Blessings

Life has just been crazy lately, to say the least!  It's been a good past couple of weeks but very busy.  I have thought often of different posts that I wanted to write but time just got away from me.  The most important post that I want to write first is titled "Blessings."

His Blessings have been poured out over our family lately in HUGE ways!  I've laughed at the timing of them, cried because I was overwhelmingly humbled, and over and over have thanked Him for His definite provision.  I remember starting this whole adoption process and being completely overwhelmed by the financial aspect of it.  Paying large chunks of money in short amounts of time was a little nerve racking for me.  I knew He would provide as He had called us to this journey but it was so hard for me to let go of the control that I thought I needed to have.

I continued to think that somehow I could make it happen... and folks, I. JUST. CAN'T!  I can't do anything without Him.  I've been going through a class called The Ultimate Journey (more on that class later) and through it I have learned that I was still trying to control things in my life.  Sure, I had given some things over to Him but there were still things that I just deep down couldn't let go.  I've learned to lay it all at the foot of the cross and surrender to Him.  How freeing that is.

Back to the blessings...

Mark started Moody a week ago.  With starting Moody and also going through an international adoption at the same time, we have been praying for provision.  A couple of days before his class started, he called the financial aid office to see if there were any scholarships available - just "hanging around."  He chatted with the guy for a bit, got put on hold, and then finished the conversation by learning that the guy was just going to award him $750 just because he could.  THANK YOU, Lord!  Then, the morning that his class started, he got an email that he was awarded another scholarship!!!!  He still has a few out that are being looked over so we'll see what is to come.  We were overwhelmed to say the least!

We have had a few different blessings in the adoption arena... It really has been mind-blowing:

Jewelry sales are going great!  I'm working on posting a page at the top of my blog showing different things that I have made.  I love making jewelry for people!

Mark has been doing some various painting jobs for people on the side.  He painted professionally for many years and has his own - on the side - painting business.  He's really quite good!  It's been nice that he's been able to take on a few jobs here and there :)

A little over a week ago a sweet friend of mine randomly set up an online facebook fundraiser for us.  She had various Thirty-One Gift sets that you could purchase and all proceeds went to us to help us bring our little guy home!  I was shocked!  My phone would not to stop beeping because of all of the updates from everyone who purchased!  A dear friend even purchased a gift set and donated it back to me.  Wow.  It was so amazing to watch the body of Christ come together and get excited about supporting our family.  It was so incredibly humbling.  People I didn't even know were supporting us... amazing.

Just this weekend, we were blessed beyond belief.  Some sweet friends of ours handed over a very large donation to our adoption.  I took one look at the check and began to weep.  I was overwhelmed.  God was providing in ways that were unimaginable to me.  He was showing us that He is our provider and that He will take care of us.  He has definitely called us to adoption and I know for a fact that He will provide.  I am so very grateful.  To know that we have our friends (and so many others) who are supporting us and our family through this journey means so much.  They have caught the vision of helping the orphans and the fatherless and it's so incredibly amazing.

I think I've probably said the words "amazing" and "humbling" 1000 times in this post but there are no other words to describe how we feel.  We have been overwhelmed with love and support from friends and even those we didn't know before.

I want to say on behalf of myself and Mark THANK YOU to everyone who has prayed for us, is praying for us, has donated to our adoption, jumped in on the 31 fundraiser,  has bought jewelry, etc!  You have no idea how grateful we are.  To know that we are right where God wants us and to know that we have so much love and support behind is is truly a blessing!

Thank you, Jesus, for your provision!  I know without a doubt that with you all things are possible!