"I Get It from My Momma"

"I get it from my Momma" is the thought that comes to mind so often as I "nest" and, as she calls it, "piddle around" my Peace Place, and today is no different. I often think about why I adore small spaces, old things, lots of pictures, sweet-smelling candles, green plants, rose bushes, banana bread in the oven... Well, because my momma does. Growing up, she always kept our home where at any time, we could invite friends over. It was and still is a place where everyone and anyone feels welcome. That is my desire for the Cooper Cottage - a place where people gather and feel at home. You can feel free to eat your dessert or drink your sweet tea anywhere, because the decor is definitely not anything new or fancy; however, almost everything on the walls and most pieces of furniture tell a story. 

Hospitality, beauty in simplicity, love for the water and strawberry cake are just a few other things I get from my momma. But one thing that I hope and pray I get from her is to be the best wife, and one day, best mommy and friend for my babies. There are many days that "mom-to-be fears" overwhelm me, and she is the one always there on the other end of the phone every day (sometimes multiple times a day) to encourage me. Even if it is with, "Morgan, I remember leaving the hospital with you in my arms thinking, "Are they just going to let us walk out of here with her? We don't know what we are doing!". And here she is today, over 28 years later, still rockin' this "Mom thing". She makes me laugh and jealous of her super, cute wardrobe. She chats about what God is teaching her and is constantly learning new ways to love others. She can "rough it" camping and on the river with earrings and lip gloss. She still loves handmade, thoughtful gifts and anything and everything monogramed. She is willing to try new recipes and just smiles and serves it anyway, even if it doesn't quite go as planned. She doesn't want to just talk about it, but says, "Let's pray about it." She works hard, but knows how to have fun. She still holds my hand and even sometimes, cries with me. Yes, she still worries about me even when I tell her that I'm fine. She always has our favorite treats on the table when we come home for the weekend and never lets us head back to Memphis without snacks and a drink for the road. She never claims to have the answers to all of my questions, but always points to the One who does. She supports my crazy ideas, because she is the one who taught me to dream big. You can always find her in the background, quietly cheering on my sister and I in whatever season of life we are in. She still dates my daddy and lets him lead. She is... well, the list goes on and on. Although I would say she is a picture of perfection, she would disagree and say a picture of grace.

Her faith and sweet spirit are a constant source of encouragement as she continues to serve our family with such humility and grace. With Mother's Day come a lot of different emotions for many people. For my mom, I know her heart is full with sweet memories of her mother, and at the same time, aches because she wishes she could pick up the phone just one more time and talk to my sweet Grandmother who is now with Jesus. For me, it is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my momma and the sweet friendship I have with her as she continues to love and disciple me. At the same time, it is yet another Mother's Day without babies to call my own. Over the past five years, there have been many times I have felt like a Varsity player only allowed on the J.V. team, because I have not yet obtained the ultimate title of "Mommy". However, my momma has empowered me to use this season to encourage others and pursue Jesus passionately knowing He works all things for our good and His glory. 

Some of my earliest memories as a child is watching my momma with my new baby sister. I was three years old and loved everything about this new baby. I was eager to learn how to hold her supporting her head just right, feed her and even change her diaper. I loved to play with her and would do just about anything to make her smile. I always knew I wanted to be a mommy after having a front row seat to this amazing experience. I wanted to be a mommy, well... because I wanted to be just like MY mommy. 

Happy Mother's Day & Thank YOU, Momma, for being such an incredible support on this journey and for also choosing JOY in the journey! I have had friends tell me what a good mom I will be one day, and to that I say, Thanks... I get it from MY MOMMA. 

Worship in Waiting:
"If We're Honest" Francesca Battistelli
"Just Be Held" Casting Crowns

Campfires and Kitchen Tables

It’s a rainy day here at the Cooper Cottage, but I do not mind, friends… No rain. No flowers, right? And this is so true in our lives. Because of the rainy days, we can experience bright, sunshiny days. And our days, rain or shine, make us who we are and create the journey that writes our story. 

Who doesn't love a good story? One full of adventure, action, sweet romance and of course, a happy ending? I love a good read in the hammock on a breezy day, snuggled on the couch with hot tea or with my toes in the sand on the beach, BUT even better are the stories told around a campfire or a kitchen table. Stories told by family, old friends and new. Stories that happened long ago or just the other day. Stories that are full of sadness, joy, hope, silliness, faith, loss, fear, growth, fun and the list goes on and on. Something about the atmosphere of a campfire or kitchen table, for me, creates an environment for intimacy, transparency and openness - an opportunity to gather and connect. 

Around the campfire or kitchen table, everyone is equal just as God sees us. There is not a seating arrangement for “big I” or “little i”, no J.V. or Varsity, but all equally broken, hot messes in need of Him and each other. So what keeps us from taking the time to sit down together and share our stories, openly and honestly? If we are truly trusting the ultimate Author, why would we not want others to read our story of redemption?

Your story. My story. The highs and lows. Chapter after chapter. Seasons of change and growth. It makes us who we are and who God created us to be while trusting Him as He writes each page for our good and His glory. In this chapter of life, I am learning so much about waiting on God and what it truly means to be spirit-led, moment by moment, day by day. I am learning to let Him lead in this dance as I simply follow, step by step, listening closely to the music. I have recently realized and am ashamed to admit that for so long my focus and top priority was just doing “good things”, then praying for Him to come along behind me and “bless” MY good. I do not want my story to be filled with just “good” things. I want my story to be His story, full of His glory…and that my friends, requires FAITH - You know… trusting that He will do what He says He will do even when the “storyline” is not making sense to us, and the dots just don't seem to connect. Living and acting in faith, believing and trusting that He knows my story - beginning, middle and end. And because I am His, there is and will be a happy ending. "Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

Although all different and unique, our stories allow us to connect with each other and ultimately, encourage and inspire. Yes, the good, the bad, the ugly - each chapter of our journey can be used for His kingdom. Jared and I recently attended an incredible, adoption conference and while discussing the importance of being present physically and psychologically as parents, the speaker had us participate in an exercise. Partner 2 was told to close their eyes while Partner 1 was given instructions to tell a story using details of a familiar or common route taken often. Partner 1 was then told to close their eyes while Partner 2 was given instructions to only listen “half-way”, about 50% of the time. The rest of the time, flip through your notes, check your phone, etc. After a few minutes, we discussed how Partner 1 felt - ignored, unimportant, stupid, discouraged, silly, embarrassed. Then we switched, except Partner 1 was given the instructions to listen at about 90%. Partner 2 (me) told my story and was overwhelmed. I felt important, heard, encouraged, excited, but also odd, uncomfortable, awkward, struggling to even keep eye contact myself. The speaker explained that because our culture struggles with and no longer places an importance on being truly “present”, we are all oddly uncomfortable when we feel heard or engaged in genuine conversation. This broke my heart. How terribly sad, friends.  

I want you to be heard, dear friend. I need you to be bold and share your story with humility and grace. Your story may be what speaks life and hope into a hurting heart. Your story may be what speaks joy into someone else’s journey. So, y'all c’mon over to the Cooper Cottage and gather around my kitchen table. Let’s talk life and tell our stories over coffee or tea. Let’s gather around a campfire and be truly present and in the moment while losing count of the s’mores eaten. Let the Author write. Tell His story as you choose JOY in the journey. 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation purchase of God, Born of His Spirit washed in His Blood.

This is my story this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long;

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

angles deciding bring from above, Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long;

Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blessed;

Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long;

Worship in Waiting:

"The Campfire Story" Rend Collective

"Blessed Assurance (My King is Coming)" Matthew West

Temple Time

Chocolate. Cookies. Cupcakes. Candy. Ice Cream. Coffee drinks that are basically dessert in a cute cup... There it is. A list of reasons I MUST work out. BUT... over the recent months, I have learned that this list of yummy goodies is only part of the reason I choose to roll out of bed super early after hitting the snooze button only once or twice instead of five or ten times, then lace up the tennis shoes that probably should be replaced sooner than later... shoo-wee.

To be completely honest, I have been struggling whether to continue to post or not. While in this part of the adoption process, there is not much to "update". Yes, we are in the season of waiting, waiting, and MORE waiting. We are confident in knowing that our God is working in our waiting - working ALL things for our good and His glory. BUT... my desire for this blog is to not only keep "our village" up to date on this journey of adoption, but to also encourage and inspire you in whatever journey you are on. If one post can do that for one person, I will keep writing and sharing. My prayer is for every post to communicate genuine transparency and love for our God and result in you choosing JOY that can be found no matter your journey - spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, etc. And for me, I am learning so much about how these different areas of my life influence each other and how they all impact my overall purpose especially in this present season of life. That purpose is simple: to KNOW GOD and make HIM KNOWN.

So, here it goes, friends... The topic that I never, ever really wanted to write about and definitely never post. Something that I hate, but love... I have always been "aware" of my size and battled that silly, 3 digit number on the scale. For me, exercise is a form a therapy, a time to focus on something other than the million other things going on inside this head. I enjoy trying new things and setting new goals in order to keep things interesting and challenging. So, even though drinking LOTS of water and being active has been a part of my daily routine for as long as I can remember, the "battle of the brain" overwhelms me often with doubts, discouragement, fear and a million other insecurities. 

BUT, recently I took some time reevaluate the "WHY?" - Why do I exercise? What's the point? What's the ultimate goal? The answers to these questions resulted in what I now call "Temple Time". In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 after writing that our bodies are made by God and for God, Paul writes, "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Temple Time is a time to focus on your physical and spiritual journeys. The goal is not to become "America's Next Top Model", right? Mercy, NO. The goal is to be healthy and ultimately honor God with your body - the Temple of the Holy Spirit. After an early morning workout, I find myself "alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic" and more ready to dive into God's Word and spend some intentional time in prayer before getting into the busy schedule of the day.  

Accountability is also key and a part of what Temple Time is all about. No competition. No comparisons. Just people that love Jesus and want to help each other be all that God created them to be. I am beyond grateful for my sweet hubby who happens to also be my "personal trainer". Not only do we enjoy working out together and incorporating workouts that we both enjoy, but girls, there is nothing more attractive than a guy on his knees spending time with His Father after spending time training the temple. For 2016, I desired to establish a new morning routine in order to start my day with my God and in HIs Word. I do what I do throughout the day, not because I want to do things FOR Him, but instead just want to be WITH Him and aware of His presence. And although I am still learning the best flow for the morning, I have been so encouraged by the effect it has had not only on the effectiveness of my workouts, but also my study and prayer time. 

1 Timothy 4:8 says, "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."

Let me challenge you to evaluate your "WHY?" - Why do you do what you do? What is your mission? Your purpose? And how does your daily routine and choices reflect that mission and unique purpose for which you were created? How are you spending your Temple Time?

My next Temple Time goal is quite scary... Well, CRAZY, really, and I would love for you to join in! 100 burpees each day for 30 days (February 18th - March 18th) for a total of 3,000 burpees!!!! I was inspired by a friend who is in the middle of her 30 day challenge now and decided to incorporate it into my Temple Time for the next 30 days. Who's in? 

Worship in Waiting:
"Joy of the Lord" Red Collective
"Open Up the Heavens" Meredith Andrews




  

STOP the Chatter... BE STILL

Floss every day. More water less coffee. Intensify daily workouts. Read and journal more. Color often... These were just a few of my goals for 2016, and I must admit that I have already missed a day or two of flossing and have drank a lot of coffee on these recent chilly days... BUT also and more importantly this year, I desire a heart that is humble and ready to hear God's voice above all others. Every day is FULL of different emotions - highs and lows, and Disney’s “Inside  Out” perfectly illustrates characters to the “little voices” inside our head and shows us how our emotions on the inside effect our actions on the outside. In the movie, Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear battle it out in a little girl’s head for control. In the end, they learned that they must work together at times in order for each to exist. I could perfectly relate to the craziness going on in Riley's head... especially during this season of life. One thing I noticed is that there was a “little voice” missing… LOVE! BUT, quickly I realized love is not a feeling or an emotion, love is an action - a result of our emotions. Love is a decision, a choice, an attitude. Although our culture commercializes love and portrays it to be something physical, fleeting, and self-serving, we as children of God have experienced and should know true, genuine love is to be sacrificial, selfless and result in an attitude of surrender and service.

Faith is all about love. The love we have received from our Father, and the love we share with others. BUT, I know for me, sometimes those "little voices" in my head completely take over leaving me in a place of self-pity, frustration, doubt, jealousy and the list can go on and on. It is there when it is difficult and almost impossible for me to choose JOY, act in LOVE and truly THRIVE as a child of God. Steven Furtick, author and pastor of Elevation Church, refers to these "little voices" as the Chatterbox. A dear friend of mine who encourages me in my faith and is patient with me while "outwardly processing" the million and one things going on in this head and heart, highly recommended that I read Furtick's book, Crash the Chatterbox. And.... it has been kicking my booty for the past month. It has been exactly what this girl has needed to "process" the day to day and events of the past month or so while bringing every thought captive and being reminded and completely overwhelmed by the truths of God's Word. 

A few weeks ago, we received an email from our adoption agency telling us the good news that our dossier had passed through legalization! We knew that the next step would be a long waiting period, but didn't really realize exactly HOW long. It seems the time-frame for this step in the process is longer than we anticipated. We are so grateful to be at this stage of the process, and here we are, 1 year down... YET... that doesn't make the waiting any easier really. It is literally a moment by moment season that we are in knowing that God is working in our waiting while working all things for our good and His glory. 

Crash the Chatterbox has allowed me to honestly wrestle with thoughts and emotions that I have never really allowed myself to struggle with. I have learned and am still learning how to daily battle and ultimately crash the chatterbox by simply being still. Exodus 14:14 "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." 

"My joy is not determined by what happens to me, but what Christ is doing in me and through me."

In the book, Furtick refers to to an essay titled "Welcome to Holland" by Emily Perl Kingsley. What an incredible perspective it offers regardless of what season or situation your are currently facing. Kingsley writes, "I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this... When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The flight attendant comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." "Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would have never met. It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while you catch your breath, you look around... and you begin to notice that Holland even has Rembrandts. But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things... about Holland."

"Don't let what you expected keep you from what God wants you to experience."

God has taught Jared and I so much about Him and His heart on this journey as He chooses to continue to reveal Himself to us even in our sad, pitiful attempt to pursue Him. He is sovereign, and His plan is perfect. Whatever journey you are on, be confident in who God is and how much He loves you. He is always good. He is always right. He is always faithful, and He is our Father. You are chosen. You are loved. Don't listen to those "little voices" in your head. CRASH the Chatterbox with the truth of God's Word and let the Holy Spirit fight for you. Friends, SILENCE that Chatterbox with STILLNESS.

Worship in Waiting:

"Ever Be" Kalley Heiligenthal

"Good Good Father" Chris Tomlin

Marvel in the Mystery

Retreat. Rest. Room…. making Room for the Lord is what I have desired during this season. Not just this holiday season, but this season of life. A season that is still and quiet - full of anticipation and preparation. It was a year ago this week that we shared with our families that we had begun the adoption process. This year has been full of highs and lows, but God has been with us every step of the way providing for us and protecting our hearts as we anticipate a phone call and our first trip to meet our little guy. As an official “waiting family”, my heart is ready and expecting to get the call super soon while also accepting the reality of possibly waiting for months and months before seeing his sweet face for the first time. Waiting… Why? How? What do we do? And… for how long? These are questions that I ask myself and sometimes wrestle with daily, but in the end, only one thing I know is certain: God is with us and working in our waiting.

July was our last mission to Kenya before starting the adoption process, and we went knowing it would be our last for quite some time as we prepare to take multiple trips to Haiti and bring our baby boy home. In recent weeks, I have become so very homesick for Kenya, our “Peace Place” and missing our kids and dear friends who are there. We are grateful for the opportunity to send others in this season of not being able to go, but desire to live life on mission here or there and daily look for opportunities to love and serve others. So, I may not be able to go to Africa, but this past Friday, Africa came to me. While working at The Rev, a young guy from Rwanda stopped in and shared his incredible story with me. After having the opportunity to study engineering here in the U.S., he began working as an engineer, but then quit his job and started a business in order to give back to the people of Rwanda. I was so grateful to have met him and hear his accent and his heart. After chatting for quite a bit and making plans to have him and his wife over for dinner sometime, I remembered that I did not know his name. So, I introduced myself again and asked for his name. He smiled. “My name is Emmanuel.” He headed out the door just as tears began to fill my eyes. Emmanuel... “God with us”.

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

God with us… In the quiet. In the stillness. While we wait. 

He was with Sarah, Hannah, Ruth, and Esther in the Old Testament while they waited for babies, provision and opportunity. In the New Testament, He was with Mary when she was chosen to bring the Messiah into the world. However, in their season of waiting, they were found faithful and obedient. 

Waiting is not fun, and life is not easy or fair. So, why do we expect or think we deserve easy, fun or fair? God’s Word does not communicate that the Christian life will always be easy or even make sense. God sent His Son to provide eternal life. He promised eternal life, not a “peaches and cream” life. We will never know the answers to all of the questions we have or be able to truly understand it all. BUT, He is with us.

Isaiah 55:6-13 “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Joy. Peace. Singing… No matter the season. He is Emmanuel, “God with us”. Even on the tough days. Even in the quiet, still seasons when all we have is questions and no answers. Trust Him. Trust His Word. Choose JOY while you Marvel in the Mystery of it all. 

“Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God.” Sam Storms 

Worship in Waiting: 

"O Come. O Come Emmanuel" Jeremy Camp

"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" Chris Tomlin

Adventure Awaits!

"To LIVE will be an awfully BIG ADVENTURE." Peter Pan

Life is quite the adventure, huh? Every single day brings new experiences and opportunities for adventure. Adventure is defined as "an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity." So... if you don't mind me asking, what kind of an adventure are you on? Although you may not really "feel" like you are on an "adventure" in this moment, everyone is on some type of an adventure that requires us to journey along the way as we travel through different seasons of life. Adventures are thrilling, exciting, difficult, and yes, sometimes scary. BUT... always worth it, wouldn't you agree? Because, with every adventure brings experience and from experience comes growth. 

Are you confident in your journey regardless of what adventures come your way? Trust me, I know it's hard. It's tough. It's life. BUT... What a life we could live if we truly believed that God is working ALL things for our good and His glory! Yes, ALL things... the good. the bad. the ugly. HE is aware. HE is in control. HE is GOD. Do you trust Him?

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

I have heard this verse my entire life and heard it preached on many times, BUT if you are asking God A LOT of questions about your journey, click the link below and listen to the sermon preached this past week at our church. So grateful for His Word and how we can KNOW that He is working ALL things for our good and HIS glory.

http://harvestmemphis.org/category/media/sermons/

I was also recently encouraged by the following from Jesus Calling: 

"As you become increasingly aware of My Presence, you find it easier to discern the way you should go. This is one of the practical benefits of living close to Me. Instead of wondering about what is on the road ahead or worrying about what you should do if... or when..., you can concentrate on staying in communication with Me. When you actually arrive at a choice-point, I will show you which direction to go.

Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fails to see choices they need to make today. Without any conscious awareness, they make their habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well-worn paths of routine.

I, the Creator of the universe, am the most creative Being imaginable. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of ADVENTURE, revealing to you things you did not know. Stay in communication with Me. Follow My guiding Presence." 

In the Old Testament, God commanded Joshua to set up a memorial to remind them and future generations of what God miraculously did for them on the adventure of crossing the Jordan River.In the “Cooper Cottage” kitchen we have a large jar where we write down our different adventures throughout the year. These “adventures” come in quite the variety: surprises, goals met, little things that made a big difference, lol moments, good times, blessings, verses, and “just because" moments. These moments, big and small, are memorials for our little family for the year 2015, and on New Year’s Eve, we will read each one and remember how God has been faithful to us through the good and the bad. Our home, our “Peace Place”, itself is a memorial of something that only God could have done and is full of small reminders of God’s love and faithfulness to us. What memorials do you have in your home or have written down that remind you of God’s love and faithfulness shown to you and your family? Are these reminders discussed with your children and shared with your guests when they visit your “Peace Place”? 

We desire nothing more than for God to be glorified in our journey. And although joy is not automatic, as children of God, joy is available to us throughout the journey.

This month is National Adoption month, so for the month of November, we will be selling “Cooper Adoption” t-shirts. They are $25 and come in youth and adult sizes. To order yours, just contact me (morgan@befreerevolution.com), let me know your size, and you can pay with either cash or check. Or... you can order your's this Saturday at The Rev from 2-4:00 as we celebrate Silas and World Adoption Day! These t-shirts are not just a fundraiser, friends, but an awesome opportunity for “our village” to rock the reminder that there is “Joy in the Journey”. 

"Now unto him that is able to exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," Ephesians 3:20 

Worship in Waiting:

"Same Power" Jeremy Camp

"Fix My Eyes" for King & Country

31 Reasons & an UPDATE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY week to my hunky, hottie of a hubby! This Sunday, October 18th, we will be celebrating Jared's 31st birthday. Our journey began as two, young kids that just wanted to obey God. Most days, we still feel like those young kids. Yes, I still feel like that young 8th grade girl with a crush. I am so thankful for Jared and his sweet spirit as he is constantly speaking truth and love into my life. He is my confidence and balance as he leads our little family with such humility and grace. And... that is just a few of the reasons I love him! Sooo... here are 31 more!

1. He is a hard-worker.

2. He does the dishes.

3. He is a good example.

4. He is loyal.

5. He is honest.

6. He does the grocery shopping.

7. He is funny.

8. He is thoughtful.

9. He is reliable.

10. He is my best friend.

11. He is smart.

12. He makes me laugh.

13. He is so talented.

14. He provides for our little family.

15. He is patient.

16. He is obedient.

17. He likes my cooking.

18. He is an outstanding teacher. 

19. He listens. 

20. He is faithful.

21. He is so cute.

22. He helps fold the clothes. 

23. He gives the best hugs. 

24. He sits on my cold feet to warm them up.

25. He is kind.

26. He cleans the bathrooms.

27. He compliments my crazy hair. 

28. He writes me sweet notes

29. He surprises me. 

30. He is so handsome.

31. He is already an amazing daddy. 

I am so grateful for all of the “firsts” that Jared and I have experienced together. Our first “date” when we basically just sat beside each other when I was in the 8th grade, and he was in the 11th grade. Our wedding day when we shared many firsts… all in one day. Our first pet. Our first home. our first mission to Kenya, and NOW... our first child. I know that the best is yet to come!

Application. CHECK.
Home Study. CHECK.
Immigration. CHECK.
Dossier. ALMOST...

When we started the journey of adoption almost 9 months ago, we were told that it would be a long, unpredictable process. BUT... here we are, checking things off of the list daily knowing that each step is just one more step closer to bringing this little guy home from Haiti. According to the timeline we were given, we were expecting to submit our dossier in December. ("The term ‘dossier’ when used in the context of adoption refers to a collection of legal documents that are appropriately authenticated and translated and used in international adoption cases to process the adoption of a child in its own country by the adoptive parents. The information that is required differs by country. Normally, records to prove a family's identity, finances, health, and character are included in a dossier." US Legal & Law Definition) However, just a few weeks ago, we were contacted by our agency telling us that a few spots had opened up, and as quickly as we can get everything together for our dossier, it could hopefully be submitted earlier then expected! Whoop! Whoop! Soooo... We have been like two crazy people gathering everything and are so grateful that it is almost, YES, almost complete. After approval, our agency will submit our dossier to the Haitian government.

After our dossier is submitted, we will be waiting to be matched with our little guy, then wait for an invitation to make our first visit to meet him. Because Haiti requires two trips, we will return home after the first trip and wait for the adoption to be finalized before returning back to Haiti in order to bring this little guy home for good. The past nine months have been FULL of highs and lows, but what an incredible journey it has already been! We have definitely experienced many different emotions, and every day brings its own unique joys and challenges. Because we have experienced deep grief, we have also been able to experience true joy. Our God has taught us so much about who He is, revealing Himself to us in our sometimes pitiful pursuit of Him. We are beyond grateful for "our village" made up of friends and family around the world who continue to support us and speak truth and hope into our lives as we prepare to be parents to this special kiddo.  

Your prayers are most appreciated, friends. What a life we could live if we TRULY believed that God is working ALL things for our good and His glory. He just asks us to simply acknowledge Him and obey His Word. I am so grateful that He not only hears our prayers, BUT answers them. Please continue to pray for the following as we desire nothing more than for God to be glorified through this journey:

- God's provision as we apply for grants and fundraise the remaining $20,000 needed
- Our preparation for parenting
- Our child's spiritual, physical, and emotional health
- For those providing care to our child until he is brought home
- The people of Lifeline as they guide us through this process 

http://www.gofundme.com/cooperadoptionfund  

Worship in Waiting: (2 of the Birthday Boy's Favs) 
"My Story" Big Daddy Weave
"When God Ran" Phillips, Craig & Dean