Adoption Update and T-Shirts for Sale!

Hi family and friends!

I know it has been quite a while since we updated on our adoption process.  To be honest, we've been taking our time because we've had such a crazy summer.  But, we are excited for Fall and to be getting back into the swing of things.  Here's what we've been up to:

• Our family announced that Mike will be planting a church in Horn Lake, MS.  Which means, we will be putting our house on the market soon and immersing ourselves in this new community.  

• My youngest sister got married at the beginning of August.  They left the U.S. 12 days later to teach in Bolivia for 2 years!

• My middle sister's family moved to Jackson so that her husband can attend seminary.  He will get his Master's in Counseling as well as be the new youth director for a local church.

• And last but certainly not least, our Home Study has been finalized!  We met with a local adoption attorney and are in what many call the "waiting period."

Many of you may be thinking, that with everything going on, pursuing adoption may seem like a crazy idea!  And we would have to agree with you!  

BUT, we believe that God is sovereign and that his timing is perfect.  Adoption is still on our hearts and minds, and we believe that God will bring us our child when he sees fit, whether that be next month or next year.  

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

We continue to ask for your prayers for our family as well as the biological family of our little one!

So, now in order to be well prepared when our little one arrives, we are selling T-shirts!

We've been working with an organization called Fund the Nations to create a shirt for this fundraiser.  They have been amazing to work with (so, if you are looking for a fundraiser for your adoption, mission trip or non-profit organization, check them out!)

You may be asking yourself....Why did you choose the phrase "It takes a village" for your shirts?

Here's why.....

• The entire phrase "It takes a village to raise a child" is an old African proverb describing a body of people working together in the upbringing of a child.

• The church is described as the body of Christ.  As Romans 5:12 says, "so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

• In the New Testament, the word "family" or "household" is used many times to refer to the small gatherings of the church, people who were family by faith but not necessarily biologically related. These extended families of God shared everything in life together, including the raising of children. As God's covenant people, we are a vast network of brothers and sisters. We want other believers to participate in the raising of our children! We were not meant to do it alone!

• We believe that through the process of adoption, "It takes a village...." to emotionally support our family through this process, to pray for the biological family of our child, to financially bring our son/daughter home, to love on our children, and to exemplify the many facets of Christ to our children as they grow up.

Thank you in advance for your support of our family through this process.  We couldn't do it without each and every one of you!

Use the button in the sidebar to purchase your T-shirt ----------->.  If you live locally, we can get the shirt to you, otherwise, make sure to add shipping to your cart with your T-shirt order!  If you have any questions, you can leave a comment below.

{ Just a note: These shirts are available for pre-order.  This means we will not actually order the shirts until a certain number have been ordered.  We will keep you updated! }

Love to you all,

the Winebrenners

As we wait.....

I was given a devotional book by a dear friend yesterday (how thoughtful!) called Jesus Calling.  I picked it up and read the devotion for today and it really struck a chord with me.  I have been convicted and shown my need of daily, continual prayer and communion with Christ throughout this past year.  I am NOTHING apart from Christ, and sometimes I need God to take away all security and hope IN THIS LIFE to show me that it can only be found in Him.  And it's a painful process....but oh, so sweet.  I LOVE when little 'coincidental' (as the world views them) moments happen in our life that point to the working of the Holy Spirit.  This could not be more fitting for this time in my life, so I wanted to share.

You need me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need for Me is your greatest strength.  Your neediness, properly handled, is a link to My Presence.  However, there are pitfalls that you must be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up.  You inadequacy presents you with a continual choice--deep dependence on Me or despair.  The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence.  Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment.  Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence.  Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete.

"Pray without ceasing."  { 1 Thessalonians 5:17 }

"Until now you have asked nothing in my name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
{ John 16:24 }

Happy New Year! (Adoption Update)

I hope everyone has had a great start to 2013!  Before I post pictures of our family Christmas (they are coming, I promise!), I wanted to update everyone on where we are in the adoption process.

Before Christmas, Mike and I completed 3 of our online courses, leaving us with only one to go!  Now we just have one course, a little bit of reading, and our fingerprinting to do before we can move forward with the home study.  Woo hoo!!!

The process for us has moved a lot slower than we anticipated in the beginning.  Partly because we have been dragging our feet a little bit, partly because of the holidays, and partly because of the stage of life we are in with 2 active preschool boys.  BUT, our social worker gave us a time frame of 6-18 months until placement once our home study is complete.  So, technically, the birth mom of our little girl could be pregnant now or will be very soon, which is so crazy to think about.  I think because I am not the one pregnant this time, I have trouble wrapping my mind around it right now.  But, as long as everything goes smoothly with the home study, we are "expecting" our little one this year or soon thereafter!

I know many of you have already been praying for us.  We are so grateful and feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love and support us.  So, as I update, I'll try and leave you with a few things those of you who follow our blog can pray about.  These may be things that are coming up in the process or things that are just on our hearts at the moment.

Prayer:
* The birth mother of our unborn child
 -For health and protection of both she and our little one, whether or not she is pregnant at the moment.
 -That she and would be surrounded with those who love her and support her in this heart-wrenching decision to let another raise her child.
 -If she already has a relationship with Christ, that it would be strengthened in this process.  If she doesn't yet know the love of Christ, that her eyes would be opened and her soul would be forever changed.

Again, THANK YOU for all your love and support and for checking in with us!

Roxanne

movin' right along

Well, folks, we completed our interviews........{ DEEP SIGH OF RELIEF }.......... I don't think I realized how ridiculously nervous I was until after the fact, when I had a chance to reflect over the last couple of weeks.  I had to swallow my pride and apologize to M for being on edge once I realized how often I had snapped and just had a general bad attitude.  In case you didn't pick up on it in my last post, I am, without a shadow of a doubt, the introvert in our relationship.  So, the thought of sitting in a room with our social worker (and a trainee) and Mike for the first one, and then by myself for the second one, scared me more than almost anything has.  PLUS, I had absolutely no idea what questions they were going to ask.  It could be anything from my entire life....from my family upbringing to my relationship to my husband to how I raise my children.  It wasn't just what I have accomplished in life that is important but the very essence of who I am.

Obviously, you can tell, my brain has been going 90 to nothing since the moment I found out about the interviewing process, and now it seems surreal that they are over with.  This process has caused me to pray more, read scripture more, and essentially lean more on my heavenly father for strength, confidence, and peace.  Now that I can relax and breathe, I feel like I can focus more on our little girl (or boy) and her birth mother (and father).  Worry and anxiety are starting to be replaced with excitement and anticipation.  And one the most awesome things about all of this is that it doesn't have anything to do with my ability to answer questions well or make myself calm down.  It's Christ's work alone, through me.  How blessed I am that he would even choose me to work this out!

We should hear soon about our interviews, then we will have to complete our 8 hours of online training courses as well as finish reading our books and raise a little money.  Next big hurdle will be our home inspection.  So, we are making progress but still have a ways to go.  Thank you so much to everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers and for the sweet words of encouragement.  It means more to us than you know!  

If any of you readers have any words of wisdom or questions, we'd love to hear them!

{ Maybe I can coax the resident extrovert to blog about his experience in the next post, to see another point of view }

** If you are keeping up with our blog and adoption journey, follow us with the button on the right.  That will  ensure you get the most recent update since I forget to post it on Facebook sometimes.  Anyone is welcome!

Thoughtful Thursdays

Source: california-girl.tumblr.com via Roxanne on Pinterest

Sweet Summertime

Summertime went by quicker than ever this year!  We tried to be outside as much as we could and traveled to many area parks, as you can see.  Here's a recap of our summer in pictures.

We have an Announcement!!!

Some of you may already know, but for those of you who don't, we wanted to share our exciting news:

WE ARE ADOPTING!!!

We started the adoption process this past spring and will begin our Interview/Home Study process in the next few weeks.  We are adopting domestically and have been given a timeline of 6-18 months once the Home Study is complete until a GIRL is placed in our home.  The child will more than likely be a newborn, but we are also open to a toddler.  Excitement, worry, hope, fear, and anticipation fill us at any given moment of the day.  More than anything else right now, we could use your prayers.

Specifically, we covet prayers regarding:

*The health, safety, and well-being of the birth mother and our unborn child, whether or not she has been conceived.

*The wisdom to know when and how to involve our 2 1/2 and 4 year old in the adoption process.

*Our roller coaster of emotions during the process as well as the birth mother's.  

*Our diligence in preparing our home and our lives for this new addition to our family.

*Calmed nerves during the interviewing process.  (esp. for the introverts in the family......ahem....not naming any names :)

We will also begin raising money VERY SOON, so check back for Yard Sale info., T-shirts, Pallet Signs and MORE! 

{ We are also accepting donations, which can be done through the PayPal button at the right. }

We hope to update everyone as we move forward in this process!  Check back soon for new posts!