Fingerprint time and more!!

Whoo hoo!!  They finally came!! The past week we spent traveling and visiting friends around the state, but as I was pulling out of the driveway I decided to check the mail box one last time ....and our fingerpring appts were there!!!

Unfortunately they are for a date where a few of us will be out of town, so after many phone calls,...we are all (8 of us) heading down to Charleston this Friday to prayerfully walk in for our biometric appointments.  We have to be in Charleston Saturday for a baby shower for my sister Maura so some dear friends are going to let all of us spend the night on Friday.  We are going to hit the road SUPER early, Friday, and hope they will take all 5 of us sometime during the day.  So, if you would, please pray that we can be seen earlier than later, all on Friday!!  This would be the next big step toward completing all of our paperwork.  Pretty exciting:)

For more information on how our family is faring during this season...check out Erika's blog!

Waiting, waiting and more waiting...

We keep checking our mailbox each day hoping to find a letter from USCIS with our date for fingerprinting.  At that point we, (meaning Mark, Erika, Ben, Midge and Leo), will travel to Charleston to be fingerprinted.  Then we wait again:) for the letter that says we were approved.  That could take a few weeks.  Then we will send our dossier on to our agency and they will send it to Uganda.

Then, hopefully and prayerfully we will receive our referral, which means actually being matched with a child and receiving her picture and information.  We also have a few other significant events that can/will affect this process going on in our lives!  You can read about them on my (Erika's) blog over here...


In the meantime, we wait...

I just want to be with you...

I try to be patient. It is hard, but I try. But the other day I heard this song on the radio. I must say my tear ducts in general aren't over flowing, but they are filled with dust either. As I was listening to this, I couldn't help but think about my child(ren) out there that are not with me. I did start crying. I did get a lump in my throat and was missing my little one(s). The sentence that God used last October came to mind, "If you are called to adopt, your child is out there not getting the love and care that they could be getting if they were with you." This of course is different as a natural pregnancy, you know where your child is. Thanks to this book you know what is going on during pregnancy. We are only into month 5 of our adoption, but there is a strong chance the newest member(s) to our family is in this world. They are active, breathing, learning, but not being physically loved on by their mommy, daddy and brothers. I really miss them as crazy at that sounds. I have not met them, but I love them, I pray for them, my heart aches that I am not with them. There is no definite date at this time and I can't imagine how much more I will miss them once I actually see their faces and we are matched.
It seems like each day that there are changes in our adoption plan. That is not uncommon, but it is not welcome either. As I listen to others about their adoption there is one common denominator, no story is the same. God is making our story a special one as well. We do trust that his timing is best and our prayer is for patience.

PS: I know the song "Smile" by Chris Rice is about seeing Jesus for the first time, but I could help of thinking about my present circumstance. Although I can't wait for that day either!!

Check out these tees!!

We have had WONDERFUL success selling the Ugandan necklaces.  We actually should receive another order of them any day now.  So THANK YOU!!  And thank you to everyone that has purchased coffee through Just Love Coffee Roasters as well.  We have received a check each month from those purchases:) 

We recently found out we received approval to fund raise by selling Wild Olive t-shirts!!  If you know me well at all you have seen me wearing these t-shirts, so I am over the top excited:)  I love these shirts!!  They have Scripture on them without being cheesy and they are comfortable and soft and trendy....they are simply great!

We still hope to offer, at some point on this journey, a t-shirt specific to our adoption from Africa but for the next few weeks every time you purchase a Wild Olive tee from this page...we receive a portion of the profit! At checkout you click on coupon code and then put this code, CHAPMAN0518, in the space for coupon code, and then we will receive credit and a portion of the proceeds.  The more shirts we sell, the greater portion we receive!!  We can only fund raise through Wild Olive until the end of June so think ahead and purchase for birthdays and Christmas!  I love getting these shirts on my birthday:)

The shirts are $30 each and there are 11 styles to choose from!  So go here to check out your options and don't forget to put in the code CHAPMAN0518. Thank you ahead of time, and as always let us know if you have any questions!!

You are a blessing and thank you for joining us on this journey!!

...in the waiting

We are in a waiting period.  Waiting to hear if our home study has been mailed to the right office so we can mail money to the right office and on and on and on:)   Definitely God is doing mighty things in us as we wait and that is one of our prayers...that we would become who He wants us to be through this process.  We do believe that none of this journey, especially the waiting, is a mistake.  There is a purpose for each day.

There are lots of days now where there is NOTHING physically that I can do to make things happen any faster.  So I trust and He is teaching me to pray.  I do love to pray and have seen the power of prayer.  However I am learning anew that prayer is not really about changing God's plan but about aligning my heart and will with what He is currently doing and about to do.

So I wanted to share some of the verses that I am newly praying over this adoption process, over our family, over our child/children.  These are just a couple but we would LOVE it if you would join us in praying.  And if the Lord gives you verses to pray for and over us...we humbly ask you to share them with us.  It would be such an encouragement:)

Right now we are praying for God's favor with the judges and lawyers in Uganda.  There are so many wonderful Ugandan officials, judges and lawyers that have so much on their plates right now.  We are praying FOR them and that the families that are in line before us waiting would be processed soon as well...then we can move forward on the list.

Matthew 21:21-22

" Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 17:20

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

We are asking Jesus for great faith, and for Him to move mountains on the behalf of these sweet children. 

As I pray for the children throughout the day I pray these for them...it brings me comfort too:)

Psalm 17:8

Keep me as the apple of your eye;

hide me in the shadow of your wings  

I just picture Jesus covering them with His protective wings, so they feel safe and love and protected.  I pray that they will have strong identities in Him.  They will understand in their spirits that they are the apple of His eye!! That they will not feel abandoned or forgotten, but secure...deep down secure.

Psalm 27:5

For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock. 

I pray for their safety.  That emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually He will place a hedge of His protection over them and that He will set them high upon the rock.  He is the Rock.  That they will be in His shelter and safe in His dwelling.  As they sleep, as they eat, as they play, as they learn, as they grow.

So this is where we are at the moment in the waiting...thanks for letting me share and thank you for praying...we covet your prayers!

Uganda beads...second chances...

 **I am reposting part of my last blog because we just received a new shipment of Uganda bead necklaces and they are beautiful!!  We sold out of our last shipment in about 2 weeks so they are all the rage:)  Just wanted to share the news because I truly love these beautiful necklaces!!***


Now our newest bit of news, which I am super excited about!  We are also selling Uganda necklaces as a fundraiser!  We purchase them from a wonderful organization, 147 Million Orphans.  It is run by two moms with 13 children between them, 7 of which are adopted.  These women sell items that promote adoption but also help families fundraise for their own adoptions.  These necklaces come with a neat little bio with info on it.
"147 is honored to share the story of our sisters in Uganda who hand make these necklaces from recycled paper.  They roll the beads by hand, dip them in varnish, and thread them onto the string.  Prior to learning how to make these beads, most of the women 'picked trash' or turned to prostitution to provide for their children.  By purchasing the necklace, you help a mother make a sustainable income to provide for her family.  This purchase also helps feed a child in Uganda."

BAM!! So how awesome is that!?! I love these necklaces. They have a clasp so you can use them as bracelets, belts, or necklaces.  Each one is unique in color and patterns.  They are so fun:) We are selling them for $25.  We make $10 and $15 goes back to the women in Uganda:)  They will make great birthday gifts, teacher gifts, Easter basket surprises, Mother's Day gifts, graduation gifts, bridesmaids gifts...you get the idea!!  So you can leave me a message on the blog, Facebook me or email me if you are interested in buying one or some!!
(Yes the price did go up by $5 because the price through Uganda went up!  Sorry!)

The boys wanted to model:)

I really get overwhelmed as I sort through and look at these necklaces.  To think of the women that made them and the poverty, war and pain they have gone through...and now they find hope.  You can also check out more of their story at www.amazima.org.  An amazing 21 year old gal, Katie Davis, works with these women on the Uganda side.  Each necklace is so unique from the colors to the patterns, to the size and length....kinda like each story behind each woman that made them, each child adopted and each person that buys one.  And I love the way God can take trash (recycled magazines) and make something so beautiful from them that can result in bringing Jesus glory and fulfilling the command in James 1:27 to care for widows and orphans!!  We serve a God that loves to use trash and recycled things and make them beautiful and useful!  Our God of second chances!! It truly amazes me!!
So there you have it! Things are progressing...even though at times it feels like it is slowly:)  Thank you everyone for your prayers and support!  We are so, so blessed and so thankful for what the Lord is doing IN us along the way!  More on that, next time!

Lots of Updates!

Updates: Our second home study visit went SUPER well!  Our social worker is really, really a precious lady. We found out the next day that even though we thought we were finished,that Nightlight needs more paperwork...a lot more paperwork...to finish the homestudy:)  So we are furiously working on that.  As frustrating as delays are though we are truly trying hard to trust the Lord's timing.  He is in charge of each moment and it only wastes energy to become frustrated.

This week our agency also has been sending us updates because one of the children in the orphanage has bacterial meningitis and is now hospitalized.  Her condition was quite serious but thankfully she is slowly showing signs of improvement.  However, this means all of the children were potentially exposed and this little one will likely be in the hospital for possibly three weeks.  This just makes us even more keenly aware of the need to be praying for our little one. Psalm 17:8 says, "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." And that is what we are praying.  That the Lord will cover and protect our child...or children.  Will you please pray too!
*** We received an email this morning that the little one with meningitis went to be with Jesus during the night. We are all so, so sad and I cannot imagine what the caretakers at the Baby Home are feeling.  She had a forever family in the United States that was waiting for a court date to bring their little one home. Life is indeed fragile.  We heard a statistic today that there are 8 doctors for every 100,000 people in Uganda. Please pray that God speeds the days so we can bring our babies home!***

At this last home study visit we officially requested two children.  All along we have been open to siblings but we officially asked to be considered for two children, whether they are siblings or not.  Big breath...this is a big step for us but we really feel that we are being obedient.  We still may only be referred one, but the Lord knows what we need and can handle!  We are definitely anxious to speed the days for our referral and then to get to our little ones!

Also!!!  This past Saturday, Crystal and Tim Bausmith held a multi-family yard sale at their house for us.  Many people donated things and it was SO successful!  The Bausmiths are expert yard salers:)  They built/installed hanging racks in their garage and hung up ALL of the clothes!!  People showed up and shopped from 7am until almost 3pm.  It was amazing:)  We earned over $1200!!  That was so awesome and we are SO thankful!!

Now our newest bit of news, which I am super excited about!  We are also selling Uganda necklaces as a fundraiser!  We purchase them from a wonderful organization, 147 Million Orphans.  It is run by two moms with 13 children between them, 7 of which are adopted.  These women sell items that promote adoption but also help families fundraise for their own adoptions.  These necklaces come with a neat little bio with info on it.
"147 is honored to share the story of our sisters in Uganda who hand make these necklaces from recycled paper.  They roll the beads by hand, dip them in varnish, and thread them onto the string.  Prior to learning how to make these beads, most of the women 'picked trash' or turned to prostitution to provide for their children.  By purchasing the necklace, you help a mother make a sustainable income to provide for her family.  This purchase also helps feed a child in Uganda."

BAM!! So how awesome is that!?! I love these necklaces. They have a clasp so you can use them as bracelets, belts, or necklaces.  Each one is unique in color and patterns.  They are so fun:) We are selling them for $20.  We make $10 and $10 goes back to the women in Uganda:)  They will make great birthday gifts, teacher gifts, Easter basket surprises, Mother's Day gifts, graduation gifts, bridesmaids gifts...you get the idea!!  So you can leave me a message on the blog, Facebook me or email me if you are interested in buying one or some!!

The boys wanted to model:)

So there you have it! Things are progressing...even though at times it feels like it is slowly:)  Thank you everyone for your prayers and support!  We are so, so blessed and so thankful for what the Lord is doing IN us along the way!  More on that, next time!