Saturday, December 17, 2011

8 months

It seems like it took quite awhile -well, 8 months- to get here.

But we are officially declared a waiting family. For any of you who have been or are going through this, it basically means you have given 20,000 people your personal information, including all your health issues, financials, who you talked on the phone with April 2nd of 2009 and how many dust bunnies you recently swept out from underneath your kitchen table.

No it's actually not all that difficult,
but you have done so much to get to this point.

And now, you get the best seat in the house to watch God perform a most beautiful miracle.

So let the show begin!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Lord...You are good.

God brought me back around this week and this time He used my sister, Laura.

I received the following pictures as text messages on my phone last night:



I'm thinking "Oh cute, Laura- what's this?"

and "Aw, she participated in some sort of craft fair or something!"
(Laura, Kirstin and Abigail)


and then....finally this:

We sometimes wonder if God has chosen the right people for a job....

whatever you are doing to glorify Him today, know that He is qualifying you to do it. If you focus only on what you don't have as Moses did, you are entirely missing the boat.

If you focus on the Lord, and what He will do through an obedient child of the King,
well then,

let the miracles begin.

I love you Laura....God has blessed me so much. My cup runneth over.

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Derloshon Family

PLEASE
check this out:
There is a family who needs our prayers!
The Derloshon family of Indianapolis, who have adopted from Ethiopia, is being called to
MOVE there full time
to serve the Lord!
Right now, Christie is getting ready to take a trip with her daughter to Ethiopia, and the rest of the fam back home is going through training, trying to raise funding as well as get their house "in order" so they can start this awesome journey.
Please click on the link below to find out more about them and their prayer needs,
and keep this family before the throne.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

They kneeled down on the floor in respect to receive God's Word

I miss my little sister ...God is moving in Malawi and I am so thankful that she gets to be apart of it! Imagine being among these people who have never held the Word of God in their hands, yet have longed to know Him more through the power of the Scriptures.

To experience a small tid-bit, follow the Voight's blog below!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Passing good things along...

If you are an adoptive parent or would like great information that covers all stages of this wonderful blessing, look up Adoption Today magazine and register to receive their monthly magazine via email. We have been receiving it for a few months and really enjoy it--and they give you permission to print issues/articles. It costs $24. They also have a magazine called "Fostering Families". See the link below.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Grace to You Blog

Just wanted to share a favorite ministry from Grace Church where John MacArthur shepherds. Please take time to hear this man preach truth.

Friday, September 30, 2011

fingerprints


Such a lapse time wise and still not too much to say. However with those of you who lovingly ask us where we are at, the truth of the matter is: pretty much in the same spot!

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers and petitions before the Lord. We had our US Citizenship & Immigration clearance fingerprints taken in Naperville yesterday and tomorrow we have to be fingerprinted again at a local police station. After that our docier will be almost finished.

We wanted to let you all know how the Lord is working. We have some people doing fundraisers on behalf of us and three other adopting members of our faith family! Tomorrow morning we have the joy and privilege of joining Lisa, Holli and Leah's Core group from church at the Wilmert home where they will be starting their fundraiser with 147 Million Orphans, selling t's and accessories. It would be an understatement to say that we were shocked when Holli and Lisa approached us to let us know how these dear sisters in Christ were going get us a little closer to bringing home our son in Ethiopia.

Please continue to pray with us. We cannot ask that enough.



Monday, September 5, 2011

He Is Moving

It is such a remarkable thing-- to be in the right place at the right time-- when you, as a child of God, get to watch a portion of the tapestry come together. Last week we got to experience this blessing as well as others in our faith family! From the moment that Michael and I announced the garage sale, family and friends brought donations and gave of their time (especially mom and dad) to help us make the sale a success. A few nights before the sale we made it our goal to raise $1000 in three days, which we would put into our adoption savings! We made almost to the dollar, $1000 on day one! Praise the Lord, by the end of friday--day three-- we had raised almost $2000! And somehow we are still selling items even though the sale is over. It was awesome to see the garage open on wednesday morning and watch church friends walking up the driveway, ready to shop and ready to give more donations. Wow!


Want more? This week we were approached by some dear friends who have worked in many ministries with us...Holli, Lisa and Leah. Their high school girls Core Group is going to to a t-shirt fundraiser in October for the four families at Cornerstone Baptist! Also friends & family are texting at all hours, with words of support and to tell us they are praying.


Blown away.


We see God’s beautiful handiwork come together as God brings our church to a unified 100% affirmation as the Lenningtons are voted in to shepherd our youth. And so many more “blessings in progress” within our small group and families. Thank you Lord, for moving in our lives! You are truly able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.



Here is Ella Jane, on our last trip over with the goods! :)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Deuteronomy 15:11

Today we sent away all our papers to immigration and Lifesong. This is definately a huge step forward: to have these completed, in the mail and literally on their way-- to bring us one step closer to our little guy.


My parents were in Zambia for a couple weeks and returned friday night. They were building homes for orphans for “My Father’s House” with "Every Orphan's Hope" and also helped in their summer bible school ministry. To adopt a child in that country you must live there for a couple years and get through a lot of red tape (as in any international adoption). So most orphans in Zambia remain orphans and in poverty for their entire life.


My mom is not a dramatic person and is not rattled easily, but on three different occasions this week, she has said with so much emotion, “...there were just so many. I could have very easily brought home a dozen kids with me.”


I love it that Mom and Dad are walking their talk and their kids, son-in-laws and grandkids are watching this. Last year Michael and I recieved a great blessing, to which my mom added, “Pray that we would hold all God’s gifts with an open hand.” which I keep posted in our home in plain sight.


Please keep praying that God will move swiftly as we are anxious to watch miracles unfold!


http://www.everyorphan.org/orphanhomes.aspx





Wednesday, August 3, 2011

10





Ten years ago today, God saw fit to bless me with an amazing man as my husband.

Thankful doesn’t even come close to describing my feelings as I remember the past decade with Michael.


God is good.


Psalm 145

I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you

and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[he LORD is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.
The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.


Thursday, July 28, 2011

We are waiting for a call.

Or an email. Or both.

Which is the first of many calls and emails we will be waiting for. Yesterday we met with our case worker, Heather-- for one of the last times --and hopefully our home study will be declared complete. Next week Michael and I hope to put in our application to have Lifesong for Orphans partner with us in our efforts to bring a little guy into our family, but we will keep you up to date as information is given. Anyone who has gone through this process with an “amazing” (for lack of a better word) case worker will agree with us when we say that it is hard to allow this person to drift to the rear lines of battle when they have lead you and coached you so far through this. But even though we feel a bit abandoned it’s where the rubber meets the road.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place―
the Most High, who is my refuge―
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation."


This week our family has found ourselves surrounded by our christian brothers and sisters and so much encouragement from them. The Lord has been faithful to us as we prayerfully seek godly wisdom. He has opened our eyes to answers and knowledge that we have waited so long for. Even as I write this my heart feels like it is overflowing.



To all of those who prayed for mom and our friends from church, thank you for interceding on their behalf and on behalf of their efforts! They returned home last week with amazing stories of how God turned their circumstances into blessings. They were able to help so many children (and adults) who were in need. If you look up in the dictionary, of what it means to be in need, you will find this adjective described as:


in a condition of need or want; poverty-stricken;

impoverished; extremely poor; destitute.”


For all of you who have been to a country such as Ethiopia, you will recall that this definition rings true, but lacks the emotion and all five of the human senses, as detailed images of the landscape, children, worn workers, feeble beggars, lame elderly, dirty animals, garbage, flies, mud... dance through your memory. And you left behind those who thirst but have no clean water; hunger but cannot find enough food; wounds that are open and infected but are without ointment and bandages; tiny fingers, ears, toes and eyes that only need a little nutrition but are supplied with nothing.


Michael reminded me a couple days ago that God doesn’t need us. He doesn’t need our money, our food or any of our donations or time. He could address all of these needs instantaneously. So when we anxiously ask a sovereign God why He hasn’t, we get an answer. And the answer is found in your obedience to Him.



headed south, sporadically passing small villiages



alongside a dirt road towards "Hope Ethiopia"



Children at Wolisso



girls at "Hope Ethiopia"

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Elevator Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oonEhvwJtic&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Well while we are slowly getting more confused about notaries, referral letters, I-600A timelines and medical letters, here is some waiting music for ya! You can either click on "elevator music" above, or cut and paste the above youtube address! Mandi Mapes is my (well...one of my) favorite artist and is a worship leader at Brook Hills in Alabama, where David Platt is the pastor...anyway, look her up! Her actual website (and blog) is really neat and you can listen to her sweet voice!
www.mandimapes.com

Thursday, July 7, 2011






SO WE'VE GOT IT. our information & acceptance letter from Children's Hope came while we were in VA visiting Matthew & Angel, Michael's fam out east. THANK YOU to all those who prayed about this with us. Despite some changes in the agency, and as of this week, even changes in the ET government, we are completely positive that this is the direction God is leading. What can we do but follow!?! Today we learned that some Ethiopian orphanages were being closed down by the government but our agency is picking up another orphanage as well, PTL! Today we had our last training day with our homestudy and things keep moving right along. I think we are about to have a huge wake up call when we hit what I like to call "an opportunity to learn patience." I have never done this before, but know that it is right around the corner. I know this is a short update...I'll try to get on here in a couple days when we get more info.
WE WANT TO ASK FOR PRAYER today for my family. Mom left today with some friends with Ordinary Hero to Ethiopia to advocate for orphans and do missions work...a GREAT team of people and with God's help will move mountains, of this we are sure. Also my baby sis and her family arrived safely a few days ago in Malawi Africa and are trying to settle into their missions organization, home and new life there. ALSO my sis Laura and her family moved last weekend to Milwakee for three years and with two little guys, you can imagine the transitions they will be going through. Thanks again for praying along side us guys...God is so good.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Prayer request

Waiting to be accepted by Children's Hope International. Our letter went out thursday and we have already been contacted by them. As of yesterday there were a few things we went over with them in a phone conversation. Please pray for right decisions to be made concerning the age of the little guy we are bringing home. This organization prefers to stay within birth order and this might change a few details in our home study as well as waiting time and even what was initially on our hearts. A friend :) gave me good advice yesterday, just to earnestly seek out what God laid on our hearts to begin with. Thanks for praying.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Isaiah 40


















I was okay until this moment...Becca put Lyzee’s shoes on and then we prayed around this little group of missionaries in the family room.


... The voice of one crying in the wilderness:


“ Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make straight in the desert

A highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted

And every mountain and hill brought low;

The crooked places shall be made straight

And the rough places smooth;

The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

And all flesh shall see it together;

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

The voice said, “Cry out!”

And he said, “What shall I cry?”



“ All flesh is grass,

And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it;

Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.”

O Zion,

You who bring good tidings,

Get up into the high mountain;

O Jerusalem,

You who bring good tidings,

Lift up your voice with strength,

Lift it up, be not afraid;

Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand,

And His arm shall rule for Him;

Behold, His reward is with Him,

And His work before Him.


He will feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with young.


Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,

Measured heaven with a span

And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?

Weighed the mountains in scales

And the hills in a balance?

Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD,

Or as His counselor has taught Him?

With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,

And taught Him in the path of justice?

Who taught Him knowledge,

And showed Him the way of understanding?

Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket,

And are counted as the small dust on the scales;

Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.

And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,

Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering.

All nations before Him are as nothing,

And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.


To whom then will you liken God?

Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

The workman molds an image,

The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,

And the silversmith casts silver chains.

Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution

Chooses a tree that will not rot;

He seeks for himself a skillful workman

To prepare a carved image that will not totter.


Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?


Lord, let Becca’s feet step off of the plane, and onto fertile ground. Let your Word flow from Luke’s mouth and rest on the ears of those who seek You. You have heard our prayers for the souls of the people of Malawi. Please let anxious hearts find peace in hearing the gospel from those whom You have called to go. Let seeds find fertile soil and begin an widespread growth of deep roots that penetrate into the core of this beautiful nation you have created. God, be their Fortress-- Yaweh, be their Strength.


It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,

And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,

Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

He brings the princes to nothing;

He makes the judges of the earth useless.


Scarcely shall they be planted,

Scarcely shall they be sown,

Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,

When He will also blow on them,

And they will wither,

And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.


“ To whom then will you liken Me,

Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

Lift up your eyes on high,

And see who has created these things,

Who brings out their host by number;

He calls them all by name,

By the greatness of His might

And the strength of His power;

Not one is missing.


Why do you say, O Jacob,

And speak, O Israel:

“ My way is hidden from the LORD,

And my just claim is passed over by my God”?

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.


"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."


Friday, June 24, 2011

Here we go

My three girls are running in circles around our staircase yelling silly things like “waggy tails” and “yip-yip”...I am surrounded by stacks of papers, bills, sticky notes and unreturned phone calls...and even though there are dishes left sitting in the sink and cereal bowls on the kitchen table, (has the cat been fed?) and the laundry pile has reached the point of tipping, I have to get this started because I will never find time to do it. So Rachel, this is started because you keep nagging me :) to start a blog. I’m going to apologize ahead of time because it will be a miracle to keep up with it, but I will do what I can.

So every wonderful moment of my life has been all to God’s mercy and grace-- and to anyone reading this who doesn’t know us personally, here is what’s happening in a nutshell: despite our imperfections, our failed moments in parenting and marriage... days when we’ve put happiness over holiness--despite the times when we have forgotten how great a High Priest we have in Jesus Christ, and how sovereign God truly is-- the overwhelming passion to adopt a little boy has changed our hearts forever. And so with our eyes set upward and our hearts open to all that is about to unfold, we start to walk this path with nothing but faith.