AdOpTiOn UpDaTe - 9 months and holding!

Hello world.

I'm not really sure if Adoption is the "New Pregnant"... but I'm 9 months right now and looking good! :) As someone put it the other day to me, "Adoption is just like pregnancy... you are just in your third trimester longer." I liked it, but I am thankful I don't have stretch marks, strange bodily fluids, or crazier-than-normal hormones to go along with it.

I do know I feel one thing that ALL pregnant women feel in their 9th month - I'M READY FOR THIS KIDDO TO GET HERE!!!! :)

I think I'm ready to give an adoption update. Sometimes I'm just selfish and I don't want to talk about where we are in the process because it feels like it never changes... but it really does.  I am SO thankful that people that people love us and Eric (& Ziggy) and want to know about what's going on... but sometimes it's just hard. I don't know if that makes sense if you haven't ever experienced adoption... but sometimes when you want something SO bad and you don't have the answers and you feel a little lost... it's hard to answer all the questions from people who care.

So FIRST - THANK YOU for loving us! Thank you for asking! Thank you SO much for praying! Thank you for wishing and hoping and waiting with us!!! Thank you for supporting and encouraging us! THANK YOU! And I'm sorry when I don't have the words to say in response... 

So... to recap.
We met Eric almost a year ago, July 16th will be one year since we first saw his beautiful face. He is 13 years old.
We began our adoption journey in September of last year. We were approved for 2 kiddos with our paperwork on the USA side. Now... to answer some questions

How much money do we still need to raise?
GOD IS A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.! He has raised a whole lot of money over the past 9 months for our adoption. It's been incredible... really.  Yes, we worked out booties off, but He is a BIG GOD! The only money we lack now is travel money.  Hallelujah! When we get our travel dates, we will do some big fundraisers to raise the remaining funds.

Since we are approved for 2 kiddos, does that mean we will get 2 kiddos for sure?
We hope so, but that's not always how Belize/international adoptions work. We are approved for UP TO 2 kiddos, so Belize could choose to allow us to adopt 2 or just one.  We will FOR SURE get Eric - that just makes me so happy to say - and may be blessed with a second one... affectionately nicknamed Ziggy (no, it's not the real name... just a nickname so we don't have to call it "the other one"). We are hoping for 2... 2 less orphans... but we trust God and He knows what He is doing either way.

THE BIG QUESTION: WHEN will we get them? What are we waiting for? 
We don't know when we will actually be traveling to get them yet. We are waiting... and living... and planning... but not planning.  It's a weird place - we don't want to plan too far in the future for things because we don't know when the time will be, but we don't want to sit around and do nothing... so it's just a bit awkward.
We are waiting on the paperwork on the Belize side. Here's the run down of the process actually going on over there right now:
Once they get our dossier (the HUGE packet of papers we sent over in February), they review it to see if it meets all laws, regulations, requirements, etc.
Once that is done, they match us with a child that is available for adoption (ERIC... and possibly a Ziggy)
Once they match, they write up a referral (the pictures, the medical info, the education info... basically everything they have on the child) and they send it to our lawyer in Belize (which we have)... and THEN TO US!  HIP HIP HOORAY!
Once we get the referral, we have to do the last bit of paperwork to make sure all the visas are finalized and then... we get travel dates!

We know they have reviewed our dossier. We know they have matched us with at least Eric and we know they are working on our documentation.
NOTE: Everything in Belize is done on Belizean time.
We actually received an email yesterday that let us know that some documents were being sent to our lawyer in Belize... SO... we are hoping and crossing our fingers and toes and eyes and legs... that it means we are getting close!

Can you do anything? 
Yes... PRAY! Pray for...
Eric, Ziggy, and all the other orphans. That they have hope and know they are loved. That God would defend the fatherless as He has promised.  That His Church would rise up and care for them. 

Each person handling our paperwork. That they would be blessed as they work to bless us in making our adoption a reality. That they would work fast and efficiently... without error. I know one name in Belize that has worked on our paperwork - Pauline. Pray! 

Every adoptive family waiting... IT'S HARD. Pray for learning, comfort, joy, and peace. Pray that they see God in every, single step. 

Jacob and I, and our family, as we wait. I can't wait to have a picture, to hold a hand, to get a hug, to tuck him in, to ride bikes together, to decorate rooms, to celebrate the finalization! 

The future - whatever that means. for wisdom in the transition - where to go to school, how to parent, how to love, how to answer hard questions, job, and how to give God the most glory for all of it! 

Learning and Living...

Hi there! 

Happy Wednesday!  So... I've been learning a LOT lately! I haven't been able to figure out how to say it all yet... but I am surely learning.  I guess when you stop throwing pity parties for yourself and start asking God to make your teachable... He does it. Not to say that I don't get sad or just miss my kiddos that live miles away... I'm just trying to learn through the tears and the thrills instead of dwelling in discouragement. 

Anywho... check out what we've been doing...

I love taking pictures that the Bible study girls can look back on and see where God has brought them. So... for the last Bible study of the year... I took pictures of the girls with a verse that they could cling to no matter what the future, or the past, held! Aren't they cool? 

Then... we graduated off some really great people...

And had a really great service to celebrate them...

I'm excited about our next group of seniors movin' on up! They are awesome too! Can't wait to eat lunch with EACH one of the girls this summer... that's my goal! 

Just a reminder... our dogs are ridiculous... Jubi is lounging... on a table... she's weird. She's gotten on the patio table and just laid there everyday this week... strange! 

This is how they greet us.  Yes... the black blob at the bottom is Jubi.

For Memorial Day weekend we got to spend time at the beach with Ashley and Jared.... it was fabulous!!! Love spending time with them... and JOHANNA!!!! 

Life is good. It's good to be taught. It's good to live and learn... to enjoy the moments in the waiting.  To be thankful for the here and now and excited about the future.  

u.n.c.o.m.f.o.r.t.a.b.l.e.

happy monday.

So... sometimes ya feel uncomfortable, ya know? I have been thinking a lot about being uncomfortable. I'm in the process of figuring out how to balance, how to proceed, how to be me, how to prepare to be a mommy, how to forgive, how to not be bitter, how to love, how to be aware, how to trust, how to not schedule every minute of every day. just how to... and it's uncomfortable for me. I feel awkward.

I feel like a I have grown to big for my britches and I'm in between sizes and am trying to figure out what to do... you know the feeling!  Just down right awkward!  I'm happy and life it good... just awkward.

When I'm UNCOMFORTABLE... I think about when God forced me to move to Troy. He definitely forced me here. I HATED it. I wanted out. I had no friends. no family. no clue what I was doing. We lived in a single-wide trailer. My best friend were 6 HOURS AWAY and Jacob's best friend lived next door! I was in a new city, job, church, place, last name, EVERYTHING. I was so uncomfortable! It was probably plastered all over my face how much I felt like an odd ball! I would cry because I hated being here and I felt alone.  I definitely freaked Jacob out. I mean... I know I had Jacob... but I was a little bit whole lot bitter that his best friends were here and mine weren't.  You just have to understand me and my friends - we lived together for 2.5 years, we aren't normal, surfac-y, or good at being apart!  We are perfectly fine with sleeping in one room on bunk beds, going to Africa because we felt led, going to nursing homes because we loved the old ladies there, and were okay not showering - haha! Moving to a small town, like Troy, it's REALLY REALLY hard to figure out where you fit in... if you even fit it. I felt extremely, uncomfortably alone.  And I knew why...

Me in 2010... first year in Troy. cute huh?

God wanted me to know Him alone. He wanted me to have no distractions to the learn about Him. As I look back on that time... although I honestly HATED going through it, that is when God showed me the best and richest treasures I have ever experienced. I learned so much about Him. I fell in love with Him for real and He, during that time, equipped me for so much.  He freed me from so much stuff. He taught me how to teach. He showed me the power of prayer - real on-your-knees, crying out prayer. It makes me smile to think about all those mornings sitting in our fake tiled, gold trimmed cabinet kitchen... with Jesus. It was during this time of UNCOMFORTABLE, that 15 minutes with Him became not enough... 30 minutes seemed so short... and an hour sitting with Him would barely do.  In that time of UNCOMFORTABLE... I learned how to REST in Him... how to stop striving and just learn to LOVE Him supremely.  When I was SO UNCOMFORTABLE... I was able to KNOW my Jesus.

Me in 2013... still learning

So... in my UNCOMFORTABLENESS (yep, made that up) now... what is He wanting me to learn? I think it's too much for me to see right now.  I'm sure I'll look back and be able to see all the treasures... all the nuggets of gold... and cherish all the amazing times in our green, white cabinet, hardwood kitchen. The time in the trailer with Jesus FOREVER CHANGED ME... it really did. An hour is still not enough time to spend with Him and I am still in love with Him.

I'm sure this growth spurt will level off one day and I'll be, once again, forever changed by all that's He is teaching me.

SiCkNeSs

Sickness... it invaded the Morgan household! The FLU!! I think I got it from the kiddos at camp. I was nice enough to bring it home with me and infect my hubby! :) 

The flu is just no good... knocked me out cold for a good day and a half! I'm not good at being sick... resting, just laying around, and not doing what I 'need' to do.  I'm not good at being needy and just laying there. I like to be independent... busy... and getting stuff done! It drove be batty to be stuck in the bed.  I can tell you as soon I was feeling better I immediately ripped the sheets off the bed, got the blankets off the couch, took the 'sick clothes' off and stuck everything in the washer - I HAD TO GET RID OF THE SICK STUFF! I just can't stand being held down! But... apparently God wanted me there and He had stuff to teach me there... He always does. 

Sometimes, it's good to be needy. Good to rest. Good to sit and do nothing. It good sometimes. Good to have to depend on someone else. Good to not be so busy. 

While I was sick it seemed like all my Bible studies pointed to the story of Mary and Martha.  You know... Jesus goes to their house. Martha is running around like a mad woman cleaning and preparing because THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE is in her house! And Mary... just sits there to soak all of His teachings up.  Martha, like a typical woman, goes to Jesus and says something like, "Jesus, are you not gonna do anything about Mary? I'm workin' my tail off and she's just sitting!" Jesus just looks at her  and says “Martha, Martha, (get it Brady Bunch) you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Oh... so many times I know Jesus is saying that to me.  Saying, "Anna, you are doing a lot of stuff... a lot of good stuff... but not the best thing! I just want you to sit with me." Busy-ness steals my time with Jesus... the best thing. Sitting, resting, and depending on Him is always good and necessary. He cannot teach me in my busy-ness because I am so easily distracted.  But... when I am still and quiet and attentive at His feet... I am teachable. 

I want to be a Mary. I believe it's super important to serve and love people and show hospitality every opportunity we get... but my time with Jesus has to be my priority.  I must be a Mary before I'm a Martha. 

Jacob and I are finally well! PRAISE THE LORD! We are heading to the best city of Montgomery tonight to celebrate my precious momma's birthday! Then, tomorrow is my first ORIGAMI OWL party!!! I'm pumped! I'm praying it's good and successful! 

If you want to book a party (if you are in the Southeast), let me know! I would love to come, share my story, fellowship with some lovely people, and sell some jewelry! 

I'll leave you with this AMAZING video!! How my heart longs to make orphans KINGS & QUEENS!!! Eric... get home soon! 

stand firm... He says

Heavy hearts. Discouraged. No words. Shock. Craziness. and it's Christmas...

Things we are all hearing right now.  The last few weeks, our news stations, news feeds, and ears have been filled with horrendous events. 

My heart hasn't just felt this for a few days, but for a few months. Most of the time when I'm in a "funk," I don't know I'm in a funk until Jesus gives me a holy slap to the face.  Lately, I have KNOWN I'm in a funk... and on a quest for answers. 

At some points, I have thought a change in location would solve our problems.  A change in jobs. Something new. Something different. But... it's really just my heart. It needs revival and a kick back to the heart of the First Century Church! 

Sometimes I get disheartened because I don't see things happening the way I want them to happen - people get in the way, life gets busy, and people don't care.  But... God teaches me... o man... does He teach me. 

I am NOT doing this life for the applause of man. 

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 

I have had to ask myself this many times this semester. Sometimes... my answer has been "Yea, I'm trying to please people. I want more people coming. I want Bible Study to be packed out. I want all the church members to be excited about the Connection and be pumped about all that's happening. Yes, I want more youth, more college... blah blah blah." Oh... my ugly heart. It's not about me. 

As a servant of Christ, I SHOULDN'T CARE. I do and I minister and I serve and I love because I am His servant and His hands and His feet. No other reason. Why do I forget that so often? 

Also... maybe somebody out there needs to read this... or maybe I just need to type it... who knows.  Anyways, while thinking about changing scenery (when I really needed to change my heart) I kept thinking about the disciples.  Jesus told them when they were going and spreading the Gospel, that if a town or people didn't accept them to move on.  I thought, 'Hey! that means if things aren't going well... we just leave.' Well, on the flip side... some the prophets in the Old Testament spent their ENTIRE lives preaching and teaching and proclaiming... with little to no change in the people. OUCH! Thinking about this... I know God was saying "ANNA... SHUT UP! SIT DOWN! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU THERE!" And I finally got it...

So, the disciples were on a mission to get the Word out to as many people as possible as fast as possible... the immediate spread of Christ's story.  The prophets were sent to tell and proclaim about something that would happen, to encourage, to admonish, to teach.  We better fit the prophets' roles. We KNOW great things are going to happen in Troy, Alabama. God has plans. God is on a mission. God is doing this in HIS timing.  We are here to proclaim that. and... when a revival and a true God movement happens in Troy, AL, I WANNA BE HERE FOR IT! I WILL NOT MISS IT!  So... if you are feeling discouraged and like you just want to escape... STAY PUT. STAND FIRM.  That is just Satan getting in the way! The more spiritual warfare... the more reason to stand firm.  The more discouraging thoughts... the more reason to fight.  The reward is far greater. The importance of souls needing Jesus is FAR more important that feeling better. The more heartache, sin consuming the city, the more adversity you sense... the bigger God's plans are becoming... DON'T GIVE UP!! 

NOT FOR A MOMENT did you forsake me

 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58