Update

Just a little update to say that we are falling more and more in love with our Lizzie's picture each day and it is heartwrenching not to be with her!  We are so thankful for God's faithfulness along this journey and we know that He will continue to provide - step by step.
Wanted to let you know that we cannot post pictures of her.  As far as I know we cannot do that until we are home from Hungary.
When we go we will be gone for 6 weeks and all 4 of us are going.  We hope to travel in January.
On Friday, we officially accepted the referral!  We are now waiting for some final documents to be translated and then for our I - 800 to be sent to Texas for approval from the US Govt.  We have been told this process takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks.  We are praying for the 2 week plan! :).  Then our facilitator in Hungary will make our final travel plans  Still praying that we could have travel plans by Christmas.  It would be a miracle - but God is in the miracle business!  Another matter for prayer  - the weather.  Our facilitator - George - does not want us to come and be stranded anywhere as the first week we are there we will be staying about an hour from where Lizzie lives and will commute each day to spend time with her.  Again - if God can connect a family from Decatur, AL to a little girl in Hungary - He can handle the weather issue - He made the weather!
I have so many thoughts ... this is by far the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life - yet I wouldn't trade this year for anything, and I cannot imagine the blessings in store for us as we become a family of five.
For any of you considering adoption - pray HARD!  God will lead and make it so clear - but clear doesn't mean easy.
I am so excited to be at this point - how many times I prayed - if we could just get that referral - then I would have peace.  And I do... mostly.  However, fear continues to creep in and sometimes even panic - about all of the unknowns.  Some days I walk through my house just saying "Peace, peace, I need Your peace!" I am praying for a peace that passes all understanding for little Lizzie as her world is about to be turned upside down.  I pray for peace to fill me and for God to take away my fears and help me to live each day trusting Him - trusting Him when I wonder if she will be mean to John Reese and Ellie, if she will like us, if she will be angry, if she will let me comfort her, if she will like homeschooling...But then I remember that I serve the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords... and I am filled with His peace, but, to be really honest, then it starts over - peace, fear, panic, PRAY ... peace...
I am blessed beyond measure and give thanks in all things - even the fear and panic.
Thank you for your prayers along this journey!
In His grace,
Lisa

God's promise!

This is what I saw out of my front door within hours of receiving Lizzie's picture!

God is good! Lizzie is coming home!

We have received a referral for our precious daughter.  We are thankful and excited and humbled by God's goodness and grace.  She is 5 years old and will turn 6 on Friday, December 2.  She has dark blonde curls and brown eyes and is so precious.  We are falling more and more in love with her as we stare at her picture!
She had a rough start in life, weighing only a pound and a half.  She is definitely a miracle!
We hope to go get her the end of January!
God has clearly directed this journey in our lives and there is nothing I would change. (Ok - maybe the fingerprint issue - but there were lessons to learn there as well!)
It hasn't been easy and takes so much faith.  I have been stretched beyond where I thought I could stretch, and I know the journey is only just beginning.  Walking by faith is scary.  This really has been like walking through a dark forest with only a flash light in front of me- step by step and trusting God.
God's word has become such a comfort to me and I truly crave it now and have a hunger to know Him more each day.
I am so thankful for my husband whose faith is so BIG!  Where I doubt, he is confident.  Where I fear, he is fearless.
I love that God - and only God- can help us love more deeply as He molds and shapes us.  Walking through this process of faith and prayer as a family has already been an amazing blessing!  I can't imagine all God has in store for us when we become a family of 5!
Ephesians 3:20-21
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory.... forever and ever!  Amen.

Blessed

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  for the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who WAIT for him!"  Isaiah 30:18
We are blessed to wait, to learn patience and trust and faithfulness at a level I never imagined.  We began this process exactly one year ago.  I would have promised that I just couldn't wait a year - and I couldn't have in my own strength.
Please continue to pray for paperwork to be processed in Hungary for children to be available for adoption, please pray that Lizzie is in this group!  Please pray that George will be burdened by getting our daughter to her family.  I pray that he will not be able to get her off his mind and will do all in his power to make this happen soon!
One day - I am going to post really big news on this blog!  And I will be screaming so loudly my neighbors will hear :).
Thanks for waiting and praying with us!
Lisa

Please Pray

George is leaving Hungary again to return to Canada.  He continues to watch as children have their paperwork processed to be able to be adopted.  We continue to pray that Lizzie is in this group and that her paperwork would be processed quickly and that we will know something soon.
Thank you all for checking in with us - asking if we have news - and mostly for PRAYING!  Prayer works, and won't it be so precious to tell our Lizzie that so many people prayed her here.  We are so thankful that God has led us on this journey.
God is good.  His timing is perfect.  He keeps his promises.

"I trust in God’s unfailing love 
   for ever and ever. 
⁹ For what you have done I will always praise you 
   in the presence of your faithful people. 
And I will hope in your name, 
   for your name is good."  Psalm 52:8-9

More Waiting

We heard from Jana last week, and George is back in Hungary with no referral for us at this time.
We have a total peace about this and are totally trusting in God's timing.  Good news - George is returning to Hungary this week or next.   There are some children being processed through the courts to be eligible for adoption. From what we know, there are no toddler girls in that group - but we don't know all.  We are praying for a miracle - let her be in that group - or in some way come to George's attention on this next trip!  Thank you for joining us in praying for our miracle daughter - Lizzie.  George will find her and our prayers will be heard by our Father in heaven who has perfect plans for our daughter - His daughter.
We know that this is all part of her story and ours.   We are not discouraged - we know that God fulfills all of His promises!  John Reese studied about waiting on the Lord this morning in Sunday School.  He said that they talked about how long Sarah and Abraham had to wait for the Lord to fulfill His promise with Isaac.  I'm hoping to not have an entire head full of gray hair when I meet Lizzie -but God's timing is perfect :).
Our strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord - we will wait!

Waiting... He is faithful

The following is a song by Chris Tomlin.  God used it to speak to my heart today.
Yes, He is forever faithful to all He has called each of us to do.
He loves our little girl and holds her until we can.
He is full of grace and mercy.
I certainly am reminded of that daily.
I am so undeserving of the blessed life I lead and blessed to be called to adoption by Him!
I have certainly had the wounded heart and the fragile soul and He lifts me up and holds me together.


I really don't like waiting.  Some days I have such a peace about getting Lizzie and other days - like today - I just ache to hold her, to touch her cheek to mine, to have her sit in my lap while I read, to even push her in a Target buggy :).
I don't know why it is taking so long.  I don't know why He told us - Hungary - but I do know that He did.
I do know that He whispered in my heart last year - about this time - as I asked Him -"Why the urgency?"  "She is waiting."
And I believe Him! He is faithful and true to His promises!  As we wait, I will believe Him to be the faithful God He has proven himself to be over and over and over again!


Faithful, forever You are faithful
Father to the fatherless
You uphold the one who feels forsaken
You are faithful, God

Faithful, forever You are faithful
Lover of the wounded heart
You defend the poor and the forgotten
You are faithful, God

And I will sing to the maker of Heaven and Earth
God, You reign forever and Your love will endure
Faithful and true is the name of the Lord
You are faithful, God

Faithful, forever You are faithful
Shelter for the fragile soul
You lift us up, You hold us all together
You are faithful, God

You are there in every season of my soul
You are there, You're the anchor that will hold
You are there, in the valley of the shadows
You are faithful, God

Lizzie's Room

It's Been a While

I haven't posted in a while, because there hasn't been much to post!  While there are not many new details about getting us closer to Lizzie to put down on paper - God continues to work in our hearts each day teaching us more and more about Him and drawing us closer to Him as we rely on His promises - His faithfulness.
We had a great summer enjoying time as a family of four as we all anticipate becoming a family of five.  We pray each day for Lizzie's safety and well-being.  We pray that she will have a peace about becoming part of our family, and that God will already begin to take away her fears.  We pray for a smooth transition for all of us...for open hearts and open minds.
Ellie and I are absolutely about to go crazy at not being able to buy Lizzie SOMETHING!!! But, we do have her room ready as you can see in these pictures!  We are so ready!!
George will return to Hungary on September 1.  We are praying that he will find her on this trip and that he will have complete confidence that she is our Lizzie!
Thank you for praying with us!

No Referral for Now

We talked with Jana this week and George is back from Hungary.  He does not have a referral for us at this time.  We are encouraged that he is working diligently to find our Lizzie - the right child for us.
We know God's timing is perfect.  George will continue to work on our situation and others while he is in Canada and will continue to travel to and from Hungary - not really on any kind of "schedule" as I understand it.
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.
My Word for the week has been "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Prov. 3:5

Praying Boldly!

We got an e-mail from Jana, our Social Worker, today.  She did not have any news, but did say that she plans to talk with George, the Hungarian Facilitator, this week.  I am praying boldly that he will have a referral for us!  There are so many "what ifs"that are trying to cross my mind, but I am truly thankful to have a word from Jana.  And... it's not bad news.  So we are rejoicing today.  We still feel that it will be soon.  I have asked God to give me some kind of feeling on this if we are wrong.  We are content to wait as long as it takes.  That has been my prayer this week - that if it's not to be soon, to know that.  This week I have received a text from a precious praying friend, an e-mail from another and had a very blurry dream about a toddler on my hip!  And then, finally, an e-mail from Jana today!  God is in all of these little details.  I am so thankful for that.  I was thinking today about how sweet it will be to tell Lizzie about all of the people that literally "prayed" her here!  I am truly grateful to be surrounded by praying friends!
Thank you!
God is good!

Praying and Hoping

We have not heard anything in close to 5 weeks!  Each day I pray it could be the day for our referral, and at the end of each day I praise God for choosing this path for us and for all that He is teaching us in this process. God is good!  God knows Lizzie and how many hairs are on her head and I am confident that He will lead us to her in His time!
Thank you for praying!

Good News

We received an e-mail on Monday that said our paperwork has been translated into Hungarian and submitted AND George, our facilitator, is in Hungary now... looking!  Wow!  We are praying HARD for him to find our Lizzie and to know that she is the one for us.  We are unsure about George's faith, and we hope that he will know that he is being led and that we can share with him the mighty power of our God!

Most of you know that I am not a facebook person and I struggle with putting "too much" personal information here - but this has been on my heart all week, so here goes...

Someone told me this week that Reese and I are "special people" and that it takes "special people" to adopt.  This absolutely did NOT offend me and it was meant in a kind, sweet way, BUT...
Here is the truth - Reese and I are trying to listen and obey God in our lives.   I can only imagine the times we've missed the "call."  The "call" will look different in all of our lives.  The important part is trusting in the Lord and listening and obeying Him!!

This week I've yelled at a child and had to apologize and ask forgiveness, been short with my husband, neglected household duties to play on the computer and so much more!  I feel unworthy everyday and even have doubts about why God would choose us to parent another precious child.  What an honor to be a mother and to have the gift of growing these children that aren't really ours.  I pray that all three of my children grow into the people that God wants them to be and that I don't get in His way!

I am clinging to this verse as I attempt to surrender each day to Him and truly put Him first - "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these thing will be added unto you."

Hope you have a blessed day!
Lisa

Hallelujah What a Savior!

We sang these words in church this morning as we worshiped on Palm Sunday!  I am so thankful to know the risen Savior!  What a difference He has made in my life.  I feel so undeserving of His continued faithfulness and love.  I am so thankful that He has entrusted us and sent us on this adoption journey.  I have learned so much more about Him and trusting in Him already!  Now, I just have to remember to try to put that trust into practice daily!  Surrendering all to Him!  We received news while out of town last week that we had our Immigration Approval!!!  Praise God!!  This means that, yes, the fingerprints did pass - really a miracle!  So... tomorrow we have to send some forms in and the rest of our dossier will be sent to Hungary to be translated.  And.... we wait for a referral!  We are all getting so excited and ready to become a family of five!  Thank you again for your prayers and your excitement for us.
Love,
Lisa

Update

We never have received a notice in the mail about fingerprints.  Our social worker said this is ok.  We are trusting that all is well.  We are now waiting for our immigration approval and then all will be sent to George, our Hungarian facilitator.  Then we will wait for our referral!  Getting closer!  Please pray for George.  We are praying that the Lord will lead him straight to Lizzie and that he will KNOW she is the one for our family!
We are thankful for all of you and for your continued prayers and excitement as we continue this journey.

Praising God

On Tuesday morning, I began calling the 800 number on our letter that sent us for biometric prints.  I really didn't know if this would get us anywhere, but the people were very nice and it WAS the number to call to find out if our prints were cleared.  Our prints were not entered that morning, but they told me to call back in the afternoon.  I waited - and prayed - until 3 and called.  A very nice lady - praise God - answered and said that she could tell that our information was being entered, but she could not tell if we were cleared or not.  She told me to call back at about 4:45 and she would probably know.  I told her that lots of people were praying for these prints to clear.  At 4:45, I got her on the phone and she said they were cleared.  I was screaming on the phone and saying "thank you."  She was laughing!
We were so thankful and went to Sonic for ice cream to celebrate - Ellie's idea :)
This has been a special week for us as we have watched our friends, the Evans, uniting with their daughter in China.  It has been our daily treat to see what is posted on their blog and delight in God's goodness!  It has given me strength and faith to patiently wait for our time to meet our daughter.
At the beginning of this journey, God told me that she was waiting.  I know that is true and now that we are at the end of our paperwork process, we are fervently praying that George, our Hungarian facilitator, will be led to Lizzie and will KNOW that she is the one for us!
I will share that throughout yesterday and this morning, I have had doubts creep into my head about those prints - we should receive a confirmation that we are cleared in the mail today or tomorrow.  God gave us all a peace about them being cleared, I heard it on the phone, yet I still want to see it in print?!  I keep giving this back to God and saying - "No, I believe you - I will not doubt."
To be very honest, this adoption process is a stretch for me.  Not so much thinking about the changes in our family. If you know me, you know that I CANNOT wait to have a little one on my hip, in a stroller, playing in our home - God is giving me the desires of my heart and I am so thankful!
The "stretch" is the lack of control.  I like to plan; I LOVE to mark things off my list - I like to know.
There are so many unknowns in adoption.  But... I am learning to trust more - little by little!  I am learning that, for us, adoption is about more than bringing our daughter home or having compassion for orphans and wanting to do more to help.  For us - specifically me - it is about truly trusting the Lord for each step of my life!
Thank you all so much for your prayers!
Lisa

Fingerprints...again and again!

We went to Birmingham today for our biometric fingerprint appointment.  I discovered that this was our "receipt" that our Home Study was received.  When our fingerprints are approved, our home study will be approved and we will be on our way to finding our little girl.  Of course, we have already been on that journey throughout, but we are getting closer.  I am still claiming that today could have been it - but Reese's fingerprints went right through.  Mine, however, were a different story!  "Poor minutia" were the exact words on the screen.  The sweet technician said, "You have had problems with these before?"  He also said he will probably see me again soon!
I was trying to have faith that all would go well and not ask "what if?"  But, after he said that, I had to ask. He said there is a chance that they could go through - PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS MIRACLE!  He also said he was pretty sure he would see me again!  He was very nice - but I am hoping... NOT!
We called our Social Worker, Jana, and she said that she would begin to e-mail and figure out our next steps if they were not approved.  We could know as soon as tomorrow.  We could have to go back to Birmingham - for my prints and then possibly to Atlanta!
I have NO idea what we would do in Atlanta.  I just don't have fingerprints!
But... I do have trust in our Lord!  I am so thankful that I know that I know that I know that He is leading us on this journey! Yes, it is frustrating!  Yes, it seems wrong that we have to go through all this when we are just trying to adopt -but I also know that God has not called me to try to change the system.
We had to go through this step today to get to the next one!  So, we will see what awaits us and trust in His timing!
John Reese was VERY frustrated for me - for us!  Ellie said, "John Reese, God may use you one day to help change this and make adoption easier for people!"
Reese and John Reese are figuring out how we are going to skype from Hungary on our new IPad!  I can't wait until we get to do that!
Thanks for your continued prayers!

Biometric Fingerprints and More

We received notice last week that our Biometric Fingerprint appointment in Birmingham will be Monday, March 28.  This is another step closer to our precious daughter in Hungary!  We also know that some of our dossier is in Hungary being translated right now.  Very amazing to think that some of our paperwork is in the same country as our daughter.  For those with questions, I really don't understand why we have to do 2 sets of fingerprints.  The first were for DHR clearance and these are for the Federal Government.  I just know it's part of the process and am thankful we are to this point.
Please pray that they are approved!!  We should know very quickly this time.  I have a total peace about it, knowing God is getting our hearts and our home sooo ready for Lizzie!  We still haven't made a sure decision about how to spell her name.  Just trying out both for now :).
Will post soon with pictures of her room.  We are close to having it ready.  It is very fun to walk past her room with her bed and comforter ready and picture her in our home!!

Please read Pattersonposts.blogspot.com for more information on a family in our church, the Ponters, and their most recent adoption story.  It's also a story of God's leading, people following and orphan care!

Diapers and Doughnuts

The Diapers and Doughnuts party was a huge success.  My living room was full of sweet moms and daughters and friends who listened as Sally shared her heart for orphans and adoption.  How blessed we all were to hear how God has worked and is working in her life.  She reminded us that we are his vessels to be used for HIM!  Sometimes this is easier than others, but God is with us, is in control and is MIGHTY!
We collected a little over 400 diapers that I will deliver to Nashville next weekend.  Thank you for helping cover those diaper-less bottoms!

Praising God

We received the notice in the mail on Tuesday that the fingerprinting/name search process is over!  We have since completed our I-800 A and reviewed the final draft of our home study.  My arms are beginning to ache even more for our precious daughter.  Her furniture is in; her room is being painted next week, she received her first baby doll from Nana - we are ready!!
Thank you for your continued prayers!  We serve an amazing God!!

Diapers and Doughnuts

I am hosting Diapers and Doughnuts this Sunday afternoon, February 20 at 2:30.  Please come and bring your daughters and your diapers!  Sally Batchelor will be here to speak about her recent adoption from Uganda and we will collect cloth diapers to send to Africa for the diaper-less orphans!  Come and bring friends!
Lisa

Fingerprint Update

We did receive notice that my fingerprints were rejected, and now we are in the Name Search phase.  It seems funny to rejoice that they were rejected, but we felt all along they would be and they were just sitting (in God's hands, of course!)  This next step could take 2 weeks - could be shorter.  We are thankful for some movement!  And thankful for your prayers!!

147 Million Orphans at Parkview

Gwen & Suzanne from 147MILLION ORPHANS will be guest speakers for our orphan care ministry, Hearts of Compassion, Sunday, Feb 13th from 3:30-6:00 at Parkview Baptist Church in Decatur, AL. Come hear their unbelievable stories, ask questions and purchase your 147millionorphan gear at the event...everyone welcome, childcare provided...If you are interested let me know and I can pass it on to my Parkview friends so they will know how many to expect.  Our family is excited about going, hearing their stories and buying some gear!

Fingerprints - again!!

We received news early this morning that the systems were still down in Montgomery and that there had been no progress on my fingerprints!?
I have to say that as my exhaustion sets in from Belize and we try to get back into routine with homeschooling - I was just down and disappointed.
I just felt defeated! I have lifted this in prayer sooo much.
But, I had some quiet time with God today in my car while John Reese was in guitar - and I just told God how sad I was and how I don't understand, but that I would praise Him regardless.
I know He has called us to adopt and He will lead.  I just have to remember that my job is to follow - not to try to cut in front of the line and take over for a bit!
I also prayed specifically that the I.T. people that were in the Montgomery office today working on their systems would care about my prints enough to try to make them go through - that someone in that office would just try - today!
And.... Reese called about 2:30 to let me know that they had gotten the computer to read and send the prints!!!  Hallelujah!
Now, there are still some steps with the fingerprints as they will either be accepted or rejected by the FBI and then a name search will begin.  Please pray that this is not such a complicated process!
However - as those people in the ABI office have been without computers for a whole month (yes!!) I just know that they were wondering what on earth was going on - and God was delaying these prints until today - for His reasons!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Belize Family Mission Trip

When God leads His people through a spirit filled week of service, it's just hard to put it into words.  But, I am going to try.
Reese has been to Belize four times with medical, dental and construction teams.  He left a piece of his heart there many years ago.  I will forever be grateful for the opportunity he had to go because it changed his life - thus our lives.  Although I felt like I understood what he did and how he was touched, I really had no idea!
What a blessing to be able to take our entire family on this trip.
We worked hard painting; we handed out school supplies; we interacted with deaf and hearing children; we experienced pure and sincere worship; we formed new relationships and strengthened existing ones, and we met amazing people!
The trip was special on many levels.  First of all, traveling to a third world country and seeing extreme poverty certainly makes us realize how blessed we are in some ways.   However, seeing the true joy that radiates from the people - makes us wonder if all of our "stuff" doesn't get in our way - especially in our relationship with our Lord.
The trip was also a time of spiritual renewal as we saw people living out lives of obedience to the Lord.  It is a challenge to me to attempt to live out this obedience in my life here in Decatur.  We spent so much time praying to God and praising God and seeing God at work that we will never be the same again!

Our hearts ache today for the precious time we had in Belize and for those we miss.  We were especially blessed to spend time with two of the most godly and humble people I have ever met.  I won't be able to sum it up with words, but we love them and we were blessed to spend a week with Buddy and Kathryn Hardy as they live out the Great Commission in Belize!!!  Check out the last picture of Ellie and Buddy aka "Chief" on our prayer walk at the Valley of Peace. What a precious example he is to us and our children.  Another team of people from the Decatur area will leave on February 12 for a medical and dental missions week through Fishers of Men.  Please join me in praying for this team as they prepare to go!

 Singing "He Touched Me" and Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace"

 Riley, Tillman, Mr. Dan and John Reese.  Mr. Dan is a missionary at Cayo Deaf Institute (CDI).

 Serving lunch at the Valley of Peace

 Handing out flip flops at schools

 We painted a dorm for the workers at CDI.

 Our new friend, Larry aka Steve serving lunch

 Ingram, Ellie and Kris at CDI - Oh what a precious time!

 Ellie LOVES and MISSES Ms. Kris.

 Yes, this is John Reese!!

Riley working on a home for the kids at CDI

John Reese and Tillman found flip flops "slippers" for all of these boys!

Fingerprint Update and More

We did receive some news today on my fingerprints, and while it is not exactly what I was hoping for, I am taking it as our gift from God for today.  And I am thankful.  Our social worker, Jana,  spoke with a supervisor at the ABI who informed her that their computers are STILL down?!  But... she actually took my cards to an I.T. to see if he could get them logged in.  She also told Jana that as soon as they go through and are rejected - as we assume they will be, that the name search would begin and while it would usually take 2 weeks, it could only take 3 days if she "pushes it through."  I am thinking that this sounds great!!
I spent much of today talking with God about this, and got so excited about having a little one in our home again, holding her, pushing a stroller, buying tiny clothes!  I think God put those precious thoughts in my mind to remind me of the blessing this adoption is and of all we have to look forward to!  Thank you for your prayers.

We leave for Belize tomorrow morning!  Wow - what a privilege this is.  I am so thankful that Reese felt led to organize a family mission trip.  I am praying that we will truly be His servants this week, will grow closer to Him, will see Him at work in mighty ways and will also be broken by him as we realize how blessed we are to live this life He has given us!
The words from a Praise Chorus from last Sunday have been in my head all week, but I couldn't remember all of the words, so I googled it today and here they are!
Let our lives truly PRAISE HIM!!

Praise You
Lord, I come to you today,
With a simple prayer to pray.
In everything I do,
Let my life, oh Lord, praise You.
Praise You, praise you.
Let my life, praise you.
Praise You, praise you.
Let my life, oh Lord, praise you.

Lord, You formed me out of clay.

And for your glory I was made.

Use this vessel as You choose,

Let my life oh Lord, praise You.
Let my life, oh Lord, praise you.

How it Started

This is an e-mail I sent to several long distance friends to catch them up, and thought I'd include it here as I am sure I've left out lots of details when trying to communicate our exciting news.International Adoption has always been a desire of mine, but Reese has always said "No Way!"  After we had Ellie, he totally felt that our family was complete.  One boy, one girl - a family of four - perfect for eating out.  These are Reese's words.  :)
I am SUCH a baby person, that I begged for more for about a year, but then began to pray for contentment so that I could be the wife God wanted me to be.  And - I got it.  I specifically remember being at our Christmas Eve candlight service when Ellie was 2 and John Reese was 4 and our little family was standing there singing Silent Night and it literally washed over me - peace.  I was content and that intense desire that I had had for another baby was gone.  Now, I still grabbed every baby that I came in contact with of my friends, babysat their children and was first to the hospital after new births!  But, I was truly content.
I am so thankful for Reese and my children and this life that God has given me  - that I sooo do not deserve!

Then.... this September I read Mary Beth Chapman's book "Choosing to See."  I read the book out of a desire to see how the family was doing after their terrible loss - but God had different plans.  I KNEW when I finished that book that we would adopt.  And, I told Reese.  And, he said "No, way!"
Then, the next day (after Huntingdon's Homecoming) we went to FBC Montgomery like we always do when in Montgomery and it was their Orphan Ministry Sunday.  God is funny like that :).
When we got back, I asked Reese to read the book and pray.  The book has alot about their adoption - but the bigger message for me was following and obeying God.  During this time, I was facilitating the Beth Moore "Esther" study at church, and she really said alot about Esther being an orphan that God used in a mighty way.
So, through several more books "Radical" and "The Hole in Our Gospel" and LOTS of prayer, we decided to adopt.  Reese turned 40 on October 20 and that night, he said "Call the agency.  We HAVE to do this."  For him, he was excited, but he also felt like all of the reasons that he did not want more children were really just about "him"  -not about seeking God's direction - and these are his words - I promise.  He actually did ALL of the paperwork for the adoption (which is ALOT - but it is manageable).  This was more confirmation for me that God was leading both of us to this decision.
Ellie has been begging to adopt for years.  She has such a heart for orphans.  John Reese, on the other hand, felt like our life was just fine, and he really didn't want any changes. :)

But, God is working on his heart, and he is really excited now!  Praise God!

Why Hungary?  Because there are more than 10,000 orphans.  Because it is a new program with Lifeline Agency out of Birmingham.  Because we like the Social Worker that we would be dealing with.  And, because you have to stay in country for 6 weeks, and while this is a hardship for many families, it works for us.  Reese can manage with work as long as he has the phone and internet, and, with homeschooling, it is perfect as well as educational!
She may look Hungarian - blonde and blue eyed.   Or she may have an olive complexion and dark hair and be of the Roma population.  The other term for these people is "gypsy."  As they are nomadic and don't really contribute to society, they are outcasts and the Hungarians do not want to adopt these children.  We both feel like God specifically told us "girl."  And, we feel like she will be about 3 yrs old.  Our agency will look for a toddler.  This is another confirmation to me, that this was God, not me as I would have been drawn more to an infant.
We will name her Elizabeth Ann and call her Lizzy.  We hope to add part of her Hungarian name as well.
We are getting her room ready, but it will probably be 6-9 more months.

Sorry for the length of this, but I was very excited to share all of this with you.


Love you.
Lisa

More on Fingerprints

I talked with our social worker yesterday, and she checked with the ABI office in Montgomery.  Unfortunately, their computers are STILL down!  This is so frustrating.  So, my last fingerprint card is sitting on her desk to be sent to the FBI and cannot go through until their computers are up and running.
The lady at the ABI assured me that this would make their systems so much better and faster.  So, possible good news for any of you considering adoption :).
I am praying that God will let this be resolved before we leave for Belize on Saturday.  I want next week to be a special time of growing closer to God for our family, and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity.  Either way, I know God will work next week and continue to work in our lives through this adoption process!  I am truly thankful that He is leading us in this way and I know that His timing is perfect.
But... please pray with me that we get some good news on this by Friday!!
Lisa

Fingerprints

Well, I keep hoping to kind of back track to tell how this adoption came about, but there doesn't seem time as life keeps going.  So, I will say that it is a true miracle that we are adopting as it has been a lifelong desire of mine.  I am truly so thankful to God for putting this on our hearts and answering so many prayers.
I began to pray about adoption in September, fully feeling that God was telling me we HAD to do this.  I discussed it with Reese - who smiled and said, "No, never."  His smile said alot!  We both began to pray and talk and pray alot more, and by the end of October, he said "Yes, we have to do this."  From that point on he has done most of the work and has had a total peace about all parts of the process.  We started our Homestudy with Lifeline Adoption Agency out of Birmingham in November and have completed all parts of the process that we can at this time.

However, we are still waiting for my fingerprints to go through.  This is where we need lots of prayer!  They have been rejected 3x and we are waiting on a fourth.   I just spoke with the lady from the ABI in Montgomery who said that their system is down and has been down for over a week.  They assured us last week that it would be up by Tuesday of this week.  Today she was unsure of when it would be up.

Our social worker is hopeful that all we be completed by the end of the month - which would be amazing!  We are so excited and so ready to go get our little girl.  I know this is a faith journey and I know that God is in control.  I am praying Satan away, but can tell you that he is real and we have felt that for some time through our fingerprint situation and other things meant to discourage.

The good news is that my drive to Montgomery had to have been worth it because one set from that day has already been rejected and with their system down now, I probably still would not know that I had to do another set.  So I praise God for giving our social worker the urge to call and for giving me the urge to go quickly and for keeping us safe on that cold and rainy day in the car!

I praise Him for adding to our family through this special way and for adopting me into His family, too!

Thank you for praying.  Thank you for caring and thank you for being our friends!
Lisa

The Snow

We are just trying to get this blog figured out.  If anyone has any helpful advice on adding music, John Reese is doing his best, but can't quite get that one!

So, here is a picture of the kiddos and Jake in the snow.

Starting Our Blog

We are starting this blog to keep our friends and family informed during this adoption process.  We also want to bring awareness to the orphan crisis and adoption.  It feels official to now have our Adoption Blog going, so this is an exciting day for the Hamns.
My sweet children - especially my talented John Reese - has led me through this process of blogging as he loves figuring out new things on the computer.  My Ellie is singing and dancing around the room to offer inspiration.
I hope to post soon of how this miracle of adoption came into our lives.
Lisa