When God calls you out...

So, several weeks ago...I was sitting in church while our pastor was preaching and I was admiring my sparkly diamond ring...see you have to understand-the lights in the sanctuary make diamonds come to life...seriously, you should see it...

I should back up...just in case you don't know this about me...I love jewelry. I have since I was a little girl...love love love jewelry. I love to make jewelry, I love to wear jewelry...I love to get jewelry from my husband. And I'm very partial to diamonds...they are a girl's best friend, right? One day I hope my little jewelry business will take on some diamond creations-we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...I was sitting there admiring my ring (when I should have been paying attention to the preaching, but my vain self was consumed with something else)...and then I felt that God hit me right between the eyes..."Monica, sell your ring"...hmmm--what? Sell my ring? No body is really going to want to buy my ring, God...I mean seriously--sell my ring--seems a little odd..."MONICA, s.e.l.l t.h.i.s s.i.l.l.y r.i.n.g!" Ummm, God--did you know I really like this ring? (Now exasperation) "M o n i c a...are you that hard headed? (yes) Sell the ring." Okay, okay...I will I will...I just need to wait till the timing is right...I mean what if we don't get matched? It would seem a little premature. I think at this point I'm sure God was throwing his hands up in the air and shaking his head a little. Excuses Excuses...

So, we got matched with precious little Olivia and we started with the formal process...and then last week my daughter came to me with her allowance money and said, "Hey, Mom..." yes, Abby... "I want to give you this money to help Olivia come home faster"... heart in throat, blink rapidly--don't start crying or you're daughter will think you've lost your mind... She had $6 to give...but she gave all that she had...I still had a ring on my finger. A ring that holds some sentimental value, but truth be told I picked it out-James just went and bought it...a ring that is a bit materialistic since I was admiring it during church when I should have been focusing on the One who loves us beyond what we can even comprehend. God made it clear..."Sell the ring, Monica".

I'll be honest with you...this is not a "rock" by any means...but to me its beautiful...it's not worth a ton of money...but I'm giving it up to what God will do with it. You can follow this link to ebay where the ring is for sale...and I'm asking for you to pass this post along to your friends, family, anyone who may want to be a part of bringing a little girl from South Korea home and at the same time get a pretty sparkly ring. I hope whoever ends up buying it will pass the story along and tell how this simple diamond ring played a big part in Olivia's story.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SELLING-RING-FOR-ADOPTION_W0QQitemZ230443064330QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Fine_Rings?hash=item35a77a1c0a#ht_678wt_1167

What are you doing...What are you SUPPOSED to be doing?

I'm a firm believer that God gives each of us certain things or places us in specific roles in life, whether it be talents, jobs, "status", friends, small groups, etc...all to be used for HIS WILL. Me for instance...I make jewelry...I love to make jewelry, but God did not give me that passion for my benefit alone...it's to be used for HIS PLAN...

You may have money, you may have been blessed beyond what you would have ever imagined with a financial security that we would all (if we're honest) want to have but guess what? It's not for you...seriously, because you know what our money isn't our own anyway. So, if this is where you stand...maybe the question should be asked-where is God leading you to direct this money.

You may hold a role of "high esteem" in other words you're the suits in an organization, you may have ties to people that have well...clout. But it's not all by chance--there's a reason for the jobs we have, the people we encounter, the friendships we make. Not to take advantage, but to use where we are at in life to be a part of God's plan.

Right now, the Hoods (our pastor and his wife at LifePoint) are preparing for a silent auction...they are gathering donations and have had a great response so far. But you know what...I'm just praying that God will blow our socks off...that He's going to do something that there is no doubt among anyone's minds it's HIS PLAN...HIS WILL...and I hope that you will really look inside yourselves to see what you can do to be a part of this.
They are hosting a dinner and silent auction at Jim N' Nicks in Smyrna on March 8th to raise the money needed to bring their son Isaiah home from China. Here's Amy's blog address www.amyrhood.blogspot.com where you can get more information about the family and their journey.

Perhaps...for such a time as this you've been called. If we all do the little bit that we can, then God will those efforts and make a BIG Impact.

The new Jackson 5!

Well...if you haven't already figured it out...we've been given an initial match to adopt a precious little girl from South Korea. She is 18 months old and her given name is Ye-ram Go. Abby picked out the name Olivia and I love it...such a sweet sounding name, don't you think?...but we also wanted to give a part of her given name in her name, but Abby and I share the middle name Lynn and she felt like her sister should share our middle name too...so we've come up with Olivia Lynn-ye Jackson.

Its so ironic how we are experiencing a lot of the fears we had when we got pregnant with Hayden...first, OH MY GOSH we're having a baby!! What are we going to do?? Are we ready for this...that pure panic...and then we were brought to our knees by the fact that we may not ever get to hold him...or that he may have special needs we couldn't comprehend and could we care for him? Now...here we are almost 9 years later feeling a lot of those same feelings...OH MY GOSH we're adopting!! Can we do this?? And then the possibility that she may have needs ranging from a minor learning delay to a severe mental deficit...can we adequately care for those needs...but in both situations we distinctly felt the peace that only comes from God telling us to trust Him. Not trust Him that it will all turn out like we want it to in our book--not a 'rose-colored' glass trust...but trust Him that He created this child in her mother's womb...and she is perfectly and wonderfully made--there was no mistake...Even when we don't understand--His plans far exceed ours...that the story is written and He is allowing us to be a part of it...

I won't lie and say we're not scared...the waves seem pretty big...but when our focus is where it is supposed to be the waves don't matter anymore and we can take that step out of the boat.

With all that said, we are excited...so excited....we're excited to see how God pulls this off. We're excited to bring Olivia home and for her to be our daughter...we're excited for Abby to be a big sister (and she's said she'd share her Bitty Baby with her) and for Hayden to look out for her as a big brother (he says he'll be nicer to her than he is to Abby because Abby bugs him). :)

Now we get to start the not so fun stuff...paperwork, homestudies, etc....usually you do this first but with our situation adopting a waiting child and the agency we are going thru the process has been flipped. As I said before this is an initial match, once we receive official approval from the country we will then be able to post pictures of this sweet little girl. There's still a long road ahead of us...okay not that long really, they are saying we could be bringing her home within the next 5-9 months--I was expecting 12-18. I keep repeating to myself--God has it all worked out-God has it all worked out-God has it all worked out...it's kind of like breathing into a brown paper bag for me.

We so appreciate your prayers over the next few months as things come together...from everything I've heard I know adoption is not an easy road--I'm under no illusions that ours will be different...and I'm sure there will be more times when we feel overwhelmed...but we wouldn't trade it for the world. We would also like to ask you to pray for Olivia...we realize for her the adjustment can be very difficult. Going from people and places she's known to a totally different place where people talk funny and look different. My heart breaks thinking about how scary that must be, even for a small child like this...so we're just asking that you start praying for her to feel loved and comforted by us. To pray for James and I, for wisdom, to help her transition into our family.

Thank you...thank you for being excited with us...for supporting us...for encouraging us when we wondered if we'd lost our minds...for not saying we'd lost our minds (even if you were thinking it)...for loving us...Thank you!

The latest....

We believe that adoption is apart of God's plan for our family...we believe God is in control of this whole process...we believe He has a child already in mind for us...we believe it will take an act of God to get thru this....

We are also human...and so that means, we are scared--there are A LOT of unknowns that can easily become overwhelming if we lose our focus.

Not only do we believe God has called us to adopt...but we feel like He is leading us to South Korea. Just a little info on S. Korea...they are

the only program we've heard of that requires we show we have the funding up front to pay for the adoption--as of today our bank account only reflects a fraction of the estimated $25k that is needed to fund an adoption, they have strict weight rules (if you know me...you know this is not one of my strong points--lucky for James he won't have to worry about the BMI numbers-don't get me started).

But yet, with all of this that makes it seem impossible...God has still placed South Korea on our hearts.

Let me disclose that although we are feeling led in this direction, we have not made a concrete decision regarding country. We are very open because more than anything we want to provide a family for a child that does not have one...that's the bottom line. But since we are pursuing South Korea...we are starting fund raising now...yep, I'm selling jewelry and I will be for over the next several months to raise the funds needed to bring a child home.

Currently, I have 16 scrabble pendant necklaces already made--I'm selling them for $15 each (see picture below). Once I sell out of these I will make a new batch and I'm hoping to have to continue restocking each month.

We will also be having additional fundraisers and will pass along that information once it becomes available. For now, check out the necklaces and if you'd like to purchase one-let me know thru email, facebook, phone, mail...whatever it takes--we have lots of necklaces to sell!

Re-wind...

Did I ever say the unknown was exciting?

Yeah, I think I did...I think those words came out of my mouth...let me just take a moment to say-WHAT WAS I THINKING????
The unknown--the walking in faith, the puzzle--how it's all going to fit together--exciting??!!

No, I was mistaken...it's scary...it's down-right pit in my stomach scared out of my mind-that's what it is!

But then it's at those moments...those terrified, what are we thinking...moments--that God sends the reminders- a physical, tangible reminder that knocks my socks off--because I serve a God who knows what I need to make it thru these moments time and time again...He is in control...and what is impossible to man is possible with God.

So, yeah...take a deep breath...I guess it is exciting...in a scary, pit-in-your stomach...kind of way.

Wow...it's almost here...a new year!

Can you believe we're staring down the face of 2010? Remember about 10 years ago...Y2K? Wondering if everything would blow up when the clock struck 12 and we entered the new millennium...and then it didn't...and some of us were a little disappointed because that meant we had to go back to work. :) Well, I'm just sayin'...some of us were just a tad disappointed but that's because we were young and naive...now we're so much wiser!

We have had a busy last month or so...Mimi came for Thanksgiving--we went to my Dad's for Christmas and my sister and brother were there too. (Grandpa Jim was sick the whole time and we kept giving him a hard time about being a wimp--the day after we left he ended up in the hospital with double pneumonia...good job, Mo) We got home and two days later, James' parents-his sister and her husband and the COUSINS came! They actually all got here yesterday and the kids have had a blast. Madi loves Max and we're not sure if Max loves Madi. :) The kids are so much fun together.

James and I are researching adoption agencies...narrowing down countries...getting excited. Wanting to do something today...but knowing it's a process that will teach patience (and trust me I don't EVER ask for patience) knowing it's a process that will require some refinement and unfortunately, I kind of prefer to stay out of the fire...but we can't be refined without the fire. We're praying BIG for this one...praying BIG...because this is a 'God if you don't do this...it can't happen' kind of situation-this is something bigger than us. For me, though...that just makes it all the more exciting...because it's a God thing...and we're going to get to see God do HIS thing...how cool is that!

A new road, a new direction for 2010...so what are you praying BIG for this year?

He's up to something...

Have you heard that song by Sanctus Real--Whatever You're Doing...it's pretty much my "anthem" right now...especially this part of the song...it has me on my knees

Whatever You’re doing inside of me It feels like chaos, but I believe …
You’re up to something bigger than me Larger than life, something heavenly
Whatever You’re doing inside of me It feels like chaos, but now I can see
This is something bigger than me Larger than life Something heavenly

If you see me right now and we talk about what's going on...I'll tell you how excited I am...how I can't wait to see what God is going to do...how I know it's all going to fall into place.

And all of these things are true, I believe this...most of the time I believe it with all my heart...I do...but then if I'm going to be transparent I'm going to tell you the doubts start creeping in and I'm scared to death...scared that maybe I can't measure up to this task...wonder HOW IN THE WORLD this is going to work out...If I'm going to be honest with you I will tell you I'm scared that I will get excited for the possibility of adding another child to our family...of turning our little foursome into a party of 5 (the new Jackson 5--haha...sorry had to say it...note to all those wondering we will not be naming any child Michael)...and then for God to say No...it's not for you.

James and I feel very strongly about adoption (we support it in case you're wondering which way we go with that) :) In fact, it's our belief that as Christians we are called to care for the orphans...now this doesn't always mean that we're all called TO adopt, but we are all called to care (I stole that line from our pastor) and we're all called to DO SOMETHING. So, we're really in limbo...my heart aches at the thought of these children without families....seriously, sounds corny-right? But there are tears in my eyes right now as I type this (and of course wearing mascara...good job, Monica). There are so many options...domestic vs international...and if you choose international...then to choose a country. How do you even begin to narrow it down? And what if...just bare with me for a minute...what if God is saying, I love you're passion...but you're only meant to raise the money for other families...your job is to support families I've ordained to take up this task. Honestly, I don't have the answers, but we figure we're going to take the step of faith...James and I are choosing to start somewhere and then let God handle the rest.

We took our first "public"...well semi-public...step yesterday. LifeWay hosted a Craft Sale...I put up a booth with 30 necklaces (which are really cute I might add--but I'm a bit biased)...and honestly, I was hoping for a good turn out, but I didn't put too much stock in it especially since the previous sale I sold about 5 items...but see I believe (beyond a shadow of a doubt and I'm serious...I BELIEVE THIS) that God did His thing yesterday because every single one of those necklaces sold...every one of them plus I took extra orders. So, we've started the adoption fund...and that's what we're working towards right now. We want to adopt...oh, I can't tell you how much we'd love that...but we're going to be faithful with what God has told us to do right now and that's put money towards an adoption fund...whether it be for ourselves (crossing my fingers--okay not really--we're not superstitious) or whether it be for another family...we're going to be faithful with what He's guided at this point.

I'm going to be a little selfish and ask for you to pray for direction for us. For opened and closed doors....for us to know with certainty what God's plan is for us...not so much our plan for us (it's easy to confuse the two..ya know?) And in advance, thanks for walking this road with us...