August 12, 2013 By 3 Comments

1 Year Home

I could write a book.  Forever and ever long.  God simply gave us our hope back through this kid.

Amon’s name means ‘faithful’ and God truly, truly has been faithful to Amon and our family.  It was a long, hard, beautiful road to Amon.  One that was long and winding and we got lost some along the way.  We did not come off the path unscarred.  But we serve a God who heals and renews and when I walked into Amon’s transition home that day with Ashley by my side and they placed him in my arms for the second time, but this time for forever, I took the deepest breath ever.  A breath of release.  One of true joy.  I looked him over so carefully and took in how much he had changed in a month or so’s time.  I cried overwhelmingly grateful tears.

Then we journeyed home on what were the most stressful plane rides ever.  Ashley and I were crazy nervous, Amon was sick and we were toting all our gear plus a big, portable oxygen machine.  And the next 18 hours were insanely hard, but I knew we were being prayed for.  That Amon and his heart were being lifted directly to God.  And we made it.  As we descended into Nashville’s airport I brought out my video camera and taped Amon sleeping in the seat beside me.  We had made it.  God had made a way.  He had gone before us and led us each step of the way.

At that moment I felt God’s love just absolutely pour over us and I sobbed with strangers looking on around me.  I wanted to tell them of Amon’s story…of his special heart…of the legacy God was creating in him even before birth.  I wanted them to know, but I just sat there and soaked it in.  We had made it.  God had finished what He had started in our family 2 years before.  He had renewed and fixed and healed and restored and I could not get off the plane and into Josh’s arms…the wee Kelleys arms…fast enough.

We were finally a family of 6.

God has done a mighty work in our family over the past year.  He has done a mighty work in Amon as well.  He fixed his heart.  He gave him life all over again.  He is truly a God of wonders who deserves every ounce of praise.  I feel so inadequate to be His child…to be so incredibly loved by Him.

So we celebrated Amon on Saturday…we celebrated our family of 6…we celebrated how amazing God is and what great works He truly does and has done.  Oh God, we are grateful and honored to parent this kiddo…this crazy sweet, amazingly awesome kiddo.  You have renewed our hope like we never imagined.

Happy Gotcha Day Amon.  We kind of totally adore you!

“They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given.19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong.”  Hebrews 6:18-19

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August 8, 2013 By 4 Comments

My Ethiopia Bag

I’m not a shoes girl or a clothes girl and I wish I was an accessories girl, but alas I’m an emotional jewelry wearer and end up wearing the same important-to-my-heart pieces over and over again.  What I am though is a bag girl.  I love bags.  I try not to have too many, but if there’s anything I would over buy, it would be bags.

Last Saturday I was home baking when our friends Nate and Becky Jane surprisingly dropped by.  Becky Jane had made me the best bag ever out of an Ethiopian coffee bag.  I melted.  It completely made my day.  It had been a rough couple of days, so this little blessing completely encouraged and uplifted.  Blessing others is so important and I was incredibly grateful to be on the receiving end that day.  Thank you Becky Jane.  For reals.  I immediately switched bags and have been putting it to use ever since.

The bag is the bomb-diggity.  It’s big and sturdy.  Love the outside.  Love this inside green pattern fabric.  And she even included some anchors just for me.

The details are awesome.  5 big pockets on the inside, key chain clip and a snap closure.  She’s thought through all the details for sure.

You can check out Becky Jane’s Facebook page “Girls On A Mission” HERE.  She uses lots of different coffee bags from around the world, plus other bag designs as well.  The best part is that 100% of ALL Girls on a Mission sales benefit mission trips and Christ focused ministries.  So head on over to ‘like’ her page and purchase a bag.  You will be just as impressed as I was.

Happy Thursday!

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August 13, 2012 By 17 Comments

To Ethiopia & Back

Last Friday morning we received embassy clearance for Amon’s case so we immediately started booking flights.  Turns out Ashley and I hit the airways Tuesday, landed in Ethiopia late Wednesday night, had our embassy appointment Thursday, flew out of Ethiopia Friday and landed in Nashville, Tn on Saturday evening.  How’s that for the fastest trip to Ethiopia ever.

Here is our last family “waiting for you” picture on Tuesday before I headed off to the airport.

The US Embassy was so accommodating considering Amon’s health and got us in and out in no time at all.  God was truly working and moving all around us.  Our time in Ethiopia was very short, but so very rich.  I was so glad Ashley was there to experience it all with me.

And being with Amon again was like gold.  Pure, expensive, exquisite gold.  He has this place in my heart that is just so huge.  And he is brave and strong and beautiful.  This kid owns me.

He did great on the flight home…had a few little tense moments, but Ashley and I handled them just fine.  We were definitely a bit stressed, but we made it 🙂

Officially in the US.

And our homecoming, well our homecoming was grand.  Once our plane landed it was if this burden had been lifted.  We still have quite the road to travel, but getting him home was half the battle.  I cannot wait to share our airport pictures.  They are truly incredible.

So we have been soaking sweet Amon in.  Breathing his scent in deep.  Rubbing his head often.  Kissing his cheeks always.  Cuddling him extra close and just relishing in the fact that God planned our family a long, long time ago.  I just could never accurately describe how thankful I am for my beautifully, knit together family.  And I am still in awe, that Amon is sitting right here with me as I type.  God is just too too crazy good and deserves all the praise.

Happy Monday!

 

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November 21, 2008 By 3 Comments

Big News!

Hello Pitter Patter Art Folks
Some of you already know and some of you don’t, but we wanted to share the news with everyone that Josh and I are starting the process to adopt a baby boy from Ethiopia. Sorry for those that have already heard the details…Josh and I have always talked about adopting one day, even before we were married, then while I was pregnant with Huddy we felt God confirming to us that we would add to our family next through adoption.  I went ahead, even before Hud arrived, checking into the process and asking others who had already completed adoption for some advice (Thanks Brea!)  We knew this is what God wanted for our family, but then started praying about whether to do domestic or international. I never felt pushed either way, I just knew I wanted to be a mom again, but Josh felt strongly that we should do an international adoption. From there God led the way and we are adopting from Ethiopia.  We are beyond excited, so Ethiopia here we come.

 

Now we are at the beginning stages of paperwork and raising money. We are asking everyone to
please pray for us and this journey we are about to begin and that we do exactly as God would want. We also ask that you guys share our story with whomever you would like (email, blogs, blogrolls, etc) and pass on my website for more information. We have set up a donate button on the right and all money made from any orders will go straight to our adoption fund.  You are now not only getting great quality unique items, but also helping bring our child home.

We will also be having some more fundraising opportunities soon that will be posted on my
site. So keep an eye out. Well that is that and we are so excited about where our family is going.

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