always on time...

Things here at the Anthony household have been crazy!  We've had these bugs, which we recently found out are nasty drain flies...ewww, since October.  Yep...they were drowning in the punch at Thanksgiving.  Through a series of events in January, we found out that we had a broken pipe in our kitchen floor.  Not an easy fix when you live in a split level where the kitchen is on a slab.  This was likely the source of the flies as all the water and yuck from the garbage disposal was going right into the ground under our kitchen.

So, you can imagine what kind of a project this was going to be.  And here in the Anthony house, we don't hire people to do the work...we do it ourselves.  Only this time there was no we...at least for this part.  This was all Dan.  I did not see myself operating a jackhammer and digging into the yuck under the floor.  Plus, there were bugs involved.  And it made for a very dusty, dirty house.  So I bailed.  My parents were in Florida and they are just minutes away from our house.  And their house was clean.  And quiet.

Oh, come on...wouldn't you?

We, for sure, are thankful for some loving friends who helped us immensely!  You can see that our entire kitchen and hallway floor was going to need to be replaced.  I was excited about that part, but the timing was all wrong.  We are saving for adoption.  We have an adoption account that gets filled with flower sale profits and gifts from friends.  Then we have our own savings account that we are working at building up to add to that adoption account.  This mess was not to happen right now...not where we wanted to spend our pennies.  but, God knows these things.  This big mess did not catch him by surprise.  Neither did the hot water tank that went out last week.  Neither did the muffler that went on the car the week before.  Neither does my eldest son's need for braces, glorious braces.

I had a little meltdown yesterday.  Crying.  Asking God for a break.  Asking for something to be easy.  Something to work like it should.

I got home from church today and retrieved yesterday's mail from the mailbox.  I noticed our tax papers were there awaiting our signature.  It's always a little scary opening that envelope.  I always have this dollar amount in my head and am so hopeful that it is something close to that number.  I wept as I pulled the paper out of the envelope, realizing that that number blew my number out of the water.  God provided.  He provided for the unanticipated projects.  And then some.  Some for braces.  Some for a man we know who has a need.  And best of all...    
                                                                                            ...some for our baby girl!

I hate it when I have an unnecessary meltdown.  I hate it when I doubt God's plan.  I hate it when I fail to take all of my problems to His throne...to the One who can do something about them.
I echo the words of the father in Mark 9:24.

                                  “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

i'm a-chasing...

...papers.  The stage commonly known as the "paper chase".  That's where we are.  Is it a lot of work?  yes.  Is it overwhelming?  yes.  Is it stuff I shouldn't have to do as a mother of 3 already?  yes.  Am I enjoying it?  yes.  I am choosing to.  Each paper signed and notarized brings me one step closer to being the mom of my sweet baby girl.  Who'd of thunk that in order to be the mom of a daughter I would have to have fire exits posted on all three floors of my house?  Who'd of thunk that in order to have a daughter with whom I can have a tea party I would have to submit letters confirming my husband's employment and salary and benefits and life insurance policies?  Who'd of thunk that in order to have a daughter to buy sweet dresses for I'd have to be fingerprinted and have a child abuse clearance?  As crazy as this process is, I wouldn't have it any other way.  She...this nameless, faceless baby girl that has captured our hearts...is so worth it.  What a way to have a baby!

In my spare time, I'm reading the book Adopted for Life by Russell Moore.

Outstanding.  

I love how it compares the theology of our adoption as a child of God to the adoption of a child into a family.  I'm just on the 2nd chapter, but its one of those books that you know is going to be good after reading just the first page. 

And then there's flowers.

Business has been somewhat slow since the Christmas rush, but you won't find me complaining.  There are no rings of filth around my toilets...at least there weren't yesterday.  Mountains of laundry have been reduced to small hills.  More meals are being prepared and eaten at home.  The spring rush is about to hit with some open houses and ad spots, though.  I won't be complaining then, either.
                                               We are so thankful for God's provision for this adoption.

forging on

We had a conference call last night with the president of the adoption agency.  He walked through the process of Honduran adoption with us.  Seeing as though they have not yet completed an adoption through Honduras, there are some unknowns.  We are praying that God will just clear the way and allow these orphans to be adopted quickly.  The first group of referrals are expected to be processed in March.  We are working diligently to be among the second group of referrals.  We anticipate beginning the home study next week.  Then begins the compilation of the dossier.  I'm thinking that this is going to be my new full time job.

But, on top of all of that, the fundraising continues.  Before we can submit the dossier, we need to have approximately $7000 additional funds.
                  That's big...who am I kidding?  That's huge.
 I am memorizing this verse:
                                    Jer. 32:27  I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.
                                                                Is anything too hard for Me?

We all know the answer to that question!  Nothing is too hard for our Creator who has a deep love for orphans!

So, we work (making and selling these flowers)
          we watch
              and wait for God to move some mountains and bring our girl home.

the widow's mite

We celebrated Christmas last night with my in-laws.  With 14 kids between 4 families, its always loads of fun!

There was a bit of talk about the hopes of our little girl being in the mix with all her cousins next year at this time.  My very crafty sister-in-law (who had my name) made this lovely hat for me and a matching one for our sweet girl!  So fun, and so beautiful!

We stuck around my brother-in-law's house for a bit after everyone had left.  They called their 4 kiddos (11, 8, 6, 4) in and had us take a seat.  The subject of adoption had come up in their home and they had been talking about the adoption of our daughter, their cousin.  It touched their sweet little hearts in such a big way.  So big that they busted into their piggy banks and collectively gave us a huge gift of $51.  I wept.  Our sweet nephew and nieces reached in deep to help bring their cousin home.  We consider this a huge gift.  It makes a small dent in our expenses, but it was a huge sacrifice for them to give it.

This passage immediately came to mind:

Luke 21

A Widow’s Contribution

 ¹Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box. ²He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins. ³He said, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. ⁴All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

They gave of the small amount that they have...
        which clearly means so much more to Jesus (and us) than giving what can be spared.

Kiddos, thank you!  We are so blessed by your gift and the sacrifice you made for your cousin.  She will be  told of your sacrificial gift and how it helped to make her an Anthony.  Love you guys...hugs...big hugs!

surprised?

God sure isn't, but I am completely blown away that we are nearly at the $6000 mark for adoption fundraising!  I am completely humbled at what God has done and is continuing to do with some fabric flowers and feeble hands.  I am blown away by His continued grace and blessing on our lives and this path of adoption.  I've been making flowers feverishly and am taking a break from it for a couple weeks while the kids are home and the mister has a few days off.  What a way to grow a family!  It is so much more work than carrying a baby for nine months and birthing him/her.  I'm finding it almost a bit more rewarding, though. 
This baby girl
...so far away
...maybe not even a thought to her birth mom yet
...has completely captured my heart! 

Just a month ago I was so unsure of whether or not I could love her as much as I love my boys.  Those fears have been erased...ERASED!  I am smitten.  So smitten that last night my man and I had a short little date.  So we went to the store and picked up this...

for our nameless baby girl who we don't know, but God knows intimately!  It's screaming for a crocheted hat with a flower on it :)...on the docket to purchase as soon as that etsy shop opens back up.  Little things like this are keeping me focused when the flower orders start to overwhelm me. 

Merry Christmas sweet girl...we're praying that next year you'll be home for Christmas!

getting there

I have been completely blown out of the water with how fast these flowers are flying out of my house!  Our thermometer of fundraising keeps going up....we are so thankful.  To all of you who are adorned with flowers...or going to be once you open your Christmas present...THANK YOU!


Let me tell you a little story about last weekend's craft show.  I got my table all set up...which, by the way, was set up directly in front of everyone who walked in the front doors.  I had a chance to sit down and look at the program which listed all of the vendors and what they were selling.  The very last vendor was a woman with the title "Hope for Honduran Program".  "Hmmm.  What's this all about," I wondered.  I almost walked right past her table when she noticed the flower I was wearing and wanted to know where I got it.  We chatted for a bit and I noticed that this was indeed the Hope for Honduran Program table.  She owns an orphanage in Honduras (with unadoptable children), travels to Honduras every 6 weeks, and was selling things that these children had made to help fund her program there.  We had an instant connection.  She invited me to come with her on one of her trips to teach the children a craft that they can make to sell.  What a cool thing.  It is so great when God places people in your path not only to confirm that you are on the right path, but to help you along the way.  Our God is so big!  The bonus is that she LOVES the flowers and has purchased 7 so far.  She wants to be an east side vendor and tells everyone she knows to buy these...and they do!

Above is a picture of the little doll that I bought to remind us of Honduras and our baby that waits for us there

Santa Paws

We watched Santa Paws tonite with the kiddos...fun movie.  Adoption was themed all through this Christmas tale.  It made me long, really long for our daughter...to hold her, kiss her, make cookies with, sparkle the house with its Christmas glow, and of course dress her in adorable outfits! :)  Its amazing how much my heart can love this sweet thing that may not have yet been born!  It is so evident to me that we're on the road God wants on...adoption.


For those of you who might just be dying to give towards our adoption, but aren't interested in a flower pin :) you can now donate right here on our blog via paypal.