We sent out an email today saying this:
Hello Family and Friends! We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing most of you in the coming days. As many of you already know our family is growing! We are so excited to say we are adopting! We have always wanted to have a big family with both adopted and biological children and we were surprised (but thrilled) when we felt God leading us to adopt first. We are adopting through the state and are preparing for a "big kid" (between the ages of pre-school and grade school). We will complete our paperwork and home study early in January. We hope you will keep us in your prayers as we transition into our new family. We have started a blog Our Journey to Adopt so you can stay updated and follow along with us in the coming months as we go from two to three (or more!).
Much love and Merry Christmas!
Jessica and Jonathan
12.22.2007
12.20.2007
For the last 3 1/2 years Jonathan and I have kind of had an ongoing discussion about our goals for the future...what we want to make of our lives. We have said since the day we were married that we would be "an awesome team for God" and as cheesy as that is, it is what we have truly believed. My biggest struggle in being half of this "awesome God team" is that I rarely have the self-confidence to stand up against the world and make the decisions that I need (and want) to make to be the person I want to be.
Over the course of the past month two young families we know have been dealt devastating blows. The kind of life changing obstacles that have a ripple affect...being felt and breaking the hearts of those who don't even know these people at all. These events have boggled my mind. They have made me think about how little control we have over our own lives. It's put into perspective just how BIG God is, just how small I am, and has reiterated for me the fact that the only thing I was put on this earth to do was to serve Him. Although I know that it is no great revelation to say that this life on earth is fleeting, sometimes things can happen that make that hit closer to home. It is times like these when earthly things (cars, clothes, money, etc) are shown for what they really are: nothing. And in these times the question above all is: "When all is said and done...what will my life have been?".
While I am so very sad for the families mentioned above, I am thankful for the ability to feel small. For in placing little importance on myself, I have the courage to make the decisions I need to make no matter how unpopular they might be with today's society. Because in the end it doesn't really matter what anyone thinks of me. The only judgment I should concern myself with is the one in the end. What if that were today?
Philippians 2:1-18
Over the course of the past month two young families we know have been dealt devastating blows. The kind of life changing obstacles that have a ripple affect...being felt and breaking the hearts of those who don't even know these people at all. These events have boggled my mind. They have made me think about how little control we have over our own lives. It's put into perspective just how BIG God is, just how small I am, and has reiterated for me the fact that the only thing I was put on this earth to do was to serve Him. Although I know that it is no great revelation to say that this life on earth is fleeting, sometimes things can happen that make that hit closer to home. It is times like these when earthly things (cars, clothes, money, etc) are shown for what they really are: nothing. And in these times the question above all is: "When all is said and done...what will my life have been?".
While I am so very sad for the families mentioned above, I am thankful for the ability to feel small. For in placing little importance on myself, I have the courage to make the decisions I need to make no matter how unpopular they might be with today's society. Because in the end it doesn't really matter what anyone thinks of me. The only judgment I should concern myself with is the one in the end. What if that were today?
Philippians 2:1-18
11.27.2007
11.21.2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
It's been a wonderful two days off from work with my honey. I've been up early both mornings because I want to have more waking hours during these several holiday-days off. Today was filled with cooking and baking and errand running while listening to Christmas music; all of which just makes me feel warm and happy inside. This is the first Thanksgiving in four years that we have been in Alabama. This is a holiday typically spent with Jonathan's family in West Virginia but not this year.
My list of Thanksgivings this year:
*Spending the day with my family tomorrow. I'm really REALLY looking forward to this.
*Having Thanksgiving Day off from work.
*That we have plenty of all that it is that we need.
*Fall leaves and sunshine.
*For the decision to start running again.
*For cashiers with a positive attitude. Seriously, it makes a difference.
*For good health.
*For hopes and dreams.
*For the birth of my Savior who died so that I could have life.
For these and many more I am truly blessed and thankful.
My list of Thanksgivings this year:
*Spending the day with my family tomorrow. I'm really REALLY looking forward to this.
*Having Thanksgiving Day off from work.
*That we have plenty of all that it is that we need.
*Fall leaves and sunshine.
*For the decision to start running again.
*For cashiers with a positive attitude. Seriously, it makes a difference.
*For good health.
*For hopes and dreams.
*For the birth of my Savior who died so that I could have life.
For these and many more I am truly blessed and thankful.
11.10.2007
National Adoption Month
My very own public service announcement:
There are over 100,000 children in our country who are waiting for adoptive homes through the foster care system. If you know someone who is considering adoption point them in this direction:
Heart Gallery of America
AdoptUsKids
AND if you live in the Birmingham area try to make it by the Heart Gallery Alabama exhibit held in the Hoover Public Library between November 14th-December 15th.
9.20.2007
Tomorrow
This comes out: Into the Wild
Hearing that and remembering this story took me back to the time when I read the book. I was in Atlantic City working at the Covenant House. I had a three year post-college plan. Americorps was part of it. Check. I would be finished with that in April. Perfect timing for what the next part of that three year plan was: thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. At the time, I read anything I could get my hands on about hiking and camping. Thus, my picking up this book. This story, the story of Chris McCandless, is something I remember as vividly today as I did the day after I finished the book. Sean Penn's heart behind the film gives me hope that it will do the book justice.
I never did get to the next six months of that three year plan. I'm okay with that. One day I will. But this story...Into the Wild...I get it. Chris is a different kind of bird. A loner. I get that. I understand his world. His story ignites something within me. He knew what he wanted and what he believed in. He could not have cared less what other people thought. He lived his life by his own terms.
I admire that.
I aspire to stand that grounded in confidence of the person I am.
Hearing that and remembering this story took me back to the time when I read the book. I was in Atlantic City working at the Covenant House. I had a three year post-college plan. Americorps was part of it. Check. I would be finished with that in April. Perfect timing for what the next part of that three year plan was: thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. At the time, I read anything I could get my hands on about hiking and camping. Thus, my picking up this book. This story, the story of Chris McCandless, is something I remember as vividly today as I did the day after I finished the book. Sean Penn's heart behind the film gives me hope that it will do the book justice.
I never did get to the next six months of that three year plan. I'm okay with that. One day I will. But this story...Into the Wild...I get it. Chris is a different kind of bird. A loner. I get that. I understand his world. His story ignites something within me. He knew what he wanted and what he believed in. He could not have cared less what other people thought. He lived his life by his own terms.
I admire that.
I aspire to stand that grounded in confidence of the person I am.
9.19.2007
It appears that we will be changing location soon. It was kind of random and very sudden but we have a contract on this house:
Of course we have to find a buyer for our home first:) The sign went up in our yard today and our house will be online by Friday. Kinda makes me sad. I love our little house and our sweet neighbors. I also love that I live about 2.5 miles away from my parking spot at work BUT it's the right move. The community we are moving into is where we want to stay...where we want to raise our kids (the ones we don't even have yet:). It's a bigger house with a finished basement...a place with room to grow.
And so it is.
Of course we have to find a buyer for our home first:) The sign went up in our yard today and our house will be online by Friday. Kinda makes me sad. I love our little house and our sweet neighbors. I also love that I live about 2.5 miles away from my parking spot at work BUT it's the right move. The community we are moving into is where we want to stay...where we want to raise our kids (the ones we don't even have yet:). It's a bigger house with a finished basement...a place with room to grow.
And so it is.
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