Drink Deeply

Summer Bucket List

2011-06-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

There’s 104 days of summer vacation

And school comes along just to end it

So the annual problem for our generation

Is finding a good way to spend it

Like maybe. . .

Building a rocket

Or fighting a mummy

Or climbing up the Eiffel tower

Discovering something that doesn’t exist

Or giving a monkey a shower

Surfing tidal waves

Creating nanobots

Or locating Frankenstein’s brain

Finding a dodo bird

Painting a continent

Or driving your sister insane

As you can see

There’s a whole lot of stuff to do

Before school starts this fall

So stick with us ‘cause Phineas and Ferb

Are gonna do it all

So stick with us ‘cause Phineas and Ferb are

Gonna do it all!

I love the theme song of Phineas and Ferb. I’ve somehow memorized this tune -- even though I've never watched an episode -- and it really summarizes my sentiments. Of course, “It’s Summer” (by Selena Gomez) is also a fitting song but probably not as little-kid-friendly. Whatever beat we’re jamming to around here, electricity is in the air as we embrace this sizzling season.

This summer, nostalgic activities are all the rage. I’m combining a less structured approach (i.e. no camps or formal programs aside from swim team) with an intentional bent towards nature, crafts, physical activity, and treats that we can enjoy right in our own home and community. We brainstormed our summer “bucket list,” and it’s great fun splashing into new activities.

It's fun to reminisce about the "good ol’ days". . . when we played outside till the streetlights flickered on, caught fireflies in jars as the sun melted down, built lemonade stands on hot sidewalks, smacked gum while sorting baseball cards (at least this is what Brian says he did), searched for cloud pictures in the sky, and played endless games of catch, freeze tag, and wiffle ball.

But why do these have to be fleeting memories? I’m inspired by tons of great blogs, articles, and websites with summer fun ideas, and our family chalkboard is bursting with upcoming activities.

So, be intentional this Summer 2011 . . . grab a child (or in my case at least 6 or 7), and make a memory to share with generations to come. After all, there’s 104 days of summer vacation so let’s find a good way to spend it!

P.S. We’re still in June, and we’ve already enjoyed some major milestones! Super Sam turned 5, Village Green Swim Team is in full swing with lots of ribbons being collected, Miss McKenzie turned 11, our adoption dossier is finally on its way to Ethiopia, and we’re crossing more items off our bucket list everyday.

Yes, homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream was on my bucket list!

Click HERE for the yummy recipe we used. I'm definitely doing this again.

Moving Forward

2011-04-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

It’s official! We’ve moved a very small step forward in bringing our child(ren) home. Many of you prayed with us as we faced some crossroads with plans to adopt from Ethiopia. After much discussion and prayer, we feel directed to continue our journey with this special country. Once our home study was completed, we mailed it along with a few legal documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. While a home study considers parenting aspects, this next document is adoption pre-approval based on our standing in the eyes of government (good thing we’ve paid all our taxes!).

At exactly 1:27AM today, I awoke to the beep of a text message stating our paperwork was safely in hands of government officials. For those in the adoption world, you know it means we’re still way out in the process, but every stage builds on the one before so it’s worth celebrating. I found a few things funny about the text message confirming the papers were safely in the right office: 1). The government is now texting. Really?? 2). My kiddos are all out of town, and I still woke up in the middle of the night for something child-related. I can vividly remember being kicked in the ribs by a stretching baby, or having to go to the bathroom several times a night during pregnancy. Bringing a child into our family through adoption is still waking me up at all hours too – and I LOVE IT!

Speaking of the kids being out of town, I’m enjoying a very rare 48 hours of solace. It’s not often (and I mean really not often) over the past 11 years that I’ve found myself home alone. A few days ago, Brian came home and suggested he take the kids to visit family in NC while I have a little quiet time for myself. Have I ever mentioned that I am blessed with the best husband ever? While I slightly resisted the idea of everyone leaving me, I must admit it’s been a really sweet gift that I needed. So what’s a woman to do by herself? Well, shopping, beach bumming, lunch dates, Barnes & Noble, gym time, chick flicks, quiet time with God, and reading! Thank goodness I’ve got some precious pics from Easter to gaze at while I await their return. . .

Spring Fever

2011-04-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Spring fever is setting in big time. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. . . school tunnel, that is. We are about four weeks away from wrapping up the school year. 23 math lessons left to be exact, but who's counting?

Thankfully, I've learned to schedule our school year according to my style -- an early start in August when we're excited about clean notebooks and sharpened pencils, and an early finish in May when the sunshine is beckoning us to abandon it all for whatever whimsy we can find. Seasons are a beautiful thing, and I think this one is my favorite. Just as Thanksgiving holds anticipation of Christmas, spring means summer is coming!

We operate similar to a college schedule, which means we also take spring break a little earlier. We enjoyed a great week together embracing all the local hot spots (aka: a staycation). Since we're rubbing pennies together for adoption expenses, we got a little creative and still had a good time on a smaller budget than other years.

We searched the house for items to list on Craigslist and a week before the spring break adventure, our wares made a great virtual yard sale. It's amazing what people will buy, and it's more amazing what the kids were willing to part with! With money they earned, they chose the activity. When all was said and done, we had some nice pocket change to live it up in Hampton Roads. We certainly accomplished the daily schedule our "planner children" set.

So if a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some to re-cap our time. For everyone else on spring break during the next little bit, enjoy every minute. It's a great taste of summer comin'!

Paddle boating and picnic at Newport News Park

Lots of pizza was consumed this week!

A few nights on the VA Beach oceanfront
(thanks to the hook-up of a great friend!)

Sam LOVED the coffee bar!

Jake lost his first tooth! Thankfully the tooth fairy doesn't take vacations!

Family art night with lots of fun creations

What's the update with the adoption?

2011-03-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

This definitely tops the list of frequently asked questions these days, and I love it. Like a mama who loves to talk about her L & D story or one whose face lights up as she recounts cute quips from her child, it warms my heart when sweet people ask me for updates on this adoption journey. I must admit that lately, I’ve been hesitant to respond. Not because I don’t want to talk about it, but because I’ve been holding on to lots of emotions unsure of how to wrap my heart around them. And maybe because I don’t have good answers that allow me to control the outcome of this journey.

Just a quick recap of what’s been happening on the international adoption scene: Ethiopia’s adoption program has been on the radar for needed reform these past several months. There have been child trafficking cases and corrupt agencies who are being exposed, and this filthy part of humanity just makes me sick. As a potential adoptive parent, I am adamantly in support of the highest standards of ethics, and I want to fight for the rights and preservation of families above all. But the divide in the adoption community has been how to handle that. Initially the main social services agency in Ethiopia felt that reducing the # of adoptions (potentially by 90%) would help eliminate the corruption. This could lead to potential shutdown of adoptions altogether as we saw happen in Vietnam and Guatamala a few years ago. While officials are weeding out evil, what happens to the innocent children? They face indefinite institutionalization which has proven detrimental time and time again. And what about those who have special needs who face death if they do not receive better medical care? I know of many cases like this personally where a child would have died in a matter of days if they remained in the care of a third world orphanage. So can there be another solution for these children while at the same time protecting them from corruption?

I don’t claim to have answers. I wish I did. I like things neat and tidy that I can fix. But in times like this, I’m just trusting God to watch over His children and give us wisdom in the meantime. I’ve prayed for God to break my heart for what breaks His, and there have been a lot of breaking points lately. I’m starting to understand what friends meant when they said adoption isn’t for the faint of heart. The reality of this uncertainty is that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Through these recent up and down reports, God has used this time to expose us to some special needs situations that we may not have been open to before. Who knows what is in store as we trust Him with the greater picture?

We’d be most grateful for your prayers too. . . that we would be able to clearly discern if we are to remain with the Ethiopia program during this tumultuous time, that we would have clear direction if we are to switch to another country such as Uganda, and that we would trust Him completely for the medical needs of our future children. I’m so glad that it’s not a burden I have to bear alone. These Ethiopian babes are God’s first, and He’s holding them and us tight!

On a much lighter note, March has been a whirlwind already. Some highlights include:

*Brian and I celebrated 13 years of wedded bliss. I really think I’m the luckiest girl on earth, and I still can’t keep my hands off this man after all these years! Life is sweet with him by my side. It’s also birthday month for several in our family so it’s been one big sugar-high!

*The Adoption Home Study is pretty much complete. . . the family interviews were just precious, and I really wish I had recorded them. The kids met with our social worker privately as we strained our ears to hear answers from the other room. When Luke was asked to share something about himself, he said, “I want people to know that I love God, I love my family, and I love the Dallas Cowboys!” Glad he has his priorities! Later when asked if they had any questions about our adoption plans, McKenzie said, “No, but I really like your earrings.” That’s my girl! When Jake and Sam were asked if they were hoping for a brother or sister, Jake said either was fine, but Sam was completely honest when he answered, “I want a boy so I can beat him up when we wrestle.” Hope they don’t take off points for that one! So now we’re pulling together some final documents, and then the real waiting will begin.

Finally, here are a few action shots from this month:

All 8 Grey/Forrester cousins celebrating Jack's 3rd birthday

March 7, 1998 . . . "To Infinity and Beyond"

Luke meeting cousin Charlie for the first time

Delicious Birthday Cupcakes!

Taking a stroll down the streets of Colonial Williamsburg

And The Winner Is. . .

2011-02-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

Red Carpet galas are flooding the airwaves – the Grammy’s, the Emmy’s, the Oscars – it’s clearly Hollywood’s season to celebrate their own.

All this hype got me thinking…what kind of awards show would God put on? The world gives trophies for beauty, talent, and popularity, but I have a feeling God’s criteria is exactly the opposite. Actually, I was just reading a great verse that confirms this hunch.

Philippians 2:29-30 says, “Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.”

Here, Apostle Paul describes the true award-winners: those who offer their lives for the work of Christ. The “God-Oscar” is presented to those who willingly give up titles, prestige, and possessions. They live as a love offering to their Maker, raising the bar for faith and sacrifice. The applause of Heaven is reserved for such as these.

Just for fun, I’ve listed my own nominations for God-Oscars. This is just a short list, but if you know of an individual or organization that deserves honor, would you kindly leave a comment or send me an email? You just never know what might touch someone’s heart and get their mission spinning in a new direction! By clicking on any of these names, you'll be directed straight to a website with lots more information about their activity.

Christie Cotney -- Christie fell in love with Jesus last year and quit her job, sold her car, and left her comfortable American dream to serve the people of Uganda. She is the hands and feet of Jesus as she brings education, clean water, medical care, and compassion to the Bugaboo Village. There are lots of ways to partner with Christie to see lives changed for eternity.

Orphan Helpers -- This is an incredible Hampton Roads-based ministry changing orphanages in Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama. Only 1% of orphans will ever be adopted, so what happens to the other 99%? Orphan Helpers provides loving, caring, Gospel-centered support to government-run orphanages in Central America. I’ve had the privilege of traveling to many of these places to witness the mission being carried out ... today’s orphans truly are tomorrow’s helpers when their lives are given eternal purpose through a ministry such as this.

Sanctuary of Hope Children's Home -- With a staggering number of orphans in the world, some of these children can be found in Nairobi, Kenya, home to 600,000 people within six square miles. Pastor and Mrs. Karau have started two children’s homes right in the midst of the despair and suffering. True miracles are taking place as children are given hope and security through the tender love of this ministry. You can also read more about Esther, a two-year old our family sponsors to help with medical needs.

All Nations Church -- I might be a little biased, but at our church I see scores of folks who offer their lives for the cause of Christ. I listen to my children re-tell Bible lessons and sing words of worship long after we leave the church doors. Their teachers are eternity-changers waving the banner of Christ week after week. Many in this congregation feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and reach the prisoner. By God’s grace, All Nations is a place where the least, last, forgotten, and forsaken are welcomed and received. What a privilege to partner with such a group! As a side note, Brian just finished a message series called, “The New Normal.” In case you want to listen, you can easily download the messages on iTunes or visit the message archives here.

Compassion International & World Vision -- Both of these organizations are reputable forces in the fight against poverty and disasters. With a huge reach into over 100 countries, they need our help. This is a powerful way to battle malnutrition and preventable disease, end child trafficking, educate and empower girls, provide crisis relief, and so much more. Sponsoring a child in one of these impoverished countries can literally be the difference between life and death.

P.S. I love Paul’s descriptor in the end of Phillipians 2:30, “…and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.” So much of what these people and organizations do seems so far away. They go into places many of us may never go, but our prayers and financial support bridge the gap and truly honor them. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the many needs, but if each of us does just a little more, we’ll see a snowball effect. There’s no trophy on earth that compares to the honor of participating in the work of Christ!

My Words. . . Not My Own

2011-02-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

So I was having major blogger guilt by the fact that I haven’t posted in a few weeks, and then I realized I should just get over it and jump back in without another second to lose. I laugh because I never imagined joining the blogging world before a few months ago. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE reading other blogs -- I just didn’t think I wanted to read my own. Oooh! That’s when it hit me. I was caught up in those two little words, “my own.” My own words, my own time, my own money, my own family, my own house, my own life, and even my own Jesus. I don’t really want to let people into my world of thoughts and mental processes. Ouch! A sense of entitlement comes to the surface even in how I attempt to posses my own words. Despite the fact that some people refer to pastoral ministry as living in a glass house, I find myself pulling the shades down tightly around me. I seek privacy in the sacred spaces, and sometimes I get pretty possessive when I find something that I can keep “my own.”

But interestingly enough this is opposite of God’s thinking. All that I am and all that I have belongs to God. . . even my words. I’m just borrowing human skin to carry around His instruments. It comes down to a stewardship issue for me. God breathed life into me, and I have a daily choice of how I’m going to manage those breaths. Can I be transparent enough to share my struggles if God can use them to encourage someone else? Can I be bold enough to ask for help if God wants to grow someone else’s faith by meeting a need? Can I be humble enough to offer thanksgiving if it can bring glory to God? Can I be silly enough to laugh at my humanity if God wants to reaffirm someone else’s security? Oh, how I want to. I want to let go of bubbles and opinions and pre-conceived notions. I’ve decided that blogging is a good tool for me, too. I don’t need a ticker that counts how many people see what I write. I want to give my words as an offering to God and as a written record of His grace working itself out in me. I want to keep letting the SON shine in as I find peace in being vulnerable before an audience of ONE.

On another note, these last few weeks have been filled with lots of fun news for our family. First, we are so very thrilled to welcome Charles Lee Grey to the family! He was born January 28^th to my brother & sis-in-law, Seth and Hannah. I had the wonderful chance to spend a precious day in Atlanta with baby Charlie and big brother Chase. We are counting the days until our next visit in a few weeks. This auntie wants to smell her some baby!

I’m also ecstatic about welcoming another member to the family, but this time it’s an addition happening by marriage. My sister, Mary Kathryn, is now engaged to marry someone we’ve all come to love and respect, and we are so very happy about God’s choice for her husband. It’s going to be a wonderful day in the not so far-off future when she becomes Mrs. Ben Profitt and we have another brother and uncle in our crazy clan!

Finally, I always want to remember to how special Valentine’s Day 2011 was. My 1,000 Gifts List continues as I thank God for the way He loves me in such special ways:

67. Sacrificial love (John 3:16)

68. Heart shaped chocolate-chip pancakes

69. “No school today” because we can make the rules

70. Almost 70 degree spring ticklers

71. The Master’s Creativity shown through colors, shapes, and sizes exhibited at the

Norfolk Zoo

72. Chick Fil A’s 100 calorie chargrilled fillets with 20 grams of protein

73. Mushy kisses and carefree laughter that teach kids what marriage can really be

74. Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha (skinny) ordered Extra Hot and delivered by an Extra Hot

husband

75. Family candlelit pizza dinner eaten on fine china and crystal while dressed in our finest

76. Shoeboxes filled with homemade Valentines that surpass Hallmark any day

77. Leftover Christmas gift cards that provide a night at the movies for a family of 6

78. Gifts of LIFE that show Christ's love

God Winks

2011-01-27T21:24:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a week -- one that keeps my head swirling and heart pounding. From the get-go, I needed to stay on top of it before it got on top of me. So last Saturday I called a family meeting to get a gameplan. With pencil and paper in hand, I blocked off chunks of time to accomplish the mission ahead -- the typical stuff that fills up a family week -- school projects, piano recitals, hosting multiple ministry events, gymnastics classes, and adoption stuff just to name a little.

Thankfully we kept on track, but I was reminded that it's not the big ticket items that make life so sweet. While great joy is found in scheduled plans, life is really made up of all the God winks in between. I've been on a journey to find God in the midst of the daily good and bad - when things go as planned and when they go amuck - when I'm looking eyes wide open and even when I'm burying my face in the pillow. Because that's how God's grace is. It's found in the ordinary, and it opens up the joy windows no matter what swirls around us.

I've been making a list of God's gifts, and the act of recording them has awakened me to what living really is about. I was challenged by one of my favorite bloggers, Ann Voskamp, to begin making a list of everyday gifts. You can read more about this beautiful project HERE, and I invite you to join me in discovering God's personal touch in every single moment of your life.

In celebration of Ann's newest book, One Thousand Gifts, she created this wonderful montage of living fully right where you are. If you have just 5 minutes, be inspired by spending them here:

And my list of 1,000 Gifts continues:

49. Words on pages that write on my heart

50. Pizza & movie nights cozied up together

51. Clearance sales to clothe growing bodies

52. Salty tears

53. Blue-eyed babes lined up for TB tests to prove their readiness to grow our family

54. Anticipation of another precious nephew

55. Spin bikes that pedal away tension from long days

56. Connecting through texting

57. Dreams of God-sized ideas

58. Heat in our home

59. Fire in our hearts

60. Child-whispered prayers

61. Muddy shoes

62. Grandparents love

63. Burdens that keep me running to Him

64. A clean van

65. Lists to keep me on track

66. Joy in His faithfulness

A Labor of Love -- Widow Project Update

2011-01-21T13:24:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful for the generous support of our “Widow and Orphan” Project which took place on Saturday, January 15th. A 20-member team donated 4-plus hours to a local widow for this “Extreme Home Makeover.” Beforehand, our team asked family and friends to sponsor their efforts, with all donations going toward the Forrester family adoption fund.

We accomplished so much for this widow and her family – free of charge! We were able to install and repair her bathroom fixtures, front porch handrails, and a ceiling fan; landscape her front yard with new mulch; paint her hallway and bathroom; hang blinds; deep-clean her house; haul away trash; and cook a hot meal for her family.

To all who donated to this cause, we are deeply appreciative. We are especially grateful to a local company, United Restoration, for donating all of our many supplies. Our excitement is growing as we inch closer to providing a “forever family” to 1 or 2 Ethiopian children.

We’re about 25% toward the total cost of these international adoptions. If you would like to join us in this mission, you can give a secure, online gift by clicking on the tab at the top right.

With grateful hearts,

Brian and Jessica

Chad & Mike - our construction pros!

Kendal (above) and Shanda (below) -- painting professionals!

Meg tackling the linen closet

Ben & Lia (above) working on the outside
and Jacob and Tess (below) working on the inside!

Paige making a hot meal to leave for this sweet family!

Lady L (our sweet new friend we served) and Jess

GOOOO Team!

The Widow Project

2011-01-15T00:12:00.000-08:00

We’re really excited about today's project, one that God dropped right into our hearts. I’ve quoted James 1:27 in other posts, but it’s usually in emphasis of the word “orphan” – “Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help." Well, what about the widow? Where can God’s heart for the widow fit into our adoption plans?

As we’ve tried to creatively figure out our adoption funding, we came across an innovative fundraising idea. Here’s the story: through a grief ministry, we met a widow I’ll call “Lady L.” She has two children – twins – who will be 9 years old on Valentine’s day. Since her husband’s death last spring, her home projects have piled up.

So, we gathered an incredible group of family and friends for a mini-version of “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.” This morning, we’re loading up vans with paintbrushes, ladders, lumber, cleaning supplies, mulch, and so much more. We'll take care of Lady L’s “honey-do” list . . . all free of charge with no-strings attached! When we told her our plans to give a free day of labor, she was absolutely floored. We knew God led us to the right family when Lady L said she had just prayed for someone to help her … and soon after, we called.

What does all this have to do with our adoption funds? This is the other part that blows me away. Not only are the amazing volunteers on our team joining us in a physical labor of love this week-end, but they mailed hundreds of letters asking for sponsorships . . . sponsorships which will go 100% towards our Ethiopian adoption expenses. In essence, they are caring for the widow in service and caring for the orphan with financial sponsorships!

Every day, our kids run to the mailbox, looking for white envelopes arriving with this sponsorship money. Imagine 4 little faces and 1 grateful mama doing the “happy dance” at the mailbox around 1PM everyday! With every gift, I love hearing 4-year old Sam say, “God brought us more “doption” money.” Through the gifts of both friends and strangers, we see God’s heart in action. We are deeply humbled and thankful.

In case you want to contribute towards this “Widow/Orphan” Project, it’s pretty simple. You can click on the DONATE tab at the top of this blog, and make a tax-deductible donation via Paypal. Or you can just send an email to jessicaforrester@allnationschurch.org, and I can give you more traditional payment information. Above all, we covet your prayers that we will be a huge blessing to “Lady L” and this paves the way to bring “Baby Forrester” home.

With love and thanks,

Jessica

P.S. If you have friends or family who may want to get involved with a sponsorship gift, feel free to share this post on Facebook or Twitter by clicking on the “Share” tab.

FAQ #3: Why does international adoption cost so much?

2011-01-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

What a week of stepping back into the routine of school, new goals, and life’s daily adventures … but I just realized I’m behind on a blog post. So here I am, finally sharing about the most recent “God confirmations” in the middle of our adoption journey.

When we accepted the adoption call, a hefty price tag hung in our way. I kept hearing about how expensive international adoptions were, and quite frankly, the idea of mixing money with children made me queasy. Already, there’s enough unimaginable atrocities happening to children in the name of the almighty dollar. But as I’ve trudged through this adoption process, I’ve come to peace with the many different components which make these dollar numbers realistic and even necessary.

Why do international adoptions cost so much? It varies some depending on the agency and country, but here’s where the money goes for our Ethiopia Program:

Agency Application - $300

Immigration Application - $800

U.S. Home Study - $1,850

Dossier Fee - $3,000

Ethiopia Fee - $11,900

Travel/Lodging - $7,000 (This is approximate. . . Ethiopia requires two trips, and then we’ll also have an additional child ticket on the final return – yea!!)

Post-Adoption Reports - $1,200

The most expensive part, Ethiopia’s Program Fee, actually covers more than the legal fees for the country. A portion of this money is used to provide supplies, food, medicine, and lodging for the kids who are still there and who may never have a forever family to come home to. I love this! So I’ve come to grips with the cost. Can I really put a price tag on a child’s life and determine in my finite mind that it’s not something I can afford? I fully believe our lives are best spent in partnership with God in redemptive mission, and adoption is such a beautiful picture of how God brings us into His family.

Let me add one more honest thought: I really, really didn’t want to ask anyone for a single red cent towards this journey. I was proud – and just plain fearful of criticism and misunderstanding. After all, did I do fundraisers to pay hospital bills for the births of my other children?

But adoption IS different in some ways. James 1:27 says, “This is pure and undefiled religion to care for the orphan and the widow.” Adoption is a Great Commission activity. For some of us, this may mean bringing a child into our home, or building wells for clean water, or providing education and medical supplies to a rural village. These perpetual, global challenges require a funding born out of a Gospel-centered community instead of a single pocketbook.

So I’m learning to get my self-sufficient spirit out of the way. I am awestruck by the generous donations of friends, family, and even strangers. I am so grateful for the love being poured out, and I want to commit my life to likewise pouring back into others.

“God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. What a pity when we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.” -- A.W. Tozer

What To Expect When You're Expecting

2010-12-31T16:00:00.000-08:00

When I found out we were expecting our first baby, my feelings ran the gamut as much as my hormones did. I was elated, nervous, impatient, giddy, anxious, and absolutely overjoyed and overwhelmed at the idea of becoming a mom. I started reading books, eating certain foods and avoiding others, talking to other moms, and coming up with my birth plan (yeah, I know that’s kind of a joke to some, but the organizer in me needed a game plan). I was TOTALLY engrossed in this amazing transformation happening to my body and my psyche! I loved this little person growing inside me. I’d never seen her smile, stroked her hair, smelled her skin, heard her cries, or tasted her kisses, yet I would have literally given my life for her. Fast forward through a 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th pregnancy, and despite being a veteran mom, I was still surprised every time by the awe I felt with each new life.

So I laugh at myself for not expecting to feel the same way with how God is growing our family now. I’m falling madly in love with this child growing inside my heart. I think about him or her or THEM all the time (yes, we are open to siblings)! Some thoughts are trivial, like bedroom arrangements or if we can buy smaller chairs to fit everyone around the table. Recently, I looked online to see if my favorite Pottery Barn stockings were still available. I just knew when I ordered the kids each one a few years ago that we would NEVER need another stocking for our mantle. Gotta love our plans, huh?! Other times my thoughts jump to heavier places, and all I can really do is turn my mama tears into prayers. These are His children first, and we must trust Him to protect their little lives while they wait for us to come.

So what do we do in the meantime? When pregnant with a child inside your womb, you know when to expect their arrival. Adoption is a different story since so much of it is completely out of our hands. Many have asked us about the process and what it entails, so I thought this would be a great FAQ #2. Let’s talk straight logistics of the process.

First, we selected an adoption agency. This was a huge research project since I wanted a reputable group advocating for orphans in the most ethical manner possible. I could do an entire post on the agency we selected, but you can click here to read a little about Holt International’s work in Ethiopia. I love that Holt’s mission is more than just adoption. They are building hospitals, providing education, and getting help into rural areas so orphan numbers don’t continue to grow.

After an initial application with Holt, we moved to the home study portion. Because our agency is out of town, we contracted a local social services organization to do our home study. We filled out more paperwork than a house purchase (30 question survey, tracking down birth & marriage certificates, daily schedule forms, financial data, letters of reference, lots of background checks, DMV records, federal fingerprinting, physicals and blood work, and other fun paper chasing). As crazy as collecting data seems, every appointment and notarized document makes us feel one step closer to our child. The home study also involves training, personal and joint interviews, and a visit to our house – I’ll let you know how all that goes.

In the meantime, we are working on a dossier, which is a fancy name for more official paperwork. The dossier includes much of the above, with a higher level of security to get things legally ready for Ethiopia. It’s pretty funny to think of our family being represented to another government in a manila envelope. We’ll make sure not to send oatmeal cookie crumbs or batman stickers on anything important!

Once the dossier is submitted to Ethiopia and translated accordingly, they begin matching us with a child (or two!). This is determined through our application information (i.e. gender, age, medical needs, etc.). Ethiopian adoptions are almost evenly divided between girls and boys, and since we aren’t specifying a gender, it will be fun to see if our boy streak continues. As for the age, we want to keep our birth order the same, which means we’ll qualify for children under age 4. I’m thinking a newborn and a toddler would be perfect, and I’m also thinking I’m crazy! Good thing God is in complete control, and He knows who our family needs and who needs our family. That’s so reassuring to me.

After being matched with a child (this is called a referral), we await a court date to appear in Ethiopia. Not every country requires this, but Ethiopia prefers to have all the paperwork done before the child leaves the country. So one or both of us will go before the court for adoption approval, and then we’ll both return about 6 weeks later for a permanent appointment. Finally, we’ll bring our precious ones home for the first time. Whew!

Holt has an average waiting time of 12-18 months from start to finish for their Ethiopia program. I’m really praying that we’ll have new faces on our Christmas card next year. There’s lots of fundraising to do since each of these steps requires chunks of change, but thankfully it’s all just chump change to God. I’ll tell you about how the money part works in the next post. We’re already blown away by financial support from friends, family, and even strangers. It’s a great story we’re watching unfold thanks to many of you playing a special part!

Why Ethiopia?

2010-12-23T19:55:00.000-08:00

It’s so much fun talking with friends, family, and strangers about our adoption journey. We're overjoyed with the support and encouragement so many have offered, and we’ve already had some great dialogue about adoption. I thought it would be helpful to post a few FAQs in case you’re wondering some of the same things. The #1 question is, “Why Ethiopia?” so let’s start there!

When we first began researching adoption, we actually started looking at the needs right here in our own backyard. Do you know there about 100,000 children needing forever families right here in America? A really mind-boggling statistic is that we have approximately 300,000 churches in the U.S. If one in three churches had just ONE FAMILY that could take a child into their home, there would be NO MORE ORPHANS in the United States. We definitely believe in the power and call to domestic adoption, but we also felt God nudging our family to keep researching. Here’s what we discovered:

There are 143 million orphans in the world today.
Approximately 1/3 of the world’s orphans live in Africa.
15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS
5 million orphans live in Ethiopia alone. . . that is 5 million McKenzie’s, Luke’s, Jake’s, and Sam's without a mom or dad in that one country alone.
AIDS, famine, and war are the main factors of why so many orphans don’t make it very long. It’s literally a matter of life and death for these kids!

Many orphans in Ethiopia's care system die each year due to not enough food, clean water, or medicine. I mentioned this in a previous post, but it’s worth saying again: While we have the luxuries of American culture, around the world 26,000 children are dying EACH DAY from preventable diseases and starvation. Many of these kids have a death sentence from the very beginning of life. There is a great need for adoptive families in every country, but Ethiopia is somewhat unique because there are more orphaned children than there are people willing to adopt them.

We honestly didn’t choose Ethiopia for shock value, but it’s funny how Africa seems extreme to American minds. We simply recognize a need and believe God has called our family to this country for this season. Every orphan needs a family no matter where they live – in America, Ethiopia, and everywhere in between. God doesn’t love us any more because we’re going across the ocean to join His work, and He also doesn’t love the orphans here in the States any more than the ones on the other side of the globe. While I love the Red, White, and Blue, I’m ultimately a citizen of God’s kingdom, and I feel certain that there are no borders, racial distinctions, or other man-made barriers.

Christ came to redeem the entire world, and He is sending the Forrester family to Ethiopia to love on some of His children there. It’s a lengthy process and it comes at a cost, but we are desperate to get there quickly and have complete faith in God’s sovereignty. We are really excited and so very humbled that many of you want to join us in this adventure. I can’t wait to post more of the FAQs so you can get involved in this humble effort! Until then, thank you for your generous prayers and cheers of support.

Express Mail From God

2010-12-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love the looks of joy and excitement when I surprise my kids with a fun outing, a new pair of shoes, or even something as simple as a pack of chewing gum. Just the act of giving a gift of time, service, or an item can change the course of their day and mood.

This verse popped out at me this week: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 (NIV)

Why am I always surprised by all the God-gifts that fill my own days? After all, God delights in His children, and I think He gets the same pleasure out of watching us delight in His gifts. So as we’re busy wrapping presents for those we love, take a moment to unwrap one for yourself sent Express from your Maker! It may not come in the packaging you expected, but it’s still exactly what you need.

Continuing my list of 1,000 Gifts this week:

36. Making memories with friends while constructing gingerbread houses

37. Heartwarming Christmas carols in a hot tub on a very cold night

38. Baking day with my momma and 4 little elves

39. 12 miles on a steep incline of a spinning bike just so I could eat extra 7-layer cookies

40. Walking into a clean house and flowers on the table from a thoughtful husband

41. Christmas movie marathons late at night because who needs a bedtime during this fun season

42. Girlfriends who can jump in conversation from hair color to international adoption plans without skipping a beat

43. Fundraiser plans coming together as a reminder that God is our Provider

44. Positive medical exams and blood work to make sure we’re physically fit to welcome more children home

45. Notes from kiddos instructing us to empty their piggy banks so we can get their new sisters or brothers home fast

46. Times with extended family that remind us that family times really are the happiest times

47. Grace under pressure and peace that passes our understanding

48. Simplifying this Christmas so we can truly celebrate Christ

Unwrapping the Gift of a Moment

2010-12-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

God decided to add His own Christmas decorations today as He blanketed the grounds in white. It’s amazing how the city comes to a halt much like the feel of a holiday. I must admit that my first plan of action was to ignore the warnings of bad roads and just plow through my to-do list as planned. After all, I’ve got a lot of “important” tasks to get crossed off (32 items on today’s to-do list to be exact) so why should I let a little fluffy stuff interfere? But thanks to the wisdom of my husband who really didn’t want me driving, my day turned more purposeful than my planning could have ever accomplished.

Most mommas find out really fast that a “snow day” entails work of a different kind. Days like today involve several loads of clothes in the dryer in between rounds of frozen fun, lots of extra dishes and mugs from my children and their friends who find their way inside to warm up, more cooking than normal because their appetites seem bigger than the snowmen they build, and a very heightened sense of child energy that requires triple the usual amount of coffee to keep up.

But I feel like I received a special gift wrapped in white today. I was forced to abandon my plans, and I received the gift of a moment. I know it sounds cliché, but so many times our days are so full of things to do that we forget all the individual moments that make up a day. I don’t know about you, but my focus can easily be on what needs to get done instead of what I can do with the moments I’ve been given right now. Today’s moments – not tomorrow’s or the ones next month or next year – open my world up to so many opportunities. When I do my best with the present moment, it puts me in the best place for the next moment. They only come one moment at a time, and I can count on grace to open my eyes to the power each one hold.

So while I didn’t get to the post office, doctor’s office, bank, grocery store, library, or get much done in the home academics world, instead I unwrapped beautiful moments one by one. I was able to watch children eating snow, listen in and occasionally offer thoughts on growing girl conversations with my oldest and her friends, help little boys construct their own ice skating “patch” with water carried from the bathroom sink, and serve up nourishment of both words and bread. On days like today when I wanted to do what I thought mattered most, God graciously opened my eyes to His desires for my moments. And I think that ended up being what truly mattered.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. . .”

Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

“We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery.”

H. G. Wells

“Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.”

Henry Miller

Daily Gifts

2010-12-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

Twinkling lights, apple spices, Christ-child carols, and a spirit of giving fill the atmosphere with anticipation in a way that makes December a month like no other. I was reflecting the other day on some of my favorite Christmas gifts – my first tea set, a cordless curling iron, the trampoline from our parents, the music box from Brian – and my heart was warmed by the thoughtful and sacrificial love shown with each of those special gifts. These carefully selected goods weren’t purchased to overshadow the ultimate Gift, but they were in celebration of our ultimate example of giving.

I believe God smiles upon gift-giving. After all, He was the first one to bestow gifts in a tangible way. He wrapped His most precious gift in tinsel of skin and ribbons of swaddling clothes to breathe love on a lost world. That baby boy King gave all Creation hope and a future, and the grown man Savior ultimately gave His life for our eternity. He is the gift that keeps giving through the hands and feet of His children. Our gifts of love to the least of these, our hearts of service to those in need, our talents and treasures in worship can overflow from under our Christmas trees this year. I think they’ll fit perfectly with the pretty packages.

So often I get caught up in the “big gifts” in life, but I don’t want to miss out on the daily gifts that are special-wrapped just for me by the One who knows exactly what I need. That’s why the list-crazy lady that I am is so excited about what is transpiring as I daily make note of heavenly gifts being delivered more timely than any UPS shipment could. As I mentioned in previous posts, I’ve joined up with an online community who is intentionally making lists of all the gifts around us everyday. Of course, the goal is to post on Mondays with the group, and here it is Wednesday, but that’s okay. Now I have another item to add to my list -- the gift of grace on me even in the little things! What’s amazing about celebrating God’s daily gifts is that I’m seeing how uniquely God has made me and knows just what to surprise me with. He’s not re-gifting someone else’s unwanted present, but He has the perfect size, color, and price-point for what this woman needs. By searching for the gift in daily experiences (even the tough ones), it is making my relationship with the Giver more alive than ever.

I encourage you, friend, to not only be a giver during this season, but be open to receiving too – God has so many gifts wrapped just for you!

One Thousand Gifts is the online community of gratitude, and here my list continues. . .

25. A loud van horn that did its job to keep our family from a near parking-lot accident

26. New friendship formed while sweating and sharing hearts over cardio machines at the gym

27. Anticipation of an entire 24 hours alone with the man who holds my heart

28. Tough questions asked by our adoption social worker

29. An overdue afternoon of eating, sharing, and shopping with my momma

30. Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork that make me feel just a little closer to our new family member

31. A white envelope filled with a sacrificial gift that will take a chunk out of our home study costs

32. Middle of the night searches under sheets and pillows for a stuffed-puppy named “Sammy”

33. Text messages from a fast growing girl that make this pre-teen trip oh so sweet

34. Feeling the steam rise from mugs of hot cocoa and watching them warm little bodies

35. Counting down to the birthday of our Savior with songs, lights, and smells to celebrate the greatest Gift of all

P.S. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give, check out my friend, Christie Cotney’s blog: Compass In My Heart. She just moved to Uganda and really needs help with child sponsorships for about 100 more children. Each sponsorship provides a child with the opportunity to attend school, receive medical treatment, have a daily meal, and get access to other basic necessities. I LOVE these kind of gifts!!

When Grace Convicts

2010-12-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

When we first felt God leading our family towards adoption, my feelings ranged from excitement to uncertainty, questioning to control, and an amazing sense of awe as we watched God unfold a corner of His plans. This week has been different – in a hard, convicting way, yet I’m thankful for God’s sweet grace that holds me while I grapple with things that my finite mind is desperate to understand.

I’ve been wrestling with conviction about how I’ve spent the past several years and how I’m going to spend the next. There’s an exterior picture of faithful wife, devoted mother, and fairly decent citizen, and believe me when I say that much energy has been expended to find the perfect balance for these spinning plates. Through God’s grace, He has accomplished things in spite of my weakness. But because of grace, He is opening my eyes to so much more that He can do.

Far too long, I’ve had a major blind spot, or maybe worse, it’s been just pure disobedience. With a billion people in this WORLD who are living in poverty that I can’t even begin to imagine, and 26,000 children dying EVERY DAY because of starvation or preventable diseases, I have somehow managed to remain indifferent. It's an indifference that shows up by how tightly I’ve held on to my plans, my possessions, my security, and even my family. Even though I’ve donated money and supplies and taken missions trips abroad, for the large part, my life has revolved in a fairly tight American bubble with a focus on needs right here (don't get me wrong - I'm also called to meet the needs right here in my own backyard). But my ignorance and indifference to the rest of the world have come at the expense of precious lives that Jesus loves just as much as He does me. This reality has unsettled me to my core.

You see I’m no longer content with balance. With a pretty picture. With control. Because following Christ is none of those things, but instead it’s a messy, risky, dangerous place to be. Jesus didn’t give His life for my American dream; He gave it as a ransom to save me from getting caught up in that dream. Following what the world looks at as success leads to emptiness, but following the Savior is our ultimate reward.

The amazing thing in joining God in His work is that it doesn’t earn me merit points or salvation for that matter. It’s because of what God did through His gift on Christmas morning, that I can follow His example. I’m not adopting a child because I want to be a rescuer, I’m adopting because I’ve been rescued myself and His grace calls me to get involved in His work. Adoption is just the tip of the iceberg for this global call. I don’t want to play games on this journey. I want to jump in with both feet knowing that if we have to give up all our earthly comforts, it really won’t matter because there’s so much more to life than the here-and-now. God has called us to not just declare His Gospel, but to live it out visibly.

So how does that play out for this TJMaxx/Starbuck’s/Vacation-loving, soccer mom in 2010? What can I sacrifice to truly obey him? I’m honestly asking myself that question every moment, every day. I want to wear out my life on earth getting dirty for what matters for eternity. It’s a daily war within my soul, but I have no doubt that God will keep pouring out grace to fight my flesh and embrace His journey. I know it begins on my knees and in His Word, and I have confidence that He will direct me from there.

P.S. God must be trying to get my attention with this video. It came across my computer screen in three different ways yesterday so, yes, I want to share it with you!

One Thousand Gifts

2010-11-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Free Shipping. Earlybird Specials. Tis' the season for deals, and every retailer on this planet is trying to lure us towards the perfect gift for everyone on our list. For some reason, the glitz and glamour of the glossy ads aren't impressing me this year. Don't get me wrong, I love shopping just like the next girl (maybe more), and I humbly confess that I used to own a t-shirt with the script, "Shopping is my therapy!" But something is wrong when the amount of money we spend on one plastic battery-operated toy could feed a family in Africa for a month.

How have we lost our way? We fight to keep "Merry Christmas" in our retail establishments, yet aren't we the very ones taking Christ out of Christmas by feeding the consumer frenzy? Keeping Christ in Christmas is more than semantics -- it's about actions, sacrifice, compassion, and crazy love. I love giving gifts, and there will be several wrapped under our tree on Christmas morning, but I pray that the biggest gifts I offer this year will be those that can change lives immediately and eternally.

If you're looking for a different way to give this year, perhaps you'll find the perfect gift through one of these trusted sites:

Compassion International

World Vision Gifts

I don't think I could keep a goat hidden in my "Christmas closet", but wouldn't it be fun to surprise a family in the Uganda with one? Just one goat can provide enough milk for nourishment as well as income from the sale of extra milk to purchase other necessities. How about a couple of chickens for Christmas? The protein from the eggs may very well keep a toddler alive all the way across our planet. I'm getting really excited about my Christmas shopping now!

P.S. I'm so glad God gives me gifts of grace every single day. I don't know about you, but I tend to overlook some of the most special gifts so I've decided to intentionally start jotting them down as a way to worship with gratitude. I started my list in my Thanksgiving post, and I've joined up with an online community who gives thanks every Monday. Won't you join me? You can read more about this group here:

One Thousand Gifts

This week I'm thankful for:

13. warm covers over me and arms around me as I fall asleep

14. children’s forgiveness given to an imperfect mother

15. an evergreen candle filling the house with memories of when we had a “real” tree

16. really good vitamins that balance out the Costco hot dog dinner

17. 6-second kisses around every corner

18. candle-lit Advent talks on blankets around the Christmas tree

19. photo cards from friends that I yearn to see in person

20. the colors of fall not quite yielding to winter

21. brisk family walks on the Noland Trail

22. sweet support from friends joining us in our adoption journey

23. rom-com movies with a man who gives me daily rom-com

24. children who (for the time-being) think yard work is a game

Giving Thanks

2010-11-25T16:36:00.000-08:00

We read the books and discuss the theories of the first Thanksgiving, and my kids re-enact the Pilgrims' adventure to Plymouth Rock. It’s a happy play they put on, one sanitized almost 400 years later with feasts, feathers, and festive dance. Of course, with my three boys the “turkey hunt” is the highlight of their production, and I hear statements such as, “It’s not fair that we have to get our turkey from the grocery store” (yes, we are city slickers without apology). I do my best to re-create Hallmark’s Thanksgiving around my own 21^st century table, but I’m reminded that it’s not how the presentation looks. I can’t imagine that the Pilgrims were caught up in their menu plans on that first Thanksgiving. These were the ones who lived without shelter, faced sickness and disease, buried their own, and brushed the nose of death themselves.

As I’m surveying our place settings, the thought hits me hard. I am the Pilgrim. I wandered away, I lost everything, and I nearly faced death. God in his grace rescued me from my own self, and He paid the price so I could live. Forever. He set me on solid ground, gave me life, and placed me on mission. With grace we’re on mission to live Thanksgiving every day of the year. Giving thanks – and giving because we want to say thanks. Giving money, giving time, giving words, giving prayers, giving love, giving ourselves all to say thanks to the One who ultimately gave.

Sometimes it take a near-death experience to make you really appreciate what you have. Just as the Pilgrims recognized the significance of their survival that first year, may I never forget how my life was rescued for eternity.

P.S. I’ve got a great online community who worships God with gratitude, and I can’t wait to share more about how you can join in too! For now, here are some things I’m grateful for this week:

1. warm little boy breath in my face whispering for me to get up in the morning

2. leaves spread all over the yard serving as the great equalizer of all our neighbors’

landscaping

3. notarized signatures on adoption applications

4. spices leftover at the bottom of warm mugs after the last sip of cider

5. the daily question from excited children about how many days until the Christmas tree

goes up

6. fake snow perfectly placed for a mall photo-op on a 70 degree November day

7. cousin sleepovers and family bonds that overcome the miles between us

8. sister chats and unspoken understanding

9. quiet nights and warm, fuzzy blankets

10. challenging books that make me want to really get it right

11. baby-sitters who have the house clean and kids happy at the end of a special night

12. extended gym time so an extra piece of pumpkin cheesecake won’t really matter

Here We Go. . .

2010-11-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

Playing catch up in life’s journal seems way daunting (and probably way boring for anyone happening to stop by this page) so I think the best place is to jump right into the current chaos. We all know that life can be unpredictable and lead us down turns we never expected to go, yet when we look back we can see how every twist was part of God’s perfect plan. I’m really excited about the latest example of that in our lives, and that is in relation to our adoption journey. Yep, I’m saying it, OUR ADOPTION JOURNEY, which means it’s really happening. Sometimes I have to do a reality check myself!

For those who know me well, you’ve probably heard me mention that adoption was always a possibility for us, but then a few kiddos into our family, and I pretty much only gave that idea lip-service. I’ve admittedly been enjoying the newest stages of independence in our kids – I really love that we can safely ignore them in the early mornings while we catch up on sleep since they can all fend for themselves now, and I definitely was glad to see the diaper era go alongside the Wiggles (after all we’ve already changed 22,000 diapers by conservative estimates). I’ve given away every last baby item in our house so I really felt like that train had left the station. Until recently, which only by the grace of God, there was no denying what was stirring in our hearts. Through a series of events and nudges, we began feeling like someone was missing from our dinner table, from our bedside snuggles, from our family circle. This feeling was different from the desire to reproduce more of ourselves, it was more of a calling that our child was already out there somewhere waiting for us.

To be perfectly honest, we fought that calling. Brian and I tried to convince ourselves in so many ways that this was someone else’s call, but when it all came down it felt so right to say, “Yes, we hear you, sweet child, and we’re coming for you!” I literally prayed over the globe we use for daily geography lessons asking God to show us where that voice was leading. We talked about many options locally, but in the end we feel a global call to go to Ethiopia for our child. I’ll have to save “Why Ethiopia?” for another post, but I will just say that God loves all the children of the world, and He is sending us there.

So if you’re kindly taking the time to read this, will you join us in prayer? Pray for this harried momma who needs more of God’s grace than ever, pray for our sweet child who is waiting, and pray that paperwork and pennies will come together to make this dream become reality.

The kids found Africa on the big globe at the Norfolk Zoo. . . I couldn't resist a picture!!