We are on Facebook...and T Shirts!!

We want to let everyone know that we also have a facebook page.  I can't seem to find a thumbnail to add to the page for facebook so here is the link for those who would like to join us on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/adoptingaaron

We also have more exciting news: 

We have the proofs from the t shirt company! We will start out with two shirt designs. They will be Ash Gray with the design on the front. They are each prints of Aaron's artwork that he made in school last year.  The little "Aa" signature on he lower right is a sign that you are wearing artwork made by Aaron.  They come in both adult and child sizes. $15 for adult $12 for child.   Profit from the sale of both of these will go toward Aaron's adoption fund. We have to have at least 10 of each design before we can order them. If you are interested in ordering you can comment on this post or click the paypal link to the right of this blog. If the shirts have to be shipped I am going to ask that you add $3.00 Please comment size, which design, and address in the comments section at Paypal. Here are the designs. The first is called "Handprint". It is an actual print from a handprint that Aaron made with paint. I love it!  The second one is fabric print that I did on canvas of a picture that Aaron drew.  It looked like a picture of earth to me.  This design is called "Go Into the World".   I think they are both going to look fabulous!

 

Here is your chance to Partner with God in Aaron's life!!

Hello Again! We have some exciting news! We have been accepted by America World Adoption Agency for an adoption in Haiti! YAY!

Now the FUN begins. :)

Over the next few weeks we are going to be offering our friends and families an awesome opportunity! You have the chance to partner with us as we journey to bring Aaron home. One of the first ways that you can do this is buy purchasing a puzzle piece! Now, many of you may be wondering what in the world you would do with a single puzzle piece. Let me assure you, you can change the world with just one puzzle piece!

We have purchased a puzzle with a picture of our precious little boy on the front.

The girls and I spent hours some time together last night putting it together. I then spent some time this morning numbering the pieces on the back of the puzzle.

There are 252 pieces in the puzzle. Each person who gives $10 toward Aaron's adoption gets their name put on one piece of the puzzle. (Give $20, get 2, etc). When the puzzle is complete we will put it in a double glass frame to hang in Aaron's room (The front has his picture on it). When he looks on the back, he will always be able to see who God used to help bring him home to us. You can buy a puzzle piece by sending through PayPal. Click the donate button to the right of our blog page. Be sure to comment "puzzle piece" in the comments section at paypal so we will know that is what it is for. That's it!

In order to understand what an incredible opportunity this is, You may want to read more about Aaron's story. You can do that by going to the blog page of the foster home where he lives now. Ms. Dorothy has detailed the first few days of Aaron's life with her. It really is an amazing story! God surely has big plans for this little boy!! And when all is said and done, you can partner with God in those plans by helping to bring the plans that God has for his life to pass (Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 22:16)

Above all else, please pray. We understand that no matter how much $$ is given toward bringing Aaron home, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT prayer. Thank you so much for visiting our page and for considering this great opportunity. We are praying that God will return any seed sown into this journey to you 100 times over!!!!!

And we are off...-again.

Jeremiah 22: 16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

If you look back over my past blogs, you will notice that the last update was November 2012. Two major things happened in November, which won't excuse my lack of updates, but I hope that it at least explains it.

First of all, we welcomed our newest little girl, MaKenleigh Eliza to the family. She has been our little unexpected miracle. Having her in our family has added so much joy and not a few sleepless nights.



Secondly, Haiti changed their adoption laws. One of the major changes was that they now say that you can not be "child exclusive". Which in a nutshell means that Haiti assigns you a child for adoption, you can't choose your child. Hearing this news mixed with pregnancy post partum BLAH left me feeling that this may not happen for us. I never got to the point of actually saying it out loud but I guess my silence speaks louder than my words could have. It also meant that we could no longer pursue our adoption independently, which was what we were originally doing. Going through an adoption agency means more money and I wasn't even sure if any agencies would be willing to take on our case. Oh ye of little faith....

Several months ago, someone gave me the name of America World Adoption Agency and I began emailing Michelle Reid, who is over the Haitian adoptions for this agency. She and I spoke over the phone and she was such a bright spot to me. She had reviewed our "pre application" and felt that we should move forward, trusting God, to move the mountains in our way. She explained the financial aspects of the adoption and was very honest with me about all of the unknowns. She is a Christian as well, and always reminded me to believe God for miracles while keeping one eye opened to the realities. Using a Christian agency is such an incredible blessing in so many ways, but because it is also a non profit agency, it means that anyone who wants to have tax deductions from their donations toward our adoption can send the money directly to them in our name and have it be tax exempt! YAY!

Even after talking with Michelle, the financial obstacles that stand between forever families and their children seemed so huge in front of us. We had a trip to Haiti planned for my daughter, Maranda (age 17) and my husband Lester, for July. We had to focus our finances on getting them there so beginning the process of applying with the adoption agency took a back burner. Once they made contact with Aaron and I was able to hear his voice again (Maranda sent pictures and videos) I knew that it was time to get this baby home. Other major changes are happening right now in Haiti as God is doing some transitional things at the Foster Home where he has lived for most of his life, and it all just confirms that the time to move forward and speak "GRACE" to those mountains is NOW. (Maranda with Aaron- Hait, July 2013)

So, we have submitted our application to America World along with our non refundable application fee. The next steps are up to God. We will have a home study and all of the lovely things that surround that and will begin compiling our America Dossier. Every part of this process will require the financial backing to make things happen but we are believing that God will make provision for the promise.

This past Sunday Morning, while we were worshipping in preparation for Sunday School, I closed my eyes and saw the most beautiful sight. I could see Aaron running through the back doors of the sanctuary where we have the adult class. He ran over to me and held out his little hand for offering for Sunday School and then ran back out of the sanctuary. Just after that, I saw him as a teenage boy coming in through the other set of double doors. He came up behind me, put his arms around my shoulders as I was seated in prayer and whispered in my ear, "I love you Mama." I wept uncontrollably as I saw these two visions in my spirit and even now am dripping on my keyboard as I type. I believe that God gave me those two visions as confirmation that "now is the time, now is our due season."

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

So that is our update. We are off to a great adventure. Please pray for Aaron as he faces the new changes in his Foster Home situation and pray for us as we pursue the plans that God has for our family. I am standing on the scripture that I started this blog with. It promises that if we defend the cause of the poor and needy, then it will go well with us. Do it Lord. We need you to do it.

(Lester and Aaron being silly- Haiti July 2013)