We MIGHT be almost there!

It's been quite a long time since I updated here!  We had a long period of NOTHING happening, so there was nothing to post!  One year ago today we received a referral for a little boy we saw on the waiting child list a year before that.  We inquired about him then, but his referral had been picked up by someone else....  We prayed for him, thankful that he had found a family and continued waiting.  However, he stayed in my heart....  Fast forward to last year, March 15th.  We had a conference call to learn more about the ongoing delays and revisions to the process.  We had been asked to pray about changing countries a few months before, but we did not hear the Lord tell us to go.  We continued to believe that our children were somewhere in Ethiopia even though things were continuing to be slow and continuing to change in ways that did not seem like adoption from Ethiopia could be a possibility for our family.  That day, as I was listening to the conference call, I clicked on to the waiting child list to pray for kids while I listened... the little boy's photo listing was back and had just been added that day!  I quickly sent Chann a text, and we asked about him...  The next day we received his information...  Here we are one year later, and it looks like we MIGHT be almost there!  We have learned that our case file is in the very last stage before we receive a court date and travel plans!  Please join us in praying that our case is given a positive recommendation and that we receive our court date soon!  We long for this little guy to join our family, and we can't wait to tell you all about him!  As we wait on our travel date, we are preparing our support letter.  We still need to raise $15, 000-$20,000 depending on the number of trips we have to make and the amount of time we spend in country.  We should know those details soon.  If you would like to support our family with a donation, please click the donate link on this page.  Whether you can support us financially or not, we covet your prayers for the rest of the process to go smoothly, for the Lord to prepare this little guy to be in our family, and for continued preparations for us and our children.  Hopefully I will be able to update again soon!

The Joys of Fundraising

Fundraising is not all that FUN!  There are definitely parts that are fun, but, let's just face it, mostly it's a lot of hard work!  This weekend we are hosting an online auction to raise funds for our adoptions.  We have been overwhelmed with donations!  We are SO grateful for the 109 items that were given to us to be auctioned!  (www.CarrollFamily.webstore.com)  To all our donors, we are thankful beyond words!

So, why fundraise?  I'll start with the obvious: we don't have the funds needed to adopt two children from Ethiopia!  Yet, we know without a doubt we have been called to this (see how we were called here).  So, we are faced with two options, take out a loan or rely on the Lord to provide through grants, donations, and fundraising.  Here are a few reasons we chose the latter.
1. We believe that the Lord calls us to live without debt.  Obviously, we have some debt, but we are striving to eliminate debt and not to add to it.  (One could definitely argue that adoptions warrant borrowing money.  My purpose is in NO WAY to say that people should not fund their adoptions by loans, and the truth is that we may come to that point in the end as well.  However, we believe that should not personally be our first line of action.)
2.  Fundraising allows others to join us in our call to adopt.  The Lord may not call you to add to your family, but we believe that throughout scripture He does call ALL believers to support orphans in one way or another.  This could be YOUR way!
3.  Not taking out a loan forces us to depend on the Lord in a way that challenges my need for control.  Whew!   I said it!  I have a need to control things - think that's why I'm a teacher?? :)  The entire adoption process challenges my need for control, but specifically in the financial area.  I grew up always hearing about my parent's money problems and always knowing there was never enough money, so I have a NEED to know that the finances are THERE for things.  HAHAHA!  Boy has the Lord worked on that area of control in my adult life.  More than ANYTHING else He has taught me over the last 12 years, He has taught me that He ALONE is my JEHOVAH-JIRAH - "The Lord is our provider."

The Lord is GOOD, and He will provide for ALL of my needs, including this crazy amount needed to bring home our children.  To date, He has given us almost $14,000!  What an encouragement and an ebenezer to remind us that He will continue to provide!  So, in that light, fundraising IS a joy!  Despite the hard work, there is joy in fundraising because the Lord uses it to involve others and to provide!

If the Lord calls you to join us in our adoption journey, you can make donations by clicking the DONATE button on our page, or you can give directly to Bethany Christian Services in our name, so that your donation can be tax-deductible.  (Email for details:kylienchann@gmail.com)  Or, this weekend, you can SHOP!  Check it all 109 items at www.CarrollFamily.webstore.com!

So...I'm no good at this! (and I say "so" a lot!!!)

Time to face the facts... I am not a blogger!  It's almost shameful that I haven't updated since November!  Oh well!  I think it's fair to say that I will most likely only post when there are updates! :)  I have considered turning it into more of a family blog, but I want to stay true to focusing on the adoptions.

That being said. . . it has been a little over six months since we received word that our dossier had been received and accepted in Ethiopia.  We were also told at that point (late December) that it would more than likely be 2-3 years before we received a referral due to the fact that we were looking at younger siblings.  Of course that was disheartening, but I told myself that I was okay with it and was trusting in God's timing.  The truth is, that was really hard to hear.  It hurt!  My heart physically ached for my future children.  But, in a moment of quiet with my Lord, I really heard him tell me to enjoy the time with the four that I have, to really enjoy it and live in the moment, not to lose sight of right now by longing for the future.  So... it took a while, even though I had been hearing it for a while, but I was finally able to let go and allow the Holy Spirit to let me rest in right now!  I have really, truly been enjoying my 4 current blessings!  It has been so evident that this time is for them, to pour my love into them, to make them be secure in my love for them, to cherish these moments, so that when two more come, who have different needs . . . the current children can remember these times, feel secure, and know that they are truly loved and valued and cherished!  (Not that they weren't before, but the youngest ones weren't yet old enough to have a storehouse of memories.)  It has been awesome - especially our summer together so far! 

So, though adoption is always close to my heart, even at my favorite conference for adoptive mommies, Created for Care, it has felt distant.  We were recently snapped back into the reality that only the Father knows how our days are ordained.  We got our first, sort-of-referral!  We received a message that there was a sibling set on the waiting child list, and if we were interested, we could get more information.  Interested?!  Of course, we are!!!!  The siblings were a boy and girl, ages 5 and 6.  We weren't quite prepared for the amount of information we received, though!  In addition to the expected medical and family history, we got tons of photos and videos!  Talk about melting my heart!  We prayed over these children for about a week.  We didn't have a lot of time because several other families were also interested.  Neither of us had a clear sense of yes or no.  We didn't want to romanticize the moment thinking that we should look at them and hear their little voices and think or hear, "That's them!  Those are our children!"  (Though we have heard that is how it happens for some!)  We also didn't want to ignore it just because we didn't have those thoughts or feelings.  We just didn't know what it was supposed to feel like.  But, as much as we didn't want to just say no because of a lack of a definite yes... we also didn't want to say no.  The more we talked and prayed, though, we both were convinced that these particular children would probably be the best fit for a family with no other children.  Especially after watching those videos (one in which the little boy runs toward the camera and says "Mommy" - now, I know that he is talking to whomever is holding the camera, but don't tell me that every potential mom who watched that video didn't think he was calling her, too!!!), it was sad to say no, but it also felt right.  Even though it was a no, there were two really encouraging thoughts.... 1- The truth that our children are out there was made really real!!!  2- The Lord knows the time.  It could really be 2-3 years, or more, or it could be tomorrow!  And, He will guide us and direct us to know them, too!  (Ok, that's 3...)

All of this has gotten us into fund-raising mode again.  As much as we both hate it, we know that it is a necessary means to bring our children home!  So...here we go!  We would like to try to do an online auction!  If you have an auction-worthy items that you can get, make, or have, and would like to donate them, please contact us at kylienchann@gmail.com.  All kinds of things make great auction items... jewelry, handbags, ANYTHING handmade (not so subtle hint to all my crafty friends!!!), a weekend at your vacation home or timeshare, gift cards, themed baskets, your time for babysitting, organizing, any new or mint condition items you may already own - think recreational equipment..... The options are pretty limitless....  If you don't have items or don't feel particularly crafty, we can still use your help!  We would love for people to help us go to local businesses to ask for donations, help with collecting and delivering local items will be needed.  Out of town friends who wish to craft or donate... don't count yourselves out!  We have some ideas of how your donations can be in our auction as well.  Please just contact us if you are interested in helping in any way!  My hope is to have an idea of the items we will get by the end of July and then start getting photos the first two weeks in August before school starts back.  The actual time of the auction is flexible, so you crafty people have plenty of time to make plenty of things (another shamelessly "un-subtle" hint!)...  So, we'll take it from there!  Please share with your friends!!
Much love!

WOW!

Again, needless to say, school and being a mom of 4 is not conducive to blogging!  Since September (WOW! Didn't know it had been that long!!) we have actually made a lot of progress and have a few significant things to talk about!

1. We were awarded a grant in the FULL AMOUNT of the cost to submit our dossier!

2. We finalized all the outstanding paperwork, amidst many ridiculous obstacles, and finally submitted our dossier on November 6th.

3. And here's the big WOW! . . . I received this message tonight: "Good news! Your dossier is back from Washington, D.C. and has been authenticated by the Department of State and the Ethiopian Embassy. It is being sent to Ethiopia this Friday via our weekly DHL shipment. Once our team in Ethiopia receives your dossier, they will work on the next steps of authenticating and registering your dossier. This process typically takes about two months. The next stage of the process may be the most difficult one yet – which is the wait for your referral."

So, now my thoughts and the things God has spoken to me during these events:

1.  He really DOES provide.  The grant that we were awarded was one of four for which we applied.  It was by far the easiest application - we simply wrote a letter to the Kay Foundation.  In the process, I was able to talk to the founder, a lady who had several biological children and then adopted siblings.  She gave me some really good advice and spoke with wisdom and experience.  When I asked how old her children are now, she said, "Well, I'm pretty sure the youngest is 52 now!"  :)  It was a delightful conversation and gave me so much hope for our future!

2.  I won't go into all the ridiculous details, because you would not believe the trouble we had obtaining some of the simplest documents!!!!  More than once people commented, most from a place of frustration for and with us, things like: "Why is it so difficult?"  "Why is it so expensive - what are you paying for?"  "You would think it would be easier to give children a home." "They are just making you jump through hoops!"  One particular set of comments was not from an attempt to empathize with us, and praise the Lord that He who is in Me is greater than my flesh!!  The comments were biting and brought me to tears, but only by the Holy Spirit in me, I was able to respond in grace and walk away.  Later as I dealt with my own anger and frustration, I thought of all kinds of things I could have said (from my flesh - glad I didn't say those things! and more direct responses, still with grace, that could have pointed this person to Christ).  I realized that even through this the Lord is speaking to me, teaching me, refining me.  A thought that has continued to linger . . . Yes, I do feel like, at times, I am jumping through hoops.  However, God loved me so much that He sent his Son to DIE for my adoption; who am I to complain that I have to do a few tedious and seemingly ridiculous things in order to adopt my children?  As I write, I realize that same thought applies to my waiting, to my lack of control, to the expense . . . to any setback we may come through.  . . . . Those are the sacrifices God is asking us to make as He in His perfect timing is orchestrating EVERYTHING for the good of our family and for HIS glory!  And the part that is SO cool, He doesn't ask me to make these sacrifices in my own strength.  I just have to acknowledge my weakness and surrender to Him, trust Him - not just in word, but in deed, and He WILL carry me through.  He has given me the gift of His Spirit in me to be my Help, my Comfort, my Counselor, my Shield and Defender.  He is EVERYTHING that I will EVER need.  I do not need to control anything.  I don't need to know when we will get a referral.  I don't need to be worried that our children are suffering while we wait.  I just need to trust that My God is big enough, bigger than I can imagine, and that He loves me and my family.  He is drawing me nearer to Him and teaching me.  He is making my family ready for new children/siblings.  He is making them ready for us.  He has a perfect plan for us and will reveal it to us in His time. WOW!

3.  SO, tonight we celebrate that we are one step closer to meeting our children.  We are praying that the Holy Spirit would continue to empower us as we wait.  We pray that we would be moldable, that we would be compliant to His leading, that we would treasure this time of being made ready for things we can't even imagine.  We pray that the Lord would prepare our children, both biological and adopted, for all the changes that are coming.  We pray that He would protect our family.  We pray for the biological family of our children.  We pray for our children's health and spiritual well-being.  We pray for their care-takers.  We pray for the "system."  We are thankful that the Spirit intercedes and groans for us when we don't know what to pray.  We serve a great and mighty God.  Tonight I am humbled and grateful and expectant!

CORRECTION

I forgot the B!  To view our photos and see Maria's amazing work go to www.ruthiebphotography.blogspot.com!  Her family is also on their own amazing adoption journey.  Read their story here: www.cincomariposas.blogspot.com

School Daze = No Updates

Wow, another long lapse.  I must confess, I just can't find the time to write!  :)  But, I really thought I should since a lot of people have been asking recently, AND because my AMAZING friend Maria, just posted unbelievable pictures of our family on her blog and may have encouraged you to come here to read our story! :)  (Visit her blog at www.ruthiephotography.blogspot.com)

So, it's nearly October, and I am still adjusting to school.  I switched schools this year to be at the same school as my two oldest children, Jayden and Asher.  They were ecstatic!  It has been so much fun getting to see them all the time at school!  I love our mornings together before they go to their classrooms.  They are so sweet and helpful in getting my room ready for my students to come in; they always want to know what I need for them to do!  I LOVE my new school, but I LOVED my old school, too.  So, it has been kind of a tough start; mostly tough to leave old friends and familiar routines, but also hard to figure out my new normal!  I am getting there though, and I have some REALLY great students who make everyday a fun, new challenge! 

Jude also has a new normal.  He is going to school full day this year!  He is loving it and learning so much!  He was sitting on my lap tonight "reading" his poems to me.  Yes, they are familiar nursery rhymes that he has memorized, but he was tracking the print perfectly and could even point out many words at random!  He also started soccer this year!  So now we have 3 playing!  It is so crazy, yet so much fun!  I love watching my children learn new things!

In my last post I wrote that we would be spending the summer working on our dossier and grants.  Well, our dossier is almost done!  We had our fingerprints done and have been approved by USCIS!  We have reference letters, police clearance, birth certificates, passports, etc. . .   We have to collect a few more papers and $5500, and then we are set! ;)  We applied for 4 grants.  We have recently heard from the board of one of them that they are prayerfully considering how much to give us!  Thank you, Lord! 

Our case worker and agency continue to be incredibly suportive through the process.  When I last spoke to our case worker, she was asking when she could expect the dossier.  I told her that I had no idea, that she could talk to Jesus about when He was going to send the money! :)  She laughed and said, "Okay, I will!"  About a week later, she sent us a document with timelines with our expected dossier date as November 1st!  A day after that we heard from the grant committee and received an unsolicited donation!  The Lord continues to provide for us each step of the way.  We completely trust in His timing and Sovereignty! 

Please continue to pray for us through this journey in these ways:
-that we would find favor with the grant committees,
-that God would provide the dossier fees quickly so that our documents don't expire,
-for continued preparation for our hearts, minds, and spirits,
-that the kids would continue to be excited, continue to ask us questions, and really understand what we are doing AND why,
-for our children in Ethiopia, for their health, physical and spiritual well-being, for their family there,
- and mostly that the Lord would be glorified in and through all of this, that it would NOT be about us, but about Him, who He is and what He has done!

Oh, we still have jewelry and bags to sell!  See the previous post for pictures and send me a message!!

Summer Fun - FUNd Raising and Grant Writing

Our summer is being devoted first, to having fun with our kids!  And secondly, working hard to raise the funds to bring our other kids home to have fun with us!  We have been busy having fun with friends, going to movies and pools, and having craft time!  During their down time, I have been working on applying for several grants.  Please join us in praying that we find favor with the awarding committees!

We have had several fund raisers in the past few weeks.  All of which have been fun and pretty successful!  First, my sweet friend had a Thirty-One fund raiser for us.  Thank you so much for all of the friends who ordered to support us!  Then, Chann and Niles (the husband of another family who is adopting - www.cincomariposas.com) played at Sayago's.  I taught the Sayago's son several years ago, and they have been so kind to encourage and support us by allowing the guys to play and giving us a portion of the night's sales! (Like them on Facebook!)  Again our friends and family gave generously!  The Lord continues to use His faithful followers to provide the funds that we need at just the right times!  Our current goal is $850.  We are a little more than halfway there!

Here's how you can help!  We are now selling jewelry and bags from Africa.  The Sparrow Fund has a fund raising opportunity that solely supports adoption.  First, the beads and bags are made by an African woman named Mary.  She is a refugee living in Kenya.  She is twice widowed and has 9 biological children.  She has also adopted 7!!!!!  The Sparrow Fund gives her an opportunity to sell her items in the states at fair trade value.  We buy her items, and the Sparrow Fund sets the price of what we sell to then benefit our adoption!  ALL proceeds benefit adoption!  The necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are made from paper and are way more beautiful than the photographs show!  The bags are very large and made from distinctly African fabrics.  Please leave a comment or send me a message on Facebook if you would like to purchase anything!  Necklaces and bracelets are $15.  Earrings are $6, and bags are $20.