Nine Months

This month marks the nine month mark into our journey. In our journey with Ava and Ryan, that meant I was having a baby soon or had a baby by now. I think this has been the hardest month for me in this process because it is being made abundantly clear that I am not in control. There is very little choice I have in this process. We do have the choice to let our family book be shown, but other than that it is out of our hands.

Through it all I have been reminded of God's goodness and presence. Through the people that we meet, and the people in our lives. This process has opened the doors for us to meet people who have been affected by adoption either by being adopted themselves or have adopted children. Each story is beautiful and unique and adds a new perspective into this beautiful journey. 

Jayson mentioned some of the gifts we have been given to help us on our way. Gifts given by people who have known us forever and some who have only met Jayson briefly or not at all. But one of the gifts we were given was by one if the teens in our youth group. This girl has been working her tail off to save and earn money for a trip she is taking through school. I have been so proud of this girl and her efforts! But one Sunday not too long ago she gave Jayson an envelope with the most precious letter in it and a $100 bill. She gave so sacrificially and so lovingly. Both Jayson and I are so humbled by her. I know it is easy to get discouraged about our future, but I am so encouraged when I think of her and the many other teens like her in our youth group. There are some truly amazing teens coming up!! To this sweet girl, Jayson and I cannot say thank you enough. You have such a huge heart and we are blessed by you!!

Thank you for continuing to pray for us in our journey. We feel your prayers. God is good, so good. 

~Andrea

The Fellowship Of The Believers

"They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."

                                                                         Acts 2:45

This past month, I have had the blessing of seeing the people of God respond to the callings of the Spirit, and live out this scripture in their own lives. I had the opportunity to share my testimony with a small group of people at a Church Camp. I included our current journey through the adoption process as testimony to the work of Jesus Christ in our lives today. One young man, working as part of the college age staff at the camp, felt compelled to give towards our adoption. I know this young man is not raking in the big bucks working at a Church Camp, so I have to believe that his contribution is a great sacrifice towards helping us achieve our goal.  They gave to those who had need.

This story was shared with the Camp Manager, who shared this story with the general camp staff, where another couple felt compelled to give towards our adoption. This particular group was a retired couple on a fixed income, volunteering their time and labor at a Summer Camp. They gave to those who had need.

Finally, the one story that so clearly shows this passage lived out is in regard to an older widow, who approached me a couple of weeks ago about trying to sell a truck and give me the money from its proceeds. She further suggested that if she could not sell the truck, she would give it to me to do whatever I would like with it, whether it was used for scrap metal or otherwise.

Three weeks ago, she approached me in the Church hallway with the Title:

This wonderful widow took property and possessions to give to me and my family, who had need. I will never doubt the presence of the Spirit of God in the lives of people, compelling them to make use of their time and resources for the furthering of his Kingdom. My hope is that when this process is through, that my family can continue this great example set by both young and old, to give of their property and possessions for those in need.