Love Multiplied

The love donations continue and my heart swells with gratitude &
encouragement. We received another $50 donation from friends in our
church family and a $20 donation that brought tears to my eyes.

The $50 donation made me smile beyond just gratitude. The friend that
gave it to me said, "The Lord told me to give it to you on Sunday." This was Tuesday night. :) I didn't ask if the "delay" was hesitance or logistical...I just assumed hesitance and had to laugh because how often do we all do that. I know there are times, not necessarily with money, when I am reluctant to obey something the Lord has called me to do...you know, I just have to be sure it is the Lord first. *giggle* And I love how the Lord completely understands and loves me through it.

I had mentioned in a previous post about saving money that we give our
teens $25 a month "allowance" for snack money; that money really can be
spent on any reasonable thing they want or even saved for something
bigger or more expensive. Each one of my teens have been learning about
tithing (to their youth group) and trusting God by letting go of that
money. Some of my teens began tithing right away, others more slowly, and one even a tad bit slower. :) Some tithe the exact 10%, others tithe more. About a month ago I heard about one of my teens donating $20 to a fundraiser to help cure children's cancer. I was blown away by how the Lord has obviously been working on this particular teens
heart...one of my teens that always has a plan for where the money will be spent even before he has it.

2 days ago (or so), one of my daughters handed me $20 (after having tithed the rest of her months allowance) and said somethig like, "I want my little sisters to come home. I don't need it." As my eyes filled with tears, I just looked at her and said, "Really?" I know she
wants her sisters home, but she is giving up a lot of freedom (in a
sense) by giving away all of her money. She went on to tell me that she
thought about it and she doesn't need any of that otherr stuff, she just wants her sisters come home. She is well aware of how quickly we need a large amount of money to make that happen. After asking why I was looking at her the way I was and what was wrong with me (lol), I accepted the money and a huge hug. Wow! I love seeing God work in the hearts of my children.

So little by little we are getting closer. I have no complaints about that, but it sure would be nice if God would "feed the multitude" with what has already been given. Wouldn't it be wonderful if He multiplied these love offerings and called it "done" (fully funded)? We have about $7500 still needed for this next phase of the adoption, just a few
weeks away. I'm still praying we will travel in May (it's very possible
and most likely). Of course, the need could be more depending on plane
tickets. After we return we will still need another $4000 (again, maybe
more, depending on plane tickets) for the final phase. That means we are looking at needing a minimum of another close to $12,000 to complete Alyssa and Piper's adoption. Would you please pray with me for God move mountains today? For God to fully fund this adoption right here and now so we can focus on the other areas that need to be tended to in preparation for the girls homecoming (such as bedrooms, carseats, etc.). This is not at all beyond what God can do. If you would come together with us and pray in faith for it do be done, perhaps we will see that it is His will to do so.

Thank you so much for all who have given and those who will be touched
by God to do the same.

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