Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Where He leads

Proverbs 24:12 - If you say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it?  And He Who guards your life, does not He know it?  And shall not He render to every man according to his works?


As I prepare to travel with my husband, Richard, in just five days across the ocean to a country I've never been, this scripture came to me.  I actually believe it is speaking to my heart.  There are times in my walk with the Lord that I feel He is speaking to me, whether it is by reading His word, that still small voice, or by circumstances. 

To go back just a few months in our journey of adoption, I filled out paperwork to get our USCIS approval.  Now I was amazed that our home study said we had approval for three children.  I had not asked for our social worker to write our home study to include up to three children.  I was comfortable in the beginning of this process to commit to adopting one child.  It was in our comfort zone.  I was told prior to filling out this form if you put one child you will only get approved for one child.  It was suggested that I put 2-3 in the blank requesting children to be approved for.  So I thought, I can put 2-3 on my form.  As I typed my form on my computer it would not allow me to put more than one character so I had to choose to put 2 or 3.  I chose to put 2 in this blank and only requested to be approved for two children.  I was comfortable with this and began to pray for God to show us His will in our adoption.  During our long wait (75 days) we felt led to commit to two children and added Kevin Michael to our adoption.  We could adopt two children.

When our approval form finally arrived I had to take note.  We were approved to adopt three children.  It was something we have had to look at and consider over these past few weeks.  What is God saying to us?  Only He could do this!  After much praying and searching our hearts this scripture can not be ignored.  We can not say with a clear conscious that we did not know this.  Doesn't He look at our hearts?  I believe this is His hand; His speaking to our hearts.  He will not give us more than we can handle.  I know myself well enough to know if I attempted to travel across the ocean and ignore what I believe God is saying I would regret it.  But worse than regret, I may miss out on what God is doing and His blessing for me and my family. 

This is the step we are taking.  We are going to travel across the ocean in five days to bring home three children.  In this particular country the children we have committed to are not guaranteed to be our children.  Anything can happen and circumstances change.  We pray that these children will become our children, but we must trust God will guide and direct us.  He knows which children are to be a part of our family.  As for our third adopted child, we have not committed to a specific child and we are trusting God on this one.  It is very difficult as we proceed into the unknown, but we trust God will be right there walking beside us.  His ways are always perfect!

Thank you for all of your support and prayers!  We are very close to having all of the funds needed to complete all three children's adoptions.  Keep our family in your prayers during this time!

reecesrainbow.org/sponsorbowling

Thursday, November 13, 2014

I am BRAVE ?!?!?!?!?!!!!

I had the honor of speaking today at our local MOPS group.  It is Adoption Awareness Month and I was chosen to speak with them about adoption.  It was quite an honor for me to be able to share our story.  We have not completed the process, but it is truly an incredible journey God has orchestrated in our lives.  I am not a public speaker, but I do have a passion to speak about my Lord and Savior and the grace and mercy He has shown to me.  I can only do these things because of Him!

The MOPS theme this year is "Be You, Bravely."  As I thought about this and what I wanted to share with the group, I have to say my desire is to be me, but I'm not sure about the bravely part of the theme.  During our adoption journey my motto has been "We Can Make a Difference."  Part of this is to be me, the me God created me to be.  My part, even if it's small, can make a difference!  Now to the brave part, well, I can say we have ventured into an unknown area of our life.  Adoption is something we have never done before.  We will be traveling to a foreign country.  I have never been outside the United States and this is the first time for me to hold a passport.  We are adopting children with special needs.  Once again, a new territory for us.  Brave, I'm not sure about that, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  I will stand and strive to be who God has called me to be.  I will be brave because I can not afford not to.  I will run my race, my journey, my life to the best I can.  I will not give up there is too much at stake!  These future children of ours and my entire family are worth the risk!

Thank you, my friend, Gina Carter, for calling me "brave" and blessing me with your key of courage!  I will make you, my family, my friends and my Lord, Jesus Christ, proud!  It is what I am striving for in this journey!!!!


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

EXCITING NEWS!!!

We have some exciting news today, but it has been a very emotional day!  I was up early praying that we would get word for our DAP appointment.  Of course, we did but I will get to that.  I also had to strip the sheets off my bed to prepare for our new mattress today.  I had no idea getting a new mattress would bring such emotions!  I mean it's over thirteen years old and it no longer provides a good nights sleep.  It just brought back such memories of the day we went to purchase it.  My husband, Richard, and I decided it was a desperate need back in 2001 because I was pregnant with our twin boys, Jacob and Josiah.  I still miss them very much and I can't believe it's been 13 years since their birth.  

Now back to some good news!  We will be leaving on Monday, November 24th to head to our children's country.  We have our DAP appointment on Wednesday, November 26th.  We are so excited!!!!  Our God is so good and so faithful!!!!
Also, it was great news for 5 families today who received their DAP appointment dates.  We will all be having our appointments before Thanksgiving.  Our team will be very busy helping all of these families bring home these children to their forever families!

READY, SET, GO!!!!

Please keep praying for our family as we make preparations to travel.  We still need funds to complete our adoption and would appreciate any help you can provide!

Thank you so much!!!

reecesrainbow.org/sponsorbowling

Friday, November 7, 2014

Yes, we can make a difference

We have been praying for wisdom and what God wants our family to do.  I was talking to someone about the hopelessness and abuse orphans face.  They are just innocent children.  I was also sharing with them that we are praying about adding a third child to our adoption and they said to me: "the tragedies that orphans face happens all over the world and this is not something new.  Are you sure you should add another?"  Yes, this does happen all over the world, unfortunately, but my response to them was:  "this is true but our helping just one more child can make a difference!"  We know this is not an easy decision.  It is a decision that will affect our lives and the lives of our children.  We will be a little more cramped for space, but no one said adoption was easy.  Let's face it raising children is not easy, life is not easy,  but the rewards are great!  

We must all remember that our little, no matter how small, can make a difference!  Our family is in this position by the grace of God and His help.  We can not ignore that we have been approved for adopting up to three children.   After filling out the paperwork and requesting approval for two children our paperwork came back with approval for three children.   I was told if you put two on your form you will only be approved for two.  Honestly, I meant to type 2-3 on the form, but when I rechecked the paperwork it said 2.   So, in our position, we must take note and listen for God to speak to our hearts.  We are approved to adopt three children!  Our hearts are to take this step and bring home three children to be a part of our family.  We are trusting God to work out all the details!

Please pray for us, as we are seeking wisdom and clear direction from God.  We will be traveling to bring our children home in the next 3-5 weeks.  We are still needing funds to complete this adoption process and additional funds to add child number three.  God is faithful!!!!

Thank you for all of your support!  Yes, we can all make a difference!

Saturday, November 1, 2014

READY, SET, GO - Angel Tree Starts Today!!!

Ok everyone it is time to start giving!!!  Let's get Emmalyn's grant fund increased and help her find her forever family!!!  We can do this if we all work together.  She deserves our help!!!


What a beautiful girl!!!  Just look at those big brown eyes!!!  Please consider donating towards her grant.  For any donation of $35 or more by December 1st you will receive a beautiful photo ornament of her to hang on your tree.  What a great way to celebrate Christmas and to bless a child in need!!!  

Use the donation button located on the right side of this page to give toward's Emmalyn today!!!