Monday, January 17, 2011

We Have An Announcement!!!

Hello friends and family and welcome to our new blog. This is going to be a journal of an exciting call God has put on our hearts. We are adopting a baby/toddler girl from Ethiopia!!!  I have talked and thought about adoption for years and just basically would try and put it out of my mind.  I would bring it up to Ty and he would smile and appease me in dialogue and then we would both go on our merry way.  Well, that hasn’t been the case lately.  For the past months, I haven’t been able to get adoption out of my mind.  God and I have had some long talks and He has been very persistent.  I finally asked Ty to start praying about adopting and God revealed that adopting a child was a gift that he wanted us to receive. We are in the very beginning stages of this long, long, long process but are thrilled and want to share the news and events as they happen with you.  We know that our friends and family have lots of questions and we want to answer them.  This blog will be a super place to do that and it will be a wonderful way for us to record this marvelous journey.

I am going to answer one question today that has been asked and will answer more as the process goes on.

 First question: “Why Ethiopia?”   My first response to that question is that this is where God has led us.  We knew that our hearts were leaning towards an international adoption, so after reading and doing research, Ethiopia is where our hearts landed.  Let me give you some statistics that I  have read…1) The total population of Ethiopia is about 70 million people with 85% of them living in rural areas. 2) There are 5 million orphans in Ethiopia.  3) A Quarter of the population lives on less then $1 a day. 4.) Only 11% of the rural population has access to safe drinking water, and many people survive on a strict ration of less than five liters of water per day. The blow of the water shortages is particularly severe for women and girls who are traditionally responsible for water collection. 5). 1 and 10 Children die before their first birthday. 

 My answer now…How Can We Not!!!  Ty spoke this truth last week, in his sermon, and it just sent chills down my spine…

“…once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act.”
~Proverbs 24:12
 
We are so excited about this journey and so much want to share every step of it with you!  Will you please start praying for us and our baby girl…we love you all!!!


Consumed By The Call,


Christy

3 comments:

  1. Hi Christy,
    I haven't met you yet but have been told to contact you through a couple of my friends as we are adopting from Ethiopia too. CONGRATS!!!! This is such an amazing time and I would love to help you in any way I can. We are using Dillon/Buckner International as our agency and have just submitted our USCIS application. We live in Ada and have also started an orphan ministry and would love to have you guys at our next meeting. Here is my blog if you want to check out and again please let me know how we can help guide you guys through this crazy but amazing process!
    http://expecting-from-ethiopia.blogspot.com/
    ~Joely

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  2. I'm so excited for you! Congratulations! Dustin and I have always talked about adoption as an option to add to our family. I can't wait to hear all about your journey and how God uses you and Ty to change the world!

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  3. I am THRILLED for you guys! (and honestly, so jealous.)

    Yay, yay, YAY. I am so proud of you for being obedient to the call He has put on your hearts.

    If you aren't already, you have to follow my friend Missy's blog - It's Almost Naptime. They are also adopting a little girl from Ethiopia and I am sure she would be great a resource for the process.

    Love y'all! XOXOXOXO

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