Finger Prints

Today we submitted all of the initial paperwork and first payment for our homestudy (which will be done locally by Lutheran Family Services). We went to the Air Force base and took advantage of the Notary Service as well as fingerprinting. For future reference, if you are a military family and adopting, go to the ITT office for fingerprints. Who would have thought? ITT (Information, Tickets, and Travel... vacation planner). We eventually ended up there after being re-directed a few times. Much more work remains, but it is an exciting step. Soon we will have our social worker conducting our homestudy.
...eventually we will have small fingerprints in our home!


As a nanny, fingerprint art is my favorite.

143 Million

One Hundred and Forty Three Million, CHILDREN, without homes, without families. Yes, that's right, today there are 143 million orphans in the world. Do you know how many 143,000,000 is? Soon the census report will tell us the U.S. population. It is approximately 300 million people. Try and wrap your mind around this, 1/2 of the American population as orphaned children. Ethiopia alone has about 4.4 million orphans. The world is a sad place, full of hurt, hunger and injustice. Lets not forget that because we live in America and don't see this face to face that it isn't happening. It seems like another world, but it's still part of OUR world. Why were we blessed to be born in the U.S? Even in the most unfortunate situations here, there is access to clean water, education, medical care, etc. There is so much more we can be doing. I am not preaching to you, but reminding myself too... that foregoing a Starbucks coffee, delicious frozen custard, t.v, new shoes, whatever can change the life of someone else.
I am a selfish person, I love things, I am not willing to give it ALL away. I am just saying I want to make an honest effort to make a difference, be aware of the world instead of living in ignorance. Sponsoring a child, sending aid money, doing rather than just having intention or "happy thought", adopting are just a few ways to do SoMeThInG. I know that my contributions are just a drop in the bucket of "change."
It isn't all sadness, there is hope in Jesus; His grace and mercy. I ponder the inequality of the world. Why am I so blessed and still complaining? Why are "the least of these" so content with the little or nothing? I don't have answers. My mind is a dangerous machine, it is always spinning and conspiring with my heart. Though it is exhausting just to think and my heart breaks in a million pieces, I am glad that the gears are turning and I will NEVER stop learning.

Be the
CHANGE you wish to see in
THE WORLD
-Gandhi
A motto to live by.

Definition

Just in case you didn't know what it means, here is the dicitonary.com definition.
It isn't just the captial city in Rhode Island.
I think, no, I KNOW it is my favorite word. It sums up exactly why we are adopting, why life is the way it is. When somethings happens, I like to say,
"This is Providence"
prov·i·dence   /ˈprɒvɪdəns/ Show Spelled[prov-i-duhns]
–noun
1.(often initial capital letter) the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.
2.(initial capital letter) God, esp. when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
3.a manifestation of divine care or direction.
4.provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.
5.foresight; provident care.

Encountering God

Sometimes we find ourselves saying, "Where is God now? He did all those miracles in the Bible... why can't we see him today?" I feel so fortunate to have a relationship with Christ. Not that things are perfect, I didn't audibly hear his voice saying "Stacy, be a mother to the motherless." Nonetheless, God told me to do it many years ago. He filled my heart with a love for the world, the needy, and hope for the future. I feel so blessed to have been given such a call from the Lord. The call is so clear, there are so many signs from Him.
Currently I am basking in the glory of a call from the Lord and enjoying each moment, each step to get "there" to Ethiopia and meet my child. I cry out to God, I want to bring my baby home now. In this waiting time of paper pregnancy God is still here, he is everywhere.
Hearing from God isn't always so direct. Sometimes it seems as though our prayers go unheard or unanswered. Sometimes I feel so far from God. Recently David and I were talking and our conversation caused me to think a lot. Even when we don't feel God talking to us he is everywhere. I paused to reflect... God is the living word of the Bible, we see his glory in the trees, flowers, storms, all of nature, in relationships, hard times, joyous times, in the toothless smile of the homeless lady asking me for help, he is EVERYWHERE. Constantly, there are people or situations that God has put in my life to tell me something, to teach me, or use me. I am so thankful for his voice and I pray that I will continue to see him and hear from him. I pray that my excitement will not be exhausted in the interim and that he will use me in ways I can't even begin to imagine.