{Thank-full} FULL of Thanks!

I don't think that I'm exaggerating when i say this.

Yeah, as a matter of fact I know I'm not.  This was one of the most inspiring 4 days of my life I think.  Not THE most, but it ranks up there.  As i sit here on a Sunday night and think about the events of the last 4 days, and the feelings that I had that went through my head all I can do is smile. 

 

We had Thanksgiving with our families.  While sometimes you go into family events you maybe have a pit in your stomach and hope and pray that it goes well.  Well, we do anyway.  However, that's not the point.  The point is, Thanksgiving with both of our families was wonderful.  That was inspiring in itself.  Ya know how sometimes you have that image in your mind of how you think things are "supposed" to go? Well, as you can see-THIS image is EXACTLY how I expected it to go. And we're ok with that.  This is the best.  This sums it all up, you can't predict how a day is going to go, how your kids are going to act.  So, let's make it easy, let's not have expectations.  That is what I have learne to do.  Because you see, Ezzie is in a stage right now, that more times than not she is not a fan of people other than us.  Praise the Lord that she loves her mommy and daddy more than life itself, however sometimes that can wear on a mommy : )  But for the love-I am so very thankful for that!

 

On Friday a wonderful day with LOTS of laughs was spent with my sister, sister in law and bestie doin' the whole "Black Friday" shopping tradition. 

 

Saturday-Ryan got the "husband and father of the year award" for booking the 12:00 train ride to go see Santa at the local tree farm (so so so cute, and if you are local I highly recommend it)  maybe just not at the start time of the Michigan/Ohio State game.  Bless that man for being such an involved daddy, and husband but let's get real-clearly he is a Michigan State fan!  Well, the end result was not wonderful, so that now is a moot point.  But what was great is that while we were picking out our tree I was taking pictures of Ryan with the kids, and then we would hand the camera off to eachother and then it was my turn with the kids.  In that moment a nice "old" man walked over to us, and said "here, let me take a picture"...so he did, he snapped a few pics and then handed me back the camera and patted me on the back and said "Thank you for adopting, I'm adopted too".  Tears filled my eyes as he was telling us his story.  It's inspiring to know that as an adoptee himself and at that age he was thankful for the life he was given.  You all know, I could talk adoption ALL day long.  Thank you Ryan for scheduling that 12:00 train ride : )

 

Sunday Ryan and Rylee are off to the MSU game and Ezra and I were off to church.  Have I mentioned we have started going to a new church closer to our new home?  Well, it's amazing.  We love it, and it's exactly what I have been looking for.  Is it hard to leave your church family? Yes.  It's been a lil' sad knowing that we don't go to the same church as my grandfather, mom, sister and her family anymore, but we were looking for a little bit more.  I think it's safe to say, we have found our life-long church.  This morning there was an amazing  artist at church-Mark Kroos, a double guitar player.  His music is amazing, the scripture was exactly what I needed to hear today and a double bonus, it's fun to worship with friends at church, especially when you're missing your family.  Have I mentioned how much I love our new church?  After church, my mom came out and wanted to do a lil' bit of shopping, so Ezzie and I took her out and about, did some shopping, had some lunch.  I was going to take Ezzie home after a bit so she could nap, but she was being a complete ham and being so so so good, so we kept her with us.  Our last stop was at HomeGoods and as we were getting ready to leave she was walking holding my hand, jumping smiling and talking (see, she does those things, you guys have no idea!) and a woman was passing by looking at her, stopped me and started talking to Ezra and she says "I'm so sorry, can I ask you something" , of course.  She says "Where is she from" , for sure, yeah.  She's from Ethiopia.  "OMG, I knew it-I have twin girls from Ethiopia".  YES! Yeah! Wahhooo!!! I love it! Those were all the things going through both our minds I think! They moved here from Texas, and has had a hard time finding families like theirs.  Well, let's get real.  I can make friends pretty easy and most definitly ones that have children from Ethiopia AND she likes to shop at HomeGoods. :)  I gave her my business card with all of my info, it's kinda like in junior high when you hope "that boy" calls-I sure hope she emails me! : )  It's THAT exciting.

 

I love going into the week feeling inspired.  I can't wait to see what happpens next! Thank you Thank you Thank you lord for this wonderful life, even when things haven't always looked and felt all that wonderful.

 

Back to Africa?

Don't get THAT excited.

IF I head back to Africa, it's for a mission.  I will not be bringing any babies home.

I have felt tugging a my heart strings for quite sometime now.  It's been something I can't shake.  When we came home with Ezra, my heart was so so full, I couldn't stomach the thought of leaving Rylee again for that long, (and now Ezra for that matter) and for that far away. Fast forward to today and I feel like the last year of our lives were a life lesson. My heart aches to make a difference for the children that are left behind, to hold them, to love them and to change the world for one.  Our sermon at church on Sunday was speaking to me.  Like DIRECTLY to just me (not really, I know this) but it was so clear that I have got to let go and stop thinking that I/We know what is going to really happen in this life.  Have we not had all but the kitchen sink thrown at us, and I still think that I can "plan" this life for us?  Some by choice, some by chance.

Most of you know of Awake & Alive and the organization that I have worked for, fell in love with and fundraised for to get those wonderful kiddos of Kechene an education.  Because of all of YOU that dream for them and their families has come true.  I have fallen in love with those children, and yet I have to meet any single one of them.  However, I do know through the eyes of my children WHO they are, WHAT huge hearts they have and WHERE they come from-and that's all I need to know.  It is in my heart, and on my sleeve that i am dying to get back to Ethiopia with the next team that heads there in June.  It's going to take some prayer, some saving/fundraising on my end, but I know that God moves mountains and I know that if it's meant to be it will be.  But my next mission is to not only answer his call to go, but to find my special friend or family member that is ready to tackle this mission with me.  I have heard from MANY of you that you would LOVE to go, and it's my dream that I can show you guys what we have experienced through the eyes of the beautiful people of Ethiopia.  This would be happening in June. 

This trip would also give me the opportunity to head to the village where Ezra is from.  In hopes to find more information, I don't know what is there, who we would talk to or would get anymore information than what we already have but I want to be able tell her and show her what we can. 

If anything at all, I ask for prayers.  To find the right choice.  And I am going all Jerry Maguire on you.....WHO'S COMING WITH ME?!  (If I go)  : )  OR if I don't-WHO is going anyway?! : )

National Adoption Month

How is it November 1st already?! I sound like a broken record, but honestly where did the summer go? And fall almost!

If you don't know it, November is Adoption Awareness Month!  Sunday, November 4th will mark "Orphan Sunday".  Is your church doing anything? I can honestly say I don't know if the church we're "currently" going to (we are trying a new church right now, so we aren't fully aware of EVERYTHING it has to offer right now, but so far we love it!)....it's only fitting that our dear friends, The Shrock's are going to come up to the mitten this weekend to spend some time with us, we're gonna "haul" their clan to church with us on Sunday, and for that we are thankful!

Our agency has asked us to share our story of "what/how" we were led to adoption. 

I {think} I have always had a heart for adoption, but when I was young and ignorant I had a WHOLE different view on adoption.  When Ryan and I "met" we had talke of a family, etc-and I had said that I would love to adopt someday.  He had questioned why one would adopt when they can have kids of their own.  Well, clearly that isn't a phrase we use casually around here, so we'll be the first to admit, we both at some point were "undeducated" : )  Through our adoptions we have learned of SO many many loving families that have opened their homes, hearts and families to adoption.  Some with 2-3 (or more) BIOLOGICAL children , and then they went on to adopt a child or sometimes sibling groups-WOW-what an amazing thing to be a part of!

We, however were led to adoption not because of "infertility" but because we had 4 failed pregnancies in about 2-3 years time.  I was over it, my body was over it.  The final straw was after our miscarriage after a round of IVF-in which my Dr. told me that losing this pregnancy at that point was less than a 3% chance.  Well, I was that 3% or less.  I was angry.  For whatever reason I didn't feel that emptiness and sadness as much after this time.  But I remember going home, laying there and saying to Ryan "We're adopting, I'm done" He responded "Whatever you want to do, you have been through enough, your body is done".....THAT EVENING after being surrouned with our family and friends we made the decision. Yes, it was that quick.  I was on the computer that night researching countries, researching options, travel requirements, cost, etc.  I ran with it.  Ryan followed a long and before we knew it we had set our hearts on Ethiopia.  Did Ryan JUMP UP AND DOWN with excitment when I ran into his office and said "ETHIOPIA"?! NO. No he didn't.  Him and my brother laughed, Ryan asked if I was serious.  My brother, was like absolutly go for it.  Ryan, however questioned the fact that we lived in a small VERY WHITE city.  We prayed about it, we went with our hearts and we were on our way to the most LIFE CHANGING moments of our lives!  We had some concerns from family members, some logical-some not logical AT ALL.  Clearly we got through those moments, and our children are loved like no other way we can imagine. 

It's "great" and all to hear all of our friends and family TELL us what amazing things we're doing.  Yes, that's "great". (We don't love being told that what we're doing is "great") We didn't do this to do a good act...We did this to build a family for us and our children.  It would be even better to see that we have inspired them so much in fact that they would take that leap of faith themselves.  Apparently it's not for "everyone".  I KNOW it's not.  I sometimes can't wrap my brain around how anyone would really hesitate, because it was SO CLEAR for us.  Yes, it took lots of emotional ups and downs with our orignal plans to start a family-but that's just it, it's not what we have planned for ourselves.  I am certain when God hears Ryan and I talking about what our future "might" hold for us, or what we want to happen he giggles.  I'm sure his plans for us far outweighs the plans he has.  We have been proven that.  What I pray for is for someone close to us, for their life to be changed like no other, for their life to be "ruined" in the best way possible.  Adoption has not only created an amazing family for us, it's brought the most amazing friends and people into our lives, that normally would be strangers to us.  So, as an adoptive mom, it is my job to RAISE AWARENESS for adoption.  Not only in November, but all year round.  To speak for those who can't speak for themselves.

 

Blessings and Love,

 

~Meggan~