Monday, March 31, 2014

Week 17: 288 pieces funded 712 more to go!

We are almost to the 300 piece mark!

Thank you to the Criswells and Atchleys!!!


REwriting my story


My minister Lea has started a women’s group and the study is centered around the book Namesake by Pastor Jessica LaGrone. It’s a weekly study about when God rewrites your story.  Oddly enough God is rewriting my story as I type. How is He rewriting yours? The author also struggled with infertility so when she relates scripture to her struggles I really zone in. I love how she relates her story to scripture and is not ashamed to tell her stories of struggles and discontentment. She realizes her story is God’s story.

She talks about using the phrase “I’ll be happy when…” Mine was I’ll feel better when I’m a mom. Well after years of that not coming true I realized I better start feeling good now. Or else I’d be one unhappy camper! I talked about me choosing the Voice of Truth over Bitterness in a past post. Jessica states, “Those answered prayers are too often followed by another prayer request. This is proof that having contentment doesn’t lie in having our every whim fulfilled.” I mean I want all this adoption stuff to go fast. I mean I’ve been waiting long enough to be a parent, right? God? God? That little question I was asking God was wrong. You see God has a life he planned for me to live. There were times I was so focused on the blessings of others that ignored my own sometimes.

This journey has made me work on my trust in Him. Sometimes I think I've got it all planned out. But then when I'm disappointed I'm reminded that its on in His time and that He is transforming me and all involved for the moment that's just right. I can't even fathom  what's in store. I'm sure it will be better than I can imagine. In the meantime  I stay busy. I am improving my relationships, getting involved in my church, getting my fitness on, enjoying my work and writing every week about our journey. All of it is slowly changing my perspective.  I love how Jessica writes, “Knowing the love of our Heavenly Father means knowing there will always be more than enough to go around.”

SO as I wait I try to breathe and take in the beauty of this journey. Truth is it will be an amazing story worth sharing again and again because it will be His.

 Check out how to order her book for yourself or for a book study contact her @ jessicalagrone.com

Monday, March 24, 2014

There is a PLAN: Chapel's Adoption Story

Chapel's Adoption Story | the feature from stillmotion on Vimeo.

Week 16: 275 pieces funded 725 more to go!

         Thank you Great Aunt Connie for your donation this week!
                           
Louie Dog is always there to help.

We Are Adopted Plain and Simple


I can’t believe this journey we are on. We take small steps everyday getting closer to our children. I wish I knew what will transpire. But this journey has brought me closer to my Father. No not James Wayne but our Heavenly Father upstairs. I am not minister or writer but I am an ordinary person trying to figure out this crazy thing called life. I try because I know that God made me and you to be extraordinary and he has a plan for all us. (Don't you feel that tug at your heart?) I was born to my mom and dad but I’m adopted by Jesus Christ. All Christians are adopted into the family of God. But, how did we become adopted? The Bible tells us that by receiving Jesus into our lives and believing in His name we gain the right to become God’s children.

John 1:10-13 says of Jesus,
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” (NIV) 

The Man upstairs does not show favoritism between His family members and neither should we. In His eyes we are united together as one family, a family that is connected through His son, Jesus Christ. I personally know a couple of families that have adopted. And by the natural eye you can see the children are adopted because of their nationally or racial background but if you close your eyes you can hear their conversations. In their conversations you would never be able to construe their differences.

God’s intentions are clear in Ephesians 1:5,
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” (NLT)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:14-16, NLT)

When Tim and I become instant parents we will be committed to our children, like God committed himself to us, His adopted children. He is also a father to the fatherless, loving His children unconditionally. It is comforting to know that regardless of our parent’s failures (though mine were perfect), we can rest in the unfailing love of our Heavenly Father.

Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us of the Lord’s dedication,
“For I know I have plans for you." declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you  and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

How cool is that?
Love,

Tim and Greta



Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Week 15: No new puzzle pieces funded this week

265 puzzle pieces funded 735 more to go!

Snapshots


So last weekend we had a small photo shoot to capture what our current family looks like. This is for the photo book we have to put together for our open adoption. This book will help a birth family pick us to be parents!! Then of course I captured some fun in between. Hope you enjoy!!! Oh and Thank you Aunt Laura. Good thing I have tons of picture past and present to put in this book.





Team Pitcher!






Happy St. Patrick's Day!













Pretending they are dogs

crazy kids :)

Poor Louie