Merry and Bright.

I'm writing to you from my most favorite spot in the house - in front of the fireplace and my little tree and from here, I can see the reflection of our Christmas tree and some other lights, as well. Bing Crosby is playing in the background and my mug is full of coffee. Christmas is, by far, the coziest and prettiest holiday there is.

This won't be a long post, we just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and thank you so much for being a part of this journey with us. Thank you for praying for us, for listening and encouraging when it's hard, for being patient with me when my emotions are all over the place (adoption hormones are a real thing, man!), thank you for rejoicing with us, thank you for being excited with us, thank you for being so generous, thank you for loving all (three!) of us. Our prayer is that this next year is filled with eager anticipation, filled with joy, filled with peace...continuing to show how loving and mighty our Lord is as we continue to be amazed by Him as He continues to provide and guide us. I used "continue" a lot there, and I'm sure "real" writers hate that but I think it's appropriate....remembrance leads to worship. (Thanks to Matt Redmond for that one!) O, come let us adore Him...

So Merry Christmas to you! May your celebrations be merry and bright... 

 

Feels.

This post has been on my heart for months now and I've been dreading it and anticipating it at the same time. I want you to read this and be able to see my heart in the words I write - as each word and sentance have been prayed over. 

To my friends and family, I love you. Each of your lives and our interactions had had an effect on me and has shaped the way I live and how I see things. Most of the time,  I'm vocal about what I'm thinking and feeling, but sometimes I'm just listening and watching as you interact with other people. 

Not all adoptive families are conspicuous. Sometimes the hair, eyes, build, and skin can look very similar. This won't be the case for our family - we will be noticeable. Our child isnt going to look like us. Our child is African. Our child will look different than his parents, his aunts, his uncle, and his grandparents. 

I consider you all to be walking this journey with us and this is why I want to share my heart...I need to share my heart, I don't even think "want" is the correct word. So here are my deepest thoughts and prayers right now: 

- I love my child so much that I cannot fully explain it. I am amazed by them and their bravery already. Before they even come into our home, they will have gone through so much more grief and loss than most of us will ever have to experience. That tiny human is incredible.

- I feel so sad that not everyone will feel that way about my babe. Some people are going to look at their skin and decide to be hateful. 

- I feel upset when I am told things like "well your baby won't really be black, they will be African" because that statement is full of hate and ignorance. Would they hate my child of we adopted domestically? What if they saw my child walking down the street and didn't recognize them? Would my child be in danger? Why does it matter where my child is born? Why  is  it okay to say comments like that?

- I feel angry when I hear friends and family talk about other races and then groups the entirety of that race into one lump and make blanket statements. People are responsible for their own actions. What group are you going to lump my child into? 

- I feel so heartbroken when I hear Christians talk with hate in their words that don't even know is there because it is so engrained and never confronted. We are no better than anyone else...we are pond scum people, lower than that! We are destined and deserve Hell and the only reason we don't get what we deserve is because of Jesus. Christ died for all of us...not one race, not one denomination, not one culture. He didn't die more for those who we think are different. Your sin is disgusting to Him, and you have been saved. When did we forget that and decide to live like  we deserve Heaven? Are you going to stand up for injustice and hatred when my child is there? Can you start now? 

- I feel hopeful and thankful when I see and hear people desiring peace. It gives me courage to do the same. Not because of our child, but because it's the right thing to do. I want to know that there are other people out there who feel the same and who I can join hands with and show love to others with. I don't want to fight and to exchange angry words...I want to show people that Jesus already won and we're in this together. I want to show my child that the best (not easiest) way to face hatred is with the desire to show God's love. Standing up for what you believe in isn't easy, especially when you want to seek peace, not just win. But, it's what we are called to do. 

- I feel thankful that God is full of grace and mercy. Because I am not innocent of being  judgemental and angry. I am thankful that He reminds me to love Him with all my heart and my soul and my strength and then reminds me that I'm to love my neighbor as myself. Think about that for a second. I think I'm pretty great most of the time (not so much humble though!!) and I'm called to love my neighbor like I love myself. 

It's not possible to write this without crying...my heart aches for a world who is also hurting. I love you all, and I trust you with these "feels" because I know that each of us, as humans, have the ability to love one another. 

I don't just want to post this and consider my job "done" - I want to love the unlovable and share with them my reason for believing the peace of God can overcome human hate. I want to stand for peace in the name of Jesus. I want to stand next to you and show love. I want to be thankful for what I have and not be blind to what's going on around me. I want you to know Him and I want nothing more than for Him to be seen through me.

Stuff and things!

I want to make sure that I get all our LifeSong stuff onto the blog! Our account is officially up and running. Our family name/account number is "VanDrie 4938".  To donate by mail, send a check (with our family name/account number on the bottom) to: 

LifeSong for Orphans

      PO Box 40

      Gridley, IL 61744

To give online, go here. Select "Give to an Adoptive Family" (which is below the "make a donation" button you will first see), then complete the online form with family account number and family name. (Online is through PayPal). I will have a PayPal button set up for the side of the blog that will link directly in a week or so (I have to have LifeSong set that up for me). All donates over $50 are sent a tax receipt so it can be tax deductible.

Not only is our tax deductible account up and running, but our friend Becky is holding a fundraiser for us! She owns her own Norwex business and has set up a Norwex fundraiser for us that goes until the new year! All you have to do is go to this link: Norwex Fundraiser and place an order. No party name needed...Becky is giving all the profits of any orders that come in during this time to us. So generous and we are SO grateful.

AND I wanted to also record it on here that Mike and I are being given a matching grant from our church (up to $3,000) to our LifeSong account. Such a blessing and we are so thankful. The money that is in our LifeSong account stays safe for us to use whenever we need it in this process, right up to the plane tickets for our trips to Ethiopia. (Eeee!! LOVE thinking about those trips!!) Our adoption total will probably be around $34,000...this includes what we have already paid for our first payments with the homestudies and the airline tickets for the trips. Our next amount is due when we submit our dossier (which we are working on now). So amazed (not surprised, but amazed and filled with awe) at all the details that are working out and how the timing is so perfect. Our prayers that it all be set up and going before the end of the year have been answered and we are on our way to our last step before placement! Can you even believe that?? We are beyond blessed guys.

Thank you for your support, your prayers, your participation, your love, your willingness to help and your desire to be a part of this journey.