Taking time for us!!

This last week has been on of the best weeks of my life. Sounds dramatic, but it really was. After 12 years of marriage, 3 kids and lots of LIFE in between we FINALLY took a week for just US! To be husband and wife... and thats it. We have done many trips alone but most of the time we take trips with other couple friends from church. This time it was meant to be different, like a little recharging for our marriage. And boy was it.

We spent time in Indianapolis and then went to Chicago. It reminded me why I love my husband so much! Normally we go days without really talking or spending time together, because of our schedule, so this was heaven for me. To have him all to myself!!

I thank God for the time away, for all the people in our life that love us and helped us with the kids. thank God for this time of rest and refreshing with my husband!!

I just love how God disrupts our plans...

and that is exactly what has happened to us. As of 8 months ago we were planning to adopt two children from Uganda Africa. Our hearts were all in, our dedication was through the roof.... UNTIL.. yep. God disrupted OUR plans. I guess I should give a background.

Tim and I have been married for 12 years and have ALWAYS wanted to adopt. We have 3 kids of our own and about a year ago really started feeling like it was time. Our research led us to Africa and we fell in love with the children there. We began making plans. First plan was to buy our own home.... one big enough for more kids....so, we had it all planned. Made an offer on a house in July and were going to start the process in Aug, which meant we would be going over to Africa the next summer (taking our kids with us) to bring our adopted kids home. Well, so much for that plan LOL The house process didn't go as planned, we got the house we wanted but the process took 3 months longer than expected. It threw our plans out the window. I was not happy. BUT God began working other plans, bringing people in our life that dropped little hints and ideas in front of us, none of them sounded appealing to me, at all. (Just being truthful!) It wasn't what I planned. It wasn't what I wanted. After MUCH prayer and thought, God has really birthed something in us. A desire I thought I'd never have. Although, my husband says it has always been in the back of his mind as the way we should go.... well, thanks a lot for speaking up LOL So, we are becoming foster parents. With the hopes of adopting, if God leads.

We started classes last week and we are learning so much. There is such a great need for foster families. We are not sure what to expect but we know that this is the way God is leading so He is in control. I'm learning that God knows what is best for us, and that His plans are always... not sometimes... but ALWAYS best for us. I'l trust Him with the unknown and be obedient!

Ready to move on..

and finally we can!

This has been a rough road for us. Several months ago when we first decided that it was time to pursue adoption, our first goal was to buy our first home. We were down sizing to save money, I know, and adding two kids, sounds crazy. LOL We have always rented and it was time to buy. We found an awesome house in our area, 5 bedrooms, plenty of room for our 2 waiting on us ;) We made an offer and the journey began. Days before closing we were informed that our mortgage lady messed up our credit by a string of events. Needless to say, we had to move out of the house were were renting (new tenants were moving in) and moved into a house that our church owns, while the credit bureau worked to straighten it all out. Obviously we changed mortgage companies and started again. Now, 3 months later we have closed on our house and are moving in after the 1st of the year. Yay!! So, step one is over!!! So glad we can move on.

Now we can focus on saving and raising money to get the adoption going. Keep us in your prayers!

Dream

The other day after a very hard day, a very discouraging day, I came home and went to bed. I was weary and tired. I drifted off to sleep and had one of the most vivid dreams that I have ever had. I don't know that it was from God, but I kinda feel like it was. Just encouragement if nothing else. A reminder that something good is coming. Here was my dream.

I was at work, JCPenney, and we were all dressed in our Christmas shirts and up at the jewelry counter. The manager, my boss, called us up there for a Christmas party. It was all of us employees and a bunch of kids, a bunch of African kids to be exact. They were all playing and laughing, except one, she was sitting on the jewelry counter, all by herself. She looked sad and alone, and almost like she was different than the other kids, maybe like she had an illness. And before it started he said he wanted to make an announcement. He said that he knew that we all had heard of the Angel tree but he wanted us to do something different, he wanted us to pick out an angel to adopt but this time we don't just buy them gifts, we actually adopt them. Immediately I was thrilled. Everyone started scurrying around trying to pick out the friendliest and cutest kid, I was drawn to the little girl on the counter. I went straight to her. She wouldn't even look at me in the face. She looked so pitiful. My heart hurt for her. I tried talking to her, but she wouldn't let me. She was very resistant. Even crying when I tried to hold her. But by the end of the night, she was sitting on my lap, asleep against my chest.

And that was when I woke up. I don't know if God was giving me a vision of our little girl, or if that dream was just a little encouragement about our adoption and the wait. But, I wouldn't be surprised if its not the last time I see that little face.

Can't wait!

I'm sitting at the Gardendale parade, watching my 3 kids laugh and scream for candy. People are talking, horns are honking, the bands are playing....and all I can think about are my babies in Africa. I can't wait. My eyes filled with tears with anticipation of having them there, with me, with their family.

I know to some this seems crazy. Maybe even weird. But it is so real in me. The longing I have for them is deep with in. And even though I do not yet know who my babies are, I love them. I long to hold them. We are still at least 18 months away from bringing them home.... and I can't wait. Love Real Big!!

My heart is in Africa..

Today my heart is in Africa. As I listen to my kids play outside in the yard I can't help but long for our 2 kids from Africa to join them. I can't wait to wrap my arms around them and love on them. I can't wait to give them a hot meal and nice warm house to live in. Honestly, I can't wait to see which kids God has designed to be in our Forever Family.

There are just some days that it's all I think about. I just wish it was easier. Wish the funds were sitting in our account and we could bring them home faster. But, until God brings us all together, we will just wait. And continue to pray for our kids!

Thank you God for this longing that you have put in our heart!! We trust you will all of the provision and plans.