Trusting Him

As you know, soon we will be adding a precious new daughter into our family. She is about nine or ten years old. When one goes about researching how to successfully add an older child to your family through adoption, the information out there can only be described as harrowing. Makes me glad I didn't do much research before saying yes to adopting an older child (outside of searching God' s heart on the matter)! These children can have many issues like attachment disorders, post traumatic stress, intense grieving, educational problems, ugly behavioral issues, etc.

I asked a friend for advice on how to prepare. She said, "why don't you just expect the worst and then you'll be pleasantly surprised with the good moments". Sounded wise to me, at first. I've taken this approach before in other situations countless times.

But something felt wrong this time.

Is it wise for a Christian to take this view? I mean, I trusted that God led us to this child. Yes, it may be a very difficult road, but it in the path God chose for us. He promises to take care of us. Shouldn't I chose to expect the best and trust God for the hard parts?

Expecting the worst causes me to worry and fret. Expecting the best fills me with hope (and hope is my word for the year 2010). When I have hope, I jump over my concerns.

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him"

Nahum 1:7

I am choosing hope today. About what do you need to choose hope?

Attention Mothers of Daughters!

If you have a daughter under age 14, please watch this video! It is about Shine Brightly, an organization that has a blog, magazine, and club for young girls who want to live out their Christian faith by engaging in social justice issues.

I am thrilled about this and I can't wait for my girls to get their first issues of this magazine. There is Sparkle, for the younger girls and Shine Brightly for the older girls. Read more when you click here.

Igniting a Movement from GEMS Girls' Clubs on Vimeo.

Lifesong for Liberia

     

Alvin was born in a Liberian refugee camp in The Republic of Ghana, Africa.  His mother fled there during the civil war in Liberia.  Sadly, while she was in Ghana her family was killed in Liberia.  Alvin’s father died in the refugee camp before he was born.

In 2007, When Alvin was 4 years-old, he and his mother returned to Liberia.  There she began attending church and quit drinking.  Two years later, a few days before Christmas, she began vomiting and was admitted to a hospital with malaria.  Soon after, she died.

Alvin now lives at Lifesong Liberia's Master's Home of Champions.

You can help a child like Alvin. You can feed a child like Alvin.

Our goal is 70 people. $28 a month. One year commitment.

We have 44. 26 to go!

Will you join us in bringing joy and purpose to orphans?

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment! 

Lifesong

  

Quita is 5 years old.  During the disarmament time, rebels came to her village and took all the men, including her father.  She never saw her father again.  Later it was discovered that these men were taken to a bridge where they were shot and thrown into the river.

Her mother ran to the Salala district with the other villagers for refuge.   There she later got sick and became paralyzed.  Last year Quita’s mother died and Quita was taken to the Lifesong Liberia's Home of Champions.  When she grows up she wants to be a medical doctor and help children.

Isn't it amazing that at 5 years old she's thinking about how someday she can help other children?

How can we help children today?

We're asking for a monthly commitment of $28 for one year.

Twenty-eight dollars...

- eating out at that new restaurant

- the shirt you've had your eye on

- a date night to the movies

- those pillows that would just look sooo good on your sofa.

I won't lie, making this commitment will require some sacrifice.  But trust me.  The sacrifice is always worth the reward.

What can you sacrifice for a child like Quita?

Our goal is 70 people.  $28 a month.  One year commitment.

We have 36 commitments, 34 to go!

Join us in bringing joy and purpose to orphans!

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to commit! 

Liberia

Let's be the Hands and Feet of Jesus!

2010 Liberia Video from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

This week we are inviting our faithful readers and supporters to step up and help us in a time of need for Lifesong Liberia.

Lifesong has partnered with The Master’s Home of Champions orphanage and is providing a loving and safe home to many destitute and abandoned children, some of whom are deaf.  We seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and are focused on the goal of raising up champions for the good of Liberia and glory of God! 

This summer, another orphanage was in dire need, and thanks to an unexpected donation Lifesong was there.  Praise the Lord we can help more children!  But now, we need help too!  We need your help to make sure these children are fed every day!  We need your help to care for the fatherless!  Will you join us?

70 sponsors in one week is a tall order.  We know this.  We also know that we serve a big God who has told us that caring for the poor and vulnerable is at the very heart of who He is!  We believe we can make this happen! We pray that God will call hearts this week and we trust that you will answer!

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to commit!

Taking the Day Off

Today I thought I'd share with you something I learned in the first year of Carter's special needs life. Those first years tested me like nothing I have ever been through. I was tired physically, spiritually, emotionally almost everyday. The sheet number of hours I spent on the phone with the insurance company, making doctor's appointments, going to doctor's appointments, filling prescriptions, searching the internet for support and answers alone would make anyone exhausted, let alone all the regular exhaustion of raising an infant.

One thing I learned that year was to take one day a week off. We already devoted Sunday to rest, but there is something extra great about taking off a weekday, a day you could be doing something, but choose not to. My day was Thursday. I did not allow myself to schedule anything related to Carter's needs that day (unless it was an emergency of course). I did not allow myself to google anything medical. The internet is a black hole, people. I love it, but it can scare the daylights out of me, too. I didn't read anything about Noonan syndrome or call the insurance company. I even steered my thoughts away from anything stressful regarding my sweet boy.

Do you know what this did for me? It let me enjoy my son for the incredible baby and little boy he is and not be focused only on his medical needs. It gave me a day to look forward to. It refreshed and renewed me. I became more cheerful and more positive.

Whatever your source of stress is- financial problems, marriage issues, whatever it is, try taking a day off. See what it does for you.

Waiting Child Lullaby

KISSES IN THE WIND

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

--- © Pamela Durkota, written for Josh

No court for us!

Well, the judge was a no show for our case yesterday. So, court is now rescheduled for October 5th. I am trying to be cool with that.

Meanwhile, we discovered that Carter might having more heart trouble. So for the next 48 hours his every beat will be tracked by a monitor. I'll try to get a picture posted here later so you can see all his wires and tape. Thank goodness he is cool with pretending he is a robot or Tony Stark. Actually, I don't think he is pretending. He really thinks he is a robot.

I also got to speak in my friend's Child Development class today about birth defects and adoption. How timely is that? Don't worry, I only cried once during my presentation. Everything just felt a little raw today.

I am also feeling incredibly thankful for my friends who love me when life is hard. I felt so supported yesterday by all the phone calls and facebook comments I got regarding Carter's health and the failed court date. I couldn't make it without you all!

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4

I will wait, because I know this God who is acting on my behalf!

Court Tonight

At 3am Tuesday, if the judge in Burkina Faso so decides, I will be a mother to my fourth and oldest child! What an incredible thought! I am so excited! I can't wait to share her beautiful picture with you...

I just need to brag for a minute about my incredible Tuesday morning community group. These ladies hosted a massive garage sale to raise funds for our adoption and for two other families in our church who are adopting. Do you know how good it feels to have people in your life who care about the same things you do and put that care into action?

Casey and I are hosting a small group for families who are considering adopting. It is a great study that really helps you decide if adoption is right for your family by reflecting on Scripture and dispelling fears about the process. It was so cool to recount to that group they many miracles we've seen that are directly related to our adoption. I want to share some of the miracles we've seen- but that will have to wait for another post.

Need + Trust= Miracle.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

If I let myself go down this plan of what ifs and whens, I will lose my mind.

Here I sit on the verge of finally bringing home my daughter- feeling a little frazzled with tons of stuff to do and a little paralyzed by it all.

Reality: We have court in less than a week. I will be traveling to Burkina Faso in approximately 4 weeks. I will meet my nine year old daughter for the first time with out my husband. I will travel across the globe to bring her home to meet the family. We will have days or weeks until her open heart surgery. I need to learn French. I need to apply for my visa. I need to pick up malaria medication. I need to find clothes for her to wear. I need to figure out how to best educate this sweet girl I have never met.

The Bigger Reality: I have amazing friends and family who are willing to help at a moments notice and love me through it all. I have a God who has a plan that he established from the foundations of the earth and that plan includes the very details of this adoption. If anything goes badly, those bad parts will be redeemed and in turn give God glory. The beautiful parts will speak of His great love for the orphan and for me. Our family has an amazing story that is about to get more amazing.

I cannot wait until next week when I can officially post her beautiful picture and tell you her name. Next week she will be my daughter. Today, she does not even know she is getting adopted. Can you imagine? She has no idea.

We have no idea. No idea the goodness He has in store for us.