What kind??

Our animal lover, Libby, came running into the house filled with excitement as she proclaimed, "Mommy, I just found a nest in the bush outside your bedroom window. I can't see any eggs.  What kind of bird made the nest?  I wonder if we will get to see the babies. " 

As the days went on, Libby observed the nest consistently!  She was always giving the family an update sure that one day the nest would possess eggs.  Much to she amazement, she finally peeked into the cluster of twigs and mud and discovered three beautiful, blue eggs.

Now she knew that she would be blessed to watch the growth of little Robin babies.  Just like Libby, we don't know what the Lord has in store for us.  We know that we are to adopt.  We know that we are to prepare our nest for a little one.  We know that we are going to have a domestic adoption. Other than that, it all remains a mystery.  We aren't even sure what the sex will be due to the fact that we are open to any sex and any ethic background.  The Lord has a child just for us, but hasn't chosen to reveal very much detail at is time. 
There are days that I want to hurry the process, but we have been told that we need to wait until we have raised majority of the adoption fees before we can have a match.  So, we all wait.  While we do, we try to raise the money and get our nest ready for the little one to "hatch".

DON'T ROCK THE BOAT!!

We were so blessed  by our dear friend, Julia, who graciously took our pictures for our adoption profile.  As we were adventuring outside to  try to find the right place to snap the shots, someone had the bright idea of having our WHOLE crew get into a canoe.  What a crazy shot!  While we were all in the little boat trying not to fall overboard, everyone kept shouting, "Hey, don't rock the boat!!"

Every time I look at this snapshot, I am reminded that we often yell the same thing to the Lord.  He loves to rock the boat.  He longs for the times when he pushes us to do the things that we don't want to do for fear of falling in the water. 
Why would He want to do such a thing to His children?  Why would He call us into the boat only to shake it up a bit?  The answer is simple.  It is during these times that He receives the glory.  When we are pushed to go beyond our comfort zone, it is His face that others see and are inspired by. 
For us, the journey in the boat is leading us to adopt when we don't have the funds.  We are adopting a child when our oldest is only a couple of years from leaving the nest.  We are going to reach into the live of an other child when we already have six.  Why?  Because we are called for His glory to do so.  We are longing to give the same love that He has so graciously given to us.
What boat are you in?  Are you yelling to the Lord?  Are you telling Him to not rock the boat?  Or are you enjoying the ride that He has you on?  Look deep, my friend.  Look deep.  Make sure your life is bringing Him the glory.  Let Him rock the boat.  It will be a ride you will never regret!!

We did end up on dry land.  I know we will do so with this journey as well.
 May it all be for His glory.

Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,  for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

Clear As Mud

It was the day after a hard rain.  As always, the kids were drawn to the big mud puddle near the drive way!  They had just invited one of their friends from the neighborhood to come over a play and low and behold they end up covered in mud.  The kiddos had a wonderful time!  It was such a blast that I had to capture the event with a picture.  As my finger pressed down on the button and I glanced onto the screen to  make sure it was a good shot, I felt the Lord tell me that I too am like the children.

So often I forget to focus on Him and am lured to play in the mud.  When I do so,  I forget to see the things in my life the way He sees it.  I forget that His ways are higher than ours.
It was funny, because this particular day I had been struggling with the financial end of the adoption.  I was looking at things from a human perspective.  I was focusing on the fact that by adopting we will not get that vacation we were thinking of taking the kids on.  We will not be able to work towards getting Bryan a better retirement plan.  We may even need to do drastic things to bring home the child the Lord has for us.  I was waddling is these fears.  The world  tell us we are crazy and on this day I was telling myself we were crazy. 
Looking down at my mud covered children, I knew the Lord was using them to tell  me to quit being lured into the mud and quit seeing things the way the world does.  Look to me!  Fix your eyes on me!  If not, it will all be clear as mud!!!!

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on rock and gave me a firm place to stand.       Psalms 40:2

Friends to Journey With

As we have started this journey of adoption, we have been reminded of how special friends are in times of faith.  We have already had so many people surround us with love, encouragement, and support.  As I browsed through our pictures to find a picture of some of our faithful encouragers, I was sad that I didn't have one to capture more of our loved ones.
 The picture above has two special friends. Michele, the gorgeous mama on the left, is also adopting.  Even though they are adopting a little kiddo internationally, we have been walking this road together.  She has allowed me to cry, laugh, and loose my mind with her!  This weekend I had the privilege of doing an adoption yard sale where we worked together to raise funds for our little ones.  We had a wild and crazy time!  I didn't know a garage sale could be so much fun!  It was such a success due to the fact that so many of our loved ones donated their belonging for us to sell. 
Jessi is the beautiful momma on the right.  She has been willing to do anything to help us out with this journey!  Her dear husband and another friend, Diana, came over for a  dear night of prayer  as we started this adventure.

 I am so thankful for all of my friends.  I love you all.  I cherish you all.

Our friends do special things to help us in this life.  It is because of them that we are blessed!

Our brothers and sisters inspire us to be the best we can for the Lord especially this little dude, our dear Javier.  He makes everyone feel special.  I just pray that I can touch hearts like he has!  I wish with all of my heart I had more pictures to share each and every person who had a special place in my heart, but I don't take enough pictures in my life!  For that I am sorry.  Just know that our lives are full of dear ones!  Thank you all!!!!!

Our Journey to You!

After having biological children of my own, I know the feelings, pains, dreams, and plans that go into a pregnancy, but it is a new road to travel with adopting.  It is weird how many feelings are the same as with a pregnancy.  What is equally weird is the feelings that hit you with adoption that you were not aware would occur! 
I feel that with each and every step of the adoption process I am traveling closer and closer to the destination...Our little one!  I work as hard as I can each day to provide for this little one just as I would prepare my body to birth a child.  I strive to accomplish my part of the process to the best of my ability, because I feel that my child deserves the best I have to offer.  I do this all while I cling to the Savior.  It is my soul's  desire to be a light in a dark world.  It is my heart's cry to be hope where there is none.  I try to do all of this while still being the best Momma to my children!  Please pray that  as we work through the red tape that we would bring glory to HIS name. 

Below are the dates that I have recorded  for our child so that the kiddo will know that each day was a journey to him/her....

February 16-24-The missions trip to Guatemala that clarified that the Elliott's had another child to love!

March 9-  We signed up with Tracie Loux from Christian Adoption Consultants.  She is a true gift.  Already she has allowed me the chance to have joy, tears, and frustrations!!  Tracie is a sister that I long to meet some day if not in this world than in eternity!

March 20-We signed up with an agency in the Columbus area to do our home study.  We received our paper work on this day! 

March 24-I was a little discouraged this day and out of the blue one of the players from our son's basketball team brought me flowers!!  Thanks, Gary, you made my day!!!!

April 11-We had our first Home Study visit!  What a nerve racking experience!  The kids were a nervous wreck!  After it was done, they were surprised at how easy it was for them!

April 14-We had our last Home Study visit with our case worker.  It as a long interview that last about 2 1/2 hours.  We were exhausted when she left!  How thankful we are that we are TOTALLY done with our part of this process.  We just have to wait for her to type it up!!

April 16-We learned today that we need to raise up to $30,000 for the adoption.  We also found out that we need to have at least 1/2 of the $30,000 before our profile can be shown to find a  match for our adoption.  So...on to fund raising!!!

May4-I received our home study paper work in the mail!  I was able to go to Office Max and mail out some of our grants!!

May 8-We sign up with a wonderful 501 (c) 3 ministry called Adopt Together that shows our profile, collects our fund raising money, allows friends to give to us and have a tax write off, plus give us accountability!  Any one can give at:
http://adopttogether.org/elliott/ 

The jewel who sealed the deal!

It was in an orphanage many miles from home in Guatemala that the Lord used one precious jewel to rip open the heart of my dear husband.  This little princess was sitting on Bryan's lap during the bedtime devotions.  When it was time for him to leave for the night, she wept for him.  This continued for a while until an older orphan came to gather  her from Bryan's arms.  The rest of the week was bitter sweet knowing that each moment would come to an end.  Bryan and my son, Isaiah would return to our home of love  while she would be left in the orphanage without parents. 
Upon returning home from this trip,  we knew all the years of  talking, discussing, and praying about adoption had come to an end.  It was time to start the journey that would end with a child safely place in our arms where no one could take him/her away.  An adventure that would lead us to a child who didn't have parents who could provide them a safe haven.  A place lavished with the Saving Grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.