Waiting for you
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Home Study Completed Amidst Trials! :)
So, our home study is DONE! As much as we know that adoption is the Lord's plan for us - it is good and right, so of course, the enemy hates it and wants to see it stopped! Let me tell you some of the funny things he has done to try to deter us . . .
First, as a part of our home study, all of us, including our DOG, had to have physicals. Ginger, the dog, is a 9 year old miniature Schnauzer who is in great health, except for her teeth. So, her physical resulted in having an EKG and 23, yes you read that correctly, TWENTY-THREE teeth pulled!!! Needless to say, that vet bill was a bit more than we expected, but we thought, "No problem. We have more that what we actually need at this point saved for the home study. God has graciously provided when we haven't even started officially fund raising yet!" Satan obviously did not like our perspective. . . . So, the day before the final home study visit, it was very dark and foggy when I was leaving for work. So dark and foggy that I was afraid to turn around in my driveway as I usually do, for fear of hitting one our other car! So, I slowly back up the hill of my driveway, come to a complete stop, look both ways, see nothing, and BAM! Back right into a car that either was completely in my blind spot, had no lights on, or both! I get out, and it's my neighbor, the car is old and not badly damaged at all, so I think, "No big deal." I talk to her and tell her that we would rather just pay out of pocket instead of having our insurance pay and give her the name of a great body shop in town that has fair prices. She says okay. We call the police and get an accident report. The officer is super nice. She admits that she may not have had her lights all the way on and had been sitting there a while so that it is entirely possible that there was no way for me to see her. This is going well, right? Ha, ha. The officer writes me a ticket for $155 for improper backing!!! Then, I receive a call today that she did turn the claim in to my insurance company and told them that she wanted them to take care of it and not use the shop I recommended! So, this TINY ding on a 14 year old car is going to cost us $1100 to repair!!! All on the same day when I get the notice that our home study is completed and the fee is $1250 more than we thought! Hence my conclusion that the enemy really wants to thwart this adoption because it is good and right and from the Lord!! On top of this everyone but Jayden and I have been sick for the past week!!!!
So, I am posting this for three reasons . . . one, to claim in full belief that God is bigger than all this ridiculousness, and I KNOW without any doubts that He will provide, and that Satan has already lost! Secondly, for you to join me in praying!!! The Lord says we have not because we ask not! And lastly, to say that our fund raising begins NOW!
You can help in several ways:
1. If you (or anyone you know) wants to make a flat donation, please click the donate button at the top of the page! :)
2. We will be having a yard sale in the next few weeks. If you have anything you want to donate, especially "big ticket items," like tvs, bicycles, microwaves, etc. . . please let me know! We have a truck and can come get large items!
3. See the next post for a Spring Photo Shoot fundraiser!
4. Check out http://ordinaryhero.org/Ordinary_Hero/Store/Store.html for cool products! Ordinary Heroes is a non-profit that exists to inspire and empower ORDINARY people to make an extraordinary difference in the life of a child in need! They will donate 40% of your purchase to our adoption fund! Make sure you choose our names from the dropdown box before you complete your purchase!
5. Check out http://www.channcarroll.com/ or email chann@channcarroll.com to get more information about booking music for worship or entertainment events!
Stay tuned for more fund raising to come!!!! :) Thank you for partnering with us in this mission to bring our children home!
First, as a part of our home study, all of us, including our DOG, had to have physicals. Ginger, the dog, is a 9 year old miniature Schnauzer who is in great health, except for her teeth. So, her physical resulted in having an EKG and 23, yes you read that correctly, TWENTY-THREE teeth pulled!!! Needless to say, that vet bill was a bit more than we expected, but we thought, "No problem. We have more that what we actually need at this point saved for the home study. God has graciously provided when we haven't even started officially fund raising yet!" Satan obviously did not like our perspective. . . . So, the day before the final home study visit, it was very dark and foggy when I was leaving for work. So dark and foggy that I was afraid to turn around in my driveway as I usually do, for fear of hitting one our other car! So, I slowly back up the hill of my driveway, come to a complete stop, look both ways, see nothing, and BAM! Back right into a car that either was completely in my blind spot, had no lights on, or both! I get out, and it's my neighbor, the car is old and not badly damaged at all, so I think, "No big deal." I talk to her and tell her that we would rather just pay out of pocket instead of having our insurance pay and give her the name of a great body shop in town that has fair prices. She says okay. We call the police and get an accident report. The officer is super nice. She admits that she may not have had her lights all the way on and had been sitting there a while so that it is entirely possible that there was no way for me to see her. This is going well, right? Ha, ha. The officer writes me a ticket for $155 for improper backing!!! Then, I receive a call today that she did turn the claim in to my insurance company and told them that she wanted them to take care of it and not use the shop I recommended! So, this TINY ding on a 14 year old car is going to cost us $1100 to repair!!! All on the same day when I get the notice that our home study is completed and the fee is $1250 more than we thought! Hence my conclusion that the enemy really wants to thwart this adoption because it is good and right and from the Lord!! On top of this everyone but Jayden and I have been sick for the past week!!!!
So, I am posting this for three reasons . . . one, to claim in full belief that God is bigger than all this ridiculousness, and I KNOW without any doubts that He will provide, and that Satan has already lost! Secondly, for you to join me in praying!!! The Lord says we have not because we ask not! And lastly, to say that our fund raising begins NOW!
You can help in several ways:
1. If you (or anyone you know) wants to make a flat donation, please click the donate button at the top of the page! :)
2. We will be having a yard sale in the next few weeks. If you have anything you want to donate, especially "big ticket items," like tvs, bicycles, microwaves, etc. . . please let me know! We have a truck and can come get large items!
3. See the next post for a Spring Photo Shoot fundraiser!
4. Check out http://ordinaryhero.org/Ordinary_Hero/Store/Store.html for cool products! Ordinary Heroes is a non-profit that exists to inspire and empower ORDINARY people to make an extraordinary difference in the life of a child in need! They will donate 40% of your purchase to our adoption fund! Make sure you choose our names from the dropdown box before you complete your purchase!
5. Check out http://www.channcarroll.com/ or email chann@channcarroll.com to get more information about booking music for worship or entertainment events!
Stay tuned for more fund raising to come!!!! :) Thank you for partnering with us in this mission to bring our children home!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Updates and Prayers
We have our last home study visit on Tuesday this week. Tonight we have to finish our 10th hour of training and sit down to re-do the medical form - they want us to be really sure of what we say we are open to as far as different medical, mental, emotional, and behavioral issues our children could have. After Tuesday's visit our case worker will prepare the written home study and submit it. Then we begin the dossier - a collection of paperwork that will be translated and submitted to Ethiopia. . . . then the waiting begins for real.
Up until now, I have been waiting but working, so I've felt productive. And even though we were told it would probably take 18 months for the whole process, I guess I've told myself quietly, "It won't really be that long since we want siblings and are open to a lot of situations." I've also been praying that Chann's business would grow to the point that I could stay home next year, and walking in the truth that God can do that without allowing my hope to rest in the situation but rather in Him. Sometimes that's a hard line to draw.
So, the past two weeks have brought about new perspectives and new prayers. With new policies being written in the Southern regions of Ethiopia, referrals have lessened considerably and familes have been waiting a lot longer. We were notified this week that it will most likely be 18 months from the completion of the dossier until we even get a referral, then there's a half page list of what happens after that with each step being anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 months long! Since teaching contracts come out in April, we have also been looking at the probabilty that I will be signing my contract next year and teaching again. Honestly, at first, all of this was disappointing, even frustrating, BUT GOD . . (I've learned to pay attention to those words in Scripture!) God, in His infinite wisdom has seen fit this weekend to remind me that He already has all this planned out, and His plans are WAY better than mine! (Wait, haven't I already posted this at some point? Why is it that I have such a hard time remembering this??) He is always so good to remind me just when I need it, and in ways that are more powerful than can be explained. I can confidently and with great peace say that I do completely trust Him to fulfill the desires that He has given me in His perfect time according to His perfect will!
When I started this blog, I talked about "Rhema" - God's spoken word. God's rhema came through my six-year old son this time. At dinner the other night, for no apparent reason, (i.e. we had not been talking about the adoption at all. God just knew we all needed to hear from Him.) Asher said, "Mom, I know why God is making us wait to adopt. . . . In the Bible, God makes people wait for things that are good, like the Israelites and the Promised Land, and Hannah waiting for Samuel!" I said, "Wow, you're right Asher! Why do you think God makes us wait for good things?" He thought for about half a second and said, "Because then when we get it, we'll really be excited! . . . and probably He's teaching us stuff while we wait." Yep, that's it, probably, He's teaching me stuff while we wait; imporatant stuff like: there's a lot I still need to learn to be able to deal with the loss and grief we will encounter; like, shedding light on the false belief that I can really do this, that I have all these skills that are going to make me such a great adoptive mom - I can't but He can - in my weakness, He is made strong!; like, dealing with my pride - ouch!!!!!! I have so much to learn, but God is patient and willing to teach me and carry me. I just have to wait and know that He is always faithful; He never breaks a promise; He will never leave me nor forsake me; He really does love me! Now, I can look forward to waiting, because in the waiting, God will teach me, and when my wait is over, I can be REALLY excited!!
Praises: God has begun to provide funds! Chann's parents sold their house! Praise the Lord that He has a plan, that He already knows my children, where they are, who they are, and when they will join us.
Prayers: Continue to pray for protection over our children. Pray that we are responsive to the Lord teaching us. Pray that God gives us wisdom and patience throughout the process, and that He continues to speak to us and encourage us that He is in control. Pray that He prepares our hearts and the hearts of ALL of our children as we seek to add to our family. Pray for Chann's business to grow so that I may stay home one day soon. Pray that Jesus would be glorified above all in and through this process, and that my pride would have NO place in it.
Up until now, I have been waiting but working, so I've felt productive. And even though we were told it would probably take 18 months for the whole process, I guess I've told myself quietly, "It won't really be that long since we want siblings and are open to a lot of situations." I've also been praying that Chann's business would grow to the point that I could stay home next year, and walking in the truth that God can do that without allowing my hope to rest in the situation but rather in Him. Sometimes that's a hard line to draw.
So, the past two weeks have brought about new perspectives and new prayers. With new policies being written in the Southern regions of Ethiopia, referrals have lessened considerably and familes have been waiting a lot longer. We were notified this week that it will most likely be 18 months from the completion of the dossier until we even get a referral, then there's a half page list of what happens after that with each step being anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 months long! Since teaching contracts come out in April, we have also been looking at the probabilty that I will be signing my contract next year and teaching again. Honestly, at first, all of this was disappointing, even frustrating, BUT GOD . . (I've learned to pay attention to those words in Scripture!) God, in His infinite wisdom has seen fit this weekend to remind me that He already has all this planned out, and His plans are WAY better than mine! (Wait, haven't I already posted this at some point? Why is it that I have such a hard time remembering this??) He is always so good to remind me just when I need it, and in ways that are more powerful than can be explained. I can confidently and with great peace say that I do completely trust Him to fulfill the desires that He has given me in His perfect time according to His perfect will!
When I started this blog, I talked about "Rhema" - God's spoken word. God's rhema came through my six-year old son this time. At dinner the other night, for no apparent reason, (i.e. we had not been talking about the adoption at all. God just knew we all needed to hear from Him.) Asher said, "Mom, I know why God is making us wait to adopt. . . . In the Bible, God makes people wait for things that are good, like the Israelites and the Promised Land, and Hannah waiting for Samuel!" I said, "Wow, you're right Asher! Why do you think God makes us wait for good things?" He thought for about half a second and said, "Because then when we get it, we'll really be excited! . . . and probably He's teaching us stuff while we wait." Yep, that's it, probably, He's teaching me stuff while we wait; imporatant stuff like: there's a lot I still need to learn to be able to deal with the loss and grief we will encounter; like, shedding light on the false belief that I can really do this, that I have all these skills that are going to make me such a great adoptive mom - I can't but He can - in my weakness, He is made strong!; like, dealing with my pride - ouch!!!!!! I have so much to learn, but God is patient and willing to teach me and carry me. I just have to wait and know that He is always faithful; He never breaks a promise; He will never leave me nor forsake me; He really does love me! Now, I can look forward to waiting, because in the waiting, God will teach me, and when my wait is over, I can be REALLY excited!!
Praises: God has begun to provide funds! Chann's parents sold their house! Praise the Lord that He has a plan, that He already knows my children, where they are, who they are, and when they will join us.
Prayers: Continue to pray for protection over our children. Pray that we are responsive to the Lord teaching us. Pray that God gives us wisdom and patience throughout the process, and that He continues to speak to us and encourage us that He is in control. Pray that He prepares our hearts and the hearts of ALL of our children as we seek to add to our family. Pray for Chann's business to grow so that I may stay home one day soon. Pray that Jesus would be glorified above all in and through this process, and that my pride would have NO place in it.
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