just thinking out-loud

As the time draws closer to bring our little boy home, I get more and more excited. Not only because I will be a mother, and NOT because we’re attempting to fill some void in our marriage…no, my excitement bubbles up from an expectancy that really has very little to do with me at all…

So, what is my idea of motherhood?
Motherhood, whether through birth or adoption, is a gift from God. And I believe that each individual combination of mother and child(ren) is ordained by God, and that each combination is pregnant with purpose, and hope.

And why do I strive to be a mother?
That’s a good question. My answer today is probably much different than it would have been several years ago (and, hopefully, this answer will mature increasingly in the years to come).

But my answer today is: hope.

Not ‘wishful-thinking’ hope, but ‘expecting’ hope. When I look back over my life and contemplate how God has revealed Himself to me through circumstances and relationships, I am able to put together the pieces of something very deliberate. A process. A purpose. I struggle to put it into words.

There is a great joy and certain satisfaction found when the meaning of life is grasped – there’s even greater significance when you’ve drawn near to the Creator of life. Through God’s Word, prayer and fellowship with other Christ-followers, I’ve intimately experienced the very character and essence of God. And it is in knowing God that I have been consumed by this ‘expecting’ hope.
And from this God-given hope, a hunger for motherhood has also surfaced. Again, God’s plan:

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…"
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

And God blessed them.
And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…”

See the progression? God blesses and commands to mankind to multiply and fill the earth. But what was it that God blessed? Look closely: the creation, in His own image and likeness…this is what He desires to be duplicated!! Not simply our mutated genes that proliferate disease and indifference, but His perfect holiness.

Wow. Where am I going with this?

A mother can fulfill many roles, but after studying God’s Word, I believe a ‘mother’ is at foremost a ‘teacher’. “…forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.” (Pr 6:20-22)

My hope for motherhood is to be obedient to God, and faithful to my children. Obedient to God’s purpose for me to live a holy life, and faithfulness to teach my children God’s precepts and wisdom. I fight every day to not numbly coast through life, but to be proactive, deliberate, purposeful.

What is my hope?

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed…
Prov 31:25-28

YES...I am a slacker!!!

I confess!!!
I've been pathetic about updating our blog, especially during this season in our lives when there's been so much to talk about!! We are settled in AL and made it through Christmas. Although, for some reason it just didn't feel like Christmas! Don't get me wrong...we contemplated and celebrated Jesus...but, "something" was just missing!! Hmmmm, wonder "who" that could be??? :)

Actually, yesterday felt more like Christmas to us than the 25th (hey, no one can prove Jesus was born on the 25th anyway) -- we received pictures from the Caldwell's, who delivered Little Martin's care package for us. It was so wonderful to see him holding his stuffed lion, with our photo album/pictures lying next to him. There were also pictures of Rebecca picking him up and holding him close...my heart just melted!!!

The Caldwell's, Stager's, Burk's & Witter's are all safely home with their children (check out their blogs, they have wonderful stories). And the Tennant's, Savage's & Sparr's are spending their first night with their children in Ethiopia!

Here are some Christmas pics:

When we arrived at Vince's parents, we noticed there were 6 stockings on the mantle...but only 5 nephews/niece would be opening gifts on Christmas...hmmm, wonder who the mystery stocking could be for??? THANK YOU MiMi and PaPa!!!

Our last Christmas with just the two of us!

Our most prized gift (besides our new pictures)...a new camcorder!!!
Boy, are we cruel...hand them gifts, and then make them pose for pictures...hee hee!

Merry Christmas

I'm practicing posting from my email.

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Follow our adoption journey at www.vinceandalisa.blogspot.com
Ethiopia referral received 11/25/08
Waiting for China since 7/31/07

N E W S !!!

We are thrilled to share we received more news about our son on Friday! We were given an update on his measurements & a new photo, and, we found out we've also been assigned our court date: 2/2/2009!

It was such a blessing to receiving specific details about the finalization of our adoption! Having an actual court date has made this process 'feel' even more like reality! I'm a type-A/details personality, so I'm always in need of "the facts" (I drive my poor husband crazy).

Although our court date is 2/2/09, below describes possible scenarios:

--Roughly 30% of families do not pass court on their first issued court date.
--If a family does not pass court initially, court dates are then issued approximately 1-2 months after the original court date.
--Once your family has successfully passed court, you can expect to travel to Ethiopia roughly 2.5 to 4 weeks later.

PLEASE PRAY...
for our son's health and a successful court appointment! Little Martin is doing well, but the quicker we get him home, the better (for many reasons).

New Places

Here's Vince with our care-package for Little Martin...it's heading to Ethiopia with the Caldwell's today!!! (check-out their blog...little Caleb is a doll!!!!) We could only send a one-gallon ziplock because space is limited...it's amazing what you can cram into one!!!

Here is our new/temporary home. We'll rent for the first year so we can get familiar with the community. This house is on the outskirts of town...I'd like to eventually be closer (ahhh...city girl), but in our current location you can certainly get more house for the money.

This is our new church home, Hunter Street Baptist Church -- we already feel like family here!!

Ugh...still no internet service...

But I still wanted to give you a quick update! We have not received any additional info regarding our son, nor have we received court or travel info...which is common. I'm sure our agency is focused on preparing the paperwork for the next families who will be receiving their referrals (hopefully before Christmas)! Our agency will also close for Christmas and New Year which will cause a few delays.

We're doing great -- getting settled in our new home & church in AL (by the way, it's almost 70 degrees today...ahhhh). I haven't started on Little Martin's room yet (still trying to clear out boxes), but I have made my list of all I need to do/get so we can start ASAP. I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed about being a first-time mommy...the baby paraphernalia is endless!!

We've also been super busy switching our home study from MO to AL...God's grace is definitely carrying me through--I am so paper work-weary!! But, God has been one step ahead of our transition, and led us to an awesome agency who is expediting our case so we can travel on time!!

Please continue to pray for Little Martin's health and paper work, and our spiritual and physical preparation!!

We don't have Internet yet, but I'll start posting (again) soon!

Celebrating Little Martin...

with wonderful, wonderful friends...

WORLD AIDS DAY

Today is WORLD AIDS DAY...

"There is a continent--Africa--being consumed by flames. I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did--or did not do--to put the fire out in Africa. History, like God, is watching what we do."
~Bono (2006 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.)