In preparation for our upcoming adoption of Isabelle...our family is taking a 30 day financial fast. We did this once, about 6 years ago, and found it very interesting and challenging!
So here are the rules for our personal 30 day fast....NO SPENDING except for the following:
Gas
Groceries - limit of $40/week (for milk, produce and the bare necessities.)
Garage Sales - the sales are GREAT this time of year, and it's how I outfit our girls so we'll still be going to garage sales on Saturday morning.
Adoption Costs
Other than that, we'll be content with all the blessings God has provided us.
We'll finish up projects that need to be done with all the time saved from running errands.
We'll get creative in meeting unexpected expenses.
We'll brave the fashion police....let me explain. The girls still have only their white sandals for church. We usually switch to our black shoes around Labor Day. I must confess that I was tempted to run out, yesterday, and buy everyone their winter shoes...but that seemed like cheating on the financial fast....so we're going to brave the fashion police and wear our summer shoes for a month longer!! In the scheme of eternity, does it really matter??
We're going to learn to lean on the Lord instead of our own financial means.
So if you're feeling brave and/or inspired...why don't you join our 30 day Financial Fast Challenge and let me know how it goes!! (And if you see us holding up signs that say "We'll work for food..." have mercy on us and throw us a morsel:) )
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Horton Adoption Update
Well the last two months have been filled with changed plans, redirection from the Lord, exhaustion, laughter and tears. We welcomed 18 Ethiopian orphans for the Summer of Hope - Charlotte program for the month of July. As the community coordinator I was busy beyond belief. The moments of joy were greater than I had imagined and so were the moments of sheer exhaustion. The HUGE praise report is 4 of the 18 children are in the process of being adopted...including Meskerem (the 8 year old little girl who stayed in our home.)
In the last two months we also received a referral for a 8 year old girl and an 18 month little girl from Ethiopia. We were excited about the girls joining our family; however, during the course of the Summer of Hope stay, it became abundantly clear that an 8 year old was not going to be the best match for our family. In the midst of the emotions of this realization, we got a phone call telling us that "our" 18 month little girl had a brother who was going to need to be placed with her. Phil felt VERY sure that we were supposed to parent girls...which led to "losing" our referral of the 18 month old. Our hearts were broken but as usual during times of sorrow, the situation forced us to seek the Lord's direction, once again, for our adoption process.
After much prayer, tears and many closed doors in Ethiopia, we decided to look at the China program again. My desire is to adopt one of "the least of these." Praise God, last week, we saw the photo of our new Chinese daughter - Isabelle - who is 16 months old. She has a severe heart defect which will require 2 open-heart surgeries upon her arrival to the states. Sadly, we can't post her photo until we pick her up in China. But of course she's BEAUTIFUL!! Pray for quick processing of our adoption paperwork as every week is critical in preserving her health. Pray for God's hand of protection on her.
I'm SO proud of our 4 daughters. They have been patient through all the adoption ups and downs!! Torie is coming home to go to UNCC for her sophomore year of college. A hard decision for both Phil and I and also for Torie. She has showed such maturity in accepting and eventually embracing the decision. We love the close friendship that is blooming between her and Michaela as they ride and show their Thoroughbreds together. We went to a schooling show this weekend. Michaela's mare proved she can fly. That suits Michaela fine after having her "pony with wings" - Popcorn - for so many years.
Torie riding Brego (named after Aragorn's horse in Lord of the Rings), her new 8 year old Thoroughbred gelding.
Michaela "flying" on Hwin (named after the horse in C.S. Lewis's book - The Horse and His Boy)her new 8 year old Thoroughbred mare.
Both girls schooling cross-country...
While the older two girls rode, the two younger girls picked bouquets of flowers.
In the last two months we also received a referral for a 8 year old girl and an 18 month little girl from Ethiopia. We were excited about the girls joining our family; however, during the course of the Summer of Hope stay, it became abundantly clear that an 8 year old was not going to be the best match for our family. In the midst of the emotions of this realization, we got a phone call telling us that "our" 18 month little girl had a brother who was going to need to be placed with her. Phil felt VERY sure that we were supposed to parent girls...which led to "losing" our referral of the 18 month old. Our hearts were broken but as usual during times of sorrow, the situation forced us to seek the Lord's direction, once again, for our adoption process.
After much prayer, tears and many closed doors in Ethiopia, we decided to look at the China program again. My desire is to adopt one of "the least of these." Praise God, last week, we saw the photo of our new Chinese daughter - Isabelle - who is 16 months old. She has a severe heart defect which will require 2 open-heart surgeries upon her arrival to the states. Sadly, we can't post her photo until we pick her up in China. But of course she's BEAUTIFUL!! Pray for quick processing of our adoption paperwork as every week is critical in preserving her health. Pray for God's hand of protection on her.
I'm SO proud of our 4 daughters. They have been patient through all the adoption ups and downs!! Torie is coming home to go to UNCC for her sophomore year of college. A hard decision for both Phil and I and also for Torie. She has showed such maturity in accepting and eventually embracing the decision. We love the close friendship that is blooming between her and Michaela as they ride and show their Thoroughbreds together. We went to a schooling show this weekend. Michaela's mare proved she can fly. That suits Michaela fine after having her "pony with wings" - Popcorn - for so many years.
Torie riding Brego (named after Aragorn's horse in Lord of the Rings), her new 8 year old Thoroughbred gelding.
Michaela "flying" on Hwin (named after the horse in C.S. Lewis's book - The Horse and His Boy)her new 8 year old Thoroughbred mare.
Both girls schooling cross-country...
While the older two girls rode, the two younger girls picked bouquets of flowers.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
New Arrivals
At the end of June we will welcome an 8 year old Ethiopian little girl to our family for a month. We are community coordinators for Christian World Adoption's Pilot Program, Summer of Hope. Our church, in conjunction with CWA, is blessed to be bringing 18 Ethiopian children, ranging in age from 6-11, to the Charlotte area for a month this summer. Each child will stay with a host family where they will experience family life, have their medical needs met, and hopefully meet families who eventually might adopt them. CWA plans on expanding this program to other cities in future years. Please pray for smooth transitions as we welcome these children into our homes.
As we continue to wait patiently for the Lord to match us with our 2 new daughters in Ethiopia, we continue life on the farm.
Torie, our oldest, is home from college and enjoying competing a wonderful horse for the summer. In God's providence, we found an amazing horse for lease for the summer months. It was a blessing to his owner who wanted to keep him fit for the summer and left us speechless as the arrangement allows Torie to compete at levels that have never been possible before.
TORIE & RANDY competing in Aiken, SC
After watching Torie compete, 2 weekends ago, she and Michaela begged and pleaded with Phil to allow them to bring home 2 kittens. After promising that they will be completely fiscally responsible for the new additions, he acquiesced and we made the 3 1/2 hour car ride home with 2 mewing kittens.
MICHAELA (sporting her brand new braces) and TORIE with BUSTER and SMEAGOL
In addition to adding 2 new kittens to the farm, we've also added 50 chicks (who will grown into free-range laying hens for our egg business) and a little male goat!
SARAH MEI with a CHICK
ANNAGRACE with her kid - CURIOUS GEORGE
As we continue to wait patiently for the Lord to match us with our 2 new daughters in Ethiopia, we continue life on the farm.
Torie, our oldest, is home from college and enjoying competing a wonderful horse for the summer. In God's providence, we found an amazing horse for lease for the summer months. It was a blessing to his owner who wanted to keep him fit for the summer and left us speechless as the arrangement allows Torie to compete at levels that have never been possible before.
TORIE & RANDY competing in Aiken, SC
After watching Torie compete, 2 weekends ago, she and Michaela begged and pleaded with Phil to allow them to bring home 2 kittens. After promising that they will be completely fiscally responsible for the new additions, he acquiesced and we made the 3 1/2 hour car ride home with 2 mewing kittens.
MICHAELA (sporting her brand new braces) and TORIE with BUSTER and SMEAGOL
In addition to adding 2 new kittens to the farm, we've also added 50 chicks (who will grown into free-range laying hens for our egg business) and a little male goat!
SARAH MEI with a CHICK
ANNAGRACE with her kid - CURIOUS GEORGE
Monday, April 27, 2009
A Washing Machine in Ethiopia....They Don't Take it for Granted
I don't know about you, but I constantly struggle to stay caught up with our laundry!! When Phil visited Ethiopia in 2008, he saw women doing their laundry like this....
That picture made be GRATEFUL for my washing machine!!
Now imagine doing laundry for dozens of children without a washing machine. Think bedding, clothing, diapers, etc....ugh. When Phil visited the Soddo Children's Home in 2008, the electricity was intermittent and laundry was done by scrubbing it on cement chutes.
Since that time the orphanage has been blessed with receiving donated generators which insure electricity. And thanks to the special efforts of 8 young ladies (ages 9-14), in our church, the orphanage in Sodoo, Ethiopia now has a commercial washing machine!! Christine & Katherine, Leah & Alexa, Lydia & Natalie, Sierra and Michaela raised $250, without parental assistance, to help buy a commercial washing machine for the orphans of Ethiopia. They were able to present the money to Stephne Bowers when she visited our church last month. Stephne runs 3 children's homes for orphaned children in Ethiopia and has an amazing ministry!
Here is Stephne's heart-felt letter to those who donated the funds for the washing machine...
"THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Soddo and Awassa children's clothing can now be washed in our brand new washing machine which you so graciously donated funds for!
We still have to carry water from the well or bring water on donkey's backs- which then fills this blue container for the days' laundry! But now the nannies can actually get all the washing done before lunch time, which allows them to fold and put away the dry washing by 5 p.m. every day!
These machines can also ONLY function when there is electricity (maybe 3 days per week...?) and on days without electricity, we have been blessed with a generator for each home where we can continue 'normal' day operations without the frustration!
We feel so blessed and the staff are so very thankful for this gift!"
To God be the glory for young hearts sensitive to His call. Thanks girls!!
That picture made be GRATEFUL for my washing machine!!
Now imagine doing laundry for dozens of children without a washing machine. Think bedding, clothing, diapers, etc....ugh. When Phil visited the Soddo Children's Home in 2008, the electricity was intermittent and laundry was done by scrubbing it on cement chutes.
Since that time the orphanage has been blessed with receiving donated generators which insure electricity. And thanks to the special efforts of 8 young ladies (ages 9-14), in our church, the orphanage in Sodoo, Ethiopia now has a commercial washing machine!! Christine & Katherine, Leah & Alexa, Lydia & Natalie, Sierra and Michaela raised $250, without parental assistance, to help buy a commercial washing machine for the orphans of Ethiopia. They were able to present the money to Stephne Bowers when she visited our church last month. Stephne runs 3 children's homes for orphaned children in Ethiopia and has an amazing ministry!
Here is Stephne's heart-felt letter to those who donated the funds for the washing machine...
"THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Soddo and Awassa children's clothing can now be washed in our brand new washing machine which you so graciously donated funds for!
We still have to carry water from the well or bring water on donkey's backs- which then fills this blue container for the days' laundry! But now the nannies can actually get all the washing done before lunch time, which allows them to fold and put away the dry washing by 5 p.m. every day!
These machines can also ONLY function when there is electricity (maybe 3 days per week...?) and on days without electricity, we have been blessed with a generator for each home where we can continue 'normal' day operations without the frustration!
We feel so blessed and the staff are so very thankful for this gift!"
To God be the glory for young hearts sensitive to His call. Thanks girls!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!
The Horton Family - Easter 2009....eagerly awaiting 2 sweet Ethiopian faces to complete our family!!
The Easter festivities began with Torie polishing all the girls toenails. Sarah Mei was especially excited about that!!
Next we colored Easter eggs and were reminded of new beginnings...just like our new beginning in Jesus Christ.
One of the greatest joys of being a mother is seeing your children grow and become good friends. Torie (freshman in college) and Michaela (7th grade) are best buds now and enjoy their time together!!
Easter morning began with attending our church's Easter Sunrise Service. We have a "civilized" sunrise service held next to Lake Norman at 7:00 a.m. each year. It is a great opportunity to reach out to the community with the Gospel message. We had over 700 people attend this year.
After attending the sunrise service, we attended our church's regular worship service and then came home for pictures, a big Easter meal and a Sunday nap!! It was a beautiful day!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
$5 Friday - GRAND FINALE
This will be our last week for fundraising for Acacia Village - Ethiopia.
As of 10:15 a.m. - Thursday, March 19th we need $1,650 to reach our $10,000 goal.
In January, 2008 Phil attended the ground breaking of Acacia Village located in Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA. At that time Christian World Foundation had purchased the land for the building of the village and begun their fundraising efforts.
To date CWF has raised over $640,000 and begun the Children's Home in the village. We're thankful to be a part, with you, of this provision for the orphans of Ethiopia. It's VERY real to us now that we're adopting from Ethiopia too!!
To see all of the details for the project visit the Acacia Village website.
The following excerpt is from Christian World Foundation...
Acacia Village’s impact is threefold:
Acacia Village rescues children from the streets of Ethiopia and connects them with a forever family;
Acacia Village provides employment for over 100 Ethiopian citizens, thus providing opportunity to improve their lives;
Acacia Village helps U.S. adoptive parents by easing the transition of a child from Ethiopia to the United States.
With Acacia Village, you can help build the property and then go to Ethiopia to see how children are being saved. This project enables you to participate in the vision and then witness firsthand the fulfillment of the dream.
When Jesus stood among 5,000 people, the disciples encouraged him to send them away. "How can we feed these people with just a few loaves and fish?" they said. But Jesus refused to be overwhelmed by the problem — He refused to look at what they could not do. Instead, He took the food that was there, blessed it and multiplied it to feed thousands (see Luke 9:12-20).
As we build Acacia Village, we trust Jesus will do the same — not according to our efforts, but by the grace of God. Jesus says again, "Do not send the people away. Bring what you have to Me and I will bless it and multiply it."
Now is the time to stop being overwhelmed by the immensity of the problem. Now is the time to help.
Please consider giving $10 today via our blog link.
With grateful thanks!! The Horton Family
As of 10:15 a.m. - Thursday, March 19th we need $1,650 to reach our $10,000 goal.
In January, 2008 Phil attended the ground breaking of Acacia Village located in Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA. At that time Christian World Foundation had purchased the land for the building of the village and begun their fundraising efforts.
To date CWF has raised over $640,000 and begun the Children's Home in the village. We're thankful to be a part, with you, of this provision for the orphans of Ethiopia. It's VERY real to us now that we're adopting from Ethiopia too!!
To see all of the details for the project visit the Acacia Village website.
The following excerpt is from Christian World Foundation...
Acacia Village’s impact is threefold:
Acacia Village rescues children from the streets of Ethiopia and connects them with a forever family;
Acacia Village provides employment for over 100 Ethiopian citizens, thus providing opportunity to improve their lives;
Acacia Village helps U.S. adoptive parents by easing the transition of a child from Ethiopia to the United States.
With Acacia Village, you can help build the property and then go to Ethiopia to see how children are being saved. This project enables you to participate in the vision and then witness firsthand the fulfillment of the dream.
When Jesus stood among 5,000 people, the disciples encouraged him to send them away. "How can we feed these people with just a few loaves and fish?" they said. But Jesus refused to be overwhelmed by the problem — He refused to look at what they could not do. Instead, He took the food that was there, blessed it and multiplied it to feed thousands (see Luke 9:12-20).
As we build Acacia Village, we trust Jesus will do the same — not according to our efforts, but by the grace of God. Jesus says again, "Do not send the people away. Bring what you have to Me and I will bless it and multiply it."
Now is the time to stop being overwhelmed by the immensity of the problem. Now is the time to help.
Please consider giving $10 today via our blog link.
With grateful thanks!! The Horton Family
Monday, March 16, 2009
Adoption Update
Sarah Mei with my sister's dog, Chelsea
We're EXCITED to announce that we submitted our dossier to Ethiopia!! The Lord provided the last of the money we needed to pay an international fee for one daughter. We decided to go ahead and send in our dossier for one daughter and if a sibling group becomes available, we'll pray for God's provision for the 2nd child at that time.
Our request is for a daughter under the age of 4, healthy or with mild to moderate special needs. Please pray for God's hand of protection on our daughter(s) until we get matched and can pick them up.
My understanding is that we could get our referral anytime in the next six months. Then our child will undergo more medicals, and we'll be assigned an Ethiopian court date. Once we pass court (and that may take more than one time), we'll travel 5 weeks later.
Our prayer is that we'll travel and be home by Christmas. We'll see what God's timeline is??
I'm praying that God will "lead them by a straight way to a city (our home) where they can settle." Ps. 107:7
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say this---those He redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those He gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men,
for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Ps. 107:1-9
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Sarah Mei is 3 and our 2009 Snow Day
We celebrated Sarah Mei's 3rd birthday at the end of January. It's hard to believe she's only been home 1 1/2 years. She is SO much a part of our family. Life just wouldn't be the same without her sunny personality and her charm!
Here are a few photos of our Chenzhou (her birth town) girl dressed in a traditional Mandarin dress that was given to us by our adoption agency. (She also had to put on the requisite princess tiara and jewelry to complete the ensemble.)
Just days after celebrating Sarah Mei's birthday, we were surprised with a snow day. It snowed about 2 inches, enough to make snow angels and sled in, and it was also enough for the local schools to close (including the school where Phil is the principal.) We were looking forward to a relaxed day by the fire; however plans changed!
The 3 girls (Torie was at college) headed out to our neighbor's house to go sledding. A 1/2 hour after their departure we got a phone call saying that Sarah Mei was hurt and we needed to come get her. While Michaela (13) and Sarah Mei were sledding down the driveway, they lost control of the sled and went head-first into a tree. Michaela was fine, but Sarah Mei broke her nose...yikes! After spending several hours in the ER, we were released with instructions for giving her pain relievers, keeping ice on her face (have you ever tried that with a wiggling 3 year old?) and following up with a plastic surgeon next week. She was a trooper at the hospital but her face is pitiful!!
We returned home, after our ER odyssey, and just minutes later AnnaGrace (our stoic, I stepped on a nail but it doesn't really hurt, child) said ouch and held her wrist. I asked her what was wrong, and she told us that she had fallen on the ice earlier (before the sledding episode) and hurt her wrist. Wait a minute...if AnnaGrace says something hurts...it HURTS. We looked at her swollen wrist, called the orthopedist office and Phil made the trek back out. Yes, you guessed it, her wrist was broken...
It won't be a snow day we'll soon forget!!
Here are a few photos of our Chenzhou (her birth town) girl dressed in a traditional Mandarin dress that was given to us by our adoption agency. (She also had to put on the requisite princess tiara and jewelry to complete the ensemble.)
Just days after celebrating Sarah Mei's birthday, we were surprised with a snow day. It snowed about 2 inches, enough to make snow angels and sled in, and it was also enough for the local schools to close (including the school where Phil is the principal.) We were looking forward to a relaxed day by the fire; however plans changed!
The 3 girls (Torie was at college) headed out to our neighbor's house to go sledding. A 1/2 hour after their departure we got a phone call saying that Sarah Mei was hurt and we needed to come get her. While Michaela (13) and Sarah Mei were sledding down the driveway, they lost control of the sled and went head-first into a tree. Michaela was fine, but Sarah Mei broke her nose...yikes! After spending several hours in the ER, we were released with instructions for giving her pain relievers, keeping ice on her face (have you ever tried that with a wiggling 3 year old?) and following up with a plastic surgeon next week. She was a trooper at the hospital but her face is pitiful!!
We returned home, after our ER odyssey, and just minutes later AnnaGrace (our stoic, I stepped on a nail but it doesn't really hurt, child) said ouch and held her wrist. I asked her what was wrong, and she told us that she had fallen on the ice earlier (before the sledding episode) and hurt her wrist. Wait a minute...if AnnaGrace says something hurts...it HURTS. We looked at her swollen wrist, called the orthopedist office and Phil made the trek back out. Yes, you guessed it, her wrist was broken...
It won't be a snow day we'll soon forget!!
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