Revival, HomeStudy, Kiddos

Revival at FBC started Sunday and it has been wonderful. A team from Life Action Ministries has been leading the revival and I am so grateful to be a part of it. Even though my kids are TIRED and GRUMPY at the end of each night, we are committed to being there. Last night was pretty rough for our two little ones. After baths, they were finally both in the bed around 9:30, which is way past their bedtimes. And they were BOTH crying at the top of their lungs! But like Bro. Eric said last night, the greater the sacrifice, the greater the blessing! Revival continues for another week and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for everyone.

On an adoption note, our next home study visit is next Thursday at 4. I’m not sure what all this visit will entail, but I’m eager to get our home study wrapped up! Paperwork seems to be a slow process with us around here but it’s coming together. I told Joey last night, I feel like it will be FOREVER until we bring our baby home. I know it will all happen in God’s perfect timing, but I struggle with wondering- Has our baby been born yet? Where is he/she? Who is taking care of them? Are they loving them enough? And to be honest, my heart ACHES for them. I want to bring them home right now. But I know it is a process and I have to put it all in God’s hands. We are praying for our little baby each day. We can’t wait to add him/her to our family. To give them a home with a family that loves them. For there to be ONE less orphan in the  world. So, until that day, I know I will be learning A LOT of patience!

So, our two little kiddos in the Carpenter household are growing up. Makes me sad! Mady will be turning 4 next Friday! I can’t believe it. Joe Hudson is 15 months and just changing everyday. Mady really loves princess stuff these days (which is totally opposite from her mother!). She loves playing babies and dressing up. She loves her trampoline and her barbie jeep. We are so ready for spring weather to play outside more! Joe Hudson is saying a few words- momma, daddy, dog (for everything!), hot, deer (but really its “dee”), Nady for Mady, and he is trying to imitate animal sounds which is hilarious. He is such a little boy- He LOVES to throw a ball. He loves to be outside and thinks mud and dirt are great. I love my babies. I am so thankful for them and their health each day. I can’t wait for there to be one more little set of feet running around here!

P.S.- I got a shipment of Ugandan necklaces in today. I ordered a few extra (because they go very fast from the 147millionorphans website!) so if youre interested let me know!

-Jill

                            

My little football player                                                Sweet Snow White

I know these are from Halloween, but I’m really bad about uploading pictures! I will try to do that soon. Until then, how could these two little faces not make you smile?!

1 Down, 3 To Go

We had our first homestudy visit this past Monday afternoon. I would have to say it really went well. The house tour went pretty well and she asked lots of questions. With it being close to supper time, our kids were tired, hungry, and wild! But, hopefully she thought we were pretty normal! Well, except for Mady’s new voice that she decided to start talking in saying, “Whatchu talkin bout lady?” I almost died and motioned for Joey to have a little talk with her right quick! You just never know what will come out of those little mouths!

I have also been working on paperwork all week for our home study and I’m STILL NOT finished. I’m hoping I can wrap it up next week and send the last few pieces off! It is such a great feeling to know we are moving forward. Even if it feels SLOW. Joey and I are trying to remember to give God our fears and worries. We know we are doing what He has called us to do, so we have to remind ourselves to TRUST HIM. Trust Him with it all: paperwork, finances, etc. He is good. And we know He will provide.

THANK YOU to those who purchased items from the 147 Million Orphans merchandise I’m selling. I have on my cute baseball tee today and I love it! Thanks again. We appreciate your help more than you know! On another fundraising note, we will be having two fundraisers in March for our adoption. The first one will be with another adopting family, our friends the Meurrier’s, at Chick Fil A. The second one will be a yard sale the last weekend of March. SO…. for those of you who are going to be doing some spring cleaning- Send it our way!!! I will even send my husband to pick it up! We will be taking donations and storing it in our garage until the sale!

Also, I will still be selling the 147 Million Orphans gear, so you can always email me with an order if you’re interested. The multicolored Ugandan necklaces were out of stock when I placed my last order, so I will be placing another order in a few weeks. The pictures of the items I’m selling are at the bottom of my blog.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Jill

Update and Counting our Blessings

Update on our adoption: We have our first homestudy visit scheduled for this Monday at 4. I am nervous and excited at the same time! Hopefully all will go well and our social worker will like us!  But really I’m just so excited that this journey is finally starting. It’s something I’ve prayed about for a long time as well as Joey and just to see how God has readied (is that a word?) our hearts for it is so awesome. So thank you to everyone who has been so encouraging since we shared our news. We are so stinkin’ excited and I’m so thrilled that other people are excited with/for us. We know this is going to be a long journey but we are looking forward to all the joy that will come with it. It’s so sweet to hear Mady tell people that “we’re doptin’ (adopting) a baby.” She asked me today what color can we get. And I thought, wow. What a true picture of loving anyone and everyone just like Jesus.

On another note, today I had luncheon with my Explorer’s Bible Study ladies. This group of ladies has been such a blessing to me. Today, I was able to share with them Joey’s story from when he was sick. It was such a blessing to share how God spared Joey’s life and has worked in our lives since then. (For those of you who don’t know… Joey had a ruptured aortic aneurysm in April 2010) On the way home, I just looked at my babies in the backseat and I was just thankful. Thankful for all the little things I take for granted each day. Like the fact that my husband is still alive, that Joey got to take Mady on a Daddy/Daughter date last night, that I have two healthy children, that God is allowing us to adopt a baby, and so on. It sounds strange because that was such a traumatic experience for us, but I’m so glad God put that “interruption” in our lives. It has allowed Joey to grow in Christ, myself to grow in Christ, our marriage to be strengthened, and God’s love and power to be proclaimed. It has been extremely difficult at times but we are blessed. By the way, keep Joey in your prayers as he will be speaking Saturday at the Oxford Heart Ball!My sweet family!

Also, today is the last day to put in an order for the 147 Million Orphans merchandise I’m selling. (I will continue to sell it but today is the deadline for this order) We are selling to raise money for our adoption so scroll down to the bottom and see what’s for sale! Your purchase supports not only our adoption but also the 147 Million Orphans ministry which helps orphans around the world! We appreciate any help! Email me if you’re interested in purchasing anything jillcarpenter@hotmail.com