THE EMAIL!!!!! THE REFERRAL!!!

THE EMAIL has finally arrived!!!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! I knew God was preparing us... SO... we definitely need travel money now! 

THE EMAIL... that we have been waiting for since February!! The email that I have stared at the computer for... refreshing the Gmail page every few minutes for... praying for... crying for... being angry for... THE EMAIL!!! THE REFERRAL IS HERE!!! 

I have referred to it as the FREAKIN' email if you have been around me for a time... either way... the FREAKIN' EMAIL IS HERE!!!! YAHOO!!! 

Today has been a whirlwind (more on the other stuff later), but I received the call that it was coming while I was scarfing down some yummy chips and spinach dip (thanks mom!).  I answered the phone... and I KNEW! Our social worker said, "Your referral is ready!" And I just screamed back "WHAT?! WHAT?! YES!" She told me she would be sending me THE EMAIL within minutes!! AHH! 

I hung up with her and all I could say was... "BOOM SATAN!" Haha! Why was that the first thing out of my mouth? I don't know... maybe it's because I was studying with Beth this morning (Beth Moore that is) about Satan being a lion waiting to devour us and our plans God has for us.  So...  BOOM SATAN! 

I hung up with her and called Jacob. He answered and before he could get words out, I screamed "OUR REFERRAL IS HERE... GET HOME NOW!!! IT'S REALLY HERE. I NEED YOU TO BE HOME NOW." He was frazzled and super pumped... but on his way. Andrew, the pastor, was driving so I knew they'd be there QUICK! haha! 

I just danced around the house... wanting to puke... and pass out... and shout... and scream... and cry... and laugh. And just saying "THANK YOU GOD! YOU ARE AWESOME! YOU ARE FAITHFUL! YOU ARE CRAZY! YOU ARE GOOD!" and then shouting some more and dancing and saying "I don't know what to do...!" I'm soooo glad there are no hidden cameras in our house... 

Jacob finally got home... and we opened THE EMAIL!!! AHH!!! 

Bad news first... there are no pictures yet! :( But we have his story. Yes, his story. I'm not going to share all of it with you. That will be his story to share - his past, his journey, and his life. I do want to share with you some of the most amazing sentences I've ever read.  Eric, OUR SON, was interviewed about being adopted.  This is what he had to say: 

"Eric appears to understand the concept of adoption.  He expressed that he knows and remembers the Morgan's from when they came to Belize to visit the institution.  Eric explained that he would like to be adopted by the couple. Eric is overly excited with the information of being adopted."

"Eric stated that he would love to be adopted and live in the United States with his new family." 

"Eric expressed interest in communicating with his new parents." 

O my heart!!! O my heart!!! I have no words... just JOY! To know he knows. To know he is excited. To know he is ours!!! 

We called our parents and family (Mrs. Christina had the best reaction... hands down!)! We texted our friends! We celebrated! 

So... answers to questions that are in your brains right now:

WHEN do we get him?
We have to do a few things more for paperwork - accept the referral (DUH!), one more form to clear Eric to come to the U.S., and then we'll get a document from Belize with the travel dates. PRAY that this paperwork goes through quickly and smoothly.

I thought the travel dates came with the referral... but as is with everything else... there's a few more steps in between.

Our social worker said he will be HOME before the end of the year! What a very merry Christmas we will have! We are hoping to travel in November to bring our boy home! 

What about Ziggy? Weren't there 2? 
We never really explained this very clearly.  We were APPROVED for two through our homestudy, but it has always been a decision of Belize to give us a referral for just Eric or for Eric plus another child.  So, our referral is for Eric, no "Ziggy." We are ECSTATIC to get Eric... that's been our heart the entire time.  If we were "given" two, we were going to jump on that opportunity.  So, we are a family of 3 - Jacob, Anna, and Eric Morgan (plus 2 dogs)! Oh... the joy!!! 

What do we do now? 
We pray that paperwork goes through quickly.
We pray for Eric.
We pray that money comes in (Donate button is in the top right if you heart desires to help)
We pray for all orphans and orphanage workers and people touching our paperwork... pray they are blessed and move quickly. 
We pray that God is glorified!!! 

A year ago...

I started this yesterday FYI...

This weekend... heading to Matt and Lauren's wedding!!!! 

We started our annual women's summer Bible study. I really love it a lot.  I feel like I'm able to grow and process what I'm learning when I'm not turning around and teaching it during the school year.  It's a time for me to soak it all in... I like that.

But on my way to Bible study... I was thinking about what was going the last time I headed to our first summer Bible study.  You can read my blog from exactly a year ago here.

A LOT has changed in a year. This time last year I...

• was just brought to my knees AGAIN over adoption at Student Life camp
• had not started the adoption process
• had not been to Belize
• had not been to Costa Rica
• had not yet gone through the waiting process of the adoption
• had not had the joy of Stephanie living with us yet
• did not know my girl Jubi
• DIDN'T KNOW THE SHIELD OF FAITH!!!! 
• He is who He says He is! 
• He can do what He says He can do!
• I am who God says I am! 
• I can do ALL things through Christ! 
• God's Word is ALIVE and ACTIVE IN ME! 
• was totally different... 

Literally... a year ago I was with my BFF Emily and I told her while I visiting her that Jacob and I had agreed that we would probably have a biological child first and then adopt.  We wanted to practice on our own genes before messing up "someone else's" child. We thought that might be a good idea...  HAHA. God is hilarious. 

This past year has been crazy... the wildest ride yet... the longest wait of my life... and the richest time in my relationship with Jesus. It has been a rollercoaster... and it's not over yet. I have learned so much... hard to put into words. I am truly a different gal than I was a year ago today. Here's 13 things I've learned while pursuing adoption of our 13-year old son:

#1 God's love towards me, towards us, is great! Like... He really loves us! He really wants to do good for us and through us.  You know the song, "Jesus loves me, this I know... for the Bible tells me so..."  It's truer that we can even fathom! HE LOVES US!
Praise the Lord, all you nations;

   extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117:1-2

#2 God is waiting too! I believe God hurts when we hurt and longs to give us things when it is good and is glad when we are glad. He is THE Good Father... and Good Daddies empathize with their children.  I know that God is just as excited to unite us with Eric and Ziggy as we are to have them in our home! And that, my friends, comforts me. 

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30:18

#3 God is faithful! So so so faithful! After this year and all He has been to me... REGARDLESS of what happens... I trust Him completely. He is completely good and completely faithful. He is perfect! He is love! 

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

    and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
    upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4

#4 If He calls you to it, HE WILL DO IT! HELLO - He called Jacob and I to adopt... with no money... with no clue how to parent a teenager from a different country... to adopt the sweetest 13-year old from Belize.  He provided (and is still providing) the money, the encouragement, the struggle, and the rich resources. He called us to work hard and to pray with all our might... but MAN! our God provides!! WHEN He calls you to do something and you FOLLOW HIM... no doubt... all your needs will be met in INCREDIBLE ways! Try it... 

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

Hebrews 11:17-19

#5 I am NOT good at waiting... Yep... just not good at all.  When I think I am waiting... I am really just distracting myself with other things - Origami Owl, more projects, cleaning the house, traveling, etc... All are good... but all are my forms of "waiting"... oops. 

#6 The Bible gives me permission to be CRAZY!!! what what!! This is my verse!! I can't believe it took me 25 years to find it!!!! I think I want a tatoo of it!!! 

 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

2 Corinthians 5:13

#7 I am NOT in control. Yep... definitely not. And when I think I am in control... I go through puberty again and discover MOUNTAINS on my face that you may call pimples! Really... when I try to take over... I revert to 14-year old Anna... pimples and emotional instability! haha! 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth,     so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

#8 I am NOT all that & a bag of chips... I am to be selfLESS! Pride is an issue for me. I get into the mindset of striving for self-righteousness very easily. As ugly as it is judging others is a struggle for me. Loving others UNCONDITIONALLY and with ABANDON doesn't come naturally to me... I have to continually humble myself... ugh. Nothing... even the 'good' stuff... can be done with a prideful heart - not adoption, not Bible study, not serving in church, not being nice, not doing the Connection... NOTHING. Seek Him... THEN serve from the overflow... not from my pride... golly... when will I learn.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

#9  I should NOT go and do until I KNOW God has blessed it! So... I have a lot of ideas... I mean a lot... it's really annoying to live in my mind. This year I have definitely learned STAY STILL until God pushes me. Jesus' ministry was successful because of His relationship with the Father. He didn't move until God said MOVE. He didn't speak until God said SPEAK. The highest form of intimacy and AWARENESS... that's what Jesus had. This verse from Isaiah (one of my fav passages) is prophesying about Jesus... God's anointing was ALL OVER Jesus' ministry.  I must WAIT (there's that word again) to ACT on my IDEAS. I have to dream the dreams/ideas of my Father. Hard to do...

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,...

Isaiah 61:1

#10 I REALLY REALLY like peanut butter... 'nuff said.

#11 FEAR steals our joy, distracts us from obedience, and is a lie. Yep. Fear... it's no good. It will absolutely paralyze you. When I live in the "what if's"... and the "how's"... I will sink. 

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

#12 I must seek His FACE... not His HAND!! ...AND NOT WORRY!

 IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM! I do not worship Him because of what He DOES for me... I worship Him because of WHO HE IS!!! PERIOD! If my relationship with Him is based on Him answering my prayers (the way I want Him to)... it's not a fulfilling relationship... it's a parasite relationship with Him... me getting and getting for only my satisfaction. YUCK...
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34

#13 He works on my/our behalf!!! I have learned... yes I have learned... that He works on my behalf even when I can't see it or feel it. He is working. He is fighting for me and my family... for ERIC and ZIGGY. He is fighting for every orphan on this planet. He is raising up His Church to be His hands and His family... but He is not sitting back and watching... HE IS A MIGHTY WARRIOR!!! 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

So... there you have it. It's been QUITE A YEAR! I hope a year from now I have tons of pictures of Eric and Ziggy and amazing testaments of how big my God is. BUT IF I DON'T... there will be much more learned and a much richer and deeper knowledge of my God. Either way... I trust Him. 

Eric... that's his name

This week has been an absolute roller coaster.  I can't even explain the emotions, worries, fears, excitements, and discouragement I felt.  I felt that I was seeking in SILENCE... and PAPERWORK! I didn't feel like I was getting the answers I wanted when I wanted them. I felt like there was so much silence around me - with the adoption process, work, and more.  I didn't want to blog because I just didn't know what to say. But... I'm ready now.

So... Monday was a CRAZY day.  Our first homestudy interview, home tour, and the breakdown of the plan.  We met our Social Worker.. SHE IS AWESOME!! She lives in Troy, VERY friendly, and just made us feel so comfortable.  We talked for THREE hours! It was a long process... but so good.

For this next info... I'm gonna need to back up a bit. So... Jacob and I have ALWAYS wanted to adopt... we had the itch even before we were married.  But we knew we wanted to just be married for a while... no kids... just us... so that's what we did.  We thought about starting the adoption process before, but God showed us to WAIT.  This summer through several situations and conversations, we knew the time was getting close. When we went to Belize, we met Eric at an orphanage.  He is 12 and has lived in this orphanage for 11 years.  He has witnessed several of his friends be adopted... and he has stayed there without a family of his own.  He is the most beautiful little boy ever, but his words to Jacob were, "I just don't think I'm wanted."  Well... let me tell you people... HE IS DEFINITELY WANTED! That little 12 year old boy, Eric, was the catalyst for this whole adventure.  We couldn't come back home and not do anything... so we started the process... sent the money and the paperwork and prayed for ERIC! We had no clue how easy or hard it was going to be to request a specific child... we only knew to pray. So we did.

Fast forward a bit to this week...
Our homestudy social worker tells us to go ahead and ask the adoption agency if we can get a referral for Eric.  I email the adoption agency... they sent me back an email that said one of us has to be 25 years old and we have to be at least 12 years older than the child. She had to check with Belize to see if Eric was available for adoption and check his birthday because if he was closer to 13... we weren't eligible to adopt him. My heart sank. Can you pray for someone's birthday to be changed? I don't know but I did. I prayed with all my might that he would be eligible for adoption and that his birthday would be where it was suppose to be.  Then, we waited... that was Monday...

Today, is Friday. 
I sent them an email this morning (because I'm impatient and I had to know something) to follow up with our request to Belize. She said Belize let her know that one of us does have to be 25 (never been so excited for a birthday in my life), THAT ERIC IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION, AND THAT HIS BIRTHDAY IS AT THE PERFECT TIME!! WOOHOO! I still didn't know what this meant... so I emailed her back and said "What does this mean? Can we get Eric? I shouldn't have any doubts, correct? Can he be ours?..."
She emailed back with my favorite line of the century, "That's correct. Let's bring that boy home, shall we?" 

AHHH! My heart is beyond excited! Our hearts broke when we met him in the orphanage... and soon (not soon enough) Eric is going to be our son!!!!

And get this... while I was impatiently waiting on a response I looked up the meaning of the name "Eric" because I love names... and I was going crazy.  It has 2 meanings... are you ready?
The first meaning is "alone" or one"
The other meaning is "forever' 
HOW NUTS? We will be changing his name from Eric Alone to Eric Forever... he is going from a life alone to a forever family that will (and already does) adore him!! God is so good and so clever. Even the little things... like the meaning in his name... is so ordained!

So... Eric is our son's name.  We need help getting him home! Buy a clock. Donate some money (WE HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT NOW!). Every dollar counts!! Most importantly, PRAY! Pray that he knows he's wanted, he's loved, and that he will get home soon! 

WE ARE ADOPTING!!

I can finally ANNOUNCE it!! I have been holding back until I could tell my Bible study girls and all the people that needed to know before they saw it on Facebook! I got to tell my girls last night... and Jacob told his boys... so I can now tell the world!!! I think it's important to tell the girls/boys you are investing in the big stuff before you just announce it.  I know it was important for me when my mentors/role models told me things before I found out in a less personal way.  Anyways... THE NEWS: 

WE ARE ADOPTING!!! 

AHHH!! We JUST started the process. We have started our home study with Lifeline Children's Services and the adoption application process with One World Adoption Services. 

Our hearts have always been for adoption.  I actually have just wanted to adopt... none of that getting pregnant stuff (we'll see if that holds true). Our hearts have been broken for orphans - adoption is the Gospel. We were adopted into Christ's family... a forever family that we did not earn... we were ADOPTED by grace. He calls us His sons. He calls us beloved. AMEN! 

Jacob and I had decided earlier this year that we were going to wait longer before starting the adoption process and possibly have a biological child first.  You know... try out the whole parenting thing on our own genetically made kid and then do it for real on a child we adopt. Well.. God had other plans.  We had also made comments like,"well... we aren't ready to adopt. We will have kids when we are ready." God let us know recently that adoption is not about being ready... it's not about our comfort... it's about RESCUING KIDS and LOVING them because HE LOVES US! 

So... here we are.  We are starting the adoption process. Applying to adopt a 12-13 year old from Belize. Yep. That's what God has laid on our hearts to do. We will be obedient. We are believing Him like never before. 

We are told we will need to raise around $22,000 plus travel cost when we go to get our child. :)

God will show up. He will provide. He is faithful. 

We ask that you first and foremost partner with us in prayer.

That you pray for our hearts to grow and be equipped in the WAITING. That you pray for our child who is waiting to be adopted. That God will let them know they are loved and wanted and being pursued. That things will go smoothly with our home study and the adoption process.  That things on the Belize side will go well and we will find favor throughout. Pray that God will provide the money and resources needed. Pray... whatever He tells you to pray. :) 

Also, if you want to partner with us in raising the funds... we welcome that too. :) 

We are making clocks to sell for adoption funds. :) My hubby is actually making them and I am painting them.  It's been really fun doing crafts together knowing that this work and time is helping us bring home our child! HOW COOL! 

If you want one, email me - annamorgan121909@gmail.com

The regular size is 15in x 15in and are $30. 

The bigger size is 2 ft x 2 ft and are $50.

 We accept donations as well.  

If you need us to ship them to you... it will be a little extra.

You can special order them... any color, design, etc. Just let us know! :) 

This is the BIG one! 

We are super excited... and super nervous too. We know this is the crazy life God has called us to. We have no doubt this is the journey we are to take right now. 

So... as long as God allows it... we will be 25 years old (once it's all said and done), married for 3 years, with a 12-13 year old child!!! 

LOVE IT! God is good! 

Friday - Caye Caulker

Friday was just a fun day.

We got to see another side of beauty of Belize.  The true beauty was seen in the people and ministry... but this part was very enjoyable too! :) 

Getting ready to snorkel.

The water was BEAUTIFUL!! It looks like we are in a pool... but we aren't. The water was about 12 feet deep right here.

Snorkeling was fun... and intense. We saw some cool fish and coral reef, but our guide was a for real MERMAID!!!! She swam SOOO fast. We couldn't keep up with her.  She would swim down and point out something she wanted us to see, but we couldn't see it because we were all about 20 feet behind her!!!! We were pooped by the time we get back in the boat! 

She was crazy! 

We got to go to another site as well.

Here we got to swim with sting rays and nurse sharks!!! It was AWESOME!! 

Here's Caye Caulker! They pronounce it KEY Caulker though... I don't get it.

It's BEAUTIFUL.  It's only about 5 miles wide and 1 mile deep!! it's the cutest thing ever. Not sure how people actually live on it, but I would love to go back for a vacay! It was SOOO peaceful and chill. 

Here's were we stayed!!! It was great...and pretty inexpensive! The most expensive room was only $75/night!!! YES! 

This was yummy! We all ate hamburgers... we are so American.

I was pumped! 

Funny.

At Caye Caulker there are no cars... just golf carts. 

 I saw some pelicans. I love them. 

Praying Pelicans...

I love this pic! I got to room with Kels, Kaitlyn, and Deanna our night at the Caye. :) It was lovely.

Our dinner restaurant. It was cute and quaint.

See.

All of us, including the Canadians got to talk about our highlights from the week. It was a really special time hearing our students' hearts. I loved these moments. 

I got to share some of my heart. I probably could have talked for hours... but I controlled myself.

I just talked about how God is a prayer-answering, miracle-working God. And that He is. He is faithful. I saw SOOO many prayers answered and new desires ignited.  I saw miracles. I believe more are in the works.

I also talked about how sometimes we don't understand all the reasons for short-term mission trips.  We don't see the end results of the seeds that were planted. You can't disciple someone in 1 week. You can't do everything you want to. Etc. BUT... I love Praying Pelican Missions because they don't leave it like that. They go back to the same places, make relationships with the churches, continue to love on the people, and continue to water the seeds.  God laid 1 Peter 2:4-5 on my heart:

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

Each team, each person, each ministry, each moment of the short-term missions are being built into something so great we cannot even fathom it! I love it! So grateful to be a part of the temple and priesthood.

as Jacob, the fearless leader talked... I cried. 

I love his heart - for our students, for people, for Eric at the orphanage, for our future, for ministry, for the Lord. 

Ohh... he is a miracle and I'm so blessed to be his partner in this life! 

After talking and eating we went exploring on the island...

We found ice cream! YUM! 

Our team! 

I love them. 

And then... we found the most random thing in the world on this tiny island...

A basketball game!! haha! 

We were exhausted... but in this best way possible. 

The week was incredible.

Saturday morning... 

Saying good-bye...

Riding back to Belize City.

Mrs. Pam and the Capt'

My last Coke Light from Belize... YUM! 

Saying good bye to our wonderful bus driver... Arthur!! 

On the plane. :) 

HAHA! 

We were pretty delirious after arriving back in Atlanta... everything was funny... especially these faces of Zack's!!! 

Gosh... what a great trip. 

The words written here can't describe what happen in the hearts of all our team members... but at least you have a taste of the faithfulness and goodness of God in our Belize trip.

If you are interested in going on a short term mission trip... GO WITH PRAYING PELICAN!! They are amazing! Check them out:

www.prayingpelicanmissions.org