Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

It's the time of the year when the weather turns cold and snow is in the forecast.  It's when gatherings become more frequent with family and friends.  It's also the time when we begin to talk about the things that we are thankful for.  We have always talked about this with our children, however this Thanksgiving season we are emphasizing thanking God for these things.  It amazes me as we tuck our ladies into bed and listen to their prayers what they are thankful for!  What compassionate little ladies they are growing up to be!  

Our Thankful turkey!

We recently finish our sixteenth week of home school on Tuesday.  So far this school year, we have learned about the different Native American tribes, the Puritan's beliefs, the injustice's of slavery, the Mayflower, and why the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving.  It is very interesting, and has helped our two school-age children love history!  I am learning right along side them, as I have forgotten so much of the important details since I was in elementary school.  What an amazing time of religious freedom, survival in a new land, and relying on God to get them through the first year. 

Our Mayflower hand prints- watch out for the waves!

As a family we are thankful for so many things that we usually take for granted.  Running water, heat in our house when it is snowing, all of God's amazing animals, our lovely daughters, transportation, electricity, loving grandparents and great-grandparents, freedom to educate our children at home, etc.  We are also thankful that our adoption is in His timing.   God loves adoption, however the devil does not and will try to stop every adoption from happening.  We are in the midst of a war to bring our baby home, which is why I am grateful we have God to rely on because as humans we have a tendency to give in and fail.  

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Orphan Sunday 2014

Today, November 2, 2014 is Orphan Sunday.  

It is a day to raise awareness of all of the orphans here in the United States and around the world.  

One day each year churches around the world will talk about those without a family to call their own.  They will show videos about the cause, in hopes to raise money for them.   They will instruct their congregation what Jesus tells us to about orphans.  Today is a day to advocate on behalf of those with no voice.  It's also a day to remember our adoption as sons and daughters of God (Ephesians 1:5).

Orphans are everywhere, and we are called to act.  Every single one of us are called to help those who go to bed each night alone and without a family.  There are many ways God calls us to act, but he makes it clear that all of us have a part in helping others in need (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world, James 1:27).

Our family chose to act by adopting an orphan from Ethiopia.  We began this process in 2012, and through all the detours that we endured, we have kept faith that God will show us where she is and will help us bring our little one home.  Adoption is not always an easy process, so please pray for the little ones today.  Please pray that they are safe, that they have nutritious food to eat, and for God to lead them to a permanent family.