Our New Blog!

May 3, 2011

Welcome to our new blog!

We are about to embark on an incredible journey as a family.
We invite you along with us on this road of faith,
obedience, trust and most of all, Lord willing, bringing Glory to His Name!

You’re welcome to walk with us, laugh with us, cry with us, pray with us, hope with us and plead with us that the name of Christ might be exalted on high, through our lives. There will be many days of laughter, tears, fear, anxiety, hope and amazing joy. If you like misspelled words; run on sentences and confusing grammar, than you’ve come to the right place. (Even though my husband is a teacher) Get comfy, sit back and let’s watch God move some mountains!

And so it begins...

My name is Robin. I am a 33 year old woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.
I am married to an amazing Godly, wise, educated and handsome man for 8 years now.
His name is Chris. (But I call him Papa)
I am the mother to 3 simply amazing and beautiful children;
Hannah 6 (Queen),
Christopher 4 (Kiki) and
Phoebe 14 months (Ba-Geek)
and the proud owner of a fantastic Shiz-tu named EE.
(Yes, letter E, letter E)
Oh yea, and we have a cute little bunny named Berries too.

My life is busy, exciting, unpredictable and full of adventure.
My husband makes me laugh everyday,
(man I love him)
my kids never cease to amaze me and I know,
by God's Grace,
I am a blessed woman!

With all that being said, your probably wondering what this blog is all about.
You may be wondering what is so exiting and huge that would call for a blog...or…
well
maybe not.
I guess most people today are blogging about one thing or another.
But, for us,
this is big. 

I am excited to share with all of you that through much prayer and conviction,
we believe the Lord is calling us to the desperate world of
Adoption!

That’s right my friends, we are going after the orphans of this world!

Oh the excitement that runs through my veins when I type these words.

Sound crazy?
Probably.
But it will all make sense someday.

Now I know a lot of friends and family are probably shocked,
we are too!
However, as Christians, we are called to know the voice of the Lord.
And when He speaks to His people;
He speaks TRUTH, SCRIPTURE AND LOVE and it can’t be denied.

This is a calling I believe we have on our lives.
We believe the Lord has made it clear to us
at such a time as this and therefore
we are going for it!

How will it all work out? You ask?
We don't know
but that’s where it will get exciting to watch the Lord work,
move mountains, walk us through the wilderness and change lives.

This is how it all was conceived.

We recently meet with some dear friends for lunch. While we were visiting and eating together, the topic of adoption came up. This couple have spoke of adoption for many years.  My dear friend, (we'll call her Rose) said something that burned deep in my heart.
She said, "Adoption is God's heart
and we are commanded in Scripture as God's people to care for the orphans.
So basically we are called to adopt."

That burned deep inside me.

At that very moment, my eyes were opened.

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27

It was at that moment I knew the Lord had new plans for us!
It's funny how you just know.

Now, one thing you must know about me,
I am a very excited person.
(My husband may call it 'emtional' but either way...)
I wear my emotions on my sleeve and became very passionate about things that are dear,
real and true to me. I don't think there is anything wrong with that but ...

my poor husband...

He has to filter through the emotional mess that I become with the excitement,
fear, joy and anxiety and get to the bottom of the matter.

Well, he had to do that with me again the following day after we had lunch with our friends.

It was April 26 (our anniversary day) we were sitting on the beach in Ventura, CA when I told him,

"Baby, this is something we need to get on our face before the Lord and start praying over because SOMETHING has happened in my heart and I need you, right next to me."

And you know what? He sat there and listened to me and ...
He agreed.

The Lord had prompted his heart THE DAY BEFORE! Matthew 25:31-46.
Focusing on helping the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and the prisoner.

Incredible!

What amazing timing.
The Lord had been preparing both our hearts
to see something so huge together as we sat on the beach.
My heart flipped for joy and I knew the Lord was on the move.

I call these moments 'God is moving' moments and I cling to them.
The Lord is speaking when He unites hearts together, for His glory unto salvation.

And guess what, at this point, I'm getting really excited. 

Another 'God is moving' moment.

The next day, I call my friend to share with her what had transpired over the last 48 hours.
(We'll call this friend Beth) 

I wasn't able to go into any great detail with Beth, as she had several things she wanted to share with me, so I mostly let her talk. Then towards the end of the conversation, I shared briefly with her that Chris and I were going to set our hearts towards adoption.
Her heart melted because, to much of my surprise,
she has always had a heart for adoption!
So with that being said, we were out of time and
she said she'll call me later and we can talk in more detail at that time.

About 1 hour goes by and she called me and said,
"You will never guess what happen!
I got in my car to drive and 'Family Life' came on the radio
and the whole broadcast was on
ADOPTION!"

See, I do not believe in coincidence by any means.

God is moving and again, I'm getting really excited! 

Later that same day I had both friends (who do not know each other) recommend the book “Adopted for Life”.

Again, I see God moving in small precious ways. 

The Lord knows the things that I pay attention too.
I believe this is His sweet gentle way of waking me up spiritually to something that I have been asleep to or too selfish to really consider.

The work has begun.

This is 'conception phase' of this beautiful journey that I believe the Lord is preparing
for me and my husband and our children.

Don't get me wrong, as excited as I am, I know it's not going to be easy.
I know there are going to be very challenging and heartbreaking roads ahead of us.

That's why i invited you to cry with us and pray with us, remember?

But again, we believe, as Christians, we are not promised a life of bliss and comfort.
I do not believe we should ever get "comfortable" in our christian life.

I believe we are called to walk in Faith.

Step out in Faith.

Believe in Faith.

Especially when it is out of our comfort zone.

I believe that is when the Lord will be Gloried the most.
We are are called to be obedient to God's word no matter what the cost.
We are called to be ambassadors' for the Gospel,
die to self and take up the cross.

Adoption IS the Gospel.

Adoption IS God’s heart.

Adoption IS war!

And friends, we are going to battle for these precious lives.

Oh goodie, I am so excited... God is moving. 

May 5, 2011

Here is another 'God is moving' moment in our journey.
Those same friends of mine (reminder, they do not know each other) contacted me again today. They BOTH told me of the SAME foundation that offer grants to families applying for adoption.
I’m telling you, I see God’s hand all over this,
all ready.

So tonight I spent about 2 hours reading stuff on-line about adoption.
Man, there is a lot to know.
I can see why people say they want to adopt but never really actually do.
My goodness. This is going to be a journey that will test us like no other.

I'm still, so excited.

I must say, tonight I am going to bed in heavy prayer.

Lots to know.

Lots to understand.

Lot's to lay at the foot of the cross.

So may unknowns. So many questions, however, it's comforting to know...

I have an ALL-knowing, ALL- powerful, mountain moving, ocean separating,
turning water into wine, healer of all diseases,
King of Kings and Lord of Lords Father on my side! Oh Glory!

With that, I am at peace in the midst of what is the most important move in our Christian walk.
God is good!
I am excited!

"And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me." Matthew 18:5

Next step: from where to adopt!

Lord Jesus, make your plan known to BOTH Chris and I. Demonstrate your power. Shine your light and revile Your will to us. Lord, you are SO good! 

May 6, 2011

I am so consumed today with the Goodness of Christ.

I am utterly in awe of His great love for me.

There is no doubt in my mind that we are making the right decision.
I prayed last night that the Lord would put Chris and I on the same page regarding where to adopt.

I believe He is speaking that to us.

As I type this, I am so overwhelmed with the goodness of Christ.
Glory to God! 

Many of you are probably asking yourself,
'How in the world are they going to afford this process?'
Oh ye, of little faith! :)

We don't know where the money is going to come from, but we know it will come!

We believe that if this is God's heart for His people to care for His children,
(which He says it is in Scripture)
than He will make a way!
It is not for us to worry about.

Pray, yes. Worry, no.
(remind me that later in the journey)

I have already started asking God to bring checks to our mailbox.
He will raise people up to support this adoption (and hopefully many more).

This is God's work, not ours.

All the Lord asks for is willing hearts and bodies
that will go through the wilderness for His name sake.
He will provide the way.
He will provide the funds and anything else we need for these precious children.

Nothing is too big for my God.

Did we forget that our God owes the cattle on a thousand hills?
Money is nothing to Him and therefore,
I will trust Him for everything. 

"nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things" Acts 17:25

May 11, 2011

Few days have past now and I have realized that the enemy does NOT want me to journal.
I have entered a phase of 'discouragement'
regarding writing about what is transpiring in my heart.

But NO MORE!

I must not at all let the enemy get a foothold on me sharing with you what Christ is so graciously reviling to me in the very early states of this, oh so exciting, journey!

Since the last time I wrote, Mother's Day came and went.

I must tell you, this Mothers Day was one like no other.
It was almost a emptiness in the pit of my soul.
Don't get me wrong,
I am so incredibly thankful and honored to be a mother to my three beautiful children.
They were so sweet with the little cards they made,
flowers they picked and countless times they said, "Happy Mother's Day Mommy".

Believe me,
I know I am a blessed woman.

This feeling I had in the pit of my stomach was one like no other.
Just a longing, emptiness and cry that sat deep within.
I know what it is. It is the calling on my life to be a mother to the motherless.
I know without a shadow of doubt that we are called to parent the parentless.

And because of that, my soul longs to see the glory of God in the face of this calling.

The last few days I have spent countless hours on the Internet, phone and in prayer seeking out wisdom on the best Agency or Attorney in going forward with starting the adoption process. It is very overwhelming. The is so much that needs to be understood. However, i feel that the Lord is moving and making this all very clear. Hopefully in the next week, I will be excited to announce we have made a decision and from where we are seeking to adopt!
(So exciting)

The other great 'challenge' is getting my husband emotionally engaged. Lol.
From what i have read, this is normal. I guess it's just the mother in me that has taken off
full-speed-ahead because it's in our blood as women to nurture, love and care for our children.
My husband is completely on board with this whole adoption life, don't get me wrong,
but it takes a little more time for him to be as 'excited' as I am.
It's kinda like being pregnant.
The woman is consumed with the pregnancy, planning and already has everything figured out.
And the man is like, "yeah, that's cool. Sounds good"

But I know my man.

When it settles in emotionally what we are embarking on,
he I'll be a force that can not be broken.
I wouldn't be surprised,
Friends, he may start his own blog on adoption! :)
(my prediction)

"Faithful is he who calleth you, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24

God's Word makes it very clear to His people that we are love and care for the needy. 
We are not called to live a life of luxury but rather to give of ourself, unselfishly and serve those who need to be served.

The are estimated 145 million orphans in the world today.

How can I sit back and do nothing?

This has been a significant call on our lives now that the Lord has opened our eyes to the
 Gospel of Adoption.
I can not imagine my life any other way other than called

to mother the orphan.

If you know me personally, you know that I not a materialistic person.
And Praise God for that.
I love to shop in thrift stores, head up garage sales
and I am perfectly happy with my 2 for $5 flip flops from Old Navy.

My heart bleeds for the Christian who just can't get enough of this world.
There is nothing that greaves the Lord's heart more than the spirit of
 "keeping up with the Jone's".

The Lord knows our hearts.

He knows what drives our desires and I beg Him daily
to bring me to my knees in total surrenderance to Him.