It is Not a Good Time

Did you see our cover photo? In May 2013 we let our adoption homestudy expire. We were just about to put our house on the market, any normal person would say this is not a good time to bring another child into our family. We agreed. I cried and grieved knowing that it wouldn't be a "good time" to add a child to our family for a couple years while we were living lower to pursue our debt free calling. Wasn't one calling from God enough? He can't call us to adoption and debt freedom can He? 

 

6 months passed by and God was convicting my heart more and more. When God changed our heart in 2010 to commit to leave our family planning in His hands alone we committed to never pursue birth control again, not due to family size or current circumstances. As God tilled my heart I began to justify myself before Him. One night crying out to Him in the shower I heard, "you are on birth control, you are hindering a blessing in the way I choose to give it, through adoption". Brian and I repented right away and began the process of opening up our home once again.

On Thanksgiving day we chose to announce (via our photo) to the world we were ready for God's blessing regardless of our circumstances, our upcoming move, or our debt free journey. We wouldn't buy into the "it is not a good time" lie that the world sold us again, God's timing is always perfect!
 

Little did we know God was already weaving our new child's story as well. A little boy came up for adoption on Thanksgiving day. We began praying for the perfect home for him in early December, since we wouldn't be homestudy ready for months. God worked miracles, and we were chosen as this child's new family and our homestudy was completed 9 days later. God instantly began providing financially through generous donations and we began this new to us process through private domestic interstate adoption.

We could possibly bring home our new son in as little as 2-3 weeks. If you feel called to care for the orphan through adoption please come along side us and help us bring our son home!

What we need:

• PRAYER 
• FUNDS 
• and most of all a community willing to show him UNFAILING LOVE!

 

Click here if you feel led to donate to our 6th adoption!

 

 

Posted by Shannon
Soli Deo gloria - Glory to God alone  

So...Are You Moving or What?

UPDATE TO OUR PLAN TO BE DEBT FREE!
Sell everything (All that won't fit in RV is sold, just a dining room table, tv, and bed to store)
Sell house (House is sold and closing is Dec. 6th)
Buy or rent small piece of land  (Our 7 acre property will be paid off by March 2014 or sooner)
Move into RV or small, low-rent house
Save up every dime of Brian's income for 2-3 years
Pay CASH for whatever house we want
Pray for a new plan (kids say adopt 20 more kids...hope that isn't God inspired)
 

Where are you going to live now!?!

We have been staying in our house as long as we could but our house is SOLD! And PRAISE THE LORD, the bank granted full forgiveness for our $70,000 deficiency. God is so good!

With a closing date (Dec. 6th) on the calendar this move is feeling real now! We are in a little bit of a bind figuring out how to navigate the county regulations and ordinances of our new property. Making sure we are keeping all we do on the property legal so it may be a couple more months before we can live there. God is sovereign over all and is always faithful to guide us. We have been so blessed by church family, friends and even strangers offering up their property and houses for us to stay at while we prepare our land to live on. Now with so many options, we just have to decide where to stay, what a good problem to have!

We really don't know what our next direction is but without any car or house payments it is looking like we will have a lot more time together to enjoy just being a family! Home is where your heart is, and we will be home in a tent, an RV, or a house!

Follow our move and debt-free plan from beginning:

May 24, 2013 Introduction to our Plan Move: The Next Great Leap
June 20, 2013 Brian's wisdom on Debt: Debt or Not to Debt?
August 3, 2013 An update to our Plan Move: Do you ever slow down!?!
August 16, 2013 Selling all our stuff and preparing: So Many Preparations! So Many Distractions!
August 26, 2013 Our need list to make our plan a reality: Are We There Yet!?!
September 8, 2013 Trials and blessings along the way: Story of Faithfulness in Very Difficult Times


Posted by Shannon
Soli Deo gloria - Glory to God alone