The unexpected gift that came just when we needed hope…

Thursday night, God met us in the midst of our challenges. He met us through some very precious friends.  He met us when we most needed hope. Here’s the story, in the context of the thank you letter I wrote to them on Friday morning…

Dear [Friends],

Last night, while I was making dinner, Tobias ran out to check the mail.  For the few minutes he was out of the house, I was trying to concentrate on dinner, but my mind kept going to our adoption process.  It is an understatement to say this has been a tough season.  So, I was in the midst of thinking and hurting and doing some processing when Tobias returned.  He walked into the kitchen and, without a word, handed me a lovely beige and light yellow card.  I could immediately tell it was a card about a baby, a mom, and a dad.  So, I go into self-protection mode and pray, “God, give me strength of steel to deal with yet another baby announcement.”

I began to read the card and realized it was written to me and Toby.  In this moment, the words on the page became a balm to my soul.  I did not make a sound, but I started to cry.  I could not speak.  I just stood there with tears running down my face.

Then, I saw your check.

I was leveled.

Tobias and I stood there in the kitchen just holding each other, crying.

Over the last few weeks, both of us have been dealing with the ups-and-downs of this process.  It is not fun.  Most expectant moms are planning showers, choosing items for their baby, having pictures taken of their growing bellies, and sharing special moments with the expectant dad, family, and friends.  Most expectant dads are telling funny stories about their wife’s cravings and hormone changes, dreaming about their son or daughter’s future, taking the pictures of the growing bellies, and sharing those special moments filled with excitement and anticipation. Instead, Tobias and I are doing paperwork, making phone calls to see if there are any birthmoms interested in us, managing adoption agency processes, and raising the $38,000 it will cost us to bring our little one home.

In the midst of this, I have had moments where I wanted to quit.  I wonder if we will ever be chosen, if we will indeed hold in our arms the child that is in our hearts.

All of this was weighing on us as we stood in that kitchen.  Right at that moment, when it seemed this particular week – this particular moment – would overwhelm us, your card arrived, as if carried by the hands of angels.

Your words brought encouragement and fanned into flames the smoldering wick of hope I was desperately holding on to.  I have repeated psalms 113:9 to myself, over and over again, knowing that the God who has done mighty things, does still do mighty things, and will do mighty things for us.

We will never be able to thank you for the exceedingly generous gift.  Thank you simply cannot convey the gratitude we feel.  I only have a few truly great desires in my heart.  The first is to know and love Christ with all I am.  The second is to know and love my husband with all I am.  The third is to be a mom and raise a child to know and love the Lord and walk with Him always.  How do you thank people who help fulfill one of the greatest desires of your heart?  Words are insufficient.  No actions can express the thankfulness.  So, we are left with simply saying “thank you” and asking the Holy Spirit to translate this meaning as only He can.

Kelli and Tobias

—–end of letter to our precious friends—–

 We have $29,000 left to raise to reach our goal.

Kelli

Letter to Our Birth Mom & Our Adoption Process Update

Our adoption process has been long and slow.  We are getting so close now!  We are waiting to be chosen by a birth mom.  Please pray we will be chosen soon so we can bring our little one home.  I wanted to share with you the letter we have written to our birth mom, as it best expresses our prayers for her and our baby.

Dear Expectant Mother,

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us.  Although we have not yet met you, we have been praying for you.  We know what an important and difficult decision you are making, and we admire your courage.  We know that you are a special woman carrying a special child.  We are so grateful that you have chosen to give the gift of life to your baby.  We pray that these days would be filled with the love of God and the peace that comes in knowing He will guide your every step as you look to Him.  We know that He will be with you.

We hope this book will give you a good idea of who we are and why we are adopting.  If you chose us to be the parents of your child, we will share your loving decision as he or she grows up.  We recognize the selfless, giving act you are making and you will always have a special place in our hearts.

With deep respect,

Tobias & Kelli

Our fundraising total is $7, 975.  We wanted to hit a total of $15,000 by May 1st – which is Tuesday.  We have $7,000 to go!  Please pass the word…

Kelli

 

I wish I had more perfect words to convey the meaning of my heart

Tonight, I sent an email to some friends who made a donation to our adoption fund.  We have supportive families and faithful friends who are walking with us in this journey and I want to share the email I sent to our friends to honor those who are with us in this journey…

Thank you for the generous contribution to our adoption.  You have been walking with us through this process and we appreciate the prayers, support, and financial contributions.  We realize that, in this economy, everyone who gives does so sacrificially.  Thank you for helping us bring our baby home.

I wish I had more perfect words to convey the meaning of my heart.  Saying thank you never seems enough when friends give from caring hearts…when friends pray with conviction that God will meet us at the point of our need with an answered prayer…when friends share in the waiting, and the sorrow that comes with it.

How sweet it will be when we finally hold in our arms the precious gift that we now hold in our hearts!

Funding Goal: May 1st – $7,250 needed

Here’s a quick up-date on our fundraising…

We have raised $7,750.00 and have $31,000 to go.

We have a goal of reaching $15,000 by May 1st!  Can you help?  Can you make a contribution or pass the word?

$31,000 is a lot of money.  But, with the donations of family, friends, and – hopefully – some grants we are working on, we believe we will raise the money!

People can participate in our 10/10 Campaign…here are the details:

Join the 10/10 Campaign!
It only takes 10…Please give $10 to our adoption fund. Then ask 10 friends to do the same!

Many people think that they must be able to give a large sum of money to help us raise the funds needed for our adoption. But, if everyone we knew would give $10 and then ask 10 friends to do the same, we would have our funds in no time!

An extra $10 is not difficult to find…

  • The average person spends $8.84 per week at Starbucks.
  • The average person eats out 3-4 times per week and spends about $12 per meal.

Would you consider giving up one of your discretionary spends for 1 week and redirecting the funds to our adoption?

God Moves In A Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

 

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.

 

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

 

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

 

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.

 

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

 

–William Cowper
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