In case you can't see the slideshow...

I posted a slideshow on the sidebar of the crafts I am trying to sell to raise money for our adoption but some people can't see it for some reason so here is the link to see them all...
http://s788.photobucket.com/albums/yy170/awalter060405/

Crafts for Cash....well kinda :)

I really just thought "Crafts for Cash" sounded catchy :) We will accept any form of money, not just cash! :)
Seriously though, our time on the wait list has really been moving along and so I have been overwhelming my brain with ideas for raising more money since it appears we will be needing it sooner rather than later! We are waiting to hear back about grant money, but we will still need to raise alot of money on our own even if we are awarded grants. So I have put my energy into making crafts that are inspired by adoption and will hopefully be somthing that others, including those not directly involved in adoption would like....I posted a slide show of most of the things but here is a description
1. T-shirts $20.00 ~I have discovered Iron-on! There are 5 designs I am sticking with to keep from going over board
a - worth the wait ~ very cute on a onesie (see picture in slideshow)
b- the shape of africa inside a heart (see picture of logo in slideshow)
c- the Ethiopian flag -rustic looking (see picture of logo in slideshow)
d- shape of Africa solid black with the words "adoption rocks" and heart over Ethiopia in pink (sorry no picture, I will add one soon, but trust me it is very cute)
e- red heart shape with Ethiopia on the inside of it in white letters (picture also coming soon)

2. Piggy Banks $7.00 ~ I loved decorating the piggy banks and thought it'd be a great thing for couples to purchase not just for themselves but for them to give out to other family members

3. Africa shape fabric shirts $20.00~ These vary some and depend on availability of the shirts I have, but my cousin Brittany was so kind to model for me (see slide show) So I can do a large Africa shape in the center or a smaller one to the side like seen in the picture of me (in the pink).
I can also add a heart over the country of your choice

4. Onesies $7.00 ~ They are the same as the shirts - you can choose from either one of the logo's I mentioned like "Worth the Wait" or I can put the Africa shape on the onesie too! Very cute - I hope to add a picture of my son modeling one of the Africa fabric shaped onesies you see in the pictures

5. Ornaments $5.00 ~ I love these! The phrases so far...
-Our Heart's in Ethiopia
-Waiting with Love (along with Africa shape and heart over Ethiopia)
-Forever Family and your family's name

* I hope somthing appeals to you! All the prices include shipping!
Email me ~ awalter060405@insightbb.com or Facebook me if you are interested in anything or have any questions!

Labor of Love

As we creep closer and closer to finding out who our baby is and prepare to actually go get him and bring him home, there is sooo many things to think about and to do and to pray about and at times I can get really overwhelmed with it all...but tonight all I can think about is "baby E's" (as Aunt La-La has nicknamed him) birth mother.
If we are only a few months away from finding out who he is, then she may be only months or even weeks away from delivery...or maybe has even already delivered him. What is she thinking? Does she touch her belly in hope? Is she sick and facing death? Is this child the only thing keeping her going right now? Is she young and scared? It hurts to imagine her, but I must. I pray she is comforted. Regardless of the details of her situation, she has to be sad.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Matthew 5:4
This verse brings hope
I am praying for baby E's birth mother to be comforted. Please pray with me

Not much to blog about...

I feel like life has been pretty "usual" lately. Nothing too exciting or new to really need to blog about...but then I think that is a horrible way to think...God is doing big and great things in our lives each and every day.
As far as our progress in our "wait" we are already up to #9! Wow! That is 4 spots up in just a month...things will be a little slower this month, but then I am sure they will speed up again in mid-October. In the mean time we are waiting to hear about grants we have applied for and I am brainstorming ways we can make and or raise money for the remaining expenses...I have alot of ideas, but not too many that will make it very far. There will be more to come about that soon...once I have more things in order.
I have been drawn to the need to dwell on God's commands lately. Lots of times through out my days and weeks, I think about the adoption process and how crazy it may seem to others and even to myself at times and then I begin to allow doubt and fear to creep in...I have struggled with doubts related to everything about the adoption more than any other experience we have gone through. God has shown me that this is because it requires more faith and obedience than anything else we have ever done and this ultimately brings Him more glory, so satan has to do his best to make me have doubts and fears in hopes of leading me to doubt God and loose faith. But I won't let satan do that. I know God has called us to do this and we will obey...we will rely on our faith in God and bring Him the glory He deserves while doing so! He has brought us this far, and I KNOW He will continue to guide us through this process and in everything else we face.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ" Philippians 1:6

Tyler was clapping over his new shirt as we said "Yea! Brother!" Nevermind the drool oozing down or the smudge already on it from the fruit loops I gave him just minutes after he put the shirt on!

I love my boys and can't wait to have my other one!

I am sitting alone tonight, very rare, Ty is in bed early and Matt is eating dinner with a friend. I can't help but think about how much I love these 2 boys in my life and of course long for the one who is not with us yet! God has blessed beyond anything I could ever imagine!

Things this week have made me really look at where we are and what we have and what is really important. It is so easy to loose sight of love and what really matters, satan is really at work...trying to distract me with discouragement and worry...but God is far more powerful than anything satan can send my way. This post is just helping me to refocus on what's real and here right now and rest in God's future grace. He has brought us this far and always brought us through any trials we have been faced with...so I can rest easy that He will continue to lead us, and provide where he guides. I can't wait to blog about my THREE boys!

Pressure's on..and OH my GOODNESS!

So I am feeling like the pressure is on to actually keep up with this blog we started since we are now telling people about it :0 Yikes. I can already tell that I am not a very good blogger, but hopefully with time I will get better! Also I don't know how to get cute things on here like so many others have...anybody with easy suggestions on how to go about adding things...just let me know!
and now the OH MY GOODNESS.............
I have already gotten behind on this blog, but 2 Monday's ago, on August 3rd we found out that we were officially #13 on the adoption wait list! Whew! I was super excited to just be on the list and no longer "waiting to wait." So I was thinking we might move up one or two spots by next month....but NO....here it is 2 weeks later and already 3 families ahead of us have been matched up with their new baby boy's.......meaning......we are already unofficially #10!!! I can't believe it! Me and Matt's heads are spinning. I know it slow down in Sept. with the court closer and all...but wow 3 spots in 2 weeks, CRAZY!
I can not wait to see the little man God has picked out for our family! WHEW this adoption ride is an emotional one, but I love it!!
Well hopefully I will have this blog juiced up soon with cute things to look at and more pictures!