One Life Ends and Another Begins

It's been a rough week.

First I came down with a nasty stomach virus last Saturday night.  This was the virus that just wouldn't quit.  When I thought I was feeling better, I'd eat a little something and be back in the bathroom within 30 minutes.

My sweet Papa, my last living grandparent, passed away last Monday.  I boarded a plane for Little Rock Wednesday morning.  I prayed that my stomach bug was gone....it wasn't.  I wasn't able to eat normally until Thursday!  Papa's was the first military funeral I'd ever attended.  What an honorable celebration of life.  I am so blessed and thankful to have been able to attend.  I have pictures and video of my trip that I will share soon.  Ashley was scheduled to be induced Thursday morning.  I've had the privilege of attending all of her other births and I was heart-broken that I wouldn't be able to attend the grand finale. However, thanks to modern technology, I was able to attend the delivery afterall!  Stephen (Ashley's husband) called me on Face Time (like Skype) about thirty minutes before Natalie's birth and I was able to "be there" for the final minutes of labor and the delivery.  It was such a special time and I am thrilled that I didn't miss Natalie's birth just because 700 miles separated us.  Stephen propped me up near the TV in the delivery room, where I listened, watched, and waved to the nurses.



What a fun story that will make one day.  Natalie Praise Bailey was born at 11:44am, weighing 8lbs. 9oz.  She looks exactly like her oldest brother and sister.  Absolutely precious!



I'm home now and it was wonderful to be greeted by Josh, my sweet boys, and a really clean house!  I missed them so very much but I knew they were in great hands with my dear friends Sharon, Ali, and Kelli.  Thank you ladies again for all of your love and support while I was away.  You are truly a gift to me!

One last update:

The boys' video and $1 Challenge has raised almost $600 in the past six weeks.  But we can't stop now.  We're so close to the finish line!  The race is in two weeks.  We are hoping it will be our final big fundraiser before we bring Zoe home.  We have about $13,000 left in fees.  Once the race is over I will begin applying for adoption grants.  Most of them take 6-8 weeks to process.  If we don't have any hang-ups in our paperwork, we're hoping to get our dossier in the mail by February!  Once that is sent, we'll be finished!  I'm praying we have a referral by my THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY:  May 25.  As I boarded the final plane yesterday, my eyes filled with tears and butterflies filled my stomach:  The next time I board a plane, it will be bound for Ethiopia....and ZOE!

I imagined what it will feel like finally holding her in my arms on the flight home.  This is the year!  Zoe is coming home!  Will you help share our video if you haven't already?

~audrey

It's Race Time!

It's here! It's time! The Trot-to-Adopt is three weeks from Saturday! The shirts are awesome but you have to register by January 20th in order to guarantee you'll get one on race day, January 28th. But there's more....if you don't live in the Augusta area but would still like to participate, you can register for the race online, raise sponsors right where you are, and we'll mail you your shirt! Please help us spread the word and if you're already registered, start asking all your friends, family, and neighbors to sponsor you as you run for a precious little girl in Ethiopia! When we ran last year for the Digsby family, I was able to raise $100 one Wednesday night at church! We are praying that God would use this race to spread awareness about adoption and help us raise the rest of the money we need to bring our sweet baby girl home.

SponsorshipForm

Thank you for all of your love and support!  I hope to see you ALL on Saturday, January 28th!



~audrey

A Thankful Countdown...Tuesday

Today I'm thankful for the time that our little family, all 7 of us, got to spend out together this morning.  I'm thankful for our special tradition of getting Christmas ornaments for all the kids.  I'm thankful for our picnic and playtime at the park.  I'm thankful for such a beautiful, though warm, fall day.  I'm thankful to have my wonderful husband home for the week and that his basketball duties for the week end today.  I'm thankful for the quiet house that I'm sitting in right now.  I'm thankful for time to read, to write and to do some much needed editing.

I'm thankful for the book I'm reading right now.  I've had the book for a long time, but haven't looked at it in I can't tell you how long.  It's called The Prayer That Changes Everything: The Hidden Power of Praising God and it's by author Stormie OMartian.  Perfect timing, right?

Praise is not just something that we are called as Christians to do, but it's something that we NEED to do and God knew that from the very beginning.  Praise draws us closer to God and as we are drawn nearer to his heart, "it releases us from negative thoughts and emotions."  I needed to hear this.  I've been tormented with negative thoughts towards a certain person for quite a while now and the thoughts have consumed me.  I've prayed and prayed and spoken scripture, but just haven't been able to get free from them.

"We don't want to think futile thoughts that lead to darkness and misery. (The Bible says) 'Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened' (Romans 1:21).  We want to have the transformed and renewed mind God has for us (Romans 12:2).  Praise and worship is where it begins." 

-The Prayer That Changes Everything

Talk about "a word in season"!  God is so good about that and I'm so very thankful.  I hope this has encouraged you as much as it has me.

Ashley

A Thankful Countdown...Saturday, Sunday and Monday

I am so behind on my countdown, but it shows you what kind of weekend I had...busy!

This is one of those posts that feels more like a sacrifice to write because I'm tired and don't feel like writing.  I'm sitting in my recliner in my bedroom with my feet propped up and NO ONE'S HOME BUT ME.  I'd rather be editing some pictures or laying on the couch, but here I am.  I can't not write in response to God's goodness and I need to put my thoughts on something besides myself right now.  One of my favorite hymns says,

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

in the light of his glory and grace."

Oh, how I need for the things of this earth to grow dim!  I'm thankful for the hope that we have in Jesus.  I'm thankful that all is not lost and we can run to him anytime and anywhere, and I do.  I'm thankful that when we turn to him in thankfulness and praise, our hearts and our perspectives are changed.  God is truly so good.  He's my Father, my comforter, my strength, my rock and my refuge.  Without him I would be crazy and depressed.  I'm not joking.

I'm thankful for the blessing of a large family.  It's not easy, but it's SO GOOD!

I'm thankful to have my family home this week.  

I'm thankful for a home that's filled with laughter and joy.  

And I thankful for a peaceful, loving and godly husband.

Ashley

A Thankful Countdown...day 8

I think my count is off, but that's ok.  Bear with me and I'll figure it out:)! 

Today I'm thankful for cool days and morning walks with friends, even if it is while I'm doing a shoot:).  I'm thankful for warm cups of coffee and all things that inspire.  I'm thankful for art and that it's expressed in so many different ways.  I'm thankful for the ability to bless others with my talent.  I'm thankful for God's creation, the perfect inspiration.

Ashley

A Thankful Countdown...day 9

Today I am thankful for funny moments like the one I got to experience this morning.  I went into the twins' room to check on them and found Ben on TOP of  Susan's armoire with his diaper on his head.

I'm thankful for Audrey volunteering to come clean my house and when she didn't finish, because she may have worked on my nasty bed and bathrooms the entire time, she volunteered to come back and finish the next day.  I'm so blessed!

I'm very thankful for the van we're able to rent for the next 4 days.  I'm thankful for the transmission they were able to find to put in our van and that we're able to get to it $2000 less than expected. 

I'm thankful for my husband and my children.  I'm thankful for my relationship with the Lord.  I'm thankful for good friends.  And I'm thankful for God's goodness to me.

Ashley

A Thankful Countdown...Day 10

Today I'm thankful that God reminds me of his promises and that he faithfully keeps them.  I'm thankful that he sees my family and our needs and promises to provide.  For some reason, I find myself many times asking God for his provision, but realizing that I don't really expect him to do anything, especially anything big.  BUT, this is what his word says about his children and I am one, so it applies to me.

"If your child asks for bread,

do you trick him with sawdust?

If he asks for fish, 

do you scare him with a live snake on his plate?

As bad as you are, 

you wouldn't think of such a thing.

You're at least decent to your own children.

So don't you think the God who

conceived you in love will be even better?"

Matthew 7:9-11 (The Message)

Ashley