The Whole Story

I've had a few conversations recently about the value of telling the whole story, not just the happy-ending, final product part of the story. Our story in starting a family is a long story. Dramatic. Painful. Multi-layered. Providential. Scary. Hopeful. Devastating. Years of story. How sad it would be to only tell a part of the story.
Our babies will also have a long story. Their story will mainly include Brian and me as their parents, but will also include a chapter of abandonment, loss, grief, new country and language. The months and years of their story that leads up to them becoming Diaz's matters, too.

In the wise words of a few friends, your WHOLE life story is valuable because God's written all of it. He has never once left them or abandoned them. He's been a part of their story since conception, and will continue to be even in our home.

I promise to say "yes" to the whole story - theirs and mine.

1 Year Anniversary!!

One year ago today Brian and I completed our initial online application to adopt with Christian World Adoption. It's hard to believe that happened 365 days ago!!

Much has changed since that day...
...so much healing in our lives - body, heart, and spirit
...Brian is less than 2 classes away from graduating from Biola (May can't come soon enough!)
...we decided on adopting 2 little ones, not just Baby Girl Ethiopia
...our house is physically more ready to bring home a couple little ones
...my ministry is way more prepared to be a momma and a pastor

Today, we find ourselves waiting for that much anticipated phone call when we learn the faces and stories of our babies. But for today, waiting is okay. We know there's a purpose in our waiting, so we are soaking it in and trusting God with every detail - large and small.

Thank you for walking with us this past year. And for those of you who've been a part of the years before our adoption started, you just get a closer and more real version of this story! Keep praying that these babies are connected to us SOON!

Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Nesting :: Baby Room

I need some help. I've been in serious nesting mode these past few weeks!!!! We're getting our house ready for these babies to come our way, but can't do the baby room (they'll share a room) until we know if we're getting 2 girls or 1 boy/1 girl. It's a little frustrating, but will be so fun once we know!

Here's where I need your help:
What websites are great for baby decor?
What products/baby stuff can we not live without?

If you want to give us a little more educated resources, here's a few things we know:

• We DO NOT want to over run our home with baby stuff. We don't feel like we "need" a lot of baby stuff, but we do know we'll need some key supplies...
• We don't have anything yet: crib, curtains, dresser, etc. We're hoping to use our queen bed for our toddler. We're not getting a changing table.
  
• If we do have 2 girls, we don't want a crazy pink room. But we would like to use pink as an accent.
• We do not want a predominantly African room. We're open to some key Ethiopian accents that we'll get when we pick them up.
  
• Our style is very cozy, homey, and yet modern. Our living room is already decorated African style. Our wall colors for the most part are pretty earthy.
• We don't want to spend a lot of money on this room. :)

Have fun! Can't wait to see your ideas!!!