We have started the process!!!!!!!!!

An anonymous donor has completed our adoption fund!!!!! Praise Jesus!  They have told us to go ahead and proceed that it has been taken care of!!!  So as of this week we have started the Homestudy process.  We are filling out all the paper work for our domestic adoption.  Please keep us in your prayers!  We are super excited and will continue to keep you guys updated!  Please remember us and pray for us...we still have to purchase all the things that go along with a new baby...so pray that the funds come in :)  Thanks so much to everyone who has prayed for us and to those who have donated! 

Much Love,

Kristin

Spread a little Christmas Joy :)

Help us give an orphan a home!!!!!  I am looking for 2,500 people to donate only $10 to our adoption fund!  Come on people...$10.  That's less than most of you spend in a day on junk food and magazines!  We are really ready to bring our baby home and are tired of just waiting around for the money to magically appear.  We are going to adopt.  We are going to bring home one of God's children that needs a home! 

James 1:27  

Much Love and God Bless!
Kristin Thomas

Agency news...

Well I have some crappy news.  Covenant Care isn't accepting out of state applications right now.  So now...we are looking for another agency.  I have to start researching them again.  The good news is that Jessica Johnson of Forever Family Adoptions in Franklin KY is helping me find possible agencies!  She is Amazing.  I am so blessed to have her helping us in this journey!  If you are thinking about adopting and looking for someone to do your homestudy, Jessica is awesome.  She is truly living out God's will for her life.  She is a true advocate for the child and for the family.  If you have any questions about reaching her just email me at inspiredbygrace@yahoo.com  I'll give you all her info!  or you can go to www.foreverfamilyadoption.com 

God Bless!!!
Kristin

BIG deal....

Well I have been thinking about fasting for about a week now.  I was wondering what I was going to fast.  I am doing my fast until we bring our baby home!!!!  So are you ready....wait for it....I'm fasting....C...H...O...C...O...L..A...T...E!  Yes you read it right...I am fasting chocolate.  And just so you know...I LOVE chocolate.  So I don't know how long this is going to be...but I will be fasting and praying like crazy until we bring our baby home.  Please pray for us.  Thanks!  Much Love, Kristin

My heart breaks.

My heart is breaking tonight.  I feel horrible and guilty knowing that I have so much, and these orphans are sleeping on nothing...drinking muddy bacteria filled water.  How can we as a church, as God's children just sit back and do nothing, and even more crazy is to just sit back in our comfortable little lives and just ignore what is going on outside of our back yard. 

Tonight I pray that God reaches down and touches each and every orphan...letting them feel His spirit and His greatness...I pray that God protects them...I pray that God reaches down and breaks the hearts of the church for His children, His orphans.  I pray that the church opens up our hearts to these orphans, and steps out of our little comfortable 'box'. 

These are children, innocent children that need us, as a church, God's people, to step up and do as we are told.  In the Bible it says that 'Pure and genuine religion in the eyes of God our father is caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and not letting the world corrupt you."  James 1:27 

He, our Father, has adopted us.  We should be doing the same for His children.  We owe him everything.  This is all his...it can be taken away in a split second.  Please pray for me tonight, pray for our family as we continue to try and raise money to bring home one of the approximately 147 million orphans in this world.  Pray that God blesses us with the ability to care for as many of His children as he will allow.  Pray that He also touches many more hearts and lets them feel what He feels towards the orphans. 

Thanks! 
Much Love and God bless!!!!!
Kristin

Our Story...

There has been a lot of traffic on our blog the last few days...probably because I have been forcing you all to spread the word!!!! lol.  But I thought it would be appropriate to tell our story again so that people would know a little about us and why we are adopting...here it goes.

Cory and I have been married since June 5, 2004.  We are truly best friends!  We have a wonderful biological daughter, Kylie.  She is the most amazing little person on earth!  We love and cherish every moment we get to spend with her.  Kylie will be three in October of this year.  As a family we pray together every night, and go to church together on Sundays.  We love our church family and we put God first in everything we do.  We love our time with Jesus and are so blessed as a family to be on the 'same page'. 

In December of 2009 a friend of mine was selling shirts that she had designed for her adoption fundraising.  I had watched several 'adoption' videos and 'gotcha day' videos.  In the midst of all this I started feeling a tugging on my heart for adoption.  After tons of research, prayer, and sharing it all with Cory, we both decided on Dec 26, 2009 that we would be adopting our next child. 

At first we wanted to adopt from Korea.  We felt that Korea was a great match for us.  We ran into several things when researching Korea that deterred us.  But we kept trying to move forward...knowing that's where we wanted to be.  Then, while doing my daily adoption blog reading from others I ran across an astonishing statistic.  I'm pretty sure this is what it said...'For every caucasian child born in the US there are 7,000 families waiting, and for every African American child born there are ZERO, yes 0, families waiting! 

After I heard that statistic I called Cory and told him.  He was amazed too.  We then decided that's where we were needed, here in the US.  We prayed and prayed for the peace and strength to deal with people who wouldn't approve.  We realized that we shouldn't worry about those people...we are doing God's will, we are taking care of HIS children! 

So that leads us to where we are now...fundraising!  We are trying to raise the money for the homestudy currently and then on to the fundraising for the actual adoption costs.  Please consider purchasing a shirt, purchasing something from our Pamapered chef fundraiser, or donating!  We want to raise it as fast as we can!  We are sooooooooooo ready to bring our baby home!!!!

Thanks and Much Love!
Kristin

Pampered Chef Fundraiser!!! PLEASE READ!

Hey guys!  We are also doing another fundraiser along with our tshirts!  My fabulous cousin is a Pampered Chef Consultant and is doing a fundraiser show for us!  Along with what Pampered Chef is donating Lisa will be donating all of her commission!!!!! HOW AWESOME!  We have a chance to really make a dent in this fundraising! 

Orders will be taken through November 2nd.  Orders will be delivered before Thanksgiving!  Please go to www.pamperedchef.biz/lisacregscooking and search for my name, Kristin Thomas.  You can place your orders right there on the site with a credit card!  The items will be delivered direct to your door!  Please spread the word!

You should check out their new products that just came out Sept 1st!  This is a great time to get your Christmas shopping done!  Not only will you be giving GREAT gifts you will be helping us bring home our baby!!!!

Thanks and much Love!
Kristin

We are almost to our homestudy...well kinda!

So...counted the shirts we have left...if we sell them ALL then we will only be about $100 from our homestudy!!! We have the following left: In the black shirts we have; S=3, M=2, L=5, XL=6, XXL=5, XXXL=3, XXXXL=1...In the Grey we have the following left; S=2, M=6, L=2, XL=6, XXL=1, XXXL=2. PLEASE spread the word! We need to sell these shirts ASAP!

Much Love!
Kristin

So down...

I don't know why I have gotten like this.  Maybe it's the stress of finances, or mainly of student loan debt.  Or maybe it's the fact that I am STILL not a nurse.  Or maybe it's the fact that I'm impatient and whiney!  Cory and I were talking about it the other day...we are SOOOOO ready for another baby!  He said that when we decided to have another if the money wasn't there for the adoption that we would go ahead and start trying to get pregnant.  I was like 'okay, but first I gotta lose at least 70lbs'.  Then he said that we would just have to give the money we have raised to another family for their adoption.  I agreed.  

BUT...We are going to adopt!  I don't feel like we should interupt God's plans for us.  We are going to bring our baby home.  I just have to stop being so impatient.  I know that this is on HIS time, not ours.  This is HIS world, HIS plan, and we are HIS people.  We just have to sit back and watch him work :)  We will get our baby!  (Hopefully soon :) 

Praying for guidance,
Kristin

Who is Jesus???

Tonight our church had our first 'Lifefest'.  It was awesome!  The guest pastor, Eric Baker, gave an awesome message.  He spoke about who Jesus is to everyone.  How,  if you ask people who he is,  everyone will say different things.  But do you really KNOW Jesus?  Do we live our lives like we really and truly have a relationship with him?  Are the 'church' people going around and saying we know Jesus but failing to actually KNOW HIM???  We can talk about him all we want...believe in him...know the story...go to church...and even witness to people...and still I ask...do we really KNOW HIM?  Just like the story of when he went to Bethany four days after the death of his friend Lazarus.  When he got there Mary and Martha, Lazurus' sisters, asked him why wasn't he there, why didn't he come when they called for him???  They said that he could have saved him.  He asked Martha if she knew who he was, and she gave him an answer...one that we would probably give now...one that probably almost all 'church' people give.  But Jesus asked her, "“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”  And she said yes.  We would all say yes.  But then he went on to see Martha, Mary, and all of His friends and disciples weeping at Lazurus' funeral.  He had told them that he would rise again but they still thought because he was dead and had been dead for four days that a miracle wasn't going to happen.  Jesus actually got angry...so angry that he wept. 

I ask you...are you like those people at the funeral.  You profess to know Jesus, you worship him, you feel that you are one of His people, but yet we still doubt that things can be done?  Seriously?  I know I am guilty of this.  Now I don't mean that we outright, consciously choose to have doubt.  I am talking about when we are doing things, praying about things, and in the midst of these things we doubt that we can finish...we doubt that we are gonna make it.  But you know what, with God on our side, we can't lose!  We need to truly have a relationship with Him, I mean be so crazy in love with Him that we don't even notice when things might not go our way.  That's the love I want.  That's the relationship I want with Him.  I'm going for it. 

So what does all this have to do with our adoption?  I'll tell you what it has to do with it...I've secretly been doubting.  Just sitting back and wondering if God was going to 'step up' and bring us some miracle.  Well I'm done with that way of thinking.  I know that I have to get my butt in gear.  I have to do everything I possibly can to make this adoption happen.  God IS going to bless our adoption...it's HIS adoption.  He wants us to take care of His children that may not get love otherwise.  He wants us to show our love to one of His children so that through us a few people may realize that love has no color.  That God doesn't just love someone for their skin color.  He has adopted us...and therefore we want to thank him and show our gratitude by adopting one (or two or three or ten-hehe don't tell cory:) of His children and raising them in His glory and grace.  I am just going to calm down and realize that God is in control, he always has been, I've just been getting in the way!  It's all yours God, and it always will be!

Much Love and God Bless!
Kristin

Still here...just been discouraged...

Hey guys...sorry so long since my last post.  I have gotten discouraged.  Tshirt sales slowed down, of course after I had just ordered another batch.  So now here we are with all these shirts and no sales.  It's been over a month since my last shirt sale.  I am seeing all of these little babies everywhere and it makes me want our baby home SOOOOOO BAD!  

I have to get to work on this and come up with some more fundraisers!  Any Ideas???  We need to raise about $1200 ASAP for our home study.  I want this terribly!  We don't have very much at all in our fund right now...it's all tied up in our shirts!  I have about 35 or 40 shirts to sell!  If I sold ALL of them we would only be a couple hundred away from our home study. 

We completely understand that people can't afford to give right now.  We are in the same boat.  But would you please pray for us?  We know that we can't do this on our own.  We know that it is going to happen in God's time.  Please pray that he blesses our adoption and our adoption fund.  We were really wanting to have our baby home by Christmas...doesn't look like that's going to happen.  The ONLY way that could happen is if it was a miracle of God. 

Anyways...I'm back...and ready to go at this FULL FORCE in the name of the almighty God!

"I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me. "  Phil 4:13

Thanks and Much Love!
Kristin

Woohooo!

Well here's the news on our adoption.  We have for sure (unless we decide differently later) chosen our adoption agency,  Covenant Care in Georgia.  We are super excited!  I talked with them this morning and they are AWESOME people!  They seem super sweet and seem to have great hearts for adoption and for God.  So within the next couple of months (hopefully by June) we will be getting our homestudy and sending it and our application in to them.  Then once it is approved we will be put on the waiting list!  Then we will be waiting for our childs birthmother to pick us to be the family to raise her child.

 I pray that God protects our birthmother thru the process and helps her along her journey, and with the hardest decision she will ever make.  I want to thank her in advance for having soooooo much love for her child that she is so selfless and is choosing the best option for her child.  And to our birthmother:  I want you to know that we will be forever grateful to you and we will always keep you in our prayers. 

Please continue to pray for us on our journey and please please please share our story!  Spread the word about our adoption fundraising and tshirts!  Thanks so much!  God Bless!

Much Love,
Kristin

Check out these adorable dresses!!! (and enter to win!)

A fellow blogger who has adopted two PRECIOUS little girls from China is giving away one of the coolest creations ever!  A 'Poppy Dip'.  What is a Poppy Dip you say...well you should just hop on over to http://www.itspoppydip.blogspot.com/ to see AND order them and then hop on over to http://www.throwingourarmsopenwide.blogspot.com/ to enter the drawing for a new Poppy Dip!  I've put my entries in for Kylie!  I am also going to be ordering one of these SOON!

Much Love!
Kristin

Under attack...already!

Okay...so I know there are going to be people who disagree with us adopting out of our race...but today I had to hear it from one lady.  Here's how it went down...

I was telling this older lady how we are adopting domestically now.  She asked what race...so I told her, african-american.  Well apparently she had been holding back her feelings about us adopting until today.  She told me that I shouldn't be adopting anyways because we can physically still have children.  She said that there is no reason to adopt when you can have your own kids.  Then she proceeded to tell me that if we were going to adopt then we shouldn't adopt outside of our own race.  She said that it is ridiculous and it is harmful to the child.  So I proceeded with why we are adopting and why we are choosing african american.  I thought...when this lady hears the statistics there is no way she can argue...boy was I wrong!  When I told her about there being approximately 147 million orphans in this world her reply was..."well you can't change the world!"  I said what do you mean I can't change the world...I can change the world for one!  She asked what that was supposed to mean...but didn't let me explain.  She then went on to tell me that only God can change the world.  So I asked her...how do you think he does that...He sends His people to do that!  One small thing at a time!  I said, how do you think anything in this world gets done, it's not everyone doing something at one time...someone has to be the first...someone has to have a dream to change the world!  She just wasn't having it...she told me that only God could change the world...I said, I agree, and he does so thru us!  So then she went on to say some other really mean things about what people will "think" about me if we adopt african american.  Well I got news for you lady...I ain't out to please anyone but my heavenly Father, and I sure don't care what they think!  I was very bitter most of the rest of the day...but then I realized...that I shouldn't be bitter, I just needed to pray for her and ask God to help me be strong in these situations, and not to get upset.


So the moral of the story...there are always going to be people who don't agree with what we are doing...I just gotta remember...I am not doing this for them, I am doing it for HIM!

I am sure this was the first of many encounters I have like this...I just wasn't expecting it yet...or from her.  But I thank God I didn't lose my cool.  Now, maybe I should prepare a little more for such a beating!  Thanks for yall's support!

Much Love!
Kristin

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28

Wow...it's been forever

Hello folks!  I know it's been FOREVER since my last actual post, sorry!  So quite a bit has been going on in the Thomas household.  Here's a bit to catch you up:

1.  We have been remodeling...we had a roof leak, which led us to find a hot water leak, which led us to black mold, which led us to yet another water leak...needless to say, we have had a very busy past few weeks!  So far we have gotten the roof fixed and redone, torn out flooring in three rooms, layed new plywood/underlayment/and flooring down in three rooms, put in a new water heater, new toilet, fixed some pipes in the laundry room, and put down baseboard.  Man its been fun, NOT!  We had to spend a week at Cory's mom and dad's while we were removing all the black mold.  We are at home now but still have a few things left to do. 

2.  As far as social life, well there really hasn't been any!  We have been out to eat with his parents once and mine once, that's it.  Which honestly...we don't need to be spending money right now with everything going on. 

3.  My crazy brain has come up with an idea to get rid of my student loan debt...so what did I do to journal this...I started another blog!  You can check it out here:  http://www.skybluecrayon.blogspot.com/ 

4.  And with the adoption process...some BIG decisions have been made!  We heard a crazy statistic and it has been weighing on our hearts since.  We heard that in the US there are 7,000 families waiting for every caucasian baby that is born, and for african american...get ready for the number...there are ZERO on the waiting list!  Can you believe that?  We were heartbroken by this and just can't understand.  So with that being said, we have decided that maybe our next baby is right here in the US.  Now, I'm not saying that we aren't going to be going to Korea for a child...just putting that on hold right now.  There is an urgent need for families willing to adopt african american or biracial children in the US.  So we are talking with an agency in Georgia right now about our options.  The fees with this agency are considerably less than any other agency we have researched, domestic or international.  Instead of having to raise $30,000 we are only going to have to come up with less than $8,000!!   We are sooooooo excited!  Our next step is our home study.  So we have to raise about $1,000 more for our home study and we will be sending it and our application in!  I have seen where some families have their baby within just a few months of sending in their application!  So I guess I am saying that right now the only thing that seperates us from our son is less than $8,000! 

So, after all that I hope you are still with me.  I am glad to be back and hopefully won't have anymore breaks this long!  I want to ask you all to pray for us and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE spread the word about us, about our shirts, and about our adoption!  I would LOVE to have our son home for Christmas!  Thanks!

Much Love,
Kristin

New Post coming soon....I hope!

Sorry I've been kinda non-existent, we are remodeling!  We have been staying at my in-laws house for a week now.  I am soooooooo ready to be home!  We are getting there.  Hopefully by Sunday we will be back in our own beds.  Pray for us!  So maybe soon I'll have a post worth something. 

Much Love,
Kristin

New shirts!!!! Cory's are in!

Here are Cory's shirts:  

Front of shirt

Back of shirt

Design is full front and full back. 

The shirts are Gildan Ultra Cotton

100% cotton preshrunk.

Shirts are $20  

Thanks and MUCH LOVE!

Kristin 

Dad's for Adoption...WOW!

http://oatsvallteam.blogspot.com/2010/02/dads-4-adoption-you-ask-for-it.html


Check this out!  I love it!  Cory will be watching it soon!

Much Love,
Kristin

Adoption 101 (well what I know so far!)

Okay, so this isn't really adoption 101.  We of course are only in the first step, fundraising.  But I have had a ton of people ask me about adoption and where they can find information.  Here is what I know and the research I have done.  THESE ARE MY INTERPRETATIONS OF ADOPTION, YOU SHOULD DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH IF YOU PLAN ON ADOPTING AS EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN OPINION!

Domestic Adoption:  There are several agencies in the US for domestic adoption.  There are only a few that allow partially open or closed adoptions, the majority that I have found are open adoptions. 

1.  Open adoptions are where you meet the birth mother, and remain in contact or partial contact with the birth mother depending on what you agree on. 
2.  Partially or semi-open adoptions are where you can communicate with the birth mother through the agency that you are using.  Depending on comfort of both parties you could talk to the birth mother personally. 
3.  Closed adoption is that where only the minimum amount of information is given to the birth mother and the adoptive family.
With Domestic adoption you usually get your child at a very young age, and a ton of the time straight from the hospital!
The cost is about the same as international, is some cases a little less expensive.  It all depends on the agency and the medical costs of the birth mother.

International Adoption:  There are also many different agencies for international adoption.  Only certain agencies deal with certain countries.  There are several countries where you can adopt from right now, here are a few:
1.Korea (where we will be adopting from! here is my friends blog who just got her daughter from korea in Nov! http://www.afamilytolove.blogspot.com/
2.Ethiopia (my next choice!  for info on this one go to http://www.weloveourlucy.blogspot.com/)
3.China
4.Ukraine
5.Bulgaria
6.Thailand
7.Taiwan
8.Uganda
9.India
10.Nepal
11.Rwanda
12.Russia

International adoption right now is running about 25-50k.  That is including all of your cost from application to all the post adoption costs. 

Usually with international adoption your child will be 9 months old or older when they come home.  In some circumstances it may be earlier.  (Ethiopa is one of the countries I am pretty sure they can come home earlier).  There are also many sibling groups up for adoption.  Check out this couples blog, they just adopted two boys!  http://www.adoptingsweetpea.blogspot.com/   As far as waiting for your child the times vary greatly.  With us we will probably wait about a year after our application for our son to come home!  With some agencies it is less than that but with most it is usually that or longer.  Some people have been waiting for their kids for 3-4years! (such as several of the Haiti cases that got to come home after the earthquake).  

And then there is adopting through the foster system, which I really don't know that much about.  I do know that the cost is very minimal in foster system adoption.   This isn't really an option for our family at this time.  (but definitely will be in the future!)

Now, this is only little bits and pieces of the information out there.  It really doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg, but it's a start.  If you have other questions here is a list of blogs of families who have already adopted and a list of some of the other sites and agencies I have researched.  If you have any questions let me know! 

http://www.weloveourlucy.blogspot.com/
http://www.adoptingsweetpea.blogspot.com/
http://www.dayeongandtherestofus.blogspot.com/
http://www.afamilytolove.blogspot.com/
http://www.the30dayjourneyforhope.blogspot.com/
http://www.ordianaryheroblog.blogspot.com/


http://www.holtinternational.org/
http://www.allgodschildren.org/
http://www.adoption.com/
http://www.aiaaadopt.org/
http://www.reecesrainbow.org/
http://www.hearttoheartadoptions.net/ 
http://www.adoptassoc.com/


Enjoy! 
Much Love!
Kristin

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God our Father is caring for the Orphans and Widows..."  James 1:27

What are you waiting for?????

Love this song...we are always waiting for the "perfect" conditions to do what we feel we should be doing, but in all reality, "What are you waiting for?"   check this video out, Natalie Grant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYe_g4vFwog

So People think we're kinda crazy...

When Cory and I decided in December to officially tell everyone that we would be adopting our next child, we knew we would be questioned.  Most people say, "Don't you have a little girl of your own?", or "Can you not have children?".  We then explain to them that yes, we do have a little girl, and yes we can still have children.  Then they get this funny look on their faces and ask "Why on earth are you going to spend all that money and adopt?".  So then here's what we tell them:

We are doing this because we feel that it is God's will for us.  There have been several times already that we have thought, "really...why us...why now?".  But we just have to chill out, and remember that this is Gods will, it is His timing, His money.  We are fundraising to fund the adoption.  Most people say, "man, it is going to take forever to get that much money."  Well we aren't sure God's timing for us on the whole funding issue, but we do know that He will provide and it will come when He has planned.  That could be in a year or that could be in a month. 

We also tell them that there are 147 million orphans in the world, and we feel our son is one of them.  We quote scripture that talks about orphans.  We tell them that our God is awesome and He has adopted all of us and that we are made in His image.  Then we ask them to pray for us on our journey.  Some people still don't understand why, and that's okay.  Some of them even get mad or angry because they say that we shouldn't be spending that much money on adoption when we can have our own.  They say we should leave those children for the people who can't have kids...really all 147 million of them?  I know that not everyone is going to be understanding and open to adoption, but I pray that God continues to send people into our lives who do understand. 

I thank God that we have so many great people in our lives and that they are very supportive of our decision.  Well most of the time :).  Thanks to everyone who is reading this who is supportive! 

Much Love!
Kristin

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God our Father means caring for orpans..."  James 1:27

Shirts are HERE!

Well my first batch of shirts are here and they are sooo cute!  If you want to order one you can on the right hand side of the blog.  Thanks for your support!  Here are some pictures:

                                                                     Front of Shirts

Back of Shirts

Much Love!

Kristin

Glimmer of Hope...

Well I have been researching other options to bring our son home faster! There is an agency out there that doesn't have the weight restrictions for Korea. The child will come from the  "waiting child" list. To be on this list the child has to have something wrong medically. The medical issues range greatly from something very minor to some major issues.  It is shaping up to be the route we are probably going to take! We just have pray to God to guide us in taking the right steps in this process! Please pray with us and for us about this option! Thanks!

Kylie and the flag of South Korea



So Sweet!



Kylie's fake camera "chipmunk" grin!

Much Love,

Kristin

Baby Slings

Slings all around for my son when he comes home!  Love this video! 

Much Love!
Kristin

Check this out!

Just go to this blog and listen to this song...God is soooo AWESOME!    http://the30dayjourneyforhope.blogspot.com/2010/02/lydia-and-natalie.html

Sad and Defeated...by my own self

I am very sad as I write this post. Well I guess I just feel defeated. As I sit here I think about how bad I want my son home. I know he is somewhere in this world. I just don't know where yet. We really had our hearts set on Korea, and still do really. The main thing though is that we are both overweight. We started our diets a few weeks ago and I have ruined it once again. I find it really upsetting that as bad as I want a son I STILL keep bringing my hand to my mouth with things that I just shouldn't be eating. This is terrible. It brings me to tears to think that I am letting myself destroy my dreams all for some stinkin food. I am so at a loss for what to do, I know that I just have to turn it all over to God. I want to be what God wants me to be, and to do what HE wants me to do. So tonight, I am laying it all down, over to God. HE is in control, and I have to let Him be.

Much Love,
Kristin

Snow :)

Here are a few pictures from our snow adventures yesterday and today!  Kylie LOVED it both days and didn't want to come inside.  Her little cheeks are wind burnt!  We had a blast!  Kylie got to help build her first snowman, and it was the first Cory and I had done in years.  Here are the pics. :)

Much Love!
Kristin

Cross for a Cause Shirts are in!

My friend Tara will have her shirts in this week! Check out this link to read about them! http://mufandcup.blogspot.com/2010/01/cross-for-cause-shirts.html  VERY VERY cute long sleeve tees!

yay! new email addy!

I got us a new family email address today! adventuresofthethomasfamily@yahoo.com How fitting huh? This will be our family email! Yay, I know not huge, but I think it's pretty cool!

Much Love,
Kristin

Wow, wow and more wow!

I read this post through a fellow bloggers link who led me to it.  It is AMAZING!!!  Here's the link:  http://www.storinguptreasures.com/2010/01/love-is-action-word.html      You must must MUST check it out ASAP! 

Much Love,
Kristin

New Camera!!!!

I am so excited!  We just got a new camera last night! It's a Canon Powershot SX120 IS.  Our old one has some technical issues.  So now we have a camera again after not having one for about a year!  Hopefully we will have many more postings to come using our new camera! 

Much Love,

Kristin

Hope...

I just wanted to write about my past few weeks. I don't know what is going on inside me but the word Hope keeps popping up. I'm not just talking about I've seen it a couple times, I see it about 3 to 5 times a day! I know God is trying to tell me something, but I'm just not sure what it is about yet.

I just keep thinking...is it about our adoption...school...work...money...family??? As for now, I am going to have HOPE in all of those!

Please pray that it all makes sense to me soon!

Much Love,
Hopeful Kristin

Cross for a Cause

My friend Tara officially started her fundraising for adoption in December. She has orderd some long sleeve shirts and they are adorable. They have a fabric stitched cross and the verse "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." John 14:18 on the back. They are adorable and a great way to raise awareness about adoption and help her raise money for hers! You should go to her blog, http://www.mufandcup.blogspot.com/ and order one! If you are local I am sure you can email her and tell her the size you need and she will have it for you to pick up. If you have any questions you can email me at inspiredbygrace@yahoo.com. Here are some pictures of the shirts:

Tara and her sister Tiffany (please excuse the fact that they are wearing Steelers, they are still good people. lol Tara's the one on the right)

Big goose egg to your right....

As you look at the right side of this blog you will find a "chip-in" widget. Right now it has a big goose egg, ZERO, in the total. Upon first glance it seems impossible that we could raise enough money by fundraising to bring our son home, but I know that all things are possible with God on your side! That goose egg won't be an egg for long!

"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10

Just been thinking about Korea...

As I have been reading many different things about different agencies I have been thinking Korea might not be the smartest choice for us.  First we both have a significant amount of weight to lose, Second we have to raise the money through various fundraising, Third, there are many other countries that aren't as expensive and don't have the strict laws like Korea.   But tonight, looking at others blogs, I am reassured that God has a son coming from Korea just for us!  I don't know how long it will take us to find him and be able to bring him home, but I know he will be there waiting for us when we are ready! 

Seoul Searching,
Kristin