Sisters and Roomies

Transitions have been in order in our house to make room for our expectant child and sibling.  Our two girlies are now and have been for a week ROOMIES!

The Lord continues to pour out His provisional blessings for us as we continue on this path to adopt.  A precious lady who is a very special part of our lives, graciously blessed us with two twin beds that she no longer needed; so our two girls moved in together this past weekend.

Let me just say, I was a little anxious over this move and very apprehensive as to how well this was going to work out; however, my two littles pleasantly surprised me with their abilities to easily adapt.  They are currently (and I stress, "currently") loving being roommates.

I look forward to the stories we'll have to tell due to this recent change, like the first night when Hannah kept whispering to Madie and Madie whispered back telling her to "SHHH, I am trrrrrying to obey Moooommy and Daaaaaddy!"  Stephen and I chuckled for a while at their whisper convos, but they did eventually fall asleep.

I LOVE how the room turned out, I just have a few finishing touches to add. 

The newest addition to the room...She was SOOOOO proud and excited to move in with Madie!

More stories to come soon I'm sure...

Radical Faith and Obedience

Sunday morning our Pastor preached on Genesis 22 where God called Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice before the Lord.  We've all heard and read this passage of scripture, but never have I heard it with the spiritual ears I heard it with Sunday.

For twenty five years Abraham and Sarah waited for this promised child, for twenty five years they imagined, planned, expected, anticipated, and trusted God for this promised child, (the child in which the lineage of the awaited Messiah would come).  Imagine Abraham's surprise when God called him to take Isaac, "his son, his only son, whom he loved" to Mount Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering.  This command seemed most conflicting with God's promise in Genesis 15 when Isaac's birth was promised, "but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.  And He took him outside and said, now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.  And He said to Him, so shall your descendants be." In Genesis 12 God tells Abraham, "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.  And in you all the families of the the earth shall be blessed."

I began thinking of how Abraham's radical faith and obedience affected so much more than just His current circumstances.  His circumstances at the time were seemingly that he was about to lose his son that he had waited on for so long.  His focus however was not on his circumstances, but on God's promises.  Abraham remembered God's promises and his faith and obedience came out of a belief and trust that God knew what He was doing.

God promised something marvelous to Abraham, however, Abraham's focus was on the promiser of the promise.  He trusted God to do what He said he was going to do.

And Abraham said to his young men, "stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and WE will worship and return to you."  And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his on, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife.  So the two of the them walked on together.  And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "here I am my son," And he said, "behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" And Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burn offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. Genesis 22: 5-8

James 1:27 says, "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

We have felt a very specific call on our lives pertaining to this verse.  We have felt and confirmed God's call for us to open our family to an orphan.  God has confirmed this call in several different ways; and now we are trusting Him for the provisions for His call.  At times it's easy to believe that He will provide and at other times, I find myself questioning whether or not He is going to provide (silly I know).  But this past Sunday, I was really challenged by Abraham's response to God when God told him to offer up his son as a burnt offering.  Abraham responded in immediate faith and obedience.  I am so challenged by His faith!  God's command sparked immediate action on Abraham's part; because Abraham trusted God to fulfill His promises despite the circumstances.

My sinful unbelief waves its ugly head more often than I care to admit.  I am often discouraged and lose faith when my circumstances seem bleak and dim; but I tell you, after reading through fresh eyes on Sunday about a man who trusted in the promises and goodness of God, I have been refreshed and challenged to a new level to trust God and to have radical faith and immediate obedience, even when it seems as though things don't make sense.

Praying for God to do what will glorify Himself most and to give me the faith to trust Him as He does.  He funds what He favors and I choose to believe that; Lord help my unbelief!  Thankful for His Word and the encouraging reminders that stem through the pages of His GOODNESS!  He made great intervention in order to secure salvation for those that would trust in Him; He promised not to leave us as orphans and that He would come for us...

lingering on that thought for a while....

God's Gracious Intervention!

Me and my girl (who has such a heart for orphans) sporting our team Payne adoption shirts!

I'm sitting here texting back and fourth with a dear friend who is about to watch her son be born! She and her husband are adopting for the second time and anxiously awaiting those special moments.  I can only imagine what is going through their minds and hearts right now as their world will momentarily change and all for the better.

You see, this little boy can't help the circumstances he's born into, he had nothing to do with his conception, he can't even tell anyone who he'd like to go home with.  God is graciously intervening on his behalf to give him a chance at a new life, a new family, a new home, and hopefully someday a new hope.  Much like salvation; salvation is God's gracious intervention in our lives.  He intervenes to save us from what would forever separate us from HIM; which is a life without hope or meaning.

His intervention in our lives is God adopting us into His family.  Our circumstances were changed on account of His great love for us.  He payed for our lives with the life of His only Son.  He made a way when there was no other way.  When He looks at us, He know longer sees us...but His Son.

I am humbled at His love for me.  I am grateful at His intervention on my behalf.  I am rejoicing that I have hope!

Adoption is such a beautiful thing...it was first demonstrated by God.

Where He Leads, We Will Follow

As we continue on the journey of adopting, we are watching the Father's hand continue to move in so many different ways; but most specifically in the area of our faith.  We have been continuing down this road just expecting the ducks to line up in a perfect row and for that to be our signal that all lights are green.  However, God is stretching our faith in new and different ways as we are praying for specific things in this adoption.  I'd like to share with you some of the specifics we are praying for as we follow God's lead.

Some of the specifics if you'd like to join us:

*We are praying specifically for the birth mother to desire an open relationship.  I know that seems a bit counter-norm but we are praying for the opportunity to meet, love on, and most importantly share Christ's love personally.  

*We are praying for the health of our sweet little one to be like any parent would.  With that being said  we are bracing ourselves and asking God to prepare us for whatever the case may be for the child HE has for us. 

*We are also praying (even though its a far cry) that this adoption wouldn't cost as much as we've been prepared to expect.  Crazy I know, but we're still praying it!  But if it does, that He would continue to send the funds as He has so faithfully been doing through fundraisers, donations, grass cutting, and grants.

We are so very thankful and humbled that God has called us to adoption and we are so grateful for those of you who have so willingly gave and sacrificed thus far to help us graft another into our family as He so graciously did for us into HIS family!!! To God be all the GLORY as HE continues doing really GREAT and Mighty things!!!!

Stay tuned, this roller coaster just picked up speed!  More to come soon!

Fundraiser Time Again!!! Shop til you drop!!!

I have several GORGEOUS pottery/ceramic necklaces that have been handcrafted by a lady who works hard to make these types of things available to families trying to raise money for the cause of adoption.

I also have some "blessed" bracelets by Mudlove who also exist to support causes such as these.  Not only does your contribution go towards our adoption, but also towards giving Africans clean drinking water.  How about that two great causes for the price of one bracelet!!!

I will be selling while supplies last, so act quick if you see one you like!!! As always, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contributions to this call on our lives!  You are a blessing to our family and to our little one to be. 

To God Be the Glory as He keeps doing GREAT AND MIGHTY things!!!

Necklaces and bracelets are $24 each

"blessed" Bracelets are $10 each
colors: brown,black, a few red,and a few blue
These are going fast, already sold out of some colors! 

 1 Peter 5:7

(SOLD)

 Lamentations 3:22-23

(SOLD)

 1 Peter 5:7

(SOLD)

 Philippians 4:6-7

(SOLD)

 Matthew 11:28

(one available)

 Joshua 1:9

(two available)

 Proverbs 3:5-6

(two available)

 James 4:8

(SOLD)

 Philippians 4:6-7

(SOLD)

 Ephesians 3:20

(SOLD)

 Ephesians 3:20

(one available)

Jeremiah 29:11

(SOLD)

Love B Salyer Photography!!!

Our mini photo fundraiser shoot with B Salyer Photography was a huge success despite the absolutely incredible amount of rain we had to dodge.  I am so grateful for all of the families that participated in this fundraiser and can not say, "thank you" enough!  You are a huge blessing and your babies are all gorgeous!  This fundraiser raised $550!!! To God be the Glory!!!

I'd also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to none other than the awesome photographer who drove ten hours, gave countless hours, and refused to let us contribute a dime to help with ANY of the expenses.  Brittney you are truly amazing and we are so thankful for your talent and your giving spirit!!! Not only did we benefit from the fundraiser itself, but from the precious time we got to spend with you that week.

My girls adore her; and Stephen and I love spending time with her!!!  That week is one I look forward to telling our sweet child about one day; of all the sacrifices that others put in, so that we could bring "Baby Williams" home.

We have already had several requests for Brittney to come back for more photo sessions in the future, so I'll be sure to let you know when she's in town!!! If you're ever up that way (Bristol TN), particularly in the fall, you should contact her for some gorgeous scenery shots of you and your loved ones, you won't be sorry!!!

Now to boast of my two favorite photo subjects :)

This is such a "Madie" expression.

I could just squeeze her!

PRICELESS!!!

 I SO LOVE THIS ONE OF HER!!!

She is growing up so fast and becoming more and more beautiful everyday!

 Be Still My Heart!!!

 These two bring unending blessings to me as a Mommy!

Sweet chats over milk and coffee

I had a sweet time of coloring and talking with my littles this morning about their future brother or sister and it just made me so very grateful for how God is molding and preparing their hearts, and just like Stephen and I, they are longing for the missing part of our family as well.

Madie and I crafted a picture together this morning as we sat and talked about the days ahead.  I so look forward to who she will become through this adoption.  It has already made her so very compassionate for those without families.  I pray it helps her see the very essence of what Christ did for her in a tangible way.  

How do we look as a family of five stick figures?