Sunday, January 2, 2011
still waiting...and waiting....and waiting
ok, so we are still waiting for the day that we will get to see her face, however we have put the crib together!! It was such an exciting thing, but now we just need the bedding and all to go in it lol. Aside from this blog we also belong to a YAHOO group for couples adopting through the same agency and there were many families who got to see thier children's faces this past week! Our fingers are crossed that we just keep moving up on the list and that the right little girl will be ours sooner rather than later. Hearing the other families good news makes my mind wander to what our little A.J. will look like and what part of Ethiopia she will come from. The name of our blog ' miracle from Toukoul' may have to be changed because our agency has begun to partner with two more orphanages and so our baby may come from either of those as well. For now our blog will stay with its orignial title and we will just have to wait to see what time brings! Fingers crossed!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Project SHE (supplies helping Ethiopia)
My husband and I could not let this holiday season go by without acknowledging the less fortunate and who better for us to help than the children of Ethiopia. These children have been orphaned due to illness and poverty. Most of these children do not even have a toothbrush to call thier own. Help these children obtain some of life's basic needs. These children do not ask for much,so please try and remember them the next time you are at the mall or the next time you are grocery shopping. We have even created a chip-in box that will allow you to donate straight to this website if you would rather. All donations made to the chip-in box will be used to help buy supplies to take to the children of Ethiopia. Thank you for remembering these wonderful children this holiday season. Happy Holidays!
Here is a list of items most needed:
Toothbrushes
Band aids
Ace bandages
Baby bottles
Diapers (ages 0-2 years)
Baby wipes
Formula (Enfamil-milk gas free infant formula powder for babies 0-2)
(if you would like to drop off donations please email us at megan.shaughnessy@smail.astate.edu for the drop off location)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
...we wait... [Daddy Edition]
"It is for this joy, this hope, this peace that we wait."
I am not usually such an evangelistic person; I often quite honestly despise evangelism (well, despise is not quite accurate; it is probably more accurate to say that I question the authenticity of evangelism). During the season of advent, however, I am too often moved by the promise of the Christ child. This season my emotions-- usually subdued and hidden beneath a self-imposed stoicism-- are running rampant thanks to our own sense and season of advent. To this end, the quote above appeared in this Sunday's responsive reading. This single line brought tears to my eyes as I cannot wait to see our little girl-- our joy, our hope, and our peace. The full responsive reading is here:
"Comfort my people, says the Lord. Speak unto them words of deliverance./ God will break the chains of the bound./ Comfort my people, says the Lord. Speak unto them words of peace./ God will cast out the fears of the troubled./ Comfort my people, says the Lord. Speak unto them words of assurance./ God will raise the eyes of the hopeless./ Lord, give us faith that the Prince of Peace shall be revealed./ It is for this joy, this hope, this peace that we wait./ Advent is a time of waiting./ Advent is also Christ... in me."
This is my prayer today as I try with every fiber of my being to understand the waiting period knowing that so many faces of the bound, the troubled, and the hopeless long to be turned into faces of joy, hope, and peace. If we are so willing and ready to offer comfort, deliverance, peace, and assurance, why then must the process be one of waiting? And no sooner do I ask these questions is it that God provides the answer: "Lord, give us faith that the Prince of Peace shall be revealed... It is for this joy, this hope, this peace that we wait." I am-- we are-- ready for our joy, hope, and peace named A.J. Maybe this season of advent will be our own season of realized advent.
I am not usually such an evangelistic person; I often quite honestly despise evangelism (well, despise is not quite accurate; it is probably more accurate to say that I question the authenticity of evangelism). During the season of advent, however, I am too often moved by the promise of the Christ child. This season my emotions-- usually subdued and hidden beneath a self-imposed stoicism-- are running rampant thanks to our own sense and season of advent. To this end, the quote above appeared in this Sunday's responsive reading. This single line brought tears to my eyes as I cannot wait to see our little girl-- our joy, our hope, and our peace. The full responsive reading is here:
"Comfort my people, says the Lord. Speak unto them words of deliverance./ God will break the chains of the bound./ Comfort my people, says the Lord. Speak unto them words of peace./ God will cast out the fears of the troubled./ Comfort my people, says the Lord. Speak unto them words of assurance./ God will raise the eyes of the hopeless./ Lord, give us faith that the Prince of Peace shall be revealed./ It is for this joy, this hope, this peace that we wait./ Advent is a time of waiting./ Advent is also Christ... in me."
This is my prayer today as I try with every fiber of my being to understand the waiting period knowing that so many faces of the bound, the troubled, and the hopeless long to be turned into faces of joy, hope, and peace. If we are so willing and ready to offer comfort, deliverance, peace, and assurance, why then must the process be one of waiting? And no sooner do I ask these questions is it that God provides the answer: "Lord, give us faith that the Prince of Peace shall be revealed... It is for this joy, this hope, this peace that we wait." I am-- we are-- ready for our joy, hope, and peace named A.J. Maybe this season of advent will be our own season of realized advent.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
So Ready [Daddy Edition]
I'm not one to usually quote the bible, but this morning's sermon at our church spoke directly to me and to our time in this process. I cannot help but share this passage with all of you.
"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, promptin us to call out, 'Abba, Father.' Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir" (Galatians 4: 4-7).
The adoption talk spoke directly to me. I cannot wait to adopt our little AJ and make her our heir. I am so ready and the wait is far too long.
After reading the passage, I read the commentary which is in my bible. It said this:
'When the right time came...' We may sometimes wonder if God will ever respond to our prayers. But we must never doubt him or give up hope. At the right time he will respond. Are you waiting for God's timing? Trust his judgment and trust that he has your best interests in mind... Under Roman law, an adopted child was guaranteed all legal rights to his father's property, even if he was formerly a slave. He was not a second-class son; he was equal to all other sons, biological or adopted, in his father's family. As adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God's resources. As God's heirs, we can claim what he has provided for us-- our full identity as his children.
That was just too perfect... I am ready to offer all that Megan and I have and will have to our adopted heir. I will, however, keep in mind that we are working on God's time. I am nevertheless ready for his time to come now and for his plan for AJ to be a reality. I am ready. Megan is ready. Our home is ready. We are ready for our referral and are ready to see our beautiful heir and to bring her into our home and into our hearts.
"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, promptin us to call out, 'Abba, Father.' Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir" (Galatians 4: 4-7).
The adoption talk spoke directly to me. I cannot wait to adopt our little AJ and make her our heir. I am so ready and the wait is far too long.
After reading the passage, I read the commentary which is in my bible. It said this:
'When the right time came...' We may sometimes wonder if God will ever respond to our prayers. But we must never doubt him or give up hope. At the right time he will respond. Are you waiting for God's timing? Trust his judgment and trust that he has your best interests in mind... Under Roman law, an adopted child was guaranteed all legal rights to his father's property, even if he was formerly a slave. He was not a second-class son; he was equal to all other sons, biological or adopted, in his father's family. As adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God's resources. As God's heirs, we can claim what he has provided for us-- our full identity as his children.
That was just too perfect... I am ready to offer all that Megan and I have and will have to our adopted heir. I will, however, keep in mind that we are working on God's time. I am nevertheless ready for his time to come now and for his plan for AJ to be a reality. I am ready. Megan is ready. Our home is ready. We are ready for our referral and are ready to see our beautiful heir and to bring her into our home and into our hearts.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A chill in the air
Just now I was driving home and got to the stop sign right before our house when I noticed this fog around our neighborhood( did i spell that right?? lol). As I drove through it to our driveway I got a chill all over! I couldn't help but think it was a sign from our little girl half way around the world. I know it's crazy, but that was my first thought. As Christmas nears I miss her more and more. It is possible to miss someone you've never met? I think so....come home baby A.J. we miss ya here!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Good news...not THE news, but still good!
Michael is officially a dr!!!! ( not an m.d. but an ED.D.) Way to go babe!!! Love u!
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