Are you ready?
I am.
Before you read further, take a peek at that beautiful
thermometer! Yes, in case you missed it- yesterday that puppy read: $11,018.
We first shared that we were going
to start the process of adopting in mid to late May of 2012. In the original
“plan” (God thinks MY plans
are funny by the way) my goal was to have half of our fundraising done
($14,000) in one year and have the home study complete by June 2013. As June
drew near, it was clear that it was not going to happen. We were not prepared
financially and it was clear that it was not the right time. I distinctly
remember the end of May/ beginning of June mourning
that I hadn’t met “the goal” yet, even though we had worked tirelessly for a
very long time to get to the goal. Feeling distraught that my timing was wrong
and uncertain of what this meant, I recall crying in prayer, “God how much
longer until we get ½ way financially to the goal.” At the time, we were still a
good $3,000 away from the half way mark, which in my mind, may as well have
been $300,000! It started to feel unattainable. Ashamedly, I admit that
I doubted, I questioned….. “was I wrong in feeling God is leading us, calling
us to adopt from Ethiopia?” But amidst that, I felt that still, small voice
saying…”keep going, don’t stop.”
I kept coming back to Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,
let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so
easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us”
(emphasis added)
Then, it happened, clarity.
Promise. Light. Hope.
Now, here I am walking into August (mind you only 2
short…okay looooong months after “my goal” of June) and we are not only half way
to the financial goal- we BLEW PAST the half way mark!
What does this mean? So glad you asked! In August and
September we will:
1.) Officially apply to the adoption agency that we would like to work with
2.) Complete our home study (hopefully by early Sept)
3.) Begin putting together the dossier.
August
is going to be big month folks!
I (frankly) had been avoiding August like the plague for
another reason. I am turning 30. It is actually my golden birthday this year
(30 on the 30th). However now, I think it is time to leave my 20’s
in the dust, grab onto 30…. and hang on tight because it is going to be
awesome.
Only about $8,000 to go in fundraising. Can you believe
it?!? ONLY $8,000 left. Who is ready to push that thermometer to the top with me!
Ready. Set. GO!
