Filed under: Uncategorized
I know I won’t keep up this pace for the entire year we wait, but right now it sure is fun. I hopped around on etsy.com and saw these really cute little onesies and shirts that had elephant and giraffe appliques on them. My brain started churning… until it hit an idea it loved. So I spent yesterday working on a little applique of africa with a smaller applique of a heart over ethiopia. Silly. I know. But it makes me feel like I am doing something. I cut out several of those yesterday. 
Right now, we are waiting on the application packet from Holt to arrive in the mail. I had been on one yahoo group for quite some time (ie. Ethiopia Adopt), and joined a second one specifically for Holt families who are adopting from Ethiopia. The two boards are perfect contrasts! EthiopiaAdopt often lacks encouragement, fuels rumors, and the members disrespect one another. The Holt Board is full of encouragement and it’s members reach out to one another, respect each other’s disappointments, etc.
Once the application packet arrives, we get it all notarized and send it on back…
Small prayer request, please. I’ve found a home study agency that I love- Carolina Adoption Services. I’ve had wonderful conversations with her on the phone and they have a licensed social worker right here in our neighborhood. The other agencies are located an hour or more away. CAS isn’t on the ‘branch’ list, but I am hoping they approve our use of them anyway.
Filed under: Uncategorized
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- Birdie Sling, single strap, interior pocket, magnetic clasp $90
So I'm pulling out the sewing machine from downstairs to do a little work for hire.
Here's the process!
1. Choose the type of bag, purse, wallet, or shirt.
2. Choose fabric for exterior and interior.
3. Email me: mariangreen5@gmail.com your order and we can chat.
4. Expect about a month turn around time! We'll trade package for payment. I can accept Paypal as well. Thank you.
$25 - Wallets with a magnetic closure, credit card slots, and a zippered coin pouch.
$15 - $25 - Tshirts can be adult or child and are American Apparel.
$110 - Diaper Bag with changing pad (this picture came from a contest site, the rest of the pics are mine). The diaper bag has a cell pocket, bottle pockets, single sling strap, and is machine washable. The changing pad is terry on one side, fabric on the other, and has a slip in sack.
$50 - The Frenchy Bag is the bag with the two straps and rounded bottom. It's one of my faves!
$90 - The Birdie Sling is pictured above twice, once in a brown lacework, and also in a green modern dot. It's oversized, amazing for traveling or an everyday carry-all. The pockets are ample.
$40 - I have a messenger bag that I designed myself! It has several pockets inside, one cell pocket outside, and a single strap.
$40 - Hobo Slouch. Not yet pictured. Amazingly simple, single strap, triple pockets, magnetic closure, slight slouch to square design.
The fabrics are some of the highest quality I've worked with, wash beautifully, and resist stain and wear. There are several layers of interfacing or canvas in each bag. I can add extra pockets as desired. To place your order now: Go to Amy Butler's site or Joel Dewberry's for fabric and pattern choices. If you like a pattern I don't already have, we can work something out. Thank you!
Shipping is $6-$7 depending on the bag. The wallets ship for $4. Thanks!
All our profits are now going toward the dossier and international fee! We are cruising right along.
Filed under: Adoption
We did it! We pressed ’submit’. Which is huge, since I had filled the form out twice already.
Six months ago, Nathan and I watched Willow Creek’s leadership video, “A Thousand Questions”, an unspeakably moving poem urging us to move, to do something…Here I Am, Lord. Send Me. Crocodile tears rolled down my cheeks as I sat in the back pew of our church in South Dakota. I knew exactly what God wanted. He wanted all of us. Our hearts, our obedience, our finances, our love.
It was time to say ‘yes’ to a familiar adventure- in a new way. We were called to adopt.
Many of you know the intense battle we fought for our oldest son. It was a four year journey of trust and reliance. Never in our married life have we felt so loved by our community. When it was over, my husband was the legal father to my oldest son, and we thought, “Whew! We don’t EVER want to go through that again!”
Except that now we do. In January, we said, “Sure. Bring it on.”
Boy did He ever. Since that video, we have accepted a new job, moved across country (again!), bought our first house, put a ton of sweat into the walls, comforted our sons when they miss their friends, signed a lease for a new church buiding, wrote a book, built a kayak, and learned that- yes- there are fleas in Virginia and our dogs have invited them all over to play.
Yet she has followed me everywhere. Our daughter, I mean. I have gone through an online adoption orientation, a state foster care orientation, and have talked to so many homestudy agencies that they have to remind me that I’ve already called. We are ready. I am ready.
This week my heart held physical agony. Nathan avoided my study room while I sought God. When I was finished, we poured over Haggai together. It spoke to us on so many levels: with the church, with our new home, and with the growth of our family. Take action, God spoke through Haggai. Obey my commands, trust in my resources. God was irritated and frustrated that his people were just sitting back and waiting to get to work on the task before them- rebuilding the temple.
I won’t lie. The financial aspect behind international adoption is scary. But I have seen the glory of God in action and I believe we have been called to obedience. What a fun way to get to be obedient!!!
“Shout and celebrate, Daughter of Zion! I’m on my way, I’m moving into your neighborhood! ~ God’s decree.” Haggai 2.10, The Message Bible
It’s a long road to Ethiopia. Perhaps she is still growing in the womb of her amay, amharic for birthmother. What a beautiful gift she is giving us.
Please pray for our homestudy. If you’d like to read how this journey began, you could call Adam and Lauren…or you could just read how they paved the way and opened our hearts and Ungrind. They are our adoption pioneers.
