Ordinary People

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace."

I marvel when people tell me that Marty and I are special, because we love our boys, because God sent us to them. We've been over it here before, but I have to say again, "We're not special!" When God looks for a job candidate it's not the same way man looks. Marty and I are nothing special. If you met us in real life and many of you have, you would not gasp in awe. I promise. You would be meeting two of the most ordinary and likely uninteresting people you've ever met. 

Marty works hard for our family, as a correction's officer at a minimum security prison. He served our country for five years in the US Navy. I stay at home, in my tidy lived in house and do my best to teach our kids. I am the soccer Mom, gymnastics Mom, taxi driver, I always knew I'd become.  I often feel like I'm missing the mark in these endeavors. Neither of us has a college education (plus side: no college loans). We met in high school and did the unthinkable...we got married at 18. I know, I have my own thoughts about marrying young versus waiting til you're in your late 20s or 30s, but that's a different post for a different blog, I guess. So, you see we are ordinary. 

The greatest truth I've realized in the past few years is this one. GOD uses ordinary people! He uses the Shepherd boy to slay the Giant and become the King. Even David had his many imperfections, he committed adultery, murder, and more. He uses the chiefest of sinners to change the course of the church and history forever. Paul knew his own weaknesses, he recognized that he was nothing apart from the awesome grace of God. He uses fishermen, willing to lay down their nets and take up His cross. They didn't know where He was leading, only that He was worth following. 

God uses ordinary people!

He doesn't need us to be extraordinary, He wants to make us into a new creation. He wants to be strong in our weakness. Marty and I have a lot of weakness, for Him to turn to strength. We were not willing participants when He first began to call us down this path. We were willing, though to go where He called. Who does God need to end the orphan crisis? Obedient people, willing people. People who are listening intently to the Saviors calling. People who are tired of the status quo. People who will lay down their nets and take up a cross. People who know that God intended more for them and for their families than to chase the American Dream. People ready to be courageous, ready to risk much for the KINGDOM. 

God is looking for people who have turned their eyes upon Jesus. If you haven't looked in His direction lately, look today. It's amazing how earthly things become less important when we're gazing on our Savior. Your life will be different if you choose Jesus, it will be fuller and brighter than you ever imagined. It will also be hard. My prayer is that the American Church would stop lying to people. Following Jesus will not make your life easier, it's not supposed to. Look at Jesus' life and the life of his followers and then ask yourself if God intended for your life to be easy and comfortable. I'm sure He did not! Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Please, don't feel like God can't use you. Do you feel ordinary? Great! God uses ordinary people. We've seen ordinary people step up and join our family on this journey, again and again, this past year. Without the obedience of ordinary people our boys wouldn't be coming home. Did you hear me? Without the obedience of ordinary people our boys wouldn't be coming home. You've given and prayed and now, that you've watched us walk this path (two of the most ordinary people in the world) maybe you're ready to start your own journey. We'll walk beside you. 12 ordinary men, who had been changed by Jesus, changed the course of history forever. Will you embrace you ordinaryness (I know it's not a word) and pick up your cross and follow Jesus wherever He leads?

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something!

Hidden in Christ,

Mandy

The Finishers are at it, AGAIN!

Praise God! He's a God of more than ENOUGH! The Reed family finished the matching grant in just 4 hours and they finished strong at $920 total. The full match will be deposited today and now, the Reed family can relax and focus on bringing home their boys! Thank you to everyone who helped. Oh, and keep watching, because I'm sure the "Finishers" will be back soon! 

I hope you all are enjoying the work of the "Finishers" as much as I am. We have been in awe as God has showed up for our family and the Cole family already this month. Once again, we have a family who is very close to funded and could really use our help pushing through to their goal. You can read about the Reed Family on their Reece's Rainbow profile or you can just skip on over to Christine's Blog and read about this amazing family.

The Reed family expects to have travel dates, today or tomorrow, to go and pick up their boys! You all know that my heart breaks for the boys. So often, chosen last, simply because they're boys. I'm so excited for the Reed family to have chosen not one, but two boys.

Doyle

and Fischer

Such handsome boys. The Reed family has done the hard work of raising the funds needed to get their boys home and only lack $2,000 to be FULLY FUNDED! Our Finishers learned about the Reed family and knew they wanted to help finish them up. So, there is an $800 matching grant on the table! Dollar for dollar will be matched up to and including $800. Now, here's the catch, just like the last two times the "Finishers" stepped in, we have from 8pm (EST) tonight until midnight (EST) on Friday night. So 27 hours from now, the Reed family should be $1600 closer to funded. So give and share with your friends and watch along with us as God melts this mountain!

It gets better, since I contacted Christine, she has shared the matching grant on her blog and guess what? God has already provided the final $400 they will need to be funded! That's right! Another anonymous donor has stepped forward and said that when they reach the goal for the matching grant, they will give the final $400. I don't plan these things, ya'll. God just loves to show-up and show-off! He is so faithful!

For this matching challenge, we're asking that you give using the chip-in on Christine's blog. We'll know they're funded when the chip-in hits $800! If you'd rather give anonymously through their grant on Reece's Rainbow, go ahead, just be sure to comment here or on Christine's blog and let us know, so we count your donation toward the $800 goal. 

Let's do this! Not just for the Reed family and their boys, but for the KING and His GLORY! 

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something!

Hidden in Christ,

Mandy

We got DATES!!

I leave to pick the boys up on May 23rd and we'll fly back into the Raleigh Durham airport on June 2nd! Praise God our boys are coming HOME!

That's all for now, I have a home study visit in less than an hour!

Blessings,
Mandy

Urgent Need!

I come to you often with the older, children. The boys, who get passed over, again and again. I try to advocate for the ones with the most urgent need. Then, I read something like I read today and I remember that all of these children are on borrowed time. Borrowed time...there's no guarantee that transfer won't happen before they turn 5 years old, we just assume it won't. Today, I read this from Andrea, the founder of Reece's Rainbow...Keegan is in danger of being transferred to a mental institution because his baby house is closing. This is Keegan...

 

He just turned 1 in January. 1 year old and he is in danger of being transferred to a mental institution. Don't pretty it up. Don't think for one minute that it's going to be okay because he's a cute little baby. Dear Lord, where is the church? My heart cries to think that he will be locked away in an institution. That such a precious little one will become a forgotten boy. Please, share his picture. Pray and ask God if Keegan is your son. He is someone's son!

Caring for the orphans is the very heart of God. Adoption is the essence of our faith, without it we'd be lost forever. Jesus provided for our salvation on the cross, for our adoption into the family of God. We are no longer slaves, but sons. Can we be the hands and feet of Jesus to Keegan and free him from slavery, from the sentence of death that is lingering over him, even now? Can we make him a son? Will you be the change you want to see in the world? Keegan's life depends on our response...

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something!

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy

What's Next?

One day, I'm going to learn. I'm going to learn that I cannot have any expectations in regards to timing with our adoption. I had so hoped to be coming to you this morning with the dates of my final trip to bring the boys home. It dawned on me that I haven't shared the details of how that trip will work, so while we wait, let's jump in!

For our pick-up trip Marty is staying home with Eli and Julie. They had a wonderful time in November staying with their Aunt Meagan and Uncle Larry in Maryland, but we want them to be in as much of their normal routine as possible, when we bring their brothers home. Since, Marty couldn't find a friend willing to travel to Bulgaria and wrestle 2 boys for a week in a hotel and then a 20+ hour flight home, I got the job. I do have more than one friend, who is willing and eager to go with me. The most logical and exciting choice for me was to take my long time, best friend, who I haven't seen in going on 3 years with me. 3 years is a long time and when I knew I needed to take someone with me, Marty suggested Daniell. He earned super points for that.

I thought, well, I'll ask, but I met Daniell when our husbands were both in the Navy. Her husband is still in the Navy and that makes travel difficult. Time away for a Navy Spouse is almost unheard of, probably for a spouse in any branch of the military. Thankfully, God is always in the details and Daniell's husband, Stacey is going to be able to take some time off for her to make the trip. I so thrilled she's going to meet our boys and how much fun will it be to take my best friend with me to the other side of the world.

Anyway, now, you know who my traveling companion will be, so let me tell you what happens when we arrive. This is my best understanding...we will fly into Sofia, Bulgaria on a Thursday and drive directly to Joseph's region, where we will spend the night. Friday morning we will go to his orphanage and pick him up. This should take about 45 minutes, then we drive to Samuel's orphanage on the way back to Sofia and pick him up. All so we can be back in Sofia to file for passports before 2 pm. Then, we settle into our hotel and wait. Wait for the passports to be ready and for the boys' medicals to take place on the following Thursday. We should get the all clear on Thursday and board our flight home on Saturday morning.

We're hoping to arrive at the Raleigh/Durham Airport on Saturday evening, early enough so our friends and family we'll come out and meet us and the boys. Now, all we need are dates! Please, pray that we receive them quickly. It's making everyone here a little edgy waiting. One day, I will learn, maybe during our next adoption...did I say that?

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something!

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy

Rainbow Shower

We've been over this before, but it bears repeating...I have the most awesome friends on the planet! Saturday was our "Gotcha Shower!" My friends, Brooke, Tonya and Chandres decided we needed a shower to help get ready for the boys' arrival home. Brooke headed things up and she did an amazing job with the food and decorations. I was a little hesitant when Brooke first said she wanted to do a rainbow theme, but it turned out beautifully and Brooke should be a party planner.

Don't believe me? Check out these pictures...

Brooke setting things up!

Rainbow Cupcakes!

Roy G Biv fruit spears and jelly beans (they don't sell violet jelly beans, so pink it is)!

Tonya made this to show off our kids.

Almost time for the guests...they're never far behind a Chick-fil-a tray full of nuggets!

So, we're ready for a rainbow themed party! There are games, presents and most of all guests to introduce you to, but that will have to wait for later. Life is calling. We're busy here in the Rhodes' house. Hopefully, we'll have pick-up dates this week. Keep praying and I'll share some more weekend fun, tonight!

Blessings,

Mandy

Our Mystery Guests Revealed!

Blessed doesn't even begin to cover it. I have so many stories to tell and things to share from this weekend. I'm exhausted, but in the best kind of way. First, I promised to tell you who our mystery guests were. We spent last week excitedly anticipating a visit from another Reece's Rainbow Family. You're just not going to believe who came to stay at our house with all seven of their children this weekend. The Rogers Family arrived, yesterday, in time  for our "Gotcha Shower." They stayed overnight with us and went to church and onto the Playing Them Home Event with us. It was such a fun time of fellowship. Erika and Mel just completed an adoption from Eastern Europe in October of 2011, when they brought home...

Clare (this is her just waking up look)

and Malachi

They're about six weeks or so from travel to pick up BERNADETTE and MASON! I can't even begin to tell you what a blessing it was, like a balm to my soul, to hold and love on sweet Clare and Malachi. Especially Malachi, he reminds me so much of our boys and he did my heart so much good. All of the Rogers Gang is a blessing. Each child unique and beautiful. We'll gladly open our home anytime to welcome...

Madison

Matthew

Joy

Cailee

John Daniel

Oh, Erika and Mel can come, again, too. As long as they bring all these loves, plus Bernadette and Mason with them. It felt just like hanging out with old friends...so much common ground, a sharing of faith, love for God and family and of course, for the orphans. Here's just a few more pictures of us with our in-real-life (no longer just bloggy-land, facebook) friends. We miss them, already!

Matthew and Eli

Cailee, Julie, Joy

Me, Erika and Julie, along with Malachi and Clare, who are clearly finished taking pictures.

We loved our time together this weekend. It was too short! I can't wait to tell you all about the BEST "Gotcha Shower" I've ever been to, complete with pictures of the friends who love us so well and love our boys even more. That's for tomorrow. 

For today, if you want to help the Rogers family bring home our sweet Bernadette and precious Mason, too, head on over to their Reece's Rainbow Grant and make a tax-deductible donation. Time is running short for my friends. They travel in less than two months and still need about $15,000. I know, they'd appreciate any help you sent their way.

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something!

Hidden in Christ,

Mandy