We visited with my family in DC for Christmas and were so happy that there was still over a foot of snow on the ground! We had a great time smashing each other with snowballs...but I was glad I had a camera to hide behind!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
SNOW!
Being able to go to the beach 8 months out of the year is amazing, but there is just something about snow....
We visited with my family in DC for Christmas and were so happy that there was still over a foot of snow on the ground! We had a great time smashing each other with snowballs...but I was glad I had a camera to hide behind!
We visited with my family in DC for Christmas and were so happy that there was still over a foot of snow on the ground! We had a great time smashing each other with snowballs...but I was glad I had a camera to hide behind!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas Thoughts
Christmas was interesting this year. While I was sitting with family I realized a feeling of incompleteness washing over me. I tried to put my finger on what was missing and was not able to answer the question until this morning. Like most waiting parents I miss my child, you know the child that has not come to their forever home. I am very blessed with my son and thank God for him yet I still feel like a piece of me is missing. God has already started attaching my heart to our unknown child and my heart breaks with the thought that they probably had a less than special Christmas. Their Christmas was not full of gifts, food and family. We are praying for our next child and that God watches over and keeps them safe.
We are praying the Dr.’s find the missing medical records and the rest of the paperwork gets completed soon. Bureaucracy drives me insane. Don’t they know my child; our child is in an orphanage ready to come to their forever home.
I really believe in God’s timing and plan, yet I am impatient. I am praying daily that God gives me an extra portion of grace to make it through this process.
We are praying the Dr.’s find the missing medical records and the rest of the paperwork gets completed soon. Bureaucracy drives me insane. Don’t they know my child; our child is in an orphanage ready to come to their forever home.
I really believe in God’s timing and plan, yet I am impatient. I am praying daily that God gives me an extra portion of grace to make it through this process.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Little Red Dots
I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with little red dots. There are lots of great reasons that I am getting into blogging - writing down my thoughts, keeping our friends and family updated on our adoption and family life, and documenting our journey to the next Brogdon kid - but that's not what I like the best. I'm not proud to admit it, but right now it's all about seeing how many little red dots I get! For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, there is a little map down at the bottom of our blog and it marks (with a little red dot) each time someone visits our page. Here's the sad part...I can't wait to check it in the morning. Don't get me wrong, comments are awesome, but just so I don't appear greedy...I just want your dot!! My husband was asking me what I wanted for Christmas...and I actually said I wanted a little red dot from a far away country - someplace in Europe or Africa or Asia!! He just smiled and shook his head and said "That's one of the things I love about you. You're not quite right!" :)
Fellow bloggers, am I the only one???
Fellow bloggers, am I the only one???
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Who knew??
Good news - our social worker is going ahead with the home study report while we wait for Matt's vaccination records to be found! Once the draft is done it needs to go to the home study agency's main office and to our adoption program coordinator for approval...what can be a lengthy process as they make sure all of our info is just right for Kazakhstan. That they could proceed with the report drafts and multiple approvals needed before every last bit of paperwork was done was a happy surprise for us!
The consulate in Kazakhstan won't be looking at any dossiers until mid-January at the earliest anyway, so we're really not wasting too much time. Besides, I am confident that these pesky records will show up when (and only when) God wants them to!
The consulate in Kazakhstan won't be looking at any dossiers until mid-January at the earliest anyway, so we're really not wasting too much time. Besides, I am confident that these pesky records will show up when (and only when) God wants them to!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A New Friend
We don't have another child yet, but we do have a new stuffed friend for him or her.
Meet 'Cordy Roy'! What little boy or girl won't love a blue elephant of their own?
Thanks Nano for this great gift...the first one for the soon-to-be little Brogdon!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
God's Perfect Timing
I've been thinking about God's timing a lot recently.
Our homestudy, which was done in record time, has been held up for a month because of lost medical records. Who has ever even heard of a doctor "losing" a patients vaccination records?? Anyway, I'm trying not to become frustrated by this delay, but the more I think about it the more upset I become because I know that this delay is so minor compared to the other ones we will face as we move forward.
Then I realized that Christmas is the perfect season to think about God's timing. I hope you'll read what I came across on this great website called Nehemiah Notes....
It's clear now that God knew exactly what he was doing in bringing Christ to earth when he did. We can take comfort in knowing that the same power of timing which affected the events of Christ's birth also operates in the circumstances of our individual lives. God's ways with Christ were meant, in part, to show his ways with us (Rom 8:11, 32).
But it takes spiritual alertness to appreciate the timing of God. And to respond to it.
God graciously allows us to experience the benefits of his timing in countless ways, even when we're not consciously trying to cooperate with him. He works behind the scenes in untold ways to protect us and provide for us. Yet within certain boundaries he also gives us freedom to make decisions which do or do not conform with his timing. Here, though, the challenge comes in understanding his timing. There is no easy formula for doing this, and we should not be too quick to think we grasp his plans. He has radically different clocks for each of us. Consider examples from the Christmas story:
A woman past the childbearing years, Elizabeth, gives birth to a son. How often we give up too early on a personal goal and let failure convince us God has said no, when in reality he has simply said "Wait."
A very young woman, Mary, conceives a child miraculously. Sometimes God is ready for us to move ahead before we think it is logical to do so.
Mary gives birth to Jesus in the humble setting of a stable. We can think we're unprepared to do something because we lack certain material benefits. In fact, these may not be at all necessary to carry out what Christ wants us to do.
When we look closely at those privileged few who participated in the first Christmas, and why God may have chosen them, it seems that they not only had a heart for God but a unique bent for listening to him.
The message, then, is clear: If I am to enjoy the benefits of God's timing in my life, I need to give to him something for which there is no other substitute: time. It is perhaps the greatest irony of the Christmas season that we become so busy at this time of year that we have less time than ever to be still before the Lord. With the Christmas holidays approaching, let me encourage you to set aside some generous time for being alone with Christ and gaining his perspective on your life.
Do you see any of those examples fitting your life? Thinking you are too young, too old, not strong, smart or rich enough, lacking something else? We sure did...with our adoption, and lots of other things.
And did you catch the "slap" -- that it takes our spiritual alertness to appreciate God's timing and plans? Ugh! My prayer for you is that you will take the time this Christmas to make the baby Jesus your number one priority!
Our homestudy, which was done in record time, has been held up for a month because of lost medical records. Who has ever even heard of a doctor "losing" a patients vaccination records?? Anyway, I'm trying not to become frustrated by this delay, but the more I think about it the more upset I become because I know that this delay is so minor compared to the other ones we will face as we move forward.
Then I realized that Christmas is the perfect season to think about God's timing. I hope you'll read what I came across on this great website called Nehemiah Notes....
It's clear now that God knew exactly what he was doing in bringing Christ to earth when he did. We can take comfort in knowing that the same power of timing which affected the events of Christ's birth also operates in the circumstances of our individual lives. God's ways with Christ were meant, in part, to show his ways with us (Rom 8:11, 32).
But it takes spiritual alertness to appreciate the timing of God. And to respond to it.
God graciously allows us to experience the benefits of his timing in countless ways, even when we're not consciously trying to cooperate with him. He works behind the scenes in untold ways to protect us and provide for us. Yet within certain boundaries he also gives us freedom to make decisions which do or do not conform with his timing. Here, though, the challenge comes in understanding his timing. There is no easy formula for doing this, and we should not be too quick to think we grasp his plans. He has radically different clocks for each of us. Consider examples from the Christmas story:
A woman past the childbearing years, Elizabeth, gives birth to a son. How often we give up too early on a personal goal and let failure convince us God has said no, when in reality he has simply said "Wait."
A very young woman, Mary, conceives a child miraculously. Sometimes God is ready for us to move ahead before we think it is logical to do so.
Mary gives birth to Jesus in the humble setting of a stable. We can think we're unprepared to do something because we lack certain material benefits. In fact, these may not be at all necessary to carry out what Christ wants us to do.
When we look closely at those privileged few who participated in the first Christmas, and why God may have chosen them, it seems that they not only had a heart for God but a unique bent for listening to him.
The message, then, is clear: If I am to enjoy the benefits of God's timing in my life, I need to give to him something for which there is no other substitute: time. It is perhaps the greatest irony of the Christmas season that we become so busy at this time of year that we have less time than ever to be still before the Lord. With the Christmas holidays approaching, let me encourage you to set aside some generous time for being alone with Christ and gaining his perspective on your life.
Do you see any of those examples fitting your life? Thinking you are too young, too old, not strong, smart or rich enough, lacking something else? We sure did...with our adoption, and lots of other things.
And did you catch the "slap" -- that it takes our spiritual alertness to appreciate God's timing and plans? Ugh! My prayer for you is that you will take the time this Christmas to make the baby Jesus your number one priority!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Warm-Fuzzies All Around
God did it!!
We had our third home study appointment today - the dreaded home visit - and we passed! Our social worker, who is totally awesome, told us that our house was adorable and we gave her warm-fuzzies and we will make an excellent family for another child!
Thankfully she didn't look in the fridge...but I did have some chocolate cake there just in case! :)
Monday, November 9, 2009
How Much is Enough?
I saw this on another blog and it really hit home. We are so caught up in our Americanized ideas about how much we should have to live 'comfortably'... a room for each child or two, a couple of nice, big (or small and fast!) cars, money for vacations, and other 'necessities'. Do we really need all that?
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." -Luke 12:48
__________________________________________________
Imagine with me for a minute…
Right now, today…
you are small and alone.
You are hungry and lost.
You have no home, no parents, and seemingly no future.
You are scared, and weak, from days without food. You have nowhere to go, nowhere to be.
People walk by you but they don’t even look your way. It’s like you are invisible, nothing.
You keep walking, your feet are bleeding and sore… and yet still you manage to cling to the small bit of hope, the little voice inside your head that says maybe, just maybe, one day things will get better. Maybe one day -you will matter.
It is getting dark outside- inside your fear is growing. Where will you go?
Your heart is beating faster, and your fear becomes overwhelming, consuming your every thought. Then you see it, a dirty, broken cardboard box and you bow your head thanking God for His provision. For you have found it- shelter. Safety, if only for one night.
You slip underneath it, hugging yourself, vowing once again not to cry- because by now you know tears are a waste of your strength. Your eyes become heavy, despite the sweltering temperature. As you begin to drift off to sleep you pray, hoping, dreaming, of a family of your own one day...of a place where you will matter...to someone.
Somewhere else in the world is a family...
They are just sitting down to dinner together.They are smiling and their laughter fills the room.
Dinner is served and they bow their heads and they pray- thanking God for their many blessings… their home, their job, the food that is set before them.They lift their heads and go back to the laughter and the joy.
They talk of their upcoming vacation plans, the lunch date they shared with a friend today and the movie they plan to see this coming weekend.
More laughter, more excitement, more. As the leftovers are scraped into the garbage can and the table is cleaned up, hot bubble bathes are taken by all.
Evening settles in, and the family slips under their down comforters preparing for a good night's sleep.
Before turning out the lights, the husband leans over to kiss his wife good-night. She shyly smiles at him and begins to tell him that she has been feeling that perhaps God is calling them to adopt.
The room grows quiet as they are both lost in their own thoughts…
their minds are flooded with questions, concern, and then inevitably -fear.
How could they manage?
Another child?
Why, they already have two!
Where would they put the child?
Who would share a room?
How could they afford to adopt?
Would they be able to take that vacation?
What would people think?
What if the child, you know, caused ‘problems’?
As their eyelids become heavy, they begin to drift off to sleep...
and they think to themselves ‘surely not’.
Surely God knows this is not convenient.
Surely God wants them to take that vacation they deserve...
Surely he knows how busy they are.
They have plans and they have dreams.
As sleep overcomes them, the temperature in their master bedroom is perfect…
and their pillows are fluffed to perfection.
Life is good for them, just as they had planned...
Because after all, they matter...
Too much...
to themselves.
Right now, today…
you are small and alone.
You are hungry and lost.
You have no home, no parents, and seemingly no future.
You are scared, and weak, from days without food. You have nowhere to go, nowhere to be.
People walk by you but they don’t even look your way. It’s like you are invisible, nothing.
You keep walking, your feet are bleeding and sore… and yet still you manage to cling to the small bit of hope, the little voice inside your head that says maybe, just maybe, one day things will get better. Maybe one day -you will matter.
It is getting dark outside- inside your fear is growing. Where will you go?
Your heart is beating faster, and your fear becomes overwhelming, consuming your every thought. Then you see it, a dirty, broken cardboard box and you bow your head thanking God for His provision. For you have found it- shelter. Safety, if only for one night.
You slip underneath it, hugging yourself, vowing once again not to cry- because by now you know tears are a waste of your strength. Your eyes become heavy, despite the sweltering temperature. As you begin to drift off to sleep you pray, hoping, dreaming, of a family of your own one day...of a place where you will matter...to someone.
Somewhere else in the world is a family...
They are just sitting down to dinner together.They are smiling and their laughter fills the room.
Dinner is served and they bow their heads and they pray- thanking God for their many blessings… their home, their job, the food that is set before them.They lift their heads and go back to the laughter and the joy.
They talk of their upcoming vacation plans, the lunch date they shared with a friend today and the movie they plan to see this coming weekend.
More laughter, more excitement, more. As the leftovers are scraped into the garbage can and the table is cleaned up, hot bubble bathes are taken by all.
Evening settles in, and the family slips under their down comforters preparing for a good night's sleep.
Before turning out the lights, the husband leans over to kiss his wife good-night. She shyly smiles at him and begins to tell him that she has been feeling that perhaps God is calling them to adopt.
The room grows quiet as they are both lost in their own thoughts…
their minds are flooded with questions, concern, and then inevitably -fear.
How could they manage?
Another child?
Why, they already have two!
Where would they put the child?
Who would share a room?
How could they afford to adopt?
Would they be able to take that vacation?
What would people think?
What if the child, you know, caused ‘problems’?
As their eyelids become heavy, they begin to drift off to sleep...
and they think to themselves ‘surely not’.
Surely God knows this is not convenient.
Surely God wants them to take that vacation they deserve...
Surely he knows how busy they are.
They have plans and they have dreams.
As sleep overcomes them, the temperature in their master bedroom is perfect…
and their pillows are fluffed to perfection.
Life is good for them, just as they had planned...
Because after all, they matter...
Too much...
to themselves.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Happy Birthday to Matt!
I can't believe Matthew was born 12 years ago today...what an amazing blessing to us all!
Then - November 7th, 1997
Now
Here's wishing you a very happy birthday Matt! We love you SO much!! :)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Home Study Madness
Anyone who says that getting ready for a home visit from your social worker is easy is either lying or WAY more together than I am! I know they don't dig through closets or white-glove test the baseboards, but it's just odd having anyone come to "check out" your home. And just on the off chance that she looks in the refrigerator.... YIKES!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Welcome Aboard!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
It's Official!
Well, it's official! We submitted our application to the Little Miracles International adoption program in Kazakhstan...let the fun and craziness begin!
Precious Little Faces
I am beginning to understand that we find Jesus in the faces of these orphans and I am so excited about our journey. One of the verses that God pointed out to me was Isaiah 45:3 that says "And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness-secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name." Going to Kazakhstan and opening my heart up even now to the awareness of the plight of these precious children is such a scary thing...truly heartbreaking...but I know that God has hidden treasures in that darkness, and if we humble ourselves and are faithful and get involved our God will do amazing things.
It's funny, as the acceptance letters come in and things happen so fast we have moments of fear about how fast its going...and then moments later we are so upset that it is going so slow. What a crazy roller coaster ride! We pray that we will remember the One who is really carrying us through this whole thing.
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