Lucky 13!

Isaiah is my 13th N&N, and I happen to find that a very happy number!  

If you'd like to see more of their Ethiopian journey, click here!

I think this is my most favorite picture!  

He likes to read in bed.  Of course we're related!

Beautiful family!  Can't wait til it's a full family portrait!

And seriously; how precious is this?  

I've had the amazing opportunity to see two sisters adopt and choose two of my nephews.  It has been so surreal for me to watch.  I wonder why more people don't adopt.  I know the reasons why more people don't, but for all those reasons, Jesus answers. 

 You might ask me why I don't: a valid question if I pose it so blatantly.  All I can say is that God hasn't put it on our hearts to have children, instead we want to do the most we can for as many as we can through our "five loaves and two fish."   Is it enough?  Well, are there still orphans?  We want to do more and I know we will, and what we do can be exponentially increased by the Spirit.  Won't you join us?

Part of my Heart is in Africa Right Now!

The star is where my sister and my brother-in-law are likely just getting up "tomorrow" morning!  It is so absolutely incredible to comprehend.

Several years ago I went to spend a week watching their 3 kids while they took a trip to Jamaica for their 10th anniversary.  It was a very special time!  I remember her telling me later that they had talked, ever so briefly, about adopting some day.  (I think this was when, so if I'm wrong, I apologize!)  I remember my sis saying something about a little girl from Guatemala, but her husband said that he thought it would be a little boy from Africa!  I remember thinking that it sounded a bit far fetched, but as they weren't serious about it, it was just a "huh!" moment!

And now here they are: in Africa getting ready to meet their little boy on Sunday (Saturday night for us)!  I had no idea my brother-in-law had the gift of prophecy!  O.K., that may have only happened as a special gifting for the moment, but I'll probably think hard about any predictions he'll make from now on!

Probably like many people, my sister and I weren't exactly "kindred spirits" as we were growing up.  She was a fairly typical oldest child and I was certainly a second.  I didn't have very much in common with her, it seemed, until we got older and realized how much we truly do.  Mostly we just discovered that we like each other and our differences and have grown to appreciate what God is doing in each others' lives.  Actually, I absolutely adore my sister!  She has shown me love and forgiveness more than any one person in my life.  God has blessed me immensely by putting us together and I'm so grateful that I can come along on her spiritual shirt-tales!

I'm also so incredibly fond of my brother-in-law!  He's a definite tough guy, but I'll never forget how he waited for my sis to figure out that he was the "one!"  We all knew, of course.  I have been so impressed at how he has led in his relationship with my sister.  He takes such wonderful care of her.  He is a pretty cool dad, too!  Watching him with his little girls is so precious and it cracks me up how boys and their dads can be!  He's taught his children well.

I would do just about anything for these two people.  I wish I could do more; be there more; give more.  They are two ordinary people who have let the Extraordinary God show through them.  They are an example of what I want to be.  For the next week, these two are moving forward on bringing my nephew home, even if it won't conclude for another 6-8 weeks.  So, for now, I am praying that their trip is smooth, they will be well-rested, and they have wonderful visits with their son in his home country.  It won't be long until they can bring him home, but til then, we all have a little of our heart in Ethiopia!

Lucky Number 13!

Oh how I wish I could show you all a picture of my new nephew!

My sister got her referral on Tuesday and I have been just enthralled ever since.

That day was interesting, as I had accidentally left my phone in the house as I drove away.  I realized it shortly after I left my driveway and after a split second thought of "What if today is the day?" I rushed back to get it.  I am so glad I did!  I don't remember exactly what time it was, but my day at work hadn't gone too far when my phone began to vibrate.  With my very dirty hands (I was transplanting flowers), I fumbled to pull my phone out of my pocket and see who was calling me.  I was already a bit excited thinking it may be my sister, but when I saw that it was, I just about jumped out of my skin trying to remain calm as I answered, "Hello?"  It was her and she said it was IT!!!!  I immediately began to bawl and ran outside where I could be alone in my jubilant tears!  Plus I wanted to run around and jump and scream!  After hearing the few details, I tried to go back to work, all the while telling everyone I could about it.

As much as I'd like to pity myself for not getting to share in person this fabulous moment, I can't!  My joy is overflowing and I am so happy, it doesn't matter where I am!  I love that I live in the days of technology and can share moments over a phone and computer!  So is my husband, or I'd have never left the "midlands!"  I now wait with gargantuan amounts of anticipation for the day I can go to Kansas and bawl all over again when I see my sister and we can send them out to pick up their son!  I will likely bawl when they get home and we embrace (figuratively if not literally!) the little guy into our family.  O.K., we already love him to death, just like the previous N&N's!  I'm so excited!  Can you tell?  I will have the joy to meet two new nephews on that trip!  Remember my brother's little guy?  He looks like he's ready for some Aunt Meli time, too!

Well, I just wanted to share my joy wave for this week!  I can't wait to share pictures and all that sort of thing, but if you weren't aware, that is not allowed until the process is officially complete and he is theirs.  I knew you'd understand!  Whew, 13 N&N's!  Love it!

Pick Me, So I can Give It Away!

Isn't this gorgeous?! As you may know by now, my sister's family has been waiting to hear word from their adoption agency as to who their little boy from Ethiopia will be. She may have thought originally that this was a journey that would change just their lives. She was wrong. It has changed at least my life as well. I've had experience inviting another nephew into the larger family who was born in China, but you have to know, it's just a bit different with a sister. Especially a sister who you love so deeply. My world has been rocked with the deepening knowledge of the world out there. Even my husband commented on how I've changed in the last 6 months. I am no longer anxious for a new kitchen, as I have a perfectly functioning one right now. I am aghast at the cost of new clothes when I have a closet FULL of things I don't seem to even need. I get a bit angry when I hear of how "stricken" people are when they can't get the luxury items they want, when it costs so little to help a child eat for a week and they don't even consider helping. Alright, I get a lot angry at that last one, especially when I see it in me.
In this whole change of perspective, I have begun to "stalk" a few blogs that pertain to adoption (thanks to my sister's links!) and came across this one: "Ethiopia or Bust! @ http://bottomlysandethiopia.blogspot.com/

She's doing a giveaway, and yes, I'm trying for it! How materialistic, you may think. Yes, and no. I would honestly love to have her necklace (above: it's Ethiopian Angel's Wings), but I most likely would not keep it. It would not belong to me. I would most definitely pass it along to my sweet sister who is waiting for her little angel! If it weren't for her, I'd not be enjoying this special road.
If nothing else, please check out the Bottomly's blog and "Don't excuse yourself by saying, 'Look, we didn't know.' For God understands all hearts, and He sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve." Proverbs 24:12 (NLT)

Monday's Motivation

I don't know how one can watch this and not be moved to live out our religion as James 1:27 so perfectly states, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." I see this verse over and over with my family's adoption stories, but it is so important. In all the Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, jewelry, Tupperware, and other parties that are driven by our desires to primp and gadget ourselves to oblivion, there are real live children who are wondering if they will eat today. I'm not saying the former things are evil, but are they really what we should be putting our money, time, & energy towards? I'm not pointing fingers, really; I used to sell MK. We are so invested in our self esteem, self image, self, self, self. I have just been so burdened these last weeks to not only pray for these who are truly the "least," (according to our inflated American standards) but to find something to DO. I feel so inadequate, but if I can, I should. James also states that "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." The Lord calls us all to different actions, and I can only challenge you to fast and pray to discover what it may be that He is calling you to DO. I am taking the opportunity for the entire time my husband is gone, to "fast" from the grocery store. I am going to spend my two week grocery budget on a particular place that the Lord has shown to me. Just one idea. There are millions. Now watch and be motivated.

Ethiopian Orphans from Simon Scionka on Vimeo.