Treasured

Today, what a day.  Rushed through meetings, rushed to get Grace from her dear friend's house and rushed home for dinner. Sound familiar?  Love my job, love my family and love my home, so "the rush" is just part of the day. Though busy, all treasured time. Grace and I were talking about Diannah being with us in the future and the role of the older sister to teach the younger how to shop- yes, you guessed it that was Grace telling me how that would happen for birthdays and Christmas.

As I listened to her talking, my phone pinged alerting me to an email.  Not wanting to be rude, I waited a few minutes to look at my phone and once done, another treasured moment was shared between Mother and Daughter. A notification that a donation had been made to our efforts to bring Diannah home. This donation was from dear friends who live out loud with their love of God, orphans and family.   The Tuckers have worked tirelessly with a variety of orphan issues from the African Children's Choir, Royal School and Orphanage, their own children, helping their friends with their adoptions and working globally with the vision that one day- there will be no orphans.

While all of the work is going on to support children, the Tuckers have built a real estate business- Treasured Property.  I love to think of my home as a treasured property, so the company name resonates well with me.  As I read the email concerning the donation for Diannah, it occurred to me what a treasure my lovely daughter Grace is in my life and how bringing the second child home would double the love in my heart. What a treasured property- a heart bursting with love, counting down the days until we are a small family of four.  One JaJa, two daughters and me.  Oops, I cannot leave out the dogs and horses, that would never do; for they, too, are treasured.

From Grace:

When mama told me that Mr Jerry T. had donated some money to help bring my new sister home, i was so happy and i couldn't hold my excitement in. I couldn't even stop talking. If she is my new sister, it will be another of my favorite miracles inside my heart. That's what it meant to me. And i want to thank other people who have donated and God bless them all.

"Di"

I have always loved the name Diana, spelled many ways; but, none as sweet as Diannah.  Yes, you guessed it ---"Di" is shortened for Diannah. This is her preference for spelling her name and so it is.   A beautiful young girl with dancing eyes and a high voltage smile.  It is time for you to meet her. She is (I hope), daughter 2. 

Diannah is the girl Grace prays for every night, she is the child I long to see here under this roof one day soon.  Sister and Daughter; mother of two,  how precious that reads as I peck at the keys. Grace loves to plan how the days will be at home and in school as she helps Diannah make new friends and they redesign the bedroom. Oh goodness, yes, she wants to paint and add special touches that Diannah will like to their bedroom.  Fun, fun!

Well, now that you have met this lovely child, please pray for her and for the expansion of our little family. We appreciate all who are a part of this amazing journey.

Joy Comes in the Morning

 

Many of you have heard the song by Newsboys, "Your Love Never Fails". Taken from Psalm 30:5, the song talks about how God's love lasts through the ages, never changes and though there may be pain in the night, joy comes in the morning.    Last week was my Psalm 30:5.

Every night Grace prays for God's blessing and provision to help with our second adoption; to bring her sister home.  She is faithful and never falters. I sit in amazement and check myself constantly by asking the question, why I am on pins and needles with this adoption.  Grace, 13, exudes confidence that she will be a big sister by next spring and I slink off to bed thinking I want nothing more, but the time lines are compressed and the funding is just not there.

As I laid in bed one evening last week I was thinking about Grace's prayers and cried over what seemed like a failure on my part of being unable to meet the looming deadlines for the adoption. No, this was not a pity party. I have not met an adoptive family yet who has not been where I was that night. Fighting with myself over issues that seem ridiculous now, the disappointment overtook my rational thinking.  The pain was raw, tears flowing, I asked God for help. Calm ensued and sleep came. 

The next day started off with a long list of things to be accomplished.  As I began to tick off items on my list, I received a text and a phone call.  Both from dear friends who wanted to offer help with the adoption. Amazed and incredibly humbled, my heart was smiling.  By the end of the day, we had enough funds to complete step one in a 10 step process. Yes, joy comes in the morning.

I want to thank the friends who have given us the opportunity to jump start the process. We are thrilled to share this news with all of you and will provide updates along the way. The next big hurdle is coming soon.  We have to secure the attorney in Uganda ($500) and file documents with Homeland Security ($900) by August 30th at the latest. If you are inclined and would like to help with this mission of love, you can use the Donate button conveniently located on this page.

Tremendous thanks for the loving kindness to date:

Jimmy, Wendy and Seth Tickel- adoptive family who believes in the mission
Julie Timberlake- Long time friend who knows my heart
Jamie Frye- Long time friend who walks on faith
Leigh France- Mentor and teacher who helped me understand this is God's work. Trust and obey.

Daughter 2 is Waiting

For 16 months, I have been experiencing the deepest joy of earthly life, by raising my beautiful daughter, Grace.  She is 13 though in many ways wise, far beyond her years of living. From the first week she was home with me in April 2012, she told me I would have another daughter and she has been praying faithfully for the addition to our family. Smiling to my core, I thought that is certainly up to God, but I am more than willing.

A few months ago, I learned about a girl a year younger than my own daughter in desperate need of a family to love her.  The child had been taken out an extraordinarily vulnerable and violative lifestyle and placed in a school for protection and education.  My heart was immediately broken for this girl.  With total understanding of what it would take to heal her wounds, provide security and a future, I gave my love to her along with a commitment to do whatever it takes to bring her into a loving home.  I believe with all my soul, she is daughter 2 and will become the sister to my beautiful 13 year old.

Today, I learned that the situation is urgent and the need to speed up the process of adoption is paramount. There are circumstances which are evolving daily and while nothing can be done to stop the outcome of  today, you can help me. You can change the outcome for this precious child.

My daughter, Grace,  wanted to write her thoughts for you:

"I think adoption is a good thing to do. Before I was adopted I did not live the happiest life every day of the year. Being adopted is the best thing that has happened to me because I got adopted by a parent who takes good care of me and gives me the chance of the best education and life. When I got here, she helped me with my fears and taught me to believe in myself. She helped me fit into groups in my church.

I hope the same good things that have happened to me here, will happen to my new sister who we adopt next. My mom is the best Mom in the USA. She helped me make two best friends and I know my new sister will have a great experience making new friends and going to school and church."

Please, consider joining us in this mission of joy and love.  Will you help us bring this child into a safe and loving home?  The need is urgent.  Donations are through Paypal, use the Donate button on this page.

Here are the immediate needs:

Legal fees   $4500
School fees   $400
Home Study and Pre- Placement   $ 1500
Homeland Security and Embassy Fees $1400

Blessings for reading this post and responding in any way.  Please pray for the health and safety of this child.