Monday, June 27, 2011
Bring on the Homestudy!
The Lord provided the funds and we were able to send our homestudy application in today! I am excited to get rolling on this! AND, we are 3/4 of the way to our next goal of $1,700! I was thinking today about how we have no idea from day to day whom the Lord is going to nudge to help bring our Maggie home. All in His timing! HE is the great one in this!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Such a crazy ride!
Today has been a whirlwind of emotion! Just feeling overwhelmed with all of the paperwork, and not being at home to really do it (I am in IN and Matt is in PA). However, I have done what I can and now I have to allow my incredible God to hold my heart once more.
I went for a drive today and had a good cry with the Lord. Why do I worry? This is NOT who I want to be. I will NOT give the enemy a foothold. This is the path God has chosen for us. And I know our sweet Maggie is more than worth it!
Thank you to all of those I have talked with today! God has used you to steady my heart!
I went for a drive today and had a good cry with the Lord. Why do I worry? This is NOT who I want to be. I will NOT give the enemy a foothold. This is the path God has chosen for us. And I know our sweet Maggie is more than worth it!
Thank you to all of those I have talked with today! God has used you to steady my heart!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
OK, now God is showing off! I can't say I'm surprised!
Yesterday I traveled to Indiana with my kids to visit family. My heart was calm regarding all of the paperwork and funds that need to be raised to get Maggie home. My heart was very content to leave the timing to the Lord as to when HE sees Maggie joining our family. (Even though it is hard for me to think about waiting years).
I recently found Psalm 116:7 which says "RETURN to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." Such a great reminder that it is a great thing to continually seek God through this time of waiting for our Maggie.
About 10pm last night Matt called and was speechless. We had just been given a check for $2,000! Then, he got the mail (he had been with youth kids all day) and there was a check for $100! The reason this is so incredibly awesome is that our initial homestudy costs are $2,100!!! God is so very cool!
And we are on our way to remaining homestudy costs, donations are starting to come in and we are so very, very grateful!!!
I recently found Psalm 116:7 which says "RETURN to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." Such a great reminder that it is a great thing to continually seek God through this time of waiting for our Maggie.
About 10pm last night Matt called and was speechless. We had just been given a check for $2,000! Then, he got the mail (he had been with youth kids all day) and there was a check for $100! The reason this is so incredibly awesome is that our initial homestudy costs are $2,100!!! God is so very cool!
And we are on our way to remaining homestudy costs, donations are starting to come in and we are so very, very grateful!!!
Monday, June 13, 2011
This little girl has no idea...
I was just thinking about how Maggie has no idea how loved she already is. She will be coming into an extended family with cousins, aunts/uncles, grandma/pa's who love her! And not only related family, our faith family! She will learn how much God loves her!
I just get so excited when I think about holding her and introducing her to the amazing support system we have!
The kids and I are traveling to Indiana to visit family this week! I am hoping to get time to fill out lots of paperwork to get Maggie home!
We have not yet met our goal of $4,000.00 to begin the homestudy, but we are convinced that the Lord has it all in His time. If you would like to help bring Maggie home, just click the PayPal button on the side! Thanks!!
I just get so excited when I think about holding her and introducing her to the amazing support system we have!
The kids and I are traveling to Indiana to visit family this week! I am hoping to get time to fill out lots of paperwork to get Maggie home!
We have not yet met our goal of $4,000.00 to begin the homestudy, but we are convinced that the Lord has it all in His time. If you would like to help bring Maggie home, just click the PayPal button on the side! Thanks!!
Friday, June 10, 2011
We got the PA today!
That was a welcome e-mail! We received our PA (pre-approval) from China today! God knew we needed that. Today has been a day of worry for me. Not that we wouldn't be approved, just that we won't ever be able to raise the money for the homestudy. We are already filling out applications for grants and interest free loans, but we can't turn any of those in until the homestudy is done. So, right now, we need funds for the homestudy to the tune $4,000.
However, even in this time of waiting for the funds, we trust that God's timing is never early and never late. He has also taught us that time is a beautiful thing. Thank you for your continued prayer and support!
However, even in this time of waiting for the funds, we trust that God's timing is never early and never late. He has also taught us that time is a beautiful thing. Thank you for your continued prayer and support!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
FAITH can be so scary when it comes to bank accounts
This A.M. I have two things on my mind.
1) Our adoption application was delivered to the agency on Monday, however they were closed for the day. So, a notice was given to them and it is to be redelivered. Well, it wasn't delivered yesterday either. I am praying that today would be the day!
2) We have been told by several whom have adopted that we have to let our needs be known, or no one can help. Aaaggh! I am so afraid of looking like a beggar! However, GOD placed us on this journey knowing full well our bank account status. Today we will start letting others know of the need. We are in the process of getting a paypal link on the blog (oh that turns my stomach).
I have to let God do his thing with this. Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for (to bring Maggie home) and CERTAIN of what we do not see (GOD IS OUR JEHOVAH JIRAH, our great provider). Parenthesis mine. : )
1) Our adoption application was delivered to the agency on Monday, however they were closed for the day. So, a notice was given to them and it is to be redelivered. Well, it wasn't delivered yesterday either. I am praying that today would be the day!
2) We have been told by several whom have adopted that we have to let our needs be known, or no one can help. Aaaggh! I am so afraid of looking like a beggar! However, GOD placed us on this journey knowing full well our bank account status. Today we will start letting others know of the need. We are in the process of getting a paypal link on the blog (oh that turns my stomach).
I have to let God do his thing with this. Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for (to bring Maggie home) and CERTAIN of what we do not see (GOD IS OUR JEHOVAH JIRAH, our great provider). Parenthesis mine. : )
Want to help Bring Maggie Home?
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Monday, June 6, 2011
Another "oh my word, this could only be our God!" moment...
I just got off the phone with a lady that met Maggie in the orphanage in China. (She was picking up her son). The day she met Maggie was March 17th...a day before the Lord told me we would have a Maggie someday!!! So crazy!
She said the lady who runs the orphanage took her to Maggie and told her that she needed to help find Maggie a home!!!
God is so very good!!!
She said the lady who runs the orphanage took her to Maggie and told her that she needed to help find Maggie a home!!!
God is so very good!!!
A day for quoting and claiming...
This A.M. I woke up with my stomach in knots. I know it is pure fear that does not come from God. Fear that we will not be approved for Maggie. Especially now that we have been able to share the journey with so many.
So, this is definatley a day that will be filled with quoting scripture, over and over and over. "WHEN I am afraid I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise - in God I trust, I will not be afraid." Psalm 56:3,4 That is my main verse I am claiming for this journey.
I am so thankful for God's spirit at work in me moment by moment!
So, this is definatley a day that will be filled with quoting scripture, over and over and over. "WHEN I am afraid I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise - in God I trust, I will not be afraid." Psalm 56:3,4 That is my main verse I am claiming for this journey.
I am so thankful for God's spirit at work in me moment by moment!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
June 5, 2011 WHIRLWIND Week (God's unveiling)
Wow. I'm not sure where to begin. Maybe I should say that I am NOT a blogger. I'm terrible at following them, and I'm not convinced I will be great at writing one. BUT, I need to give it a try b/c when our God started me/us on this journey in March of 2011, I had no idea He would unveil His will for us in this way!
So, this first blog will tell the entire 2 month journey to this point and then past that, well, we will just see what conspires.
MARCH 18, 2011
I (Shari) went to get a massage, given as a Christmas present. The lady who was giving the massage came in with her clipboard, her name on the back, Maggie. As soon as I read her name, the Lord spoke to my spirit, plain as day..."Yep! You're gonna have a Maggie some day!" To this I replied to the Lord (in my head) "Ummm, No. No I'm not." Again, the Lord said, "Yep! You're gonna have a Maggie some day!"
Within the next week God would use people to speak to me. A friend at the Playschool told me that Matt and I just need to have another little girl. Another asked me "who is Maggie?" That ended up being a worker at the church, but that froze my heart. I told another friend about it, that maybe I made it up in my mind...she told me that "No. God often prepares us for another season slowly." Wise woman my friend Abbey.
It took me 4-5 days to tell Matt, & until April 4th to journal about any of it. God was working on my heart, but I wasn't wanting what he was telling me.
MAY 1, 2011
Forest Hill started a series on the book of Jonah. Jonathan Scott posed the question "Is your heart in line with God when thinking of your own Ninevah?" It had been almost a month since I had really thought anything about "Maggie", but hearing that question, the Lord spoke to my heart very loudly..."Maggie." She, whomever she was, was becoming my Ninevah.
MAY 18, 2011
Another prick. My stomach is in knots. A little guy at the church, Baylor, was wearing a t-shirt that said "I still live with my parents". I started laughing and said, "Baylor, you still live with mommy & daddy?" And, once again, the Lord's voice in my spirit - "Maggie doesn't live with her parents yet."
Wow. I wasn't expecting that. The next several hours I was consumed with thoughts of adoption - total fear. Even anger. This is not what i forsaw in our future. But, it's not about us is it? My life is to be for GOD's glory.
I told my friend Laura about this prick. She told me our journey stays with her heart; that she prays for us often. Hmmm.
I talked to my friend Kay about sensing the call to adopt and how I wasn't feeling gung-ho about it. She said, "Yeah, but I don't think we have to feel gung-ho about something to obey." Yet another wise woman.
(Journal entry) At this point Matt is willing to go down this road as long as Jesus makes it 100% clear...me too. I'm just not sure how He is going to convince us that this is what HE sees for our family. "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Psalm 56:3
MAY 29, 2011
I text my friend Jaclyn to see if I could pick her brain about adoption. I told her that God had placed a little girl named Maggie on our hearts. We just didn't know where she was or where to start.
MAY 30, 2011 8:41a
Jaclyn texts: "Hey, what age u thinking about adopting? Baby or big kid?"
I told her younger than Jaydn, so 1 -5.
MAY 30, 2011 10:02a
Jaclyn texts: "My agency has a one year old on their list named MAGGIE (in China). She is available & adorable!"
MAY 30, 2011 2:33p
Jaclyn ran into a friend at the pool. Ends up she has been praying for a family looking into adoption...trying to find their MAGGIE. Her friend, Laura, had asked her to pray and she said she had been praying and praying for us to find our Maggie. Wow.
By days end we had pictures and video of our newest daughter, Maggie. Our daughter. Two months ago I had no interest in another child in our home. Today, I can't imagine not going to get her to bring her home. Only GOD could change a heart like that. Only GOD could orchestrate a journey like this. All glory goes to God; no other.
Friday we mailed our pre-approval application to adopt Maggie. My heart is so excited!
So, this first blog will tell the entire 2 month journey to this point and then past that, well, we will just see what conspires.
MARCH 18, 2011
I (Shari) went to get a massage, given as a Christmas present. The lady who was giving the massage came in with her clipboard, her name on the back, Maggie. As soon as I read her name, the Lord spoke to my spirit, plain as day..."Yep! You're gonna have a Maggie some day!" To this I replied to the Lord (in my head) "Ummm, No. No I'm not." Again, the Lord said, "Yep! You're gonna have a Maggie some day!"
Within the next week God would use people to speak to me. A friend at the Playschool told me that Matt and I just need to have another little girl. Another asked me "who is Maggie?" That ended up being a worker at the church, but that froze my heart. I told another friend about it, that maybe I made it up in my mind...she told me that "No. God often prepares us for another season slowly." Wise woman my friend Abbey.
It took me 4-5 days to tell Matt, & until April 4th to journal about any of it. God was working on my heart, but I wasn't wanting what he was telling me.
MAY 1, 2011
Forest Hill started a series on the book of Jonah. Jonathan Scott posed the question "Is your heart in line with God when thinking of your own Ninevah?" It had been almost a month since I had really thought anything about "Maggie", but hearing that question, the Lord spoke to my heart very loudly..."Maggie." She, whomever she was, was becoming my Ninevah.
MAY 18, 2011
Another prick. My stomach is in knots. A little guy at the church, Baylor, was wearing a t-shirt that said "I still live with my parents". I started laughing and said, "Baylor, you still live with mommy & daddy?" And, once again, the Lord's voice in my spirit - "Maggie doesn't live with her parents yet."
Wow. I wasn't expecting that. The next several hours I was consumed with thoughts of adoption - total fear. Even anger. This is not what i forsaw in our future. But, it's not about us is it? My life is to be for GOD's glory.
I told my friend Laura about this prick. She told me our journey stays with her heart; that she prays for us often. Hmmm.
I talked to my friend Kay about sensing the call to adopt and how I wasn't feeling gung-ho about it. She said, "Yeah, but I don't think we have to feel gung-ho about something to obey." Yet another wise woman.
(Journal entry) At this point Matt is willing to go down this road as long as Jesus makes it 100% clear...me too. I'm just not sure how He is going to convince us that this is what HE sees for our family. "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Psalm 56:3
MAY 29, 2011
I text my friend Jaclyn to see if I could pick her brain about adoption. I told her that God had placed a little girl named Maggie on our hearts. We just didn't know where she was or where to start.
MAY 30, 2011 8:41a
Jaclyn texts: "Hey, what age u thinking about adopting? Baby or big kid?"
I told her younger than Jaydn, so 1 -5.
MAY 30, 2011 10:02a
Jaclyn texts: "My agency has a one year old on their list named MAGGIE (in China). She is available & adorable!"
MAY 30, 2011 2:33p
Jaclyn ran into a friend at the pool. Ends up she has been praying for a family looking into adoption...trying to find their MAGGIE. Her friend, Laura, had asked her to pray and she said she had been praying and praying for us to find our Maggie. Wow.
By days end we had pictures and video of our newest daughter, Maggie. Our daughter. Two months ago I had no interest in another child in our home. Today, I can't imagine not going to get her to bring her home. Only GOD could change a heart like that. Only GOD could orchestrate a journey like this. All glory goes to God; no other.
Friday we mailed our pre-approval application to adopt Maggie. My heart is so excited!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
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