Happy Valentine's Day

The greatest Valentine....

to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3: 19





                    

January Update

We tend to get an update on our little one every other month

but that doesn't stop me from stalking AOW website

each day hoping for a glimpse of our little guy:)

(searching the back ground of every picture just to make sure:)) 

This month he was featured in his very own post

titled:

Bookworm

(click the link to read)

He has moved from cast to braces this month.

Look at those precious STRAIGHT feet!

Praise God!

So thankful for the two organizations that reached out

to this little boy and gave him hope:

LWB and AOW 

And thankful to God for leading us to him!

This little face...

cracks me up!

He is so funny!

This month we finished up our home study
and sent our I-800a form off to CIS
now we will wait...
2 months or more for a reply.

In fundraising news...

This has just been plain hard.

I don't want this adoption to be about me.

I want to stay focused on

the one who adopted me

Jesus Christ

and to be honest...

fundraising just brings out the worst in me.

Its hard to put your self out there

and even harder when you get an eerie silence

(crickets chirping in the background) 

It started out slow and with

only a week left
we have sold very little shirts

with this being our only fundraiser
and knowing the amount we have to raise
in a short amount of time
I would normally be freaking out....

BUT

God has it covered:)

and

we are truly thankful

for those

who have reached out to us

through prayers, encouragement,
donations, and participating in our fundraiser!

We sever the great

Jehovah- Jireh!

He is our provider.

He is our strength.

Please keep the prayers coming!


Almost forgot!!
Still a little time left if you want to help out!
Go to THIS link and have fun shopping!
and DON'T forget to use
COUPON CODE GRAY1019

God Bless!



A Boy and His Friends

And this shall get me through the holidays

http://www.anorphanswish.org/blog/2011/12/22/3%e2%80%99s-fun/

knowing he is in good hands and having fun with his little friends:)

Wild Olive Tees Fundraiser!!

Do you know how much I love Wild Olive Tees?!?!?!

I have wanted one forever but just didn’t have the extra money lying around

Until…

Stephanie had a fundraiser for her adoptions and I couldn’t pass up helping someone and getting a free t-shirt in the process!

So, I got myself a SoLoved T-shirt and it is better than I imagined….

First, let me tell you they fit WONDERFULLY!!!

Second, the hold up FABULOUS in the wash!!

Third, they look so COOL and have some of my FAVORITE Bible verses on them.

I had no plans for fundraisers… I do completely trust that God will provide the way for us to bring our son home. We do not have the $17,000 needed and we know if God has truly called us to bring this child home HE will move mountains to get Him home!

We adore the ladies at Wild Olive Tee, what they stand for, and their affiliation with An Orphan’s Wish. With that said we decided to have one (and only one) fundraiser for our adoption. For the next 8 weeks you can shop at: http://store.wildolivetees.com/adoption-fundraiser-tees-c6.aspx

A portion of each sell will help go towards bringing our son home!

You MUST enter the family code: GRAY1019 in order for us to get credit!

It wouldn’t hurt to put the family code in the message part as well (Not necessary but wouldn’t hurtJ)

We thank you in advance and ask that you will continue to keep us in your prayers!

God Bless,

Introducing...

This is our little guy!

We do plan to name him

Nathaniel Lin Gray

As of yesterday he was 19 months old:)

He is in the process of casting for his club feet

thanks to

Love Without Boundaries

and

An Orphan's Wish

This little guy is always happy and smiling!

 

It is our desire to see God glorified throughout this processes.

What a great adoption story this would be if

others came to know Christ

and our family (in Christ) grew even more!

Yes, I'm still here...

I am really lagging in the blogging department! I really do have so much to say, so much to share but not very much time! To pick up where I left off… the yard sale was a success! We raised around $1000 and were given the opportunity to share Christ with a lady who continues to be on my mind. She was not willing to listen and made it clear that she was not a believer. I pray the Lord will continue to send others her way in hopes one day her eyes will be opened to the truth before it is too late.

November and December has been difficult months for us in the finance department. It started with the purchase of a $2000 transmission then moved on to Chad needing two new tires for $300. Next, comes my car… yep, 2 new tires for $300. Bethany was hit by a soccer ball in the face which broke her glasses and that would be another $200. Our insurance didn’t cover our physicals: $400. We had to have psychological evaluations for our adoption. Good news was we are SANE… bad news is it cost $500 for someone to tell us. Our home study is almost complete (Praise the Lord) and that will be another check for $1800! All on top of kids needing new shoes and winter jackets and yes, yes Christmas!!!

Don’t mistake all this for complaining... no, no. I am so thankful and I am so blessed! God is so good and has provided every step of the way. It has been our prayers from the start that we be completely dependant on Him. It just seems to make life much sweeter! Yes, our house will have less “stuff” this Christmas but let me make this abundantly clear: Our hearts are overflowing with love and joy!

Sell All That You Have...

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21

Ok, so we are not selling everything but it sure feels like it

and to be honest with you...

it is quiet freeing.

I am so proud of my children for making such huge sacrifices...

not because they have to but because they want to

because they see that material possessions mean nothing

compared to the life of a child.

Matthew 25:31-46

So we are having a yard sale Saturday

and all the proceeds go towards

our adoption fund.

Pray with me:

For pretty weather and lots of customers:)

For opportunities to share God's plan for adoption and His heart for the orphans!

For a successful sale!

For the support of our friends, family, co-workers, and community

as we act on what God has called us to do.

If you live in the Cullman Area please come out and support us!

Saturday, September 15th

@ Good Hope Peoples Bank

(across from Hardees)

It shall be an all day event... or until everything is gone!

(or I am totally exhausted!!)