My New Years Resolution is to Gain Six Pounds... More or Less

2/2012 Update: Thank you to everyone that has been such a blessing in helping us to get closer to our financial adoption goals! As you may note on our adoption donation site, our goal has increased to $16,500 as our family continues to save for this adoption. (We have a wonderful grant, but due to restrictions that have come to light, we must raise slightly more than once anticipated). It is fun for us to have a 'thermometer' and watch our savings put toward our newest little member. Again, we thank our family, friends and the body of Christ for stepping forward over the past two months to help! We love you guys!

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Our New Years resolution is to get bigger this year- by at least six pounds at first and growing from there, more or less. No, I haven't lost my mind. No, McDonald's is not paying us to be in a documentary. Yes, we are adopting!

Over the past two years we have raised, saved, scrimped and begged to add to our $33,500 agency adoption fund. Yes, I said Thirty-three thousand, five-hundred d o l l a r s. Get out the inhaler and put your head between your knees- you'll be fine in a minute... Better now?

Can you spare just $5 for adoption?! If each person can give only five bucks, we could reach our goal!
DONATE HERE NOW!!!

We've sold lemonade to every neighbor child in a 20 mile radius and the trash men know us by our first names because of all the cookies we've sold to them. Yes, my boys freak out when they see "that look" in my eyes and wonder which of their toys I'm going to sell to fill the glass mason jar in the pantry marked Adoption with a black sharpie on the lid.

In all seriousness, the Lord has been gracious and over the past week we have raised an additional $1300 from AMAZING friends, family and complete strangers who have wanted to help us reach our final $10,000 goal!

But you know what? It is going to be TOTALLY worth it. I can't wait. Bring on the diaper changes with those funky new cloth diapers that my husband despises. Bring on the 2am feedings--err, screaming sessions. Bring on the looks from people who don't understand pale peach mommy snuggling little sweet brown baby. Bring.It.On. I love my children and can't wait to see our family growing through the grace of Christ!

Why are we adopting?

As believers in Jesus Christ, we truly believe that the enemy of our souls wants to destroy the family. There are millions of children all over the world that have been abandoned, both physically and spiritually, by their parents. In the United States alone, the number of children living in homes riddled with substance abuse, neglect, divorce, parental (especially fathers) abandonment, anger, abuse, promiscuity, etc. is staggering and should cause great concern.

Placing these children in a safe environment with clean bedding, educational advantages, new clothes, and two loving parents is all well and good. BUT- if those parents are in rebellion against God and do not desire to teach and train their children in the things of Jesus, we have only improved their living conditions. Matthew 16:26 says "Or what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

Please, just give me Jesus. If I can't give any "stuff" to my children, but I can show them the cross, teach them about sin and repentance and redemption, it was worth it. John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What a great message we have to share with our children! Eternity is at stake-- their soul is at stake!

For His glory,

Angelena