Nine days!

Tomorrow is our project day -  today we have been gathering supplies and sending off reminder emails. We have been abundantly blessed by our community and friends, too. Pasco Rentals donated financially and all the rock for the front yard as well as the use of their trailer (that dumps!). Home Depot donated $75 in gift certificates. Little Caesars Pizza donated 5 pizzas plus bread sticks. A local coffee shop roasts their own coffee and has donated a few pounds for the morning. Yoke's Grocery store donated a $50 gift card (originally it was going to be $35, but they added to it because of the heart felt thanks!) Love how God provides and above and beyond what we expect!! Oh! I forgot - my friend Bonnie is bringing a snow cone machine and signs to sell snow cones to the neighborhood and provide a free snow cone to the workers! All of her proceeds will be donated to our adoption fund! I think the snow cones will be the best part. :) I haven't told the boys yet - they are going to be thrilled!

Speaking of the boys, they are spending the night with Grandpa and Granny leaving Eman and I the night off! Originally we were planning a full on date night, but it has changed into a date night at home. I think this will be nicer, honestly. We have been so busy, it will be nice to just be home, together. It will be a while before we get this opportunity again! 

We have 9 more days before we will be in China, holding our delight - Naomi! Gah!!! We are still needing another $3000 and all day yesterday I was in a panic, stressed to the MAX! I whined and cried to The Lord off and on all day. Finally, He spanked me through my friend. I don't have the money because we don't need the money - yet. I am still waiting for the final wire amount which means I don't have to wire anything just yet. We have a few more days. :) The were several things that came in yesterday, too, even while I was still freaking out. Truly, The Lord knows our needs and He WILL provide. It is never in the way we expect or according to our timing either. We. Just. Have. To. Trust. The end.

So, while I wait, I get to lay in the cool grass and watch the clouds roll by. Literally. 

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. (Psalms 19:1 NKJV)

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the beautiful display. Thank you for all you have provided. Thank you for what will still happen. Please forgive my weak, doubtful heart. Help me to keep my focus on YOU and what YOU will do. You are the strength in my weakness. Keep me on my knees Lord!! Bring my girl home.

Waiting..

We are all in a waiting pattern right now (again - after all, waiting is the name of the game when it comes to adoption). This wait is different from all the rest though. We are finally waiting for the day we leave - 8 days until we are boarding the airplane!! Suitcases have been pulled out, laundry is being processed and the house is in various stages of deep cleaning, ready to be closed up for two weeks. It is really amazing to look back to where we started. We didn't have any extra money to pay the fees that are required for an adoption. There were many doubts and fears that this could/would even happen! But, here we are, a week from traveling, with only a couple thousand left to raise (at last check). This can only be attributed to The Lord's provision. We are not that great with our money, nor do we make enough to have saved $30,000+ to pay all of this on our own, in 17 months. No way, no how. Thank you Jesus for providing!!

When I say we are all waiting, I really mean we are all waiting.. Even our Cocoa Bear. :) This is one of her favorite places to sprawl out and snooze. She will be so happy to have another child's face to like and snuffle! Poor Naomi... ;)

I guess she wants to come along..

Night light

Jacob discovered my small jar of glow in the dark paint today. He made a picture for himself and one for his sister. He told me he made a night light for her so she wouldn't be scared when she came home. It has a couple of hearts and some other shapes on it. Seriously..?? How sweet is this boy?! I am so excited to bring her home to meet these boys that are already in LOVE with her! Thank you Jesus for planting these seeds in their hearts! 

School is in session!!

School has begun - well, we started last week. School in the outside world started today. Lots of first day pics, so here are ours..

Give $5, save a life!!!

On August 31, we will be working on a local widow's home.  This project is in conjunction with Both Hands and Lifesong for Orphans.  Both Hands is a non-profit organization that helps families raise funds for their adoption while completing a home improvement project on a widow's house.  Both Hands - one for the widow, one for the orphan.  Supplies for the project are donated from businesses in the area, while funds are donated to the adopting family by friends and family.  These funds are used to help with adoption expenses.  We are very close to being fully funded, but not quite there.  We still need $2500.

Our goal is to get 500 people to donate $5 each in 14 days.  We need your help with 3 simple things.

Watch.

 Following along with our blog will keep you connected on our journey of bringing Naomi home.

Give.

Send your donation online: www.BothHands.org/Rodrick and click the "DONATE" button.  Follow the online instructions to pay safely with your credit card or PayPal account. (Please note that PayPal does charge a service fee that will decrease your donation) 

Or simply mail a check to Lifesong for Orphans (PO Box 40/202, N Ford St, Gridley, IL 61744).  Please write "Preference Rodrick #3635" in the memo line.

Gifts given through Lifesong for Orphans are tax deductible and will go directly to our account!!

Share.

Please share this page via Facebook, email, twitter, snail mail, text or any other form of communication!  The more you share, the closer we will be to reaching our goal!

Two weeks til take off!!

We leave in two weeks! I cannot believe that it's already this close!! These past few days I have been struggling with doubt about everything - I know it all backs up to attacks, but also not brig firmly rooted. Of all times to NOT have my eyes focused on Him..

Yesterday I read Psalm 25 - so appropriate!! I absolutely love reading what David wrote. The fear, the struggle, the constant barrage from his enemy, is so applicable to this adoption process. The reminders of grace, mercy and providence are also perfect!  These verses were a sweet correction and balm for my heart:

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in You;

Let me not be ashamed;

Let not my enemies triumph over me,

Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;

Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

Show me Your ways, O Lord;

Teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truths and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:1-5

Today, it is chapter 27, that calms my spirit.

The Lord is my light and salvation;

WHOM SHALL I FEAR?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?

When the wicked come against me

To eat up my flesh,

My enemies and does,

They stumbled and fell.

Though an army may encamp against me,

MY HEART SHALL NOT FEAR;

Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of The Lord,

That I will seek:

That I may dwell in the house of The Lord

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of The Lord,

And to inquire in His temple.

FOR IN TIME OF TROUBLE

HE SHALL HIDE ME IN HIS PAVILION;

IN THE SECRET PLACE OF HIS TABERNACLE

HE SHALL HIDE ME;

HE SHALL SET ME HIGH UPON A ROCK.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

THEREFORE I WILL OFFER SACRIFICES OF JOY IN HIS TABERNACLE;

I WILL SING, YES, I WILL SING PRAISES TO THE LORD.

Emphasis is mine - I am nervous as all get out!! But, my Heavenly Father is Good, Merciful, Loving and Gracious. He has provided all we have and will continue to provide all we will ever need! What do I have to be nervous about?! Now, if I can keep that in the forefront of my heart and head, that would be great!!

Getting close..

We are 23 days away from leaving for China!! Aaaahhh!!! I can hardly believe it!! I have one more curtain to make and Naomi's room will be all ready. It is pretty cute. :)

We are waiting on several other things too. One being our travel documents - the things we present to each official in the different cities to make show that we have done what we were supposed to do. The other is raise some more money. We haven't received our final, exact wire amount just yet, but we have been told to expect it to be between $10,500-11,500. I have added up what we have in each pot and we have just over $7000! Yay!! Our Both Hands project is at the end of the month, but I emailed the book keeper  to see where we are at so far. She is super back logged on her email, so not sure when we will hear back.. Hopefully, our pot will grow as we wait! 

In the meantime, I have been helping my BFF with her yard sale prep and attempting to create some other fun crafty things to sell to for her and other adopting friends. This is the fun stuff. :)

It is crazy how we have had enough to pay each item as we have moved forward. The Lord has truly paid our way in this adoption! We have had money when we needed it and never a moment before. I expect this to happen again - He will provide. Of course, it totally makes me nervous as all get out, but I am choosing to trust in Him. I don't have enough stuff to sell to raise the balance, real quick. 

If you read this, please pray with me for provision, trust and peace!  

Pains..

There are several of my close friends that are at various points in the adoption process alongside eman and me. I am so thankful for each of these women. Let me tell you, this process is HARD - the waiting, the mounds of paperwork, the waiting, the unknowns, the waiting, the fundraising, more paperwork and more waiting. This has been a very different trial than I ever expected and I think I could say the same for these other mamas too. Adoption is not for the faint of heart - it is God's will and, thank goodness, He does the strengthening an binding of battle wounds! Phew!

These past few weeks have been hard for each one of us as it relates to adoption. We have had, to name a few, disappointments, miscommunication, lack of communication, and exhaustion. All of us ready to throw in the towel. 

That, however, is NOT an option. We have been called to a much higher purpose. We need to put our flesh to death and let The Lord guide our hearts and minds. This is not easy though, especially when the pity party and beating feels deserved.

Here is what God's word says in Philippians 1:6 - And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

Our God WILL complete this good work in us. He will NOT abandon us midway, just as He will not abandon these kids. He has called each of us to bring home different children, to make them as one of our own. How can we argue or quit that when it gets rough? No one has ever told us life would be easy. Certainly there are not any scripture that would say that either. 

Bottom line: It's a work of God to form families in a new way after hurt and trauma. It's total redemption. THIS is so cool! These children were conceived outside of our bodies, yet God has given us a love and desire for them. Sometimes without knowing their faces, always without knowing what they sound like, and who they are! He gives us a small minuscule taste of how deep His love is for us! 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1 NIV)

Father, may all of the glory be given to you not only in our adoption process, but also in these other families! Thank you that you already know our needs! Thank you that you already know the outcome of these journeys! Thank you that you love us so much that you adopted us into your family - we are children of the One True King!