Cutting for a Cause - Follow Up

On January 15th, 2012 friends of ours at Progressive Image Day Salon held an adoption fund raiser for us called Cutting for a Cause. We made $1500 towards our adoption costs from 2-6pm that day.

Debbie Jones (co-owner of the salon) had asked to change their usual partial ad in Forsyth Woman magazine for their business to include a promo for CFAC. The editor found our story so compelling that they chose to give us a full ad that described our adoption story in great detail, along with Progressive Image's efforts to assist. We were so honored...and somewhat embarassed by the exposure. BUT, God used this to bring folks in the door for the event that would not have otherwise, and He connected us with new friends and resources.

Fast forward to the beginning of June...
We had been home with our boys for about a month (arriving here on May 8th). Carolyn Peterson from FW contacted us about a follow up. Jo Anna did an outstanding job explaining in further detail our story and they included some wonderful pictures of our new family. Here is the link to this month's issue. Our story is on their page 46. http://www.forsythmags.com/backoffice/Web%20Pdfs/07-12WEBpdfs/FF07-12Book.pdf

We have been blessed to adopt, though you may say the boys have been blessed to be a part of our family. Jo Anna and I were called to adopt, after we had been adopted into God the Father's family through His Son, Jesus Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit unto eternal life. As my lovely wife said in the article, not everyone is called to do so. BUT, if you are a Christ-follower you have an obligation to do something. I personally feel honored to be a part of the Together for Adoption organization, involved with exhibitor planning and on-site coordination for the conferences. "We believe the theology of Adoption is transformative on so many levels: for the Church, for churches, for Christian experience, and for mobilizing and empowering long-term engagement in the global orphan crisis." Our national conference is coming up this September 14th and 15th at Cross Pointe Church in Atlanta, GA. If you want to learn more about how you can get involved, this is an excellent place to learn how you can do so. Or, maybe you are feeling the 'tug' to adopt or be engaged in foster care - I can't think of a better place for you to be that weekend. Visit the website by clicking on my first badge on the left for more details. Thank you for partnering with us as we are living in THE story!

Scott

Bringing L and J Home...FOR GOOD!

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Today YOU have a unique opportunity. Two precious young boys, J and L are waiting for a forever family...specifically OURS. We were officially matched October 13th and the USCIS approved their visa applications on February 7^th (Scott’s birthday). The authorization to travel is expected in the next 6-8 weeks.

As you may already know from our original post, we are stepping out in faith to adopt these 2 little toddler boys (our girls are 9 and 11) with the younger having complete hearing loss. God has brought us this far, and He will not leave or forsake us...EVER. Jo Anna is possibly not returning to work in any substantial way...any time soon. In addition, L's medical bills alone will be impacting the family budget. Currently, we are confident that we can provide for our soon-to-be family of 6, but the initial costs are immense. This is where you come in. You get to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. You get to be a part of a story and get to help unite a family with their little boys. L and J are about to be orphans no more. Please help us so we can travel without having to worry about funds.

In celebration and in an effort to raise the funds for this trip we're offering a chance for your very own iPad!

Here's how it works. A fellow adoptive family was kind enough to donate a brand new iPad because they understand the financial strains put a family that chooses to adopt (in our case, 2 children at once). There is a helping others paypal donate button on my blog in the upper left hand corner. You can donate there by Paypal or credit card.

Donate $25 for 1 opportunity for the giveaway.  You may choose to donate more than once. ***DEAL: 2 opportunities for a $40 donation! Also, If you believe in what we are doing please consider spreading the word:

1. Repost on your blog or Facebook.
2. Tell others via email and other media.

We believe this will be our last fund raiser, with the goal of finishing off the purchase of airfare (2 adults and 2 children). Cutting for a Cause contributions made up the difference for this and accommodations. Entries will be numbered in order of donation receipt (displayed on blog) and the giveaway will be random.



The fine print disclaimer. In order for this FUNdraiser to happen we must raise at least $3000 for it to be ON! We need just 120 folks at $25 each to do this. We will announce when we hit that point and once we do, the giveaway will end 7 days later. This is NOT a r-a-f-f-l-e, please do not mention that it is. This IS helping to bring children into their forever family!

Our Adoption Story

For our 10 year wedding anniversary (May 2007), Scott gave me the option of a piece of jewelry or for us to go on the Christian MusicBoat Cruise from Miami to Jamaica. I chose the cruise. That spring, I began to be interested in researching foster care and adoption. I really didn't know why I was so intrigued by it. But he kept putting people and situations in my path that involved those 2 topics. The topper was on the cruise when David Nasser preached from Isaiah 6. The title of his sermon was "God wants to ruin your life." Well, it was there that God told me (not in an audible voice) "I want you to adopt." In my spoiled, sinful state, I didn't like that proclamation very much. In fact, I wrestled with God the rest of that trip. I was MISERABLE. Scott didn't know why. I wouldn't tell him. Our trip pretty much sucked thanks to me. I just prayed that if this was in fact from the Lord, that Scott would also come to that same conclusion. I wouldn't push him. In fact, I prayed privately about this for about 6 months before I even mentioned the subject of adoption to Scott.  At first, he thought I was crazy. But I asked if he would pray about it. He said yes. We began praying about it as a family as well. Of course, the girls were onboard from the getgo.

              On Monday, Jan 12, 2009 Scott called me right before I went into my BSF leadership meeting. He told me he believed God has called us to adopt, he was onboard, and let's started! I was so happy. Deep down, I never even thought we would get to this point. I knew it was God. Just a few days earlier, I had learned about an adoption information expo that was going to happen at a local church. I asked Scott if we wanted to go to the "Hands of Hope" Adoption expo that weekend. He said yes. It was there that we began our process together.

              When we received the initial info on S (SHF listing) in Jan 2010, everything looked good. Even though I believed  the Lord had called us to brothers, I really thought "S was the one". It was only after we asked additional questions and received the email (through ICAB) from the foster mother in February 2010 that the Lord made it very clear in several ways of confirmation that S was NOT the one.

              Ever since then, we have prayed for clear confirmation from the Lord. Some sort of connection or something to confirm to us who our children are. Ok, here's what I believe is the connection: The date of the adoption expo was January 17, 2009. The date of the social worker's first visit to J's home was January 17, 2009. L of course wouldn't even be born for another year. When I read through their cases again the other night, the Lord reminded me of that date. I went through our adoption paperwork and found a bulletin from that expo. Although I may be crazy, I believe the Lord showed me that as confirmation that he planned for J and L to be in our family. To me, that is no coincidence.

              I know that God's plans are not our plans. I truly hope that I am not going to be disappointed again by unfulfilled expectations. I pray that we are in the center of God's will and that the Lord continues to confirm.  Isaiah 30 says ²⁰ Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Jo Anna