Pumpkin mess and just a bit of good news (you're gonna wanna read to the end)

I'm not one of "those" moms. You know those perfect moms who do all the kiddie crafts for all the holidays while creating such magical memories (not to mention mess) when their kids are growing up. Not that I didn't want to be. I even tried "keeping up"earlier in life but being short on finances and time always seemed to plague me.
I'm the little too late mom. We only built gingerbread houses for the first time ever last year when my kids were 12, 14 and 18! Two years ago was the first time we ever carved pumpkins and even with older kids it was still a mess. Part of the truth is we didn't have the money back then but the other part is I didn't want to mess with, well the mess.

Since the creation of Pinterest, Facebook and other such social media its really easy to get down on myself for all the things I didn't do with my kids while they were growing up that I could have taken the time to do. But you know what? I'm doing them now and with Grace on her way maybe there might be a little redemption there and the best part is her big brothers will be there to help her and clean up the mess. :0)

So here is our pumpkin carving fun for this year. Sadly, Jared was absent as are most 19 year old who still live with their parents.

The beginning

Digging out the mess is everyone's favorite part, well except mine. 

Time for the design, Jack's was DUKE...of course.

Jayden's was a template out of the book. 

And the unlighted finished product.

Jayden's design was pretty involved. 

How they look outside at night.

Pretty creepy.

I'd like to end this post by saying I'm not good at keeping secrets, not that its really a secret but it kind of is. Wow, am I talking in riddles or what?!
Anyway, the short of it is we have received a referral for a little girl who is one. There are still many unknowns so that is why details are minimal but who needs details to pray. So, PRAY! Thanks! Blessings.

Learning to Enjoy the Journey, YARD SALE STYLE.

We have been walking this road of adoption for 1 year and 8 months, however for those who have known us and our hearts its been much longer than that.
Our actual journey began in 2006 when we were living in Florida. That was the first time we filled out an application to adopt and even hosted our first adoption yard sale. More about that later.
As our life took different twists and turns and we went down roads that were not at all part of God's plan our adoption journey was put on the back burner and as months turned into years I wondered if our dream was dead.
I remember specific conversations with friends (one in particular in '09) where they asked "at any point will you be too old for this if you don't get started soon?" It made me question again, was our dream dead?
But now I realize after all the little bumps along the way the dream was never dead, it just wasn't time yet. And even now I see all the amazing lessons God has taught me. I don't like pain and discomfort, yet if I ultimately want to see God be glorified in my life there are going to be things He will have to work out in me.

The most amazing thing to me is that all these lessons I've been learning throughout this adoption are not specific to adoption, but life in general. DUH!
The biggest most amazing lesson I recently learned happened in the weeks leading up to the most EPIC yard sale in Maciaszek history.

In March 2010, we were most fortunate to meet several other adoptive parents when we attended our adoption classes. Two families in particular we connected with were Reade and Mollie and Tracey and Jason.
Reade and Mollie only live 2 hours from us and we "clicked" with them and the relationship has come naturally. A year ago they hosted their second adoption yard sale to aid in bringing home their little guy, Aaron. He came home in February. My friend Laurie and I went out there to help with the sale and it was like nothing I had ever seen in my life. Tables lined their road and into their cul-de-sac and they actually had a "pay here tent". There was so much stuff it was hard to know even where to start when they rolled up the garage door that morning. And all the while before and after the sale Mollie kept saying "you know Rachel, you're next for a yard sale like this" and I would blow her off time and time again with "NO WAY!!!!" For some reason it just didn't seem like I could make something like that work. Not to mention, I'm way too lazy to work that hard. But then we changed agency's, suddenly more money would be needed so I went to work cleaning out my own house and suddenly I was having a yard sale. The first date we picked was in September and about 2 weeks from that date I had a mini meltdown and cancelled the sale. It wasn't the right time.
But a couple of weeks passed and more and more things began to pile up in my house (I don't have a garage to store anything), my neighbor caught wind of the sale and began bringing over bags and bags of stuff. So, I began to pray. "Lord, let this yard sale be about you and what you're doing. I have no idea what to do or even where to begin but you already know so I pray that you will do it YOUR way." A couple of days later I talked to Brian and we picked a date. Randomly for us but not for God. He knew exactly what He was doing. It was three weeks away and we still had only 1/2 a room full of stuff and no where to host it. So, I prayed.
One morning I sent out a bunch of texts to friends and asked if they had any donations because we would love to pick them up and would they please spread the word. My friend Lyn text back and said "well I don't have anything but if you would like to have your sale here you are more than welcome. And also, we have a garage that is near empty so you could begin storing stuff anytime you want." SERIOUSLY?!!!! Now don't tell me God doesn't care about the little things. I was amazed.
Then in the 2 weeks leading up to the sale the boys were out of school because we chose a year round schedule and that just "happened" to be when they were off. Nothing is coincidence. God knew the schedule!
So the collecting began, and went on all the way up to the day of the sale. And it was spectacular!!! We filled Lyn's garage so full it almost wouldn't close.

I spent almost every night until the day of the sale pricing and organizing and I had lots of help. 

It was tiring and at times overwhelming but then one night driving home it hit me. ENJOY THIS! This isn't something to "gotten through". This is all part of the journey. Choose to enjoy this part also. So I did. I chose joy in going around picking up stuff people had for us. I chose joy going from business to business asking them to hang our fliers. I chose joy in relentlessly posting on facebook and annoying the heck out of everyone. :0) I chose joy in organizing and pricing endless items, some of which would never sell no matter how many yard sales they were in. 

Then it was Saturday morning, the beginning of the end of this part of the journey and it was bitter sweet. 

It was 4:50am as we headed out to Lyn's and I chose joy. We set up and they began coming. They never stopped until 11am. It was the most amazing sight. The greatest thing I saw that I was unable to get a picture of were the people with head lamps on. It was so dark but they weren't about to miss a great deal. It was hilarious. I've wondered since if some of them got their stuff home, looked at it in the light and thought what a bunch of crap. HAHA!!

Our flyer designed by our good friend Tonya.

 Just some of our amazing assistants.

 Our signs, ready to be planted.

 Jeff getting more signs ready.

Lyn and Kerri cleaning out a microwave so we could sell it.

The night before, we are ready.

Aubrey and I the morning of. See the joy. Its scary, but its there. 

The day. I didn't get as many pics as I was too busy running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

The pay tent. At one point there were 4 of them running it b/c the line was so long. 

My amazing friend Jennifer was in charge of the pay tent and she rocked it out!!!

Little Hayzl (this is the baby I keep) and her mom, dad and brother stopped by too. Love the ear muffs. 

Our beautiful and amazing friend Mollie (Reade was home keeping those cute boys) who drove 2 hours to help us. We love you Mollie!

And finally, our sign. Designed by Mollie and laminated by Jennifer. This will hang in Grace's room as a reminder of all the people who helped to bring her home. 

The lesson here is for you, or me, for anyone on any journey, and lets face it that's what life is. 

Choose joy. Choose to enjoy where you are right now, even if its hard. God never promised us happiness but He did promise that the JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!!!!! But we have to CHOOSE because He never forces Himself on His people. 

NEHEMIAH 8:10 ...THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 BE JOYFUL ALWAYS; PRAY CONTINUALLY; GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR JOURNEY. BLESSINGS. 

LIFE IN BULLET POINTS (IT'S ALL I GOT RIGHT NOW)

• JAYDEN AUDITIONED FOR THE PLAY THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW AND GOT A PART AS A DEAD INDIAN. HE'S THRILLED, MAINLY B/C HE GETS TO WEAR A CREEPY COSTUME AND HAS SOME SPOOKY LINES.

• JACKSON STILL SPENDS AS MANY HOURS A DAY EITHER PLAYING BASKETBALL OR WATCHING HIGHLIGHTS ONLINE. WELL, THAT AND BALLOON SHOP VIDEOS. 

• JARED IS ONLY $300 AWAY FROM HAVING ALL $12,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS PAID OFF AFTER ONLY 2 & A HALF YEARS. WE ARE SUPER PROUD. HE IS ALSO THE PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADER FOR OUR YOUTH GROUP. JACKSON AND JAYDEN ARE ALSO PART OF THE TEAM. CAN YOU HEAR ME GUSHING JUST A LITTLE?

• WE'VE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL ALMOST TWO WEEKS FOR OUR FALL BREAK AND IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BETTER TIME. WE TOOK THE BOYS TO RALEIGH TO DO THE MUSEUMS AND THE REST OF THE TIME HAS BEEN SPENT SLEEPING IN, PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AND JUST CHILLING OUT! ITS BEEN REALLY NICE. 

• WE WENT TO A BON FIRE/PRAYER SERVICE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO OUR FRIEND DARON WHO IS BEING DEPLOYED TO EGYPT IN A MONTH. HE IS LEAVING BEHIND HIS WIFE, DARLENE AND 2 KIDS, JACE, 12 AND HAYZL, 7 MONTHS. PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM AND ALL HIS EXTENDED FAMILY. HE WILL BE GONE 10 MONTHS. 

• WE HAVE WELCOMED HOME OUR FRIENDS FROM THE CONGO AND MET THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THIER FAMILY. WE WERE ALSO BLESSED TO SEE LOTS OF VIDEO WHILE THEY WERE THERE. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. 

• WE HAVE STARTED (AGAIN) AND ALMOST COMPLETED OUR HOME STUDY UPDATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES. OURS EXPIRES IN FEBRUARY SO WE HAD TO GET STARTED NOW TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T LAPSE. THANK GOODNESS WE GET ONE FREE EXTENSION, SADLY WE STILL HAVE TO PAY THE HOME STUDY FEE AND GO TO RALEIGH FOR BIOMETRICS AGAIN!! NOT TO MENTION WE ALL HAD TO HAVE PHYSICALS AGAIN!

• ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO WE SENT OUT 102 SUPPORT LETTERS STATING WE NEEDED TO RAISE A PROGRAM FEE OF $11,360 (OUR TOTAL INCLUDING TRAVEL IS $21,360) AND TO DATE WE NEED A LITTE MORE THAN $6,000 FOR OUR TOTAL!!!! ISN'T THAT AMAZING?!!

• WE RECEIVED AMAZING NEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS WHO WERE RECENTLY MATCHED WITH A NEW BORN THEY WILL WELCOME IN DECEMBER. LOVE IT!!!!

• WE STARTED COLLECTING FOR OUR ADOPTION YARD SALE A LITTLE OVER 2 WEEKS AGO AND NOW HAVE A GARAGE FULL. TODAY A LADY DONATED ALL THE FURNITURE IN HER HOME SHE WAS GETTING RID OF. 

• THIS SATURDAY WILL BE EPIC WHETHER WE SELL IT ALL OR SELL NONE OF IT. GOD IS IN IT AND THATS ALL I CARE ABOUT. THE OUT POURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT WE FEEL IS OVERWHELMING. WE CANNOT BEGIN TO THANK EVERYONE ENOUGH FOR ALL THE DONATIONS. THE THING I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THIS YARD SALE IS NOT THE MONEY WE HOPE TO BRING IN BUT THE AWARENESS I HOPE WILL BE GENERATED AS A RESULT. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THERE ARE 150,000,000 ORPHANS WORLD WIDE AND WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING TO HELP. WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED TO HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE HELPING US AND I CAN'T WAIT TO HELP ANOTHER ADOPTIVE FAMILY DO THIS. 

BE BLESSED!

Hope ~ A Necessary Reminder

This morning I had the privilege of speaking with my very good friend and fellow adoptive mom, Mollie. I was somewhat lamenting of having to endure another mini-home study in order to file an extension with the US Government. It's not a big deal but its a little bit more paper chasing and an updated physical. All of which is more time and more money!

I was sharing (in all my transparency) how, at times its hard not to be frustrated when we are still not matched with a child. She was so encouraging and sent me this short devo to read. I encourage you to read it also. It moved me to tears and it was once again the reminder I needed that His timing is perfect and I will never fail while I HOPE in HIM. 

And so standing on the word He gave all those months ago, we wait with CONFIDENT EXPECTATION. Be blessed!

Hope   

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. 

     Listen with your spirit to Romans 5:2-5. "...Our [Lord Jesus Christ] ... through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

      Beloved one, Jesus has brought you into the grace of highest privilege, and you can be full of joy now, in problems, troubles, and trials, because you confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing his glory. The Greek word translated hope means desiring some good and confidently expecting to obtain it. Your victory is in your Father, in spite of opposition, challenges, or suffering that comes to you. Even when expectation delays, when the waiting gets long without fulfillment, you can have the confidence of your Father that he is working good for you. God-given desire leads somewhere: to learning to endure, to developing strength of character, and to confident expectation of seeing the glory of his love for you. This confidence will never disappoint you because how dearly he loves you will never change. The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is with you to fill your heart with assurance that your Father loves you. That's why as a Father he can tell you gently and firmly, "Be joyful in hope."

      Listen with your spirit to Jeremiah 17:7. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." And Isaiah 49:23. "Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed."

      Beloved one, you are in God's waiting room, anticipating and expecting while you are learning the meaning of hope. Be blessed with hope when your expectation is delayed. One of the Hebrew words for hope and wait derives from the same root word. The Hebrew words translated hope mean confidence, twisting in labor pains, waiting, shelter, expectation, patience, security, trust, enduring, expectancy, something longed for. When your temptation to hopelessness continues without fulfillment, your Father says that those who wait for him will never be put to shame. The God of hope fills you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Be blessed with overflowing with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit in you filling up what is lacking that you can't humanly do. Your Father's eyes are on those who hope, so be blessed with knowing that he rewards those who hope in him. Be blessed with security and safety because your hope is anchored in your Father's love.

      Listen to Psalm 62:5-6. "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." And 2 Timothy 1:12. "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."

      Beloved one, be blessed with rest and quietness that come from God. Be blessed in your spirit with a strong sense of standing on a solid rock of God's faithfulness and timing. Be blessed with unshakable confidence that your Father is in charge of your circumstances. Ask your Father the right questions as your gaze is fixed on him. There is never a valley of trouble that he does not intend you to pass through with his wisdom and guidance and grace. He gives his faithfulness and fruitfulness in the face of circumstances that look hopeless.

      Listen with your spirit to Hebrews 6:18-19. "God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

      Beloved one, your Father cannot lie and will not lie. Be blessed with continued faith in his goodness and unmovable hope as gifts from him that produce encouragement. He will give you perfect understanding in your spirit that he will never change his mind about you. Run to him as your strong and trustworthy security. Take refuge in him so that you hold on to his character and his promises with confidence. Be blessed with remaining in the three-fold cord of faith, hope, and love. Allow your Father to replace your burden with his faith, your disappointment with his hope, and your doubts with his love. Be blessed by offering him a sacrifice of thanksgiving, with singing songs in the night, with connecting with your Father in a special and deep way as you praise him for his unchangeableness. Be blessed with unshakable hope, when everything else is shaken.
  

I bless you in the name of the God of hope.