Some Shout-outs

Several years ago, two of my favorite radio show hosts--Rick and Bubba--hosted the Dove Awards. Knowing how much I liked these guys, one of my students (thanks, Quinn!) met them and talked them into giving me a "shout out" on the radio. Needless to say, it made my whole day! Now, this isn't nearly as exciting as that, but I do have a couple of "shout outs" of my own to give:

1. Dan and Dee Anne Proctor

Dan went to Uganda this week and offered to take a present to Asher. I showed you pictures of our getting the present ready. Here are pictures of the package en route to Uganda.

Danny handed off the presents (one for Asher and one for Judah) to Dee Anne...

...who in turn handed them off to Dan and his friend Doug. Here
they are in the airport at 4:00 in the morning!

2. Ladies of the Premier Design Party

Dana wanted to host a Premier Design Jewelry Party as a benefit for Asher, and Leslie agreed to have the party at her house. We had a fun time!

3. Sydney and Keaton

One of Owen's best buddies and his sister set up a shaved ice stand in their front yard to raise money for Asher's adoption. It was awesome!

Sydney and Keaton are ready for customers!

Here they come!

We even dropped by for some yummy shaved ice!

Thanks to everyone for being part of our story! We appreciate you!

We are still praying for an early court date, although I must confess it looks slim. Please join us as we pray for our affidavits to get here in time for us to sign them and return them before the judges go on session break. Pray that we will be patient as we wait for God's perfect timing.

We're All in This Together

I just found this trailer for Hillsong's new full-length documentary We're All in This Together on a friend's facebook page (thanks Michelle). I am thankful for the reminder...and humbled. (You may want to scroll down and turn off the sound on my play list so that you can enjoy the video.)

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Special Delivery for Asher

We were so excited to find out that someone from our church was going to Jinja this week, and he offered to take a present to Asher. I mean, how often does someone from your church just happen to be going to Jinja, Uganda? The kids and I got busy picking out a present for Asher. It was Danny who finally came up with the idea of a soccer ball. And so we packed a box with a little soccer ball and tons of gum and dum dums to be shared with all. Everyone threw in a note for Asher, and then we wrapped it up. I know its flowers on the paper, but I'm hoping that Asher is so excited that he won't really notice!

We're Getting Ready!

Well, in a few weeks Asher will be home, and it hit me: we need to get busy! Sooo...we went out and got our little guy some clothes. Danny told me to take it slowly: buy socks one month, buy underwear the next, etc. I tried to explain to him the flaw in his thinking, but he's still not convinced! I was, however, able to get a few things. Aren't they cute? It's been a long time since I bought boy clothes this size!




Next, we added a few things to Owen's room to make it ready for his brother. We added some shelving for Asher's books as well as a new dresser. Here it is:




I realize these things may seem silly, but it's exciting to think that Asher will have his very own clothes and his very own bed with his very own books in his very own house with his very own family. Now I just have go and get those socks and underwear!

We still haven't heard about a court date. Mary said it would take a "miracle." I'm up for a miracle, how about you? Please continue to pray that God would move mountains to get our boy home before school starts! And thank you for walking this journey with us. We're almost there!

We Have a Son!

I just the got call from Mary at Amani, and we now have custody of Asher! It's official! Danny and I are parents of four! Yippee! Once again, this news is testament to God's faithfulness. Let me explain.

Our custody papers had been in Uganda for over eight weeks with no news, and I was beginning to get discouraged. And yet, I knew that God was a sovereign God Who heard our prayers and responded. So, I made a commitment Monday night to pray every hour that the hearts of the people involved in Uganda would be turned and that they would sign the papers immediately. And then I began to pray...all day. Lindsey Doyle joined me in St. Louis. (I now understand what James meant when he said "pray without ceasing"!) Well, I began praying on Monday night and all day Tuesday...every hour. This morning I woke up to a call from Mary that our papers had been signed and that I was now Asher's "mummy." Praise be to God!

It's not that the papers would not have gotten signed. I know that they would have. It's the joy and excitement of praying for God's work to be done and then seeing it done. It is being part of God's Kingdom work. Instead of going through life thinking that I determine my path, I see how God is working in the circumstances and events of all of our lives. And He is faithful to His people.

We now wait for the affadavits to be drawn up and a court date to be given. Would you please join me in "praying without ceasing" for these events to happen quickly? I have been informed that the judges will have a six-week break in July/August. If we do not get a court date before then, we will not travel until after the school year begins, a hard time for two teachers and a football coach! We also want to have as much time home with Asher as possible. Therefore, we pray! We pray for God's perfect timing and no delays. We pray that we can get a court date BEFORE the break, God willing.

Either way, Asher is our son! Mac, Owen, and Sylvie have a brother! Finally, Asher has a forever family! Thanks be to God!

The Doyles Are Coming Home!

My heart is so full, it is singing! We just got back from church where Ryan Doyle was announced as our youth pastor. That means that Ryan and Lindsey and their family are moving back to Franklin! That means that Asher and Judah will all be growing up together. I can hardly even fathom this truth. Who would have foreseen this turn of events? I tell you who...God! I think that is at the heart of why I am so joyful: today has given testament to the truth that God has a plan and that He really does direct the courses of men.

I remember this time last year when we were at a going-away party for Ryan and Adam. I sat in a circle of people who worked with these two godly men, and I wept as I had to tell them and their families goodbye. Danny and I even told Ryan that if he moved to Scotland to plant a church, we were going with him. And we meant it! Fast forward several months to the Women's Conference at our church where I literally bumped into Lindsey. After I told her that Danny and I were adopting, she cried and said that she and Ryan were feeling led to do the same thing. A week later, she and Ryan had applied to Amani, and they were well on their way to getting Judah, one of Asher's friends, as a member of their forever family.

None of us saw the Doyles moving back home so that Ryan could be the youth pastor of our church. None of us saw Judah and Asher growing up together. None of us saw Ryan speaking into the hearts of my personal children. Yet, God saw. He had a plan all along. He knew before we were born that our lives would be knit together. He knew...He knew!

And so my heart sings today! I am not making this plan up as I go along. I walk in the shadow of a God who loves me and who cares for me. I walk in the shadow of a God who can make beauty from ashes. I walk in the shadow of a God who promises to work all things for good for those people who love him and who are called according to His purpose. Wow!

And so, I am excited to say that the Doyles are moving home! We love this family so dearly. Welcome home, friends! Welcome home!

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Prov 19:21

Happy Campers!

Because we are waiting on the word from Uganda, we couldn't really plan any vacations this summer. Besides that, we're saving every penny we can! So, our kids' summer consists of local camps. This past week, everyone was in a camp: the boys were in football, and Sylvie was in cheerleading. Here's a sneak peek into our fall...

Happy Anniversary!

Danny and I celebrated our 15th anniversary this May. It's hard to believe that we have been married that long. It seems like only yesterday we were running around being camp counselors! (As George Bernard Shaw says, youth is wasted on the young!) In honor of our anniversary, I perused old pictures and walked down Memory Lane. Here is just a glimpse of the road Danny and I have traveled.

Danny and I first met while working a Christian sports camp called Crosspoint. Can you find us in the group picture?

The following summer we got married!

Fifteen years later!

In Paris!

Danny, I love you and am so thankful for you! Happy Anniversary!

Thank you, Mets!

As you may remember, our family took on the concession stand for the 7-8 year-old field at our local ballpark as a way to help raise money for the adoption. Click here if you would like to read the original post. Well, today at church, Mrs. Roach (one of the moms on one of the teams) gave us a present from the Mets. She explained that instead of giving the coach an end-of-the-year present, the team decided to make a donation to our adoption. Can you believe it? We don't have a son playing on this team. We just showed up and sold candy and drinks! And here they are contributing to our adoption.



To the players and coaches and families of the Mets, THANK YOU for your generosity. We will keep the card and picture and tell Asher all about your kindness. He is going to love learning about his new home through the CD's. And the check will certainly help us get him home. We have almost met our goal, but we couldn't do it without you! God has used you all in a mighty way. Thank you again for supporting us and Asher.

We Love Uganda!

At the Nashville World Cup, Christ Presbyterian Academy

Asher is Going to Town! Part II

Auntie Emily just sent me this update on Asher's trip to town:

On Saturday we took the kids out to town, and I totally called dibs on Asher! We got a cake and milkshake for him, and he devoured the cake and then gave over half of his milkshake to George. Asher is the best at sharing! Then I got him a fanta because he barely had anything to drink, and he once again gave the rest of it to George! Then we walked into town a little to look at the craft stores, and this man in one of the stores takes two necklaces and gives them to George and Asher. This is VERY rare in Uganda, and I insisted on paying him and he responded with "Excuse me, I am a Christian, and these are my sons." I nearly started crying right then and there! Also the past few days Asher has been telling everyone, "Auntie, tomorrow I leave for America to be with my family." And every time I say, "Do you love your family?" and he responds with a "yes," and I say, "Good, because they love YOU very much!" And he just giggles and smiles.

This sweet story makes ME giggle and smile! Thank you, Emily, for these words of hope! (Look at the post below to see pictures of Asher's trip to town.)

Asher is Going to Town!

Auntie Emily took Asher for an outing in Kampala. Take a look...









After all that excitement, he's going to be pretty bored with the minivan!

Check Out This Video

Renee Bach is going to Uganda to serve the children of a small village. Check out her video...





Renee is one of the girls who has sent us priceless pictures and given us precious stories of Asher. I cannot wait to meet this sweet sister in Christ when I go to Uganda and to thank her for her work in the Lord's name.