Thankfulness Tag

Joy tagged me with five reasons to be thankful.  So, here goes:

1.  My sweet husband who not only tolerates my many emotions, but loves me regardless.  We make a pretty cool team and I am so thankful he asked me to marry him on a summer evening in 1991.

2.  My great kids!  Madison and Sage show me everyday what God's unconditional love looks like.  Having them makes me want to be better tomorrow than I am today, each day.

3.  My family.  Each person in my family has helped shape me and mold me at some point along the way.  I am so very thankful that God placed me into the family that He did, for each person that makes up the very colorful and wonderful family that I am a part of.

4.  My friends.  One in particular.  How she saw something in me when there wasn't much to see.  How she always encourages me and mentors me and exemplifies a truly godly woman, wife and mother.  She always brings out the best in me.  She is a mom to five outstanding kids that radiate God's love in so many ways and places.  I thank God for friendships.

5.  Hope.  I am so thankful for hope.  I am so thankful for the hope that Jesus placed into my heart that someday I get to worship him face to face in spirit and in truth.  I am so thankful for the hope that this life, with all of its joy and sorrow, isn't as good as it gets.  The best is yet to come.

6.  The part of our family that lives in Ethiopia right now.  I thank God for the child/children God has planned for our family.

I am tagging:

Lee

Sarah

Shala

Sarah

Melodie

Happy Thanksgiving!

Meet "Our Kids"

Russ Weir put this video together of the kids at Kebebtsehay Orphanage in Ethiopia that Red Letters Campaign is sponsoring.  For those of you who have read some of my previous posts, this is it!  This is what it is all about.  Enjoy their smiles!  And there are still plenty of kids to sponsor if you are interested.

Rise Expected in Ethiopia Orphans

Found this article.  Hard to picture Sage or Madison as the head of a household, but by God's grace they were born in the U.S. and not in Ethiopia.  225,000 households run by children by 2010?!?

Ethiopia to see sharp rise in orphans running households:  NGO

Nov 7, 2008

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia will by 2010 see a four-fold increase in the number of orphaned children aged between nine and 19 who are heading families due to AIDS, poverty and conflict, a local NGO said on Friday.

Some 225,000 households will be run by children, up from 77,000 in 2005, Addis Ababa-based African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) said in a report.

"This is going to be an explosive problem," said Assefa Bequele, the agency's director.

"In some households, the oldest child is also the principal care-giver to a terminally-ill parent," said the report.  

Ethiopia is one of the world's poorest countries.  The government estimates that 1.5 million Ethiopians are infected with HIV, while the World Health Organization says nearly 2.8 million are infected.

More Sponsorship Info

Here's a new video from Children's Hope Chest of their recent trip to Ethiopia. Check here for more information on sponsorship.

Sponsorship Info

Anyone interested in sponsoring an orphan in Ethiopia?  Anyone interested in visiting your sponsored child on a yearly trip with a community of people also sponsoring orphans in the same orphanage?  How cool does that sound?

I wrote a little about it here, but late-breaking details at Amy's blog!  Go take a look and see if this is something where God would call you to jump in and be involved!

We are pumped!  Not only are we excited about adding to our family by way of Ethiopian adoption, we are so happy to connect to other children who will grow up in Ethiopia and be a part of loving them and serving them through sponsorship.

Update:  And go take a look at Joy's post on sponsorship.  I love the way she shares on this same topic!

Bad Basketball Behavior

Madison had a basketball game this afternoon.  I saw something at her game today that made me cringe as a mom.

The opposing team's coach was young, possibly his first teaching job out of college.  During the first half of the game (when his team was ahead) he became frustrated at his players.  Remember, they are sixth grade girls around the ages of 11 and 12.  The coach got mad, stood up from his chair on the sidelines, turned around and raised his clipboard over his head and slammed it on the chair.  I was appalled.

A few minutes later was a break between quarters.  He gathered his players around him on the side of the court and proceeded to scream at them, with gestures and hand motions to match.  I could tell he was screaming because I could hear him from where I was sitting on the opposite side of the gym among all the commotion of the crowd.

Later in the game he threw his pen down with enough force to shatter it across part of the gym floor.

Am I over-reacting here?  I don't really like to see high school coaches act like this, but their kids have at least had some experience playing the game.  These are young girls just learning how to make plays and work together as a team!  What could they have possibly done wrong to warrant such extreme and outrageous behavior from their coach?

So, I wrote a letter to his principal.  It was a polite letter and stated the facts of the young man's behavior.  The goal of my letter was not to criticize as much as it was to encourage this young educator to mature in his coaching skills and choose more age-appropriate behavior.  Personally, I would have loved to have written a really nasty letter, but refrained because I really and truly want this young man to become a good coach, a good teacher and a good mentor to his students.  

I realize the principal may throw my letter into file #13, but at least I tried.

I Voted

The kids' classes held mock elections this week.  Sage wore a VOTE NOW t-shirt to school today that we bought at Old Navy for $1.  During our morning carpool, all kids were voicing their opinion on how today's election would end.  Madison said is was not fair that kids didn't get to vote.  I assured her that she will be 18 soon enough!  Everywhere I went today, conversations were buzzing with anticipation of the vote.  I like that word... vote.  

And as our kids headed off to bed, we told them how we will support, honor, uphold, respect and pray for our new president-elect.  Our vote did not result in a win for our candidate, but nonetheless, we still exercised our right to vote.   And that is a precious thing.  I hope our kids always know what a honor and privilege we have as U.S. citizens to be a part of the democratic process.  We are so thankful to have been born in a country where we choose our leaders.  We are so thankful to live in the United States of America.

Kolfe Orphanage, Addis Ababa

Tom Davis' most recent blog post is about Kolfe Orphanage in Addis Ababa, home to about 130 boys .  Many families adopting through Gladney visit orphanages while in Ethiopia and I have heard this particular orphanage mentioned several times.  However, I had no idea the extent of poverty that these young men experience daily.  Please read more about Kolfe and their immediate needs on Tom's blog.

In addition, I found this video with a few more pictures of Kolfe.

Nachos Anyone?

Hey, Madison here. When you saw the pictures you were probably thinking what the heck do they do with that thing, plow the fields !?!? Ha Ha Ha Just kidding :)  Our neighbors own the donkey that lives in the pasture across the road. Her name is Nacho.  We're not sure where her name came from, but my two year old cousin seems to like it.  My cousin can't quite pronounce her words right sometimes and when she says Nacho it comes out "Na-noche.''  It is pretty funny.  Nacho will come up to the fence and start braying until someone hears her and comes to give her a treat.  Luckily I saw her tonight before she started that honkin noise of hers. So I just went inside and got some carrots for her. One thing that is really weird about Nacho is that she LOVES bread.

Red Letters

Dustin and I recently read Red Letters by Tom Davis. Powerful book. One of the quotes that I underlined in the book is from an eighteenth-century English philosopher named Edmund Burke. He said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing."  I hope to read his book Fields of the Fatherless next.  (My current read is The Connected Child.)

Amy Bottomly's recent post gives information about the opportunity to sponsor kids in Ethiopia through Tom Davis' organization Children's Hope Chest.  Tom recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia where they were assessing orphanages to see where they can come alongside and support the orphanages and the orphans individually.

Amazing Song, Amazing Singer

This video makes me smile and I hope it does the same for you! Dustin's aunt sang this song at our wedding 16 years ago. I loved it then and I love it now.

Weekend Dinner at the Queen

Over the weekend we ate dinner at the Queen of Sheba with Dustin's sister, brother-in-law and their four great kids.  Sage was so pleased when the owner, Mimi, recognized him from our last visit.  Mimi said she remembered him because of how well he ate.  The lamb dish is his favorite.  Madison is still coming around to the injera.  She likes it but she doesn't love it.

 

Dossier Authenticated

Kate from KBS Dossiers sent an email today saying that our dossier has been authenticated.  All we are waiting on is our CIS fingerprint appointment on October 28th and then the hallowed I-171.  With the approval of CIS, we will officially be placed on the waiting list.  

Madison and Sage both prayed for their brother or sister tonight, that they would sleep well and wake up to a beautiful morning.  How reassuring to know that God has the exact child/ren in mind for our family!

Tagged

7 Random and/or Weird facts about us:

1. Our first date was on 12/30/88. Our second date was on 12/31/88 with a first kiss at midnight. (We don't want our kids kissing on their second date!  Maybe we just won't let them date.  Yeah, that's it.  We won't let them date.)

2. We've owned 11 dogs (I think) since we've been married. We currently have three that we live with (Dustin would say tolerate.) We've had way too many cats to count and currently have two that live in a barn.  Don't worry, we haven't actually killed any dogs.  They just die of natural causes around here.  Natural causes i.e. country roads, fast drivers.  Get the picture? 

3. Two concerts Nikki attended in high school were Bon Jovi and ZZ Top. Two concerts Dustin attended in high school were Van Halen and Motley Crue (does anyone really need to know this!?)

4. We've lived on a farm for 13 years, which is funny because Dustin's dreams were to move to Vail, CO, to be a ski instructor while Nikki's dreams were to move to Austin, TX, to be a school teacher.

5. Nikki has always wanted to travel to Australia. Dustin has always wanted to visit NYC for a very extended vacation.  Think months.

6. We are avid Dave Ramsey fans. We visited his office in Nashville, TN a few years ago, and sat with him in the studio during a live radio show. He was so cool! We loved how he circled up some of his office staff prior to the show and asked for someone to pray for him. Dave looked at Dustin and asked him to do it. Dustin's favorite Dave quote is, "Live like no one else so that later, you can live like no one else." Our kids have heard it a million times!

7. Nikki's always wanted a tattoo but is too chicken to get one. Dustin has always wanted a Yamaha YZ250.

So in return, I am tagging:

Chris

Angel

Michelle

Shala

Tara

Bread of Life

(I wrote this post two days ago, obviously in quite a reflective mood.  Today, I re-read it and it's a little deep and I am tempted to delete it.  But maybe a year or two from now, I will be glad I put it in writing.  Read on if you like, but don't feel that you must.  -NS)

I was reading a lesson this morning about the hungry crowd in John 6.  Jesus provided for a tremendous crowd with a little boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish.  Common story, heard it as a child, studied it as a teenager, taught it to kids at VBS.  (I remember wondering as a kid how God multiplied the lunch.  Did he keep replacing fish in the bottom of the basket and every time the disciples reached in, there was always plenty?  I have also wondered if the phenomenon was noticeable or did the new fish and bread just appear quietly?  Hmm.)  This time reading through the scripture, it was through the lens of adoption.  

Then Max Lucado smacked me with this question, "What can we learn from Philip's response?  What was the larger obstacle for Philip:  the lack of food or the costs involved in feeding such a large crowd?"

I couldn't help but ask myself the same question rephrased, "What is the larger obstacle:  the great number of orphans or the costs in providing for so many children?"

or

"What is the larger obstacle:  the situation itself, or the fear that Jesus will not provide for the situation?"

Some situations seem so impossible, so out of reach.  Some days as a mom I question myself if I will be a good mom to three or four kids when I struggle with two at times.  Jesus knew He would provide lunch for the crowd even before He asked Philip about it.  Jesus knows we will face obstacles that appear to have no solutions and Jesus wants to provide.

When we were contemplating adoption and the equation kept coming up short in timing and resources, Jesus knew and He wanted to provide.  I look back at all that we struggled with to come to the decision to adopt.  At times we were looking to ourselves to provide for an adoption, much like Philip.  And yet God provided in His perfect time, giving a greater amount of glory to Him than if we had attempted this on our own strength and resources.  His glory is our prayer.  

From Max's book In the Eye of the Storm he writes about this passage in John:

"Don't miss the contrasting views.  When Jesus saw the people, he saw an opportunity to love and affirm value.  When the disciples saw the people they saw thousands of problems.

Also, don't miss the irony.  In the midst of a bakery --- in the presence of the Eternal Baker --- they tell the "Bread of Life" that there is no bread.

How silly we must appear to God.

Here's where Jesus should have given up.  This is the point in the pressure-packed day where Jesus should have exploded.  The sorrow, the life threats, the exuberance, the crowds, the interruptions, the demands, and now this.  His own disciples can't do what he asks them.  In front of five thousand men, they let him down.

"Beam me up, Father," should have been Jesus' next words.  But they aren't.  Instead he inquires, "How many loaves do you have?"

The disciples bring him a little boy's lunch.  A lunch pail becomes a banquet, and all are fed.  No word of reprimand is given.  No furrowed brow of anger is seen.  No "I-told-you-so" speech is delivered.  The same compassion Jesus extends to the crowd is extended to his friends." 

Forgive me, Jesus, when I tell you through my thoughts and actions that there is no bread and yet you are preparing a banquet.

-NS

 

Adoption Video and a Loving Mother

This is one of the first adoption videos I found last summer when Dustin and I were in the decision process.  It is a video of the McConnell family adopting three boys, two are brothers and then another unrelated boy.  Tears flow every time I watch it...  the boy's mother in Ethiopia, her smiles for her sons and then when one of them looks up at her, as if to ask, "Is this o.k.?"... I lose it.  I really cannot imagine what it would be like to sit with your mother and look at a picture album of your new family.  If you have a chance to watch it, you'll know what I am talking about.

Family Photo

Dustin's parents recently gathered everyone together for a family photo session.  This is the four of us with Dustin's mom and dad, Butch and Jolene.  I purchased the copyright for this one image to have Christmas cards made for our family business.   I wish I had all of the other pictures on disc to share, including Dustin's sister and her family!

Happy Birthday Mom!

A huge birthday shout out to my sweet mom, Anna.  I know,  we don't look much alike.  Never would have guessed we were related, right!?  Happy Birthday Mom.  I love you.

Their Walk by Faith

Wanted to share about a family with three biological children and adopted twins that came home from Ethiopia in April.

Their August 14th post is a shocking reality check and a hard read, but ends with hope and promise.  Isn't that what adoption is all about?   Whether it is orphans in a foreign country, orphans in the U.S. or any of us as followers of Christ who were orphans at one time and by grace have been given a home in Jesus?!  Hope and promise.

Their big decision was posted on their blog yesterday.  But please feel free to read their posts in between!

Why Adopt?

Why adopt?  A few reasons pictured here: