It couldn't be better

Hard news

2012-01-30T13:28:00.003-06:00

We are in need of love and prayers. We were informed this morning that Ethiopian courts will not be hearing cases Feb. 6-Feb 24 due to staff "training." If our case doesn't pass this week (which we aren't really counting on at this point), then the earliest we'd pass would be March.

We are growing tired of hearing and reporting hard news, so we'd love to have your support. We continue to wait and wonder what He's doing while we wait. I know it will be a great story someday and I'm certain it will bring more glory to Him, but we're ready to tell it and rejoice in his homecoming.

Swarming Locusts

2012-01-23T12:05:00.005-06:00

A very special thing happened one year ago today.

In the southern countryside of Ethiopia, a precious baby boy was born. He would have very round, expressive eyes and a beautiful mouth. His sweet little smile would make hearts sing. His laugh would light up a room.

He would live a short while in the countryside before moving into an orphanage without the sight or smell or sound or touch of his mother. He would come to know life inside the walls of an orphanage alongside 8 other babies. He would learn to sit up on the floor of that orphanage. He would learn to crawl on the rugs there. He would hold the hand of his nannies and take his first steps there. He would go through nights of painful teething and bouts of illness with the care of his nannies. He would be hospitalized twice without the comfort and presence of Mommy or Daddy. He would hear a language new to his family line and understand it as his own: Amharic. He would see the face of a white man and hear his deep voice for the first time and CRY for fear. One day he will call that man, "Dad."

A world away, a family would be preparing for his arrival. They would watch from afar each month as he grew and changed. They would record weights and heights, just as they did for their other 3 children. They would pray nightly on their knees for his arrival. They would put together a crib, wash bedding, hang curtains, and paint his room a fresh coat of blue. They would take such pride in him and hang large pictures of him up on their walls. They would attend baby showers where family and friends would pour out their love and support for his arrival. They would pray for him. They would think about him. They would dream about him. They would love him. And they would wait.

The wait would be excruciating. It would probably be harder on the family than on him. He wouldn't clearly remember life before the orphanage. Every day is just another day in his orphanage home.

Today is Jude's first birthday. We are filled with joy over his life. We are exceedingly grateful for the gift of his life and his future. We are celebrating with Taco Tuesday night (the kids' favorite), and birthday cake with ice cream. We will wear silly hats and hang balloons. We will sing "Happy Birthday to You." We will pray and thank God for Jude's life and for the life of his mother.

We will save his special little #1 cake for him in the freezer. He will get it when he comes home. We will save birthday gifts for him. He will open them when he comes home.

A friend referenced Joel 2:25 a while back and it caught my attention loud and clear. Here's some background straight out of my Bible, NIV:

Disaster strikes the southern kingdom of Judah without warning. An ominous black cloud descends upon the land--the dreaded locusts. In a matter of hours, every living green thing has been stripped bare. Joel, God's spokesman during the reign of Joash, seizes this opportunity to proclaim God's message. Although the locust plague has been a terrible judgement for sin, God's future judgements during the day of the Lord will make that plague pale by comparison. In that day, God will destroy His enemies, but BRING UNPARALLELED BLESSING to those who faithfully obey Him.

Joel tells the story of how the land laid waste, and how the people mourned for the land. It speaks of the Day of the Lord and a call to repentance. The part I am especially fond of is chapter 2, starting at verse 18. Go read the whole chapter (or the whole book---it's short).

Here is Joel 2:25-27, emphasis mine:

"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame."

There will be a day when Jude can have his birthday cake and open his presents. He will be given back his first year of life lived in an orphanage.

Until then, we celebrate with gladness the life that entered this world one year ago today.

Happy birthday, dear Jude! Any many more~

Love, Mommy and Daddy and family

Waiting for a Status Change

2012-01-17T14:07:00.003-06:00

I know by now you are expecting me to be blogging about bringing our baby boy home. Unfortunately I can't blog about that yet. We are still waiting to pass court. Our case is one of the few that are still pending.

As we correspond with our case worker daily now, we are on the roller coaster ride of our lives. It has almost been 3 months since we were supposed to pass court. We are still waiting on one solitary piece of paperwork that the regional officials have the power to push through. On Christmas day, we were told that the officials had indicated that they would be pushing paperwork in the "very" near future (as in a few days). We were certain it would be our Christmas miracle. Certain. So certain that I bought t-shirts that say "Abat" and "Enat," which is "Father" and "Mother" in Jude's mother tongue, Amharic. We were claiming it. Since that week came and went without movement, we have been told that the regional officials "promised" to approve the pending cases 2 weeks ago. Still nothing.

Today, we were told that the officials have begun to process regional paperwork, but that they are starting from the "top down." To clarify, they are starting with the last cases to be submitted. Our's was the very first. That means our's will be dead last. There are no words to describe our frustration at this point. We now understand what it means to fight for the orphan. We have some concrete under our fingernails and we're not finished yet.

We are in a strange limbo-land with our homestudy. Right now it's a gamble whether or not to update it (long story....I won't bore you). It is probably more safe to update than to not, but let me tell you how much we DON't want to. We want to spend that time and money on our son. We want to bring him home so bad we can taste it. It's all we dream about, think about, talk about, pray about. It's maddening.

As I sit here and work on our 3rd set of home study papers, my to-do list is long. I have to get fingerprints scheduled, medical clearance for the entire family, reference questionnaires for family/friends/Evan's teacher delivered in order to be completed, maps printed, employment verification letters, criminal and child abuse checks filed, income tax paperwork, and all this in addition to the pages of questions that still need answered. What kills us is that our lives HAVE NOT changed since 2009, when we started this process. Our home study is essentially the exact carbon copy of what it was in 2010 and 2011. Our status has not changed. Regardless, we have to pay the fees and complete the said paperwork in order to bring Jude home.

We are in anxious anticipation for the day Jude's status changes. His first birthday is one week from today. He will spend it in the orphanage he calls home, with the nannies who love him, but without a mommy or a daddy. He will not know the feel of cake icing between his little fingers nor silly hats and weird noise-makers. He will not know about his family who is celebrating his first birthday without him, an ocean away.

Jason and I have been on our knees more in the last 3 months than ever in our lives. We are crying out to God to change Jude's status. We cleaned out his room this weekend and have been praying through his room for his status to change. Every night we are holding hands as a family and praying for God to bring Jude home soon. We are asking God to show Himself in a big BOLD way in order to change Jude's status from ORPHAN to SON.

Please pray with us, family and friends. We know you are behind us. Thank you for being with us for so long now and for continuing to lift us up. There are days like today that it's not easy. Days like today remind me that sometimes one set of footprints is sufficient. Looking forward to good news soon.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Comfort and Joy

2011-12-15T14:24:00.009-06:00

It's been a very difficult week. We received news on Tuesday that Jude had been in the hospital recently for a week-long stay due to respiratory illness.

Never before have we felt such despair over the suffering of our little boy. To picture that sweet baby boy in the hospital without a mommy or even a familiar care-giver is like ripping my heart out with your bare hands and stomping all over it. It's a good thing you didn't see me that day (except for the few poor souls who did), because I was a mess. I mean, I can't even fathom driving away from the hospital if Evan, Claire, or Sophie were there for even 10 minutes, let alone 7 days. NO WAY, NO HOW. We happen to love this little boy so immensely that we'd give up our life right this minute for him. We've been fighting for 2 solid years for the life of this child and it is NO SMALL DEAL to hear that he's sick and hospitalized. It's NO SMALL DEAL that orphans, like Jude, are sick EVERY DAY without a mommy to comfort them, here and all over this planet.

One of my closest friends called and prayed with me, covering Jude and all his doctors, care-givers, etc, special protection and healing. If not for her, I would have been curled up in a corner somewhere until Jason came home. One of the scriptures she passed along was so powerful in my heart that day and forever more. Here's what it says:

Isaiah 43: 1-7 (emphasis via Wendy....merely to point out what stuck out to me)

Now this is what the Lord says- the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel-- "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name and you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you. For I Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior, give Egypt as a ransom for you, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I WILL BRING YOUR DESCENDANTS FROM THE EAST and gather YOU FROM THE WEST. I will say to the north: Give them up! and to the south: Do not hold them back! BRING MY SONS FROM FAR AWAY and My daughters from the ENDS OF THE EARTH--everyone called by My name and created for My glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.

***This is all about the restoration of Israel. It is down-right comforting to hear what God says about restoration and a new day. Go read the rest of the chapter when you catch a minute. I also especially love verses 16-21 about God doing something new.

We are thankful for the moments of joy that sneak in and surprise us. We are thankful for the rich blessing of our children and their ability to make it all better. We are thankful for our marriage, in which we both have a best friend and someone who's always "on our side." Praise God. We don't deserve it.

Here are just a few of the moments of joy that have managed to sneak into our lives lately (disclaimer---pics taken with my phone, so not the best quality):

Gotta take a break while baking cookies~

Can she fool you?

Baking cookies with Mama Cookie, using Grandma's old cookie cutters

Merry Christmas and many blessings of comfort and joy to you and your family this year.

Work on Me

2011-12-01T13:43:00.004-06:00

I cannot believe we are still waiting. I'm overwhelmed by the fact that we were given a referral for a sweet 4 month old baby boy so many months ago. It has been 6 months since we accepted the referral for Jude, and here we are today, one life-changing trip and a whole lot of tears, later.

I could lie to you all and tell you it's all okay. I will say that the good days outweigh the bad, but there are days, like today, that I have trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It seems like our turn is never going to come. I read about and watch other families pass court and travel to bring their babies home, and I'm exceedingly happy for those precious children. I know it's out of our hands and that God can make all things good and that His timing is perfect and IT'S NOT ABOUT ME! I just have to rely on positive self-talk most days.

This is all stirring inside me today, because we were once again contacted by our home-study agency with a reminder that our home study ONCE AGAIN is going to expire in 2 months. There is a good likelihood that we will have to renew, to the tune of $400+, more fingerprints, more home-visits, and paperwork. We are still figuring out our specific case, but I remember getting the same reminder a year ago and being not-so-happy about it.

It's on the minds of our children, too. This morning, we were driving Evan to school, all 6 of us (me, 3 of my children, +2 boys I take care of). It is not a quiet ride, to say the least. Sophie piped up and said, "Mom, we should get Jude a little shirt for Christmas." I told her that was a great idea. We decided he could open it when he comes home, regardless of when. She continued, "Yeah, and we should get him a train, and a ball, and a school, and a bird, and the moon, and a road, and a sidewalk to the school, and a car." It made me smile. She wants to give him the world. Me, too.

I remember reading this prayer from another friend's Facebook page a while back, and it seems so fitting to my life.

"Lord, work on me in the waiting. Prepare me. Strip me of my agenda. Shatter my plans into a million pieces."

So, that's my prayer today. And tomorrow. And the next day.

Busted bubble

2011-11-06T14:51:00.018-06:00

I thought we had done everything we could to prepare physically and mentally for our trip to Ethiopia. We had six 50lb suitcases and six 15 lb. carry-ons. We had a few cameras, some bug spray, cash, donations, granola bars, and a deck of cards. What else could we need?

I would soon see that there was a lot more to learn about life outside my bubble than I could've imagined. I will try to share some of it, but as always, words carry only a portion of the weight of our experiences.

As you all know, we were in Ethiopia for the purpose of the adoption of our son, Jude. However, we prayed that God would use our time there to bring Him glory and to use our hands and feet for Him. We were not able to do much hands-on mission work, but we did walk among the impoverished people of the trash-dump, sat with the lepers as they did their work, held children who'd seemingly never had a bath and had lice in their hair, and played with HIV-Positive children.

We did not get very many pictures of these times, out of respect for the people. However, I will share with you some of the images that won't leave my head anytime soon.

These are women who are carrying 60kg of wood for fuel to sell at the base of Entoto mountain. They will earn about 30 birr for one trip up and down the mountain. That's less than $2. Unbelievable.

These are some boys we met on our trip up the mountain. They were so sweet. They told us of their one-hour walk into school everyday and the 2-hour walk home, up the mountain. They asked if we had brought dictionaries for them. They were sweet until we got in the van and handed candy out the window. At that point, they started pushing and trying to get at the candy, reaching as far into the van as they could, even as we drove away. There was a little girl there who had on a Dora shirt that had never been washed. Evan continued to be concerned about whether or not she got any of the candy.

This is a man at the leper colony. He is weaving a rug. He has no fingers on either hand. We were pretty sure they put him outside by the entrance because he was so full of joy. I didn't get a picture of his smile, but trust me, he was a happy man. If I recall, we read later that this man had come to the leper colony 20+ years ago with his 4 children. All the people in this place suffer from leprosy or other debilitating, contagious conditions. They are all serving a purpose, working on projects that are sold there on site. The picture below shows me giving the weaving loom a try. I was terrible. The workers here are so fast and diligent. I made a fool of myself. What's new?!

These last 3 pictures were taken at Korah, a "suburb" of Addis Ababa, near a large trash dump, where people live. It was one of the most humbling times ever to walk into this place and see how these people live every day. If you are curious about what life is like there, just google "Korah dump, Ethiopia." One of the great things we saw while we were there was a ministry called "Mission Ethiopia." If you want to know more, click HERE. The little girl Jason is holding was so sweet. Her name is Salem (sp?). I'm surprised she didn't end up in the van with us. She followed every step our group took.

I sincerely wish we could've snapped some pictures while at AHOPE, the orphanage for HIV-positive children. One memory I'll never forget is a 6 month old baby boy in a crib, who weighed no more than 10 lbs. His legs were the size of my fingers. He was as happy as he could be, smiling from ear to ear when I talked to him. He held my hand and kicked his tiny legs. He had been abandoned 3 weeks prior and in their care since. They were doing the best they could to get weight on him. Another image in my head is the young girls there. The girls who were around 10 years old would talk to us and walk next to us. When they smiled, their youthful faces looked old and worn. I can't explain it, but they had wrinkles on their face, like I remember my grandma having. I'm not sure if it's the disease, the medication, or the hardships they've endured, but it was slightly disturbing. They would not have you feeling sorry for them, though. They were happy girls, eager to show us their room and their bed.

We still have some sifting-through to do with all these other-worldly experiences. When you consider that these experiences were in addition to us meeting our son and spending time with him, you can understand why we've been dazed and confused this week. Our middle-class, suburbia America, bubble has burst. Thank you for giving us time to put it into words.

Psalm 148

Orphan Sunday

2011-11-06T13:50:00.002-06:00

Piggy-backing on my husband's facebook status today, I will share a short story about a couple we met while waiting for court in Ethiopia.

They are a couple of 60 years. They are from Spain. Their beautiful skin and healthy body shows it. She held a stuffed animal and he held a briefcase. They sat down next to us, in a room otherwise full of Ethiopians. Their English was decent, but we had to concentrate to understand each other. They were giddy. You couldn't miss them.

After some small talk, it was obvious that we were both there for adoptions. The usual questions were asked: "How old? Boy or girl? What region are they from?"

And then, the husband shared more of their story. They are 60 years old (you would not have guessed it by their appearance). They have been in process with a Chinese adoption for 6 years now and still await progress there. In the meantime, they started this Ethiopian adoption and have been waiting 2 years. At home, they have a 20-year-old biological son with Downs Syndrome. His name is Angel. They were there to give their consent for this Ethiopian adoption of a 3 year old boy. They told their agency, "We have no preferences. Girl or boy doesn't matter. Age doesn't matter."

They smiled as they showed me his picture. They are so proud of this new son they will take home soon. This little boy now has a mother and father who take pride in him and show him off like he is their prince. Praise God.

On this orphan Sunday, I choose to open my mouth once again for those who cannot. If only you could see the faces and hold the hands of the children in this world who cry out for a parent. We saw only a fraction of the 4 million in Ethiopia and I pray that God will continue to put them in our face and in our path.

Our fight for Jude is not over yet. After a blow to the heart on Friday, we are refreshed and ready to wait some more. This is all just a part of the concrete.

Click here if you are lost with my concrete metaphor.

John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." ~Jesus

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

No movement in court today

2011-11-04T08:27:00.003-05:00

Just received word that there was no movement in our case today. The judge was not able to approve, since they are still waiting on a document from Jude's original orphanage. There is no word on a new court date.

So we wait. And, in the meantime, Jude sits in an orphanage.

The Waiting Game, again

2011-11-02T13:42:00.004-05:00

We are anxiously awaiting news that our case is finalized. While in Ethiopia, we were told that it would be complete on Friday, Nov. 4. Now, after some email correspondence with our case worker, we are even more confused than ever. We will have to see what happens this Friday. Will you pray for us that it will come to an end this Friday, Nov. 4th?

When this actually comes to an end, it might take us a while to believe it.

Until then, we look at pictures and videos of our sweet boy 8,000 miles away and dream of the day he comes home.

Thank you for your continued love and support. I simply cannot wait to share him with you. What a precious, precious little soul he is.

~Wendy

Court update

2011-10-26T13:38:00.002-05:00

Ethiopian court. What an experience. I can't wait to share it with you all sometime.

Long story short:

We gave our consent to the adoption. The judge told us they are waiting on one more piece of paperwork from Jude's regional government. They will get it soon and the judge told us we will finalize our adoption on November 4. We do not have to stay until then. It can be finalized without us, since we appeared in court and gave our consent in person.

Fun fact: We never dreamed of getting a son for our 11 year wedding anniversary. Can't top that, right?!

Thanks for all the continued prayers and support. We will be leaving tomorrow night. Prayers for safe travels once more, please.

Love,

Wendy

Big day

2011-10-24T09:08:00.003-05:00

2 big deals today:

~We went to orientation where we learned how to pass court in a foreign country

~We changed Jude's diaper.

We are well-pleased with our day.

If you think about it before you go to bed tonight, please say a little prayer for our court hearing tomorrow. It will be fine, but there is paperwork that could come together tomorrow and we are praying for just that. Chances are that it won't all be pulled together until a week or two after we go to court, but it's always worth praying for. The sooner we pass court, the sooner he is in his bedroom in Kansas City and my heart can be all in one place at the same time.

Thanks and love to you all~

Wendy

Quick update

2011-10-23T14:54:00.002-05:00

Friends and family:

This post will do no justice to the time we've spent so far, but I need to take advantage of the very fickle internet connection and bring you up-to-speed.

Flights were awesome. Thank you for praying.

Evan has just become a little Ethiopian. People here love him. The girls hug him and kiss his cheek anytime they can. I am not kidding. It's hilarious.

The food is different. We have enjoyed the authentic Ethiopian eating experiences we've had, but we do look forward to an iced tea and some fried chicken. Actually, iced anything would be great.

The scenery is different from what I expected. I'm not really even sure what I expected. I don't think I made it that far in my head. It's hard to explain in words. You'll just have to see my pictures when we return home. Just picture a lot of sheet-metal homes that have 9+ kids and only a mom inside.

The sights we've seen and the places we've gone in just a short 3 days have covered such an expansive realm of Ethiopia. It's a lot to take in. We are so thankful to get to be here. We hope to get out into the countryside sometime on this trip, but we're not sure if it's gonna happen.

We have been inspired by the attitudes the Ethiopians have. They are happy, welcoming people. I'm wondering what they think of us.....

We met Jude on Friday. It was a time that will never leave our memory and I will write about it more in detail another day. For now, I will share that he was confused and sad at first, but then warmed up to us and we had an exceedingly joyful time together. He was littler than I expected, but a healthy size. He has a cough, so will you please add that to your prayers? No momma likes her babies to be sick, especially when she has to leave him across the ocean in a few days. To those who've seen pictures of him: I know you think I'm lying. He is cuter in person that he is in a picture. It is just unreal to me how God can create such a beautiful boy. I have to figure out how I want to share our first meeting and write about it later~

We get to go hang out with him again tomorrow for a couple hours and then we have our big day in court on Tuesday.

We love you all and we are ever thankful for your loving words and prayers lifted up in our behalf. They are needed and appreciated. Keep 'em coming.

~Wendy

On our way

2011-10-18T06:59:00.003-05:00

The day has finally come.

Rewind back to Dec. 3, 2009, and you see 2 exceedingly joyful people who heard and accepted the call to adopt one or more children from somewhere, anywhere.

Fast forward through the paperwork, the questions, the funds, the seemingly never-ending wait, and you find us here today, with plane tickets and passports in hand and 1,000 emotions swirling.

Friends and family, you will never know the depth of our appreciation of love and support you've so willingly offered over the past 2 years. I've been in awe countless times with people who've showed up at our door with large sums of money and others who've offered such sweet words of encouragement that came unexpected. God is so good. Jason and I have had front row seats in this journey, and how we wish you all could see the affect this little 8-month-old orphan baby boy in a foreign land is having on complete strangers! God makes all things new and He brings life to where there was none.

Some have asked for a list of prayer requests. Here it is:

1. Timeline:

~Flight to DC tonight at 5:30 KC time

~Flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Wednesday at 10:15AM KC time

~Arrive in Addis 11:15PM KC time

~Meet Jude Friday, 2:00 AM KC time

~Court hearing Tuesday, 1:15AM KC time (Please pray that we pass this first time. We are ready to hear that judge say "He's all your's!")

~Flight to DC Thursday, the 27th, at 2:30PM KC time

~Flight to KC Friday, the 28th, at 3:57, KC time, arrive home at 6:34PM

2. Strength and general health.

Jason is currently fighting a cold and Evan seems to be on the edge of one as well. Our bodies will be tired and we need all the prayer for Divine strength and wellness.

3. Jude

Please pray that our time together is blessed with peace and joy. I pray that God shows Himself in those meetings we have together over the next week. Please pray for Jude's heart as he is going to be confused about the goings-on. This is only the beginning. Pray that God prepares his little heart to join our family. The heart-break for him will be when we go back in a few months to bring him home. Let's start praying now.

4. Jude's birth family

Please pray for their hearts. God sees their pain and their suffering and we want to lift them up to Him.

5. Jude's nanny

Please pray that she continues to show love to Jude. Pray that her heart, as well, can mend after he comes home in a few months.

6. Evan

Please pray that he will be able to take this trip in and keep it in his heart where he never forgets. We are praying that God uses this trip to impact Evan's life for Him.

7. Claire and Sophie

Please pray for health and general safety as they are away from us. We are praying that they feel comforted when they are confused about the length of this trip and those caring for them can cover them with love and grace.

8. Reflection

Please pray that others will see the reflection of this worldly adoption as a metaphor for God's adoption of us.

9. Gratitude

We are carrying a spirit of thankfulness in the way God has been sovereign over this adoption. It doesn't look now what it looked like at the beginning, and we are thankful that He has brought it to this place.

We are going to do our best to keep you informed via facebook and/or the blog. Thank you for continuing to pray and email with support.

~Wendy

The Lost Sheep

2011-09-09T07:18:00.003-05:00

When the decision to adopt from Ethiopia was made, we accepted all the challenges, or the cost, it would bring.

I remember watching a sermon about how only MANLY men, superman-type men, adopt. One of the points made during the sermon was that most men would not hesitate to run into a burning building to save a child. It's that same super-hero testosterone needed to go the ends of the earth to the metaphoric burning building to give a child a family.

If you would like to hear this sermon and read more yourself, click here.

We have known from the start that leaving our children here in the US to go across the ocean would be hard. As our trip gets closer, today only 39 days away, I am preparing my to-do lists to ensure all will be well with the girls we'll leave here in others' care.

I am also preparing my heart.

The focus of my morning reading today was Luke 15:1-10. As I read verse 4-7, images of Jude flash in my mind. This parable is about salvation through Jesus, not adoption. Don't get the wrong message here. I just want to share with you the redemptive power behind the picture of adoption. We want more than anything to be instruments of God's sovereign plan, and to bring Him glory through this process.

We believe adoption is a great metaphor to salvation. Imagine with me for a moment:

~the anxiety and the tears as we leave our girls in the KC airport, bound for Ethiopia

~the anticipation and expectation of seeing and holding Jude for the first time

~sitting him on our lap and holding him close to our chest

~our first family picture after we hear the judge say "He's all your's!"

~the walk off the plan into an airport full of family and friends who've loved Jude unconditionally since the beginning

Now, read Luke 15:4-7. Then pray and consider who we can reach today for the kingdom and God's glory.

Luke 15:4-7 (emphasis mine) "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing,

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine upright persons who need no repentance."

What's in a name?

2011-08-14T20:38:00.005-05:00

We have been on a blogging hiatus. The only reason I can come up with is that my words fail to deliver the magnitude of emotion wrapped up in our sweet boy.

Many decisions about our adoption have not been easy to make. One of those decisions has been whether or not to rename our son. There are solid reasons supporting both renaming and keeping the given birth name. In our opinion, there is no right or wrong choice; however, the decision has not been easy. When you consider the sizable loss any adopted child suffers, it changes the name game.

A name is really just a label for this earthly shell we navigate for a very short while. There is value in a name, though, because it gives us some degree of self-worth in that our parents chose our name.

After many months of considering both options, we have decided to give our son a new first name and keep his given birth name as his middle name. His birth mother likely chose his name for a reason, and we want to honor her choice. We never want our son or the world to forget this precious gift of life his birth mother gave.

The meaning behind the name we will give him sums up our feelings toward God and toward our son. His name will be Jude. The meaning is "praise" and "thanks." I can think of no better response to this blessing on our lives. Praise and thanks fills our heart when we study his little face. Our cup overflows!

On October 25, 2011, we will stand in front of a judge in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and plead our case to become Jude's forever family. Please pray with me that our case passes court this first time, and that we can have a speedy appointment soon thereafter with the US Embassy to bring him home!

Psalm 148. I love it. Go read it. Then, praise our Maker, the Creator and Sustainer for his very special creation in Jude Rust. That's what we're doing.

A decision and a phone call

2011-06-09T05:27:00.006-05:00

We are rejoicing today in the Rust house.

About a week ago, on Tuesday, May 31, we reached a difficult decision. After many emails and talks with our case manager at CWA, we came to the conclusion that it would be best for us to reduce our adoption preferences to one child. There are several reasons for this, and all of them have to do with what's best for the children in Ethiopia. I know it sounds crazy to think that by adopting only one child that we are helping out more than adopting a sibling set, but just trust me, God has a plan!

We believe it was the right decision, because things have moved along rather quickly since then.

Yesterday, Wednesday, June 8, I was at the pool with the kids around 5:00. I called Jason and told him to just meet us there when he was done with work. He showed up around 5:45 with a camera in his hands. He started taking pictures of the kids in the pool and then he pointed the camera at me. I'm not sure how much you ladies like being photographed while at the pool, but this lady doesn't love it. I told him to turn the camera off and he just kept saying, "Look at me. I love you. Do you love me?" I should've known something was up.

He proceeded to tell me, "Wendy, Sue called me today." This was when time stood still and I totally understood what was going on.....

At that point, I couldn't get the information out of him fast enough.

Here's our news:

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

Right now, we have a baby boy living across the ocean!!!! I'm a mommy again!!!! Sophie is officially a big sister!!!!

Words cannot really express the excitement of this news. My heart has not stopped pounding yet.

I can't tell you much about him for now, until we pass court. What I can tell you is that he is absolutely beautiful. He is healthy. He is very young. He is the light of our life.

Friends, please pray for a speedy court hearing and US Embassy appointment. He is so special to us already.

The best way to wrap this up is to cite the scripture I happened to read yesterday as part of my reading routine. It is just before Jesus blesses the little children who came to Him.

Mark 9:37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the One who sent Me."

Welcome home, precious little Rust baby boy, and welcome, Father!

A change in plans

2011-03-09T22:11:00.005-06:00

Ethiopia passed a new regulation today, only allowing 5 court cases/day to be processed, instead of the 30 court cases/day that has been the average for a few years. Our wait time just increased by years, potentially.

As much as we feel like expressing anger and disappointment, it just doesn't seem like the most appropriate reaction. We are shocked, anxious, and confused. We have a thousand questions with no answers. One thing we are sure of: God is not shocked, anxious, nor confused.

To give you some perspective: about a month ago, we started to become rather impatient and anxious about our referral. We wanted desperately to see the faces we've prayed for, for over a year now. We had good reason to be anxious~it had been 2 months since we'd been told we were the "next" to be called for a referral for age 5 and younger siblings. We had also hit the 8 month wait time, which was the extent we believed we would have to wait. When we started the adoption process in December of 2009, we were told by multiple adoption agencies that 8 months was the average wait time for families (post dossier shipping and translation).

Just last week, our focus became pretty intense. Our family of five held hands and prayed for a referral of our missing 2 children to come that very week. We poured out our hearts' desires to Him numerous times early last week. On Thursday, we started to hear rumors about a possible drastic cut in Ethiopian adoptions. Rumors run a muck in the adoption community all the time. Our emotions had become somewhat numb to any negative press on Ethiopian adoption. Still, the March 10 "effective" date swirled in our heads. Today, it is on the US State Dept. site. It is official.

As I was preparing to write this post tonight, Oprah happened to be on the TV in our room. My man, Garth Brooks, was the featured guest. Anyone who knows me, knows I love me some Garth. Jason and I were watching a little here and there, when Garth started singing an acoustic version of "Unanswered Prayers." I watched, thinking only about the love story behind the lyrics. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Our fervent prayers to be quickly united with the children we so deeply long to provide a family and a future for, is being answered! It's not the answer we thought it was going to be. We are confident that it is simply too large for us to see from this vantage point.

Tonight, the Rusts choose to give praise and honor to the Maker of this plan, to the God of the Universe, the God of Ethiopia. This has been one of my favorite scriptures since a bible study I took on Habakkuk in 2007. It seems somewhat fitting:

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine; Though the labor of the olive may fail and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD, I WILL JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION!

Still here

2011-02-23T20:17:00.002-06:00

We are still alive. Just thinking and listening a lot lately. I have so much to write about, but I am so tired lately that I just cannot devote one minute to this blog to tell His story these days.

We have heard n-o-t-h-i-n-g about our adoption. Thank you for continuing to ask, though. The only thing we have heard from our case worker is that the wait time for a referral is at an all-time high.

I told people in the beginning of this process to pray for a March referral, so I'd have a better chance of finishing out the school year without having to miss much, if any. Maybe that's what He heard loud and clear. I'm beginning to wonder if it will even happen this year.

Tonight, we have the honor to go and pray with our friends, the Hamann's, as Luke prepares to leave for Sierra Leone, Africa, tomorrow afternoon. We have a whole lot of heart wrapped up in that tiny country and several friends who've invested their time and money there, too. God has BIG plans for that country, and it's beginning to look like He plans on using us and several of our friends there, too. I will have to post more details another night, because these eyes are tired.

Please pray with me tonight that the Hamann's will be able to bless others with Luke's trip, and will feel the presence of God before, during, and after the trip. Check out the Raining Season's blog for trip updates....

www.savetheorphan.blogspot.com

Until next time.....when I feel more rested.....and not so fuzzy-headed......

Goodnight!

2011-01-22T13:36:00.005-06:00

God has weaved a beautiful web of relationships in the last year for our family and many others. There might be a day when I can express the miracle He worked when He connected us with so many people who are fighting for the same little ones we adore. Until then, just trust me when I say that it's just a miracle. Plain and simple.

One of the life-changing relationships God replanted in our life was with a high school friend of Jason's. Her name is Erica Rust, and oddly enough, she married a DIFFERENT Jason Rust of the same high school in Ozark, MO. We have grown to know and admire the work she does in Sierra Leone, Africa.

It is the poorest country on the face of the Earth. She has an amazing story of saving orphans from a terrible existence in a wretched home. There are now 80+ children who live in the home bought by her organization, The Raining Season. The 30 adult workers take such good care of the kids, and the Erica has found sponsors who provide clothing and many of their basic needs. Several of these sponsors SKYPE with their sponsored children every week.

We have 3 friends we've known for 7 years who are now traveling with Erica to The Covering (the name of the home where the kids live). Today, they fed 5000 orphans in Kroo Bay, the trash dump of Sierra Leone. They will meet the children in the home tomorrow and spend a week with them. One of the days they are there, they will travel to a children's hospital, where only 1 child per month leaves alive. When 19 of the team members return at the end of 9 days, Erica will stay behind to meet with the Minister of Social Welfare to petition for the ban on international adoption to be lifted. She has put in countless hours working on the actual writing of the law to allow for international adoption, and it passed in December. Now, if the ban is lifted, 20+ children will be leaving The Covering and going to their forever homes with the families who have been waiting to bring them home. This will, in turn, allow the Raining Season to serve additional children in the community who are still in need. PRAISE GOD!

We have another very close friend who will be traveling there in about a month to do some physical therapy for the children and love on them as well.

Check out the Raining Season blog and website:

http://www.therainingseason.org/The_Raining_Season/Home.html

http://savetheorphan.blogspot.com/

Here's a great video I've already posted in an earlier post, but it moves me every single time I see the conditions these beautiful babies and people live in. Just watch it. You won't be sorry.

http://www.vimeo.com/12292225

Snapshots of the sweeties

2011-01-20T19:50:00.007-06:00

Life at the Rust house:

Making Christmas cookies together included the donning of our new matching aprons from my mom (Mama Cookie). Look close, and you can see "mom" embroidered on mine. The girls each have their initial on their's, but you can't see it in the picture. Evan and Claire were both a big help. Check out the masterpiece Evan created! Sophie just ate the sprinkles, mainly.

Evan lost another tooth, can you tell? Anyone else notice the lovely milk mustache, too?

Claire got a new leotard for her new dance class and it's like pulling teeth to get her out of it.

The kids got a new easel for Christmas and have since turned into little Picaso's. I love their art work and find myself wondering if I missed my calling to be a children's art teacher----not because I'm good at art, but because I have developed this great satisfaction with kid art. I love hanging it all over our house. It makes a mom proud.

This is the best shot I could get at Claire's dance class. It will have to serve as the "first dance class" picture, since I forgot on her actual first dance night.

And, for the grand finale, my favorites from the last few weeks. I dare you not to smile when you look at these.....it's impossible for mommy and daddy. These were taken before church this week. They are two peas in a pod (most of the time!).

Concrete

2011-01-17T13:19:00.000-06:00

We are ready to claw through the concrete and see our babies. Lord, let it come soon.

Take me out to the ballgame

2011-01-10T09:12:00.002-06:00

Making her world debut, here is Sophie with her hit "Take me out to the ballgame." She's been stealing the show all over Missouri with this number. Her back-up singer seems to want all the attention. He might have to get his own show someday.

The view from here

2011-01-05T19:34:00.005-06:00

Please excuse the very last picture of me. It's a really worn-out first time mommy right after giving birth. Not exactly a "kodak" moment, but a life-changing one, for sure!

I'm sorry for all of you who want to hear how bad my life is.........I just don't have those words tonight. All I have is praise to Jesus for the life I live. I don't deserve one single moment of it.

I refer to this time as the "mountain top." I feel like it simply could not be better.

I've spent the better part of my days looking ahead to this time, and I believe I'll spend the rest of my days reminiscing about this very short stage of life.

I have always dreamed about having a handsome husband who revolves his life around God, me and his kids. Got it.

I have always dreamed about having numerous (a house full) of ankle-biters calling me Mommy. Got it.

I have always dreamed about being a teacher and enjoying snow days and lazy summer days with my kids. Got it.

I have always dreamed about having a yellow lab who spends his days laying by the fire. Instead, I got a yellow lab who has tumors everywhere and licks his body 24/7===pausing only to pass gas and run everyone out of the room.

I was talking to someone tonight about this year being my "grand finale" with teaching and it hit me. I am about to turn another page in this very brief chapter of my life. This sweet time with the first 3 children God blessed me with is about to pass. I am excited, of course, to move on to the next, even crazier, chapter; however, I want the world to know how much I absolutely love this one.

Call me crazy, but I went in to work over Christmas break one day when the girls were in preschool and Evan was at his mama's house. As I sat at my desk, my memory was flooded with all the time I've had with Evan in the mornings and afternoons in my classroom. It is exactly how I always wanted it: teaching in the school where my children attend. This year, I am teaching literally next door to his class. I can hear him sneeze in the middle of my lessons and be comforted in knowing how close he is. I am crying even as I type this, knowing how soon this will be over. It has been a lifetime of work to get to this point, and it's about to be over. It's very bittersweet.

My little Claire-Bear was my baby for so short a time. She became a big sister at the young age of 15 months. Since then, I've tried desperately to make sure she gets everything she needs and everything she deserves. I don't want to slight her at all, since she is the "middle" child. She is just as precious (if not MORE) as all her brothers and sisters, and I want her to know it. She went to her first dance class tonight. I had visions of bringing her home from the hospital when she was only 24 hours old and then fast-forwarded to a vision of her dancing with her daddy at her wedding. I know it will happen so fast----I'm trying not to blink. I could've watched her dance tonight forever.

Our sweet Sophie girl has been such a gift to us. She saved us from ourselves, we think. If not for her, we believe we'd be decently comfortable and MUCH less stressed out. We might even have time to think about ourselves every once-in-a-while. Tonight, as I rocked her before laying her in her bed (yes, I know you're thinking that she will be 3 in a month, but she is my BABY, people), she said "Mommy, I'm hungwy." I let out the most authentic laugh I've had in a while, because her little voice brought me the most satisfying pure joy. Her sweet little chipmunk voice will be gone before we know it.

We are excited that Evan will know what life was like before his Ethiopian siblings came home, and thrilled at the same time that Sophie will not remember life without 4 siblings.

I hope I never ever forget what this chapter felt like. I cherish it. The view from here is breathtaking. Thank you Jesus for letting me live even one day in these shoes.

One word

2010-12-30T10:51:00.002-06:00

On K-Love this morning I heard a new year's resolution type of challenge. It is a one-word challenge. It goes like this:

Without using past mistakes and personal weaknesses as a catalyst, and instead using God's plan----what is one word you could focus on and live out in 2011?

Here's a link to a gal who's given this some thought. I am going to be thinking about what my one word will be. I have an idea, but I'm gonna see what the Big Man has to say about it.

http://www.gritandglory.com/2010/12/22/one-word-2011/

Happy New Year!

Wendy

Three-fifths

2010-12-24T23:14:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas from three-fifths of our children! We are hopeful that the remaining two-fifths will come home soon. We are finding it hard to describe how you can miss someone you've never met, but that's exactly how we feel. There are times when I'm counting to three (making sure we have them all) and I feel like someone is just missing. I'm pretty sure God has been working hard at knitting together our hearts since this process began. We cannot wait to see their little faces and give them a bath and put some new, clean (all their own!) clothes on them, and squeeze their cheeks and, oh yeah, love them for eternity.

Happy Birthday, Prince of Peace. Let our next trip around the sun bring You glory and bring us closer to You when we celebrate again next Christmas!

2010-12-16T21:27:00.003-06:00

We have received news this week from our case manager that we are currently the only family waiting for a sibling set of up-to-age 5!!!! That means that we are "next" in the waiting room of families to receive a referral!!!!

What is a referral? This means we will get a call (or email???) with specific medical and other pertinant information (including pictures!) about a sibling set and consider them for adoption. When we accept the referral, we will wait for a court date to be established and then travel to meet the children and appear in court---pleading our case to be their forever parents. After we pass court (doesn't happen the 1st time in about half the cases), we will return home-without the children- and wait for an embassy appointment. That will be about 6-8 weeks following the court date. The embassy has to grant permission for the children to leave the country, so a lot rides on the shoulders of that embassy date.

Friends, please pray this week that our referral will be soon and that God will continue to knit our hearts together, as we live an ocean apart.

And, during this week of Christmas, I will leave you with something that our family thinks is totally RAD: Jesus' life began and ended with adoption. He was adopted by Joseph at birth, and he designated Mary as the mother of "the disciple whom He loved" (John, the son of Zebede) as He was on the cross.

Read John 19:25-27 if you never have....to us, it's a great example of the plan of adoption. Of course, adoption is not a flawless, smooth, joyous plan, but if one can love outside their own flesh and blood----love someone who has never done anything for them---then, God's glory is written all over it.

To God Be the Glory! Great things He has done! So loved He the world that He gave us his Son.

Merry Christmas!

In Between

2010-11-22T13:37:00.006-06:00

I need some serious lessons on how to get pictures where you want them on a blog. Anyway, here are some pictures from a few recent important days. The first few are from our 10 year wedding anniversary party we celebrated with our close friends. It was a hoot---the most fun I remember having in a L-O-N-G time. The 4th picture is our family eating at The Blue Nile Cafe in the River Market downtown Kansas City. It's one of the 2 Ethiopian Restaurants here in KC. The last several are of our birthday girl, Claire. We have quite a few happy memories lately! Read on for an adoption update (ish).

Hurry up and wait!!!

Our family has been on cruise control for the past several months. We have been enjoying the "hurry up and wait" period of our adoption.

However, our hearts are starting to stir again. It's becoming more difficult to wait. This weekend, I was listening to a great song by a good friend of our's, called In Between. It was the perfect description of how we feel these days.

We spent a great deal of time this weekend moving furniture and hanging coat hooks (looks pretty neat to see 6 coat hooks and anticipating them being full of coats and backpacks.). We feel like we are readying the Rust home for change. We are doing everything in our power to streamline and ease all the things we do every day. We moved couches and tables to allow for better "traffic" flow through the house. We cleared a room to make space for a child work/play space on the main level of the house. We put a couch in our bedroom, to prepare for children who need to be within sight/touch at night time to develop a strong sense of trust. It was pretty exciting. We took an online test after the kids went to bed and reviewed some important tips we need to research in order to be the parents all our children need and deserve.

In church, tears streamed down my face as I held hands with my son who is safe and warm and worshipping God right next to me (while kind people take care of our girls in the nursery). I was thinking about our little ones who are on the other side of the world and how we just can't get to them. Are their tummies full? When was the last time someone combed their hair or trimmed their nails? When was the last time someone told them they are the sun, moon and stars? When was the last time someone told them how much their heavenly Father loves them? When was the last time someone looked at them and took pride in their character? When was the last time someone held their hand and told them everything will be alright?

Adoption is so different from pregnancy. We knew in pregnancy when to expect our children's entrance to our world. With adoption, I don't know if it'll be tomorrow or next summer. It's like the coming of Christ. We know it's coming. No one knows the day or the hour----not even the angels.

God is in control, thank goodness. We are sure of that. We are just feeling the lonely He has set upon our family. We are not complete until our dinner table is full of children eating and laughing and even arguing. Let it be.

In Between

by Tyrus Morgan and Anthony Snape

No expectation, no insight

Without illusion or fear

With no regard for a history

All I want is you here

A single soul in a landslide

Bringing the mountains to dust

Taking the space out of distance

We will learn to love and trust

I'll keep coming til there's nothing

In Between
Nothing seperating you from me
An unrelenting gravity
I'll keep coming til there's nothing in between.

The rumble of a collision

Brings me down to my knees

A shaking realization

This is more than just a dream

closer come closer

step by step by step

There's no rock I won't break down

No walls hold me now

Thanks, Ty, for putting into words what this process has laid on our hearts.

My Father's House

2010-10-17T05:50:00.007-05:00

In Uganda, people call children's homes (orphanages) "the Father's house." It is a metaphor to what Jesus says about Heaven. In John 14:2, Jesus talks about our Father's house. He says "In My Father's house are many rooms." These homes built by Global Orphan Project are a dream come true for these children who have nowhere and no one to turn to.

We are excited to report that 2 homes are now full of 22 girls in Lira, Uganda, who otherwise would have been without. 2 more girls will be moving in soon.

One home is called the "Wilma Cook House of Hope," named in honor of my sweet grandma. I've shared this on earlier blogs, but my grandma lived in an orphanage from the time she was 5 years old until she "aged out." She was never available for adoption and shares much in common with the girls who call "the Wilma Cook House of Hope" home. Her stories of the time she spent in the Baptist Home for Girls in St. Louis always inspired me to do more for the fatherless. She used to tell me about the "Knot-Hole Gang." The knot-hole gang would walk to the baseball stadium, then known as "Sportsman's Park" (later to be known as Busch Stadium), and watch the ballgame through the knot holes in the fence. She always had a passion for Cardinal baseball. Up until the day she died, and despite her Alzheimer's complications, she kept up with the Cardinals~~especially Albert Pujols. Her stories are precious memories for me. I can't tell you how much I wish she could've lived to see these homes be built in her honor.

The second home is called the "Chris McKenna Home." It is named in honor of a special lady who touched many lives as an educator and passed away from cancer a year ago.

Each home:

~cost $5000 to build

~12 girls and one mama (girls are not available for adoption)

~located close to medical help and a church (The Church of Uganda)

~located close to a school

~girls get 2 meals a day of rice and beans; one is fortified with a powdered nutrient

~fully sponsored (24 children!!!!) for 3 years at $40/month/child. After 3 years, the home will be self-sustaining.....this is the BIGGEST praise.

Thank you to all who supported this worthy work and encouraged our family through the process. It is a blessing to see the fruit of so many people's labor. We aren't always so lucky to see where our hard work gets us....

You can see pictures of some of the girls by clicking on this link.

You can see videos and more information about the Lira village here.

May God bless each and every one of the girls and the mama in these homes. May His perfect peace and joy fill the homes every day. May their tummies be full and their bodies rested every night when they lay down in their new home. All this to the Glory of our Father, who allowed us to be a small part in His BIG plan.

These walls

2010-10-07T19:50:00.009-05:00

Oh, the things these walls have heard this week. Jason posted a status on facebook that made me cry I was laughing so hard. I had to share it with the world. It was a listing of all the things said in our house last night. Here goes:

"Stop scratching there."

"No, there are not wood chips in your butt."

"Wendy, you can't run away!"

"Sophie is pooping her pants but I'm too tired to get up."

"Sophie won't sit on the toilet."

"Sophie won't get off the toilet."

"Evan, stop reading Peter and read Psalms!"

"There is no way people sweep every day."

"I could not possibly have more crumbs on my feet than I do right now."

"Oh, Claire, you do have wood chips in your panties!"

~~Now, let the world hear what God has to say about living with all these little crazies:

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. (I love that part.)

The eyes of Alpha

2010-09-26T07:35:00.004-05:00

Let me tell you a story of redemption.

One year ago, my husband and I attended The Global Orphan Project's "Big Event" where hundreds of people gather together to plead the cause of the poor and the needy, and put our heads and hearts together for the fatherless. The stories we heard there were jaw-dropping. We were astounded by the raw numbers of orphans and to learn of the orphan pandemic of today. We stood in disbelief of so many stories of survival and also stories of the heroes who are working in the lives of these children.

One of the stories was about a little baby named Alpha. One and a half years ago, a man named Peter found a garbage bag on the side of the road that was moving. When he inspected its contents, he found a brand new baby inside with a rope around her neck. Someone has discarded this little life on the side of the road. When others heard of what Peter had found, they asked what he would do if this baby was HIV positive. He said he was just going to love her. When the tests came back, she was HIV positive. That was probably the reason she had been thrown on the side of the road in the middle of the night. Peter named her Alpha and she became a member of his family. At the Big Event last year, we heard her story and the crowd of hundreds prayed for Alpha and her health and her future, with candles lighting up the room. Her story burned a hole in my heart.

Last night at the 2010 Big Event, Jason and I had a seat near the back of the room with dear friends of our's who share the same passion for these children. We listened to Moise Vaval speak about finding and burying his son in Haiti after the earthquake this January and about the beautiful work Global Orphan Project is doing there in Haiti week-after-week. All the while, there was a baby screaming in the audience, being carried back and forth into and out of the auditorium. It was a very dimly lit auditorium, lit mainly by candles on the tables near the stage. I kept thinking "Goodness, that baby is MAD! I wonder why someone brought a baby to this event." The crying did not cease. Eventually, I told Jason that I had to go see how I could help.

I followed the mom out the door and practically chased her all the way to the bathroom. When we arrived, I asked if there was anything at all I could do to help. I offered to hold or walk the baby so that the mother could be a part of the presentation that was happening in the auditorium. She was thankful, but was hesitant to leave me with her baby. I stayed in the bathroom long enough to find out that the family was here from Malawi, Africa. Admiring the beautiful brown skin of this baby and her sweet dimples on her face, I asked what her name was. The mother said "Her name is Alpha."

I am not kidding you that TIME STOOD STILL.

A number of incontrollable tears fells down my face. My mind was grasping for all the details that could bring together the correct conclusion of whether or not this is THE Alpha who I prayed for a year ago. THE Alpha who burned a hole in mine and so many others' hearts a year ago.

I ran out of the bathroom and found a friend of mine who could confirm whether or not this baby was THE Alpha and she did, in fact, confirm that it was the baby who so many of us prayed for last year.

I ran back into the bathroom and just looked into the face of this little girl who has no idea how she has saved so many lives with her story. I stayed and spoke with the mother as long as I could without seeming like a stalker. When I returned to my seat next to Jason and shared with him who that crying baby was, he was in shock.

I was able to go hold and play with little Alpha later in the evening. We walked around and talked (as best as you can with an 18 month old) and I kissed her precious cheek. To look into those eyes and know her story of survival is a feeling that is hard to put into words.

It puts us so close to the heart of God when we consider the lives of the "least of these." When we put a hold on our lives and stop long enough to love a child who has done nothing for us, we are experiencing the heart of Christ.

I love the passage in Matthew when Jesus speaks of the "greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Read Matthew 18:1-5 for yourself, but listen to verse 5 especially:

Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Just Love Coffee

2010-09-23T23:02:00.005-05:00

I'd like to extend an offer for some delicious coffee for a great cause.

Click on the link below to order coffee (some blends from Ethiopia!) to support our adoption. Just Love Coffee will give us $5 for every bag sold toward our adoption from Ethiopia. They also donate 10% of their yearly earnings to an Ethiopian orphanage where the owner adopted 2 girls in recent years. Jason and I have tasted the coffee and it is worth the money. We like The Roasterie coffee, and this is just as high-quality. The Tyrus Morgan CD and coffee package is a great deal, too. He's a talented musician and a good friend of our's. I know you'd enjoy his music.

We will be putting in a bulk order soon, so you can choose to order directly from the web site or you could pay me and get the bag right away from my home.

The money we make on this fund-raiser will go directly toward our travel expenses, which includes 4 round-trip tickets to Ethiopia and 2 one-ways. The adoption, itself, is paid for and ready to go (dossier is translated and sitting in the hands of our agency in Addis Ababa)----as soon as we get our referral (names and pictures of our new children). We are hopeful that will take place this winter.

http://www.justlovecoffee.com/therusts

Looking forward to a cold winter with some hot coffee!

Wendy

P.S.: On a related side-note, Jason and I (along with Jeff and Jenny Rodgers and other friends) will be attending the Global Orphan Project "Big Event" this Saturday. I am hopeful that we will be able to finalize information regarding the 2 homes built in Uganda with the money raised last year for that cause. More information to come on that soon!

www.theglobalorphanproject.org

www.147millionorphans.com

Epiopia

2010-09-16T21:29:00.000-05:00

Claire is one sweet little girl. She says this prayer (almost word-for-word) every night. Her brother and sister in Ethiopia just don't have a clue how lucky they will be to be Claire's sibling.

All ears

2010-08-30T22:24:00.003-05:00

It has been a long time since the last Rust blog post, but we've been in ALL-OUT survival mode for 3-4 weeks now. The transition from summer-time mom to teacher-mom is never easy on anyone (not for mommy, daddy, the kids, or the dog!). Our diet, exercise (?), and sleeping have all suffered.

I can't decide if it's been so rough because this particular summer experience together was the most enjoyable on record, or if it's Something Else. If it is Something Else, then maybe His point is to allow me to feel rushed and pressured so that I will cherish and enjoy my time at home when I get it (the weekends for now, and all the time next school year!).

If you read the last blog post, you know that I have been dreading the decision and the timing of me handing over my teaching position. I will tell you that there is Peace now. On the first day of school, I held Evan in my arms in my classroom. There were 2 minutes before the 1st bell was to ring, and I cried and told him that I was so happy to have had these experiences with him and that I will never forget them. I'm pretty sure he thought I was losing my mind.

Strangely, a few days later, walking down the hallways of the school with Evan before school, a Wonderful sense of Peace came over me. I truly felt fine with the blurry vision of our future.

Since then, I've been striving to just listen to what God is telling me. I've been allowing myself to be on "input" mode--reading and praying (mainly listening). Oh, what a peaceful feeling it is. I highly recommend it! I've been especially careful of what comes out of my mouth and have been remembering Matthew 12:34--

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Now, back to my listening.......

Would you rather?

2010-07-28T13:11:00.011-05:00

I cannot figure out how to get these pictures where I want them on this blog, so enjoy some out-of-order pictures.

The first set of pictures shows Jason on the slip-n-slide with the girls. They had so much fun. Their swimming suits were actually keeping them from going very fast, so we let them take their shirts off---excuse the partial nudity. You can see that we cannot go anywhere or do anything without the participation of the girls. They hopped on Jason's back every time he tried to go down the slip-n-slide by himself. Oh, the laughs they shared. You could have heard them a mile away, I bet.

These are some pictures of our latest visit to Freedom Fire. The first picture is our dear friend, Joey, laying on the ground so that the boys could jump off his back to dunk. You should've seen his back later that night! Ouch! The second picture shows the view from the last row, where I sat next to a new buddy, Kendren, during the message part of the night. They are all very good listeners and this week's lesson was about the prodigal son---very meaningful. That one never gets old. The last picture is of a middle school girl who was excited to get her nails done. She remembered me from last week and has quite a story to tell. I look forward to seeing her again Friday.

Finally, these are some pictures of the girls at a birthday party for their friend, Mattingly Rodgers. It was a princess dance party. Does it get more girly than that? How fun! They got to wear pretty dresses and glitter, learn a dance, and do a craft. It was a sight to see! I feel so lucky to share these fun times with my girls.

Now, on to the subject weighing on my heart this week:

On our pre-children road trips, Jason and I used to play a game called "Would you rather." It was a hilarious way to pass the time, pondering numerous impossible scenarios that would never occur, but were great to visualize anyway.

There have been some moments of "would you rather" in my heart recently.

I have so cherished, beyond expression, my summer time memories with our children. I started teaching in 2001, so this is my 10th year of teaching. I have enjoyed every summer from 2004 until now, relishing the casual-nature of summer. I get to enjoy the stay-at-home-mom model for about 12ish weeks every year. Our summers have been full of library visits, pool days, trips to Farmington, small vacations (not this year!), sandboxes, Popsicles, and lots of down time.

I couldn't have asked for a better gig. We have felt very comfortable and extremely happy with my career choice. It has allowed lots of perks, of which is my all-time favorite: the snow day thrills we get every winter. I knew that when I became a teacher, I would be able (more than likely) to bring my children to the school where I taught. That's why the Rusts moved from Liberty to NKC school district attendance area back in 2006. We knew we wanted to move before Evan started kindergarten. Oh, what a joy this past school year was! Evan and I had some one-on-one time before and after school, and we were able to see each other at lunch daily. I taped a pink construction paper heart on my classroom window, so he could see my room from the playground and remember how much I loved him. We had a super secret hand sign we gave each other if we happened to see each other's class in passing. It meant "I love you so much, but I'll give you a hug after school." I knew if I didn't come up with something like that, he'd jump out of his class line or out of his lunch table when he saw me everyday~and I didn't want him to cause that much commotion. It's hard for a 5 year old to understand why they can't hug their mom when they see her at school. The hand sign worked like magic. We still do it to each other when we are leaving to go anywhere.

When we answered yes to God's adoption plan for us, it included a not-so clear vision of the future of my career. We plan to give these children (biological and adopted) all they need. Most adopted children need to be with their parents and not put into a daycare (that really looks and sounds like an orphanage, if you really think about it~~~how scary for a little one who was just rescued from that life!). Besides their needs: who can afford 4 children in daycare? So, we knew that my job would probably go on hold for at least a year, if not more. We feel like it's part of this test of faith---do we really believe God will provide for us since we said yes to His calling?

The closer we get to a referral, the more my brain is playing "Would you rather" with me. I have gone through all the pros and cons of me staying at home and I know that is what we will need to do. However, having said that, you can see that I have treasured my job as a teacher. I have gone "back to school" in August every year since I was 5. What is my heart going to feel next August, when I am sitting at home? It is likely that we will get young ones for our referral, probably not school age. That means I will be home with 4 children, 2 of whom won't speak my language.

The fact that there are 500 applicants for 7 teaching positions doesn't give me a whole lot of reason to want to hand over my job, either. My tenure has been a safety net, if you will. Jason could lose his job, as could any person who works for a private company, while the chances of me ever losing my job is slim. If/when I want to go back to teaching, will there be a job for me? What about my nice salary? I'm no millionaire, but 10 years of teaching with a masters degree brings home a nice salary, at least one that makes you think twice before walking away from it.

I let myself fall apart over this and shed some tears with my sweet accountability group of girlfriends. I hope you all understand that this is all part of accepting the cost of following Jesus and the plan He has for the Rusts. It doesn't matter what Jesus asks us to do~doesn't it feel better to be in His plan? Is there any other place you'd rather be? Don't you think that the Prince of Peace and the Creator of the universe has a plan for our future? Either you believe that, or you don't believe that He is sovereign. And, if you don't believe our God is sovereign, why do you believe in Him at all? Who wants a God who is not in charge of it all?

Would you rather live according to your plan and your comfort, or relentlessly beg Jesus to show you His plan? I had a peace this morning in knowing that all the tedious, mind-bending, earthly, here-and-now details of our family's life-change are not eternal concerns. I have to keep my eyes on the end-goal. We want to love others, and love these children of our's into the kingdom of God. What else matters?

Sophie is hungway

2010-07-21T17:29:00.000-05:00

Just listen to what I hear 1,000 times a day. Tell me you wouldn't

give the girl what she wants......Uh, huh. Me, too. If she wants something,

she pretty much gets it these days. We are being such enablers and

usually it is totally worth it. Love these kids. Gonna have to exert some

discipline sometime soon.

Is this Heaven?

2010-07-18T14:13:00.007-05:00

I can't keep up with all the directions my brain wants to go with this post, so bear with me as I try to manage control of my attention and focus.

I'll start by saying that this weekend was full of so much joy, that it's hard to distinguish heaven and earth.

Our small group attends a community center where children gather on Friday nights for a Christian message, recreation, and a meal. It's called "Freedom Fire." There are roughly 30-50 children who come (more some weeks than others) to hear and to eat. Children's ages range from very young (2?) to teenagers. They walk, skate-board, or ride their bikes from their nearby homes in downtown Kansas City. Their's is not a life of luxury. They come barefooted, dirty (not all of them, but some are), and hungry for God's Word and some warm food.

Jason had gone before with Evan to play and to serve these children. He came back with funny stories of Evan shooting hoops with black boys who are 6 feet tall. That image is just funny when you see how scrawny and white Evan is.... I have hesitated to go until now, always using the all-s0-convenient excuse that it will be hard to serve these children and keep track of my own kids at the same time. I was even a little scared of what this downtown location (the 'hood') would be like: are there crazy people there? How about gang activity? Lame feelings. What a complete coward. Cowardly, especially since this is not like it's East St. Louis or something. Our friend, Kurt Geiger, shared a quote by a courageous man named CT Studd (who wouldn't be brave with a name like that?!). I remember thinking about that quote numerous times throughout the day on Friday, sort-of gearing myself up for the task of helping these people. Here's the quote:

"Christ’s call is to feed the hungry, not the full; to save the lost, not the stiff-necked…this can only be accomplished by a red-hot, unconventional, unfettered Holy Ghost religion…The fiery baptism of the Holy Spirit will change soft, sleek Christians into hot, lively heroes for Christ, who will advance and fight and die, but not mark time…Nail the colours to the mast!...To die is gain. Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell; I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell."

Don't fool yourself to think that downtown Kansas City is anything close to the definition of hell. However, it is hell compared to the life of comfort and abundance of the suburbs.

It was nothing but pure joy to paint the little girls' finger nails (dirty as they could be!) and even their toes! Claire and Sophie jumped right in and "helped." We played play-doh with the little boys and watched the teenagers shoot hoops, play dance dance revolution, and jump-rope. One of the little girls, who was probably 5 years old carried Sophie around. Sophie is very picky about who looks at her, much less who touches her. She did let this little girl carry her around and saved her tears until the little girl put her down (it made me laugh!). There was another little one I wanted to sneak into our van and take her home with us. She was not a day older than 2 and sweet as can be. She and Sophie ran around together near the end of the evening. These kids know how to have fun. I was telling Jason that it amazes me how much fun they have at this community center on any given Friday night, while the people in our suburban neighborhood sit and watch TV on their couches in the air-conditioning. Stark difference.

At the end of the evening, when the kids were making their way outside to walk home, I caught a glimpse of Jason kneeling eye-level with a little bare-foot girl (in fact, the same one who carried Sophie around). He was telling her that he'd be back next week to see her and he'd bring her some candy (his pocket full of candy ran out quickly that evening). To say that my heart overflowed with PRIDE would be a major understatement. I can't express the amount of respect and love I feel for this man of mine who has transformed his heart to be more like Jesus. He has such a heart for these children and you can't help but notice his desire to be "the father to the fatherless."

What shocked me the most at the end of the evening was my driving desire to do this every single Friday night. I can't think of another place I'd rather be than serving these precious children. We will be going back this Friday and I intend on taking pictures to post. We'll see how far I get with that endeavor.

God bless!

Sweet memories

2010-07-14T15:42:00.003-05:00

Here is a short slide show featuring a precious boy who passed away on July 4th. He had a severe asthma attack and fought for life on life support for 5 days before passing away. His precious life was able to help 3 others, as his parents made the noble and honorable decision to donate some of his organs. It doesn't surprise me, as his 4th grade teacher, that he is helping others in his death. He was loved by so many people. I truly don't know one person, child or adult alike, who didn't cherish this boy. I pray that his parents and sister enjoy the Peace that surpasses all understanding as they face the absence of Tyler.

I have so many thoughts and emotions swimming around in my head about his life and death. It has consumed me for 2 weeks now. I am at a loss for words except to seek God's wisdom and words about life and death.

John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me. In my Father's house are many room; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Here's a wonderful song by Amy Grant that seems to help me remember to lay our troubles at the feet of Jesus. I can't help but think of Tyler and his mom when I hear this song. Please listen to Arms of Love and say a prayer for the McDowell family. I pray that they feel the presence of God during this time and that they realize that this is a time in their lives when One set of Footprints is sufficient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIy_RZtky2g

Amen

In the air

2010-07-02T15:16:00.002-05:00

Here's what I read on an email that just arrived in my in-box:

Dear Jason and Wendy,

Your dossier is now on its way to Ethiopia, and should arrive there in 3-4 business days (we'll let you know when it does). Congratulations! That puts you on the waiting list for a referral.

This is an email from our dossier case manager, who we've worked closely with for several months now. All those hours of hard work poured into the paperwork, all the hours spent earning and saving and scraping the ransom money, all the blessings from the various agencies (and family and friends) are up in the air on their way to Ethiopia as we speak!

There are few words that explain the feeling this puts on my heart today. I am relieved that we made it this far. I am excited to be that much closer to our children. I am in awe that God has allowed me live out this part of His plan.

Friends, read the following link to another mother's blog post before flying to pick up her children from Ethiopia. Heidi is so eloquent and completely, 100%, puts our thoughts into words. I hope it resonates with you. I pray that you allow God to break you and that you can begin to enjoy a new vision for your life.

http://blessingsfromethiopia.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-wish-i-could-tell-you.html

I pray that Satan never again convinces me to live for ME.

May God's timing prevail. May our children, who He set aside for us, have His peace until we can bring them home. May the court system continue to work smoothly for the benefit of the children. May our family continue to grow closer to Jesus. May God be pleased with our hearts. May society never burden us with its expectations and vision for our lives.

Amen

Ode to 2 fathers

2010-06-20T06:45:00.012-05:00

Happy Father's Day to 2 men who I love very much.

To my husband: I knew it when we met. You were going to be the kind of daddy that every child longs for. I was right! You are that dad. Thank you for showing them God's love in very real, tangible ways. Thank you for the kind of discipline you show our children. Thank you for the joy you bring into their lives. Thank you for being the strong daddy they need. Thank you for the love you show so freely to our children. Thank you for the big and little sacrifices you make to pave a road of success for them. Thank you for the hours and hours you put in to provide a home for them. Thank you for spending countless hours pondering how you can become an even better dad (is that possible???). I'm sure they are already aware on some level how lucky they are to have you as their daddy, but one day, they will fully understand your worth. Your leadership and love will reach many generations. Thank you for striving to be "a father to the fatherless." YOU ARE MY HERO, and you are a hero to many. You are a wonderful man, and I could not ask for a better daddy for our kids.

To my dad: Thank you for all the little and big things you have done to enrich my life. You have been a dad I can trust and a dad I can look up to and admire. I know plenty of girls who can't say the same thing about their father. Thank you for being that dad. I love you.

Everyone should hear the newest song by Sanctus Real called "Lead Me." It is one that has the power to change lives by redirecting a man's heart. Calling all dads-----listen to this:

http://sanctusreal.com/

Amen

On our way

2010-06-18T09:37:00.002-05:00

Dear FedEx,

Thank you for carrying the paperwork to Washington DC to the kind courier who will carefully take it to the Dept. of State and the Ethiopian Embassy. You are holding the very ransom that will allow our children to come home to their forever family. Please handle with care.

Love,

Wendy

Reality Check

2010-06-17T13:43:00.003-05:00

Okay, I have a heavy heart today. My heart is aching for the people in this world whose reality is so very different than mine. God continues to allow my heart to break for others, and I'm thankful. I believe I'd have less willingness to take the time and consider others' needs if not for my broken heart.

I ask that you watch this 19 minute clip of our friend, Erica, and her team in Sierra Leone, Africa. This is footage from her trip to the charity she founded and runs, called The Raining Season. The home in Africa is called The Covering. The staff there feeds, clothes, and ministers to 80 fatherless children. Many of the children who live in her home are very recent orphans from a ferry accident, where many many working fathers died.

Jason and I have committed our time and energy to help Erica and we look forward to many opportunities in the future. Take some time and look at these beautiful people and say a prayer that in the midst of their hopelessness that they find Jesus. I see Jesus when I look at them. Evan watched it with me yesterday and told me he thinks these people are beautiful. We had a fruitful conversation about how God doesn't make ugly people. All God's people are beautiful. We are longing to go and serve these people in person, and we look forward to doing just that as soon as we can bring our kids home from Ethiopia.

http://www.vimeo.com/12292225

Here's the blog she keeps updated with information and stories from her home in Africa.

http://savetheorphan.blogspot.com/

Amen

Love this boy

2010-06-16T14:55:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 4:20-22

My son, pay attention to what I say; Listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, Hide them in your heart; For they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

Evan made us proud by memorizing all the books of the Bible. He's been working on this for months now. It all started as a challenge in his Awana's class. Jason has been working alongside him to memorize all the books, and I'm actually not sure who beat whom.

Please excuse the shaggy hair-do and the Dale Jr. t-shirt. It was a hot summer night, and we ended up shaving his head that night~~~new buzz-cut pictures coming soon.

First step in the adoption immigration process COMPLETE!

2010-06-09T11:50:00.003-05:00

Today, when I opened our mailbox, I was thrilled to find our I-171H from US citizenship and immigration services. This is our petition for advance processing of an orphan (I-600A was the application and the I-171H is the approval letter!). Jason had to be finger-printed twice for this petition. I'm not sure if it's due to his wild past or the fact that he doesn't have very defined fingerprints. I'll let you make that judgement call. :)

Dear Rust children in Ethiopia,

We are getting much closer to bringing you home! We were approved by the kind people at the immigration office today. God continues to open doors and lead us to you. May He continue to shine down His blessings on our road to you.

Love,
Mommy

3rd time's a charm!

2010-06-02T09:32:00.002-05:00

After 3 tries, our dossier is finally approved! We are ready to get it authenticated at the state and federal levels. When we've done that, it can be off to Ethiopia and we can W-A-I-T.

These are the days

2010-05-29T21:46:00.000-05:00

Psalms 16:11
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of JOY; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Enough said!

Evan was so thrilled to see the balloons launch. Who
doesn't love seeing that look in a kid's eyes?!

We actually talked Claire into smiling instead of making her usual silly face.

Jason can't escape the love of his little girls. They are crazy about their daddy, and it's no wonder why.....

Here are a few pictures of the girls wearing the cute shirts my mom made for them. I love the one of the girls on the couch. It shows their true colors: Claire being silly and Sophie being dramatic----Go figure!

I love this picture of my boys. Jason wonders where Evan gets his sense of humor. Hmmmm, I don't know.

Evan tried on Uncle Adam's helmet and hopped onto the motorcycle for a tough guy picture.

I caught the kids "playing sleep" again on this day. It's cute when they play together, especially when they play "sleep!"

Sophie is showing signs of being ready to potty-train. Lately, she's been changing all her babies' diapers. I hope it doesn't disturb you that she's changing Elmo's diaper right on the same table Evan is enjoying a snack. You can see in the "sad Sophie" picture that it's not as easy as you think to change a monster's diaper!

We helped Sophie try on Evan's baseball helmet for a minute. She didn't want to take it off, so you can see her here playing sidewalk chalk at our neighbor's house with the helmet on. Never hurts to play it safe, I suppose!

Hard to believe

2010-05-24T21:38:00.004-05:00

This past weekend, our family had a successful garage sale. All the left-overs (some of it is still pretty nice) is staring at me in the garage. I do not look forward to packing it all up. I will remember this if ever I get the urge to go shopping again.

We made about $300 from the sales of some furniture and lots of kids' clothes. If you count the donations, however, the total is more like $875. Yeah, that's not a typo.

My favorite story from the garage sale: an un-named friend (you know who you are) came by and shopped through our things this weekend. She brought the items to me to pay, and 75% of the items were things she'd given to me. There was no way I'd let her pay ME for her things! She pulled out her check-book and went on about how her kids had been saving for this cause and she had been keeping track in her check-book. When she handed me a check for $500, I was speechless. Okay, I wasn't speechless, because when I am in shock, I fill the void of silence with chattering. I was blown away once again (thank you, God) at the heart of our friend and the willingness to give so generously.

Another great story about giving: We are part of a "Radical" small group on Sunday nights. We are studying David Platt's "Radical" series. If you haven't ever heard of it, PLEASE LOOK IT UP! Just google David Platt Radical and look around. He speaks pure truth from the Bible and it is refreshing yet transforming. Anyway, last night we were enjoying the questions and answers that go along with the series, when the oldest son of the house (I think he just turned 11, but I could be off a year or two) decided to do something radical. He decided to give Jason and me the money he'd just received the day before for his birthday. When I understood what was happening, I nearly dropped to my knees. This little boy, who could go spend his birthday money on any number of toys or gadgets, chose to give it to us so we could give it to someone we've never seen. It was roughly $100, which is a fortune and can go really far for a little boy in the United States, and to infinity for little boys and girls who will receive the blessings of his giving.

Time is getting VERY close for Jason and I to hand over a large amount of money we've been saving and watching over for quite some time. It's really just ransom money if you think about it, and totally worth it. If these little ones come here and make our life more difficult than it is right now, let it be! After all, we are loving Jesus through this decision. It is HIS heart we desire to know. It is HIS heart we desire to show to others. It is HIS satisfaction we are seeking.

I'm rambling, but maybe it's because I'm "speechless" about these acts of loving kindness. Until another time, I thank God for His people who He is moving toward His purpose. I thank God for asking us to do His work and to be His hands and feet and mouth and eyes.

Good night!

Yard sale

2010-05-20T22:32:00.003-05:00

We are having the yard sale of all yard sales tomorrow and Saturday. If you live in or near Kansas City, come by and browse. We have furniture, and tons of clothes (maternity, adult, children, babies---both genders, ridiculous amount of shoes, etc).

The money we make on this sale will go toward our massive travel expenses to Ethiopia. It will only get us started, but I guess one must start at the beginning ("a very good place to start!").

I had a moment of "Mendy" tonight. That is when Wendy leaves the building and another person overtakes her body. I hit a wall with the overwhelming task of getting rid of the stuff we've acquired over the past 10 years. It's really quite embarrassing to look at all the stuff. I hope we can get rid of even a fraction of it and take the rest elsewhere. We consider ourselves non-hoarders, but by the looks of the garage tonight, I'm wondering......

A yard sale creates a happy state of mind, to some extent. It is a walk down memory lane. For me, it's not easy to sell clothes. It's not the monetary value of them; it's just the fact that so many of my maternity and baby clothes brought such JOY to my life. I thought tonight about how much JOY they will bring someone else.

I look forward to seeing the response we get at this, our first yard sale. It would be great to raise $500.....we'll have to wait and see!

1st Annual 5K benefitting the Wilma Cook House of Hope

2010-05-16T14:49:00.013-05:00

It's hard to count the victories accomplished yesterday morning at our 1st annual 5K benefitting the Wilma Cook House of Hope with the Global Orphan Project.

The most notable victory was the fact that we had so many friends and family who came to support our cause. Your presence was a huge statement to the world that this work matters.

Penny: A HUGE thank you to you. Without your hard work for the past several months, this would have never happened. The way you have cared for and nurtured this event has been pure delight for me. Mandy Sharp: A special thank you to you. The fact that you were with us on this big day meant the world to me and your help was invaluable. One hundred thank-you's to everyone else who pitched in to help, whether big or small!

The second most notable victory was the weather~~~all week the weather forecasters predicted heavy rain/t-storms and 50ish degrees. It was a beautiful morning, of 60 degrees and NO RAIN!!! Wow! It rained after the event for the entire rest of the day, but the race was dry!

A few other victories prevailed yesterday in personal accomplishments of the runners and participants. Amy Bonjour ran all the way without stopping and in much less time than she expected. That is a BIG DEAL! What a reason to celebrate!

There are so many stories worth telling from yesterday that I will have to save many for another day. God was very present and made Himself visible to Jason and me. As Jason was gathering the crowd and speaking to everyone before we began the race, we were reminded again of the mission we have to serve Him. A special song was playing on his Iphone/speaker set-up which conjured up a distinct focus on the glory of God. In fact, it's by Jeremy Riddle and it's called "God of all glory." It's one we heard the night of the Big Event with Global Orphan Project, where Jeremy Riddle played live. Awesome! No one else probably noticed, but I did! To stand next to Jason and listen as he OPENED HIS MOUTH for the speechless and told of the orphan crisis in the world, I could not have been more proud. What a faithful man I have to love and share life with......

After all the donations were counted, we had a grand total of $2680 just from the 5K. Praise God! Our up-to-date fund-raising total is $10,500. This has all come in, just since January. It's all His and will be used to serve His children in Uganda who are living homeless today and eating dirt and garbage to survive.

We will be sending His money to the "least of these" very soon! Very soon, 10-20 children will have a home and a mama. And we aren't done, yet. We have many more plans for the fatherless. We are hoping to partner with a few other wonderful people who have set up orphanages and charities. Plans are being made and details will be shared in the coming months. We have a big "plan-making" weekend set for the 1st weekend in June.

The two people standing next to the Global Orphan sign were the top male and top female runners. The top male runner received a generous golf prize from Excelsior Springs Golf Club, and the top female received $50 gift cards to Pottery Barn. Enjoy!

Jason was really huffing and puffing to get to the finish line in this shot. Looks like he lost a kid somewhere in the run......

This was the finish line and the man who stole the show with his unbelievable talent. He finished in 18 minutes! And, he had run 5K just before this, just to warm up! That makes me tired, just thinking about it!

My friend, who happens to be Evan's teacher, Angie Roeder (along with her son and husband) came out to show their support. Thanks, guys!

We had several people who chose to do the 1 mile run/walk. Lots of strollers and little ones running off their donut energy!

Here is a picture of Amy Bonjour and her friends who came to support her! Way to go, Amy!

This is a shot of Claire in her tu-tu, eating her 3rd muffin. She thought she was hiding behind this table, until Uncle Adam found her and got this picture!

Too excited to sleep

2010-05-15T04:46:00.002-05:00

The day has arrived. It's the day of our 5k race benefiting the Wilma Cook House of Hope! It's 4:30 AM and I'm way too excited to sleep.

We have had fewer people pre-register than expected, and some of the details are not what we had envisioned. However, I could not be more excited to do this today! Finally, I feel like I've discovered a way to honor God and help His children that DOES NOT FEEL LIKE WORK.

I was going through the details in my head (all day) yesterday. There is quite a lot to arrange when hosting a 5k: t-shirts, food donations, timer, volunteers, balloons, streamers, posters, lists, prizes, registrations, etc. Having been a participant in several other 5Ks, I realize that the details of our's are very am-mature. We are not in the business of hosting 5Ks.

In all the other races I've participated in, there have been fancy DJ's, fancy timers, fancy "goodie-bags." Last night when I looked at the popsicle sticks we are using for placing people and the IPhone/computer-speaker music combo Jason is using for our music, my heart smiled. I was filled with the most thrilling joy, as Evan prepared the name-tags for the runners today. We were able to have that fruitful conversation, once again, about why we are doing this. His heart has grown in this process, although it was probably closer to being in the right place than our's was to begin with!!! God reminded me, in a moment of humility, that this work is for Him.

I fully expected to be stressed over baking my dozens and dozens of muffins late last night, but I truly enjoyed it. In fact, not one moment of stress entered my world.

I pray that we are His hands and His feet today. May our work glorify Him and create blessings for His people that will multiply.

Pictures to come soon! Wish us luck!

Sweet Evan

2010-05-11T21:38:00.003-05:00

Evan loves Jesus. He is always stumping us with really great questions about God and eternity and angels and WOW! He keeps us thinking.

After I put Sophie to bed last night, the thunder began to roll. It wasn't a terribly strong storm, but a couple rumbles of thunder did scare her. She started crying, just as Evan and I were saying our bedtime prayers. I told him we should hurry, so that I could go console Sophie and help her to settle down. Evan agreed, and went on to pray the following:

"Dear Jesus, Thank you for this wonderful week we had. Be with the orphans and be with Sophie tonight. She is scared of the storm. But, a storm is just when hot air meets cold air. Amen."

It was adorable and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He is learning so much in school. I'm so proud of the smart young man he is. I'm thrilled to share these years with him.

Small steps and a thought about Moses

2010-05-10T21:32:00.005-05:00

We made another small step this week. In our mailbox tomorrow goes our corrections to the draft dossier! Cross your fingers that we signed/dated/notarized everything the right way this time. We will hopefully hear from our case manager this week and get the "go-ahead" for the next several steps (authenticating the dossier at the state level, then off to the federal level, then off to Ethiopia for a review before it is all approved----ugh). We are hoping this can be completed in a few weeks, so that we can kiss it good-bye at the end of May/beginning of June. We look forward to officially being on the waiting list. It's important to us that God's timing prevails, so we are not sweating the timing of any of this. If it takes 8 months or a 18 months to see our children's faces and know their names~we'll wait. We know it is already well-planned out and we are just surrendering to whatever may come.

Thank you for praying along with us that our children will have a peace that surpasses all understanding tonight. Pray that God will begin to knit together the threads of our hearts, in the same way he knits us together in our mother's womb. They are in my thoughts and prayers everyday. In fact, when someone asks how many children we have, it almost hurts to say 3 when we know there are 2 more waiting for us out there!

On another note: I wanted to post this yesterday, but time got away from me. There are many profound stories of adoption in the Bible and in the history books. In fact, Jesus' life began and ended with an adoption. Joseph adopted Him as his own son at birth, and Jesus appointed "the disciple whom He loved" and told that disciple: "Behold your mother!" just before His death on the cross. Read John 19:25-27 for more insight.

Here's another one----the story of Moses. If you haven't read Exodus 2 in a while, go pick up your Bible and re-read it. Ask yourself where would we (all of history) be, if an adoption hadn't occurred in the life of this lowly Hebrew baby boy. An unlikely event: a Hebrew boy adopted into the home of the Egyptian Pharaoh. The Pharaoh's daughter opened her mouth for the speechless baby in the river. What if she hadn't?

Proverbs 31:8-9

Open your mouth for the speechless In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

A-M-E-N!!!!

What is old becomes new

2010-05-06T22:41:00.007-05:00

Few words can express the feeling I had tonight about our life change. As I've noted before, we have not always included adoption in our Rust family life vision. We were putting together a mission statement a year or so ago and never landed on one we fell in love with. I know now that it was because we had not stumbled across this very significant detail of our lives God had prepared. On this side of our life story, old songs, ideas, quotes, scriptures have all gained new value. For instance, the song "Bless the Broken Road," by the Rascal Flatts, used to have a special romantic message to me. Now, all I hear is our adoption journey and how God is blessing their broken little road and leading them straight into our arms. There are more examples, but I'll share more of them on another post. What I really wanted to share was my favorite poem by Robert Frost. I don't know why I stumbled across it tonight, but all I had to do was read the title and SMACK! It hit me!!! This is another great emotion-filled example of how our lives look different now compared to this time last year. Our choice to adopt has taken us down the path we had once completely refused. We boasted in our decision to be "done" having kids after Sophie came along. We laughed at the opportunity to be "kid-free" earlier in life than our friends, who were taking longer than us to procreate. Dreams were born and plans were in the works to create some independence from service to others. I don't ever want to go back to that. We were fooling ourselves all along to say that we didn't "want any more kids." Hind-sight is 20/20, don't they say? This is all so very fresh in my heart, as tonight, we put more finishing touches on our dossier. We are hoping these corrections will complete our original draft dossier mistakes! Our goal is to have everything submitted and pay the final lump-sum price by the first of June. It will go in the mailbox (again) this weekend. We will keep the blog updated, as adoption work will be heavy over the next few weeks, before it (hopefully) grows quiet for a little while. For now, go on and read the poem that now holds so much more meaning to our lives. I'm sure it holds great power in your life, too. The Road Less Traveled TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

A great day to be alive

2010-05-02T17:12:00.020-05:00

Disclaimer: I have no idea what happened to the order of the pictures on this particular post, but I never claimed to be a blogging expert! Just read and try to make sense of it, the best you can!

"It's a great day to be alive; I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes."

I don't know who wrote that country song, but it sums up the last 10ish days of our lives.

We have had many moments of joy over the past week. A day in the park while in Farmington at my parents' place provided many happy memories: throwing rocks in the pond, seeing snakes and turtles warm themselves in the sun, and a run in the pouring-down rain. The kids thought it was funny, and when it was all over~we did, too!

Our oldest, Evan, participated in his first school concert. It was a cute kindergarten program called "The Runaway Pancake." The kids all had hand-made pancake masks. They were cute. I practically knew every word of the song, thanks to my daily commute side-kick. I heard that song no less than 100 times over the past month!

Also, the kids have started to play a new game. It's called "Ideas." Thank you, Evan, for such a creative name for a wonderful game. Basically, they all sit on our swing and think up different tasks to complete and see who can do it first. The other day, Claire's "idea" was:

1. Touch the fence.

2. Touch Evan's tree.

3. Touch Claire's tree.

4. Touch the sand box.

5. Spank Sophie's bootie.

6. Spank Elvis' bootie.

It cracked us up, watching the kids run around completing their little tasks. Sophie was a great sport at letting her big brother and sister chase her around to spank her. We have had many memorable moments this week that we cherish. Tonight, I ended my very long day with a rock-a-by baby Sophie and some cuddling. What will I do when the rock-a-by stage is gone? That's what I was made for.........Not much brings me more joy. I love these little people and the man I share my life with who leads our family to big and bold and wonderful things. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing these blessings to flow through our family.

May we be an eternal funnel of You and Your love!

"....But why can't every day be just this good?"

Get behind me, Satan!

2010-04-23T06:22:00.002-05:00

It is so abundantly clear that our appointment with Global Orphan Project and orphan care, in general, was a divine plan. The more we try to love people and the closer we are to Him, the more vicious the attacks from the enemy become.

My family has been under spiritual attack for over a week now. I won't get into all the details.
I will tell you, though, that when we see the events as what they truly are, it almost makes you laugh at Satan's attempts to rule. There have been a good amount of tears shed and some ugly words shouted. There has been a degree of persecution that was initially very hurtful.

John 15:18-25 talks about the world's hatred toward Jesus and His followers. I love verse 25: "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in the law...."

I believe God makes all things good and He will prevail in my family's sufferings. I am choosing this morning to meditate on the holiness of our Creator and Sustainer.

Psalms 148 (this is the chapter I want to memorize---Thank you, David Platt)
PRAISE THE LORD!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Let them PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth
You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl;
Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.

Let them PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD,
For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.
And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints-
Of the children of Israel, a people dear to Him.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The face of an angel

2010-04-19T22:55:00.003-05:00

I saw a picture today of the 3 children I posted about last week. I'm not sure who their forever family is, but they will be so lucky. These children are beautiful. God has been preparing my heart for this adoption, because when I look at them, I love them. I can see how possible it is to love someone who did not physically grow inside you and get all their DNA from you. The little boy reminds me of Evan and the little girls of Claire and Sophie. They are barely younger than our 3----it's almost like a parallel universe or something. If there were no privacy laws, I would post their beautiful faces on my blog.

I'm excited to hear that 5 families are interested in adopting these children. I know I won't forget them soon.

Come run for the children!

2010-04-19T22:43:00.002-05:00

Just in case you have missed our repeated announcements on facebook, email, etc:

5K Race and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk at the Elms Resort and Spa on Saturday, May 15 at 9:00AM.
$25 before May 1 and $30 after. 100% of the money-every single penny-goes directly to the building of our home(s). Check out the Global Orphan web site and see how their overhead costs are funded by private investors, so that YOUR MONEY is available only to the children who need it! 100%!

Let me know if you need registration forms. We are getting our pre-order sent in for t-shirts this week~

Look forward to seeing you all out there! I plan on beating you all anyway (NOT!). :)

For the kids,
Wendy

One more thing:

I re-learned in small group this weekend a great piece of God's word:

Your heart will always be where your treasure is. Luke 12:34

Where's your treasure? On Earth? In Heaven? In STUFF?

Look what we did

2010-04-14T23:05:00.000-05:00

Jason had a cool idea for our blog tonight. Check out the youtube video we created......pretty neat. Now, go ahead and do some google searching for yourself and get the ball rolling!

Stuck in my head

2010-04-13T09:52:00.000-05:00

I've got a song stuck in my head.

"You will be safe in His arms, You will be safe in His arms...
The Hands that hold the world are holding your heart.
This is a promise He made,
He will be with you always.
When everything is falling apart,
You will be safe in His arms."

That's for you, you 3 precious souls created in His image. I'm sending my love to Jesus, the orphan, today. What a beautiful creature He is~stained and dirty clothes, malnourished bellies and all.

Speechless

2010-04-12T20:42:00.000-05:00

All I can say is that the orphan crisis leaves me just mad some days. I'm not sure what makes me more angry:

~The fact that there are not enough willing souls to give up their life for these helpless children,

~The complete lack of facts that 99% of people actually know about why children become orphans.

It makes me angry that people want to believe that the blood is not on their hands, so to speak, because the people of Africa (or elsewhere, even in the US) bring their demise unto themselves (at least, that's what so many would have you to believe).

DON'T miss this:

Proverbs 31:8-9

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

I'm refusing to be quiet and guard against the reality of their world. I'm refusing to ignore it. I'm refusing to pretend that it doesn't exist. I'm refusing to say "This problem is bigger than my influence." I'm refusing to do nothing.

Today we were contacted about the opportunity to adopt a set of siblings from Ethiopia who lost their father to disease not long ago, and lost their mother to murder very recently. The agency who contacted us is not our international agency, so there is little chance these children could become our's. I'm praying on my knees for them tonight. I'm praying that their forever family finds them soon. Please pray with me.

Pray for the tiny 3-year-old boy, and the 2-and 1-year-old girls. These babies just joined the ranks of the 147 million others in the world without an anchor. They are already malnourished, and now abandoned. I don't want to hear about how hard your life is today. It's a bad day to tell me about it.

Hoping for good news, knowing it will come to these precious children one day.

Luke 6:21-

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled, Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast our your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

A-M-E-N

Easter smiles

2010-04-10T21:44:00.000-05:00

Our children got to experience their

first Easter-Egg hunt at our friends' house.

Sophie is the furthest on the left, next to Evan.

After Evan is our friend Avery and our very own Claire.

Thank you, Joey and Deana, for a great time!

We are at Mama Evelyn's house in this picture. The picture, itself, doesn't have much significance, except that I like it. My girls look so old!

Here is a look at a few of the precious moments on our Easter Sunday. This picture cracks us up.......Claire always has to throw in a goofy face for the camera. She still looks beautiful, though. Evan got to get another wear out of his wedding suit and Sophie is wearing the exact same dress this year as last! That's the way, Sophie, to save Mommy and Daddy a few bucks!

Rust Line-Up

2010-04-10T21:29:00.000-05:00

Jason called for a "line up" tonight. When we try to get every child's attention at our house, it always ends in a "line up." It is adorable, but we have to bite our lips, so we don't burst out laughing. The kids take it very seriously and we don't want to shake that! It will be really cute when we have 2 more kids to add to the Rust line-up. (Notice Claire in her fairy costume over her jammies---I really should throw that thing in the washer soon. Gonna have to peel it off her in her sleep one of these nights.) This lining-up business works well when we are outside and it's time to come inside, too. We always have to have a head count to make sure we have all the rug-rats before we close shop. It's a big job keeping track of these kids. When they out-number you, there has to be some serious strategy involved. Zone defense is the word at our house......until next time, I'll leave you with one of my favorite scriptures:

Psalms127:3-5

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.

Amen

A thought for those wondering if they should adopt

2010-04-07T14:22:00.000-05:00

In a very strange, round-a-bout way, we have become friends with a girl, Heidi Weimer, who has adopted twice from Ethiopia. Her family has a great story that is worth your time. I highly recommend reading their blog. She seems to be able to put her thoughts into words better than I can. I love her answer when people ask, "Do you think all Christians are supposed to adopt?" Here's what she says:

http://blessingsfromethiopia.blogspot.com/2010/02/question-i-get-asked-whole-heck-of-lot.html

Kind of convicting, huh?

A little rice goes a long way

2010-04-07T10:06:00.000-05:00

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

At the Rust house, we are attempting to gain a little perspective into the lives of the people who we are praying for daily. The suffering people of Uganda and Ethiopia sometimes have nothing to eat, and when they do, it can be a small amount of rice or other inexpensive food. I don't know about you, but rice always leaves me feeling hungry about an hour after I eat it.

Our family decided to try eating that way one night a week to remember and honor those people. We had our first rice night yesterday evening and we were SHOCKED to see that all 3 children ate the rice! Evan, our oldest, has never touched rice, so it was hilarious to see him gobble up the entire plate of rice and ask for more. Jason kept kicking me under the table to make sure I was noticing this unbelievable event.

This evening was full of conversations about how the mommies and daddies must feel when they have to tell their children that there is no more. Evan told me he thinks that makes those mommies sad, and I agreed! We attempt to remain respectful, and not in a state of sorrow for these people. They don't want our pity~I'm sure. We prayed more earnestly, I believe, for those people last night. I know I thought about them the entire time I fixed the 6 cups of rice on my nice stove. And I thought about them when I washed my dishes in the nice sink with running water. And I thought about them when I tucked my children into their warm bed. I was surprised how such a simple thing changed my perspective.

A few check marks

2010-04-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

I love Claire's style. She is always on the cutting-

edge of fashion! (Takes after her dad!) She's posing

with our Immigrations paperwork.

We've been able to add a few check marks to our adoption "to-do" list lately. The following pictures show us holding some important paperwork before sending them on their way to our adoption agency. Please note: They are not the best pictures of everyone. For some reason, almost all the pictures we've taken like this have a grumpy child in them. It's kind of funny that they think these grumpy faces upset us~~~in fact, they give us more laughter than anything else!

Here is a picture of Sophie being grumpy

the morning we sent off our draft dossier to

CWA. We are now waiting for them to proofread

and edit. After that step, off to Ethiopia it goes!!!

(.......and the wait begins......)

(Sorry for the poor lighting.) Here's Evan's pouty face with our USCIS I-600A application (advanced processing for orphan petition).

One thing more:

I would like to reiterate our stand on all this "hard" paperwork. These are children we are fighting for~~~someone's precious babies (God's children, nonetheless!). If you've ever heard that the adoption paperwork was hard or you've thought to yourself "That's too much work for me," imagine what these mothers and fathers have had to do to give these babies a chance at life. Can you imagine for a moment what they must feel the moment those children leave their embrace for the LAST TIME????? The Rust family work is nothing compared to those honorable birth parents. We are thrilled to be part of God's plan to bring these children home. I would hope someone would work "hard" on all the paperwork to take care of my children if they would ever be abandoned due to death or illness or poverty.

Point: These children are WORTH IT!

On the lighter side

2010-04-03T06:40:00.001-05:00

Claire is a girl who knows how to keep it light around our house. She keeps us laughing around the clock, even sometimes up until late into the night. These days, her favorite thing to do is to don her princess fairy costume on top of her clothes and go on with life as if this is what everyone does. We had to make a trip into Michaels (the craft/hobby store) a couple weeks ago, and Claire had put on her fairy outfit, complete with the princess heals and all. You should have seen the looks on the people's faces. What joy she brings to so many people, especially her mom and dad.

Claire playing tic-tac-toe with Evan and beating him!!!!

Elvis wouldn't know what life was without a rug-rat crawling over him!

She gets creative, too~~~cowgirl princess fairy. Beat that! :)

Count the cost

2010-03-30T13:29:00.000-05:00

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost...all who see it begin to mock and say 'This man began to build and was not able to finish." Luke 14:28-30

After we accepted God's adoption plan for our lives, we started to realize that saying YES to Him means saying NO to the world. Just before the decision was made, we had big, wordly, plans for the Rust family. Our salaries had reached a place that encouraged us to not only rely on ourselves alone, but also to have many options for our lifestyle. For example, we talked about flying all 5 of us somewhere really nice this summer and spending Jason's 5-week sabatical together. A large portion of our salaries was padding a fat retirement and life insurance policy for both of us. We stopped asking if we needed any of our purchases; as long as we had the money to cover it (debt was not a word in our vocabulary for any reason except school and mortgage), that was enough for us!

We had enough options with our income that it began to feel like a burden to figure out what was the best way to spend it. When Jason got his last raise, we COULD NOT agree on how to spend it. I wanted a new (used, actually, so we could buy it straight up without borrowing, of course!) truck and he wanted to finish the basement. We went so far in our search for how to best spend the money that we bought 12 large water tanks and looked into purchasing food that stays preserved for 30 years~~just in case we might ever go hungry. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!

Can't you see how little our faith was? Can't you see that money and self-centeredness was beginning to creap into our family?

That still, small, Voice started with a whisper. However, when we weren't listening and acting fast enough, it turned into a LARGE, LOUD, nearly audible, Voice. When Jason came home from work one night in tears (he really is a manly man---tears are a big deal in his world), he told me he heard the Voice nearly yelling at him all day. The Voice was telling Jason to put himself into action and TRANSFORM his family, by way of building these orphanages and adopting.

God created such a holy discontent in Jason, that all we could do was say, "Yes, please!"

Here's a partial list of what we've noticed so far about this "life is not our own" plan:

NO, Thank you:
~leisurely family vacations
~cool cars
~new clothes
~cushy retirement
~full college funding for our children
~sanity
~sleep
~eating out
~babysitters (Who's going to watch 5 children?)
~clean house
~buying a new dishwasher right away when the other one dies
~focusing on ME
~closets busting with clothes
~buying something we want

Yes, PLEASE!
~camping somewhere cheap together as a family
~being used for His plan
~sharing our blessings
~showing our children what it looks and feels like to be selfless
~hand-washing dishes
~being close to the heart of God
~focus on HIM
~a limit on what we allow to take up space in our closets (Do we really need all those clothes?)
~buying something out of need only

1. Have you done anything out of faith lately?
2. Have you counted the cost of a crucified life?

*********How have you loved on HIS children today?*********

The Birth of a Mission

2010-03-28T23:07:00.000-05:00

It all started one evening after we had put the kids down to sleep. It was a week night. I was grading papers and Jason had been unusually quiet. He finally broke the silence with the statement that he wanted to do something more. He was feeling frustrated because he couldn't figure out what it was that he needed to do. We spoke for an hour about all the options he had, but came to no plan.

Life went on as normal. He got a great review at work and a nice raise. We test drove trucks and began talks of finishing our basement. Roughly a month after our conversation, Jason was approached by some friends who were sharing some leadership in our small group at church. They asked if he'd like to help out. After agreeing, Jason fully expected to feel the sense of satisfaction that he'd found that "something" more. However, it was as if God was telling him, "That's great! But, that's not IT!"

Jason's feeling of discontent continued. I knew he was still searching when he came home from work one day and told me that he had come across the name of a man he knew on a web site for The Global Orphan Project. He'd spent many hours looking into the charity and asked me what I thought about it. I agreed to attend the annual "Big Event" with him scheduled for that very Sunday (Orphan Sunday is the second Sunday in November every year, come to find out~~and November is Adoption Month, in case you didn't know!). I was so excited to tell my Grandma Cook about our plans! She had been abandoned at an orphanage in St. Louis at the age of 5. There she lived until she married my grandfather at age 17. Her stories have always tugged at my heart and given me the desire to adopt. What a strong, honorable life she lived. I never got the chance to tell her. On the Friday before the Big Event (3 days after agreeing to attend the Big Event), my grandma lost her battle with Alzheimer's. Her death created in me both sadness and passionate willingness to action.

After attending the "Big Event," we agreed that we had finally found our passion. In fact, we committed on that evening to build a home for 8-10 children and save/raise the $15,000-20,000 needed ($5,000 to build and $40 per month per child for 3 years). We just KNEW, as evidenced by our constant tear-stained faces, that THIS WAS IT!!! We heard God's calling (okay, actually it's a command---check out the book of James) and we said "YES!" We have since found countless friends and supporters who have joined in our mission.

However, one month later (December 2nd, to be exact), God spoke again. He told us once more, "That's great! But, that's not all I have planned for you." On my way to school this Wednesday morning, my mind was in a million places. I was trying to get the girls to the sitter's and get to school a little early, for once. Of course, God showed up instead. I was waiting behind a school bus, while a mother was gently leading her daughter into the bus. The switch flipped right then and there. This was just an ordinary act of love, but it changed my life. I started thinking, "I have more love to give. I can love more children. I have room in this van and we have room in our house for more. There is NO reason we shouldn't adopt a child who needs a forever home."

I'm pretty certain the Holy Spirit was riding right next to me that morning, because I called Jason right away and here is our astounding conversation:

Me: "Jason, we need to adopt. Can you please look into it today and bring home any information you can get your hands on?

Jason: (silence)

Me: "Jason?"

Jason: (tearfully) Wendy, you will never guess what I wrote in my prayer journal this morning.

Me: "What??"

Jason: "One word. Adoption."

Me: "No, way!"

Jason: Wendy, this morning, I prayed to God that I wanted to adopt. I told Him that I needed Him to get you behind the idea so I wouldn't be afraid to move forward.

Me: (silence)

Jason: (silence)

BOTH: (awe)

That was the beginning, the very first moments of the birth of the Rust family mission. I will soon be posting our progress with both the Global Orphan Project and our adoption.

Until then, PRAISE THE LORD! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens! And you waters above the Heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! Psalms 148:1-5

www.theglobalorphanproject.org

What a great way to spend an afternoon

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My sister, Penny, beat everyone! She went home with some
great prizes!

The serious table

The fun table

We just completed our first official fund-raiser for our home in Uganda. We are building a home through the Global Orphan Project with the help of many generous friends and supporters. Each home we're able to build will house and support 8-10 children. It's exciting to me that through an afternoon of poker fun with close friends, we were able to raise $600 toward that great cause!

Thank you to everyone who considered the children who will be off the street and came for a good time today (or simply gave because you couldn't make it). We sincerely appreciate your time and financial support. It's ironic to me that we can help others so easily, with hardly any sacrifice. It seems like it should be harder than this. When I get more energy (?), I am going to post what brought us to this charity and this newfound passion. Until then......

We've arrived!

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The Rusts have arrived to the blogging world! We are excited to share our stories with you. There is a lot going on at the Rust house these days and a whole lot of thinking that should be shared.

The title of our blog is in honor of a song by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils that holds a special place in the Rust family history. We have so many blessings~it's hard to imagine that it could even get any better. We know it will, because we've been promised (John 14:2~look it up!).

Now, I need to go learn how to post pictures and cool gadgets. Until next time....

It couldn't be better

Hard news

Swarming Locusts

Waiting for a Status Change

Comfort and Joy

Work on Me

Busted bubble

Orphan Sunday

No movement in court today

The Waiting Game, again

Court update

Big day

2 big deals today:

~We went to orientation where we learned how to pass court in a foreign country

~We changed Jude's diaper.

We are well-pleased with our day.

Thanks and love to you all~

Wendy

Quick update

On our way

The Lost Sheep

What's in a name?

A decision and a phone call

A change in plans

Still here

Snapshots of the sweeties

Concrete

Take me out to the ballgame

The view from here

One word

Three-fifths

Next

In Between

My Father's House

These walls

The eyes of Alpha

Just Love Coffee

Epiopia

All ears

Would you rather?

Sophie is hungway

Is this Heaven?

Sweet memories

In the air

Ode to 2 fathers

On our way

Reality Check

Love this boy

First step in the adoption immigration process COMPLETE!

3rd time's a charm!

These are the days

Hard to believe

Yard sale

1st Annual 5K benefitting the Wilma Cook House of Hope

Too excited to sleep

Sweet Evan

Small steps and a thought about Moses

What is old becomes new

A great day to be alive

Get behind me, Satan!

The face of an angel

Come run for the children!

Look what we did

Stuck in my head

Speechless

Easter smiles

Rust Line-Up

A thought for those wondering if they should adopt

A little rice goes a long way

A few check marks

On the lighter side

Count the cost

The Birth of a Mission

What a great way to spend an afternoon

We've arrived!