I love roller coasters...

but this one has been a bit much. I don't really think I am quite tall enough for it and would like to get off. :)

Since our yard sale I have not blogged. Shame on me. But wow, I don't even know where to start. During the yard sale time we were also in the process of buying our first home. We were already approved, made an offer on a house and paid the down payment. 2 days before closing we had a slight problem and the closing date was pushed back a few days. Only to get to that day and it be pushed back again. It has been heart breaking to say the least. We have been so discouraged, and confused.

I am a very transparent person, and not afraid to be myself and share my faults. Most anyone that knows us, know that Tim and I got started off on the wrong foot, what can I say, we were true newly-weds.... at age 20 we decided our marriage... and being together and having fun... was WAY more important that doing the grown up stuff... ya know.... going to work, paying bills ect.... we dug ourself a hole from the beginning..... but BOY did we have fun ;) LOL After that it kinda snow balled. And honestly, we had no idea how to get ourselves out of it so we ignored it for years... and that was NOT fun! :( Well, we began working on it about 4-5 years ago... but 2 years ago WE GOT SERIOUS! I can honestly say that it has only been with God's help that we have even gotten to this point. He has dramatically changed our finances and how we handle them.

That is why this has all been so hard, we feel like we have worked so hard, and then because of the mistakes of someone else, we are now left without a home. We still are not exactly sure what the outcome is. We wait. We had already turned our notice in on this house so we have to be out of here by Wednesday. We do have somewhere to go, but it is heartbreaking that we aren't moving from here to our own home.

At this point we don't really know what to think. Was that not the right house for us? Does He have something better? Is it not the right timing? Is He preparing us for the wait of the adoption? I don't know any of those answers.... but I trust that God has this under control and that there must be a reason for this all. He does hold my life in His hands and He absolutely knows whats best for me.

I have the most amazing husband in the world, 3 fun, fantastic kids with such great big hearts, and 2 children coming as a gift from God all the way from Africa. My walk with God is the most important thing in my life.... after that, my life is my family. No house will EVER mean more to me than them. No THING will ever compare to them. Sometimes God sends situations like this to remind us of how truly blessed we are!

What an awesome God we serve!

Feeling the love....REAL BIG!!

Wow. Talk about a busy day!! Today has been wonderful.

Started VERY early with our yard sale... and boy am I tired. But I am running on adrenaline and excitement!! I'm a little overwhelmed by all of the support..... and just how much God is blessing this journey. We have a very long way to go, BUT God continues to amaze us.

The one reason that we almost didn't follow God into this journey was finances. God affirmed and confirmed many times that HE would provide, so we stepped out with a leap of faith.... and no money! Which is unheard of for international adoptions. Most families that I have spoken to have several thousands saved (either from real estate profit, money left from a will or years of savings) before they started. Yet, when God spoke to us to start we literally only had hundreds in the savings. The unbelief in myself wanted us to have $6-7000 saved before we started.... just to make sure everything would be fine ect... but God said "no- start now." So, we did. We did it afraid, but we trust Him. Today has been yet another confirmation of His hand on our journey. What an awesome God He is!

Oh yeah, someone sent an email in to the producer of Fox 6 news and they came and did a segment on us today! :) My heart is so full of joy right now. Knowing that our 2 children, are waiting for us in Africa, we don't know them, but He knows who they are! God chose them to be our children! How amazing?! AND He will see us through to the end of this!!

Psalm 68:6

⁶ God sets the solitary in families;

Sometimes a hug is all you need!

So, this morning we were getting ready for church and I learned a valuable lesson.

Nathan had woke up early and went to watch tv on the couch and fell back asleep. So when I went to wake him up to get ready for church he was so whiney. He didn't want to take a bath, he said it was too hot, then he said the water hurt his toe, then he said it was too cold.....HE WAS WHINEY. I kept getting on to him, threatened a spanking, yelled and was about to lose it, when all of a sudden (after his bath was finished) I picked him up and held him and hugged him. He stopped crying, and when I put him down he went on to his room and finished getting dressed. He was fine the rest of the morning and day.

And I realized..... all he needed was a hug (and a little loving.) Sometimes we are in such a rush to get where we need to get, or do what we need to do, that we over look some of the basic things that those around us need.

It made me think about my life, and how sometimes, I don't need a lecture, or for someone to tell me what they would do in my situation. Sometime, a hug is all I need. Maybe I don't need you to "fix" me, but instead, just love me. I learned my lesson this morning. :) My little guy just needed some love.

God moments....and coffee!

Yep. I am sure all of my coffee lovers agree... coffee and God moments fit very well together.

They did tonight. I met a lady online that lives close by that is adopting, she then, hooked me up with a adoption connection group. I was so excited to go meet these ladies tonight. I had no idea what to expect, would it be 50 women or 1? Where would they be from, how would their adoption experience line up with mine? Oh my gosh, then you get into the high school feelings of... will they like me? Will I fit in? Will it be uncomfortable? Oh... women! :)

I have to say, it was a God moment. I mean, nothing spectacular happened... but then again, maybe it did ;) These ladies are wonderful. I'm amazed at how God orchestrates events and meetings in your life, to come at just the right times. It was refreshing, to fellowship and learn about these ladies and their experience with adoption, to hear of how God has and is providing for their adoptions. I look forward to getting to know them better!

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27: 17

T Shirts are in!

I am happy to announce that our first batch of shirts are in!! We are very pleased with how they turned out! This first order we only order 50, to see if we could even sale that many. All of the money for these shirts are going straight into our adoption fund!

The shirts are $20.00 each. You can click on the "Donate" button on the right side of the blog and pay there. In the note section when ordering please say what size you would like. Also, if you would like to pay in another form of payment that is fine too.

If you would like a shirt please email me at Rach4God@gmail.com

Thank you for supporting us in this journey! We are so grateful.

Yard Sale!!

Well, we are in full force in preparing for our yard sale. It has been moved from July 15 and 16th to July 29th and 30th. And wow... I have ALOT to do.

We are so blessed to have had so many people donate and give things for us to put in the sale. We have a little bit of everything, from furniture, baby "stuff", house ware, toys and TONS of clothes.

MY goal is $1000.00. I know most people don't make that much on a yard sale but I am aiming high! I have put alot of time into sorting, hanging and merchandising so it will be easy to shop. And hopefully that will help me sale more. As you can see from the picture.... my basement is a wreck! I am running out of room to hang things. But, that is a good thing.

I will be glad to get the yard sale over with so we can pack and get ready to move! And then, the application will be in the mail!!! :)

Phil 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Peace in good decisions.

While in the middle of being pulled in a million directions... I have peace. It's hard to explain, but there is much peace in knowing that you are right where God wants you.

As I type, I have much on my mind. We are in the middle of purchasing our home. We had the inspection yesterday and so far so good. We are set to close Aug 15. Also, we are preparing for our first (and hopefully last) fundraising yard sale. I have "stuff" every where. I have alot of organizing to do. I am also trying to prepare for school starting back up, if I don't start buying supplies and clothes now it will sneak up on me. Then, there is that stack of adoption paper work (that is done and waiting on the right time to be sent out!) staring me in the face every night. Can I just tell you that there is such a peace.

I am now beginning to understand God's timing for our life a little bit better than I have in the past. It drove me crazy to wait in the past, but I truly appreciate the wait now.

God has flooded me with His peace that we are making the right choices. In the flesh it might look crazy, we are downsizing, from a BIG house, 5 br 4 ba to a medium size house with 5 br 2 ba. and I have such a peace about it. Oh and, don't forget that our family will be growing in the next 12-18 months! I've come to trust that God's plan for my life will never steer me wrong, it might not be EXACTLY what I WANT.... but I am guaranteed that it will be EXACTLY what is best for me... and my family. And that is my desire.

Tears come to my eyes while writing this, I am so amazed at God's love and plan for my life. What an awesome God we serve.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord … ”(Psalm 37:23)