Merry Christmas Friends!
We hope you have a joy filled day celebrating the birth of our Savior!
We are celebrating the birth of Jesus with great abundance. We are blessed with family, friends, health and comfort.
Jesus was adopted :) Did you know that? Jesus had an earthly father. I imagine that they had a typical father/son relationship. Seeing as Jesus worked as a carpenter, I imagine Joseph trained him in those skills. I can see them working hand over hand, Jesus hand gripping a chisel and hammer, Joseph gripping Jesus' hands, teaching Him how to use the tools of the carpentry trade. As a disclaimer ... those are just "my" thoughts. :)
The title says Adoption Affirmation ... what does that mean?
Guess
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Go on
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Did you guess?
We are adopting again!
A little girl.
She is two years old.
She lives across the ocean.
Her name is Trinity and we are working hard to bring her home :)
You can see a little more about her on Reece's Rainbow
As soon as we decided we were following God's call to adopt again, chaos struck and it was immediately evident the spiritual battle was starting early and the attack foremost was on finances.
In October and November we replaced major appliances because the repair was not cost effective. We also started a remodel to enclose our entryway and create more bedroom space. We paid our initial agency fees and this month paid for our home study and other administrative expenses.
During this time, we decided we would put Christmas gifts as a very low priority.
Our washing machine was also repaired 5 times from October to December - we have an extended warranty so we did not have to pay for that, but what a hassle!!
Sometimes discouragement sets in and I wonder how in the world this will all work out. Then, something remarkable happens, it works out, but the workings come from out of this world. The Lord show Himself and abundance flows.
We had the opportunity to share a little of our story at our church on Orphan Sunday. Our desire in sharing that story was to encourage others to get involved in orphan care. We just did not think that it would directly impact our family. Were we wrong. Three Sunday School classes decided to adopt our family and provide Christmas gifts for us.
Aunt Sissy added a whole bunch of gifts too. Our UPS driver was working overtime getting all of her present delivered to the house.
When I was super discouraged over the laundry pile up, friends did my laundry. They really did. It still makes me cry. Friends came to my doorstep and picked up the laundry to wash it, dry it, fold it and bring it back to me. Can you believe that????? Dozens of loads of laundry was washed by our friends!!!!!!! We are really blessed! We have children that regularly soil clothes ... and they are pretty funky smelling. It even worked out that a friend took a bunch of laundry right before the machine was repaired and all of the laundry that washed, allowed me to start with my regular daily wash load. I am still reminded of this blessing each time I walk into our laundry/family closet room and smell the scents from all of the different laundry products. I think the scents are lingering as a daily reminder that God is in the details and He will work all things to His glory. Even smelly, stinky, gross, laundry. :)
We have also had a number of friends and people we barely know, offer to help us fund raise for Trinity's adoption.
It is now early Christmas morning, and the gifts have all been stacked under the tree and they are abundant! In the morning we have a big breakfast, and make a cake for Jesus' birthday, then we open presents. Yes, I know, we are horrible ... making them wait, but we really want them to focus their mind on Jesus first. I think they are going to be super anxious, we may have a hard time holding them back.
So with all that said, I just wanted to share a picture of the provision. Pure abundance. It is almost embarrassing to put this picture on here. But, we know clearly God provided and we want to honor Him and have Him praised! Will you join us in praising Him?
This is truly nothing but the work of The Lord.
