Cliffhanger Weekend

Now that our blog is private I didn't want to leave you all hanging over the weekend.  Against all odds, against a backdrop of some really disappointing news for many families...God continues to move on our behalf.  After a death in the extended family of one of our children, the Ugandan mourning process that normally lasts up to a month placed someone who needed to sign a paper for our file far away and unreachable by phone.  Our case could not be filed without that paper, without that signature.  We prayed.  Without our asking, God laid it on the hearts of friends we made on our mission trip to go and find this person for their signature.  God made a way, and after several days and who knows what kind of logistical effort (this is Africa) on the ground.  Our final sheet of paper, was indeed signed and our file was complete.  We received word from our attorney that she was to file our case with the High Court on Friday.  We have not received confimation if it did or did not.  We are believing.  Straight from our attorney who is a dear Sister in Christ...she said we must pray for a quick allocation (assigning of a Judge) and to get a favorable  Judge.  Pray for us to get the Judge that the Lord has planned to fulfill His plan for our family.  We do not know whether it is His plan for us to make it before the summer break ("suppposedly" July 15th) or not.  He keeps filling us with Hope that this may be His plan, as He has gotten us to this point against all odds and in miraculous timing.  We place all our trust in the Lord, as we pray and wait and prepare.

Thank you, thank you for lifting our family up during this time.  And we thought we learned to wait during Jeremy's 7 years in the military....Ha!  just a little preparation. :)
God's humor once again. 

Grateful for friends and prayer warriors,
Mandi

Silence invites Fear

Weeell, I was waiting for good news to post.  But it has not come.  Actually I've gone from communicating with my attorney every 2 days or so, to not hearing from them in over a week now.  It has my heart a bit unsettled, because it has appeared that God was swinging doors wide open (miraculous, blessed beyond measure timeline thus far) for us to get filed in court and possible get a court date before the Judges take their summer break (July 15th, usually sooner).  I knew we were down to the wire, when 1 week ago, our law firm reported that one piece of paper was needed and they were ready to file our case. 

Now I know that God knows what is going on, and when He wants things done, It. Will. Happen.  But the silence in the wait is breeding grounds for the enemy to fill you with fear.  My heart knows I have nothing to fear, the Word tells me that over and over... but the message gets muttled on the way to this Momma's overthinking brain.

It also doesn't help that my dearest friend in the world/fellow adoptive mommy, just got her court date and is purchasing tickets to go get her sons.  Don't get me wrong, I screamed and cried like a fool, FULL of JOY for them.  But with all the wildly swinging doors opening for us thus far, my spoiled rotten heart has not let go of the desire of my heart for our two families to be able to share part of the journey together.  I am just sharing this to say, that I haven't given up HOPE that my and Kim's time in Uganda might overlap.  My God is a mountain mover and at this point a MOUNTAIN will have to move for that to happen.  (Perspective check: Kim and Josh began their adoption journey in Sept. so to say that the Lord has put us on warp speed to come within 3 wks of them is a HUGE understatement).  So grateful for all He has done.

The reality is that each day that I don't get an email, it seems as if my dream may be slipping away.  Now, I shared all that, so you can pray with me.  Ultimately all I want are for Kim's boys to be home safely with her, and my son and daughter home with me each in the unique perfect timing that God has planned for our families.  But I'm an optimist to the very end, even if I set myself up for a little more heartache.  That is me, my name is Mandi. 

I am over the moon that Kim & Josh's timeline is before the break, and that two of the precious children of Sonrise Baby Home, that many of us have prayed for (for almost 2 years) are going to be given a Mom and a Dad and sisters to love and cherish them FOREVER.  They will be orphans NO. MORE!!! Hallelujah.  And that keeps me going, keeps us going, until our turn comes.  And it. will. come.

Who am I kidding?  If I work around the clock, I won't ever be fully prepared for the day I get the call to fly to Uganda.  Lord Jesus, go before us, make a way Lord and we will walk in it.

Thank you so much for praying for the Moody Family and our family.
1) Pray for us, that we here good news before the end of this week :)
2) Pray for God's provision of both families' adoption funds.  We just learned that the plane tickets for our children on the way home will be $1000 more per ticket than budgeted.  That's just part of it when we are traveling peak summer season and will have to purchase the kid's tickets with only 3 days notice.
3) Pray for peace and productivity as the Moody families makes a million lists and prepares to travel in about 3 weeks.  Aiiiiiiiii!

Love,
Mandi

Taking Names not Chances...

The names I need are yours.

That is, if you wanna come along on this crazy, FULL of LOVE journey to Uganda with us.

Actually, I need your email addresses so I can send you an invite to the private blog.  So please leave a comment below or send your email to:

mandij75@yahoo.com

It is a huge praise that we are even at this point in the journey.  We don't want any part of our testimony to be misinterpreted and have any negative effect on our cases, so we aren't taking any chances. 

While the blog is private, a dear friend has/is creating an online store for us to be able to continue to fundraise the remaining fees for our adoptions.  We have about $4000 to go, whoo whoo, and then we'll be able to board a plane when it is time.  So if we aren't friends on fb, check back each day for cool things at:

http://www.faithsteppin.com/

Now, don't forget to leave me your address:)

I don't know if there are 2 people or 20 people reading, but I can't thank you enough for praying for our family.  We have been so blessed throughout this process and have already seen the answers to so many prayers.  Thank you for praying us through.

With a grateful heart,

Mandi

Must See Sculpture!!! Unique Adoption Fundraiser

Speaking of our Loving Abba Father....check out the sculptures hand crafted by one of my dearest friends.  She has so generously donated many of her one of a kind pieces for us to sell to raise money for our adoption fund.  Her work is beautiful and it all comes straight from her heart.  If you appreciate Willow Tree (which I love) then look and discover the hand crafted and path marking Ebenezers by Elizabeth Dempsey !!!

HE COVERS ME

Elizabeth writes:  When I was a little girl I struggled with the thought that I was all alone and had nothing to cling to but my bunny.  Now my eyes have been opened to the fact that God was watching over me all along.  He never abandoned me.  Deuteronomy 31:8 says: "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."

Matthew 28:20 says: "And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."

This makes a beautiful gift, and is also a great way to mark this moment on your path.  Mark this moment when you understood fully who your Heavenly Father is, and that you weren't going to let the enemy have this territory ever again.  He has never left you.  The beauty of a sculpture is you can interpret it as you see it.

Suggested Donation:  $36

This is the ONLY ONE of this sculpture available.  The first paypal payment or comment left and it will be yours.  Shipping will be $8 and I will be paying the rest. :)

[This piece stands about 7 inches tall x 5 inches wide]

For more work by Elizabeth Dempsey (author and artist)

please visit her at:

http://www.specialchicken.com/

Adoption Update

So Much has happened this past week....

and it all required love and teamwork.

1) There were pieces of paper critical to our case, that were not going to be prepared due to a death in the family.  God made a way, and those papers were signed and prepared.  Thank you agents of love. 

2) The United States office of immigration that handles international adoption (USCIS) is currently predicting a turn around time of 75 days for approval.  We are so excited to announce that as of FRIDAY (day 54) we are APPROVED.  For the American side of this process, we are done. Yea!!

3) We were blessed by reaching the over HALF way mark in our adoption fund efforts, due to 2 weeks of yard sales and one anonymous donor (you know who you are!!), the sale of 30 adoption dolls in original dresses;) and the donations of many.   Words can not express what it means to be supported, to have God's plan for your life supported by others when you can not do it all for, or by yourself.   This really helps the journey as we get within a month of traveling (now it can always take much longer - the unexpected twists of international adoption)and know that there are plane tickets to be purchased.  We are so grateful for the people who are coming along side us by purchasing items and praying for our family.  I look at the thermometer on my side bar and trust that God will be right on time in supplying our needs.

4) God placed some new friends in our life over this past month and they are helping us launch an online store to share our adoption dolls and any other fundraising items, as the time draws near for the blog to go private temporarily.

5)We look forward to this new week, with great hope that our cases will be filed with the H*gh Court and that we will be assigned to a favorable J*dge. 

So Over You...

EMOTIONS!!!!

Only now at age 36, am I really truly getting it, about my emotions.  I've learned lots about them through this journey of life through adolescence, womanhood, motherhood, and now surrenderhood, ha!  Ever wish you were more like a man, in this regard?? Wish you were less emotional?  Well I have and too many times to count.  Sometimes I wish I wasn't as effected by my emotions.  I wish that things just bounced off of me as freely as they do my better half.  I wish I didn't care SO much about SO many things.  I'm reminded of a quote of one of my bestest friends when talking about her husband, "He's as deep as paper!"  Ha Ha! It was said in love.  Her statement caught me off guard at the time, years ago.  But now sometimes, I wish I was only as deep as paper...cause being as thick as mud is a heavy burden sometimes.  I hear God telling me He wants me thinking less, and trusting more. 

Then there is the flip side, God made me this way.  I feel deeply and this allows me to connect with people in a very genuine REAL way that's natural and not contrived.  It's just who I am.  When stories/testimonies are shared with me in real life (ha) and even in the movies, it's not conscious on my part, but I totally put myself in their shoes in my head and really my heart.  This is one of the reasons why I cry at the drop of a hat, with every Oprah (Okra - hubbies pet name for her since her turn into spiritual divahood. He's not a fan can you tell), every family drama TV show, movie etc.  Okay, disclaimer, I actually haven't watched Oprah in years, except for an occasional feel good piece.  But in college and early married life I watched religiously and just in the last week I'm interested in the end of final season.  Just yesterday I watched the update on "Erin" a mom who left taped messages for her then 5 year old daughter, because she knew she was dying of cancer.  I completely remember the episode on their family 13 years ago.  It brought me to tears just thinking about it (my husband and kids thought I'd lost my mind ((what's new?))

Okay, so where was I going with this?.. oh yes.  Since acknowledging my heightened state as an emotional being.. I've learned NOT to trust them, my emotions that is.  They are the enemy's numero uno weapon to take us from a position of faith to fear.  When life's events and the disappointments of people play on our emotions, I have to fight those thoughts with the truth of God's word.  I don't always do that first, but I am slowly getting it through my head and starting to listen to the Lord more.  I can finally testify that low and behold He is a man of his word....His word will strengthen my faith and save me from going over the cliff where depressing thoughts and pity-parties hang out in the valley just waiting to suck the joy out of my life. 

We girls, with the gift of mercy and comfort and compassion have to keep our emotions in check (preachin to myself here) and use our gifts for good and not let the enemy use them to make us defenseless and powerless to accomplish the beautiful Kingdom tasks that the Lord has prepared for us, since before the world began.

To all my fellow weepy ones... a great big ((HUG))!! I miss all my friends with all this moving around we've done.  I truly think sometimes the Spirit pours right out of me through my tears.  Thankgoodness my heavenly Father has counted and caught every one, even when I didn't realize it.  

We have a WINNER!!

The proud new owner

 of a Signed Copy of David Platt's,

 RADICAL TOGETHER is.......

TERRI PHILPOT!!!!!!

Congratulations & thank you for supporting the least of these through our adoption fund.

Send me your mailing address, and it'll be on it's way :)

Online Store for new items to be up this week, yea!

The Good CRAZY...

That's What We Are!

Hey Sis,Wanna go for a dip??

Brand New Above Ground Swimming Pool :)
Yes we now reside in Coastal Georgia, and it's hot. So my youngest two have had to entertain themselves quite a bit while their daddy and I worked on the most important stack of documents in our LIVES.



I'm so delighted to share that this little beauty, formally called the DOSSIER...
shipped to Uganda (after we laid hands on it & prayed over it) and
is expected to be at it's destination Monday night!
This is the last part of this process that we can even pretend to have any control over.
We are just so elated to be at this point;
poised for our case to be submitted to the High Court.


So, we wait, and the wait is so unpredictable, weeks, months..only the Lord knows.
But we hope and we pray,
and we stay busy preparing for the greatest YARD SALE of our Lives!!
(which begins in 5 hours- yes I am insane)

So, anticipating a beautiful day of sharing our hearts and selling things
in order to get to our children and get all of us home.

After 9 years, learning that we are adopting older children...I'm finally able to part with all the cribs and all those infant clothes that we've (you wouldn't believe me if I told you how many times we've moved those tubs of clothes)
Just say that my husband loves me very much... and now he appreciates my saving them.
The first round of clothes helped to send us to Africa last year :)

Mmmmmm, don't you want some fresh baked pound cake?
My College roomie of 4 yrs came to visit tonight, (our girls are both 3)
and help us with all things yard sale.
She took over the baking of cakes...oh the love of a friend.
We won't talk about the laundry she folded.
No mystery, I'm no supermom :)
Thank you so much Jennifer & Sydney!!!

Gotta get to the best part...we've been praying that our approval with USCIS would
somehow miraculously NOT take the full 75 days that is being quoted.
The last milestone before hearing those precious words...is to have your file
assigned to an OFFICER, who within days could give us an answer.
We were assigned an officer today, on day 46!!!!!
God is merciful and He has a special plan for our family.
Please keep our adoptions in your prayers. There are challenges being
faced in the next few days in our children's birth country,
 but God is not surprised.
Just believe with us that He is going to work in and through it all
 for the good of our children and the family that He has planned for us.
Oh How HE LOVESssss Us! (and loves you)

WIN a Signed copy of "Radical Together"

I am so excited to say, that if you just gave to Compass in my Heart, for a chance to win a SIGNED copy of the newly released book by David Platt, titled "Radical Together"....first of all God bless you for giving to their ministries in the Bugabo Village...and now

YOU HAVE A SECOND CHANCE to WIN!!!

And a new opportunity to bless our family

 and the two children we are adopting from Uganda!

"Radical Together - Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God" from David Platt on Vimeo.

For those of you who don't know us yet, or didn't know about Christie's giveaway... I was one of three winners drawn from her giveaway tonight.  She is a missionary in Uganda and my friend, and her recent visit to the states allowed Pastor David to sign her 3 copies after the Easter service.  I never win anything, so God has blessed me with this copy so that I can give it away to a special someone and help to get my babies one step closer to being home with us.  We are in the last week of our paperwork race to our son and daughter who wait for us in Uganda.  Once we have that final APPROVAL, our attorney can file our cases and we await God's appointed time for us to get a court date and go to bring our children home.  So we could be traveling in a month or 3 months...we are believing God for the remaining $7000 needed to bring them home.

So how can YOU enter to win a Signed COPY of the book??

Make a donation - $5 = 1 entry or $12 = 3 entries

Share the link to our blog on FB (in addition to any donation amt) = 1 entry

Blog about this fundraiser (in addition to any donation amt) = 3 entries


Once you've entered, post a comment below letting me know which "additional" way you've entered. If you just chose to make a donation, I will see that in Paypal so there's no need to comment. However, if you share the link on FB or write a blog post about it, PLEASE let me know so your additional entry is counted!


Our family can't thank you enough for all your prayers and support thus far.  A day doesn't go by that my kids don't ask when their brother (3) and sister (5) will be here with us.  It is a miraculous and beautiful thing to see a love grow so much in their hearts for siblings they have never seen or touched.  We give God all the praise for what he is doing already in our journey and we humbly pray that you will support us again through this fundraiser.  Please know that every dime that isn't absolutely required for our adoption (we've budgeted with great thrift) will be spent ministering to the widows and orphans of Uganda.  We will return with nothing.  Thank you for participating...almost forgot the most important part...

Winner will be drawn in ONE WEEK,

on MAY 15th!!!

If you want to check out the first chapter, you can read it here.

Pastor David Platt's first book, Radical, spoke profoundly to me and my husband and challenged us, and rocked us to the core of who we are as Christ followers. 

So much love in my heart tonight on Mother's Day...as I long to have all my babies together.   How do you live with your heart on two continents?  Only by the sustaining love of my Heavenly Father.

Love,

Mandi

P.S.  Much fundraising madness on the way...HUGE yard sale finally this Friday and Saturday..."Bring Them Home" prayer pins coming next week, more precious dolls in African dresses, AND beautiful Ugandan bead necklaces. God will make a way with every penny.