Look what God is doing... Prayer and Confirmation

Wednesdays seem to be becoming a day of new news. 
Wednesday is also the day the younger children and I go to Community Bible Study (CBS).
This year we are spending 30 weeks studying the book of Genesis.
We have Core Group time to discuss the weeks lesson. In my core group this year there is an adoptive mom and a mom whose teen son had a brain tumor. This teen was once and athlete and honor student, now he will probably always live with her. 
I didn't know when we rejoined CBS this year that I would meet these women.

I received word about Andrii's illness on an early Wednesday morning. I cried. I called Gene. We prayed. Then I tried to go about the day as normal, getting children reading for CBS. I told two friends when I got there. I was a little weepy. 
During core group one of the discussion questions got that teen son's mama talking about him and her struggle. She cried. I was blubbering. I HAD to tell those precious ladies the news. No more questions got answered that day. We prayed. For those boys. For us mamas. For comfort. For clarity. 

That same teen son's mama answered a question this week about what she's learned so far from Genesis, "God made ashes of some of these peoples lives, but he brought something beautiful from it."
She sure is beautiful. 

This week I wore my LOVE shirt and went with news about the completed homestudy. 
We had studied about Abraham's faithful unnamed servant who was tasked with going to get a wife for Isaac, and the beautiful way Isaac meet Rebekah (the original plot line for all Hallmark movies). (Genesis 24) What a good time of discussion we had! 

After core group we all go hear a prepared lecture. And it was just what I needed (even the music). 
The credit for this next part goes to Nancy B., Assistant Teaching Director. 

When we ask God for guidance for a specific decision or action we can expect 3 proofs to what we believe is His answer (and I can totally attest to this!)
1. Confirming Circumstances (support, time, finances... evidence)
2. The guidance we feel we are receiving are within God's revealed will from His word. (you'll see a verse or verses in you regular reading - if you regularly read - that confirm this). 
3. A deep peace concerning the decision (for real, confidence and peace - even if the thing to do  still seems scary)

In our lesson, the servant, Isaac, Rebekah and her family all saw God fulfilling His plan in the details of their lives and also in His bigger story. When we faithfully answer God's call, He uses us to fulfill His Master Plan. 

The unnamed servant was called to act, he was successful in his undertaking - and he gave all the glory to God.
We feel tasked to adopt... and know that God is in the details.
These ladies and I faithfully show up to CBS... and look what God is doing!

Sometimes the trip is LONG (the servant traveled about 3 weeks by camel, we have spent a long time already trying to  get to Ukraine), but that just gives us more time to pray. 

PS - Today is Friday, Jan.17 - We mailed the forms to USCIS today! 

Christmas Shopping?

We want to bring home a new son and daughter.
Our kids want their new brother and sister home.
But whats currently melting our hearts is that Grandmother, Nana, and several cousins are excited to have new grandchildren and cousins! How loved!!!

Wreaths, headbands, scrunchies, lanyards, dog bandannas, and t-shirts!
So many pretty things!

Lanyards $4

Double sided Headbands $5 -
see below for more options

Double sided Headbands $5 many options - lots of Christmas fabric

Key Fob $3 (only 3 available)

Hair Scrunchies $3 each or 4 for $10

Dog Bandannas - Double sided - slides onto coller
Small $3, Medium $4, Large $5

The Morgan cousins made and donated all the pretty things above. Local pickup avaliable (I'll have them in the van). Shipping is $3 for the first 3 items (or 4 scrunchies)

Grandmother made many grapevine wreaths in assorted sizes then Nana and Ava decorated a few (the picture is upside down - I've fixed it twice - Oh well). Price $2-$9 depending on size and if it's fancied up. Local pickup only.

I use a grapevine wreath on my front door ALL YEAR - I just change the bow to match the season.

Merry Christmas! 🎄

I'm out of control

How many times have I said to myself just in the past few days, “It’s all in God’s perfect timing. He has all the details in order. You are NOT in control”?

A LOT!

We are still waiting on the septic to be fixed so we can pass that portion of the homestudy.

I am not in control of that man who dig’s holes and lays pipes’ schedule.

I must get some fingerprinting redone.

I am not in control of how any of that works.

The Young Love Birds

Ava’s medical report was totally messed up at the doctor’s office.  

I am not in control of those people and their lack of understanding.

We are in full-blow wedding planning crazy! And the budget is…. There isn’t one. 
It’s a week by week adventure.

That is beyond my control. We only have so much.  We can only plan and pay for what we are able to week by week.

What am I in control of?

My attitude. I can enjoy the ever-changing journey. I can decide this is an exciting adventure and love every minute (it’s only a season).

I can be patient. I can treat people with kindness (even when they make me wait more).

I can be a good steward of all we are given. I can keep moving forward (with adoption fundraising, and paper collecting, and wedding planning).

I can do my best at what I can and not sweat the rest.

I can KISS it all (Keep It Simple Stupid).

I can choose each day (multiple times) to trust God’s perfect plan. (this one is the most important).

I can take care of me. Then I can take care of others (and all the rest). I can stop in the middle of all the crazy and give myself a pedicure or read a book or write a blog post (your welcome) or take a nap (or all these as needed).

I can try to control me and my words and actions.

I’m out of control. But not really.

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 

2 Peter 3:9

Have patience, have patience

Don't be in such a hurry

When you get impatient, you only start to worry

Remember, remember that God is patient, too

And think of all the times when others have to wait for you

~ from the PATIENCE Song (Herbert the Snail)

Sad News/Good News

We came across this article (linked here) stating that, as PERSONHOOD Alliance said, “GoFundMe has just independently launched its own megafund to support the National Network of Abortion Funds, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU Foundation. Donor money will be split among the 5 organizations to pay for legal challenges to abortion laws, lobbying for abortion-on-demand in Congress, and the actual killing of pre-born children.”

This us such sad news. We are extremely pro-life (I lead a local pro-life group). So, we have chosen to delete our GoFundMe account completely and remove all links.  

Thankfully we have already been approved to have an AbbaFund page and PayPal for online giving.

All our current adoption fundraisers are linked on the side (in web view, I don’t know where to find them in mobile view, but if you scroll down on your mobile device you can change views).

We’ve also launched a NEW t-shirt campaign with pretty summer colors and TANK TOPS to help keep folks cool on the long hot summer days! You can find these trendy little pretties https://www.bonfire.com/becoming-twelve/

at

You can also find the old t-shirt campaign (with a few different colors) at https://www.bonfire.com/ukrainian-adoption/

It may not be to late to book a trip using our Airbnb link. We aren't sure if that link still works to save you $$$ and earn us funds we can use towards our stay in Kiev.

Pretty Shirts!

Our shirts are awesome!

They came in the mail earlier this week from Bonfire and we had the opportunity to wear them to meet up with another couple from church who poured into us and encouraged us in our walk with God and our parenting.

The question was asked, “With all that’s going on in your life and home and family, is now really a good time to adopt and bring more children?”

The honest answer is, “No.”

It will never be a good time to adopt. There will always be life issues to deal with. There will never be enough money. There will always be doubts.

I’ve always giggled when I hear young couples say that they are waiting till they are ready (whatever their version of “ready” means) to have a baby. At that rate, they will NEVER be ready.

You can’t expect the unexpected.

But you can know the God of the impossible.

One of my "yes" verses.

We had a small group of prayer warriors fighting with us before we announced to the world our intention to adopt these big babies. We were warned several times, verbally and through things we read, that Satan hates families. He will be looking for every way possible to attack. If we didn’t see evidence of spiritual warfare before we will now. And we have repeatedly seen evidence in that he’s trying to “get to us.” Through our finances, through medical issues (minor), through attitudes, through doubts…. But God (my favorite words!)

But God has been bigger. Bigger than our doubts. Bigger than our finances. Bigger than these misbehaviors and childish and teenish and tired adultish attitudes. He proves Himself over and over.

He continues to move this along.

You know what the biggest hindrance is?

Me.

I forget. I overlook. I say to much or to little. (and that’s just this week)

But God is long-suffering (LLLOOONNNNGGGGGG-suffering!) towards me. This is a thing He is doing despite my imperfections. 

Maybe because of my imperfections. (I can be pretty impossible).

Cause it’s not about me.

It’s about Him.

A picture share on facebook by a certain place
that happens to have some certain beautiful children in it.

Bonfire Campaign

Our T-shirt campaign ended Sunday. We sold 22 shirts and with the sales and donations

raised $174.22.

That's pretty exciting. I think shirts can still be ordered and we are planning to relaunch the campaign sometime this summer. Perhaps our wearing the shirts will inspire others to get their own. 

The link is http://www.bonfire.com/ukrainian-adoption

If you have ordered a shirt they should begin to arrive in 7-14 days. 

Current Fundraisers

Hold on to your seat!

No!!! Don’t do that! Especially if your local! Let go! See where you can help!

You can help by simply liking and sharing a Facebook or Instagram post, committing to pray, give, or get really wild and jump in with both feet and walk (run, skip, hop, roll, drag along) beside us (literally)!

It all helps!

Here’s the big list of what we are working on right now to help fund this adoption.

Candy & Lemonade Stand   

Lavonia Festival – Saturday, May 4^th, 9am-4pm

Carnesville Festival – Saturday, May 11^th, 10am-3pm

Hosted by the 4 younger siblings

Car Wash

At Carter’s Kitchen & Barry Hose and Hydraulics, Lavonia

Saturday, May 4^th, 11am-3pm

Hosted by the 4 oldest siblings

Adoption T-shirts                                     

www.bonfire.com/ukrainian-adoption/

Current campaign runs through May 12

Looking to get your own shirts made? Use this link and we get a bonus!

Antiquities Portraits

Purchase a $10 certificated for an 8x10 portrait of your child(ren).

Portrait Sitting Date: Saturday, June 22, 10am-8pm

Location TBA (somewhere in Franklin County, Ga)

 You and also earn extra photos by helping to sale the portrait coupons - AND whoever sales the most wins a prize from us!!!

Email edbrown77@yahoo.com 

if your interested.

Abba Fund

A link is being set to give via the Abba Fund grant. This would allow donors to give a tax-deductible donation of money, vehicle, assets, gift card, and other contributions. These funds create a grant which is paid out to our agency, attorney, travel agent, or others who assist in the adoption process.

As soon as it’s up and going we’ll let you know!

Edit: The Abba Fund is live! Linked Here.

Change Drive

We are in the process of collecting peanut butter jars or similar containers to use for a change collection drive later this year (perhaps late summer). Every cent counts!

PayPal

paypal.me/edbrown77

GoFundMe

www.gofundme.com/Becoming12

Illustration by William Warren

Got questions? So do we! But we're happy to answer any we can in the comments below. Perhaps you'll spawn an entire post!

Our goal for the adoption is between $35,000-$40,000. That's seems pretty overwhelming. But we are reminded everyday that the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. And chew.