Now that we're getting the word out that we've decided to adopt we'd like to ask each of you to join us on this journey. I can speak from personal experience that something changes inside of you when you move from just hearing or reading about someone's adoption journey and actually take part in it. Suddenly, you become invested in the process-the journey-and you care about the outcome.
A simple way to join us is to pray. It's just that easy. "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."--Matthew 21:22
Another way you can take part in this process is by participating in one of our fundraising efforts. You'll see along the right side of the blog two "buttons" that are links to online stores that we are using to assist us raising some money.
The first one, Ordinary Hero, is a nonprofit, 501c3, child advocacy organization. Their goal is to encourage and provide a way for every person to make a difference in the life of a child in need, through adoption, missions, or local outreach. They also strive to bring worldwide, public awareness to the orphan crisis. They believe every child needs a hero, wants a hero, and is looking for a hero. We believe that hero is you!
By clicking on the OH button, you will be directed to the fundraising store. Simply select some fun and fashionable gear for yourself and your family and select my name from the drop down list under "affiliate" during the check-out process. Forty percent of every purchase will be sent to our agency and put directly toward our adoption costs!
The second "button" will direct you to the website for Wild Olive Tees. You MUST check out these adorable women's and children's tees---so cute! Not only are these t-shirts awesome, but you will be spreading the Word of God just by wearing them!! A win-win! In order for us to receive a portion of each t-shirt sale, you FIRST need to shop the Adoption Fundraiser Tees. These are designed especially for us fundraising folk! Again, during the check-out process simply enter our "family code" HORKEN719 to ensure we receive the credit!
We would greatly appreciate your support throughout this process-whether through prayer or by purchasing and wearing our fundraising apparel. Many thanks and happy shopping!!
Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build-up) one another, just as you are doing.--- 1 Thessalonions 5:11
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Burundi In The News
Here is a brief video clip of a news report that was done on our agency, Lutheran Social Services of MN, and the Burundi adoption pilot program.
Northland's News Center: A Story on Burundi Adoptions
Northland's News Center: A Story on Burundi Adoptions
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Seeds planted and watered over time
****My apologies in advance for the length of this....I wanted to make sure I documented all that God has done in our lives to lead us to this point before I forgot the details :) ****
As I look back on this past year, I can see God's hand all over it. I see His fingerprints on the hearts of my children and husband. The way our vision and plan for our lives has been completely turned upside down can only be attributed to God.
Looking back, we were very proud of the fact that we were "young" parents and that we had cranked out 4 kids within a matter of 5 1/2 years. We thought we were SET!! We were DONE....the kids could grow....we could take them on nice vacations....we could remodel the house....maybe even put in that outdoor kitchen that Ben had been dreaming of! Our vision was set on living a comfortable life and acquiring the financial success necessary so that we could retire early, relax and live the good life!
Don't get me wrong~NONE of these things are inherently wrong! No, no! What was wrong (for us) was that WE were pushing aside our convictions from God in regards to our purpose on earth and how to utilize our blessings. We were so focused on our comforts being met and living the life WE dreamed of and planned--we weren't taking into true consideration where God wanted us, how He wanted us to be living, and how He wanted to use us, as ordinary and everyday as we were!
This whole journey towards adoption began back in October of 2010 when I heard MaryBeth Chapman (married to Christian music artist, Steven Curtis Chapman) speak at a Women of Faith conference. She spoke about her family and their journey and briefly discussed how God had called them to open the hearts to adopting from China. After the conference, I purchased her book, which described more about their adoption process and something stirred within me. A seed was planted.
My curiosity grew, but I wasn't actively looking into adoption at this point....I mean, I was just about to give birth to our son, Grady-our fourth and "final" child!! Seriously, I thought anyone that had more than 4 children was absolutely crazy or at least much more organized than myself!
It was about this time that I began to hear more about a friend of mine that was growing her family through an adoption from Ethiopia. She was bold in speaking up for the orphaned and often shared her thoughts via her blog or through scripture or video postings. I truly believe that God used her to plant some more seeds and begin watering.
I also began to dig into the Word more and God used that time to speak His truth to me. I began feeling convicted in certain areas of my life and started hungering for a life with eternal purpose. I thirsted for a life that was not centered around me and my desires as much as it was centered around Jesus and how He could use me-average me-ordinary me-sinful me-flawed me-willing me to be His hands and feet here on earth. I began to understand that each of us was put here on earth for a very unique reason and that we all had purpose. My eyes were opened to extreme poverty, sadness, brokenness, and hunger in the world. I realized that the only way for Jesus' presence to be known on this earth was for hearts to be willing to step out in faith--step out of that comfort-zone and into the unknown--trusting God every step of the way.
It was in April of 2011 that I brought up the topic of international adoption to Ben. And surprisingly (remember-we have a 4 month old at this point) he said he thought it was a "neat thing" and that he'd be "open" to it someday. An open heart---that's where it all began! Fresh, fertile soil in which God began to work over, plant seeds, and water.
After that conversation, we danced around the topic from time to time and I began to pray about it more and that God would reveal His plan for us more clearly. I prayed that He would lay it on Ben's heart as well if that was His will. I also began asking that He would begin to soften and prepare our children's hearts for adoption.
In June of 2011, I traveled to Virginia for ultrasound training through my job and I was given the gift of time ALONE with the Lord to really discern some things. It was such an amazingly peaceful time....no kids, no work, no meal preparing/planning-just being surrounded by other like-minded people that love the Lord and serve Him through working at crisis pregnancy centers around the U.S!!
During one of my quiet outings I stumbled upon a cute little shop called Under the Mango Tree that was owned by a sweet, older woman. I couldn't help but notice that most things in her shop were handmade by various people and that many of the items had scripture on them or spoke of FAITH and TRUST. After visiting with her for some time, I learned that all of the items she sold were to benefit those in need around the world. We had a sweet conversation about American wealth, world poverty, orphans, widows, and what we are to do with the abundance of blessings that God has bestowed on us. By the end of our conversation we were both in tears--totally 100% recognizing that God had made our paths cross that day and that we had both been a much needed blessing to each other! She then instructed me to stop back at her little shop tomorrow during my lunch break because she had a book that she wanted me to read. I agreed and the next day she handed me the book Radical, by David Platt.
Reading that book opened my eyes to so much and made me even more "on fire" for wanting to change the way we were living and step-out in faith. I felt God nudging me to go on a mission trip to Africa, but I still needed some convincing.
About mid-summer a vey dear friend of mine went on a 2 week mission trip to Uganda and returned with her heart broken for what she saw and experienced. She shared so many amazing stories about her time there and about the various ministries that she worked with--giving all the glory to God for enabling her to GO, serve, and share to love of Christ. I witnessed the faith and trust that it took for her to go to Africa and obediently follow where God was leading her.
By fall of 2011 and after significant prayer, discussion, and research, Ben and I signed up to go on a mission trip to Kenya and Uganda at the end of the year. I knew in my heart this was something the Holy Spirit was nudging me to do, but I also wanted to experience this with my husband. I felt that it was important that we both experience and witness the same thing, so that we could both return home on the same page. Thankfully, God was also working on Ben's heart, and he was more than ready and willing to go--feeling those same convictions.
We also joined a couples small group in the fall and the book we began studying together was Radical--the very catalyst that got my wheels turning! What a blessing this amazing group of people have been in our lives!! God sure knew what He was doing in connecting us to them. We challenge each other, hold each other accountable, and love each other all while studying God's word and sharing some amazing home-cooked meals together! God is good!!
In October of 2011, the ministry of 60 Feet came to Grand Forks to show a documentary film about the imprisoned children of Uganda. Again, God completely broke our hearts for the orphaned, oppressed, and suffering children in Africa. He also used this time to connect us with some now very special people in our lives--the founders of this ministry. They (Scott, Dan, Gary, Judd, and David), and their wives, have taught us so much about what it looks like to really serve, really love, and really trust. This amazing, Godly group of people and the ministry they work with is worthy of it's own blog post some time.
December FINALLY came and we left our 4 children at home-along with a very detailed calendar of what family member was watching them on which day-and departed for Africa.
Again, our time spent serving there is completely worthy of it's own post....so I'll leave the details for then. The one thing I will say is that Africa affected us waaaay more than we affected Africa! Extremely humbling!
Upon our return home we were both surprised that we did NOT feel strongly that it was the right time to adopt. We assumed that we would come home with an intense desire to bring a child home and provide a forever family, but we both felt like we needed more time. Time to pray and discern where God was leading us.
We experienced ANOTHER amazing, spirit-filled weekend in Atlanta in February with our fellow small groupies. Sixty Feet was premiering their 2nd documentary film about the status of the children's prisons in Uganda and the work God was doing through their ministry. To say that God showed up would be an understatement! He is doing mighty things through this ministry!
In March of 2012, Ben and his cousin/best friend, Joe, left again for Uganda on a mission trip with Visiting Orphans. This trip was unique in that it's purpose was primarily serving the ministry of 60 Feet and the imprisoned children. Let me just say, that this is when I knew that God really had a hold of Ben's heart and that he was breaking it for the orphans of the world. Ben would be the first to admit that in the past he was always dreaming up where we'd take our next vacation and what kind of hotel we'd stay in. To watch God change the desires of his heart and make them outward has been beautiful! I'm not saying he was overly selfish before, but now there was something obviously different about his priorities, his thinking, and his loving. It was no longer about him, but Him!
As we continued to pray about adoption together as a couple and individually, I could feel an intense desire growing, but I was hesitant to share it with Ben right away for fear that he would say that the time is not right. From every angle that I looked at adoption I could see that God had provided for us in such a way that it would be selfish and disobedient of us not to adopt. We love God and believe in what His word says about speaking up for, caring for, and loving the orphaned and oppressed. We have a tremendous support system of family and friends. We belong to an amazing and supportive church/school. We have a strong marriage centered on Christ. We have 4 healthy and loving children. We have financial stability. We have made connections with others whom have adopted. We are pro-life~not just the lives of the unborn, but the lives of the born that are abandoned and abused. Again--all of these things, health, stability, and support are gifts from God meant not just for us, but for others! Suddenly, any excuse or reason I could come up with against adopting seemed unworthy and selfish!
I decided to finally truly share my heart with Ben over dinner one date-night in early April and spilled everything I felt God was lining up in our lives to make this possible and necessary. He sat quietly and agreed with what I was saying and we ended our conversation with the conclusion that more prayer was needed.
Apparently he had been spending some serious time with the Lord because on our 9 year anniversary on May 17th I opened the sweetest card from him. In it he wrote about our future and of letting God be in control. (Now, for those of you that know me well, I often wear a special necklace with 4 silver discs engraved with each of our 4 children's names.) Taped to the bottom of the card was a shiny, blank, silver disc with these words written next it, "This is my answer". That small seed that had been planted back in October of 2010 and continuously watered throughout 2011, was finally sprouting it's first bit of green life from the ground in our our hearts that God had so carefully worked over! He is so good and His ways far exceed our own!
As I look back on this past year, I can see God's hand all over it. I see His fingerprints on the hearts of my children and husband. The way our vision and plan for our lives has been completely turned upside down can only be attributed to God.
Looking back, we were very proud of the fact that we were "young" parents and that we had cranked out 4 kids within a matter of 5 1/2 years. We thought we were SET!! We were DONE....the kids could grow....we could take them on nice vacations....we could remodel the house....maybe even put in that outdoor kitchen that Ben had been dreaming of! Our vision was set on living a comfortable life and acquiring the financial success necessary so that we could retire early, relax and live the good life!
Don't get me wrong~NONE of these things are inherently wrong! No, no! What was wrong (for us) was that WE were pushing aside our convictions from God in regards to our purpose on earth and how to utilize our blessings. We were so focused on our comforts being met and living the life WE dreamed of and planned--we weren't taking into true consideration where God wanted us, how He wanted us to be living, and how He wanted to use us, as ordinary and everyday as we were!
This whole journey towards adoption began back in October of 2010 when I heard MaryBeth Chapman (married to Christian music artist, Steven Curtis Chapman) speak at a Women of Faith conference. She spoke about her family and their journey and briefly discussed how God had called them to open the hearts to adopting from China. After the conference, I purchased her book, which described more about their adoption process and something stirred within me. A seed was planted.
My curiosity grew, but I wasn't actively looking into adoption at this point....I mean, I was just about to give birth to our son, Grady-our fourth and "final" child!! Seriously, I thought anyone that had more than 4 children was absolutely crazy or at least much more organized than myself!
It was about this time that I began to hear more about a friend of mine that was growing her family through an adoption from Ethiopia. She was bold in speaking up for the orphaned and often shared her thoughts via her blog or through scripture or video postings. I truly believe that God used her to plant some more seeds and begin watering.
I also began to dig into the Word more and God used that time to speak His truth to me. I began feeling convicted in certain areas of my life and started hungering for a life with eternal purpose. I thirsted for a life that was not centered around me and my desires as much as it was centered around Jesus and how He could use me-average me-ordinary me-sinful me-flawed me-willing me to be His hands and feet here on earth. I began to understand that each of us was put here on earth for a very unique reason and that we all had purpose. My eyes were opened to extreme poverty, sadness, brokenness, and hunger in the world. I realized that the only way for Jesus' presence to be known on this earth was for hearts to be willing to step out in faith--step out of that comfort-zone and into the unknown--trusting God every step of the way.
It was in April of 2011 that I brought up the topic of international adoption to Ben. And surprisingly (remember-we have a 4 month old at this point) he said he thought it was a "neat thing" and that he'd be "open" to it someday. An open heart---that's where it all began! Fresh, fertile soil in which God began to work over, plant seeds, and water.
After that conversation, we danced around the topic from time to time and I began to pray about it more and that God would reveal His plan for us more clearly. I prayed that He would lay it on Ben's heart as well if that was His will. I also began asking that He would begin to soften and prepare our children's hearts for adoption.
In June of 2011, I traveled to Virginia for ultrasound training through my job and I was given the gift of time ALONE with the Lord to really discern some things. It was such an amazingly peaceful time....no kids, no work, no meal preparing/planning-just being surrounded by other like-minded people that love the Lord and serve Him through working at crisis pregnancy centers around the U.S!!
During one of my quiet outings I stumbled upon a cute little shop called Under the Mango Tree that was owned by a sweet, older woman. I couldn't help but notice that most things in her shop were handmade by various people and that many of the items had scripture on them or spoke of FAITH and TRUST. After visiting with her for some time, I learned that all of the items she sold were to benefit those in need around the world. We had a sweet conversation about American wealth, world poverty, orphans, widows, and what we are to do with the abundance of blessings that God has bestowed on us. By the end of our conversation we were both in tears--totally 100% recognizing that God had made our paths cross that day and that we had both been a much needed blessing to each other! She then instructed me to stop back at her little shop tomorrow during my lunch break because she had a book that she wanted me to read. I agreed and the next day she handed me the book Radical, by David Platt.
Reading that book opened my eyes to so much and made me even more "on fire" for wanting to change the way we were living and step-out in faith. I felt God nudging me to go on a mission trip to Africa, but I still needed some convincing.
About mid-summer a vey dear friend of mine went on a 2 week mission trip to Uganda and returned with her heart broken for what she saw and experienced. She shared so many amazing stories about her time there and about the various ministries that she worked with--giving all the glory to God for enabling her to GO, serve, and share to love of Christ. I witnessed the faith and trust that it took for her to go to Africa and obediently follow where God was leading her.
By fall of 2011 and after significant prayer, discussion, and research, Ben and I signed up to go on a mission trip to Kenya and Uganda at the end of the year. I knew in my heart this was something the Holy Spirit was nudging me to do, but I also wanted to experience this with my husband. I felt that it was important that we both experience and witness the same thing, so that we could both return home on the same page. Thankfully, God was also working on Ben's heart, and he was more than ready and willing to go--feeling those same convictions.
We also joined a couples small group in the fall and the book we began studying together was Radical--the very catalyst that got my wheels turning! What a blessing this amazing group of people have been in our lives!! God sure knew what He was doing in connecting us to them. We challenge each other, hold each other accountable, and love each other all while studying God's word and sharing some amazing home-cooked meals together! God is good!!
In October of 2011, the ministry of 60 Feet came to Grand Forks to show a documentary film about the imprisoned children of Uganda. Again, God completely broke our hearts for the orphaned, oppressed, and suffering children in Africa. He also used this time to connect us with some now very special people in our lives--the founders of this ministry. They (Scott, Dan, Gary, Judd, and David), and their wives, have taught us so much about what it looks like to really serve, really love, and really trust. This amazing, Godly group of people and the ministry they work with is worthy of it's own blog post some time.
December FINALLY came and we left our 4 children at home-along with a very detailed calendar of what family member was watching them on which day-and departed for Africa.
Again, our time spent serving there is completely worthy of it's own post....so I'll leave the details for then. The one thing I will say is that Africa affected us waaaay more than we affected Africa! Extremely humbling!
Upon our return home we were both surprised that we did NOT feel strongly that it was the right time to adopt. We assumed that we would come home with an intense desire to bring a child home and provide a forever family, but we both felt like we needed more time. Time to pray and discern where God was leading us.
We experienced ANOTHER amazing, spirit-filled weekend in Atlanta in February with our fellow small groupies. Sixty Feet was premiering their 2nd documentary film about the status of the children's prisons in Uganda and the work God was doing through their ministry. To say that God showed up would be an understatement! He is doing mighty things through this ministry!
In March of 2012, Ben and his cousin/best friend, Joe, left again for Uganda on a mission trip with Visiting Orphans. This trip was unique in that it's purpose was primarily serving the ministry of 60 Feet and the imprisoned children. Let me just say, that this is when I knew that God really had a hold of Ben's heart and that he was breaking it for the orphans of the world. Ben would be the first to admit that in the past he was always dreaming up where we'd take our next vacation and what kind of hotel we'd stay in. To watch God change the desires of his heart and make them outward has been beautiful! I'm not saying he was overly selfish before, but now there was something obviously different about his priorities, his thinking, and his loving. It was no longer about him, but Him!
As we continued to pray about adoption together as a couple and individually, I could feel an intense desire growing, but I was hesitant to share it with Ben right away for fear that he would say that the time is not right. From every angle that I looked at adoption I could see that God had provided for us in such a way that it would be selfish and disobedient of us not to adopt. We love God and believe in what His word says about speaking up for, caring for, and loving the orphaned and oppressed. We have a tremendous support system of family and friends. We belong to an amazing and supportive church/school. We have a strong marriage centered on Christ. We have 4 healthy and loving children. We have financial stability. We have made connections with others whom have adopted. We are pro-life~not just the lives of the unborn, but the lives of the born that are abandoned and abused. Again--all of these things, health, stability, and support are gifts from God meant not just for us, but for others! Suddenly, any excuse or reason I could come up with against adopting seemed unworthy and selfish!
I decided to finally truly share my heart with Ben over dinner one date-night in early April and spilled everything I felt God was lining up in our lives to make this possible and necessary. He sat quietly and agreed with what I was saying and we ended our conversation with the conclusion that more prayer was needed.
Apparently he had been spending some serious time with the Lord because on our 9 year anniversary on May 17th I opened the sweetest card from him. In it he wrote about our future and of letting God be in control. (Now, for those of you that know me well, I often wear a special necklace with 4 silver discs engraved with each of our 4 children's names.) Taped to the bottom of the card was a shiny, blank, silver disc with these words written next it, "This is my answer". That small seed that had been planted back in October of 2010 and continuously watered throughout 2011, was finally sprouting it's first bit of green life from the ground in our our hearts that God had so carefully worked over! He is so good and His ways far exceed our own!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Never say NEVER!
I'm pretty sure I said I would NEVER be a blogger! I also NEVER thought that I would try sushi, or go to Africa, or ever grow our family by any other way than the good ol' fashioned way! Well, looks like it's time to EAT...MY...WORDS!! I have decided to begin blogging as a means to journal--to chronicle "the journey" towards bringing our sweet baby #5 home!! (I'll get back to baby #5 in a minute!) I want this to be a space in which I can document my feelings, fears, worries, joys, sorrows, and God-moments.
One regret I have in raising our 4 small children so far, is that I haven't taken the time to sit and reflect on ALL of the awesome...challenging...laughable...frustrating...and truly here and gone moments often enough. So many times I have thought, I should really write down that funny thing that Sawyer just said or get out the camera to record that creative, slightly jerky dance routine that Avery just created. Reality is, LIFE just seems to be passing by and I need a way to capture and FREEZE these precious moments before they are long gone and all too often...forgotten.
I have been a fan of the blog world for about a year now and I am certain that God has used the words of other women-many of them mothers like me-to speak His truth in a powerful, direct, and real way. My prayer through this blog is that God would use my words to do the same for other women. I pray that I would have the humility to share my struggles, doubts, and convictions just as readily as I share the happy, perfect moments of motherhood and life!
More than anything, my prayer is that through this blog I am able to share this adventure with our closest family and friends. I hope that it answers questions, opens hearts, and starts a dialog that is centered around speaking up for those without a voice....the orphaned, abandoned, and unborn.
One regret I have in raising our 4 small children so far, is that I haven't taken the time to sit and reflect on ALL of the awesome...challenging...laughable...frustrating...and truly here and gone moments often enough. So many times I have thought, I should really write down that funny thing that Sawyer just said or get out the camera to record that creative, slightly jerky dance routine that Avery just created. Reality is, LIFE just seems to be passing by and I need a way to capture and FREEZE these precious moments before they are long gone and all too often...forgotten.
I have been a fan of the blog world for about a year now and I am certain that God has used the words of other women-many of them mothers like me-to speak His truth in a powerful, direct, and real way. My prayer through this blog is that God would use my words to do the same for other women. I pray that I would have the humility to share my struggles, doubts, and convictions just as readily as I share the happy, perfect moments of motherhood and life!
More than anything, my prayer is that through this blog I am able to share this adventure with our closest family and friends. I hope that it answers questions, opens hearts, and starts a dialog that is centered around speaking up for those without a voice....the orphaned, abandoned, and unborn.
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of all those who have nothing. Speak up and judge fairly, and defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9
So, back to baby #5......we are extremely excited to announce that we have begun the process of adopting a child from Burundi! I know what you are thinking....Burundi?!? Where the heck is that? I've never even heard of that place before!
Well, here are a few quick facts on the country of Burundi:
1.) Located in East Africa-bordered by Dem. Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Kenya.
2.) Country population is 8.7 million people and is one of the most economically impoverished countries in the world.
3.) More that 558,000 orphaned children with 77,000 double orphans (having lost both parents).
4.) Nearly 1 in 5 children are orphans in the country (17%)
5.) More than 1 in 5 children die before their 5th birthday due to preventable illnesses such as diarrhea and malaria.
6.) Average life expectancy is 42 years.
7.) 230,000 children have been orphaned due to AIDS
8.) 1 in 12 women die in child birth.
Burundi experienced similar unrest as Rwanda during the 1990's, but what was labeled as genocide in Rwanda was considered a Civil War in Burundi.
We are part of a pilot program through Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and understand there may be many bumps, detours, and changes along the way. Trusting that God will go before us through all of this. We are in the very preliminary stages of the process now, as we just submitted our application paperwork to the agency last week. The general timeline that we have been given is to expect to have our child home in roughly one year. Again, due to this being a pilot program--that timeline may change and we are, again, choosing to trust God and His perfect timing!
Now, off to the reality of life with my four kiddos! It's 8pm and I've managed to sneak in an hour of quiet computer time thanks to a movie that captured the attention of the kids, but bedtime is calling!! I will continue my next post with how this whole CRAZY journey began, but in the meantime--my husband and I would appreciate any and all prayers!
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