Why International Adoption?

As some of you know we have embarked on a new adventure into the world of international adoption. We are beginning this process in addition to being foster parents and some of you may be wondering why we have decided to add this to our already full (OK, overflowing) plates.

While there were many factors, prayers, and discussions that went into our decision to pursue international adoption (including our foster experience) there were a few specific things that influenced and impacted us in major ways, so I thought I'd share them with you.

THE BOOK

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

 

THE SONGS
Live Like That by Sidewalk Prophets and Follow You by Leeland (featuring Brandon Heath)





THE FAMILY
The Litzke Family! Read a little about Mandy Litzke and her amazing family here.

THE VIDEO
Our church recently started a new ministry called Hope 4 Every Child and they played this video at the first meeting:



After seeing this we knew we had to do more and so we made the decision to begin another journey. We sent in our application at the end of September and have been plugging away ever since. We are still in the early stages of the process, but hope to finish our home study by the end of the year.

We can't wait to see what God will do with our 'yes,' and we will keep everyone posted as we move into next year!


And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." ~Matthew 25:40

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. ~James 1:27

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ~John 14:18

Recently Read & Recommend

Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman is the true story of the Chapman family's amazing adoption adventures and journey through the loss of their daughter. I enjoyed the first half of the book a bit more than the later chapters which are made up of reprinted blog posts and journals, but overall it was an inspirational book so grab a copy from the library along with a box of tissues and enjoy!


Recently Read & Recommend {Truly Inspirational}

I have always been a reader. In middle and high school I could read two or more books a day. I still love to read, but with a husband, house, laundry, and 3 blessings (who keep me super busy) this is not a season of life when I have large amounts of time to devote to reading. So when selecting books to read I try to be choosy and only select books that I feel will be worth the time I spent reading them. This book is hands down one of those books....

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis is one of the most moving and inspirational books I have ever read or could hope to read. This girl is absolutely amazing to the point that I really can't find the words to even begin to explain it. This book is so good that I read it in a matter of hours. You just have to read it and see for yourself!

The rave reviews for Katie's book put it better than I every could:

“When you think of what one young woman can accomplish by simply being open to God’s call no matter the cost, you begin to ask questions like, Am I really open to God’s will for my life? Through Katie’s life, we’re reminded how God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him. We simply need to be willing to be used."
—Rich Stearns, President of World Vision US, Author of The Hole in Our Gospel

“With reckless abandon, Katie Davis followed her heart to care for orphans living in extreme poverty in Uganda. Her stories captivate the reader to take action, join her work, and make the world a better place for children—one by one.”
—Senator William H. Frist, MD

“As I read Katie's book, I felt like I was reading Amy Carmichael. As Amy did in her life, Katie shows Jesus to be amazingly wonderful not only in what she writes, but also in how she selflessly cares for the fatherless. If you want to love Jesus more and better understand his love for the least of these, read Kisses from Katie. She is for our generation what Amy was for hers: a hero in fulfilling God's call to care for orphans.”
—Dan Cruver, director, Together for Adoption, author of Reclaiming Adoption

“I was profoundly moved, challenged, and convicted as I read Kisses from Katie, and I came away wanting to know Jesus the way that Katie does. This is an honest and compelling account of one young woman's journey of obedience to a Jesus who loves the whole world, especially the forgotten and the marginalized. Jesus was the most revolutionary and subversive man who ever lived. Following Him should lead us to be graciously radical in His name.”
—Mike Erre, author of Why the Bible Matters and The Jesus of Suburbia

Please share this book with everyone you know!

Be sure to visit Katie's blog journal at http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

Also check out Katie's non-profit ministry to the people of Uganda, Amazima Ministries, and while you're there please consider making a donation.

Recently Read & Recommend

I typically decide to read a book based on a friend or family member's recommendation, and the first thing I do is visit Amazon's website and read the book's reviews. The second thing I do is borrow the book from the library (or the friend who recommended it) because I almost never buy a book unless I have read it or at least looked at/skimmed it in hand.

Several friends recommended the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp at our last homeschool support meeting. I remembered having heard of this book and that I had considered reading it about a year ago. Per my usual routine I had looked at the book on Amazon's website and discovered it had received 3.5 stars (out of 5) and had gotten some mixed reviews - lots of people loved and lots disliked it, and although I don't make my decision to read or not read a book based on the Amazon reviews (there are several books that I love that have gotten mixed reviews and less than 4 stars on Amazon) I decided not to read it at the time. So, when several close friends, who I dearly love and respect, recommended it I decided it was time to read it and judge for myself. And the verdict is....

I LOVED IT! If you are a Christian parent and you have not read it I highly recommend that you do so. It has so much great information that I can't even begin to give a synopsis. The main controversy over this book is that the author advocates spanking, and while I am not anti-spanking I do not entirely agree with him on every point regarding spanking. I do, however, think that the book overall is excellent and a wonderful resource.

Bottom line: I bought the book!

Parables From Nature

Parables From Nature by Margaret Gatty (Mrs. Alfred Gatty) weaves interesting facts from nature and science into the stories. The collection includes all 29 stories from the first, second, third, and fourth series, originally published in separate volumes.The stories in "Parables from Nature" are challenging, rich and complex, as they seek to uncover God's craftsmanship in the natural world, how the seen teaches us about the unseen. This is a great book to glean ideas from and stretch the intellect, imagination and understanding.

As I have mentioned before we follow the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education in our homeschool, and this year we began using the free curriculum provided by Ambleside Online (which we love). As part of Jordan's Year 2 curriculum we are reading Parables From Nature and I am really enjoying it (Jordan likes it, but it is quite challenging and complex). This collection was originally published in a four volume series and can be read free online here.

Recently Read & Recommend

I am starting a new post series called Recently Read & Recommend in which I post books I have recently read, really enjoyed, and recommend.

So, here is the first book:

The Scarlet Pimpernel
by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

First published in 1905, The Scarlet Pimpernel, is the best-known novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, a prolific author of popular fiction and plays. The novel pioneered the tale of the masked avenger and paved the way for such future enigmatic heroes as Zorro and the Lone Ranger. The Scarlet Pimpernel is a relevant and enormously entertaining tale of survival and pluck during times of widespread fear, hypocrisy, and corruption.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book! I didn't know if I would, but after the first few chapters I could hardly put it down. Reading this book made me want to take French lessons again (I took four years in high school and hardly remember a thing). I loved the mystery of it all. Highly recommend!

Little Pilgrim's Progress

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen L. Taylor

Fifty-five years ago, Helen L. Taylor took John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and simplified the vocabulary and concepts for young readers, while keeping the storyline intact, and the result is a classic in itself. It’s both a simple adventure story and a profound allegory of the Christian journey through life.

Jordan and I are reading this together and we are both enjoying it SO much. The chapters are short and after each chapter we talk about the allegorical meaning.
Highly recommend!