Adoption Sermon

Well I wanted to write and let those of you who I have not talked to know what is going on in our adoption journey.

A couple of weeks ago we were praying that God would come through in the adoption of the twins in Africa.

We prayed and fasted and prayed some more.

A week after the meeting that took place with the aunt we finally heard from the orphanage director.

She let us know that the aunt of the girls took custody of them and that they where living with her now....

We really went through a time of grieving and not understanding what God was doing.

To be honest I still grieve for them and that we did not get to adopt these precious girls.

I found myself wanting to know why....why do I hear such great testimonies of God working in other peoples lives and yet He did not work in ours.

OR DID HE?

Many of us say to God "God use us...use us Lord"

are we really serious when we say these words to Him...Or is it just lip service.....Or He can use us as long as we come out on top.

UGH!!!

Yes Lord thank you for using us!!!

I truly believe that if it were not for us wanting to adopt these girls their aunt would not have come forward for fear of loosing them.

She realized how much she loved them and did not want to be without them.

Thank you God that we were able to be a tool to get these girls a forever home, even if it is not ours.

Yes it still hurts to not have them... Yes I still cry when I think about them....

But God had a different plan for us and for them...

We pray for them every night... that God would protect them and show Himself to them.

They will always be in our hearts and their pictures will always grace the walls of our home.

We love you Amara and Alana!!!

__________________________________________________________________________

Many of you have asked us what is happening now... 

to those of you who have supported our adoption of these girls...

THANK YOU!!

THANK YOU!!

THANK YOU!!

Your donations for these girls will be going to bringing a child home...

We are currently working on a lead with an adoption agency in the US to adopt from Colombia.

and we will update you when we know for sure what is going on with that.

I know what a change...right..

cool story..

more details to come.....

Standing on His word

These are some of verses we are standing on...

Do you have any more that would apply and help....?

I am sure there are....

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

 

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in
my name, I will do it  

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Ephesians 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

FRIDAY

We have heard from our attorney!!  She said that they are meeting with the probation office on Friday to determine what to do with the girls' case.  

What this means is that GOD CAN SHOW HIMSELF!!!

We are praying this week that God shows himself mightily in our adoption this week!!

We are believing!!

DO YOU BELIEVE???

Do you think the person who created the heavens and the earth

 

The moon and the stars

 Everest and the

 Grand Canyon 

can move on our behalf for these girls!!!

OH YA!!

Will you pray with us..... will you help break the chains that are holding these girls from coming home....

COME ON!!!

It is an exciting time....come on Lord!!!!!!  

and

We are excited to see him move!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

SEEING GOD MOVE:

Some friends of our are in Uganda right now going through an adoption as well.  They have been hearing the same thing.  "NO" you can not adopt your child.......

   

"BUT GOD!!!" 

they are getting ready to leave the country and said that they would have to get a court date in the next week to be able to leave on time.....(the courts are booked until JUNE)

YEP!!

YOU GUESSED IT!!

They got a court date for FRIDAY!!

PRAISE JESUS!!!!!

What a cool daddy we have...

What now?

We are wanting to write and update everyone on where we are with the adoption.

And

We wish we had better news.

........

We heard from our attorney this morning

 her opinion.....

the girls

are 

unadoptable.

We read and read and re-read this email to make sure we were actually understanding her right.

I had been in a state of shock and then could not stop crying.

Please God we love these girls, please....

SO

people will ask what now?

We ARE NOT giving up on these girls!!!

We are in somewhat of a state of grieving them but we have a portion of hope that they will still get to come home!!

PLEASE!!!!

Would you pray with us for these girls!!!

We are fighting for them and will not give up!!!

The probation officer can still over-rule the family..... (which is happening this week)

We feel deeply that these girls are supposed to be ours but at this point...

ONLY GOD!!

Only God can make this happen...

Only God can move on behalf of them...

Only God can move this mountain standing between them and us...

Only God....

We will not be pursuing any other adoption at this time (unless God releases us to do so)

BUT

We are still going to be raising money for an adoption because we know that we are called to adoption.

We will let you know as soon as we hear what the probation officer decides....

Thank You!!!

To all who came to the banquet and supported 

us.

It meant A LOT to us!!

The fundraiser was successful 

it gave us hope 

and 

encouragement!!!

A Special 

THANK YOU

to 

CJ's

for helping making the night possible!!!

You guys....

HI SISTER'S!!

We sent pictures to the girls today 

to 

introduce ourselves!!

Hi Sister's!!!

Hi I'm Big Sister

Hi I'm Brother!!

We Love you!!

Amazing God

I know many of you have been asking what is going on with the adoption.  

First

Thank you for all your prayers over our adoption 

There are many things that are happening in Uganda with adoptions that need continued prayer

as well as for our adoption.

We as a adoption community covet the prayers for adoptions all over the world.

In the last couple of months we have seen God move in some amazing ways 

The family of the girls has come forward and are supporting the adoption

HUGE!!!

We have had some amazing, God ordained breakthrough with our attorney.

She is working hard to find the father of the girls (which needs prayer that we can find him)

The biggest and scariest thing for us is the cost of the adoption

We have COMPLETELY put it in Gods capable hands because he is an amazing God who loves these girls 

more than I ever will (that is a lot)

***smile***

I have to say that I have learned so much about trusting God during this adoption.

Every where I turn I read or hear a message about trusting in God and Him being big enough for

our situation.

I would not trade having to trust Him for this money for anything!!!

I LOVE seeing him work....it is like sitting at the foot of your father as he builds a fire 

or 

watching your mother cook an amazing dinner

or

watching your child sing praises to God

it makes you honored and proud to know them and be apart of their lives.

I LOVE watching HIM work!!

What is happening next???

We are having a

Fundraiser Banquet

February 24, 2012

6:30pm at CJ's 

Tickets are $20 per plate

Please RSVP by calling Sara at 769-3768

We have been blessed amazingly by CJ's and hope to make this event successful.

Song

I heard this song the other day and I was crying so hard I had to pull the car over

I realize it is talking about a person and Jesus but 

Oh My

did it remind me of the girls....

I played it for one of my family members that is struggling with the adoption....

I think it made a difference in where we are coming from...

I hope.....

So not to be cheesy 

but

This song is for our girls (#1 on playlist)

Update

“A father to the fatherless....God places the lonely in families...” Psalms 68:5,6

To all of our friends and family,

As many of you know we are in the process of adopting from Uganda, Africa. Joe and I have

wanted to adopt since before we had children. Last may I went to Uganda on a mission trip to

Uganda with the River Church. The people of that country touched my heart and changed my

life. The decision to adopt from Africa did not com easily knowing that there would be those who

did not agree or support that decision.

We started our adoption journey in March of this year with our home study. We had decided that we were going to do an independent adoption, meaning that we would not have a placement agency just a lawyer in Uganda. We found out about a lawyer in Uganda and started the contact with them to get the process started. I had known about some of the orphanages from the trip in May and our lawyer also gave us a list of homes that we could contact about a referral of a child. We contacted several orphanages and waited for a response. While we waited we started turning in our paperwork to the lawyer and started to raise funds for the cost of the adoption.

In September we still had not heard from any of the orphanages and my mind was starting to wonder what was going on. A friend of mine emailed me from Uganda telling me about the orphanage that she was getting her daughter from. I contacted the director of the orphanage and waited for a response. We emailed back and forth telling her more about our family and what our hope was for a referral. On September 23 she emailed us and said that she wanted to talk to us about a referral. She said that she had twin girls in her orphanage and wanted to talk to us more about them. A couple of days later we called her at her house in Denver and talked about the girls and where they were in their journey. Joe and I took the next couple of days praying, reading our Bibles and praying some more, if these were the children that God would have for us.

The decision was made that we would pursue these two precious girls. Their names currently are Lori and Claudia and they are about 14 months old. We are not sure when we will be able to go and get our girls and will not have peace about them being able to come home until they are sleeping in their beds at home.

We have been able to do three garage sales and a car wash. We have also applied for three grants through our church and from two other independent agencies. We have been denied one and have not heard back on the other two.

This letter is to not only inform you of what is going on with our adoption but also to let you know that we are a long way from being able to go and get the girls with the current money that we have raised. For international adoptions the average cost for an adoption costs between $15,000 and $35,000. This adoption because we have not hired a placement agency is going to cost about $20,000, this is for both girls. We have said from the beginning that if God has placed it in our hearts to adopt then He will provide what is needed for these girls to become our daughters. We have to have faith and trust in Him that He will provide for us and for these girls. By God’s grace we have been able to raise about $4,000 so far.

There are different ways that you could help out with bringing these girls home.

Prayer- Please pray for the girls that they would stay healthy and safe until we are able to go and get them, that we would be able to raise the money that is needed to be able to bring our girls home, and that God would prepare the hearts of our Kaden and Anna for the upcoming changes in their lives.

Fundraisers- We are continuing to try and think of ways to raise money for the adoption. If you have any ideas we would welcome any ideas.

Financial Support – Will you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us pay the remaining $16,000 in adoption expenses, to bring our girls home?

Items needed for the girls - We will be in need of clothes and other items that we will be announcing on our blog once we have knowledge of them. (james127durango.blogspot.com)

We appreciate your friendship very much and would like you to pray and consider helping us in our adoption.

Lifesong (www.lifesongfororphans.org) has graciously set up a fundraising account for us to raise funds to help pay the “ransom” to bring our girls home. If you would like to be a part of God bringing Lori and Claudua to Himself through our family, you can send your tax-deductible gift between now and December 26, 2011 to the address below. Lifesong is a trusted organization administering the funds on Lori and Claudia’s behalf, and will pay adoption expenses out of funds received.

1. Please make checks payable to: Lifesong for orphans. Reference: Padgett #2305 adoption.

(Note: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.)

2. Mail checks to:

Lifesong for Orphans

Att: Padgett #2305 adoption

PO Box 40/ 202 N Ford Street

Gridley, IL 61744

We will give you updates as we receive them on our blog: james127durango.blogspot.com

In Christ,

Joe, Sara, Kaden and Anna

P.S. I could not add pictures to this version because of being on the internet, if you would like to see pictures I will have to show you them personally.

Ok Lord... What are you up to?...

Hello everyone

There hasn't been a lot happening but wanted to give a quick update on what is going on with the adoption.

I was talking with some friends of ours that are adopting from Uganda....

She was talking about the home that there little girl is at and asked me if I wanted the contact information for them.

At first I thought that I would get the same feeling that I did before...feeling like it wasn't the right thing for us to investigate other homes.

I got the information and was torn whether to write this home or not.

When I started writing the home I got a really peaceful feeling about the home and the fact that I was writing them.

I never know what the Lord is up to and this adoption is no exception.

So..................

We wait on the Lord to see what child he has for our family... and now what home the child will come from. 

I have been leaning on a particular verse that Keven quoted last weekend in his amazing sermon...

"Those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength" 

Isaiah 40:31

and

"I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future"

Jeremiah 29:11

Ok so we heard from our lawyer about how the meeting went. 

 She said that it went "ok". 

 To be honest that ripped me apart. 

 She also said that Barbara didn't remember who we were when they first started talking  about us. Monica also reminded me that we are the last on *anyu's list to get placed with a child.  

Fist it is the family members, then the Ugandans, then the in-country internationals that are waiting  AND then people like us....UGH!! I was brought to tears when I was reading her email. 

I was in pain for the next couple of days after that.  I thought well I guess we need to start sending emails to other babies homes then.  The minute I would start to google I felt like I was going to throw up.  I know in my heart that our baby is at Sanyu!  

After fasting and praying for the last couple of days I feel refreshed about waiting on His timing and renewed about His faithfulness.

Please pray that we stay focused on His promise to us!

*************************************************

Anna Jane has her fist day of school tomorrow and will let you know how it went

She is super excited and fist thought that she was going to be staying the night there until the week was over...

I said "no honey this is not boarding school"...

She is too cute!

I hope that she always loves school this much, but  I know........ya right!

CAR WASH

Thank you!!!! 

to all of you that were able to come and support us at the car wash

We had fun and raised some more money

The public was generous and happy for us

It was a good day and we thank God for the blessings that came in!!!!

The weekend was crazy with the fair going on... 

So in honor of the fair and the car wash....

Well......

I know that many of you saw my post on Facebook that my attorney was meeting with the babies home on monday.

Well.....

I have not heard from my attorney yet 

I have heard that there is a sickness going through the home, so I am thinking the meeting might have been called off.

I will let you guys know any news when I hear something

SLEEP OVER!!!

Joe decided to have a sleep over in Kadens room with the kids.

They love it...

They watch movies and stay-up all night, eat popcorn and snuggle with daddy...

I on the other hand go to sleep while they have daddy time

I am not sure how to turn the picture (oh well)

ooops!!

I have to say that there are times in my life where I wonder "WHAT IN THE WORLD"!!

Well I had one of those moments last week.

Before I show you the pictures of my adventure I am going to tell you how my car ended up the way that it did.

I pulled up to a parking spot not noticing what was around. I pulled out of the parking space and intended to drive out over the spot next to me.

Well.....

There was something in the way of letting me do that......

Here was one side of my car

And here is the other side of my car (with Anna doing her pose)

I was literally stuck between a rock and a hard place.  My car was high-centered on the stump.  

Well I had someone come and help me out.  I was grateful we were not stuck to bad.

I wonder about myself sometimes

CAR WASH!!!

We are still in need of most of the funds for the adoption

So 

We are going to have a CAR WASH!!!

On August 13th (weather permitting) At Peerless Tires!!!

DIRTY CARS LORD!!! DIRTY CARS......

NO CAMERA

Well I haven't posted anything for a while because I wanted to post some new pictures that I took. 

  BUT

I CAN'T find my stinkin' camera cord to download my pictures.

SOOO!!

The pictures were supposed to be of the kids holding the envelope that went to Africa a couple of weeks ago

.

The envelope held the paperwork for the adoption

We sent it off after praying for its protection

and it arrived just three days later in Kampala

SO What now?

Well we have to patiently wait for the babies home to decide if they are going to bless are family with a child.

YIKES!!!

Please pray they will have wisdom with who to choose

We are waiting on pins and needles!!

We are hoping to hear soon so we can schedule to fly to Uganda to volunteer at the babies home.

I know more each day that the Lord is taking care of this whole process.

I know the timing of the flights, the money raising, the child(ren) coming home is in the His hands.

He is an AMAZING GOD!!

If you don't believe me.... well

It is His timing we are just along for the ride.................

AMEN?

GOD is on the MOVE!!

Many of you have asked what is going on with our adoption and I realized I haven't put a update on my blog for a while..... SO.... here we go.....

FIRST:

We had a garage sale..... that went very well and raised some more money for the adoption. Thank you to everyone who donated items to our garage sale!!! And.... to those of you who came and shopped!!

SECOND:

We have heard from a home about coming to volunteer in their home.  Please pray that we will know whether or not that is what God wants us to do.  It would mean that we go there to check out the home and the kids in that home for possible referral.

I know that it seems like it is a given to jump on the first response from any home but we want to make sure that the child God has for us is coming from this home.

Also going to Uganda to volunteer first means that we would go to Uganda two times. First to check out the home and meet the director. And then again after we get a court date we would have to fly back.  We are more than willing to do that if that is what God wants us to do.  We just want to pray and make sure because it is going to cost more money to do that.  But.... believe me when I tell you that it is worth it to us if our treasure is in this home. God is our provider and we believe and trust that he will provide for our family now and for the rest of our lives. (that is a whole other soap box)

THIRD:

Please pray for our family, we are getting verbal attacks about our adoption.  We know we are doing the work of the Kingdom and what God has for our family but it is still hard to hear from people that you love.

Sorry that I have not been blogging more and keeping you guys informed.  I have a lot on my heart and hope to post more often.

The truth is that most of you who read this I talk to on a weekly basis.

Adoption Update

I know it has been a long time since I have posted anything

Well a lot has happened

Fist.... WE GOT OUR HOME STUDY DONE!!!!!!

Thank you Jesus

We finished up our home study a couple of weeks ago

Since then we have been writing to different baby homes in U**nda to see if the can give us a referral for a child.

We sent them off and are not trying to wait patiently for a response


While we are waiting to hear back from them we are still trying to raise money for the cost of the adoption.


                                             ********************************

That is our update in a nutshell.  I know that there are not very many people that read this blog but I am wondering if you readers have a thought on how to handle criticism about something you feel God has called you too.

Our family has been getting a lot of backlash about this adoption (please pray for us)

I know that now all of you are adopting but I am sure there are things that you have gone through in your life that you have gotten grief about.....

How did you handle it...

We want God to be in every part of this adoption, every part of the lives of our children, our future children, our marriage, our business, and our home.  We do not want the enemy to think that he has a place in any of it.  Please pray for a protection over it all, I know the enemy does not like that we are trying to give a forever home to His children.

Uganda

Uganda

I miss you....

I know there is a team there with you now....

Treat them right and be a gentleman to these precious ladies...

As you may have guessed and many, if not all of you know, there is a team that is in Uganda right now. 

They got there safe and have already ministered to the babies. 

 Every time I see a update from someone about the team being there my heart gets a sick feeling because I want to be over there again with everything that is in me. 

My heart aches knowing that my babies are waiting for me. 



Right around the corner from where team is staying and where they go almost every night.



<>

Sanyu




I honestly don't know what it is about Africa that gets under your skin so deeply.... 

 But it has and will always be a part of my heart. 

When I know that I had a chance to go back and I am not there I genuinely feel sick to my stomach.



A picture of where the team is staying



I know that lives will be changed and hearts will be broken for this team that is there now. 

 Thank you Jesus!!!

 I believe that people will not move to make a change unless there hearts are first completely broken. 

 I know that not all of us are meant to adopt, or to go to Uganda but they are meant for a specific purpose. 

Lord please keep the team in Uganda safe......

Lord break our hearts....... teach us what we look like through your eyes.