One Sought Me

This Fall 2015, One Sought Me and friends were able to organize and lead a community event fundraiser for another local adoptive family. It was a Fall Festival themed indoor event with games, pumpkin designing, face painting, scarecrow stuffing, petting zoo, food, baked goods, raffle baskets, dance company performance, and live music special singer.  The event also featured 3 sections that were themed with each of the countries from which One Sought Me has been blessed to help in different families' adoption journeys around the globe!  Ethiopia , China , and India each had a craft and activity tent set up with crafts that represented the beautiful cultures. In 2013 we held an outdoor fundraiser with a walk around a local park, games, speakers, music, raffle baskets, etc. and were blessed with the support in prayer and financially to help us raise funds for our adoption to Ethiopia. See pics here .  We felt so blessed, that the following year, in 2014, we held the s...

Well folks, we just mailed in our dossier updates ( as some of our original docs were now 2 years old and needed updated ) to our agency today!! About 14 notarized documents, certified by the city court, certified and a pretty gold seal from the Secretary of State, and now off to be authenticated and translated before they fly over the ocean to our agency's office in Ethiopia!! Please be praying for safe travels of these important documents, accuracy, perfect timing, God's guidance, and smooooooth paths to get us to our boy!!!! God is so good!! Grateful for His ever-present love and help! Thankful for the POWER OF PRAYERS!! We are trusting the Lord for every step of the way and we are reminded that He delights in the details of our lives!  Please keep the adoption process in your prayers as God brings us closer and closer to seeing His plans through to completion!   Currently, our adoption case is being reviewed by the US and after approval we will move on to be reviewed...

Thank you for your prayers for our adoption journey.  Early on in our adoption process, I was told that this was going to be long journey and a rough road.  I didn't want to listen to that, but knew that as with any adventure in life, 'those' types of roads are quite possibly the ones we will end up traveling. Not us though, right?  Ours will be easy and smooth sailing - nope. Turns out, this fellow was right and we are smack in the middle of a pit in the road.  We do thank you for your prayers for our little boy and we are grateful that his health continues to be strong!  We do thank you for your prayers for us, as it is an emotional roller coaster.  There are days we feel confident, days we question, days we are hopeful, and days when are hearts sink. Lately, it's been hard as we reach the 2 year mark in this process and yet another Christmas is going to pass by without our new family member home with us to celebrate. It's been hard as we compare (an...

I'm trying not to look at the blog timeline that on June 24th, 2013 our dossier was mailed off to our adoption agency.  What a day of celebration and relief that was to have all the paperwork completed and out of our hands.  And now, it's been almost a year..... I'm trying not to look that this week our home study expires and we will have to start our paper work process all over again....yes, allllll over again.  Doctor appointments for clear bills of health, bank statements, house inspections, fingerprinting.... more costs! I'm trying not to look that my baby who was a tad older than 2 when we started this process is now weeks away from turning 4. I'm trying not to look at the stack of luggage and travel supplies in my closet just waiting to be put to use. I'm not going to mention our cute little count down calendar has been full for months now and then after moving to adding paper chain links, that I just stuffed it all in the cabinet... .trying n...

Do you recall the story of the Little Red Hen?  It was actually one of my favorites when I was little.  I think it went right along with one of my dad's frequent sayings, "If you don't, then who will?" I don't even think he realizes how often he said that to us as kids or what influence that it had on me.  Down to the scrap of paper lying on the ground- "And if you don't pick it up, who will?" I can hear him saying that now.  Or even the tough situation that needed confronted "and if you don't stand up for what is right, then who do you expect to do that?" Most often I think my dad referred to this saying when he was telling us about why he had to be at his work on the family dairy farm- "and who do you think are going to milk the cows because they aren't going to milk themselves." This 'go-get-'em' work ethic is repeated throughout The Little Red Hen and it goes like this: "If no one is going to ste...

"In the beginning God".... That's the first phrase of the great Bible words.  "God created" and what a beautiful world He made with the people who fill this world being His most treasured creation.  Both amazing and complicated too. Through our adoption journey to adopt from Ethiopia we have been blessed beyond measure (Glory to God) to meet wonderful and gracious people.  Strangers even who have rallied around us in support and prayer giving encouragement to us as we follow God's calling in our lives and become our friends.  Though not everything is sunshine and rainbows, color seems to be the biggest distraction for others to see what God has in store for this journey. Psalm 139:13-16 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricat...

We are thankful to Dr. W. for donating this box of toothbrushes for us to take to the foster home in Ethiopia!  Dr. W. is friend of ours, a talented dentist, and of course our family dentist.  He was kind enough to donate! Here is little Buggy being so brave!  Big brother was so encouraging to her.  He sat beside her and said, "it's alright, I'm right here."     Here's to clean teeth in Africa!!  

  Thanking the Lord for the awesome day on July 20th at the One Sought Me Walk for Orphan Adoption!  We were praying for 153 people to walk and represent the 153 million orphans world wide! Well, the predicted rain and storms held off, the sun was shining with a cool breeze to keep the bugs at bay, and over 153 people registered to join us this day!  Take a look! Thanking all those who came out, praying that you were blessed and enjoyed the event. Thanks to those who donated and prayed for the event to go well.  Thanking all our friends who volunteered and helped make this event run so very smoothly. The support of those at the event generously gave and helped us raise near $2,000.00 towards our adoption costs! Praise God! Praying that hearts were touched, seeds were planted, and I know that God's love was reigning strong that day.  It was beautiful and touched our hearts deeply to see so many come together for the support of our future children.  Now o...

It's amazing that this is One Sought Me's post number 100! My New Year's Resolution for the year 2013 was to start a blog and now, 100 posts later and over 10,000 views, I'm blessed to say that this is one New Year's Resolution that I've actually stuck with past February! lol.   Thank you for stopping in and please visit again to keep up to date on our adoption of two from Ethiopia!   This post reflects the notes from today's speaking engagement at First English Baptist Church where Todd and I spoke, the kids sang, and we shared our all time favorite video, Eric Ludy's Depraved Indifference.  All in sharing our hearts for the orphan crisis, child care needs, and God's heart for the children in need around the world.  *                                 *                                     ...

Are you ready for this?!?!? Psalm 34:1-5a, 9 "I will praise the LORD no matter what happens.  I will constantly speak of His glories and grace.  I will boast of all his kindness to me.  Let all who are discouraged take heart.  Let us praise the Lord together , and EXALT His name .  For I cried to Him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears.  Others too were radiant at what HE DID!! If you belong to the Lord, reverence Him, for everyone who does this has everything he needs."  We are jumping up and down and shouting from the house, praising and singing songs of thankfulness to the Lord for He has guided us through this process in amazing and miraculous ways that we couldn't possibly handle on our own! The impossible, made possible by the touch of God. People all over have rallied around us to join part in what the Lord is doing and going to do through the adoption of these two precious, chosen children that will join our family. Hum...

Week 4! This week we were able to talk to our agency and they told us that we are waiting family #13! The agency doesn't particularly go in order of waiting families as different families requests for children are different.  For example, if a family is requesting a baby girl then they may get matched before another waiting family who is requesting a 2-4 year old boy.  Family #5 had just received their referral the day we talked to the agency!  So very exciting! To be #13 sounds hopeful to me that we will be knowing our match soon! Home life this week includes loads of organizing, making arrangements, and then enjoying the One Sought Me Walk for Orphan Care fundraiser that we have planned for  Saturday.  Our prayer was to have 153 people representing the 153 million children who are orphans world-wide.  Praise the Lord that we have over 165 registered and still hoping for a few to come out on Saturday at the last minute and enjoy this morning with us! ...

Pirates Ahoy! Local businesses on and around Main Street partner with the local university to provide a fun morning of pirate themed activities for the children.  We asked the coordinator if we could add to the fun this year and offer cotton candy, drinks, music, and face painting as an adoption fundraiser.  They were happy to help and allowed us to join in the pirate festivities!  Arrrrgh Mates! That's me the face painter.  I had a blast talking to the kids and painting their sweet faces.  The best part is when I show them their painted faces in the mirror and they just light up and smile! Todd is playing guitar, sang, and had games through music for the kids.                                                        (Erin and Todd)  We'll do anything to bring these kids home!! ...