Babies"R"Us - Baby Registry

Babies"R"Us - Baby Registry

Some lovely friends encouraged me to create a Wish List for items since we have never had a newborn in our home.  We borrowed a lot of things for short term when EJ and Mo came home and they are no longer avail.  So if you want to check out and help; THANK YOU.  Also if you know  where I might find some of this gently used for a great price that would be appreciated too!

Anyone have a travel bassinet I could borrow as well?

And, if I haven't seen you, IT'S A BOY!!!  He is due sometime in April...

God Bless

I take offense to that.....

Since we have embarked on God’s journey for our family and adopting here in the United States I have heard a certain statement more and more, and honestly it offends me, it offends my children, and I think it probably makes our sweet Lord’s heart hurt a little too.

Before I tell you the statement, please know that this does not come out of anger, but love, and a purpose to educate and get rid of just plain old ignorance.

So below is a version of the statement I and my husband have heard:

“I am so glad you are adopting in the US this time, I really don’t like it when people adopt out of the country.”

Ugh…I cringe even typing that.

God’s Truth

John 3:16

For God so loved the World that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.Top of FormBottom of Form

We all know this verse right, so do you see anywhere in this verse that it says For God so loved the United States?  No, and you won’t ever, because he loves the world.  After all he did create it and everything in it.

So one reason I don’t like that statement is because my God, your God if you call yourself a Christian, is not contained to the United States.  I will never keep him contained here and neither should you.

Do I think that the hurting children of the Unites States need our care?  ABSOLUTELY!  I would never argue or disagree with that.  But please don’t be so close minded to think that they are the only children we AS CHRISTIANS (Notice I didn’t say we as United States Citizens) are intended to take care of. Besides knowing there are children here in need, I also KNOW that every hurting child in the WORLD needs our help and they need to know the saving grace of Jesus. 

Every

        Single

                  One

                            Of

                                   Them.

I also know that God willed and specifically hand-picked our children for our family.  He has shown that to me time and time again. 

So put yourself in my child’s spot. 

Can you imagine how my children would feel if they heard you say this statement to us?  They know they were born in another country and they have family in those countries.  Whether or not you let your heart be changed about this statement please be sensitive to my children about it.

I don’t know about you but I take the Bible, God’s word to us, quite literally, and I have never once seen him specifically call us to take care of our “Own” in the States.  Have you?

 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:27

 

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

Mathew 18:5

 

"A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…"

Psalm 68:5-6a

 

"I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me…Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me---you did it to me.'"

Mathew 25: 35-36, 40

 

"A man makes a plan in his heart, but God directs his path."

Proverbs 16:9

 

Just some truth, and a song.  Bebo Norman is one cool dude. 

http://youtu.be/f7xgSQ1b4h0

 

 

 

FEAR & HUGE NEWS

I have one request, please read this through and do not skip down to our big news. I really want you to hear my heart on this, so if you don’t have time please come back when you do. J Thank You.

 

Since becoming a parent my biggest fear has been that I would lose one of my children too early.  I have had times where that possibility became very real, and in those moments I can honestly tell you that I never once doubted God, his awesomeness, his power to heal, and the strength he gave me to get through no matter what the end result may be. 

A little less than 2 months after our son came home from Ethiopia, our daughter became very ill. (I know I have written of this before so for those who do not know this is a short recap.)  Elena had a high fever of 105 for a week, no other symptoms.  Towards the end of that week she wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t drink, and to be honest looked like she had been on a 6 day drinking binge.  Blood shot eyes, a strawberry tongue with cherry lips, and she began to walk like she was 80 years old with severe arthritis. So in a number of events to follow, I ended up in a helicopter with my baby being life flighted for fear she was going to have a heart attack…she was 2 ½!  There is so much more to this story, but she lived, she was healed, and the Kawasaki disease never reached her heart.  Praise God!

A little over a year later, one Sunday my son came down with a fever.  A mere 101 at the time so I wasn’t too concerned, but it suddenly spiked and while in my arms he started seizing.  Say what?!  I did not know what to do! As I held him and waited for the ambulance I once again was in a situation where I had no control.  While in that ambulance I prayed to God as I have done before to heal my son, but I also prayed for God’s will to be done, even if it meant my son was going to see the face of Jesus.  Ugh! Does anyone ever want to pray that, but I did and a lot of you I am sure have… He ended up being perfectly fine, but in that moment I didn’t know.  It was a turning point for me because I was praying for God’s will even if it meant saying goodbye to my baby.

Most of you reading, if not all of you have had these kind of moments.   And some of us have lost precious family and friends, and our lives have been forever changed.  Tragedy changes us all the while God carries us and holds us and loves us through it all.  We have been witnessing more of this locally and all of us reading I am sure were deeply affected by what happened in Newton.  We hold our babies closer and we pray for their protection.

I talk of this fear because it is a human fear that I wrestle with and I am sure will for the rest of my life, but because it also greatly relates to another fear I have.

It’s not just fear of untimely death for my children, but also a fear of losing the life of a child promised, a child whom I have never held or met but love fiercely already and whom I would do anything for. 

You see Adoption is a fear for me, and yes I have done it twice but in my weakness I still fear it.  It is an investment like none other and it brings me to my knees like nothing ever has. It forces me to let go of my humanness to control and give it Completely to GOD and trust him.  I fear adoption, and I love it more than anything else.  

With our first adoption it was a very real possibility that our sweet Elena wouldn’t come home.  You see a month after she came home Guatemala closed adoptions, and there are still precious children caught in the middle of that and it’s been five years.  I Loved my daughter before I knew who she was, God had whispered to me that it would be a girl, and then when I did see her picture at two weeks old, I was done.  I knew she was ours and I watched her grow for almost nine months in pictures and I did everything I could to get things complete so she could come home.  I prayed and I talked with God every moment of that time.

Two and half years later we were blessed with Moses.  This was a very scary process with some loss I never expected, but we trusted God no matter what and our sweet Moses has been home for 3 years now.

Some of my point is that anything can happen in adoption; truly anything.  Everyone’s process is different, but I rest in the fact our God is always the same.

And so, here we are again in a place of great peace with a Ton of trust in my God, your God.  A God who makes the impossible possible, and the scary hard bearable.

As most of you know we are adopting again, but domestically this time around.  And with this comes a whole new set of fears.  It is so different that our last two adoptions, and there is always the chance the adoption could fail.

You see this past Tuesday my family and I were blessed with very incredible news and my first reaction was to hide it, to not tell, and we will just wait.  My first reaction was to try and protect my heart because I could lose.  I realize how silly that is because the things that are happening have God written all over them (and someday I hope to share more about that) and I want to tell everyone!

My husband and I are whole heartily invested and in love and I am going to tell you why and it is because this past Tuesday I found out that I am going to be a MOTHER of 3 in April,  and our family is going to become a family of 5! We have been matched with a beautiful family that I am so humbled to walk along this journey with and to be a part of the Beautifully hard story God is writing for all of us; however it may end.   

We are soooo stinking excited I tell you, so excited!

So even though a million what if’s could happen, and I fear that this child may not come home, Today I stand trusting my God, and Today I am celebrating the fact that I am going to be a Mommy of 3! 

** A little side note** We have not told the kids yet, still trying to figure out how to explain this to them, so if you congratulate us be aware of our little’s who may have no idea what you are talking about. J

More to come and prayer requests as well.  Thanks you for walking with us and praying for us.  God Bless.

To God be the Glory!

Jeremiah 29:11

Hand In Hand

Just a quick update on our matching grant from Hand In Hand.  We should have a final # this week and will update you all on what God did with this wonderful blessing for our next adoption.

A few have asked us so if you missed the deadline and still would like to bless our adoption you can send that directly to us or use the donate button on this blog.  We still have quite a bit of funds to raise, but God is working and blessing us so!  You may also send to Hand In Hand to bless another family with a matching grant too; they are wonderful!

More regular blog posts to come after the holidays.

Also, if you feel led please pray for our sweet son this Thursday.  He is having major dental work done in the hospital surgery room.  Please cover him in prayer for an easy time and quick recovery and bring peace to our nervous hearts.

To God be the Glory!

Until they are all home......
Jeremiah 29:11

Hand In Hand

UPDATE- 11/9/12




My Family and God know the goal we need to reach so we can begin to start applying to agencies and we are off to a great start, So Humbled and Thankful!
 

This is just a reminder that if God has lead you to donate that those donations should be postmarked by Nov. 30 in order for our family to receive credit.



Please continue to keep us in your prayers. 

We are excited to announce that we have been blessed with a matching grant opportunity!  This is pretty exciting as they are hard to get, but God has blessed us. 

Below are the letters that have been sent out via mail, and I am hoping reach all that I  did not get by mail. 

Will you prayerfully consider blessing our family?  Our need is to reach $14,000.00 so we can begin applying to agencies to bring our next little one or ones home soon!  Thanks & God Bless

All donations need to be postmarked by November 30, 2012.

Dear Family and Friends,

 

As many of you may have already heard we feel that God has called us on a new journey to provide a “forever” family to a child through the process of adoption.  We have started down this path of adoption and will be excited to bring a child into our home within the next three to nine months.  We have felt led to pursue a child or twins domestically here in the United States and will be applying to agencies and then waiting for the specific child or children God has for us.

 

This road to adoption is full of many joys and challenges, the greatest joy being the inclusion of a child into our family and the greatest challenge being finances.  The costs of adoption include the expense of a home study, adoption agency, lawyers, travel expenses, etc., with the total cost ending up somewhere around $30,000. 

 

We were recently awarded a matching funds grant to help with the expenses of our adoption through Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. a non-profit private operating foundation.  Hand in Hand will match any funds that are donated through our friends and family for the expenses of our adoption directly to our agency. All funds received through our friends and family will be matched dollar for dollar by Hand in Hand up to our awarded grant amount.   All donations are tax-deductible.

 

Please find enclosed a grant award letter that will explain more about the matching grant program from Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. You can find out more about Hand in Hand through their website at www.handinhandadopt.org.   You may also contact Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. with any questions you may have.  They can be reached at 913-248-5015 or by e-mail at handinhandadopt@gmail.com.

Please send all donations made payable to “Hand in Hand Christian Adoption” postmarked by November 30, 2012 to: (for tax purposes please include our name on the outside of the envelope only…do not put our name on the check itself)

Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.  

            Kent & Carrie Stamm
             18318 Mimosa Court  

Gardner, KS  66030   

Thank you for your prayerful consideration in helping a child find a “forever” family.

"Children are a heritage from the Lord. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, blessed is he whose quiver is full of them." Psalm 127:3-5

You can follow our next adoption journey here:  www.itsgodsgospel.blogspot.com

 

Walking Hand in Hand,

 

 

Kent & Carrie Stamm
carriestamm@gmail.com

 

Start of Letter from Hand In Hand....I could not figure out how to get the logo on here, but hopefully will later today.

 

October 19, 2012

Mr. & Mrs. Kent Stamm

Dear Kent & Carrie:

We have reviewed your application for a matching grant and are pleased to inform you that you have been awarded a dollar for dollar matching grant up to $7,000. The specific amount received will depend on the amount of funds donated by family and friends on your behalf. The grant amount includes both the funds raised and the funds matched by HANDinHAND Christian Adoption, Inc. If you raise $3,500 from family and friends, HANDinHAND will match those funds for a total grant of $7,000.

All monies will be disbursed directly to your adoption agency, adoption lawyer or other adoption expenses after HANDinHAND has received an approved invoice from one of these sources. Monies already paid will not be reimbursed. Only outstanding balances will be paid by your awarded grant. Monies will be disbursed up to the amount of the final awarded grant. Funds received over the grant amount will go toward your adoption expenses not to exceed the outstanding adoption costs. Funds received over outstanding adoption expenses will help other children find "forever" families through the general fund of HANDinHAND Christian Adoption, Inc.

All donated monies must be in our HANDinHAND office or postmarked by November 30, 2012 to be considered in the dollar for dollar match for your specific grant. Funds received after this time will go toward the general fund of HANDinHAND Christian Adoption, Inc. to continue to help children find "forever" families.

In the case of a disrupted adoption, monies will be held for your use for up to 1 year from the disruption then after that time will be used to help other children and their families through Hand in Hand’s general fund.

We are so excited to be able in a small way to help a child find a "forever" family. Thank you for being obedient to God’s call in your life to help a child. We appreciate your heart and look forward to working with you in accomplishing this goal.

Sincerely,

Trudy A. George

President

HANDinHAND Christian Adoption, Inc.

Pure Crazines....

Big things are coming, crazy God things that ONLY HE can explain or know.  We are  stepping out in pure Faith on a lot of things....some I hope to announce soon.  I find myself saying I don't know a lot, but with peace and an excited heart because decisions have been made and are being made and only God knows the out come.

With that said this is why I love this picture!  It is so not the perfect family pic, but filled with so much joy amongst so much craziness!

 

Please pray for us. Pray for our family and our changes. And specificially pray for our next adoption that God provides all the finances in his time so we can apply to agencies, and that we trust in him and have patience in his timing.

God Bless!

147 Gift Orders...Order Quick!

Christmas is coming and in order to help you out we are selling some great product!

These gifts will not only give once, but three times!  Help support our adoption, Give food, water, and medicine to a child in need, and help beautiful African Mothers support their families.

Order soon while supplies last!  Just leave a comment or send me an e-mail at carriestamm@gmail.com.

Thank You and God Bless!

 

These beautiful Haitian Earrings are wonderful gifts for Mom, a sister, or a teacher.  They also come in brown, but I had trouble uploading the pics.  There are plenty of the blue, brown, and clear, but only 8 green so order soon.  Cost $15.00

Ugandan Bead Necklaces are still available to order and I have 2 red in stock at home.  Cost $20

 

 

Brown 147 Ball Cap- Cost $20

Leather Helping 1 Home Cuff-$10.00

Butterfly Tee- Cost-$27

Sizes S, M, & L

Long Sleeve Grey Tee-Cost$30
Sizes Small - XXL

Unisex Navy Tee- Cost $20
Sizes XS-XXXL

Kaboom Toddler Tee-$17.00
Size 2T-4T

Green Youth Tee-$20
Size XS(4)
S-(6-8)
M-(8-10)
L-(12-14)
XL-(14-16)

Order Today!
Thanks!