We are working towards being paper ready for a medical emergency adoption.  As far as I know, there is no such thing as a "medical emergency adoption".  That is just something I've made up.    But, it is on our hearts to help "orphans in distress".  Of course, distress could means all sorts of things, but we know that many children in Liberia have health issues due to accidents, disease, birth defects, etc. that require medical care that they may not be able to get where they are.  This will probably require some quick financial support when it happens.  Please pray for us!!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

More later on this when I know more...

Although there isn't anything much to update on, things really are moving as of lately.  That probably doesn't make much sense.  We just seem to have more confirmation to move ahead.

I just ran across this quote today in Ten P'S in a Pod:

"If God tells you to get on the other side of that impossible looking wall, it's your job to get up to the wall and it's God's job to get you over."

We are praying and searching for "the" person who will do our homestudy.  We hope to have someone who agrees with us on the big stuff and wants to help us through this major step. 

Wait on the LORD;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen you heart;

Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:14

We really don't have any concrete leading, except that we believe we're to adopt a sibling set. 

Liberia is certainly a country in need, but I don't know for sure at this point that is where God is leading us.

Is there anyone who can tell me anything about Kazahkstan?  My information is limited to a Caleb project video I watched around 7 years ago, focusing on the unreached people of Kazakhstan.  I would love to know more. 

I feel alone in this most of the time, but came across another family today who was at the very same place we were not too long ago http://www.bringingthemhome.org/2.html

We have been encouraged by their willingness to step out in faith even though finances were not there.  God brought their 3 beautiful Liberian children home this past fall!

Maybe I will have visitors here that can help answer some of my questions.  I'm especially interested in someone who has experience with Liberia adoption.

How do referals work?  Does the adoption agency fit you with who they think is a good fit for your family then you make the decision from there?  Do you say, I'm looking for a set of sisters in this age range and wait til they find someone?  Do they give you a list of children to pick from? 

I'm learning that where we are at this time, it will be necessary to adopt children who are closer to our children's age, or younger, for safety reasons.  Is there a longer wait for younger children?  Is there a big jump in cost and if so, what age does the cost go up?

Is it possible to only request children who are orphaned or soon to be orphaned through disease?

How long does a homestudy take?  Who would be best to do our homestudy?

more questions to come!

But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

"If I were lucky, they would put oil in the rice." he remembers, "but sometimes they didn't even have oil.  It was bad because I had no one - no mum, no dad, no nobody."

 "One of our girl's friends got on the phone and asked us to please find her a family.  At first we couldn't understand what she was asking for, but she persisted.  I have to say it was heart breaking.  As overjoyed as we are bringing our children home, there are so many that won't be coming home to a family ever."

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.  James 1:27

Christmas time is a great time to be reminded of those who are in need.  Here is a list of things the Acres of Hope orphanage needs for the babies: 

lightweight, summery clothing in sizes preemie to 6X

lightweight receiving blankets and crib sheets

cloth diapers and diaper pins in all size (desperately needed)

infant drop vitamins and chewable children's vitamins

baby cereal and similac formula

these can be sent to:  Acres of Hope Liberia, Inc., 29525 Four Corners Store Road, Mason, Wisconsin 54856   There is no postal service in Liberia, so the items will be brought over by missionaries or adoptive parents who are visiting their future children.  There are other things listed on the Acres of Hope website that are needed, as well.  http://www.acresofhope.org/charitable.htm

We are blessed.  We have three wonderful little boys.  We live in great place.  We have a great church.  We have a happy marriage.  We are both children of God.  Does it get any better than this?

We are not, however, seemingly in any sort of position to bring adopted children from war-torn Liberia into our family. 

We are new, very imperfect parents. 

We do not own our house.  We rent. 

We have just one vehicle that is currently leaking this and that, sometimes stalls, sometimes doesn't start at all!  

We have medical debt.  We have student loan debt.  We have debt from just plain not being good stewards. 

My husband works long hours to make ends meet for a company that often cuts back his department's pay, rather than ever giving raises.

We firmly believe that where God guides, He will provide.  That is why I have begun this blog.  He is asking something of us that seems impossible. 

"What is impossible with men, is possible with God.'"   Those, believe it or not, I've just noticed are the lyrics to the song my sweet 4 year old boy is listening to, this very minute I write this in the next room, on his cd that we just dug out of a forgotten cd case.  I guess that is confirmation.