Purpose and Life

On my knees before God again...

why??

Because with all of my heart I believe that

 Poverty of Purpose is far worse than Poverty of purse.

God made me for a purpose...He has a special plan for my life..for my family.

I am blessed to live life in a country where I have two refrigerators full of food,

where I have heat and running water all year long,

indoor plumbing,

3 toilets that work quite nicely,

a overflowing pantry of food for coming weeks and months,

electricity,

clean drinking water,

medicine for when I am sick,

access to a doctor,

3 vehicles,

a job,

I am able to go to church and worship the Father I love with abandon,

I have many changes of clothes,

never mind a washer and a dryer that can run day and night to clean all the clothes we have acquired.

Did I mention that also I have a family that loves me.

That my children have two parents who not only love and adore them, but love each other.

Do you know that there are 147 million children that don't have any of this.  Maybe even more than the estimated 147 million, that wear the label orphan, who are longing for a family to call their own.

Do you know that God asks us to care for them. (James 1:27)

 For some of us He calls us to adoption??

This is why my Knight and I are on our knees again.  Why we are praying and asking God to guide our steps.  We know we have more room in our hearts and in our lives to add another to our fold. The world doesn't understand this longing in my heart to fulfill God's purposes, but they didn't understand Jesus when He came either.

God has a plan for my life, it includes adoption, it is part of my purpose in this short life I have on earth.

Adoption...have you thought about it? 

Braiding, Adoption and Strange Bonding Rituals

Bonding is so important in a family. 

It is essential for an adoption. 

Bonding is a sticking of hearts. 

A joining of spirits.

  An uniting of body, mind, soul and spirit and it is something that takes time.

  Of course with God all things are possible. 

 Nothing is impossible with His help...ask my two sons who willingly let their new Ethiopian sister *do* their hair. 

Laughter.Love.Letting Go...learning to trust one another....

 Come join in our braiding party!

Braiding is just another way to say~ I.LOVE.YOU!

Need to Understand...help!

I REALLY could use some insight...

Two weeks ago, God spoke something to me and it didn't make a bit of sense to me.  Actually, He spoke and I said, "Huh?"  It wasn't that I didn't understand what He said (like that it wasn't clear), it was that I can't get my mind around what He might be saying. (does that make sense?)

He said, "Kimmie, you are an activist."

I said, "HUH?" 

To be honest, activist isn't a word I normally toss around.  Hey, it is a word I probably never have even spoken.  So to hear my Father speak it to me, well, it was confusing.  I actually went to the dictionary today to see if I really knew what it meant.

activism:  : a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue

*An activist is a person who takes vigorous action in support or opposition of a controversial issue

So, I have to ask you, is adoption of a 16 year old (or a 17 or 18 year old) a controversial issue?

  I came to learn that our country-my country...the U.S. of A.,  has a law saying that children who are 16 or older can't be adopted from Ethiopia (maybe other countries too??) 

I was so angry at hearing this, honestly my Hungarian blood began to boil. That Attila the Hun blood does course through my veins, and if you remember your history, he wasn't known for his gentle spirit. However, I also found myself weeping, as I prayed to God about how this could actually be true.  How could a child, an orphan, at 16 not be able to be placed into a family that is willing to adopt them? 

God has given me a holy passion for orphans and justice for them. How can this new information not upset me or motivate me to a new level of orphan care commitment?

 How could a government not allow this?  After all, we have paid for home studies, that state we want and can afford to care for them.  We clearly have it established that we will be responsible for meeting their needs and providing for them.  How then can 16 be the cut off- to a child who has no hope and no future as an orphan. How can this age suddenly be *too old?" 

I certainly don't have all of the details, but I know that kids are having to go through bone scans in Ethiopia to try to determine age, if they think that birth age may be closer to that 16 year old cut off age. 

This question of age comes from the fact that there are no birth certificates in Ethiopia, or very few.  How can we rely on bone scans?  We do remember that these are orphans who have not had food or care over their very hard lives?  I am pretty sure that bones don't grow the same when you are starving.  What kind of foolishness is this, I am asking?

So, what do you think all of this might mean? I have heard of adoption advocates, but never adoption activists.   I'd love to hear what you think?  And if someone is already an activist...tell me what I can do. 

Or if I am totally confused-set me straight!

Adoption, Older Child and Learning to Swim

Subtitled: Water, Cold Water, Family, Swimming and our Ethiopian Teenage Princess


Back in the middle of May (4 weeks post Princess Sweetness' adoption from Ethiopia) we took a trip down the road to our swimming hole (the town's lake) after dinner.

As you can see, the attire is not for swimming, but as it was a little warmer, we thought dipping our feet in might be fun. 

 Our kids were all excited. 

Some for different reasons. 

 She hasn't seen much water in her life.  To her, this body of fresh water... this was HUGE.  That and she can't swim.  Which didn't stop her from wading right in along with all of her other siblings. 

Everything our Ethiopian daughter does is with much determination
and her whole heart. 

Okay, now she knows that several of her younger siblings can swim (in very cold water).  She had asked that I teach her too. 

Week 4 - no swimmer (her words to be exact).

Week 5- a few days of practice at the lake. Great willingness, but still fear pops its head up. I hold her while she learns to float on her back, I assure her I won't let go and that God made her body to float. Did I mention the water is freezing and that I am not a lover of cold water?!

Week 6- a cold spell no swimming

Week 7- She begins to put her face under the water, but hands are still holding on to the ground beneath her.

Week 8- Princess Sweetness swims!  Under the water- for short spurts...she tries and tries to go further.

(we are currently in week 9!)

 I signed her up for evening swim classes at the lake (semi-private lesson) beginning next Monday.  I picked level two as this is where you actually can swim, but they help you a bit more to refine the basic strokes.  I also signed her up, with the rest of her siblings for level 3, two weeks post her first swim class; as I know her and nothing will keep her from continuing to improve. 

My girl is driven to achieve! 

(psst...thank you God!!)

Oh Vanity, Vanity!

Oh for the love of vanity...

As a child I had always longed for a vanity in my room.  Perhaps, it was from reading The Lonely Doll (by Dare Wright).  Little Edith did get into much trouble with the powder puff while Mr. Bear was away, but somehow it put a longing in my heart for one of my own!  I love girly things, don't you? 

How about you, which vanity type stirs longing in your heart?

Where the Spirit is Leading~Honor and Respect

Sometimes words just don't fit. 

 Other times they fit like gloves. 

 Sometimes I find myself too tired to run to the computer to share what God is doing in my moments here.  Sometimes I wish I could just clear a few minutes to quick share what the Holy Spirit is showing me. 

For months (though it seems like years, perhaps an eternity full) I have been working on teaching my children about honor and respect.  It is heavy on my heart, so heavy that I am willing to put all else aside so that we can get our hearts around it.  My heart right along side of theirs.

Honor and Respect....First for God, then for their parents, then for family, then for others.

  We have talked, read Bible stories together, talked, prayed, about this honor and respect.  I have disciplined, reminded, corrected, again reminded, disciplined...I think you get the picture.  We are in the midst of a most holy battle, one that our enemy would like us to lose.  Because if we do, then he wins and he puts a stone in our hearts, that will eventually bring us to ruin.

Then, the flood walls broke yesterday.  As I was opening our Bible time together in prayer, the Holy Spirit led me to the dictionary of all places.  I went over to the shelf, pulled out my Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary and looked up the word respect.  A list of many definitions loomed before my eyes, but it was the first one that brought me to tears.  Literal tears.  It said respect:  honor; giving your full attention to. 

Now to me this was huge, as Princess Sweetness asked me why I was always asking my children to look me in the eyes when I was talking (or telling) them something.  As I read this, I realized that it was because in their hearts, deep in their little child like hearts, that they weren't willing to give me their full attention (or respect.)  Seeing it in black and white made the lights go on for me.

After the definition was read for all my students children to hear, and we read our passages together for the day, I made an announcement. 

(*we are currently reading the book of John and a chapter in Psalms everyday. Our Princess Sweetness first reads it aloud to us in her first language- Oromo, then a bit in Amharic for practice- then takes turns reading parts aloud with her siblings in English)-

The announcement was this:

"I will no longer be saying *Look ME in the eye*

When I speak, YOU will look me in the eye and you will stop all that you are doing..."

why? 

"Because God says you are to give me your full attention, your respect.  HE is telling you.  Commanding you to honor and respect Him first and your parents second.  It is an act of pure love, given by a willing obedient heart."

Day one and even the seven year old freezes in his tracks when he hears my voice.  I think the Holy Spirit was moving deep not only in my heart, but in theirs too.  Of course we will keep with the character lessons, but how good to know that I am not in this alone, that God is right here with me battling for their hearts too!

Birth Order, Adoption and God

Recently a reader asked about what my thoughts were on changing birth order in adoption ... sharing my response...

I have never tried to maintain birth order. This is something that I have heard others say, though honestly I don't find it anywhere in the Bible. I think God is able to add whoever He wants, whenever He wants, at whatever age He wants...If we will only submit our lives into His hands.

Adoption is not just about what I'd like, honestly I'd have to say for all of our adoptions, I had to lay down my will for His. In hindsight, all of our adoptions were a perfect fit. Sometimes in the moment, I had to cry my way to saying, "Yes, Lord."

As a girl with infertility I have always wanted a tiny baby for adoption, but both my babies came near walking stage-His will and not my own-the others were all older, but never as old as our Ethiopian Princess.

And about children who get put out of the age spot...I think we are supposed to teach our children the same that we are learning...dying to self and submitting ourselves fully into His plan for our life. My children know and understand what it is like to be an orphan, most of them have been. And as to my one homemade- she knows the call on our lives (on all of our lives, not just me and Papa)- so whatever the age has always been fine-as God was the one leading and guiding all of us.

My children didn't even blink when God surprised us with 3 at once and we doubled in size. It just so happened that they fit right in to age slots without any one changing order...but honestly, we never thought about it. We only knew God said they were ours and we had to get them out of foster care and into our family forever.

Always questions patterns of this world my friend. Even question the experts, if what they are saying (or are selling) isn't lining up with the Word-reject it and embrace Him.

God wants orphans in families...He wants us to trust Him, He wants us to follow Him with abandonment. He loves older orphans too, not just the babies. He wants all of them to have families and doesn't need to only work within the limits of our existing ages.

If you don't believe me, ask HIM...

I am wondering if when Jesus was on the cross and said to his mother that this is your son...if that wasn't an adoption that didn't maintain birth order. ;-)(John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. ;-)

And I am also reminded that God clearly tells us in Scripture that NOTHING (no thing or situation) is to hard for Him. No thing on this earth is impossible for Him (Luke 1:37)

hmm...perhaps this should be a post?

xoxo

Raising the Roof...Adoption and Friendship!

Has God ever led you down a path that was a total surprise? 

Has He ever led you down a road where at the end, you were doubly blessed-

though you were never expecting it?

When God called us to adopt an older child, we were rather surprised.  Honestly, I have been wanting a baby for many many years, after years of battling infertility. But my life is submitting fully into my Father's hands and I trust Him.  He knows better than I, who my children are and how to get me to them.

When Sue Hedberg first emailed me, about some children who she thought might be a match for our family, I had never heard of her or her agency.  Upon us *getting to know* each other, through emails, I explained to her how we would use her agency whether she was Christian or pagan-if this is where God told us our child was.  Remember, God can use whoever He wants to accomplish His purposes.  Imagine my surprise, when I learned she loved Jesus, that she was a former missionary and that she had a heart that was passionate about orphans and orphan care! A girl after my own heart a girl after God's own heart!

Sue and I both cried in those first few letters.  Why?  Because we are praying women.  We had both been fervently praying for God to move in our lives.  He heard our cries and hooked us up to His perfect plan. 

Sue had been praying for our Princess Sweetness for a while.  She knew she had been passed by many times already.  That she had been in the orphanage 5 years already. She knew older children are harder to find homes for.  She also knew Princess Sweetness wanted a Christian family. If we were not Christians, we wouldn't have been *the ones!*  Sue's tears were happy tears, as were mine!  I was getting a new daughter,(a Christian daughter-who is passionate about God...)  who I KNEW was mine, plus, plus...

God was giving me a friend- the kindred spirit kind of friend we all desire! 

I have loved Sue from the beginning of this Ethiopian adoption adventure.  She was such a blessing all along the waiting path to our journey to Ethiopia to our girl.

Another surprise God had for us, we traveled with Sue and stayed at Grace Guest House together!

Our time together was another blessing from God-and it allowed me to sure up the details of *adopting* Sue.  How grateful I am to Him!

This life I lead is not my own, it belongs to Him.  He leads me down paths of righteousness of His namesake.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. 

Adoption and friendship were a huge part of this journey.  I am thankful to God for letting me open my heart to both.  I praise Him for His wonderful surprises and His unexpected blessings.

Here's to adoption and friendship rolled into one big rejoicing party!


Psalm 32:7,10,11 (The Message Bible)

God's my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore,
throws garlands of hosannas (praise) around my neck.

God-defiers are always in trouble;

God-affirmers find themselves loved
every time they turn around.

 Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!

Moments of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Snippets of Addis from our car window,

from our adoption journey to our Ethiopian daughter, Princess Sweetness.

Conversation Starters...

Okay, I spent 20 minutes looking for a picture of the back of my Suburban, this is the best I can do...really I could have ran outside and snapped a current picture, but hey its wet and rainy outside.  So this is what you are going to get...read on!

I wanted to show you a small portion of my testimony that follows me as I drive about. On the rear back door lives 9 Christian fish...we are still short one, but are awaiting its arrival. 

There are two big fish with 7 small fish that follow after.  Each fish represents one of us.  The fish represent that fact that we are Christians.

Today this testimony of 9 fish, a car and adoption led me to pray for a man named Roman in a parking lot, where my family had just shopped for our groceries.

Let me set up for you...

Princess Sweetness and I are coming out of the food warehouse store with a cart of groceries.  My Knight met us outside the door, as he had run an errand as we shopped.  He led us to our silver Suburban *Katrinka.  As he began unpacking the cart I spotted directly behind us -what I anticipated to be a gray 15 passenger van.  My husband stopped unpacking and walked over to this van to see if indeed it was *big* enough for our family.  As he walked around it, peaking in, a man came up behind him.  My Knight asked him if this was his van.  The man said, "No." 

 I explained we were in need of a bigger car, as we were full presently, with our newest daughter arriving from Ethiopia. I told him that we now had 8 children, 7 who had been adopted.

The man began to tell me that he and his wife had looked at this type of van. He said it had 10-12 seats.  My Knight went back to packing the car.  I kept talking. 

The man said they too had adopted children, 3, from Korea.  How he wanted another, but his wife said if he got any more, he'd need a new wife.  He commended me on having the patience for so many.  I turned the talk to God.  I asked him if he was a Christian.  He said he saw my fish and knew I was one.  I asked him again if he too was a Christian. 

 He replied, "My wife is, but I am not born-again, I am...(insert a religion)." 

 I said, " I don't care what your religion is, is Jesus your Lord and Savior?" 

He didn't say anything.

I asked him if he had read John 3:3 that says we must be born-again.  I told him this was not a religion, but came straight from God. I asked him if he had read John lately.

He said, "It had been a long time."

I smiled and told him he should. I asked him what his name was.

He said, "Roman."

I said, "Roman can I pray for you?"

He said, "Yes."

I asked if I could put my hand on his shoulder while I prayed, he nodded his head.

I then prayed that God would bless him and his wife.  Strengthen his marriage and bless his family in ways that could only come from God.  I prayed that his children would be blessed and that God would open his heart to understand who He was.  I finished by saying..in Jesus' name amen.

He thanked me and drove away. 

I wonder if he will tell his wife when he gets home. I am sure she is praying that he too becomes a Christian. I am sure it is her hearts desire.

Regardless, God is drawing him closer.  And how could I not thank Him, for allowing me to plant seeds in Roman's life.  Seeds that I pray that God will continue to water, until he comes to salvation through repentance and asking Jesus to be His Lord and Savior.

How I love to pray with people, how I love to lead people into His family.  Oh, how I love to share my love for Jesus.  Of course I would have loved to lead him to Jesus right there, but God didn't open that door.  God knows how eager I am to lead others to Christ.  He knows how I love adoption in the physical and in the spiritual. 

Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to point Roman to You.  Lord, please continue to speak to him through whoever You wish.  I ask that someday I see him again, maybe in heaven if not here

 and he will say, "Guess what...I am a Christian!"

Hey...do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  I'd love to share how to become a Christian...

send me an email or leave me a comment...and we'll pray too!

I've heard it said that, "Fish on a car isn't going to save anyone."  Hmm, I think maybe not, but what a great way to start a conversation that just might lead to sharing Jesus! 

Adoption Transition-Adoption Bonding

For those of you who might have happened upon me due to the blog post title...welcome! Per introduction, we are a Christian family who is radically following God.  Part of our following Him has led us down the road of  adoption. In April (2010) we came home with our eighth child, the seventh we've adopted.  Our girl is Ethiopian and we recently found out that she is 13 years old. 

I'd be negligent if I didn't tell you that everything at our house is taken to God in prayer.  Adoption transition is no different.  We pray: as a family, as individuals, and we ask our friends to cover us in prayer.  Without God, I can not tell you how bonding happens.  What I can tell you is that God is with us, that He has let her and us bond in ways I never even imagined would be possible in so little time.

By inviting God into our home and asking the Holy Spirit to come and help us, we have had such a beautiful time over the past few weeks of becoming a family of 10.  There have been hard spots, but as we sought God (hard) we have found Him so very faithful. 

The things that seemed impossible to overcome, vanished away at his touch.  (an example being:  anger and some hostility towards homeschooling.  By prayer and love, our daughter has now embraced the idea of being homeschooled and is now saying it is *good!*  Actually she says that she loves it.!!!)

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions that I might help you with.  Honestly, God has all of your answers, but I would count it a privilege to stand with you in believing Him to come into your situations with His Power and Presence. 

Here are some of the many things that God has led us to over the past few weeks...all of them helped in our bonding and growing in love with one another...

Cooking...

Our Ethiopian teen loves this! And of course great for any age child.

Teaching us

some Garage dance moves...

helping us to understand and embrace her culture.

Sitting and enjoying the day ...

lazy...

no agenda other than to enjoy one another

Painting nails. 

Actually my oldest (19) volunteered to take this task on.  She even (out of love) did toe nails.  (which if you know my oldest, was an act of God!)

Walking together...

enjoying a slow pace and some conversation.

More cooking...

Look at that smile!

A homeschool field trip...

visiting a farm.

Making injera (the bread of Ethiopia)

Doing homeschool...

learning cursive for the first time.

With her siblings at her elbows.  All of us have something we are studying and learning.

(I had planned on no school for a while, but this child is hungry to learn!)

Being silly...

with friends and family.

Culture...

learning how we celebrate birthdays as a family. This was her sister's ninth birthday...we headed to Chuckie Cheeses. (not something we normally due, but something that let everyone have a bit of fun!)

Crafting...

she is one of us after all.

Touch and time...

the importance of this is huge! Here her sister is painting her nails, after taking her out to buy the nail polish...a little sister adventure!

Relaxing together...

Rest is important over the first few weeks.  We all find ourselves exhausted at times.

Braiding...

She has slowed down to bless her tiniest sister.  Cornrows are a part of their culture and are now a part of our family!

Family...

Getting to know her grandparents.  A blessing and one she loves!