Adoption update

I am sure that if you look at when my last post was you will wonder why I have not written anything in the past couple of months. The first reason is this: Our adoption agency told us not to. We were informed that if something we say in a social media setting is offensive to the country we are adopting from we could hurt our chances to adopt as well as any one else's chance to adopt there. There is no way that we would EVER want that to happen. However, we want our friends to know what's going on. Please feel free to email me at any time with questions and I will do my best to answer them. My email address is brown.taralynne@gmail.com.

We can say that we have completed our home study and are preparing grants. We have also started a puzzle fundraiser to help us with costs until grants come through. I will be posting pictures of the progress of that fundraiser here on a monthly basis.

Garage Sale and Lemonade Stand

We have been learning this summer at church about prayer. Prayer isn't something new, of course, it's something that we as Christian do (or should be doing) every day, but our pastor has been challenging us to change up our prayers. One of those challenges was to pray a God-sized prayer, and that it was I did for our garage sale June 22nd and 23rd. This sale was our first fundraising effort toward our adoption. Many friends and family brought us donations to sell. We were so blessed by them. Phil's mom also came and helped me on Friday while Phil was working. There is no way that we could have done it without her.
My God-sized prayer was this..."Lord please provide money from this sale to cover the cost of our adoption agency application ($225) and our passports ($220). So that would have made a grand total of $445 that we would need to raise in 2 days. I don't know about you, but I have NEVER had a garage sale yield that much money. 
God provided all the money and more! By the end of the sale we had made $579. Not only that, but God felt that it is was time to answer another prayer I had prayed. He gave us a piano for FREE!
Let me take a step back and share. On Friday a friend of ours called and asked if we could use some furniture for our sale. We of course said "yes". We were willing to sell anything. :) They told us that they would even bring the items and drop them off in our garage if we weren't there. Then they called back and asked "you wouldn't like a piano too...would you?" Would we? WOULD WE? I started to get all choked up and I told her "Becky, did you know that I have been praying for a piano?" She was just as shocked by my reply as I was by her offer. It turns out that the family had to move their mother to a nursing home. This woman had been a wonderful pianist and they had no clue what they were going to do with her piano. They had even considered giving it to Goodwill or (gasp!) leaving it in her apartment. God is an amazing giver of gifts and He knew back 6 months ago when I was so upset that we didn't have the money to buy a used piano what was coming. After hanging up, I walked inside and looked at Phil and started bawling as I declared "God has given us a piano!" 
Our sale is still generating revenue from Craigslist postings. So far we have earned over $600. 
Phil and I had been hesitant to share our adoption journey with people (before the sale) because there are so many opinions out there. But after the sale I knew that we had to declare what God had done, and that we simply couldn't say "God blessed our garage sale" We needed to share what He was doing in our lives. So I posted out on facebook this status "If you think that God doesn't answer prayer, I am living proof that He does! This weekend He answered 2 of mine: 1. Our adoption fundraiser garage sale - I prayed that God would help us to earn enough $ to cover the application fee and our passports...well, He did and More!, 2. We were given a piano! I had been praying that God would somehow work it out that we could get one. I was thinking the money to buy it, but God had other plans and surprised me. DON'T STOP PRAYING!!!"


That post was followed the next day by "Some of you noticed in my last update that we did an adoption fundraiser. Yes, our family is in the very beginning stages of adopting our 4th child! Please pray for us. We want to be completely in God's timing. We have already seen His hand working and know that we have His favor. Thank you for your love and support!"


We have had so much support. God is good.

Our Calling

In April of this year Phil and I went to see a movie. We never could have guessed that going out on a date would change the course of our lives. We went to see "October Baby" (see the trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L52Lciaui4o). On the way to pick up our children from a friend's house Phil and I were talking about the movie and how it had made us feel. Then Phil turned to me and said "I think that we're supposed to adopt". I was floored, not just because I was shocked at what he said (which I was) but because he said exactly what I was thinking at that moment. We knew that God had placed a calling on our lives. Since then we have done research and interviewed 2 adoption agencies. The cost of adoption is very intimidating, but we live for the God who owns it all. He will provide our needs.

What's a Mall?

Today before taking the kids on a field trip I had to run to Greenwood Park Mall to get my jewelry inspected. It was so sad that the second I walked in the door I was completely out of my element. When did this happen? I never imagined that there would come a day when I wouldn't feel comfortable in a mall! I used to love shopping. What has happened to me?

I believe that it is has been a accumulation of many things, but three really stick out to me.

1. For the past 6 years I have been avoiding all shopping centers because of the unavoidable frustration that comes with bringing a baby/toddler with you. Come on, you have to admit that trying on clothes with your kids is  definitely not on your fun list.

2. We have gone from a dual income family to a single income one. That really cuts into extra free spending, and we all know that window shopping, all though fun, isn't completely satisfying.

3. It's no longer about me (and I mean that in a good way). Sure there are times when I would like to have a new pair of shoes or just get something when the mood strikes, but that's not what it's about anymore. I am no longer the only one who needs things. I have 3 wonderful children who trust me to provide all their needs.

I am not sure how to end this, because it is just a rambling of my crazy thoughts, so I will end it with this.

Philippians 4:19

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Popcorn Anyone?

In complete Tiger Scout gear

Showing pride in his Pack

We are so excited to have a cub scout in the family. Austin entered 1st grade this year and is now able to join scouting.
Today I got his uniform completely finished. Putting badges on can sure be tricky!
We are also now full swing into our biggest fundraiser of the year. POPCORN! The scouts are doing a popcorn blitz today, and they will be celebrating their success tonight at a pizza party. So...popcorn anyone?

Our First Field Trip

Super Excited for the tour to begin

Today we took a field trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. We joined some of our friends from Heritage Builders in a search for animals in art. Austin met up with his friend Andrew and we got the tour started.
The kids were told all about different types of painting and sculpting techniques. Austin and Ariel did a great job sitting and listening to our guide. Eva had a mind of her own :)

This was our first true field trip. So far we have also  done a craft time and bonfire with other home schooling families. We are so blessed to have been able to join this group. Our next event is gym class, and all three kids will be participating in it. So much for being anti-social homeschoolers. :)

Listening to our guide

My pride and joy

I am so proud of the garden that I grew this year. It was hard work getting it in, and at times I have not wanted to weed it. The organic produce that we are getting from it is well worth the effort though. That right, I grew an organic garden this year! When I look at it even today, I am so amazed. I am also very thankful for parents who taught me how to garden while I was growing up. When I think back to the whining and complaining I did about weeding and watering that family plot who knew that I would end up loving it so much. I have come to find garden relaxing despite the work and how tired I feel after it. As a mother of three it is very rare for me to find time alone. My garden is a place where I can do that. I do hope that someday my children will be able to join me in growing food, but for now I find joy in knowing they see the effort I put forth and are eating healthier because of it. The pictures below show what I have been able to can so far. My tomatoes have done so well that I plan on canning some spaghetti sauce next. I am so excited!

Organic Roma Tomatoes

Diced Tomatoes