Forever by Grace

A few weeks ago I was doing my usual daily browse through Pinterest and one click led to another and led me straight to this photo:

It made me stop dead in my internet-searching tracks and go "Wow!"  I followed the link and it sent me to www.foreverbygrace.blogspot.com ...and from there a new friend was made!  I got in touch with one of the authors of the blog, Debbie Weldon and we bonded quickly over our personal adoption stories and knowing we had both been adopted into the Kingdom of God.  She is a beautiful Sister in Christ!  I asked her to share her story on my blog for one very specific reason: There is more than just my adoption going on!  There are orphans around the world looking for forever families and by the grace of God there are families just like the Weldons, hoping to bring a child home into their lives and hearts.  Below is Debbie's blog about their adoption from the Congo of Africa.  Please check out her blog as well as Give 1 Save 1.  I am so excited to donate to them as this week's featured family on the site!  They just received word that their dossier arrived in Congo and they now owe $3,500.  This could not have come at a better time!!!  Debbie, I know we have never met, but yours and Kevin's journey is now a part of my prayers and heart!  God bless you!

Debbie's Post:

Greeting to Ashley’s friends and followers! My name is Debbie and my

husband, Kevin, and I are adopting from the Congo in Africa. Ashley

has asked me to be a guest on her blog to help you guys learn a little

more about another adoptive family. I was so excited when she invited

me to do this because I LOVE sharing our story and what God has done

in our lives!

My husband and I have always considered adoption as something that we

would like to do at some point in our marriage. We always thought that

when we are done having our “own” kids then we would look into

adopting. Once we laid out our 5 year plan then God began to show us

that His plans looked much different! After 2 years of infertility we

began to rethink our life plan. We pleaded that God would show us the

next step we needed to take. Adoption quickly began to weigh on our

hearts as we researched countries, agencies, and the millions of

children who were fatherless. When we examined adoption we were

constantly reminded of the Gospel! As Christians we all have our own

adoption story. Our loving God adopted us as His children. We were

orphans destined for death but Jesus chose us to be his children and

placed us in His family. Ephesians 1:5 says, “He predestined us to
adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the
kind intention of His will.” It is our heart’s desire to rescue and

adopt a child into our home and life just as Christ has done for us!

As we researched international and domestic adoption we began to feel

a tug on our hearts towards Africa especially the Democratic Republic

of Congo. This country has been plagued with war, disease,

malnutrition, and unstable economy. There are approximately 4.5

million children in the Congo that are orphaned or lost one parent.

These children are left homeless, hungry, and fatherless. It is our

desire to make this staggering number One Less! God will make us a

family Forever By Grace!

We are the featured family this week with an awesome organization

called Give1Save1. They help with fundraising for Africa adoptions.

Basically you donate $1! Nobody can do everything but everyone can do
something! Please help us bring home our baby! Please check them out

at www.give1save1.com. Also, visit our blog at

www.foreverbygrace.blogspot.com!

Blessings to you and your family! :)

Money Matters...But Not That Much!

Since Matthew and I have officially begun the adoption process, our first obstacle is the financial one.  We cannot submit paperwork or begin a home study without money!  But, as just your everyday average couple where in the world are we going to find upwards of $20,000 to adopt!?  Well, obviously, we are fundraising, and obviously we do have some options and resources, but facing $20,000 is a little intimidating. 

When I found this article on Focus On the Familie's website (click here to check it out), I realized it was no coincidence but rather an answer to prayer!  My worries flew out the window after I read it!  This article is now on our fridge as a constant and wonderful reminder that our God will provide.  Here is the article (and here is the link if you'd like to see it in all its glory on the website)

Can We Afford a Baby?

Many couples would like to start their family, but worry they can't pull it off financially.

by Steve Watters

Many couples would like to start their family, but worry they can't pull it off financially.
I remember when my wife and I first started thinking about having a baby, one of the first questions I asked was, "How can we afford this?" Our combined income was manageable, but we had a lot of education debt and my wife really wanted to stay home with our baby – which meant potentially cutting our budget in half.
In the midst of our anxiety about affording a child, however, a mentor couple said something we'll never forget: "budget for everything except children – children are wealth."
On its face, this sounded totally irresponsible. Budgets are good things and children can be expensive. But we've found wisdom in this countercultural idea that might be helpful to you.
First, it's reminded us over the years that the costs and financial sacrifices associated with children really are different from the other ways we spend our money. Few expenditures provide as much return on investment or have the same eternal value. Seeing children as wealth can help you rethink which things in your budget really are must-haves and which things are worth exchanging for the gift of new life.
Secondly, this phrase has helped us realize that as important as it is to count the costs, our checkbook shouldn't be the final word. God is the creator of new life and He's also the one who sustains that life by providing for us as we follow His call to be fruitful. As you objectively look at your expenses and income, don't rule out God's desire to bless you. We've traded stories with our friends over the years about raises, gifts and other unexpected provisions that followed after trusting God to provide for our new families.
For some couples, a dedicated period of fiscal stewardship can help them knock out debts and build up savings that make starting a family more affordable. But as couples get married later, they also have to be good stewards of their fertility and energy.
If God has given you the desire to start a family, you can trust that He's also able to multiply your efforts as good stewards of what He gives you – including the possible wealth of children.
Looking at your personal circumstances, you might see challenges that could make the next year a tough time to start a family. Psalm 139 reminds us, however, that God ordains the days for each person before any of them come to be. If God has ordained this year as the time for a new child to join your family, you can believe that He is also able to "meet all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Whatever your circumstances, you can trust the Creator of life to help you start a family.

From Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies, published by Moody Publishers. Copyright © 2009, Steve and Candice Watters. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

Thank you, Jesus, for bringing peace to my heart and providing for us not only the gift of eternal salvation but for your patience with me as I worry my way through things that I need not worry about!  God you are good!

Baby Bottle Mania!

For all of the adopting bloggers out there, I thought I should share our latest fundraising adventure.  This is an idea I got from a pregnancy crisis center who fundraises at our church.  Its simple, cute & effective!

We started out with a small note about who we were and asking the reader to fill the bottle with their loose change (click "Read More" below to see what we said).  Then we bought bottles from the Dollar Store and 99cent Store, rolled the note up inside each bottle and capped it!  We are asking friends & family to take these bottles out to their places of work (if allowable, of course), churches, small groups, etc and hand them out to be filled & then returned!  Very simple!  Here is what it looked like for us:

 

I bought 24 bottles total, did not need to pay for the notes to be made since we have a printer and bought the bag to tote the bottles around at the dollar store as well.  Total this fundraiser cost us $25 but when we receive these bottles back we can put a new note in and recirculate to different people, making this more cost effective.  I hope this is an idea that you can take and make your own!  Let me know how this works out for you!