tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.comments2012-10-29T12:47:36.198-04:00Our Journey to AfricaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976334646791234332noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-26933771874254456462012-10-29T09:34:08.688-04:002012-10-29T09:34:08.688-04:00That's very exciting! You and Kelly sure are g...That's very exciting! You and Kelly sure are good at making girls! :D Congratulations to your growing family. I'm happy for you.Jennifer Rouanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190726482623408396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-12612884349847466062012-03-08T23:37:38.415-05:002012-03-08T23:37:38.415-05:00We thought we were adopting from Guatemala in 2007...We thought we were adopting from Guatemala in 2007 when we started our journey. Then the country closed to adoptions. Then we thought we were adopting from Vietnam in 2008, then the country closed and we had to pull out of that too. Then it took what seemed like forever for us to get out of debt so we could start again. Finally we started with Ethiopia 2010 and finished in 2011. I wonder sometimes...why didn't we just start with Ethiopia in the first place? We didn't even consider it when we first started. And even while we were paying off our debt, we were looking into Kazahkstan and Russia. One day we got some paperwork from an agency. I had noticed Ethiopia by that point, but Aaron still hadn't. However, he was looking through the paperwork and it was like a light bulb went off. He wanted Ethiopia. Why did God lead us on this wild goose chase? Why didn't God just wait until right before our boys were ready to be referred to us for us to start instead of 4 years before? Why did we have to lose so much money to Guatemala and Vietnam? <br />Well, I don't know why except I would like to think that I have matured a lot in the last 4 years and my faith has increased a lot. Our boys weren't born when we started in Guatemala or Vietnam. God timed it perfectly. We have never desired to adopt from the US? Why? Well, our children weren't here, they were in Ethiopia. Who knows where your journey will lead you or how long it will take other than God. I'll pray that it is fast though because waiting stinks!K. Pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13631982104050195540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-50852238829701808582012-02-28T09:36:02.291-05:002012-02-28T09:36:02.291-05:00I didn't see your earlier post until just now....I didn't see your earlier post until just now... LOVE this. We should get together and talk soon! Much love!<br />Faithfaith ann raiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15965450346393093534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-8194978890718800492011-12-06T01:08:14.964-05:002011-12-06T01:08:14.964-05:00Thanks for the update.Thanks for the update.Akumhttp://www.squidoo.com/cancerone-collegenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-28766147809598841872011-08-15T21:34:42.797-04:002011-08-15T21:34:42.797-04:00Wish I had known you when we lived in N. Augusta. ...Wish I had known you when we lived in N. Augusta. I know exactly how you feel. Check out my blog Jan 26 2011. I deal with the same frustration all the time and just had a discussion with some older friends about it last week. UGH! Anyway, nice post.K. Pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13631982104050195540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-24593665744022873432011-08-01T07:25:05.803-04:002011-08-01T07:25:05.803-04:00You had me worried but only for a second! I think ...You had me worried but only for a second! I think it's a great analogy. :) People go into debt for a lot of stupid reasons and I don't think ransoming Caleb is one of them.Jennifer Rouanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190726482623408396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-71205996348433301102011-06-29T23:14:27.029-04:002011-06-29T23:14:27.029-04:00I can't recommend C25K highly enough!
Great l...I can't recommend C25K highly enough!<br /><br />Great list! Don't you feel like you've already acomplished something by getting it all down? :)Jennifer Rouanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190726482623408396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-88456380554617968822011-06-26T21:36:13.034-04:002011-06-26T21:36:13.034-04:00We love the coffee we bought from your store. We w...We love the coffee we bought from your store. We will help out where we can. Where is the car wash? I figured it was on the blog but I am coming straight to the source. :)Lori Gariepyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910559605836413037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-40684336403229986352011-06-18T07:33:53.071-04:002011-06-18T07:33:53.071-04:00Do you and Sis have anyone to run with? I run in ...Do you and Sis have anyone to run with? I run in as many 5Ks as I can, and although Augusta is a bit of a trek it'd be worth it to catch up with you, and it couldn't be for a better cause.Jennifer Rouanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190726482623408396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-74866775795337062322011-06-06T15:10:01.605-04:002011-06-06T15:10:01.605-04:00Congratulations! You must be so thrilled to have ...Congratulations! You must be so thrilled to have the ball rolling again.Jennifer Rouanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190726482623408396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-1542285154593643882011-04-26T13:11:19.086-04:002011-04-26T13:11:19.086-04:00I so agree with you. Especially after being ther...I so agree with you. Especially after being there and seeing all the children. I look at our church and see all of the 3000-4000 sq foot houses and see soooo much potential. There is so much we could be doing. so many children our church alone could help and it is like my pleas are falling on deaf ears. We are fixing to have 5 kids in our 1200sq ft house. No matter how nice an orphanage is, every child deserves parents. No matter how small your house is. Ugh! I have been so disappointed with this. Even my husband, who was always happy with however many children we have had at the time, already planned to go back and get a girl before we even left Ethiopia. Keep going! God's timing is not ours. We have learned that the hard way. It took us 4 years to get to this point of having our two little boys. Blessings! Karen PirkleK. Pirklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13631982104050195540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-14706352317891303172011-03-15T07:42:42.365-04:002011-03-15T07:42:42.365-04:00Congratulations! Loved the birth story and baby s...Congratulations! Loved the birth story and baby sister is absolutely precious. <3<br /><br />I can really identify with your last paragraph. Every time I snuggle my little baby I think of how blessed I am when so many women or babies around the world don't have the same opportunity. :(Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455679229946777929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-7911343809695557252011-03-14T23:20:20.833-04:002011-03-14T23:20:20.833-04:00this was beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing! ;0...this was beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing! ;0) so happy for you!Jim and Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13251699587621835032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-14710604455752877112011-02-05T02:27:10.732-05:002011-02-05T02:27:10.732-05:00Jessica,
I agree totally with you. Some people ar...Jessica, <br />I agree totally with you. Some people are able to handle more children and some have a harder time with it. I admire that you and Kelly are doing this. What an amazing blessing! Congrats on the new babies! I am excited to watch and keep up with your blog. Prayers for you and yours.Chrisdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00952703111498573187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-5909045466139791332011-02-04T15:51:32.132-05:002011-02-04T15:51:32.132-05:00AMEN!AMEN!Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455679229946777929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-224539794218618732011-01-27T15:52:36.594-05:002011-01-27T15:52:36.594-05:00Good thoughts! And I agree, with more children, I...Good thoughts! And I agree, with more children, I think we have definitely re-evaluated this for our family too. We don't even do church activities on Wed because it doesn't only affect one kiddo, but two now... and three this summer.... so those are things that we make a decision on yearly. Sometimes it makes me (and them) sad but we know that in a few years, things like bed time won't be as BIG of an issue, so we'll be able to change what things we do. And I agree, homeschooling makes some things easier, such as doing piano lessons during the day.Hyperactive Luhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759058185836810901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-30169246618718080102011-01-27T08:28:50.430-05:002011-01-27T08:28:50.430-05:00totally agree!totally agree!Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455679229946777929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-15088026066381540322011-01-25T13:47:29.536-05:002011-01-25T13:47:29.536-05:00Hi, Jessica! I found your blog by reading a comme...Hi, Jessica! I found your blog by reading a comment you left on Hyperactive Lu's blog. (I really like what you had to say about joy. I am a mom of 5 and I have to <i>choose</i> joy every day. I'm not always so good at it!) Anyway, I was happy to find you and have a look around. :-) It is fun to find other homeschool mom blogs.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17152562871467319771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-84684839975171824082010-12-22T11:12:38.593-05:002010-12-22T11:12:38.593-05:00Thanks for the update!!! 3 sisters means lots of d...Thanks for the update!!! 3 sisters means lots of drama and fun! Merry Christmas! - Laurapareizshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02229956846264259116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-30224879816450463862010-12-22T08:29:26.347-05:002010-12-22T08:29:26.347-05:00I can indentify with so much of what you wrote-- r...I can indentify with so much of what you wrote-- right down to the moving to Africa part!! ((hugs))<br /><br />And YAY for home birth and cloth diapers!! We just had our 6th home birth and are cloth diapering for the 7th time... you're in for some amazing experiences-- well, cloth diapering isn't so amazing ;)Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455679229946777929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-84625882050837858462010-11-03T10:47:12.282-04:002010-11-03T10:47:12.282-04:00thanks for sharing your heart. I think its wonderf...thanks for sharing your heart. I think its wonderful that you guys are so open to however God wants to bring you children! We had someone say to us a week or two ago, "why would you adopt internationally next, why not just adopt domestically again since you already did it that way"...and said some other things that well...just revealed that persons heart to us...it breaks my heart to see SO many people including MANY of God's children...give a blind eye to orphans.Jim and Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13251699587621835032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-16624377580077673972010-11-03T10:20:38.818-04:002010-11-03T10:20:38.818-04:00Jessica, for what it's worth, I don't unde...Jessica, for what it's worth, I don't understand the question either. I mean, why wouldn't you still adopt?! I'm looking forward to seeing your growing family. Any baby would be lucky to have you and Kelly for parents and your wonderful girls for big sisters.Jennifer Rouanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190726482623408396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-82518428785719670182010-11-01T14:50:34.974-04:002010-11-01T14:50:34.974-04:00Thanks, for some reason, my picture links aren'...Thanks, for some reason, my picture links aren't working properly :( I added text links to help you out! Thanks for letting me know!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976334646791234332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-54526201405067553132010-11-01T14:23:51.357-04:002010-11-01T14:23:51.357-04:00I don't think that's the coffee link, I on...I don't think that's the coffee link, I only got another photo. Had to go to the coffee post - just sayin'<br />Best wishes with your adoption!susieloulouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09596148433489612550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412037317598195403.post-1860706492363557872010-10-21T10:51:37.373-04:002010-10-21T10:51:37.373-04:00Oh honey, I love the image of your twins! I alway...Oh honey, I love the image of your twins! I always believed in my infertility journey that God wouldn't have put such a strong longing to be a mother (or your heart for Africa) if it wasn't going to happen...somehow.<br /><br />Love y'all!<br />SuzanneSuzanne Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17588409793245307663noreply@blogger.com