friends for the journey

Jeremy and I have said before that adoption has been the hardest thing we've ever done.  Thankfully, God didn't leave us to do it alone though.  He's given us an amazing family to walk alongside us, and the best friends that anyone can have.

There's a special group of friends that allow me to blow up their phones with text messages containing the latest update or picture or a pressing need.  They faithfully help me bear burdens and join me in taking them before the Father.  I am so thankful for them, and I love them dearly.

Amy--you jumped in with both feet to "mobilize the troops" at home and rally support without me even having to ask.  Not to mention, the yard sale wouldn't have happened without you and your hard work.  Looking forward to our next chat over Chinese...

Mel--my partner in crime that I dearly love, I'm thankful that we're going through our grown-up lives together. You have an incredible talent for knowing my heart and for saying just what I need to hear.  Your description of Sam as, "our God-given miracle baby," still warms my heart!
Hope--God certainly blessed us when He gave us such an awesome TN family!  You've loved us like your own and helped us in more ways than I can count.  You are awesome, and I can't wait for Sam to get here and love you as much as we do.
Danielle--my favorite half of Dsquared, I am so happy to have you as a friend.  When we moved here, you made the adjustment to living away from home so much easier, and your prayers and support for this journey has made it much easier to travel.  I'm thankful for both!

Jessica--your well-timed text messages are always full of encouragement and love, and they never fail to bring a smile to my face.  I'm not sure how many hours you've spent praying for us and our Sam, but I know that I'm grateful for them!
Amanda--our friendship with your sweet family has blessed Jeremy and me so much, and we can't wait for the girls to have a new playmate in our Sam.  I'm know we're in for some fun times, friend, and I can't wait!

Susan--your understanding and encouragement does a heart good, and I'm thankful to be on the receiving end of it!  It won't be long before we have a little boy with fuzzy black hair sharing our pew with us :).

Ali--my dear, sweet friend from the homeland, you are so much fun.  Jeremy and I love you dearly and can't wait to introduce Sam to the best fiddle player/singer/songwriter/Salsa dancer/Spanish teacher that we know :).

Lisa & Deborah--during the school year, I spend more time with these two than I do at home.  They are full of wisdom and great advice that I soak up each day, and I'm thankful for them!

she chose life.

Today is the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the landmark Supreme court decision that has led to an estimated 55 million abortions being performed.  To think about it another way--that's 55 million babies that will never experience life!

On this day (and everyday), I am thankful for Sam's birth mother choosing life.  At possible risk of her reputation and any future prospects (i.e. marriage), she chose life.  Although I will never meet her or know her, my heart will always be full of gratitude for her and the decision that she made.

Because of her decision, we eagerly anticipate the child of our heart coming home.

Because of her decision, we see his sweet face each month in pictures and will one day hold him in our arms.

Because of her decision, we will have a lifetime of joys that'll come from parenting the cutest little boy on the planet.

Because of her decision, this little guy will learn to throw a football and be able to ride a bicycle--says Jeremy. (how I love him :)

Because of her decision, our sweet  Sam will experience the beauty of God's creation and the love of his Creator.


Because of her decision, Sam will grow into the man God intends for him to be.

then sings my soul

This morning, I woke up feeling kind of blah and wondering if we're ever going to get the call for Sam.  Because, honestly, there are days when it seems like that day is never going to happen.  This blah cloud of thoughts was still hanging around me as I stood in church listening to everyone sing.

Then, I heard this tiny voice behind me singing, "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art."   What a sweet sound it was!  And hearing that tiny voice singing was a sweet reminder that not only is the God we serve is great, but He's going to see us through this time of waiting and bring Sam home.

There will be a day when it's Sam standing beside me singing in his tiny, little boy voice about our great God.  It's this reminder that keeps me going, even on those days when the waiting seems unbearable.

these things totally made my day

~Receiving an email with the subject line, "Pictures!!!!"

~A dear friend from church asking, "do we have a travel date yet" and realizing, once again, that Jeremy and I are surrounded by so many people who are walking this journey with us, all considering themselves a part of the "we."

~This email from the best Mammaw in the world, Jeremy's Mammaw Barbara---

Sam will be a doll by the time we get him, `cause he gets cuter and cuter with each new picture!  His hair is so pretty and it`s laying down now.  You know Sarah, in the earlier pictures we wondered if it ever would.  Oh, we can`t wait.  Just think, 2 great-grands in the same year....how lucky we are.

~Confirmation that this journey (and this blog) are bringing God glory and pointing to Him

~Seeing our Sam's sweet face---oh, the cuteness!!!!

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

seek Him, use what He gave you, and dream big

Sam,
God blesses each of us with different gifts and talents.  Your daddy has been blessed with the gift of music, an incredible talent for playing drums, and a dream of turning that talent into his profession.  Of course, I can't wait for you to experience him living this out firsthand!  It's an amazing testament to God's goodness and grace.

Remember these things about the gifts that God blesses you with & the dreams He puts in your heart:
*A dream realized is a blessing, no matter how big or small the dream.
*Your gifts and talents are from Him & are meant to bring Him glory.  Seek to glorify Him in all that you do.

A dream realized for your daddy--playing the CenturyLink Center at home in LA.  It was awesome to watch, and I can't wait for you to be there next time watching with me :).

This cool picture was taken by Ashli.

Petition * Pray * Believe

You all know by now that Russia has stopped all adoptions to the United States.  This means that the 46 children that were weeks from being united with their forever families will remain in orphanages.  For the waiting families, they are left brokenhearted.

A petition has been created to ask President Obama to intervene in some way for these families.  I'm going to put the link below and ask that you sign the petition.  (The creator of the petition is one of the 46 families.)  

When you click the button to sign the petition, it'll ask you to create an account.  This is painless and easy to do.  So, please, take a minute and speak up for these children and families that desperately need our support!

Let's join together in praying for these families and their sweet babies.  Pray that God would make a way for them to bring their children home.  Remember, we are praying to the God of the universe, so pray believing that He can and will do this.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

http://wh.gov/QANr

*If you can't click on the link, copy & paste it into the address bar.

much to look forward to in 2013

1. Answering the CALL that'll tell us, "it's time"

2. Traveling to the other side of the world and (finally) meeting our sweet Sam

3. Going from holding him in my heart to holding him in my arms

4.  Hearing the sound of his voice

5. The sounds that will fill our house--precious sounds that are unique only to a little boy

6. The feel of a chubby little hand in mine

7. Watching him experience and discover the world around him

8. Setting another place at the table for family dinners

9.  Playtime, bath time, bedtime

10. Feeling his heartbeat as I hold him close, rocking him to sleep

11. Having him reach for me, wanting me to hold him or pick him up

12. Starting the fun-filled journey of parenting with my best friend

13. Hearing him say, "Mama"

great things of 2012

* Our faith was stretched in a way that we never dreamed possible.  As a result, we're starting 2013 with a heart full of thankfulness and a stronger faith in our God.

* The child of our heart was made known to us, and we're looking forward to the day this year when we get to hold him and love him in person!

* The best family and friends that anyone can have surrounded us at a time when we needed it most and literally were the hands and feet of Jesus for us.

* We experienced our own "feeding of the five thousand" miracle when God took a little bit and made it into more than enough, allowing us to pay the adoption fees that were due.

* Through it all, we've learned more about God's character; He is worthy of all glory and honor.

"To God be the glory; great things He has done."