Guess What? I'm Okay If I Never Get Pregnant!

I’ve wanted to write this blog for a while now, but bitterness and hurt feelings caused me to take a step back and wait. I knew I needed to talk to God about my hurt feelings before addressing this issue on the blog. However, I think it’s important to address this issue because it’s truly something that I have been struggling with and I know that other adoptive families have probably dealt with the same stuff.


It’s almost as if there’s a myth in the adoption world that once you start the adoption process you’re guaranteed to get pregnant. I don’t know how many times people have said “Now that you have started the process you know you’re going to end up pregnant.” Yes, it does happen. I know of two families that it has happened to recently but it doesn't ALWAYS happen.


There are certain people in my life who constantly bring up me becoming pregnant or having “my own” children. Hearing these remarks is like a big slap on the face. First of all it hurts my feelings. When people make comments like this, what I hear is “Adoption isn’t as good as having a biological child.”


Becoming a mother through adoption is already hard enough without people making comments that make you feel like they would be happier if you were having a baby the old-fashioned way.


God has made it very clear to John and me that we will have a family through adoption. I can honestly say that even if I could conceive a child, God has changed my heart and my desire is to adopt children. I have no desire to become pregnant. I know that is very hard for some people to understand, but it is where God has me and I have a complete peace about it. I spent many months grieving the fact that I would probably never carry a baby for 9 months. I have grieved, I have prayed and God has brought me to the place I am now. And I am super happy and at peace with the place that He has me.


I can hear many of you saying that God performs miracles and I could end up pregnant some day – you’re right I could. He CAN do anything, but He has taken away my desire to become pregnant and replaced that desire with the desire to become a mom through adoption. I could have easily gotten pregnant the good old-fashioned way, or spent a ton of money on fertility treatments, but God had another plan.


Following His plan will mean that I become a mother, but it’s also about so much more. God has completely changed me. This adoption has an eternal purpose that I can’t even grasp. I have already fallen in love with my children, although I have never seen their faces. I have witnessed God’s miracles and experienced His love for me in ways that I never have before.

To get pregnant right now would, in all honesty, be devestating. It would mean that we would have to put this adoption on hold and the thought of that breaks my heart. I would trust God and His plan if that were to happen, but I would still be sad because I can't even imagine our family without Ethiopian babes.

I understand that not everyone agrees with adoption, that not everyone grasps a woman who is okay with never experiencing pregnancy. You don’t have to agree with my choice or understand the path God has me on. But please consider how hurtful it can be when you make comments that make me feel as if you’re anything but excited about the adoption, because in your eyes it’s not the “right” way to become a mother.

A Sneak Peak At Our Silent Auction...

The Hearts for Adoption Dinner and Silent Auction is fast approaching and we have had some amazing stuff donated for the silent auction. God has provided in a BIG way for this event! We are trusting and praying that ticket sales will come pouring in over the next 2 weeks.
John and I, along with the Ellis' and Habudas', are super excited about this event. Our prayer is that God will be glorified.
Remember that tickets must be purchased by April 8th so that we can turn in the order to the caterer. You can purchase the tickets through our blog or the Ellis' and Habudas.
Here is a sneak peak of the stuff we have for the silent auction. You know you don't want to miss out on all this great stuff, especially since there could be a few surprises thrown in.


Picnic for Two
Picnic basket with plates, tablecloth, etc.
3 bottles of wine
Wine glasses
Subway Gift Card


Handmade Necklace from Juhree


Handmade Necklace from Juhree


Golf Package
Wilson Golf Clubs
Golf Balls
Golf Tees


For The Guys Basket
Cigars
Golf Balls
Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Card
Round of Golf for 4 people and 2 free cart rentals


Italian Night Basket
$50 to Johnny Carinos
$10 Il Dolce Gelato
Wine and wineglasses


Texas Weekend Getaway
2 Night Stay at Hotel in Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas
$50 gift card to PF Changs
Gas Card


Date Night Basket
$40 to Charleston’s
Warren Tickets
2 coupons for free sundaes at Freddy’s Frozen Custard


Fiesta Night Basket
$20 On the Border
$20 to Pablono Grill
Salsa/chips


Family Fun Night Basket
Board Games
Pizza Gift Card
Chili’s Free Kids Meal coupons
Sonic value cards
Free sundaes from Freddy’s frozen custard
Video coupons
$20 video rental coupon
Gift certificate for bowling
Hey Day gift package- free mini golf and laser tag, $10 gift card


Photography Session from Art and Soul Photography ($150 Value)


Steak Night Basket
$25 to Outback
$25 to Longhorn Steakhouse and a free appetizer coupon
$20 to Logan’s Steakhouse


Body and Soul Boot camp Gift Certificate


Dinner for a Week
$30 Red Lobster
$25 Cheesecake Factory
$20 Interurban
$25 Outback
$30 Hideaway
$25 Logan’s Steakhouse
$25 to Swadley’s BBQ


Lunch for a Week
Louie’s Coupons
Earl’s Gift card
BJ’s Gift card
$20 Cafe 7 Gift Card
Sonic value cards
$20 Logan’s Steakhouse
Free Bowel at Genghis Grill


Lindsey Lou Creations Basket and Gift Card (handmade items)


Signed OSU Football


Signed OSU Basketball


Africa Basket
Ethiopian scarf
3 Ugandan necklaces
1 adult Africa t-shirt
1 children’s Africa shirt
Bracelet from Lesotho


Customized Ceramic Pumpkins


Dessert for a Year


Cupcake Basket
½ dozen cupcakes
Gift Card to Gigi’s cupcakes
Cupcake stand
Cupcake magazine
Cupcake liners (several packages)


Scentsy Basket


Thunder Basketball signed by the entire team (we have 2 of these!)


2 autographed Thunder jerseys – Durant and Westbrook


Area rug


Custom Cake

It's Beginning to Feel So Real....

Today was a big day for John and I. We went to the local Department of Homeland Security and had our biometric fingerprints taken. It was the last thing we needed to do so that our Dossier can be completed and sent to Washington D.C. Once our Dossier is sent to Washington, we will be put on the wait list.
I woke up this morning with giddy anticipation. Each time I close my eyes I picture Ethiopian babes in our family but for some reason this morning it all started to feel so much more real.
Of course we still have a long wait ahead of us, but we have hit a major milestone in this adoption journey. We are a few short weeks away from being put on the official wait list. We also found out some amazing news from our adoption agency today that could mean we won’t be waiting as long for a referral as we thought.
I sat in the fingerprint office and just thanked God for His sovereignty. His hand has been in every detail of our adoption and the news we received from our agency today was a HUGE answer to many weeks of prayer.
I seriously feel like I could shout from the rooftops I am so happy! Here are a few photos from our visit to Homeland Security (we got a lot of crazy stares but I’m used to that!)

Carry Each Other's Burdens

“Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” ~Galatians 6:12

After a long talk with Sarah on Tuesday about the season of waiting we’re experiencing, I decided to send her and Kathleen a card for encouragement (I totally could be spoiling the surprise if they haven’t received the card yet). The card I sent to each of them had Galatians 6:12 on it. As I read the verse I realized just how much Sarah, Kathleen and I are living out its words on a daily basis. We are all in a season of waiting – waiting to become mother’s, waiting for a referral, waiting to board a plane to go get our babies – and this season is sometimes really hard, really lonely and can seem never-ending. But the good news is we are all helping to carry one anothers burdens. Some days I am the strong one and help carry the heavy burdens that weigh Sarah and Kathleen down. Other times I feel like I’m drowning and Kathleen and Sarah are there to keep my head above the water.


As I pondered this verse I started to think about prayer. Praying for others is a way that we can help carry their burdens. Over the past six months I have had the opportunity (through prayer) to carry the burdens of several people. Some of these people I know personally, some of them I only know through Facebook and one I never had the chance to meet.


Of course there’s Sarah and Kathleen. Two of my closest friends, we met because we were all going to adopt from Ethiopia, but now our friendship is built on the solid foundation of Christ. I pray for these girls each day. For their adoption processes and for God to equip them for the wait.

Then there’s Erica Shubin. I only know Erica through Facebook and the blog world, but I consider her a friend. I have had the privilege to pray for her family as they traveled the long adoption journey to their sweet daughter Zahra. I have witnessed firsthand the amazing miracles that God performed so that Erica and her family could make Zahra a part of their forever family. Just this week they passed court in Ethiopia and met Zahra for the first time. When I saw the first photos of Erica and her husband with Zahra my heart swelled with emotion and tears flooded my eyes. God gave me a chance to be a part of this amazing journey through prayer.

Over the past six months or so I have also had the privilege of praying for a man I never had the chance to meet. Mike was the brother of one of my old editors and had to have a stem cell transplant. He literally went through hell on earth trying to recover from the stem cell transplant. I was heartbroken to learn that he passed away yesterday. I never met Mike, but from what Bob has told me he was an incredible man. I am thankful that I got to be a part of Team Doucette.

You may know someone who is going through some difficult stuff and you have no idea how to help. Prayer is a simple way that you can help carry their burdens. You're not only doing something that will change the life of the person you are praying for - but something that will change your life as well.

Praying with an Expectant Heart!

God answered a big prayer today regarding all that's going on with Ethiopian adoptions. Our adoption agency sent out an e-mail to let us know that the Ethiopian government is processing 40 adoption cases each day. Praise Jesus! That is such great news! There for a while we thought they were going to cut back and only hear 5 cases a day.
This week I'm preparing a devotion that I have to give at work on Friday morning. The key verse of the devotion is Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

The devotion talks about how the church prayed around the clock for Peter when he was imprisoned. Their prayers worked and Peter was released from prison. However when the angel of the Lord came and delivered Peter to the door of where the group was praying they didn't believe it was really him.

The devotion says, "they were praying, but not believing. They were locked into a posture of asking, but not expecting. Maybe that's where you are, expecting little or nothing."

The devotion goes on to say that we should pray with an expectant heart. "When praise fills your mouth, expectation will fill your heart, and God will move on your behalf. When God gives you a word, act on it! Start praising Him now for what He is about to do."

When we started praying about the adoption situation in Ethiopia, we expected God to move on behalf of the 5 million orphans who are in need of hope and love - He has moved! When God put adoption on our hearts in January 2010 we began to pray knowing that God would someday bless us with children from Ethiopia. I pray for my future babies expecting that God will move...knowing that He will fulfill His plan for our family in His perfect time. I may not be able to get on that plane to Ethiopia as soon as I would like to, but God has made it clear to us that we are supposed to adopt from Ethiopia and I am praying with an expectant heart. Just waiting for the day I see those babies faces.

Has God given you a word or pointed you down a certain path? Are you praying for a specific situation or person and not seeing any results? Don't give up! Pray and expect God to move. He will!

Thunder Up!!!

We received some AMAZING items for our silent auction this weekend...check this out! Two Thunder basketballs signed by the entire team and an autographed Durant and Westbrook jersey. If you are an OKC Thunder Fan you DO NOT want to miss out on your chance to win these great Thunder items!

Please join us April 16th and enjoy great food and live music. All the proceeds will help us and our dear friends the Habuda's and Ellis' help cover the high costs of our adoption expenses.

Hearts for Adoption Dinner and Silent Auction

When: Saturday, April 16th from 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: Christian Life Fellowship Church

1400 NW 12th Street

Moore, Oklahoma

Dinner will be catered by Primos D'Italia.

Cost is $15 for adults and teens and $6 for kids 6-12. Children 5 and under eat free.

Tickets are on sale NOW*

You can buy them through Paypal on my home page, buy them in person, or by mail.

*In order to give Primos a correct count, please purchase your tickets before April 8th!

Would you please help us spread the word about this event? Post it to your Facebook, blog about it, and invite all of your friends!

Wanna Get Away???

How about a free 2 night stay in the beautiful Blackstone Courtyard Marriot located in Sundance Square, downtown Ft. Worth, TX?

Our amazing friend Matt stays at this hotel A LOT! It's his home away from home on his frequent Dallas business trips. He's such a great guest that the hotel decided to donate a 2 night stay for our dinner and silent auction!
I'm a Texas girl and Sundance Square is a fun place to spend the weekend. Twenty blocks of amazing shopping, restaurants, theater, bars, live music, museums, fun architecture, etc. mixed in with just enough Texas twang! Folks, Texas isn't all Cowboys and Rodeos.



Come to our Dinner/Silent Auction and you might just win a fun weekend in Texas. Better dust off your cowboy boots!! 

One Month Away....

We are one month away from our Dinner/Silent Auction and we have some great prizes! Buy your tickets and you could have a chance to win this new set of Wilson Golf Clubs!

We also have a ton of other great prizes and are getting more donations each day. A few of the other silent auction items include: A gift certificate for a photography session donated by 

A Scentsy basket; autographed Thunder Basketball Memorabilla; a basketball and football signed by the headcoaches at OSU; African jewlery and many other great items.

Please join us April 16th and enjoy great food and live music. All the proceeds will help us and our dear friends the Habuda's and Ellis' bring home our children from Ethiopia.

Hearts for Adoption Dinner and Silent Auction

When: Saturday, April 16th from 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: Christian Life Fellowship Church

1400 NW 12th Street

Moore, Oklahoma

Dinner will be catered by Primos D'Italia. Cost is $15 for adults and teens and $6 for kids 6-12. Children 5 and under eat free.

Tickets are on sale Now*

You can buy them through Paypal on my home page, buy them in person, or by mail.

*In order to give Primos a correct count, please purchase your tickets before April 8th!

Would you please help us spread the word about this event? Post it to your Facebook, blog about it, and invite all of your friends!



May His Name Be Proclaimed In All the Earth....

I'm still participating in Beth Moore's Scripture Memory Challenge for 2011. The challenge is to memorize 24 verses this year and if you do and you post your verses each month on Beth Moore's blog then you get to attend a special conference with her in January 2012. When I heard about the challenge, I was all in. It's a way to grow closer to God and tuck His word in my heart AND get to see one of my favorite Bible teachers - how can you not love Beth Moore and her Texas twang. Her love for Jesus knocks my socks off. My verses for 2011 have all been ones that I feel relate to our adoption process. Words that I can cling to in times of uncertainty or when I feel like becoming a mother will NEVER happen. Today I posted Verse #6 which is Exodus 9:16.

"But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Adoption is God's purpose for John and I. His reason is not just so that we can become parents. It's so that His power and glory will be revealed for all to see. So that each and every person who hears about our adoption journey will proclaim His name. Our adoption process is just a brief glimpse of the beautiful picture of what it looks like when God adopts us into His family.

As I flipped to this verse this morning it took on a whole new meaning as I thought about all the uncertainty going on with Ethiopia adoptions right now. We have heard rumors that the Ethiopian government will be hearing 20 cases per day (which is up from 5 but down from 50). We haven't heard if this is true, but it's a glimmer of hope for all of the families who are waiting for their children.

As I read this verse I realized that the situation that's going on in Ethiopia is just another way for "God to show His power and for His name to be proclaimed in all the earth."

I remind myself each time I pray for the Ethiopia adoption setback that God sees the faces of each and everyone of the 5 million orphans in Ethiopia.

Isaiah 42:16 says "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do. I will not forsake them."

Taking care of the orphan is God's command. He is passionate about seeing the fatherless become part of a family. I read this the other day on a blog I was reading and just LOVED it.

"If you're reading this, and you say you love Jesus, spread the word, Christians must be doing at least one of the following two: adopting a child, or supporting those who are. Not once. Not twice. But as long as you live."





March 28th

As we were leaving for Texas on Friday we pulled up to the mailbox to get the mail and found these....

Our fingerprint appointments are on March 28th. I feel like we will be on the wait list by the end of April, first part of May. All we need is the approval letter after having our fingerprints done and our dossier is ready to be sent to Washington D.C. Then we can start the (real) long wait....

The Voice of Truth

Yesterday John and I had a conference call with the adoption agency. The purpose was to discuss what we can expect now that we are so close to being put on the official wait list. With all that is going on in Ethiopia, we definitely had questions. At this point it looks like we will be waiting for a referral for at least 12 months once we are on the wait list. We are just waiting to have our CIS fingerprints and get the approval letter so that our Dossier (which is ready and waiting) can be sent to Washington D.C. I am hoping we are on the wait list by the end of April, first part of May.

It looks like we may not see the precious faces of our babies until the summer of 2012. I thought we would for sure be traveling by that time to bring them home. Despite the long wait we still have ahead of us, God has flooded my heart with the peace that only He can give.
I was talking to Sarah yesterday and she mentioned holding on to Truth and always listening to the Voice of Truth, especially when there is so much news floating around about what Ethiopia may and may not do.
The lyrics to this song popped into my head and comforted me. I choose to listen to the Voice of Truth…..

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
On to the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed

The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win!
You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I would choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone

Surrounded by the sound
Of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed

The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again
"Boy you'll never win!
You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me

The voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I would choose to listen and believe
I would choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
The voice of truth

URGENT: Pray for Ethiopia and the Children....

Joint Council has started an emergency campaign for Ethiopia. Please consider signing the petition below. Ethiopia is considering decreasing adoptions by 90%. There are so many children who need families and John and I know from the depths of our hearts that our babie(s) are waiting for us in Ethiopia.
You can sign the petition here.
PLEASE be praying for the Ethiopian government and for the precious children waiting for a family. Ethiopia is looking at cutting their international adoptions by 90%! They'll be deciding in the next few days. This is a desperate situation for the thousands of children who are waiting for a family and heartbreaking news for all of us who are aching to bring our children home. Even though this situation is scary, I have complete peace knowing that God is sovereign and in control. None of this surprises Him. Please pray that the Ethiopian government will make the right and best decisions for the kiddos.

Thoughts On The Recent Ethiopia Adoption News

I believe with everything in me that John and I have babie(s) waiting for us in Ethiopia. They may not have been conceived yet, but God made it very clear to us in February 2010 that we were supposed to adopt from Ethiopia. Since putting Ethiopia on our hearts, He has allowed every single detail of this adoption to fall in place at just the right moment.

The recent news report that Ethiopia plans to cut adoptions by up to 90% has the Ethiopia adoption community in a frenzy. Many families are unsure of what will happen. Families who are just weeks away from being on the Wait list (John and I are one of those couples, as well as, several of our close friends) are uncertain of how long they will actually have to wait before receiving a referral.
Even before this news story came out, I had prepared myself for a long wait. I had already come to terms with the fact that it would probably be next summer before we even received a referral. With the recent development regarding adoptions in Ethiopia we could be waiting a whole lot longer.
I could be freaking out right now, but I can honestly say I have a complete peace; the peace that only comes from God.
I came across this verse several weeks ago in Habakkuk and Rebecca reminded me of it again last week. I will cling to this verse during this time of uncertainty, but I know from the depth of my soul that God is in control.

“If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Habakkuk 2:3

God’s timing is perfect. It’s not always easy to wait for His timing but He is working all the details out. There will be a baby girl or a baby boy (maybe both) that will be a part of our family at the exact time that God has planned for them to join us.
I realize that as the months go by and we continue to wait my heart is going to yearn for those babies. To see their precious faces and kiss their tiny toes. John and I are so ready to get on a plane to Ethiopia, but we have to have patience and trust that God’s plan is far better than any that we could come up with on our own.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

 Isaiah 55: 8-9

Tickets Available to Our Dinner/Silent Auction Through Our Blog....

Tickets are now available for the dinner/silent auction that we are having with the Ellis' and the Habuda's. They can be purchased right here on the blog. All the proceeds from the event will benefit our adoptions from Ethiopia. God has faithfully provided an amazing facility to have our event and a great deal on catering. We already have a lot of great silent auction items and more are being donated.

Please join us for this fun night of food and music to raise money to support adoption!

Hearts for Adoption Dinner and Silent Auction

When: Saturday, April 16 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: Christian Life Fellowship

1400 NW 12th Street in Moore, Oklahoma

Dinner will be catered by Primos D'Italia. Cost is $15 for adults and $6 for children over 5-years-old. Kids 5 and under eat free. Tickets must be purchased by April 8th so that we can put our order in with the caterer. Would you please help us spread the word about this event?? Post it to your Facebook, invite all of your friends. It's going to be a good, good, night!

Trusting God to Provide in His Perfect Timing

"Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes."

~ 1 Sam. 12:16

Just this week I have seen God do amazing things before my eyes. He provided the $1300 Clint and Kathleen needed in a way that I never would have dreamed of. He has also provided almost $2800 for the Shubins through a 48 hour Facebook-A-Thon. If they reach $2800 by midnight tonight their adoption will be fully funded!
Although I have seen these amazing things this week, I have also been a little discouraged about our puzzle piece fundraiser. It hasn't gone as well as I had hoped despite doing the giveaway.
This morning as I was praying, I felt like the Lord was saying that maybe I should take a break from fundraising for a while. God has provided the money we need to cover all of the adoption fees and all we lack is money to travel. Since we won't be traveling (in all likelihood) for at least a year, I feel like God is saying:
Be still. Take a break. I will provide the additional money that you need at exactly the right moment.
I trust that God will provide the travel money 100% but I am such a "doer" that I feel like I should be fundraising and doing my part to come up with the money, but God is telling me to "Be still and know that He is God." and to "Stand still and see the great thing He is going to do before my eyes."
I need to remember that God doesn't need me or my efforts to provide the additional money. He can do it all on His own.
Maybe we won't sell the remaining 29 puzzle pieces or maybe we will. Maybe God has a different plan for providing.
Maybe I just need to stop doing things in my own strength and pray more - pray for God's provision and that He will put the right people in our lives that have a heart for adoption and for the orphan.
Maybe I need to be like Elijah and have the kind of faith and pray the powerful prayer knowing that God's going to move on our behalf - that its not about the money as much as it is about God making Himself known through our adoption process - that people have no doubt that it's been His hand that has provided every single dollar of the $18,367 that we have raised. And it will be His hand that provides every penny of the last $9,700 we need whether I fundraise or not.

$1300 in LESS than Two Weeks...Only God!

"Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand to that person."

Proverbs 3:27

This is my 5th memory verse for 2011 and I saw it lived out like never before on Monday. My friends Clint and Kathleen needed to raise $1300 in two weeks in order to submit their dossier.

On Friday I asked my friends and co-workers, Seth and Abby, if they would pray for the Ellis'. Monday Seth informed me that their community group had prayed for Clint and Kathleen on Friday night and had decided that they wanted to make a donation to their adoption fund.

Monday night I got a text message from Kathleen that said, "I have HUGE news!" I replied, "Did you get a check for exactly $1300?" She texted "I'm not even kidding!"

She called me later to tell me that Seth and Abby's community group had decided to give them the entire $1300 so that they could move forward with their adoption.

Kathleen was speechless and I was humbled that my new friends had been the hands and feet of Jesus to someone they didn't even know. 

I was also touched that God would allow me to be a small part of His awesome plan to provide the $1300 that Clint and Kathleen needed.

Kathleen said she couldn't come up with adequate words to express her gratitude towards the community group. She said thank you seemed like something you would say to someone who had held the door open for you; not total strangers who had donated $1300 to people they didn't know.

I told Kathleen several days ago that I knew God would provide the money; it would just be in ways that we would never expect - and boy did He!

I have the utmost respect for Seth and Abby. I've known them for about a month but they have already become dear friends to me. They are the spittin' image of Jesus and I love their hearts for the orphan. 

They were with me on my birthday when I found out we were Gladney approved. They cheered with excitement while I cried tears of joy. They even sponsored puzzle pieces to help bring home our Missing Linck(s).

I can't wait to tell my kiddos about the support I had from two great co-workers as we traveled the long adoption journey. 

Abby, Seth and Community Group...thank you for living out Proverbs 3:27! You'll never know how much your generosity means to me and the Ellis'.

 Seth, Abby and I having an icecream meeting for work!!