It's all good... (update on adoption)

Hello again! It's been a while.  It's time to catch up. Here's what's been going down: 

Our anniversary was great! We went to a swanky restaurant and enjoyed each other's company. 

We went home for Christmas and enjoyed being with our friends and fam so much... good for the heart.

Me with my sweet niece Ava and nephew Barrett... presh! 

Here's the fancy AWESOME table my hubs built the in-laws. I am super proud of him! 

Here's me... I won the first annual Morgan Christmas trivia game!!! WOOT WOOT! 

My sweet momma and her new clock :)

Big D - he won Mexican Train Dominos!!!! Yahoo! 

I also got to spend some time with my besties in Nashville... but I'll put pics up later of them! I have FANCY pics because me and Jacob bought a camera with our Christmas money! Super excited about that purchase (much better than a pistol)!

Christmas was great. Time away was much needed. 

Now... AdOpTiOn UpDaTe:

Can I just be honest? Ok, adoption is hard. The process isn't fun. It's a lot of hurry up and... wait. Lots of paperwork. And knowing your child is waiting. BUT... I have learned some of the richest, hardest lessons through it all.  I haven't blogged because I wasn't ready to share truth and my heart.  I'm ready... So, let me know answer some questions.

Where are we in the process?

We have completed the homestudy, and are beginning submitting the dossier.  With Alabama laws and Belize laws colliding... there is MORE paperwork we have to file than originally thought.  So the first part of the paperwork has been sent to the government.  Once that's approved, which can take up to 3 months, the rest of our life info can be sent. The second half of this paperwork is the information that is actually sent to Belize. BIG DEAL! After that comes the referral (getting more specific info about Eric), more detailed timeline, and then travel.  We are getting there! 

Does Eric know?

We aren't sure. The Belize Dept of Human Services knows WE want Eric, but I don't know if they have told him.  One day he will know that he has been loved and prayed for and wanted by a whole family, church, community, and all the strangers who have gave and prayed.

When will we get him?

Not sure. I know... not the answer I want either.  Everything just depends on paperwork.  My heart would love to get him tomorrow, but that's impossible. Adoption is a long process and, honestly, could take more than a year.  I desperately hope it doesn't, but I can finally say I am good with it if it does.  I hope more than anything we can celebrate his next birthday with him, but God is in control.  This is the question I have battled with the most. I like God to follow my timeline and my wants... but His ways are so much higher than mine.  I have finally accepted (for now) the peace of knowing He's got this and I don't. Whether we get Eric in 3 months or 3 years, I will still want him and I will still love him.  In the meantime, God is equipping me to be a mommy and Jacob to be a daddy... and preparing Eric to be our son.  And... I'm okay with that. For now... I must stop being so overwhelmed in the timeline and serve him while I'm waiting. (waiting... such an awful thing...)

God is so good. He is faithful. He will not fail us... not for a moment. 

Golly... my heart is learning SO much.  So thankful God doesn't get tired of me, isn't scared of my bold prayers, and doesn't give up on me.  He loves me. He loves my crazy heart. 

We would still love to make you a clock... or write your name on a puzzle piece... or hear your story of adoption! 

Another year of holy matrimony :)

THREE YEARS TOGETHER... and no one has killed the other... and we actually still love being around each other! Who would have thunk it!?!

This year has been awesome. I'm SO blessed and thankful to have Jacob as my hubs.

The year in review... in no order whatsoever...

WOW! They've lost a lot o' weight! 

Braves game... CHIPPER! 

Our precious niece! 

BeLiZe

Our cute family! 

Hanging out with Steven Curtis...

MINISTRY! Ski trip

BELIZE

:) 

the younger Morgans

I love us

Summer camp

love

Our life right now - CLOCKS! 

I love our life together. 

Ministry...

long talks...

ADOPTION...

youth...

CLOCKS...

trips...

same heart...

laughter...

singing...

friends...

family...

love...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US! 

stand firm... He says

Heavy hearts. Discouraged. No words. Shock. Craziness. and it's Christmas...

Things we are all hearing right now.  The last few weeks, our news stations, news feeds, and ears have been filled with horrendous events. 

My heart hasn't just felt this for a few days, but for a few months. Most of the time when I'm in a "funk," I don't know I'm in a funk until Jesus gives me a holy slap to the face.  Lately, I have KNOWN I'm in a funk... and on a quest for answers. 

At some points, I have thought a change in location would solve our problems.  A change in jobs. Something new. Something different. But... it's really just my heart. It needs revival and a kick back to the heart of the First Century Church! 

Sometimes I get disheartened because I don't see things happening the way I want them to happen - people get in the way, life gets busy, and people don't care.  But... God teaches me... o man... does He teach me. 

I am NOT doing this life for the applause of man. 

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 

I have had to ask myself this many times this semester. Sometimes... my answer has been "Yea, I'm trying to please people. I want more people coming. I want Bible Study to be packed out. I want all the church members to be excited about the Connection and be pumped about all that's happening. Yes, I want more youth, more college... blah blah blah." Oh... my ugly heart. It's not about me. 

As a servant of Christ, I SHOULDN'T CARE. I do and I minister and I serve and I love because I am His servant and His hands and His feet. No other reason. Why do I forget that so often? 

Also... maybe somebody out there needs to read this... or maybe I just need to type it... who knows.  Anyways, while thinking about changing scenery (when I really needed to change my heart) I kept thinking about the disciples.  Jesus told them when they were going and spreading the Gospel, that if a town or people didn't accept them to move on.  I thought, 'Hey! that means if things aren't going well... we just leave.' Well, on the flip side... some the prophets in the Old Testament spent their ENTIRE lives preaching and teaching and proclaiming... with little to no change in the people. OUCH! Thinking about this... I know God was saying "ANNA... SHUT UP! SIT DOWN! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU THERE!" And I finally got it...

So, the disciples were on a mission to get the Word out to as many people as possible as fast as possible... the immediate spread of Christ's story.  The prophets were sent to tell and proclaim about something that would happen, to encourage, to admonish, to teach.  We better fit the prophets' roles. We KNOW great things are going to happen in Troy, Alabama. God has plans. God is on a mission. God is doing this in HIS timing.  We are here to proclaim that. and... when a revival and a true God movement happens in Troy, AL, I WANNA BE HERE FOR IT! I WILL NOT MISS IT!  So... if you are feeling discouraged and like you just want to escape... STAY PUT. STAND FIRM.  That is just Satan getting in the way! The more spiritual warfare... the more reason to stand firm.  The more discouraging thoughts... the more reason to fight.  The reward is far greater. The importance of souls needing Jesus is FAR more important that feeling better. The more heartache, sin consuming the city, the more adversity you sense... the bigger God's plans are becoming... DON'T GIVE UP!! 

NOT FOR A MOMENT did you forsake me

 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Praising...

I'm praising when my heart feels disappointed. 

I'm disappointed because I thought we'd be closer to getting Eric now. I'm disappointed because I want a picture of my sweet boy.  I'm disappointed because days are passing and he doesn't know how much we love him. I'm disappointed because things aren't happening when and how I want them to happen. I'm discouraged with things at times. I'm overwhelmed at times in our clock factory of a house. I'm helpless because I can't speed up the process. I'm anxious to just go get him. I'm disheartened when I read of potential timelines. 

BUT... I know my God is big. He proves Himself daily to me. We only have $5,000 plus travel costs left to raise! Can you say... GOD IS GOOD! That is amazing! He has raised well over $20,000 in less than 4 months! Do not doubt... He reminds me. 

Like I said in an early post... I'm doing Beth Moore's ESTHER study. Oh... how God is reminding me it's ALL in His timing... and not Anna's. Mordecai reminds Esther of that in the most beautiful way:
¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
Yes... I must know this... deep down... not just surface level... not just a saying. I didn't even want to blog... and sometimes I don't want to talk about the process... but I cannot remain silent.  If I remain silent, I STEAL HIS GLORY! Don't let me do that! I will praise Him... He is always worthy. He will deliver us from the piles of adoption paperwork. He will! And WHO KNOWS... maybe we are in this long, drawn-out process for a perfect and wonderful and divine purpose.  WHO KNOWS? God knows. He knows exactly what He is doing.  I pray that MY heart knows and that I can say again and again... "I KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS FOR SUCH A TIME AS NOW!"  I cannot doubt. I cannot allow waiting to steal my joy. He is the Creator of Time, the Creator of Eric, and adoption is His heart... He will not delay. 

I am praising Him for my marriage.  I just love my hubs. I really don't know what I'd do without him. He encourages me, speaks truth/wisdom to me, prays for me, and acts as Coach Chris Masader (say it fast) in the Christmas childrens' play! How can you not love this!?? 

I am praising Him because He loves me and is teaching me how to love better.  Adoption is just about getting a child... it's about love... love for people... all people.  God's love for us, for me, is great. He is preparing my heart to be a mom... a selfless mom.  A frugal, teaching, praying, mom.  I am being taught what it will look like to love Eric.  You know... a lot of us accepted Christ, and were adopted by Him, at a young age.  We have known His love for a while and have learned about Him over the years.  We know what is right and what is wrong in the Lord's eyes and (hopefully) want to follow that.  On the other hand, there are many who have not been taught about Noah, Adam, Daniel, and Mary from the Bible. They don't know about how much they are loved by the King of the Universe until later.  Or maybe they do know... they just stray far, far away from Him.  I see this so much in our youth - not yet loving Jesus more than the world.  Enjoying drinking/partying more because the drunks and other party people "love" them and accept them.  Oh... man... if they could just grasp the deep deep deep love of Jesus. 

It's the same things with kids - those who have had a family from the beginning know (for the most part) they are loved, the rules of the family, and they know how to love back because they've SEEN it and FELT it.  Well, those children... like our Eric... who don't know those things about families, and maybe not about Jesus... have to be loved with no limits, with abandonment, without fear, and deeply! I can't wait to do that. I know it will be hard... but so good.  I know that was a long explanation, but I've just been thinking lots lately... which can be very scary! 

I'm gonna stop on this one - I'm praising Him for these girls... these girls that I love so much. That I want to strangle at times because... they are just being teenage girls and I don't want them to do what I/we did. I just love them. 

So... that was a long one.  My summarizing thoughts... JUST PRAISE HIM! He's got it under control! 

Photo Session Fundraiser Through CHRISTMAS!!!

Check out the latest fundraiser!! 

We are so thankful for people who have used their talents and business to support our adoption! 

Book you photo session now and support our adoption! The actual session can be any time in 2013, but you need to book it now! Great Christmas gift!! 

Just follow the instructions...

things i love

I have been a busy lady lately... not much time for blogging.  LOTS of clocks and LOTS of time with people - both are great things. I do wonder what we would do with all that time if we weren't clock-ing.

Lately... life is good. Busy and good. Challenging and good. I have been learning lots about how nothing but Jesus is good in me. Really... nothing. I have selfish and bitter so often... never just letting myself be satisfied by Him. It's a great thing He loves me greatly and wants to change me.

But here are some things my heart has SO enjoyed...

Black Friday shopping with mom and Margie... and Olive Garden 

NSYNC - the BEST Christmas CD EVER!!! 

Connection Thanksgiving meal! 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how Jesus knows how to encourage me. When I am feeling down and want to quit, He sends over 60 people to a Connection meal. Sigh... I just love Jesus. And I love these people. 

Decking the Halls 

When we decorate... we get to read our guest book from our wedding!! Love that people signed the ornaments for us! Reading them just makes me even more thankful for my man, our family, wedding day, and Christmas!  

Now... this group of people is so special. 

The ROPE College group. 

A community. Prayer Warriors. laughers. jokesters. Lovers of Jesus. Encouragers. Missionaries. 

I have never ever ever seen church done like it's done with these people.  So bless I get to be a part of it. Although I get discouraged at times with things... there is never a week I DON'T look forward to college time! I love these people... and all their quirks! 

So thankful Jacob and I are invited into their crap... their craziness... their joys... and their journeys! 

They like to make fun of me... I apparently do this hand thing when I recite the SHIELD OF FAITH each week!! haha! 

My lesson for the week: 

Maybe you are feeling discouraged like I have been... wanting to just back down at times. 

Well... READ THIS PICTURE!! 

Do you remember why you started it? When were you passionate about the Lord? About His people? About His purpose? What do you LOVE to do? Where do you need to focus?

GET BACK THERE!!!! Don't forget what He's done! Don't forget why you started! Don't forget He is faithful! Don't forget He has called you to a purpose! Don't forget He is in the miracle business!!! 

P.S. I am not talking about giving up on adoption! I am so overwhelmed with all God is doing through it! Can't WAIT to have Eric here!!!!