Our Summer

As always seems to be the case, summer feels as though it's just begun and is over at the same time. Like many of you, we've been busy with family, yard work, and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. We'd like to update you on a few specific happenings...

In June, Kelly discussed her chronic lower back pain with her doctor, who did an x-ray and discovered the L5-S1 disc in her spine is compressed, which is pinching the nerve and causing back pain and sciatica. Thankfully, there is an excellent physical therapy/chiropractic practice next door to her primary care doctor. She began therapy the same day as the diagnosis, and has been going three times a week for over two months now. We are so thankful this injury was diagnosed after many years of pain and that the doctors are hopeful that she will get significant pain relief without surgery. However, it is discouraging to realize that she has yet another health condition that requires a lot of time and attention and will likely never completely resolve. "O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me." Psalm 30:2.

David works as an engineer for Honda, who shuts down their manufacturing plants every year for a week at the beginning of July. Thankfully, his engineering group usually doesn't have to work during this week. Since we are saving his vacation time for when we finally get to bring our baby home, we decided to take advantage of this week off and have a "babymoon" in Clearwater Beach, Florida (see sunset picture above!). Thanks to our hotel points, breakfast buffet vouchers from the hotel, a fridge in our room, and direct flights on Southwest, it was a low-cost, high-relaxation trip. With everything that we've been through in the past couple years, it was really important for us to take some time to reconnect and get away from the distractions of the adoption, the house, etc. We tried to use our time together intentionally to pray and talk about everything that's happened and how our marriage is doing through it all. It was a good time to "reset" from our most recent adoption loss. "You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth." Psalm 71:20.

Our adoption agency is working with several birth moms who are due this fall/winter. Please pray for all of these women and babies and trust that our all-knowing, all-powerful God hears you and knows each of them by name. Please pray that we will be able to adopt one of these precious children this year. "Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." Ephesians 1:5.

We applied for two adoption grants this spring. We were not chosen to receive funds from either. One organization told us they had requests for a total of $3 million dollars and only had $100,000 to give. We were discouraged by this because we put a lot of time into our applications. However, our fundraiser this spring earned a total of $2,200! We are so thankful for everyone who made a purchase, and hope that you will be able to share about adoption and why you support it whenever someone compliments your t-shirt or serving board! Also, we've received $4,910 in tax-deductible donations through our AdoptTogether profile - WOW! Thank you to everyone who has donated. It is encouraging to know that you are willing to sacrifice your resources in order to give a child who many in our society would call "unwanted" a loving home. Our next adoption payment of $10,000 dollars will be due the day that we bring our child home, and our final payment of approximately $13,000 will be due 6 months later. While our AdoptTogether profile is still active and accepting donations, please let us know if you would like to help us with other fundraising ideas. And for those of you who've asked, there is now a link to our baby registry on the "Support" page of our website. "...for your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8.

Well, I didn't promise this update would be short :-) We believe that God hears our prayers and that He blesses those who cry out to Him and depend on Him alone. So thank you for praying and here are some specific issues to bring before the Lord:

- Healing for Kelly's back injury (and other health issues, including infertility) and a resolution to the pain through physical therapy.

- Unity in David and Kelly's marriage and for them to have abounding grace and love for each other during these difficult times.

- Peace and protection for Choice Network and all of the moms, babies, and adoptive families they are serving right now.

- Provision of $2,890 dollars for the next adoption payment, as well as all of the nursery and baby supplies still needed.

Thanks for reading and praying!