Levi Rub- 6 Month Session

What an honor it was to photograph precious Levi as a newborn and then to capture the changes several months later in a 6 month session.  But it was even more of an honor to join in many prayers as this family waited for their new baby, watching God's hand at work in so many ways to bring Levi into their arms after being in their hearts for so long already.  The smiles and love captured in this session meant so much more than a typical milestone photoshoot.  It was a celebration of family and the last name he was given a few days later.  Levi Rub... God has big plans for you sweet boy!

The most rewarding task we could ever imagine...

"It takes focus, dedication, and energy to train children in the way they should go.  And though motherhood is the most taxing job we will ever undertake, it also has the potential of being the most joyful and most rewarding task we could ever imagine... if we do it for the glory of our King." 

Leslie Ludy

September "Give": The McGuire Family

Happy September!  I'm so excited to continue our Give Scarves now that cooler weather is upon us.  I love being able to hear from adoptive families and give you all the opportunity to support them- and then wear a tangible reminder as we pray for them throughout their journey.  Patrick and I have known this month's family, Matt and Jordan McGuire, for awhile- growing up in Louisville, attending CCU and now getting to know Matt's sweet family in Evansville.  Jordan shares with us their story below...

We live in Louisville, KY where Matt is a Community Pastor at Southeast Christian Church and I am starting to work with a ministry called Life in Abundance.  We have been married for four years and we love getting to do ministry and life together.  It was about a year and a half ago that we wanted to begin growing our family.  We had talked about adoption and how cool it would be, but we had certain ideas of what that should look like, such as having biological children first and then adopting.  After things not going as we had planned and taking a mission trip to Africa with a group from our church, God opened our hearts to the idea of adoption despite our misconceptions.  We learned pretty quickly that this was not a second best choice, but that it was what God was calling us to.  As of right now we are in the process to adopt a sibling group of two.

The most difficult part of the process so far is the unknown.  We don’t know how long it will take, what our child(ren) will look like, if we will be referred to siblings or not.  It all seems like it is up in the air, but we know that God knows and that has been the most comforting part of all of this.  The most amazing thing has definitely been the support from the body of Christ.  People have been so eager to help us in a variety of ways, whether that is through a bake sale, helping us set up for our fundraiser, or just giving above and beyond what we could imagine.  It has been a huge encouragement in this process.

I think there was a lot of entitlement in our hearts as we started this process.  Here we had been trying to grow our family and it had yet to happen, then to think of having to wait years to even adopt was very difficult.  Through great conversations with our adoption agency, we realized that this is a privilege that we get to enjoy.  We don’t deserve any of it, yet God can use broken things of this world to bring hope and healing.  We have also come face to face with the gospel in ways that we hadn’t before, especially as we have gone through our adoption education and heard about the things we could face, but we realize that there is nothing too ugly in us that would make God not love us.  We have been adopted into His family when we accepted Jesus and He loves us despite our sinfulness. 

Our website is mcguireadoption.com and our email is mcguireadoption@gmail.com

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This black & gray houndstooth scarf is the featured Give Scarf this month. (while supplies last)
All profit from the sales of this scarf style will go directly to the McGuire Adoption fund! {CLICK HERE} to purchase. We hope you love your scarves- be sure to tag us (@everydaypitpat) on Instagram and use #mcguireadoption so they can see all of your support! 

March "Give": The Renner Family

 I'm so excited to share with you all the Renner Family & their adoption journey...

Chris and I have been married since October, 1998. We have a 13 year old daughter and an 11 year old son. Chris is adopted and has always wanted to adopt, to give back in the same way he was blessed through adoption.  However, life sets in and years roll by.

 

Even though we had always discussed adoption, we never took action.  Then one Easter, service at Southeast Christian in Louisville, we were all given white cards with 4 windows in which to write certain things.  One of those things was one dream you have.  Chris and I both wrote “Adopt a child”.  Yet, still no action.  

Then at church Kyle Idleman told a story about being at an orphanage in Haiti and being called to action.  “Do something” he said.  I think we were mostly hesitant because of the cost.  We didn’t see how we could afford the expense of adoption.  I hated the idea of asking others for financial support.  Then Kyle preached a message about how some people “Go” and others “Send”.  I realized that not everyone feels called to adopt, yet they may have a heart for orphans and want to give so that a child could be brought into a family.

 

Chris and I were finally called to action because we realized our lack of action was…in one word…disobedient.  We were still scared of the cost, and because we wanted older children (not babies…been there, done that, don’t wanna go back!) we decided that we would foster to adopt with the state.  After 16 weeks of training, we purchased a larger home to make room for the children God would send, then… nothing. We never received a call for a placement.   In January 2013, Chris said with confidence and authority, “We are going to adopt internationally.  God will provide the funds we need.”  From that moment on, I was all in.

We completed our home study, prayed, chose a country, prayed, chose an agency, prayed, paid more money than I ever have at once for anything, prayed, and waited.  Our country of choice was Ethiopia.  We have several friends who have adopted from Ethiopia and all of the children are so loving and affectionate and have adjusted well.  We also liked the idea of our child having friends from his own country of origin and culture.  In the meantime, Ethiopia has gone through some changes which have slowed the adoption process way down.  We were originally told we would be matched with a child in about 6 months.  Then in the fall of 2014 we were being encouraged to switch countries because the wait would be years.

 

However, we stayed to course and we received a surprise call on New Year’s Eve that we have a son!  He is 8 years old and his name is Natnael, which means “Gift from God.”  He shares a birthday with our son, Mason.  There are 365 days that could have been Nat’s birthday, and it is the same day as his brother!  We expect to travel to Ethiopia to adopt Natnael in June and should have him home with us in September. God is so good! We ask for prayers that everything moves swiftly and there are no issues with the process or paperwork.  Thank you all so much!

 

This colorful Women's Infinity Scarf is the featured Give Scarf for the month.  (while supplies last)
All profit from the sales of this scarf style goes directly to help fund the Renner's adoption process.  We hope you love your scarves & share how you style them by tagging us on Instagram @everydaypitpat
 

January "Give": The Thomas Family

Sorry it's already a week into January, but here is our January Give Family!  I'm so thankful for Chris and Angie sharing their heart and family's adoption process with us.

Here is their story...
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No one ever told me adoption was a battle, a war, a direct attack on Satan and his plans to steal, kill and destroy.  I will admit when we started our adoption journey I was naïve and idealistic.  Submit paperwork, save and fund-raise (lots of) money and God brings a beautiful child in need into your family.  This is the point where I hang my head and let out a big sigh over my own ignorance.:)

 

Four and a half years later I can tell you God cares desperately for the fatherless and my naivety has been replaced by heart wounds and a deeper appreciation for the battle that ensues when we pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Adoption is a symbolic, earthly display of all that happens in the spiritual realm when we become followers of Christ.  We are rescued from our sins, purchased by His blood and brought into His family and given a new identity as His sons and daughters.  Adoption is the gospel displayed and it is beautiful…but Satan despises and opposes it in every way possible. 

 

My husband, Chris, and I first started the adoption process and submitted our application for international adoption in Ethiopia in the summer of 2010.  Our two spunky and crazy biological boys were three and almost two at the time.  We had spent time in Ethiopia and Kenya on short-term mission trips in 2003 and 2006 and sensed God’s clear leading to adopt from Ethiopia.  From the very beginning it seemed every step of the process was contested.  The first six months of our paperwork chase felt like we were walking in mud…lost documents and unexpected twists.  We finally finished our initial paperwork only to find out things in Ethiopia were changing and the wait times for being matched with a child quickly went from six months to twenty-four months. 

 

We continued to cry out to Him, asking for direction and considering if we should switch countries or agencies.  His answer, confirmed through much prayer and petition, was simply, "Stay and Wait." These words were almost crushing as we considered the wait ahead but we desperately wanted to be obedient and desired His highest and best. 

 

So…we waited (not always patiently, I might add) and in March 2013 we got the call from our agency which we had been waiting and praying for almost three years.  Our agency had a beautiful three-year-old little girl they wanted to place with our family.  One month later we discovered we were unexpectedly pregnant.  We were overjoyed at God's gift of another biological child but concerned about how this would affect our adoption.  We knew our agency had a very strict policy about pregnancy and not allowing families to proceed with adoption.  After months of tears and praying and pleading with God and our agency we found out we would not be able to continue with our adoption.   

On December 5th of 2013 we welcomed our third, precious, biological son into our family.  In July of 2014, we found out we were once again first on the list to be matched with a child.  Around the same time we learned that things in regard to international adoption had taken another downward turn in Ethiopia.  A "temporary" hold has been placed on adoption referrals at the orphanage our agency partners with by the regional Ethiopian government.  It has now been almost six months and nothing has changed.  Over Christmas we were really discouraged...again...but God gently and lovingly reminded us to keep praying. He has burdened our hearts to intercede and pray for the children who are currently living in orphanages without families.  He has led us to pray fervently that the power of the enemy who desires to keep these children as orphans would be "shattered" (Exodus 15:6, Isaiah 9:4, Job 34:24).

I can honestly say that the trials and heartaches of our adoption journey have changed us.  We understand so much more about our God…and about ourselves.  Our hearts have been purged and sifted of self-sufficiency, control, and pride (and let's just say it hasn't been pretty).  These sin struggles often die slow, painful deaths...but the life and joy found in Christ on the other side of the struggle really are more valuable than gold.  Faith and a deep, abiding trust in our Savior have been forged through the fires of disappointment and broken dreams.

And this is what we have discovered about our God…He is Faithful and Strong and True.  He is a Warrior who fought for and redeemed our lives and is still engaged in battle for those who remain spiritually without a Father and physically without a forever family.  We would covet your continued prayers for the Lord to bring home the child He has sovereignly chosen for our family. Would you pray that we would trust our God, no matter the outcome? Would you also continue to lift up the people and country of Ethiopia in your prayers as well?  The country has been ravaged by drought, economic hardships as well as HIV/AIDS for many decades.  However, God is moving and is calling and equipping the Ethiopian Church to address the needs of the millions of orphans who still exist in the country.  This is the only sustainable hope for the orphan crisis in Ethiopia and we pray God would continue to strengthen His Church in Ethiopia to lead the way in caring for orphans and other vulnerable children.  May love and justice be administered in the name of Christ and may He be glorified.

 

Love in Christ,

Chris, Angie, Burke, Henry and Ned Thomas

 

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All of the profit from the January Give Scarf will go straight to the Thomas family to help fund their adoption process.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  This month's give scarf is shown below- super soft Black & White Striped/Polka Dot Infinity Scarf (while supplies last).

 

December "Give" Family- The Maurers

So excited for you all to hear from Jen Maurer and her precious family...

Shawn is from northeast Ohio and I [Jen] am from southeast Indiana, and the two of us met in college in Kentucky. We were married in 2005 and spent five years ministering in Winston-Salem, NC before moving to Texas in 2010 where Shawn currently serves as the Lead Student Pastor of Compass Christian Church. Adoption and fostering has been on both of our hearts since we were dating, and we both knew that it would one day be something we'd pursue. God spoke to each of us separately and distinctly about a year ago, and we realized that the time to begin this part of our journey was now. Shawn's degree and experiences in student ministry combined with my degree and experiences in Counseling/Psychology have culminated in us hearts that break for the most vulnerable in our society - children in the foster care system. We feel called to walk through the pain, hurt, neglect, abuse, and prayerfully - healing with the children God has prepared for us. 

Our family will be officially licensed on December 4th, which was an arduous process unto itself! However, I think the most challenging aspect of our preparation so far has been working with our boys to understand what is about to happen. Our six year old [Jude] understands why children would be put in foster care and understands that our family can help, love, and serve those children, but also seems to think that all a child would need is a week or so of kind words and they'll be "good as new." Helping him see that the healing process is long, slow, and often even unseen has been challenging. Our four year old son [Cohen] is excited about the prospect of having a foster brother or sister, although we're still working to help him understand that his new sibling will require significant patience, gentleness, kindness, and selflessness. That's a hard lesson for many adults to get...much less a 4 year old! 

One of our greatest concerns in entering this process was our need for a support system. Our families live across the country, and we knew we'd need help, support, and understanding to parent our foster children [as well as Jude and Cohen] well. As we took our first steps in paperwork and training, Shawn and I began praying earnestly for a support system. I can remember crying on my knees, pleading with God and telling Him we couldn't do it alone. Within the hour, my phone began blowing up with friends offering their help and support - friends who were willing to be certified to babysit our foster children, friends who were happy to watch Jude and Cohen so we could make all of our training sessions, and friends who were offering encouragement and prayers. I've seen God provide over and over in many ways at each junction of our journey. Just when I get overwhelmed and think I'm not going to be able to make it through the next step, He reminds me of His faithfulness and everlasting love. 

We're not exactly sure when we'll get the call for a placement, but it's looking like we'll have a placement by Christmas. I can't help but think about Joseph in the days after Mary's labor. He was looking at a sweet boy. A sweet boy who wasn't biologically connected to him. During Mary's pregnancy, I wonder if he questioned if he'd be able to love that baby. I wonder if he thought he'd have a hard time raising a child he didn't help make, or worried about feeling resentful. But I think as he looked at Jesus' tiny fingers, any worries he'd had surely vanished. God called Joseph to adopt and raise His son, and Joseph submitted to that call. And the world will never be the same. 

My favorite quote, my battle cry, my anthem is from Derek Loux. "My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him." 

Our family blog: 

				jenny.erally : speak.ing {speaking before i think since 1981}
				View on jennyerallyspeaking.w...	Preview by Yahoo

jenny.erally : speak.ing

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All profit from the December Give Scarf will go directly to the Maurer family to help fund their foster care and adoption process.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  Stock up on Christmas gifts, tell your friends and help us share with the Maurers!  Here is this month's Give Scarf:

November "Give" Family- Brandon & Nichole

You all were such an encouragement to the Blandford family (and me!) last month.  I am more than excited to bless another family and share their story with you...

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Brandon is from the Boston, Ky area and I am from Louisville. We now live in Bowling Green. We met at work in 2009 when Brandon was completing a physical therapy rotation at the clinic in which I was working. We have a really interesting love story, we met in July 2009, began dating a month later, got engaged in October 2009 and were married in April 2010. Most people give us that wide-eyed look when we tell them our story, but for us, we knew and trusted that God had brought us together.

Our adoption story really began when we started dating. My nephew was adopted from Guatemala in 2008 and after that experience, I felt God pressing on my heart to adopt a child someday. When I brought this passion of mine to Brandon, he agreed. We contacted our agency (Lifeline) in March 2014 and are now waiting to be matched with a birth-mother/birth-parents.

Most difficult (Nichole's perspective):

The most difficult thing has been reading over birth-parent profiles and knowing there is a child who needs a home and falling in love with every one, then hearing that we weren't chosen. Through each one, we prayed that God would provide the best parents for the child and He has. We also pray for the birth-parents and birth-family who will love this child and for their hearts to be comforted.

Most difficult (Brandon's perspective):

I found the homestudy process to be relatively easy. I was expecting it to be more difficult based on other people's statements and feelings about the homestudy process. I would say that the most difficult thing for me has been trying to raise the money for the adoption by ourselves. I had to come to the realization that we are not going to be able to raise the money without the help of God. Another difficult part has been hearing back from our social worker that we have not been chosen by the birthparents. We read the profiles, pray about them, and start to picture them as part of our family. Then, we get an email stating that we have not been chosen.

Most amazing:

We have been so impressed with how God keeps opening and changing our hearts with each birth-parent profile we read and pray over. We have so much love for these children and their first families, and it is easy for our thoughts and emotions to focus solely on what we are feeling But, as we pray for the children, their families and the adopting family, God reveals to us just how much adoption is a ministry, not just a personal event. For us, praying for the birth-family keeps our thoughts and emotions off of our personal feelings and points them to God.

 I (Nichole) also love how God has spoken to Brandon's heart during our journey. Going in, I did not have a positive view of open adoption, in which the birth-parents are involved. I had heard and read the stories and I was so afraid of what could happen. Brandon's heart for these birth-families is beautiful. He was immediately concerned with what they would be going through in making this adoption plan and leaving the hospital without a child. He said it would be cool to have a relationship with them. God has used Brandon to grow my own heart for the birth-parents. I look forward to being able to show the love of Jesus to them, and encouraging them.


Why we said "Yes" to God:

We knew that we wanted to grow our family through adoption, but the experience is different for each family, so it's hard to imagine what the journey will look like. It would be easy to say that we bllindly trusted God wholely and completely from the start, but that's not our story. God has provided just the right amount of faith, trust and strength as we have needed them. We have realized that God doesn't give us all we need for the journey at the beginning, but in small doses so we continue to follow Him for direction. we gain small glimpses of God's love for us as we have need. I think we have realized this more in raising the money for our adoption. There was time when we were doubtful that this was what God wanted because the idea of raising so much seemed impossible. But, it was God who provided again and built our faith up even more by showing us we were on the right path. If we had all the money at the start, I'm not sure our faith and trust would be as deep as it is now.
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If you would like to hear more from Nichole and Brandon, you can read updates on their blog {PrayLoveAct.blogspot.com} or give directly to their adoption {here}

100% of the profit from the November give scarf will go directly to help fund the Davis family's adoption journey.  

Click {here} to purchase a give scarf from my Etsy shop and share with your friends! 

Thank you!

A note of thanks from the Blandford Family (read more about their family {here})

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Precious friends,

Whether you have known us for a lifetime or were recently introduced to our family through Savannah's Blog, thank you for your support!  We are humbled and amazed by your generosity. It's been so fun to see so many of you showing off your scarves this month.  It's given us great joy to see you so excited for our expanding family!

 

Thank you for your willingness to join with us on our journey.  What peace we have in knowing we are surrounded by such a faithful community! Additionally, your purchases have helped us make a giant step toward our fundraising goal.  We are blessed and encouraged by your support!

 

Much Love, JJ

(You can continue to follow the Blandford's Adoption on their website {here})

Get to know more Families on the Adoption Journey

The Maurer Family {www.jennysara.com}
The Hudson Family {http://www.karlanthony.com/uganda-child-adoption/}
The Davis Family {www.prayloveact.blogspot.com}
The Renner Family {www.bothhands.org/projects/renner-4443}
The Frazier Family {welcomelittlechild.blogspot.com}

Since I can't feature every family for the monthly give scarf, each month I want to share with you some links so you can get to know some more families on their adoption journey.  Maybe you want to connect with them, read their stories, or give directly to these families.  Click on the links by their names above to read more.  

Feel free to email me if you are interested in sharing your story and being featured on the blog.  I'm hoping to make this social world a little more personal by connecting you with others going through similar challenges as you and give you the opportunity to support them through encouragement or donations.  

UPDATE: the geometric print sold out within 24 hrs of this post!  

I will have the October Give Scarf restocked on Oct. 13th- so check back then!

And did you know that we have already sold out of the first {October Give Scarf Style} (Large B&W Polka Dot) and only have 1 left of the next! (Mini B&W Polka Dot) 
Once that one sells- we will switch to the geometric one shown above :)  Never imagined we would be sharing so many scarves with you.  Your generosity has blown me away and I know the Blandford family is extremely thankful.  Let's keep this going!!  

If you missed their story, you can read it {here}.