FIRST…Africa:). No new numbers…our agency was quite busy today. SO…our new numbers will come on Monday. Crazy thing–I’m so cool with that. We’re not in single digits…knowing today or Monday doesn’t change anything. HEY…has someone out there been praying for me?! Well, God sure is good because I’m so at peace with where we are—and as the saying goes “I don’t know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future” is allowing me to REST. And if you’ve said a prayer for peace for my heart…THANK YOU.
ALSO concerning Africa—I have been SOOO encouraged by the emails and responses I have gotten about Wiphan (Widows + Orphans = Wiphan), our schools/organization in Zambia. Important note–our server for our Wiphan site is down this weekend…IF you want a t-shirt OR if you have a question—please email Addie by filling out the contact form on my blog and I’ll forward it RIGHT to her and she’ll be quick to help you. EVEN if you just want your email added to our Wiphan newsletter–email her and she’ll add you! We are SO thankful for those the Lord is bringing to us to join us in serving orphans and widows in Africa—and with our server down we don’t want to lose one precious contact or interested person! We look SO FORWARD to serving you…and hope that together the Lord can use us to grow Wiphan into other places throughout Africa!
SECOND…INDIA…
Funny side note—today my friend Kelly called me to tell me about a funny conversation she and her hubby were having about me. He wanted to know where the Lord first stirrd my heart for the orphan. And she pegged it right and called me to ask if she had it. AND YES SHE DID. It was 13 years and 2 months ago (when I was 20 years old) that I first came face to face with the orphan. I was in Madras, India over Christmas. I was celebrating my 21st birthday across the world among precious orphans—no, not typical of how most spend their 21st birthdays–but for me it was indeed a milestone for the rest of my life.
I will never forget stepping OVER children sleeping on the street. Or spending time at the day school. And then as a 21 year old having to take those memories back to college. I remember calling my mom from Madras and crying—telling her how it wasn’t fair. Justice wasn’t being served—and I was officially ruined for this world. The Lord was changing my heart, my expectations and desires—and I began to pray then for the Lord to break my heart for what breaks His. So for me…it all started in India…so long ago—and India will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart. On that note…
Will you join me in praying for the Needham family who is waiting and trying to bring home their little Abby from India? They started their adoption process in August 2008—and I am praying for them to have her home by August 2010! Her momma just shared the most PRECIOUS video of her with me…and she is THIS close to walking! She is precious—and guess what?! YOU CAN HELP BRING HER HOME!!! TWO WAYS…
1. PRAY. Will you join me in praying Abby home by August 2010? Anything is possible! The court process for India is a long, complicated process—but our prayers can help bring this precious angel home!!!
2. Support. Will you consider making a difference with what you WEAR by buying a t-shirt to help toward their adoption…
AND…if you look CLOSE enough…you can see sweet Abby’s name in the writing:). How fun is that?! SO…when you wear this (YOU CAN BUY YOURS HERE)…it will remind you not only of Abby, but of hundreds and thousands like her who need us to hold hands together, serve one another, pray for one another…and be a voice for the voiceless…getting these children home!!!
& 3rd – The BUDGET!
Our adoption brought many MUCH needed things into our life–and one was a stricter budget. So…my job now that I’m no longer working as a photographer…is to help keep our budget (groceries, etc) on track. I do NOT pay the bills because I am SO unorganized and we tried it one month and I drove Richard crazy. SO…I just keep us on track. OK this part of the post is just to make you laugh. Andrea went over budget this week in 2 areas. One grocery. I went to organic grocery and on top of much needed groceries…I had a decaf with me and had WAY TOO MUCH FUN at the grocery store reading about organic bath salt and lotion…happens when you don’t get out much and a night OUT is actually a decaf at the grocery;). {And of course the other place I went over budget? Can you guess—yes, you got it—Hobby Lobby. Just got a FEW things for next week…but still I’m making up for it…just read on!}
WELL…to remain on budget–I decided to AX my haircut appointment…ANNNNNDDDDD…cut it myself! So picture this—my hubby came home for lunch–walks into the bathroom where I’m WACKING off my hair.
He says, “Ang, are you okay?”
Me: “Yes hon, I’m just staying on budget.”
OK…so he looked at me like I was crazy. BUT I impressed him with the new du. I even made him take a picture;). I actually prayed that the Lord would help this turn out ok AS IF HE CARES ABOUT MY HAIR;)…and I have to say I might have skills;-).
Bible study reading to come…after my music and decaf come on…until then—have a great weekend and email Addie through my contact page (I’ll forward to her!) if you need anything Wiphan oriented or have any questions!!! And of course if you want to buy a really cute Wiphan t-shirt, sign up for our e-letter OR just want to be on the list to be involved with either our orphan or widow program!
Here are a few images from our home as we celebrate Lent…
Parker’s cross and our candles…
Laney’s special candle (her favorite) and the cross…
And some of our Lent Tree…some of the things we’ve been learning about together…
{Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors}
{Moses and the Burning Bush…yes, I know this one is hard to tell!}
{The 10 Commandments }
{Jacob’s Ladder}
{Judges}
Wishing you a wonderful weekend…sweet time with your children…and opportunities to love and serve!
XOXO,
Andrea
by admin
what a trooper you are for cutting your own hair…i think your hair looks great! good job!
I’m sooo impressed with the haircut! I love that the last few pictures of Parker he’s been in full costume!
That’s my boy Shannon…we even had a babysitter who had a shirt monogrammed for him that says “Lil Hero” because this is SO him!!!!!!!
Oh yes. The budget. I think we are implimenting a newer, stricter one each month b/c I’m so bad at it. Okay not THAT bad. BUt I hate it that’s for sure. You know I’m doing good when I’m complaining about having nothing to wear. It’s not really that I have nothing to wear, its just that I don’t like my options anymore! =) But hearing about you cutting your own hair made me want to cry (although hubby walking in to the house to Me: scissors in hand, surrounded by hair is a common occurance)! I’m a hairstylist (retired? SAHM now) and I hate to hear about ameteurs (no offense, haha) cutting their own hair. But I have to admit it doesn’t look bad by any means. 😉 Shhh…don’t tell anyone though! I don’t want the word to spread about at-home-stylists! =)
Oh, Andrea…your hair looks great. I have been cutting mine for quite some time and even *sigh* went to the box color. 5dollar dinners (dot) com has been a huge help for us and she cooks very healthy. If you were on my fb you could see my pictures of dinners for a family of 5 in the 3.00 – 5.00 range for the entire meal. I must say your ham dinner looked amazing but I knew I could not get it to come in under 5.00. So that will be a special occasion meal for sure!
Thank you, Andrea, for stopping by our blog and leaving your words of encouragement. This blogging thing is so new to me, but what fun! I have loved reading about your journey for a few months now, and it is so great to read others stories who are a bit further down on the adoption path. On another note- We made many sets of your valentine cookies and gave them to our kiddo’s “Prayer Parents” this year for their valentine’s and they loved them! Thanks for sharing great ideas. I was also wondering how did you make your Lent tree? I’m a visual learner and I was hoping to see how you made your tree to hang all the ornaments. Just had to ask! It will be fun to watch your journey continue to unfold.
God’s grace to you,
Amy
Wow! I think you did a great job with your hair. That would’ve ended in a disaster if I had tried that. Me, scissors, and hair are not a good combination. But, you look great! And the adoption thing definitely holds you accountable to living on a stricter budget. Our 10 year anniversary is coming up and for years we had big dreams of going to Hawaii or something, but now that we’re adopting again, I think we might be heading to Chicago or something instead. Thankful that the Lord uses adoption to refine my heart in so many areas….including stewardship. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
I love the whole lent tree thing! What an awesome way to teach kids!
Oh, I think your hair looks great! I cut my hair to save money to a couple of months ago. All the kids were screaming and I just decided to wack my hair off so I could have some organization to my life! I wasn’t so straight, but my mom helped me straighten up when I saw her the next week. I also cute Henry’s hair! Yes, it’s a bowl cut, but that is an Alabama thing. I wish I could highlight my hair myself, but it never turns out right. I am always trying to do things myself. Have a good weekend!!
I think your hair looks great. Next time you are in town, I will have you cut mine:)
Love all the pics. Thank you so much for the prayers and kindness. Much love,
Amy