in Ethiopia but it is part of the solution for now.

Thanks for being in this with us.

She is OURS!!!

We got the call this morning! Lucy Samrawit is officially ours!! We now have to wait to get our embassy date...but praying it won't take too long. We will post more later but we are just so excited!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!



We cannot wait to get our hands on her!!!!

waiting

Waiting is unbelievably hard. I thought waiting for a referral was hard. Then I thought waiting for a court date was hard. And they are. But I must say meeting our sweet baby girl in January and then having to leave her was the hardest. At the time though, I thought we would be back within weeks to get her. So, while leaving was difficult, I thought it would not be for long. We left Ethiopia on February 12, needing a committee's approval for our adoption to be finalized. It is May 30 and we still do not have the paperwork. Not one things has changed in our case. Our daughter, however, is now 11 months old instead of 7 months. She has changed SO much and looks so different. We have gone through every range of emotions the past 4 months. Anger, Sadness, contentment, thankfulness, anxiety, peace, joy, longing.......

I came across this verse today. I am not a Bible scholar so I do not know the context but it totally resonated with me.

Psalm 119:81-84

"I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me, I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees. How long must I wait?"

For the past two weeks many cases have been processed, some of which happened before our courtdate and some of which happened after our courtdate. I truly am SOOOOOO excited for the people who have passed. Each time someone passes court, ONE MORE child gets to come home. I rejoice in that.

But I must admit I sometimes have felt forgotten. Some days have felt hopeless. We love our social worker and agency and cannot say enough wonderful things about them, BUT we have had so many days where there are no answers.

I was so thankful to see words in HIS word that I am feeling.

After reading this verse, I again claim that "I PUT MY HOPE IN YOUR WORD." God always finishes what He starts and brings His will to completion. We truly believe that. While we would have it differently, we are still called to wait. And if that is God's best for us and for our baby girl, then we trust Him in that.

Thanks for the prayers and kindness. We are so thankful. Please also continue to pray for the other families waiting.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Anna

Help our friends!!!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you all know about 2 different adoption fundraisers that are currently going on!! We are very passionate about these since so many people have supported us! The financial task of adoption can be daunting at first BUT God can and will provide.



Thursday night (March 24) eat at CHICK-FIL-A if you live in Tupelo or Oxford!!! A portion of the money will go to help our friend's THE THOMPSON'S with their adoption. Just remember to mention their name when you check out. You can go to the Chick-fil-a in Oxford from 5-9 and the one in Tupelo (outside the mall) from 4-7.



These are our friends Adam and Andrea. They are currently holding a photo contest. Click HERE to find out more details. Basically, they have a photo album HERE on Facebook. You look at the pics, taking note of the number by each one. You then go to their website HERE, click the DONATE button, put in the amount ($1 per vote OR MORE :) ) Be careful to make sure you put the number of the picture you are voting for in the special instructions box.

We love these friends and know that God will provide their every need. Simply because He has for us.

In the desert

Adoption is hard. Waiting is difficult. Seeing your child and then leaving them for an undetermined amount of time is excruciating. But I believe that she is ours. Not because I created this story but because I FIRMLY believe God did. And if He wrote it then I can trust Him to bring it to completion. I LOVE the lyrics to this song. While we sang them last night I could see myself in each verse. In the desert, the trials, the battle and the harvest.

Also, click HERE to read what Jamie Ivey has to say about meeting your children and then having to leave them. OH, how I needed this TODAY! Tough day....so thankful God used her in this exact moment. She said it beautifully. Thanks Jamie!!!!


The Desert Song by Hillsong

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness, or trial, or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conquerer and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

All of my life in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the harvest
Where favour and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

Amsterdam

Hey Friends! I am going to try and re-cap our days in Ethiopia. I will do a post a day, sharing pics and entries from my journal for that day....sorry if this is boring...just want to have a record of our time :)

January 29, 2011

We spent a day in Amsterdam on our way to Addis Ababa. In my journal I had written these highlights of Amsterdam.

- Small hotel room- 2 twin beds pushed together

- frites with cheese ( Cheese sauce was NASTY)

-canal tour- being so sleepy I could barely keep my eyes open

- Rembrandt museum - prodigal son drawings

- scones and coffee at cafe

- going to lobby for Internet to email to let everyone know we had made it

- being so excited but so nervous about arriving in Ethiopia

- sitting in the oldest pub in Holland- with an overwhelming awareness of being gone- the unknown we were about to experience

CHEESE...... my favorite food!!!

Rembrandt Museum

We had a wonderful day and night in Amsterdam. But the entire time I was so aware of the fact that this was not a normal vacation. Our purpose was different. We would meet our daughter in 2 days. We didn't know how long we would be in Ethiopia. The details of our journey were unknown. We prayed for a miracle...that God would move our case quickly so that we could take placement of our daughter in Ethiopia.

****Happy 8th month anniversary to our sweet daughter. We never dreamed we would be apart from you when you turned this age but we will be together soon. We love you!!!

Done

I simply cannot believe we leave for Ethiopia in 2 days!! This does not seem real. The waiting has been so hard and long and now if feels like it went by so fast.

As we have said, we are going to stay in-country between court and embassy which can be anywhere from 3-6 weeks. But, there is a delay right now so our journey is unknown. There are a million different scenarios as to how the next 2 weeks will go. I am ultimately praying that our case is final on February 4th. But, I also know God is calling me to something more. He is calling us to pray for His will and to be content with the way He sees fit to complete this adoption journey. This makes me nervous as I type this but I know God is good and that He has worked out every detail of our adoption the past 2 years.

I believe the complications will be cleared up soon...I am believing GOd can do that. But I am also believing that He knows best and will work everything out to bring this to completion.

My friend gave me the book Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I am only on chapter 2 and it is so great! Here is an excerpt from the book that really spoke to me.

" I need oil," said an ancient monk, so he planted an olive sapling. "Lord," he prayed. "it needs rain that its tender roots may drink and swell. Send gently showers." And the Lord sent gentle showers. "Lord," prayed the monk, "my tree needs sun. Send sun, I pray thee." And the sun shone, gilding the dripping clouds. " Now frost, my Lord, to brace its tissues," cried the monk. And behold, the little tree stood sparkling with frost, but at evening it died.

Then the monk sought the cell of a brother monk, and told his strange experience. "I, too, planted a little tree," he said, "and see! It thrives well. But I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better what it needs than a man like me. I laid no condition. I fixed not ways or means. 'LORD, SEND WHAT IT NEEDS,' I prayed, 'storm or sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. Thou hast made it and Thou dost know."

So, join me in praying for God's will...concerning the timing of our adoption being final, the time we will spend in Ethiopia, and us being able to bring her home! So hard for me to let go...and just trust...with no set way in my head as to how it should go. But I am tired and honestly have no control over this so I am letting go. Can't wait to see how God works.

ps--for you crazies....someone is living at our home while we are gone :)

Solid Rock

Life is crazy right now. I have a million questions swirling in my head as we prepare to leave for Ethiopia. We leave in a little over 2 weeks.....ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As we thought about the fact that we would travel twice...once to attend court and once to attend our embassy date...we began to feel that we were to stay in country between the 2 dates. We sought wise counsel, prayed about it, talked to our employers, and the answer was an overwhelming YES that we should stay. Typically the stay would be around 3-6 weeks but there are some delays right now so it is unclear as to how long we will be there.

Questions that run through my head:

How long will we be in Ethiopia, will Russ have to come back before Lucy and I can, what if we don't have enough money to live in two places, what if the delay is LONG, what if the finalization of our adoption is delayed and we have to just visit Lucy at the foster home versus her staying with us, what about my job while I am gone, what are Russ and I going to do with a BABY with no help (aka..mom's to help), I hate to leave our dog for that long (YES, this has crossed my mind...who would have thought I would even think about a dog when I am going to get my child.....I don't even like dogs), what if something bad happens here while we are gone AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

So, now that you got a glimpse into my crazy head.....let me tell you what is keeping me sane.

The fact that I will see our little girl in exactly 3 weeks. God is providing me with a calm and peace. He keeps showing me that staying is the right decision...an adventure that I have always desired. Now that the time for it is here...I get scared but I know I would regret the decision if we chose to come home. Now is the time....everything has fallen into place. We are blessed with AMAZING employers who support our decision....amazing family and friends that are making this happen......we are fully able to go to Ethiopia with the sole purpose of LOVING on our daughter. What a privilege.

While nothing happening right now is bad....I do feel like we are experiencing the torrents of rain and wind that this verse talks about. And honestly, we want to give up. But we know we are anchored.

Matthew 7:24-27

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

Everything inside of me just wants to collapse...but I will not. I am holding on and going to enjoy this amazing journey without regret!

Saw this video this morning from Pete Wilson -pastor of Cross Point in Nashville.....

MORE: Series Launch Promo from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

Love this quote from the video...."The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity. "

And that is just what this journey is....the opportunity of a lifetime.

A Cord of Three Strands

One of my great friends, Sara Berry, just published a new book called A Cord of Three Strands. The book is a true story of a sweet lady that lives in our town and it is FABULOUS!!! It involves one teenage girl giving her child up for adoption. It involves one woman's desire and longing for children. It involves redemption and grace and a story only God could create.

I read the book in two days and BAWLED the entire time. Such a sweet, sweet story. Here is the promo video for the book. You can go to www.bethelroadpublications.com to order your copy....and she has some other great books that would be great Christmas presents as well....

Especially the sweet children's book .....A Home for Him (for boys or girls).... AMAZING artwork and tells Biblical truths plainly so that kids can understand.

Let me know if you read the book (or books) and what you think :)

Anna

Heart of Peace

I came across this in my journal....from January 9, 2010.

"If you want to hear God's voice clearly and you are uncertain, then remain in His presence until He changes this uncertainty. Often much can happen during this waiting on the Lord. Sometimes He changes pride into humility; doubt into faith and peace; sometimes lust into purity. The Lord can and will do it."

Corrie Ten Boom

Love how over this past year these have all been prayers of mine. I forgot that I had even read this quote.... LOVE how God reminds us that He is able and working when we need it most.

Referral Day!!!

Here are a few pics from our referral day.  Some of the ones of us seeing her picture we can't post..since it shows her face :(

My mom and aunt (and brother's legs)...LOVE their faces!

My Dad and I

We didn't get to Russ' parents until 10:30 that night.  We actually woke them up to show them her sweet face.  This is Mrs. Birdie's surprised face :)

Again, we literally got them out of the bed!!

Russ skyped with his sister to see her reaction.  Such a sweet time.

We had the best time showing people her face in person.  It has been 3 weeks since we first saw her picture....CANNOT wait to get an update on her.  Gladney says you get one twice a month so it should be anyday.  Praying it will be TODAY!!  We are also still waiting for a court date....praying it would be soon as well ;)

Old Navy will forever be a part of my life.

 Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Strep Throat.  He came to visit and slightly overstayed his visit.  Because of his visit, I also had to meet Mrs. Steroid S. Hot.  Our time together lasted all week....and amazingly did not involve any sleep.

Tuesday I was home alone and SAD. I was not having fun with my company and just wanted a referral.  I began to think about Lucy and her future and our future with kids.  I felt the overwhelming need to go into her room (which is FULL of junk), get on my knees, and pray for our futures.  I prayed against my need to think I know what is best for her life....against the need to feel like I am in control... and that I would realize she is first and foremost God's child and I must trust her to Him.  It then hit me that if I believe that and pray for that for the future then I must believe He knows every day of her life...even if I don't what is going on with her now.  It is amazing how many times God has to teach me the same lessons.  I left her room with a sense of peace....thankful that God is all-knowing and I am not.

On Thursday, I decided to try and go to work for the day.  After a couple of hours my boss/great friend called in a panic.  She was overwhelmed and just needed to vent. They (as in her and her husband and their FIVE children) were leaving for Boston that afternoon and life was just overwhelming.  I listened and finally told her I was coming over to help.  After many attempts to try and get me not to, she finally agreed to let me come.

Such a God moment.  When I got to her house...we sat and talked about our China trip we went on two years ago, family, sin, God, life.  FOR. TWO. HOURS.  We prayed, cried, breathed.  Just what I needed.  After lunch we finally started working.  Around 3 pm she told me she was going to Wal-mart and Old Navy to get items for their trip.  I told her my energy was sinking (due to my unwanted guest...Mr. Strep Throat) and to let me go for her.  I called Russ on the way and told him I would be home in an hour or so.  

I wandered through Wal-mart....no shorts for her son so I ran to Old Navy.  No shorts.  I was walking through the store...ILL....TIRED....and my phone rang.  I was so disturbed...I mean...how dare someone call me on my phone.  I decided to see who it was.  817.......uh...uh.....this is it.

Me:  Hello??? 

Kristen: Hey Anna, This is Kristen....this is the call. 

Me:  (screaming in Old Navy)  Oh my goodness....I didn't think you were ever going to call me.

I stood there for a moment....stunned...then thought about the fact that I didn't get my friend's son's shorts.  Maybe I should go to Kohl's....wait ....what am I thinking.....I need to go home NOW and see my BABY!!  I dropped the other items off at her house and told her I was running home to see my baby. 

I called Russ...told him I didn't feel well and would be home in a minute.  He said I sounded weird...I told him nothing was wrong. 

My heart was pounding and I think I had to remind myself to breathe a few times on the way home.  I drove in silence...no radio...just my thoughts (and the squeaking sounds from our old car that is on it's last leg...or tire if you will).  

I pulled up...ran to the door...completely trying to act normal...Russ met me at the door.  I could tell he was worried but I knew he had no idea.  I told him we had gotten the call!

We set the computer up and called Kristen.  She didn't answer the first time but answered the second time.  Good thing because I was calling every minute until she answered. 

When her picture came up and she told us her age...we were stunned.  I had no idea she would be so little....so tiny....so beautiful.  I looked over and Russ was weeping...which was just as beautiful a site as her.  We didn't speak for minutes...we were quite literally speechless.  After hearing her story...God was suddenly bigger and grander than I realized.  I felt like I had just gotten a glimpse of Him and his character....I suddenly knew Him better.  

He put her on our heart 3 years ago....and on the day we got the call...she was 3 days from being 3 months old.  She is perfect and has the most beautiful eyes you have ever seen.

What an amazing end to the week.  For 8 months I wanted the call.  While nothing spectacular happened during this past week....the timing of the call was perfect.  Russ and I had been depressed, sad.   Our prayers had turned to begging....but this past week..we both realized that and consciously spent time trying to come to a point where we wanted God's timing not ours.  By Thursday we weren't desperate...well, maybe a little....but we were ready.  What a wonderful day!!!  Thursday night and Friday were spent driving around North Mississippi showing her off to our friends and family. 

Absolutely amazing experience. We love her so much.

ugh!!!!!!!

WARNING:  Honest post coming from the heart.  You have been warned :)

WE ARE READY FOR OUR REFERRAL :)  The past two weeks have been hard.  I am extremely emotional....not sleeping...and just plain ready to see my daughter's face.  I am trying to be content because in my crazy mind I feel like we won't get the referral until I am content in waiting BUT I am not there today.  You know the feeling when you have gone on vacation and it has been wonderful....but then you wake up on the last day and know you have the long drive home.  And that ride takes for.....e....ver.......That is how I feel today. Ready. Tired.  Emotional. Ready to be done with the waiting.

Praying tomorrow will be the day.  Praying she is home by Christmas.  That has been my dream all along...that we would not spend Christmas 2010 without her.

I wish I had some encouraging words....and tomorrow I am sure I will...but tonight I just don't.  I have been trying to go to sleep for a couple of hours...no such luck.

Also, my glasses are at my in-laws and I had already taken my contacts out SO if you see any typos....just know that it is because I am blind as a bat.

Sidenote:  I love my husband.  We were sitting on the couch tonight and he tells me that he wants to build Lucy a treehouse or a teepee.  I think Teepee won. Why does my infant daughter need a teepee you ask. I have no idea.  But, I love that my husband...her daddy....wants to build her one.

1 year ago

I cannot believe that it has been ONE year since we decided to adopt from Ethiopia.  Last year on this day, I was a wreck!!!  I cried all day because I just knew God had opened my heart to adoption AND opened my heart to ANY child and plan that He had for us....not just the plan that I THOUGHT I wanted.  On this day, Russ picked me up to drive to Okolona for a Ghana mission meeting.  It was on that ride that I start crying and telling him that I am ready and OPEN for the child God has for us.  We decided that we did want a multi-racial family and that was part of the plan.  We debated between a domestic (US) adoption or an Ethiopian adoption.

It was at this point that I think we could have gone either way and I think either way would have been great!!!  But, I had been reading many Ethiopian blogs and even read the book "There is no me without you." (which I highly recommend!!!!).  It was like the blur of the past year finally made sense.  The fact that I had thrown away an Ethiopian adoption packet the year before...because we were "not doing that"  made this decision even better.  My heart had been closed off because of fear.  Fear of the process, what being a multi-racial family would look like, how our family and friends would react, etc.  But, on this day, all of those things didn't seem to matter.  I finally knew what my heart wanted...and it wanted WHATEVER child GOd had for us to parent.  AH, the freedom I felt on that day!!!

We chose Ethiopia and in Russ' words "there was no turning back."  Many questioned why not the United States and truthfully, I feel like we will probably adopt from the US at some point.  All I can say is that I believe this little girl from Ethiopia was planned long before time to be OUR little girl.  God does not just see the US when He views the world and He calls for us to care for others in our neighborhoods, cities, states, country, and even the world.

We went that night and prayed with some close friends of ours.  Having knew that we wanted a girl and that we would name her Lucy...it was that night that I found Lucy Lane's coming home video.  What perfect timing.  I had never seen her blog and how "convenient" for me to see it right after we had made the decision when I was freaking out a little.

We have been on the waitlist for almost 7 months.  She was so real to us last August but even more so today.

Lucy,

During this period of waiting, know that you are loved.  Your daddy and I cannot wait until the day that we get to see your little face.  While on paper, the decision was only made one year ago....you have been in our hearts for many years.  While waiting is hard...I trust in God's timing and plan.  I hope you feel so loved today....by us but ultimately by our great Father.

Radical

I recently just finished reading Radical by David Platt.  I've heard of this book for some time but didn't have a strong desire to read it.  On a whim I picked up the book at Barnes and Noble and decided to purchase it.  Now, while there are some extreme statements in this book and it is no substitute for The Word, it has challenged me and unnerved me.  You know, one of those books that I almost wish I hadn't read because now I am forced to wrestle with some issues I would rather push away.

 I am comfortable.  I have a pretty nice house in the exact neighborhood I wanted...a wonderful husband....a dog and soon to be daughter.  I live a comfortable life.  But, I almost think when our life is comfortable...we are not truly living the life God created us to live.  When we are comfortable we are not dependent on Him.  God has been challenging us on this....especially when we decided to adopt from Ethiopia.  I was not comfortable with adopting a child that didn't look like us.  Now, don't start throwing stones....I am just being honest.  It took me by surprise when I realized that was in my heart.  God worked on my heart for a year and now I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  But, I would not call the process "comfortable." I would call it amazing, crazy, and completely reliant on Him, but not comfortable.

God is breaking us in some other areas of this as well....so please pray that Russ and I would be willing to truly serve Him and to quit chasing the American dream and be radical in our pursuit of "making disciples" which to me means  bringing others to Him through relationships for His glory.

I have heard people say that after reading this book...they felt like they must just sell everything and move across the world.  While I am sure that is exactly what God intends for some and perhaps I will do at some point... I also feel like the book challenged me to be radical in Tupelo, MS where I am called right now.

A few quotes I underlined:

"How many of us are embracing the comforts of suburban America while we turn a deaf ear to inner cities in need of the gospel?"

"This is how God works.  He puts His people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness."

"Fundamentally, the gospel is the revelation of who God is, who we are, and how we can be reconciled to him.  Yet in the America dream, where self reigns as king (or queen), we have a dangerous tendency to misunderstand, minimize, and even manipulate the gospel in order to accommodate our assumptions and desires.  As a result, we desperately need to explore how much of our understanding of the gospel is American and how much is biblical.  And in the process we need to examine whether we have misconstrued a proper response to the gospel and maybe even missed the primary reward of the gospel, which is God himself."

"It's a foundational truth: God creates, blesses, and saves each of us for a radically global purpose.  But if we are not careful, we will be tempted to make exceptions.  We will be tempted to adopt spiritual smoke screens and embrace national comforts that excuse us from the global plan of Christ.  And in the process we will find ourselves settling for lesser plans that the culture around us - and even the church around us - deems more admirable, more manageable, and more comfortable."

This post is heavy....just wanted to let you all know what is going on in Anna's life :)

Have a great Saturday night!!

Anna

ps--still no referral :(  we are at 6 1/2 months now.  Hopefully, it won't be long!!!

I will never....

Just thought I would show you my track record with saying "I will never..."

1.  I will never be a teacher.

     I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a pediatrician.  (Even though for a few moments when I was young I would tell people I wanted to be a child's pediatrician ...hmmmm......didn't know there was any other type of pediatrician. :)  After a year and a half of college and meeting Russ....I just did not have a peace about staying in pre-med.  I wanted it to be right so badly but it just wasn't.  I remember driving home from Oxford to tell my parents I was switching to education.  I taught for several years and now work at a girl's group home.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.....perhaps I will just always do different jobs....which is okay with me!!

2.  I will never enter the gates of Camp Lake Stephens again. 


      I went to Camp Lake Stephens in Oxford, MS for the first time as a third-grader.  I had a horrible time...which included a hill, a tornado, a paper-bag, and lots of screaming and crying.  I stated that I would NEVER be back.  Since that day I have now....attended camp there as an 18 year old, worked two summers as a camp counselor, met my husband through Camp Lake Stephens, was proposed to at the lake at camp, AND was married there.  How is that for a "I will never" statement???

3.  I will never adopt from Ethiopia.  


 That's right. We were given a pamphlet on Ethiopian adoption in 2008.  I threw it in the trash and stated that we would never do that.

4.  I will never live in New Albany (or Tupelo) when I grow up. 
    I loved where I grew up but I wanted out.  I wanted to move away from the area and even stated that I would never live in New Albany or Tupelo when I grew up.  I have now lived in Tupelo for almost 4 years :)

 I love when these happen....it just shows me how so not-in-control I am and how much God has worked on my heart.  I am so thankful that He knows best and that He knows my heart/desires/wishes more than I.  Be careful what you say I will never to.....you just never know :)

What are some of your "I will never's?"

Cookies for a Cause

Our fabulous friend Blair Curtis makes cookies that are o so cute and o so good!!!  She contacted me last week with this idea.  She wants to help get Lucy home by donating to us half of her cookie proceeds!!!  So, spread the word.....starting July 12th .....she will do this.  Here are some pics of a few of her cookies.

They are sooooo cute and tasty!! They are great for showers, birthdays, work functions, school functions, just to eat, etc.  Cookies are $1.50 each or $2.25 each (if they are wrapped in a bag with ribbon).  


You can contact Blair at blaircurtis14@comcast.net to place your cookie order (mention Lucy when you do).  She can do anything you need her to :)  Please share this with anyone you know as well :)  

Again, we are overwhelmed by the support Lucy has been given.  God is faithful!!!

Sitting in the belly of a whale

You know those days....those days where you just need some good news.  Well, this verse came to me at just the right time :)  Hope it encourages you today.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

I easily give up.. but God is teaching me endurance right now.  When everything inside of me wants to give up...God ever-so-gently whispers...DO NOT GIVE UP.

I have been reading Jonah and am experiencing it in a new way.

Jonah 1:3
"But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD."  ........I have so been here...running from the Lord.

But God again whispers DO NOT GIVE UP. 

You see Jonah went on to do what the Lord asked and the Lord was faithful to him and the people of Nineveh. 

Praise God for His faithfulness even when I doubt and worry.