Overwhelmed

It's easy for me to get bogged down with all the hurt in the world. I can't stand to see a child in pain. My facebook is crowded with social justice messages. I am "friends" in real life and on facebook with many advocates. It's good for me to keep immersed in what life really looks like for people who are struggling with so much more than first world problems. My heart hurts for all that's wrong in the world. We are waiting to see what our answer to that call will be. In, the meantime...I am remembering...

Psalm 72:12-13

For he will deliver the needy who cry out,

the afflicted who have no one to help.

He will take pity on the weak and the needy

and save the needy from death.

He will rescue them from oppression and violence,

for precious is their blood in his sight.

Sophie is 5

Please pretend to ignore the fact that is almost month after her birthday. We had a great party (by my super low standards). Sophie wanted a surprise birthday party. She planned it all out. She knew every detail of the party, but wanted everyone to yell "surprise" when she walked in. Major stager that one. We had a movie party a few days after her birthday with popcorn, candy and cupcakes. Super fun!

On the actual day of her birthday, Dan asks Sophie at dinner how her day went. Her reply was "It was mostly good, but Mom said one really mean thing to me." I wasn't quick to deny anything...it wasn't out of the question, but I didn't remember any altercations - which doesn't mean anything. Dan asked what the mean words were. Sophie's reply "She said - "let's get out of the car birthday pants." Super offensive. Point taken.

Excited to present....

click on image above to enlarge

Our China-baby adoption shirts. We really struggled with what to put on a shirt. Dan and I are both well clothed in adoption/advocate garb. So, we've seen a lot of them. I really wanted this shirt to represent our hearts for the orphan. I wanted it to represent more than just adoption though. I wanted it to represent the fact that we are all called to Defend the Orphan. This will look different for all of us. But, it is a very real command.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Psalm 82:3

So, here are our shirts. We are doing pre-orders now. We will order on October 28th.

Please specify size, womens/mens cut and color of background (blue or pink) in the comments.

Delivery options

Shirt - local $20.00 Shirt with shipping $25.00

colors

blue world pink world Option 3

Size

Mens XL Mens L Mens M Womens XL Womens L Womens M Womens S

The Squares Are In!

Thank you soooo much to everyone who participated in our fundraiser. We cannot thank you enough for being a part of this.

Winners are highlighted in red.

Click the grid to expand and find your name

Michigan vs. Michigan State "squares" adoption fundraiser

If you're into college football, October 9th is one of the biggest games around, and one of the biggest rivalries in college football...the battle of 2 unbeaten teams...#17 vs. #18 . If you're not into college football, it's a fun way for a chance to win a little money (a $20 donation gets you 4 chances to win $100 - up to $400). Either way, it's an opportunity to pitch in and help raise some money for the Neal's latest addition.

What is "squares", and how does it work? It's simple really...and yet a little hard to explain. We will create a grid with 100 squares. Across the top, will be Michigan State and 10 columns numbered 0-9. Down the left side, will be Michigan and 10 rows numbered 0-9. For every $20 donation, your name will be randomly assigned to a square. That square will have a corresponding number at the top for Michigan State, and a corresponding number on the left for Michigan. See the grid below with the example names of Joe, Sue, Bob and Mary:
Based on the score at the end of each quarter of regulation time (for those non-football fans, there are 4 quarters in football), we will determine a winner for that quarter. That winner will receive $100, and will still have the chance to win in subsequent quarters.

Looking at the above example, if the score at the end of the first quarter was Michigan State 3 - Michigan 0, Mary would be the winner because Michigan State's score ended with 3 and Michigan's ended with 0. Moving on, if the score at the end of the second quarter was Michigan 7 - Michigan State 3, Sue would win $100. If the score at the end of the third quarter was Michigan State 10 - Michigan 7, Bob would win $100. Finally, if the score at the end of the 4th quarter was Michigan State 13 - Michigan 7, Sue would actually win another $100.

Hopefully that makes sense. If you're ready for the fun, click the PayPal link below and donate $20 for every square you would like to purchase.

***update: If you got to the blog from facebook and/or you have a blue bar at the top of your page that includes a facebook button, be sure to close it or click on the actual blog link next to the close button before clicking the "Donate" button below, or you will get a message saying "fatal error".

Two!!

This adorable boy turns two today. He is out on a date with Grammy right now. He affectionately calls her "Minga" (I have no idea). She is returning the favor. So, it's like their pet name for each other. Micah is a big fan of direct address, so if he says your name once, he says it a million times. Cute to hear him say "Minga" a hundred times.

Crazy thing about adoption...or at least me and adoption...when we first looked at Micah's pictures in the orphanage I thought "Yeah, he's cute. I've seen cuter." But, since we've been home with him and his personality buds and grows, so does my perception of his cuteness. This boy is intense! When he is happy, all is well. When he is mad...Look out world! Luckily for us, the happy is beginning out to win out over the sad. It hasn't been that way until now.

We aren't doing much to celebrate. It seems like we should be having a big party, but the truth be told...Micah would hate that. He's not a fan of crowds, even crowds of people he loves. So, we are staying low key. Seth's idea of a birthday treat for Micah was to give him straight juice. Not watered down. Now, that's really living it up!!!

My mind can't help but wander to what two years ago today looked like for Micah's birth mom. I wish she could see how he has grown and what an incredible boy he is. Such a bittersweet thing.

Happy birthday sweet boy!

What I would've missed...

A friend told me about a conversation she had with another friend regarding our third adoption this week. The conversation was questioning if we had room in our "small house" for another child. This question is ridiculous on a lot of levels. First, I wish this person would bring their concerns directly to me so that I could address the issue myself. Secondly, this is the typical home in Ethiopia (or at least the region Micah is from). Not huge. I don't think we are doing him any harm.

Or, an orphanage in China. Is this a great place for a child to grow up?

But, most of all, I think about what I would've missed out on if I would have let my "small house" dictate my decisions. If I would've missed what God called me to. Look at these faces...do they look like they are missing out on a big mansion somewhere? No thanks. I will take my little house and my happy kids. You can keep your comfort and I'll keep the kids.

Footnote to my rant: I know full well that not everyone is called to adopt. That's not what I'm trying to say. Also, living in a big house isn't wrong. It's just the insinuation that I need to that is objectionable