This week has definitely had its ups but for the most part I was feeling more of the downs. I knew this would come as I have been reminded, in more ways than one, that obedience will lead to some opposition on occasion. I guess I just wasn't ready yet. Like I ever really would have been ready, actually?!
BUT praise God for Saturday and the craft show at Central Lee! Praise God for placing people in my life that are really good at making things, things that sell, too! God has continued to bless me with people who are wanting to help with fundraisers, who are gifted in areas that I SO am not. Thank you, Jesus!
So the week started off with learning I would have to take an extra step in my paperwork as I have not always acted like the "woman of God" I am trying to live like now. My "old self" was brought to my attention, caused a slight bump in the road, but nothing that will end in a road block.
Next "downer" I felt was that I have attempted to get some PRN work at 3 different companies in order to have some extra cash. I should have heard back by now from 2 of the 3 places that said they would call and I am still waiting. "God grant me patience .... but PLEASE hurry!"
Then I decided that it was time to go to the bank to see about getting that loan that I "might" need. I quickly learned that you don't automatically get what you ask for! Who knew?!
Lastly, I received an email from the director of the agency with a whole lot of information in it that I don't really understand, but in a nutshell, was saying that the process is taking longer. He of course stated that this is nothing to worry about and that this too, shall pass. Whatever "this" is!
So as the week was coming to an end, I was praying that I would not let Satan get in my way as he had been all week. I was praying for strength to fight him and not let him get in the way of what God is doing. And then this morning it was brought to my attention in an entirely different way .... from my "earthly father". My dad was telling me that everything does not only revolve around "us" and that just because someone or something doesn't fit with what we are thinking or what we are doing, does not automatically mean it is Satan working against us. Instead, what if it is God pushing us in another direction or trying to tell us something. Hmmmm......Satan get behind me or is it in fact God telling me that He is in control of this and I am NOT!
Well I am certain that yes, it was God reminding me that this is His plan and He will provide. He has taken my "old self" which was broken and made me brand new. I have been and continue to be transformed by God! Through His power alone, this will all take place! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Dad! Thanks to all of you! God is using each and every one of you in you're own unique way to help me in this adoption process!
Praise God for His power - praise God for His wisdom - praise God for His continued providence - praise God that there is no other like Him! Pray for my homestudy to go well tomorrow with Jan - pray that I would have ears to hear God and know the difference between His leading and Satan's lies - pray that I would trust this is His plan and not mine - pray for my little baby girl - Praise God!
"Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:30
Love-
amy
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Dinner around the table
Not a whole lot going on this week. More reading - more paperwork. Im starting to feel like these are becoming my "norm" for the day! It's good for me though as Im learning new things and getting a clear picture of why the process is, just the way it is!
I did get my paper work done for the homestudy, I think, so I was able to schedule my first appointment with Jan. She will be coming to my house on October 31st for the first visit. Not really sure what this entails but am anxious to get to sit down and talk with her in person for more than just a quick few minutes! I have been blessed with Jan and Leigh Ann who are very easy to talk to, don't get me wrong, but so far communication has only been on the phone or via email, so to be able to sit down with someone and REALLY get to discuss some of this stuff is going to be good and calm a few nerves as well ;) Once again, I know God continues to transform me as I would NEVER had said I could not wait to sit down and "talk" with someone .... a stranger at that!
I have yet to receive my contract from IAG, the agency, but know that it will come in God's timing!
And of course, God continues to speak! This time, it happened while sitting around the table enjoying some delicious vegetable soup with my family. The busyness and distance apart from one another so often seems to "trump" what is important and I'll be the first to admit, this is the way I have lived for way too long. God showed me just how much fun I've been missing out on, the stories told, the laughter, the love that was shared, all through a bowl of vegetable soup. Dinner around the table is important .... not just important but a "must". Thank you, Jesus for my family .... each and every one of you!
God also continues to speak to me about faith and obedience. He has reminded me that "our faith" gives Him a way to show "His faithfulness". He has told me that I need to take one day at a time so that is just what I've been trying to do!
Praise God that He remains forever faithful, even when we are not - Praise God for His forever love, despite our unloveliness - Praise God for Jesus and the cross that He bore so we could live!
God continues to reveal His providence to me and I continue to thank Him for every one of you! Continue to pray for that sweet baby girl and those He has entrusted with her care - pray that I would be able to truly take one day at a time and trust in His plan - pray that Jesus would be revealed and God would be glorified through this awesome process of adoption!
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:34
love,
amy
I did get my paper work done for the homestudy, I think, so I was able to schedule my first appointment with Jan. She will be coming to my house on October 31st for the first visit. Not really sure what this entails but am anxious to get to sit down and talk with her in person for more than just a quick few minutes! I have been blessed with Jan and Leigh Ann who are very easy to talk to, don't get me wrong, but so far communication has only been on the phone or via email, so to be able to sit down with someone and REALLY get to discuss some of this stuff is going to be good and calm a few nerves as well ;) Once again, I know God continues to transform me as I would NEVER had said I could not wait to sit down and "talk" with someone .... a stranger at that!
I have yet to receive my contract from IAG, the agency, but know that it will come in God's timing!
And of course, God continues to speak! This time, it happened while sitting around the table enjoying some delicious vegetable soup with my family. The busyness and distance apart from one another so often seems to "trump" what is important and I'll be the first to admit, this is the way I have lived for way too long. God showed me just how much fun I've been missing out on, the stories told, the laughter, the love that was shared, all through a bowl of vegetable soup. Dinner around the table is important .... not just important but a "must". Thank you, Jesus for my family .... each and every one of you!
God also continues to speak to me about faith and obedience. He has reminded me that "our faith" gives Him a way to show "His faithfulness". He has told me that I need to take one day at a time so that is just what I've been trying to do!
Praise God that He remains forever faithful, even when we are not - Praise God for His forever love, despite our unloveliness - Praise God for Jesus and the cross that He bore so we could live!
God continues to reveal His providence to me and I continue to thank Him for every one of you! Continue to pray for that sweet baby girl and those He has entrusted with her care - pray that I would be able to truly take one day at a time and trust in His plan - pray that Jesus would be revealed and God would be glorified through this awesome process of adoption!
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:34
love,
amy
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Harley poop, Paperwork and the Slammer!
Praise God for today! Praise Him for the sunshine on this beautiful Saturday morning! Praise Him for every breath that you take today! Praise God! The week was full of a variety of different things but I praise God for ALL of them! Yes, each and EVERY one of them!
It started out with a sick puppy =( Poor Harley had some troubles in the bowel category. Loose stool plus a puppy in the house do NOT go well together .... BUT at 2:00 in the morning while giving Harley a bath, just after he shook and poop splattered ALL over the bathtub, God spoke to me! Lol! He was preparing me for those middle of the night wake up calls that sometimes may just get a bit "dirty"! The crazy thing is, I didnt even get a bit irritated which is ususally not the case. I do believe God also used the 4 times in the night, last night, that Harley woke me up as he had to go outside was preparing me as well =) God continues to transform me, even if it is by using Harley!
On Wednesday, I received the Ethiopia Program Manual in the mail! Yeah God! Alot of information is definitely an understatement. Gobs and gobs and gobs of info is more like it! I have yet to even put a "dent" in the binder but am looking forward to the beginning of a new learning experience.
On Friday I was able to get the info to the social worker from Young House so the home study process can begin. I will be working with a gal named Jan from there who also has been extremely helpful and encouraging already. God definitely has provided people that are easy to talk to, as that as well is not a strong point of mine!
Jan had informed me that I need to get my fingerprints completed right away as they take 6-8 weeks to be processed ... or whatever they have to do with them. So I called the Courthouse to ask the specifics on where to go and if I needed an appointment, and I soon learned that the Courthouse was indeed NOT the place you get fingerprints done. Yep, off to jail I went! Lol! It was an interesting experience but one WELL worth it if it means the chance to bring home a precious little angel that God has in mind for me to love on!
God continues to bless me daily with His word and the people He has placed in my life. He has continued to remind me that I need to walk in faith and that He will be right beside me every step of the way - that I have the Holy Spirit in me, guiding me - that when I do obey Him there will be opposition along the way and to not get frustrated - that His plan is the perfect plan! Today I was blessed to get to meet with a gal from Burlington who just recently had the awesome feeling of bringing her little girl home from Ethiopia. How awesome to have a resource throughout the entire process, as well as another sister in Christ! God continues to provide.
Today I am thanking God for all of you - thanking Him for all of the prayers that have been lifted up, for the many hours spent and work that has been done on the fundraising events that have started and are soon to be coming, for the continued support and encouragement, for the fact that He placed each one of you in my life for a specific purpose!
Pray for that precious baby girl that God has picked out for me - pray for the people that are watching over her right now - pray for Jan, my social worker, as she guides me through the process - pray for the paperwork that I have started, to go through without difficulty. Praise God!
"You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21
love ~
amy
It started out with a sick puppy =( Poor Harley had some troubles in the bowel category. Loose stool plus a puppy in the house do NOT go well together .... BUT at 2:00 in the morning while giving Harley a bath, just after he shook and poop splattered ALL over the bathtub, God spoke to me! Lol! He was preparing me for those middle of the night wake up calls that sometimes may just get a bit "dirty"! The crazy thing is, I didnt even get a bit irritated which is ususally not the case. I do believe God also used the 4 times in the night, last night, that Harley woke me up as he had to go outside was preparing me as well =) God continues to transform me, even if it is by using Harley!
On Wednesday, I received the Ethiopia Program Manual in the mail! Yeah God! Alot of information is definitely an understatement. Gobs and gobs and gobs of info is more like it! I have yet to even put a "dent" in the binder but am looking forward to the beginning of a new learning experience.
On Friday I was able to get the info to the social worker from Young House so the home study process can begin. I will be working with a gal named Jan from there who also has been extremely helpful and encouraging already. God definitely has provided people that are easy to talk to, as that as well is not a strong point of mine!
Jan had informed me that I need to get my fingerprints completed right away as they take 6-8 weeks to be processed ... or whatever they have to do with them. So I called the Courthouse to ask the specifics on where to go and if I needed an appointment, and I soon learned that the Courthouse was indeed NOT the place you get fingerprints done. Yep, off to jail I went! Lol! It was an interesting experience but one WELL worth it if it means the chance to bring home a precious little angel that God has in mind for me to love on!
God continues to bless me daily with His word and the people He has placed in my life. He has continued to remind me that I need to walk in faith and that He will be right beside me every step of the way - that I have the Holy Spirit in me, guiding me - that when I do obey Him there will be opposition along the way and to not get frustrated - that His plan is the perfect plan! Today I was blessed to get to meet with a gal from Burlington who just recently had the awesome feeling of bringing her little girl home from Ethiopia. How awesome to have a resource throughout the entire process, as well as another sister in Christ! God continues to provide.
Today I am thanking God for all of you - thanking Him for all of the prayers that have been lifted up, for the many hours spent and work that has been done on the fundraising events that have started and are soon to be coming, for the continued support and encouragement, for the fact that He placed each one of you in my life for a specific purpose!
Pray for that precious baby girl that God has picked out for me - pray for the people that are watching over her right now - pray for Jan, my social worker, as she guides me through the process - pray for the paperwork that I have started, to go through without difficulty. Praise God!
"You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21
love ~
amy
Friday, October 7, 2011
And so the wait begins
Today I received an email from IAG (International Adoption Guides), the agency that I sent my application to. They said they received it and will start processing it immediately. I will be getting an Ethiopia Program Manual in the mail in the next few days that will answer many of my questions, pose further questions, give me a clear idea of the policies and expectations and what I need to be working on each step of the way. My coordinator that Ive been speaking with is Leigh Ann. She has been awesome already and very supportive and encouraging!
So now comes the waiting in which I am SO not good at .... AT ALL! I am convinced though that God will use this to help me grow in so many ways. I cant hardly wait to see what He has planned! Im ready to get out of my comfort zone and be the woman of God He has created me to be!
Have I mentioned lately how amazingly awesome my family and friends are?! There have been so many people who have supported me in this already through encouraging words, prayers, phone calls, text messages, emails, fundraising ideas and I have even received a monetary gift! God has shown His providence already! This is only the beginning of the many tears of joy that are to come!
So as the wait begins, praise God for His hands in this already, praise Him for His Word that is easily available to guide us in all that we do, praise Him for being available to talk to 24/7 - pray for Leigh Ann as she guides me through this process - pray that I would be patient!
I am praying for all of you as well, that you would be blessed and be able to see Jesus through this amazing process of adoption!
"O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name!" 1 Chronicles 29:13
<3
amy
So now comes the waiting in which I am SO not good at .... AT ALL! I am convinced though that God will use this to help me grow in so many ways. I cant hardly wait to see what He has planned! Im ready to get out of my comfort zone and be the woman of God He has created me to be!
Have I mentioned lately how amazingly awesome my family and friends are?! There have been so many people who have supported me in this already through encouraging words, prayers, phone calls, text messages, emails, fundraising ideas and I have even received a monetary gift! God has shown His providence already! This is only the beginning of the many tears of joy that are to come!
So as the wait begins, praise God for His hands in this already, praise Him for His Word that is easily available to guide us in all that we do, praise Him for being available to talk to 24/7 - pray for Leigh Ann as she guides me through this process - pray that I would be patient!
I am praying for all of you as well, that you would be blessed and be able to see Jesus through this amazing process of adoption!
"O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name!" 1 Chronicles 29:13
<3
amy
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
I could choose not to move, but I refuse ...
It was Sunday, September 18 that God spoke to my heart BIG time and could possibly change my life forever. It was a typical Sunday morning which included getting ready for church, doing my daily devotions and then heading to my parents house with Harley, my puppy, while jamming out in the car to some K-Love radio! I walked into church that day not knowing my heart would be changed. It was Missions Sunday and Marti Boal and Marcia Baldridge shared their story ... their experience of a missions trip to Ethiopia. As I sat there and listened my heart hurt for those people, those families, those little babies. My heart hurt just like most of the people's did who were sitting there that day. As the day went on I could not get James 1:27 out of my head. I kept thinking about those little orphans who had absolutely NOTHING and here I was, who as Marti said it of herself as well, "have been spoiled rotten" all of my life. Adoption was the only thing that kept coming to mind. How could I NOT go through with it .... Im single-35 yrs old-have no intention of bearing my own children .... I can do this!
I started looking into it more, mentioned it to my sister first and a few of my close friends. There were definitely some mixed responses, LOL, but I had it in my head from the get-go that I was doing this.
From that very day on, God has done nothing but speak to me through His word, through other people, through music, etc. He has reminded me that He can use what little we have, when surrendered to Him, to do GREAT things - He has told me that He is not looking for people with great abilities but for those who are dedicated to following and obeying Him - He informed me of the power that is made known when He gives us specific instructions and then we follow by IMMEDIATE obedience - He reminded me that faith makes things possible, not easy - He led me to Proverbs 29:25 which talks about how fearing people is a dangerous trap but trust in the Lord means safety - He warned me of not letting the noise of the world keep me from hearing His voice - He reminded me that I need to rely on Him and not myself.
And so, with all of this said, I have decided that this in fact is what God has called me to do and I cannot just sit here and do nothing. This is obviously going to take His providence, wisdom and guidance as I do not have the means or knowledge to go through with it, BUT I am certain that He will provide, during His perfect timing as He sees fit and I trust Him with this completely! I am willing to go where He has led me!
I will be blogging my way through this new and exciting journey so I am asking for your prayers along the way! I have sent in my application to the agency I will be going through and it could take up to 30 days to hear back on if they have accepted me or not so I will keep you updated as I receive information.
God has blessed me with such a great family and so many awesome friends who have already helped me get to this point! Praise God who can make mountains move - who breathed life into dry bones - who walked on water! All glory and honor and praise to God, my Father, my Rock, my Savior!
Thank you in advance, for your prayers! Thank you, Jesus!
"I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations" Psalm 119:30
Love ~
amy
I started looking into it more, mentioned it to my sister first and a few of my close friends. There were definitely some mixed responses, LOL, but I had it in my head from the get-go that I was doing this.
From that very day on, God has done nothing but speak to me through His word, through other people, through music, etc. He has reminded me that He can use what little we have, when surrendered to Him, to do GREAT things - He has told me that He is not looking for people with great abilities but for those who are dedicated to following and obeying Him - He informed me of the power that is made known when He gives us specific instructions and then we follow by IMMEDIATE obedience - He reminded me that faith makes things possible, not easy - He led me to Proverbs 29:25 which talks about how fearing people is a dangerous trap but trust in the Lord means safety - He warned me of not letting the noise of the world keep me from hearing His voice - He reminded me that I need to rely on Him and not myself.
And so, with all of this said, I have decided that this in fact is what God has called me to do and I cannot just sit here and do nothing. This is obviously going to take His providence, wisdom and guidance as I do not have the means or knowledge to go through with it, BUT I am certain that He will provide, during His perfect timing as He sees fit and I trust Him with this completely! I am willing to go where He has led me!
I will be blogging my way through this new and exciting journey so I am asking for your prayers along the way! I have sent in my application to the agency I will be going through and it could take up to 30 days to hear back on if they have accepted me or not so I will keep you updated as I receive information.
God has blessed me with such a great family and so many awesome friends who have already helped me get to this point! Praise God who can make mountains move - who breathed life into dry bones - who walked on water! All glory and honor and praise to God, my Father, my Rock, my Savior!
Thank you in advance, for your prayers! Thank you, Jesus!
"I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations" Psalm 119:30
Love ~
amy
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