Where God Guides, He Provides!!

Sunday, November 27, 2011 1 comment
From the very start of my adoption journey I have always prayed God's name would be glorified! I wanted people to see HIM in every detail, big and small!! Adopting from Ethiopia as a single mom would not be possible if not for God's Grace!! I was blown away recently with how God brought me my referral of my sweet Isaiah. To go from what some would call zero hope in adopting and then 5 days later being able to see my sweet boy's face!! What a blessing!! There is another part of the story that I have been wanting to share.

Once I received my refferal I knew I would have a short time to get the money together for my referral fee. Through the kindness of others I had already been blessed with $2,400! I needed $5,600 more to be able to officially accept my referral. After talking to Lesley we both decided that because of the uncertaintity in Ethiopia with single mother adoptions it would be better to not ask for a extension as some families sometimes can, which meant I had 10-14 days to come up with the money or I took a chance on losing my referral. I had no idea how I was going to come up with the money. My human brain could not wrap my head around how in the world God was going to do it BUT in my heart I knew God WOULD provide.

The following Wednesday while at work I received $600 in donations from three different people!! God was already providing for the remainder I needed to accept my referral! That night I came home to an e-mail from a woman I only knew through e-mail. She had been very kind and had donated an item for my giveaway. I had e-mailed her the day I got my referral to thank her for her donation and to tell her I had gotten my referral. She had e-mailed me that Wednesday to check in and see how my fundraising was going. She said she and her husband had been praying for me and that they wanted to help. She has asked me to let her know how much I still needed for my referral fee. I smiled when I read her e-mail. A complete stranger who only knew me through e-mails wanted to help me. How sweet of her! I e-mailed her back that evening, thanking her for her generous heart. Not only had she donated something for my giveaway but she was now wanting to help me even more. Below is the e-mail I received from her the following morning.

Sarah,

Love your heart and your faith is inspiring. I'll put a check for $5000.00 in the mail today. ; )

It's unusual for us to have this kind of money to donate, but a few months ago we recieved a blessing and wanted to creatively give back to God. We've been 'sitting' on this money for three months now, just praying for direction on how God would have us use it. When you wrote me and told me the amount you needed, I thought it odd (in a cool, God-kind of way), because that's the exact amount we had. I continued to think and pray about the idea. Last night I told my husband about it and he immediately agreed that giving you this money is the right thing for us to do. I'm so excited for you and for the journey you are on. I'll continue to pray for you and that God will continue to make himslef known through you and your boys. :)

I still get tears in my eyes just reading these words again. How AWESOME is our God!!! I was and continue to be overwhelmed and humbled that God chose my boys and I to be a part of such an amazing story of God's Provision, Grace, Faith and Obediance!!! In just 9 days I went from being told that I may not be able to adopt from Ethiopia, to getting my referral and then getting ALL the money I needed to accept my referral!!! Can I get an AMEN and Praise the Lord Almighty!!! My sweet Brother and Sister in Christ will never know how much their gift means to me!! Isaiah will always know about the Angels who helped bring him home to his forever family!!I thank God for them and their giving hearts!! I pray God's blessings on their family!! I hope I am one day able to travel to their state and introduce them to my sweet boy once he gets home!!

I am so thankful that my prayers are continuing to be answered! God's Mighty name continues to be Glorified!! People who don't know the Lord are hearing this story and are now starting to become more interested in hearing about Him!! Praise Jesus!! People who have fealt the Lord calling them to adopt but were unsure due to the financial part are now stepping out in Faith believing that "Where God Guides, He Provides" I don't know why God chose me, but I will always be thankful he did! Not only has my Faith grown but so many other's have as well.

“You are my servant…in whom I will show my glory.” Isaiah 49:3

Getting My Referral

Saturday, November 12, 2011 1 comment
Yes, I know my blog title has changed :) The minute I saw my precious little boy's face last Saturday I knew he didn't look like a Silas. The name didn't fit his beautiful face. Noah and I have spent the last week talking about the perfect name and yesterday we finally decided on Isaiah. There is scripture from the book of Isaiah that I have always loved and especially going through this adoption journey, it has been a source of comfort.

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"

God is writing such an amazing story of Provision, Grace, Faith and Obediance through my adoption. Although I am not the best at blogging sometimes (or a lot of the time, lol) I am so thankful to have this blog to use as a journal. I have literally been blown away and incredibally humbled this past week. God's POWER has been shown in BIG ways just this past week and I can't wait to share with ya'll as soon as I am able!!

As ya'll might remember Monday October 31st I met with my the Ethiopian Director at my agency where I was informed that Ethiopia was in fact closing adoptions to single mothers but nobody was sure of the timeline as to when it would all happen. The decision was made to continue to move forward with my adoption. As easy as it would have been to just stop and give up, I couldn't do that. I felt with every bit of my heart that my little boy was in Ethiopia and I needed to get him home!! I had sent out a mass text message asking all my friends to pray that God would allow my adoption to continue and that I would be able to bring my little boy home wherever he was. That night my good friend Lesley (who is also the Ethiopian Director) texted me to ask me what was the absolute age range I was open to. I had originally thought that the best fit for our little family would be an older child, like 3-5, but I told Lesley I didn't want to box God in on what he had planned for us. So I told her I was open to a little boy from birth-5yr old. I didn't want what I thought was best, but what God knew was best for us.

Wednesday night I had also asked my Adoption Bible Study class to pray for me and for my adoption. It is such a blessing being a part of a group of ladies who have all gone through adoption and understand ALL the emotions that come with this amazing journey! It turns out God was hearing all the prayers and he was hard at work molding and shaping every detail that would lead up to getting my referral. It turns out Lesley got the news of my referral on Thursday!!! Just 3 days after telling me she wasn't sure what the future held for my adoption!!!

It has been an ongoing joke that Lesley would be unable to really surprise me with my referral because unlike most people adopting, I don't get excited and jumpy when Lesley's name pops up on my caller ID because we are good friends and we talk often. Boy was I wrong :) Lesley sent me a text message Thursday night asking me what I was doing on Saturday. She said her hubby was working all weekend and she wanted to come over and see my new house. We moved back in August but with work, school and kids I haven't had the opportunity to really have anyone over. At first I wasn't sure because I had to work Saturday but Lesley was persistent :) and assured me they weren't going to stay long. Trust me it wasn't that I didn't want her and her sweet boys to come over, but I was working my 3rd Saturday in a row and I never know if I am actually going to get to leave on time. So after all that we agreed that I would text her when I was almost home and they would head over.

I had been home about 10 minutes and was in my basement when I heard Lesley hollering for me from upstairs. I made my way upstairs and as I reached the top I also saw my other friend Brittney standing around the corner by my front door. I began to get a little confused and even said to Brittney "What are you doing here? I didn't invite you over, LOL" She totally knew I was joking. Although I found it a little odd she was there, it wasn't too weird since we are all friends and Brittney and I live on the same street. I still hadn't caught on. I should mention Brittney also works for my adoption agency :) and it turns out Lesley and Brittney wanted to give me my referral together. So they had planned to have Lesley tell me she was coming over and then she would stop and pick up Brit and bring her along.

Lesley and Brittney were standing there smiling and I think I had a huge look of confusion on my face when all of a sudden Lesley said something like "So I'm a horrible lier" and then turned this piece of paper around that had my sweet boy's pictures on them!!!! I immediately lost it and started crying like a big baby. I had waited so long to see his face and less then a week ago I wasn't even sure if that would happen!! Everyone was crying and so excited, poor Noah he didn't understand completely what was going on. About 10 minutes after getting it I called for him to come over to me and I showed him the picture again and asked him if he knew who this was. He shook his head no, and I told him it was the picture he had been praying and asking for. The picture of his little brother. He immediately got the biggest smile on his face and just stared at it :) I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends who made sure to surprise me with my referral. I seriously had no clue what was going on!! Definitely something I will never forget :)

Orphan Sunday Giveaway!!

Sunday, November 6, 2011 2 comments
So today was just wonderful :) Noah and I along with my mom, sister, niece and nephews all wore our adoption shirts in support of Orphan Sunday. While I loved being able to bring awareness today, it is sad that we need an actual day to open the eyes of people all over the world about the orphan crisis. Seriously, why can't this be an everyday thing?!?! My nephew actually had a lady stop him in Wal-Mart who asked him what his shirt said and what it was for :) Loved seeing him quickly inform her about orphan care and my adoption!! I can't tell you how special it was to wear them now having my referral. My precious boy was Chosen by the Father to join our family and just looking at his little face makes it so amazingly real and I just can not wait to get him home!!! This was Noah and I before we left for church this morning.



So thanks to LOTS of amazingly sweet people who were gracious enough to donate some things, I have a great little basket of goodies I am giving away! You will find out the details of how to enter at the end of this post. So without further adu let's see what you have the chance to win!!


Crystal @ http://www.thecanvasheart.com/ designed this beautiful canvas for the giveaway. I love how she used neutral colors so that it could go with any decor :) It is a 8x10 canvas with Psalm 86:11 written on it


I have gotten to know Carolyn Twietmeyer over the last couple of months through Facebook and she is just an awesome lady!! She is the founder and executive director of Project Hopeful, an organization that is educating, encouraging and enabling families to adopt and advocate for children with HIV/AIDS. You can read more about Carolyn and the how you can get involved with PH at http://www.projecthopeful.org/ Carolyn was so nice to donate one of these awesome necklaces for the giveaway. I am putting mine on my Christmas list :)


I have been reading Angie Smith's blog for a few years now. It was seriously a God thing that brought me to her blog and I am so thankful for it because over the last few years Angie's words have encouraged me, ministered to me and inspired me through some tough times and good times :) Angie has written two books. Both of which are amazingly good! I am so happy to have both of her books included in the giveaway, one of which is a signed copy :) I can guarantee you will gain a ton from both of her books!! She is a true woman of faith!!



I "met" Kelly through the adoption community and Facebook :) She and her family are adopting from China and to help raise money they have an awesome store where they sell everything from shirts, to jewelry to cups and even car decals. I LOVE their products and was so happy when Kelly sent me a cup to include in the giveaway!! Be sure and check out their online store for more awesome products at http://www.gotloveadopt.com/


Gwen and Suzanne are two moms who love orphans! They met six years ago as they were both going through their first adoptions (one domestic and one international) … Thirteen kids and seven adoptions later, they are bound together through faith and mission. they love “doing life together” and accepting the call to speak up for orphans everywhere. They want to help as many people as possible to see the 147 million orphans as scripture calls them, “…those who have no voice.” They want you to see YOUR PART in helping change the life of an orphan. Could it be adoption, sponsoring a child, volunteering for orphan care ministry, rocking babies at an orphanage, financially supporting someone adopting, or buying these products? I LOVE my 147 gear and I know you will too!! I have two shirts both XL in size that Gwen and Suzanne donated for the giveaway :) The dark grey one is a long sleeved one and the pink one is short sleeved.



Kara over at http://www.papersunday.com/ has so kindly offered one of her beautiful personalized journals of your choosing!! There are LOTS of different styles to choose from and who wouldn't love a journal that is personalized with your name, included in scripture on each page!! I will be adding this to my Christmas list as well :)

I have been blessed to hear Liz Curtis Higgs speaks twice over the last couple of years. She is such a funny lady, with a gift of speaking God's word in a way that you can always relate to. I have the Rise and Shine book and it is wonderful. I loved reading her daily devotionals and I am sure you will too!!


Kim is a fellow adoptive mommy :) She and her husband have two sweet little girls and are in the process of adopting two little girls from Ethiopia. I have enjoyed getting to know her through blogging. To raise money for their adoption, Kim and her husband are selling ornaments like the one below. Are they not neat! I love them! Kim was kind enough to send me one to include in the giveaway. You can check out Kim's blog and learn more about their adoption journey at http://alittleloveinyourheart.blogspot.com/


My sweet friend Lindsay who sells Thirty One has given me a super cute lunch tote for the winner!! I love the polka dots :)



How to Enter:
(Pay via Paypal on the left sidebar)
Shipping will be free to the winner.


$10 for one entry
$20 for two entries
$30 for five entries
$50 for fifteen entries

Free entry (after paying for at least one entry) for one blog post! (comment here to let me know you posted)


You can also get 3 entries if you purchase a shirt. You can order through paypal, just be sure to include the size you will need and include $2 for shipping :)


The giveaway will go until November 18th at midnight!! I will choose the winner on Saturday November 19th :) So get your entries in now!! I don't know about you but I would love to get my hands on ALL of that stuff!!



Yikes! Three things I almost forgot about! An awesome personalized shirt from
http://pitterpatterart.wordpress.com/ Laura has been so kind to offer a personalize tee to the winner. I love her African shirts and will definitely be ordering some matching shirts for my two boys!!

A sweet lady who I have become the quite the fan of on Facebook :) donated a personalized wubbie and key fob!! She has TONS of different designs and you can personalize them for a boy or girl!! I am definitely going to be ordering a wubbie for my sweet boy to take to him on my first trip!! You can "like" her page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/craftypolkadot




































A Day I WIll Never Forget!!!!

Saturday, November 5, 2011 1 comment
Today is a day I will never forget. Why you ask?!?!?! BECAUSE...............................................













I GOT MY REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have gotten to stare at the sweet, precious face of my son ALL DAY!!!!! He is 5 months old, has the sweetest smile that melts this momma's heart and has the biggest most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen!!!!! I have spent the day crying tears of JOY and being on cloud nine at God's POWER!!!!! There is so much to type about the awesome way I found out and what's next but right now I am going to take advantage of the extra hour of sleep I can get and go to bed :) PLEASE be praying that God will again MOVE MOUNTAINS and provide the funds I will need in just 10 SHORT days to officially accept my referral. I need $5,500!!!! If you have a heart for orphan care and feel lead to donate you can do so by clicking on the button in the top left hand corner. Be sure and check back tomorrow for an announcement about a BIG GIVEAWAY I am hosting to raise money!!!

Off to pray over my sweet boy's face before bed :)

A Year Later & BIG Prayer Request!!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 1 comment
Today marks a year since I started on this amazing journey called adoption. This last year has been full of every emotion there is as well as many many tears and prayers for a sweet little boy half way across the world waiting on his mommy to come get him!! When I started on this journey I thought I had a pretty good idea as to what the timeline would look like. I just knew 9 months into it I would have a referral and then 3 months later I would be traveling to meet my son. Ha, if only I knew then what I know now!! With that said I honestly never thought a year later I would still be waiting on a referral, but I know God's timing is perfect as he has shown me so many times. Over the last 12 months God's provision for this adoption has been been made so clear and I am so thankful that He is control and not my type A control freak self :)

The Lord has used this last year to grow my faith, teach me more about obedience and what it means to truly be still and wait on Him! There have been days where I have cried and pleaded with the Lord over this adoption, then there have been days where no matter what obstacles I have come up against I have been at peace knowing the Lord already knows when my sweet boy will join my family. He counts the hairs on his head, he knows his laugh, his smile, he comforts him at night, he keeps him safe and he WILL bring him home to his mommy and big brother who talk about him daily, pray for him every night and who love him with all our hearts!!

This all brings me to a huge prayer request. Sunday night I got a text from my good friend Lesley who works for my adoption agency. She wanted to know if I could come by the office on Monday morning to talk. I was tempted to freak out and call her immediately to find out what was going on but I felt the Lord telling me "calm down, I am already there" So I chose to just wait and talk to her in the morning. What she told me the next morning was definitely not what I wanted to hear!

Ethiopia is closing adoptions to single mothers. My heart sank! What did this mean?? I didn't cry, I didn't freak out, but on the inside my heart and mind were racing. Thankfully Lesley is awesome at giving me all the information available and making sure I have a clear understanding of every detail. Plus she is great at holding me accountable and reminding me that the Lord is in ultimate control. So what does this mean for my journey to bring Silas home??

As of right now there is not a definite date as to when adoptions will be stopped for single moms. Currently my dossier is #14 on the waiting list. As it stands right now I am going to continue on this journey in hopes that I will be able to finish this journey with bringing home my little boy!! There are LOTS of tiny details but honestly I don't feel comfortable sharing every little detail on the internet :) I hope ya'll understand!! I would be humbled if you would commit to joining me in praying for my adoption! I know that no matter how big the bumps are that I hit in this journey they are nothing compared to the God we serve who can move mountains!! I am believing that this is just another way God is going to be glorified as his power, grace and mercy are poured out over this adoption!!

I was telling my friend today it would be so easy for me to just give up and quit but the ache that I have felt in my heart since yesterday and the tears I cried as I thought of that precious little boy waiting for me, those keep me going, keep me fighting to bring my son home where he belongs!! At night I watch as Noah prays for his brother, asking God to keep him safe until he comes home. So much love in his heart for his little brother. I long for the day they are together, learning from eachother and playing together! I will not stop until he is home!!

"God will never give you more then you can handle? God will give us more then we can handle, because then we surrender to him and he takes over, proving himself by doing the impossible in our lives! All of this life requires more of him and less of me!" I am praying and clinging to Christ tonight and in the nights to come when I feel like the world is against me! Lord Jesus help me to always remember no matter who is against me YOU are for me and YOU are bigger then anything of the world!!

If you would like to join me in praying, there are some specific prayer request you can be praying for~


  • Pray that I will be able to finish my journey to bring Silas home

  • Pray that the updated paperwork I am waiting on comes soon and I am able to get everything in order for my referral

  • Pray the the Lord will continue to provide financially, specifically the $5,700 that I still need for my referral fee.

  • Pray that God will watch over Silas, keep him safe, healthy and comforted until the day he is in my arms forever

  • Pray that Ethiopia will allow the single mothers already in process to finish their adoptions and bring their children home

  • Pray that God will continue to be glorified through my adoption

  • Pray that I will stay focused on the Lord and continue to be obedient in all circumstances.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and support! I don't know what the future holds for my adoption but I do know that the Lord is already there and has every detail worked out!! The new song by Casting Crowns "Already There" ministers to my heart and I find myself listening to it daily :) I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I do!!