My support letters about Daizy's adoption will be ready to start sending out tomorrow...yay! Let me know if you would like to receive one....you may get one even if you don't request it and I have your address :)
Shoot me an email kbthomas@lacollege.edu with your mailing address and I will get it in the mail soon.
Thanks in advance for your support.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
wind in my sails
So this adoption just got really real yesterday. I had my first conversation with the social worker in preparation for my home study. To say that this lady is a God send is an understatement. She instantly made me feel at ease about the whole process. She let me know that we would laugh together and cry together and by the end we would feel like family. No doubt God has uniquely gifted her to create that kind of atmosphere!
Together we are going into uncharted waters. She has never done a private adoption and this will be the first from Acres of Hope. There are so many unknowns going into this process. God has been blowing me away with his provision and affirmation through this process but my conversation with A (I will refer to her by a letter for her sake)yesterday was the first time I've had the wind knocked out of my sails. She told me right up front not to start the process with a time frame in mind...this would only cause frustration in the end. Well too late for that. She prepared me for the long haul and that realistically we should look to have Daizy home this time next year. I literally heard the air deflating from my chest. NEXT YEAR???
After a long walk, some time in the Word and praying I know that God is in control of this whole process....not me, not A, not the US or the Ugandan govenment...but God. His time is perfect and I am trusting that at the right time all the paperwork and finances will fall into place to bring Daizy home.
Nothing was a better reminder of that truth than coming home just hours after that phone call to two wonderful presents in my mailbox. My dear friend Becca whom I met in Uganda and who sponsors Daizy sent me this piece of artwork to hang in Daizy's room (the perfect colors I might add)...
Thanks Becca! It's already framed and in Daizy's room.
The other surprise was this charm that I ordered on Wednesday of last week. It wasn't suppose to arrive for 6 weeks but it came on the day that I needed a sweet reminder that God is the author of time.
I promised to share the good and the bad. To be honest this blog is for my sake more than for anyone else. Just this morning I was reading back through old post and tearing up at how the Spirit has been active in my life and there is no other place I would rather be. So with deflated sails or sails full...I'm sailing on today.
And a quick shout out to my dear friend Jodi who designed the letter head for me that my support letters are going to be printed on. The new picture on the blog at the top is on the letter head and I love it. I asked her to include the phrase "and then came Daizy" because that is what I am affectionately titling this chapter of my life. A sweet interruption to "my" plans....and then came Daizy. Thanks Jodi!!
Together we are going into uncharted waters. She has never done a private adoption and this will be the first from Acres of Hope. There are so many unknowns going into this process. God has been blowing me away with his provision and affirmation through this process but my conversation with A (I will refer to her by a letter for her sake)yesterday was the first time I've had the wind knocked out of my sails. She told me right up front not to start the process with a time frame in mind...this would only cause frustration in the end. Well too late for that. She prepared me for the long haul and that realistically we should look to have Daizy home this time next year. I literally heard the air deflating from my chest. NEXT YEAR???
After a long walk, some time in the Word and praying I know that God is in control of this whole process....not me, not A, not the US or the Ugandan govenment...but God. His time is perfect and I am trusting that at the right time all the paperwork and finances will fall into place to bring Daizy home.
Nothing was a better reminder of that truth than coming home just hours after that phone call to two wonderful presents in my mailbox. My dear friend Becca whom I met in Uganda and who sponsors Daizy sent me this piece of artwork to hang in Daizy's room (the perfect colors I might add)...
The other surprise was this charm that I ordered on Wednesday of last week. It wasn't suppose to arrive for 6 weeks but it came on the day that I needed a sweet reminder that God is the author of time.
I promised to share the good and the bad. To be honest this blog is for my sake more than for anyone else. Just this morning I was reading back through old post and tearing up at how the Spirit has been active in my life and there is no other place I would rather be. So with deflated sails or sails full...I'm sailing on today.
And a quick shout out to my dear friend Jodi who designed the letter head for me that my support letters are going to be printed on. The new picture on the blog at the top is on the letter head and I love it. I asked her to include the phrase "and then came Daizy" because that is what I am affectionately titling this chapter of my life. A sweet interruption to "my" plans....and then came Daizy. Thanks Jodi!!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
jumping hurdles
Since the Olympics have started and men's gymnastics is currently on TV I thought this blog post title fitting...not just because of the Olympics though. I got wonderful news today from Geoffrey that was blog worthy.
If you've ever known someone going through the adoption process you know that it is a journey full of hurdles to jump and hoops to jump through. It's funny how just anyone can leave a hospital with a newborn but in order to adopt you have to make a certain salary, have x number of square feet in your home per person living there, the water that comes from your faucets have to be a certain temperature....just to name a few. One of the many hurdles I knew was coming was finding Daizy's next of kin who would sign the legal papers to make her adoption possible. I have posted in previous posts that her mother died in child birth but her father is still living. I received word today that Geoffrey has found Daizy's next of kin who will be able to provide the needed paperwork when it comes time for court.
This news came the day after receiving another large donation in the mail that came so unexpectedly. To say that the Lord is working in this and through this adoption is an understatement. I am blown away.
Praise the Lord for his provision and his blessings....and thank you Lord for sweet Daizy...someone worth jumping hurdles for.
If you've ever known someone going through the adoption process you know that it is a journey full of hurdles to jump and hoops to jump through. It's funny how just anyone can leave a hospital with a newborn but in order to adopt you have to make a certain salary, have x number of square feet in your home per person living there, the water that comes from your faucets have to be a certain temperature....just to name a few. One of the many hurdles I knew was coming was finding Daizy's next of kin who would sign the legal papers to make her adoption possible. I have posted in previous posts that her mother died in child birth but her father is still living. I received word today that Geoffrey has found Daizy's next of kin who will be able to provide the needed paperwork when it comes time for court.
This news came the day after receiving another large donation in the mail that came so unexpectedly. To say that the Lord is working in this and through this adoption is an understatement. I am blown away.
Praise the Lord for his provision and his blessings....and thank you Lord for sweet Daizy...someone worth jumping hurdles for.
weight loss journey
I was glancing back on my post history last night and realized I havent given an update in a while on my weight loss journey. It has been slow going this summer but the scale is moving in the right direction. I am right a 35lbs weight loss. I haven't done my measurements in a while either....the last check was 18 inches lost. I am confident I have lost more inches based on how my clothes are fitting...or rahther not fitting. I am not down almost 4 sizes from where I started in February. I refused to buy any clothes until I could buy off the rack of a "normal store"....and that happened this week. For the first time in my adult life and the first time since Old Navy has been in existance I was able to wear pants off the rack. It was a happy day.
The real success is knowing that I feel better. I can tell a difference in my attitude and emotional health. In fact I have had two conversations this week where I was telling someone that I was in a better place spiritually, emotionally, and physically than I have been in the last 7 years.
Just wanted you to know that no mention of the weight loss journey didn't mean that it had come to screeching hault.
The real success is knowing that I feel better. I can tell a difference in my attitude and emotional health. In fact I have had two conversations this week where I was telling someone that I was in a better place spiritually, emotionally, and physically than I have been in the last 7 years.
Just wanted you to know that no mention of the weight loss journey didn't mean that it had come to screeching hault.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I feel ya...
I was recently introduced to a blog from parents who recently adopted from the Congo. As I was reading last night I came across their blog entry from March 5th and laughed until I cried...followed by a hearty AMEN! I can't the youtube link to work properly but do yourself a favor and go watch it to get the full effect of this blog. To read more check out their blog at www.goodmorningliv.wordpress.com
CONCERNED (title of the post)
Hey precious Liv:
Your father and I have an overwhelming concern that we wanted to share with you.
As we are preparing to become your parents, thinking about what that’s going to look like, thinking about all of the things we are going to teach you and do together…we are frozen with fear over something.
This something, if our fears are realized, will stare us in the face everyday…and will follow all of us around…
YOUR HAIR.
We have NO clue how to do your hair. I know not one thing about doing ethnic hair… not one thing.
We don’t want to be those white parents with the nappy headed child.
We don’t want to get sad glances and pity looks.
We want you to know that we are researching, learning, PRAYING and asking questions about how best to handle the situation.
I ask every woman I see with hair that I love … “excuse me mam…can you tell me how you did your hair like that…. “ and I whip out my phone and take notes.
Liv, we love you too much not to handle this issue with urgency and seriousness.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE AFRAID OF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9RhU6oMWeo&feature=related
We found a blog that could be a life-line for us…and you:
Chocolate Hair, Vanilla Care
http://www.chocolatehairvanillacare.com/
DO NOT FEAR…we will be ready when you get here.
YOUR mom and dad
CONCERNED (title of the post)
Hey precious Liv:
Your father and I have an overwhelming concern that we wanted to share with you.
As we are preparing to become your parents, thinking about what that’s going to look like, thinking about all of the things we are going to teach you and do together…we are frozen with fear over something.
This something, if our fears are realized, will stare us in the face everyday…and will follow all of us around…
YOUR HAIR.
We have NO clue how to do your hair. I know not one thing about doing ethnic hair… not one thing.
We don’t want to be those white parents with the nappy headed child.
We don’t want to get sad glances and pity looks.
We want you to know that we are researching, learning, PRAYING and asking questions about how best to handle the situation.
I ask every woman I see with hair that I love … “excuse me mam…can you tell me how you did your hair like that…. “ and I whip out my phone and take notes.
Liv, we love you too much not to handle this issue with urgency and seriousness.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE AFRAID OF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9RhU6oMWeo&feature=related
We found a blog that could be a life-line for us…and you:
Chocolate Hair, Vanilla Care
http://www.chocolatehairvanillacare.com/
DO NOT FEAR…we will be ready when you get here.
YOUR mom and dad
welcome home
Forgot to post this picture last week...not sure how I forgot. Look what came home one month and four days after I checked it in at the New Orleans airport? Matti was quite inquisitive in sniffing out the situation....if only that nose of her could tell me where in the heck that bag has been!
OH WELL...it's home now and I have more undies than I know what to do with.
OH WELL...it's home now and I have more undies than I know what to do with.
"someone got their hair did"
Pastor Geoffrey posted a picture on facebook today of Daizy's new hair do so I wanted to share. I've got a lot to learn when it comes to doing this sweet girl's hair. Praise the Lord for black friends at LC who will help me overcome this obstacle.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Dear Daizy,
Right now I am sitting in your room…a room that has been especially prepared for you my sweet girl. It is full of love, life and colors that make me think of you. I am sitting on your bed with Matti who has no idea how her world is about to be rocked. Who knows if you two will even like each other but I have come to realize if that is the greatest obstacle we have to overcome we are doing okay. Know this…she will be jealous because you have stolen the heart and affections of her momma. When I think of all the things I want to tell you, that I want you to understand, I just find myself at a loss for words. The best place to start is with I LOVE YOU. You’ve only been part of my world for a short time, but I love you sweet girl. Watching you play and color and even watching you cry there is no doubt that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are the very definition of hope. Through no fault of your own you were the victim of circumstance. I don’t know your whole story but just knowing that you have never known the love of your mother makes my heart ache. I can’t give you back your mother but I can give you the love that you deserve.
I wish I could explain the story of how “we” came to be but I still haven’t quite figured it out. I had no idea the day that I drove to Acres of Hope for the first time that the Lord had something this big in mind for us. I was excited about seeing a dream come true….that being a safe place for children to live where they would be fed and have a bed to sleep in and told about Jesus. Though that dream came true so did another. Big momma has always desired to be a mom and known that adoption was in the future and with a look into your big beautiful eyes the future was closer than I knew. I can’t explain how the Lord was working to bring us together but my heart tells me every day that it was meant to be.
Here is what I am learning through this season of preparing for you my girl….
The months leading up to our meeting were some interesting ones. Through living life with friends who are married and who have kids I have realized that being married and raising kids is a lot of work. You haven’t gotten to see television or movies and you’re probably better off that way. You see the people who make tv shows and movies make life look easy and everything always turns out right…..everyone always get along…everyone has everything they ever need or want. Unfortunately this isn’t reality. Somewhere along the line I think I bought into “that” reality and when I started seeing real people doing real life and it wasn’t easy I wasn’t sure I wanted to sign up for that. I always told people that I wasn’t called to singleness and that I wanted to be a mom…. that God would take those desires away from me if that wasn’t his plan. The last several months I got to a place where I was okay with the idea of singleness if it meant not being with someone who brought out the worst in me instead of the best. And I doubted myself if I could be a good mom and so it was easier just to be content with not being a mom and settling for being a really fun aunt kabes to come kiddos you are going to get to know well. To be honest being this content was kind of scary because I thought maybe God was taking those desires away and then came you. Just the other day as I was thinking about this very thing and processing all of this here is what I wrote….
“And then there is DAIZY! Who knew besides the Lord that the last few months of discovering contentment in being single and motherless were part of the emptying process that He (God) would use to make my heart perfectly at home with a 5 year old. The love and hope in her eyes make me a better person. When I fear that another person would bring out the worst in me---I find a child who naturally draws out the best! She taps into my soul to a place that is willing and able to sacrifice, serve and love others more than I love myself. I would dare to say that I need Daizy more than Daizy needs me. Something about adopting this child as part of my family seems so right and yet makes no sense at all….and therein lies the hand of a mighty God orchestrating a love that only He could.”
People ask all kinds of questions about you and to be honest some of them I can answer others I can’t. I want you to know that in pursuing you I am not settling or choosing plan B for my life. The journey we are on was chosen by our heavenly Father from the beginning and because he knows that I would screw it up he is just now letting me in on that plan. People ask me if I am ready to be a mom and I want you to know that I don’t know what I am doing 100%. I know that I will do anything I can to show you love, to take care of you and most importantly to make sure you know who Jesus is and how much he loves you. As you grow up I want you to know that our story is a Jesus story. People ask me why adoption and I want to show them your picture and say “WHY NOT?” but the truth of the matter is that our story paints such an accurate picture of the gospel. One day when we least expected it Jesus chose us to be his own. We didn’t deserve it. We didn’t choose him. God chose us, adopted us into his family….called us his children and gave us a rich inheritance. So I want you to know Daizy that we have a story to tell and if our journey ever becomes about us….about you alone or about me alone…we missed the greatest opportunity for Jesus to use us to make God’s story known. That’s how much he loves us that he would use us to tell his story when anything and everything in creation could do that….he is letting us be part. And the bonus in all of that is that we also get each other. Just like you already make Big Momma better….with the help of Jesus I will be what you need in a mom to bring out the best in you too.
I’m ready for you to be home sweet girl. I can’t wait for you to see your room and meet your new friends…Noah, Brayden, Mercy, Anna Grace and Allie and even your friend Titus who I haven’t met yet but who is the only friend that will look like you…..and all the big people (adults and college students) in Big Momma’s life who are going to overwhelm you with love. Your aunt Teri is already crazy about you. There isn’t a day when I don’t have a conversation about you with someone and they all want to meet you and so I promise to ease you into your new life slowly. Until that day comes…I LOVE YOU and I am praying for you. I know God is preparing us both for this life-changing journey and in his perfect time we’ll be sitting in your room together reading Dr. Seuss and getting tucked into bed. Until then….
I wish I could explain the story of how “we” came to be but I still haven’t quite figured it out. I had no idea the day that I drove to Acres of Hope for the first time that the Lord had something this big in mind for us. I was excited about seeing a dream come true….that being a safe place for children to live where they would be fed and have a bed to sleep in and told about Jesus. Though that dream came true so did another. Big momma has always desired to be a mom and known that adoption was in the future and with a look into your big beautiful eyes the future was closer than I knew. I can’t explain how the Lord was working to bring us together but my heart tells me every day that it was meant to be.
Here is what I am learning through this season of preparing for you my girl….
The months leading up to our meeting were some interesting ones. Through living life with friends who are married and who have kids I have realized that being married and raising kids is a lot of work. You haven’t gotten to see television or movies and you’re probably better off that way. You see the people who make tv shows and movies make life look easy and everything always turns out right…..everyone always get along…everyone has everything they ever need or want. Unfortunately this isn’t reality. Somewhere along the line I think I bought into “that” reality and when I started seeing real people doing real life and it wasn’t easy I wasn’t sure I wanted to sign up for that. I always told people that I wasn’t called to singleness and that I wanted to be a mom…. that God would take those desires away from me if that wasn’t his plan. The last several months I got to a place where I was okay with the idea of singleness if it meant not being with someone who brought out the worst in me instead of the best. And I doubted myself if I could be a good mom and so it was easier just to be content with not being a mom and settling for being a really fun aunt kabes to come kiddos you are going to get to know well. To be honest being this content was kind of scary because I thought maybe God was taking those desires away and then came you. Just the other day as I was thinking about this very thing and processing all of this here is what I wrote….
“And then there is DAIZY! Who knew besides the Lord that the last few months of discovering contentment in being single and motherless were part of the emptying process that He (God) would use to make my heart perfectly at home with a 5 year old. The love and hope in her eyes make me a better person. When I fear that another person would bring out the worst in me---I find a child who naturally draws out the best! She taps into my soul to a place that is willing and able to sacrifice, serve and love others more than I love myself. I would dare to say that I need Daizy more than Daizy needs me. Something about adopting this child as part of my family seems so right and yet makes no sense at all….and therein lies the hand of a mighty God orchestrating a love that only He could.”
People ask all kinds of questions about you and to be honest some of them I can answer others I can’t. I want you to know that in pursuing you I am not settling or choosing plan B for my life. The journey we are on was chosen by our heavenly Father from the beginning and because he knows that I would screw it up he is just now letting me in on that plan. People ask me if I am ready to be a mom and I want you to know that I don’t know what I am doing 100%. I know that I will do anything I can to show you love, to take care of you and most importantly to make sure you know who Jesus is and how much he loves you. As you grow up I want you to know that our story is a Jesus story. People ask me why adoption and I want to show them your picture and say “WHY NOT?” but the truth of the matter is that our story paints such an accurate picture of the gospel. One day when we least expected it Jesus chose us to be his own. We didn’t deserve it. We didn’t choose him. God chose us, adopted us into his family….called us his children and gave us a rich inheritance. So I want you to know Daizy that we have a story to tell and if our journey ever becomes about us….about you alone or about me alone…we missed the greatest opportunity for Jesus to use us to make God’s story known. That’s how much he loves us that he would use us to tell his story when anything and everything in creation could do that….he is letting us be part. And the bonus in all of that is that we also get each other. Just like you already make Big Momma better….with the help of Jesus I will be what you need in a mom to bring out the best in you too.
I’m ready for you to be home sweet girl. I can’t wait for you to see your room and meet your new friends…Noah, Brayden, Mercy, Anna Grace and Allie and even your friend Titus who I haven’t met yet but who is the only friend that will look like you…..and all the big people (adults and college students) in Big Momma’s life who are going to overwhelm you with love. Your aunt Teri is already crazy about you. There isn’t a day when I don’t have a conversation about you with someone and they all want to meet you and so I promise to ease you into your new life slowly. Until that day comes…I LOVE YOU and I am praying for you. I know God is preparing us both for this life-changing journey and in his perfect time we’ll be sitting in your room together reading Dr. Seuss and getting tucked into bed. Until then….
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
never never land
If you're friends with me on facebook and kept up with our travels to Uganda and back then you know that my luggage got lost in never never land. I've not really stopped long enough to write a blog about just how funny this situation was....not so funny at the time. Crazy the things God will use to teach you, break you and refine you. Apparently this trip to Uganda He chose luggage to be that "thing"...
Let me back up and share this so that you get the full blow of the situation. Two weeks before we left for Uganda I ended up having surgery on my bum to remove some hemorrhoids (that's not shameful at all). Not the ideal time to say the least but if you've ever had them, a bad case of them, you know that traveling on planes for 36 hours with them isn't ideal either. All the members of my immediate family have had to have surgery to remove them so I knew this day was coming. I called my dad one day and asked him how you knew it was time for such drastic measures and his response was "you'll know when it's time." IT WAS TIME. So here we are 2 weeks before leaving the country and having surgery. All parties involved knew the timeline we were under and I was assured that everything would be healed in time. LIE!! That surgery was such an ordeal and to this day I am still having some issues. Just 4 days before we left I was advised not to go because my incision was not closed. In fact I was told it would be several more weeks before that would happen. WHAT?!?! How is this the first time I am hearing this. Needless to say the secret that I had kept under wraps went public because I was asking people to pray that the Lord would cover my behind, literally and figuratively and that I would be "healed and sealed."
After seeking some wise advise from some medical professionals I had a plan of action to care for said wound while in a 3rd world country and I was on my way. One of those measures was that my lower half needed to stay clean and dry so I needed to change undies at least 4 times a day. Two weeks x 4 times a day...you do the math, that's a lot of undies. After stocking up because I certainly didn't have that kind of a collection I was ready to go. I had a 2.5 gallon zip lock back in my luggage that had 55....YES, 55 pair of undies in them, along with other necessary supplies.
Also note worthy---my good friend and boss, Eric Johnson, came by to pray for the team before we left Pineville. He specifically prayed that my healing in Uganda would be a testimony to my Drs who said it was ill advised to go. Who knew his prayer would be answered in such a crazy way.
Fast forward to our departure day. We were a team of 8 that checked in 16 bags. That check in process was fun and the people behind us were not happy but on well...we paid just as much to fly out as you did. As we were loading our bags onto the cart I literally reached down and touched my bag and said "Lord please let me see this bag on the other side." So fast forward another 36+ hours when we landed in Entebbe, Uganda after missing flights and being rerouted through Cairo, Eygpt. We all gather around the luggage claim and out comes a bag, then two.....and when the belt stops moving we have 14 bags. I start looking around and realize one of the two missing was mine. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! I gave a courtesy laugh for the team but immediately had a little internal panic attack. Amber didn't get her bag either so we made our way to the claim desk and began the paperwork. Mind you...3rd world country, small airport, most of their claims are done on paper not electronic. My hope of seeing my luggage any time soon was not high.
My only hope was that my first year in Uganda two of our guys didn't get their luggage until we had been in country 48 hours. Well that 48 hour window came and went and still no luggage. In fact when we called the airport to get a status update they couldn't even tell us where our luggage was at the time. How does that happen? So began our two week adventure of living as true Africans with only one change of clothes in addition to the clothes on our backs. And you know what....WE DID IT! And I think for the most part did it gracefully. There were days where I would realize something else that was in my bag that I probably would never see again and would yell for a minute, humorously. BUT...I did it.
Within a week of coming home Amber's bag arrived in Alexandria for her to pick up. As of today I still do not have my luggage...no one can tell me where it is. And let me be the first to tell you that airline companies and travelers insurance makes it incredibly difficult to get reimbursed for luggage in hopes that most people will just give up. Confession: I might be there. Most days as I sit on hold I end up telling myself "it's just stuff"...granted a few valuable things were in there but it really is just stuff. Still holding out for a miracle that my undies will return but I've replenished a few in the mean time.
Lessons learned:
1. I can live a lot more simply that I thought I could.
2. I will pack in a carry on every time I go to Uganda because I can!
3. I hate American Airlines, the Paris airport and Cairo.
4. I might be African after all!!
PS...if you're in Entebbe, Paris, Cairo or New Orleans and you want to check on my bag feel free. Blue and gray rolling duffle with lots of undies.
Who knew never never land really exists? Hope the people there are enjoying my stuff!
PSS...I didn't have a single problem, complication, etc from surgery the entire time we were gone. Praise the Lord for his faithfulness and provision!
Let me back up and share this so that you get the full blow of the situation. Two weeks before we left for Uganda I ended up having surgery on my bum to remove some hemorrhoids (that's not shameful at all). Not the ideal time to say the least but if you've ever had them, a bad case of them, you know that traveling on planes for 36 hours with them isn't ideal either. All the members of my immediate family have had to have surgery to remove them so I knew this day was coming. I called my dad one day and asked him how you knew it was time for such drastic measures and his response was "you'll know when it's time." IT WAS TIME. So here we are 2 weeks before leaving the country and having surgery. All parties involved knew the timeline we were under and I was assured that everything would be healed in time. LIE!! That surgery was such an ordeal and to this day I am still having some issues. Just 4 days before we left I was advised not to go because my incision was not closed. In fact I was told it would be several more weeks before that would happen. WHAT?!?! How is this the first time I am hearing this. Needless to say the secret that I had kept under wraps went public because I was asking people to pray that the Lord would cover my behind, literally and figuratively and that I would be "healed and sealed."
After seeking some wise advise from some medical professionals I had a plan of action to care for said wound while in a 3rd world country and I was on my way. One of those measures was that my lower half needed to stay clean and dry so I needed to change undies at least 4 times a day. Two weeks x 4 times a day...you do the math, that's a lot of undies. After stocking up because I certainly didn't have that kind of a collection I was ready to go. I had a 2.5 gallon zip lock back in my luggage that had 55....YES, 55 pair of undies in them, along with other necessary supplies.
Also note worthy---my good friend and boss, Eric Johnson, came by to pray for the team before we left Pineville. He specifically prayed that my healing in Uganda would be a testimony to my Drs who said it was ill advised to go. Who knew his prayer would be answered in such a crazy way.
Fast forward to our departure day. We were a team of 8 that checked in 16 bags. That check in process was fun and the people behind us were not happy but on well...we paid just as much to fly out as you did. As we were loading our bags onto the cart I literally reached down and touched my bag and said "Lord please let me see this bag on the other side." So fast forward another 36+ hours when we landed in Entebbe, Uganda after missing flights and being rerouted through Cairo, Eygpt. We all gather around the luggage claim and out comes a bag, then two.....and when the belt stops moving we have 14 bags. I start looking around and realize one of the two missing was mine. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! I gave a courtesy laugh for the team but immediately had a little internal panic attack. Amber didn't get her bag either so we made our way to the claim desk and began the paperwork. Mind you...3rd world country, small airport, most of their claims are done on paper not electronic. My hope of seeing my luggage any time soon was not high.
My only hope was that my first year in Uganda two of our guys didn't get their luggage until we had been in country 48 hours. Well that 48 hour window came and went and still no luggage. In fact when we called the airport to get a status update they couldn't even tell us where our luggage was at the time. How does that happen? So began our two week adventure of living as true Africans with only one change of clothes in addition to the clothes on our backs. And you know what....WE DID IT! And I think for the most part did it gracefully. There were days where I would realize something else that was in my bag that I probably would never see again and would yell for a minute, humorously. BUT...I did it.
Within a week of coming home Amber's bag arrived in Alexandria for her to pick up. As of today I still do not have my luggage...no one can tell me where it is. And let me be the first to tell you that airline companies and travelers insurance makes it incredibly difficult to get reimbursed for luggage in hopes that most people will just give up. Confession: I might be there. Most days as I sit on hold I end up telling myself "it's just stuff"...granted a few valuable things were in there but it really is just stuff. Still holding out for a miracle that my undies will return but I've replenished a few in the mean time.
Lessons learned:
1. I can live a lot more simply that I thought I could.
2. I will pack in a carry on every time I go to Uganda because I can!
3. I hate American Airlines, the Paris airport and Cairo.
4. I might be African after all!!
PS...if you're in Entebbe, Paris, Cairo or New Orleans and you want to check on my bag feel free. Blue and gray rolling duffle with lots of undies.
Who knew never never land really exists? Hope the people there are enjoying my stuff!
PSS...I didn't have a single problem, complication, etc from surgery the entire time we were gone. Praise the Lord for his faithfulness and provision!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
FUNDRAISING INFO.
Many have inquired about how to help financially. I will certainly be posting more information about specific fund raisers like the shirts and the 5k. If you are just wanting to send a donation or be part of the 120 who give $100...or whatever the Lord leads you to give then here is the information. Because I am doing a private adoption there is no agency handling the funds I raise. All money will come directly to me but I assure you that every penny will be spent on Daizy...either the cost of her adoption and getting her home or caring for her once she is here if the amount needed is exceeded.
Checks can be made out to KB Thomas and sent to 403 Cross Street, Pineville, LA 71360.
I've had several people contact me that they can't give much but please know every penny counts, seriously! I remember in high school when I started driving I would throw pennies out the window because I didn't want them camping out in the cupholder of my car. At some point it hit me..."hey those add up to dollars"...every penny counts. Give as the Lord leads and even if you can't give financially please don't count out the importance of your prayers for us in this process. What the Lord has already been teaching me through this is mindblowing and I have felt your prayers.
More on fund raising to come soon.
Checks can be made out to KB Thomas and sent to 403 Cross Street, Pineville, LA 71360.
I've had several people contact me that they can't give much but please know every penny counts, seriously! I remember in high school when I started driving I would throw pennies out the window because I didn't want them camping out in the cupholder of my car. At some point it hit me..."hey those add up to dollars"...every penny counts. Give as the Lord leads and even if you can't give financially please don't count out the importance of your prayers for us in this process. What the Lord has already been teaching me through this is mindblowing and I have felt your prayers.
More on fund raising to come soon.
best advice so far.
First let me start by saying that I am completely overwhelmed by your kind words and support after posting the blog yesterday about Daizy. In just a few short hours I had raised $1800...that is the work of the Lord right there.
In that post I welcomed all advice from moms out there. I am not foolish enough to think I have this all figured out. I had to share what one of my dear friends from high school shared with me that I have officially deemed the best advice so far. WARNING this might be a little colorful for some but it's absolutely perfect and I wanted to share. Among other encouraging things she sent me here was her wise words...
"cut yourself some slack when things get tough. We ALL mess up and feel inadequate sometimes. And anyone who says she doesn't is a damn liar."
So true. Keep the advice coming...its welcomed, appreciated and may end up being a blog that I pass on to other moms.
Monday, July 16, 2012
bringing Daizy home...
The word is slowly getting out because this is a social media driven world so it's time to make it official....blog official. I have officially started the process of adoption this week. This is something I have known was in my future for a long time. I have pursued a couple of state side adoptions in the last five years and every time the door has closed. Seems as though the timing is finally right and we...and by we I mean me...are moving forward with the process. FAQ (frequently asked questions) Q1: Are you ready to be a mom? A: That's a loaded question. To answer yes implies that I know what I am doing so the answer is NO. Am I ready to sacrifice my wants and needs for the sake of another person who needs love and nurturing? Absolutely. I would imagine that most new moms leave the hospital with their newborns scared to death because kids don't come with a manual. Granted I am brining home a five year old but still no instruction manual. I am trusting that God's grace is more than sufficient to teach me how to be a good mom. And I am blessed with some incredible women in my life who have modeled motherhood and serve as a great resource. Q2: How does all of this adoption stuff work? A: That's a great question. Most families pursue adoption through an agency. However I am doing a private adoption. Most agencies will not allow for a single parent adoption. Going through an agency usually takes anywhere from 1 to 3 years and anywhere from $30,000-$40,000. I am fortunate in that I have an established relationship with a children's home in Uganda. I had no idea 3 years ago when I got involved with starting Acres of Hope that one day I would be adopting a child from there. In the process of opening the children's home we have secured an attorney in Uganda who does private adoptions. My friend SaraBeth and I are going to be the trial cases for private adoption. Both of us are single women and this is the only way adoption would be possible. Not only do I not have to wait years because I have met Daizy in person and already know that we are good match...the cost of private adoption is considerably less. The process involves completing a home study with a licensed social worker. This process is rather lengthy but should only take a couple of months. I have already found a social worker and will begin that process in a couple of weeks. Once all the paperwork is complete the only hold up is raising the funds for the adoption. I will need $12,000 to bring Daizy home. (more information about fund raising coming soon)The goal right now is to bring her home in January. (deep breath) Q3: Who is Daizy? A: Only the cutest Afrian kid you'll ever meet. Okay so I am a little biased but this child stole my heart immediately. Let me now clarify that I did not go to Uganda on a mission to "shop" for a child. In fact it was far off my radar. Isn't that usually how the Lord works....when you least expect it He rocks your world! To be honest I can't really even explain it except to say everything in my spirit has confirmation that the timing is right to bring this little girl home. I don't know a whole lot about Daizy's background but we are working on those details. She says that she is 5 but the paperwork for the sponsorship program she is part of says that she is 7. She definitely looks more like 5. I do know that her mom died during child birth so she has never known her mother and her father has abandoned her. The only thing that stands in the way of adopting her is getting a piece of paper signed by her father waiving all rights to her...which doesn't seem hard to do with stories that I have heard about other children. 
Feel free to ask questions but I can't assure you that I know the answers. Right now I would covet your prayers as I walk through this process. I am trusting the Lord that the finances are going to come through...He has certainly shown me His faithulness in big and small ways all my life, especially where my Africa trips are concerned. I am trying to be super creative in fundraising so feel free to send ideas. All you moms out there your advice is always welcomed. Here are the initial ideas for fundraising so far: I'll have a t-shirt soon to help raise money. On September 22 there is going to be a charity motorcyle ride in the Birmingham area that my sister is heading up. I will be sending out letters soon to friends and family. Here is the crazy thing....without any other type of fundraisers if I can find 120 families/friends who will commit to giving $100 the fundraising is done! Will some give more? yes Will some give less? yes Will some not give at all? yes....but if there is one thing the Lord has been teaching me about support and my own pride is that sometimes we have not because we asked not. *side note: just today I was telling someone about Daizy and got my first donation of $1000....God is good and good to me! Once the weather gets a little cooler here in Pineville, LA we are going to do a charity 5k to raise money so if you're in this area start practicing. Not sure all the details yet but it will be a registration fee that will come with a "Daizy" t-shirt. Last but not least I am looking into selling gumbo at some of our home football games once the weather get a little cooler. stay tuned....
Friday, July 13, 2012
players gonna play!
Friday, July 6, 2012
UGANDA 2012
I don't even know where to start in telling about this trip. I guess the best place to start is with saying it was the best trip so far. The team I got to travel with was simply the best....not to say I haven't had great teams before but in all my years of traveling this one was unique. No doubt that God brought all 8 of us together and just getting to spend time with them and get to know them better was truly one of the highlights of the trip for me. The other thing that set this trip apart was spending time with the same kids everyday and not just any kids....but the kids who live at Acres of Hope. Three years ago I went on a vision trip to talk about the dreams of a god fearing pastor in Uganda...who knew that three years later I will still be traveling at least once a year to Nebbi and actually see that dream come true. It was absolutely one of the best moments of my life to drive on to the property and see houses with children living in them. God is so good and I am so thankful to have been just a small part of such an amazing place. We got to spend everyday just working around Acres of Hope doing chores, organizing supplies and loving on kids. For the first time in all my trips I honestly could have stayed another month without missing a beat and thats saying alot since I lived in the same clothes for two weeks. I feel like I had a true afrian experience this go around when my luggage never arrived. That's a story for another day. I did want to take a minute just to check in an share a few pictures. As I continue to process I will post more so stay tuned.
Reunited with Whit in Uganda. We met there last year in March on a trip and got the chance to spend a few days there together this year. Kindred spirits.
Sweet Daizy!
the magic of bubbles
loving on Angel....it was easy to do.
my favorite Ugandan trying hard to avoid having his picture taken
sad goodbyes.
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