.goodbye 2011.

this is what my 2011 would look like as decoration....crazy

image source

.goodbye 2011.  Man, What a year!  I feel like this past year has been a whirlwind.  And it has, that is for sure.  In 2011 my heart broke more for orphans so much that we started the adoption process.  We geared up for a big game that lead our favorite team to be the Superbowl Champions.  Lydia turned 2 and Asher turned 1.  I am now more grateful for shoes then ever, and would love to buy some TOMS before we go to Ethiopia.  I am still sewing, although it has been a while.  Big disasters happen every so often around here and we have learned to deal with them and take pictures because looking back they are funny.  

We organized the best tea party in the world, which was followed by the sweetest wedding.  I started a fun little shop and partnered with some amazing people.  We had a wonderful vacation with friends.  Aaron and I celebrated 10 years of friendship.  We had the most amazing garage sale ever!  The Lord changed our hearts in a huge way and then we were given the referral of our beautiful little guy!  We got our dossier done in record time, and then the call to go to Ethiopia came.  Our good friends got married and we celebrated 5 years.  I learned the Truth about HIV and I followed Jesus through a really rough storm.  

All in all this has been a crazy busy, hard but fun, awesome year.  We have never before leaned on the Lord so much and it was amazing to see His everlasting faithfulness come through at exactly at the right time - every time.  My New Years resolution last year was to love the Lord more and I have fallen more in love with Him and my family.

I will strive to love the Lord even more in 2012, as I think will be a goal each and every year.  My motto for 2012 will also include some new things for us.  "Just say No" is a phrase we will need to stick with as our little guy comes home - we want to be less obligated to things in order to form good attachments.  That means we will NOT commit to anything in the coming year - reminding myself already.  "Keep it simple" is another phrase that we are going to try to establish.  I have learned that too much clutter is a stresser for me so were going to keep things simple and learn to organize ourselves a little more.  

Thanks 2011 you were so good to us.  Welcome 2012!   .goodbye 2011.  

.wow.

.wow.  There are only a few more days until 2012!  Crazy Wow!  Backwards woW!  I just wanted to remind everyone that earrings are buy 2 pairs, get 1 pair free until 2012. (Midnight Saturday)  Also Once 2012 hits we will be back to one family partnering in January!  If your friends are partners with us right now there are only a couple more days to purchase items from Hannah James and support them....unless your friends with the Menzer family - because they are going to kick off 2012!  .wow.

Current Partnerships: Chase Family, Carter Family, Morris Family, Crockett Family, Menzer Family, Wayman Family, Zach & Michelle, and the Weaver Family.

.storage.

image source: oh dee oh

.storage.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  When we got back last night I decided to go through all the kids toys and get rid of a few and keep others in storage for a while.  They received a lot of toys this year and it is a little overwhelming for me.  These lovely pictures make storage look so grand.  Don't they?  My plan for now is to put some away in our storage for a little while.  We will be eliminating more toys when our little guy comes home too - so we don't freak him out with the amount of stuff we have.  Then slowly start to bring it back.  .storage.  

image source: young house love

image source: Restoration Hardware

image source: Bluebird Vintage via Pinterest

image source: Kids Room Decor

How do you store toys?

Do you have rotating toy bins? 

.our sisters.

image source: Project Hopeful

.our sisters.  We have our official Travel dates and are super excited for our upcoming adventure.  We are leaving on January 8th, in 18 days!  It seems like it is right around the corner and I know that Christmas and New Years will make this time go even faster.  We will be in Ethiopia for one week and are excited to get to experience the culture and area of Ethiopia.  We are even more excited to meet our son and spend time with him along with the other little guys in his orphanage that we have come to love.  

We don't have a lot of planning ourselves, as our agency will give us an itinerary upon arrival.  However, we are choosing to go and visit our "sister" from Project Hopefuls Sisterhood program.  All the "sisters" in the program are living with HIV/AIDS - this program is designed to help them so that their children do not become orphans.  The goal is to rehabilitate them with medical and emotional care, provide job skills training, employment, and loans so that they can secure a safe and stable future for their families.  

Besides meeting our son, visiting our "sister" is one thing I am really looking forward to.  Currently there are 8 women enrolled in the program.  Since there are not many women in the program we are collecting letters & photos from each donor to bring.  I am making care packages for each woman as little bags of encouragement.  So far I have chap-stick and nail polish for each woman.  I am also planning to make a flower rosette pin for each one.  And make a little notebook.  Getting the gifts ready for these women is so much fun and it makes me tear up just thinking that we will be the ones giving it to them.  I simply can't wait.

Since the program is fairly new they still need sponsorship's.  Please head over to project hopeful's sisterhood page if you are interested.  I think this is a program that is truly needed and has generational benefits.  I am so happy to be a part of it.  .our sisters.

What little gifts would you bring for the women?  

I am looking for a couple more ideas!

.a three week countdown.

image source: minted

.a three week countdown.  This morning we got an email from our agency that gave us our court date!!!  In about three weeks we will be leaving for Ethiopia.  We are super excited and were not expecting a date so soon.  We thought that mid to late January would be the earliest we would possibly go - the second week of January is a total shock!  I can't believe that in a little over three weeks I will get to be holding our oldest and loving on him in person, not just through prayer.  Because our date is unexceptionably early, we will get to meet one of our sons friends parents, which is a huge blessing.  

God keeps us in awe every single day.  We are so blessed by the ways He chooses to show up for us daily.  When we didn't get an email by 9:30 this morning, I thought today is not the day - maybe tomorrow.  (They usually email early in the morning.) Then I went to take a shower and I prayed we would find out soon.  While getting ready I glanced at the computer and noticed a new email message, time 9:56.  Just as I prayed!  God shows up, and is amazing.  

Thank you Lord, for answering our prayers.  Thank you Lord, for our amazing children. Thank you Lord, for a three week countdown.  And most of all Thank you Lord, for showing up daily.  I love never having to have a countdown for you Lord.  Because you are always here with us!   .a three week countdown. 

.Christmas cards.

Holiday Card Design by Kal Barteski

available here

.Christmas cards.  I have never sent out a Christmas letter.....until this year that is.  When I saw Kal's rad designs I decided to go for it.  We also wanted to share more of our adoption with those who don't venture into my blogging world and have not heard of some miraculous things God has done in our lives.  However, this card thing is a lot of work and I am starting to see why I have not done it in the past.  Although, I will not be sending cards to you via mail (well, most of you) I want to say Merry Christmas.  I hope the Lord blesses the remainder of your 2011 and continues to bless you well into 2012!  .Christmas cards. 

Do you send out cards?  

Do you have a system that makes it easier?  

How many do you send out?

.reading & reflecting.

photo of Margaret, an orphan in Liberia

.reading & reflecting.  As I am reading through Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis I am finding a whole lot of truth.  Which is what her ministry, Amazima, means.  Here is some truth that is in need of spreading.  

"The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 1 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children.  And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians. 

The truth is that if 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left" 

Did you see the red flagged number like me?  Only 8% of Christians need to step up and there would not be this horrific problem.  As a Christian the fact that there are so many orphans in this world disgusts me.  It is despicable that the number of needy are so high and more are not reaching out.  That more are not stepping up to help out.  

How can we call ourselves Christians when we are not acting like Christ?  

The truth is adoption is hard.  The truth is it is not for everyone.  The truth is that there are so many unknowns that can happen in this process that some days it is overwhelming to take in.  The truth is that having your child live half a world away is heartbreaking.  The truth is there are children in this country who need homes too.  The truth is that it terrifies me to think of what would have happened to our son & others like him, if we did not say yes to opening our door.  

The truth is that God has opened my eyes to some of the major problems in this world, especially the problems children face, and now I am responsible to act on it.  The truth is now you are too.  

I know adoption is not for everyone.  However in James 1:27 the writer states, "pure religion is caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and not being polluted by the world."  Meaning, we all need to care for orphans & widows.  This can be seen through adoption, foster care, helping those who are adopting, praying for the orphaned, providing financial assistance to families through World Vision, Compassion, or Sisterhood programs like Project Hopefuls.  This means doing what God calls you to do.  If it is on your heart, God put those desires there.  He wants you and calls you to act on them.

My heart is breaking today.  Not only for the orphaned and widowed, not only for the children who live in dire situations.  But for those who call themselves Christians and are not acting like Christ.  My heart is breaking for those who worship on Sundays yet don't move past that hour.  My heart is hurting for those who will not ever be able to see and understand this wonderful path the Lord has graciously given us to live.  

There are 164.8 million children in need....and that hurts my soul.  What hurts more are those who are only living for themselves - that truly breaks a heart.  .reading & reflecting.

.and just like that.

image source

.and just like that...... WE GOT SUBMITTED TO COURT!  This means that in the next two to four weeks we will find out when we get to travel to meet our little guy.  It most likely will be at the end of January or early February.  We are PUMPED!  

So many emotions are flying through me right now.  Two days ago I felt the lowest I have in the whole process and today I am flying high.  A roller coaster of emotions is exactly what this whole process has been.

  

It is amazing that God answers when we call out to Him.  Two days ago I asked my friends to pray, yesterday I asked you all as well.  Today God answered!  Just when we needed Him too.  It proves to me that He does answer prayer and that He is working for us.  I love that we asked people to pray for us and just like that He answers those prayers.  

I feel like the Lord had us waiting so that He could show himself to others through us....as He has since the beginning of this process.  We are humbled that God is using us to reveal himself to not only ourselves but everyone around us as well.  It is amazing to feel Him work through us.  Truly miraculously amazing.

If you are at a low He will carry you through and pick you back up, answering each prayer in His own perfect timing!  Hang on & wait for him to reveal Himself - He Will!  .and just like that.

.through the storm.

image source

.through the storm.  Yesterday was one of the hardest "waiting" days I have had thus far.  Probably the hardest since the three painful weeks of waiting for our agency to decide if we were the little ones family or if he would go to live somewhere else.  It started as the kids opened their St. Nick presents and then their brothers since he would not get to open them.....well, to be totally honest, it started when I bought 4 candy bars at the store for the stockings instead of 5.  My mind then lead me down a spiraling path thinking he will not be here for Christmas, or the New Year, and we already missed his Birthday.  

It is overwhelming the amount of pain that can come with missing someone you don't even know yet.  I know him by his pictures, and thankfully we have many to look through, but we don't know him yet.  The longing to go meet him is increasing daily and harder to shake then it first was.  This waiting is hard.  

As we wait I know we are waiting for God's perfect timing, and it will be perfect, but I also think the Lord wants us to learn from it.  What he wants me to learn is very hard to recognize during days like yesterday and sometimes I just wish he would slap me in the face with His lesson.  Some days I think God is giving us extra time so that we can financially get situated before we go.  Some days I think He wants our children to be a little older so that the transition is easier on everyone (and so that our daughter will be fully potty trained - this could have also been why yesterday was extremely hard).  Some days I think he wants me to get over the fear of adoption - yes the fear....I am terrified for the transition of this little guy.  Some days I think He wants us to lean on Him more and learn to just trust.  Most of the time it is a combination of things that I just want to plow through and say, "yes I get it, I have learned them" and then move on.  

Yesterday I was overwhelmed with the fact that the Lord wants us to trust him more.  It has become a recurring theme in this adoption and I get the feeling that is what the Lord wants us to do.  As I was doing Bible time with the kids yesterday I, again, saw this and felt God saying, "trust me".  We were reading the story of Jesus and his disciples crossing the stormy lake found in Matthew, Mark & Luke.  Do you know what Jesus said when the disciples woke him up?  He said, "Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?"  As I relate that story to my life I can see myself praying to the Lord with me saying, "where are you?  I need you right now!"  And the Lord is answering back, "Dez, where is your faith?  I am right here in this storm with you..... in this process.  I will continue to be ~ ALWAYS".  

We have seen the Lord in our adoption process with us.  We know He is here with us on the good days and the hard ones.  He has, thus far, given us an overabundance of peace - and most of our days on this sea have been calm.  Every now and then a storm blows in, but even on those rocky tough days He has shown up and been there.  And he will continue to be.  

Whatever storm you are facing today, I want you to know that the Lord is with you.  He is holding your hand and carrying you.  You might not be able to see His presence or feel it - But He Is There With You!  Today I am praying for you & ask that you pray for us too.  Thank you friends.  .through the storm. 

.st. nick might have come....

The stockings were hung

by the chimney with care, 

In hopes that St. Nicholas

soon would be there......

....I can't wait for the morning!

.diy christmas edition.

image source

.diy christmas edition.  Christmas is so much fun to decorate for.  I don't really do a whole lot of decorating except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Maybe I will start to for other holidays and seasons but right now I primarily focus on those two.  Pinterest is full of do-it-yourself Christmas crafts right now.  Here are some that caught my eye.  I hope you are enjoying this season as much as I am.  .diy christmas edition. 

tutorial link

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tutorial link

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tutorial link

.december deal of the month.

New Month = New Deal of the Month!

For all of December Buy 2 earrings, get 1 FREE!!! 

Check it out at Hannah James

And now back to crafting..... craft sales in the middle of the holiday season ~ What was I thinking? Please pray that it goes well :) thanks friends, xoxo

.the truth is contagious.

Video by Project Hopeful

.the truth is contagious.  Today I want to bring to your attention something that has been on my heart a while.  It started in high school when I first heard a speaker talk about his HIV status at an assembly.  Truth be told I was terrified of him and at the same time my heart broke thinking he is going to die from this horrible disease.  I was in 9th or 10th grade and during sex ed classes later that year the fear of HIV/AIDS was retold and fear increased.  When my school system & teacher ignorantly used the disease to scare us adolescence into abstinence & sexual "protection".

I started to learn the TRUTH about the disease when I worked at GAP & they launched their Product (RED) T's - back in 2006.  Product (RED) first brought truth to me and made me more aware of AIDS/HIV in this world.  It made me aware by showing me numbers and statistics. Product (RED) made me more conscious of how I can help those with the disease, by donating and purchasing products that support fighting the disease.

Last spring I read the book There is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene.  That book truly opened my eyes and brought me into the light on HIV & AIDS.  So much so that since reading the book, HIV orphans have been laid heavily on my heart and I pray for them constantly.  I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE - Especially those adopting out of Africa, where most communities and families are effected in one way or another by this disease.    

Today is National AIDS awareness day and I want you to know the TRUTH about AIDS & HIV.  I am spreading the truth today, because it is needed.  So many people still believe lies that are spread around about this disease.  It is heartbreaking the damage that lies can bring.  So here are some true facts that I want to spread to everyone about HIV/AIDS:

1. People with HIV who have access (all US Residents) to ARVS (medicine) have a normal healthy life expectancy.

2. You do not need to be afraid of people with HIV.  You CANNOT get HIV through normal household contact.  It is NOT transmitted through sharing food or a cup.  It is NOT transmitted through using the same toilet or taking a bath together.  It is NOT transmitted through changing a diaper of an HIV infected child.  HIV has NEVER been transmitted through normal family living situations.  

3. Modern drug therapies can make the HIV virus almost completely undetectable in lab tests.  Crazy right?  Taking medicine eliminates the HIV virus almost completely.  This also make the disease very unlikely to be transmitted.

4. HIV is only spread in these three ways: sexual contact, iv drug use through the sharing of dirty used needles, and from mother to infant by birth or breast feeding.

5. Women who take medicine while pregnant reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to their baby to under 2%.

So today on National AIDS awareness day please help me to spread the truth.  It is important.  And the truth is something that needs to be contagious.  .the truth is contagious. 

The following sites are amazing if you have questions on HIV/AIDS and want to learn more:

Project Hopeful

(RED) Blog

AVERT

*HIV/AIDS facts were taken from the following sites:  8 surprising facts, project hopeful, and avert.