OUR LITTLE NOODLES: The Stever Family Adoption

Welcome to our adoption journey. We are so blessed with our five daughters. Now we embark on the worldwide journey of a lifetime - adopting a special needs child. Please join us for this adventure!



Thursday, January 28, 2010

We Need Your Help and Support



In this spiritual journey, we must never lose faith. Hold on to God in the midst of our storm. When everyone else bails out, God is right there with us. Even though He may seem distant, the truth of the matter is He hasn't gone anywhere. We should not grow weary in your faith - hold on. God wants to know: What have I done for Him lately? Have I given Him my best or am I holding back? When I serve God and do what God has called me to do, I will receive all that's meant for me. On the other hand, if I refuse to serve God, how can I expect God to do anything for me? When I know that God has placed me where I am for a reason, I can handle any obstacle thrown at me. In a real sense, when we know God is able to do in us what others declare impossible and impractical, we can rejoice. We should not look at what we can't do based on people's opinion of us. We should seek God and get ready for our victory.

That being said, we are sending our letters / information packets out to family and friends this weekend. If you receive one, please pray and consider a donation to our family. If you do not, please lift us up in your prayers and help us network and get the word out! We need all the help we can get! After all, we are rescuing a blessed child from an institutional existence at best. We are saving a life! We are giving love, a family, a home.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. We are forever grateful.

Monday, January 25, 2010

God Can Move Mountains!

In this life, I've discovered that life isn't fair and if you're not careful, you'll find yourself full of frustration and aggravation. Frustrated because it seems as though God has left you by yourself to fight for yourself. And frustrated because you're sick and tired of being sick and tired. The first thing I need to do is make up my mind that I am better than the situation I am in. I am better than ordinary, and better than that which tries to confines me. To change my situation, start with partnering my outlook on life with my uplook (God) and I will see a different outcome. The second thing I need to do is never give up on believing that God is able to deliver me from that which is trying to destroy me. I need to remember that faith moves mountains. It doesn't matter how big your mountains are, they can be moved. I have got to believe it if I want it moved. I must always remember that God is more powerful than any situation I am in. With God, I have the victory.

Isn't it great to give yourself a motivational speech sometimes? I have to do this a lot actually - especially these days! Thank you to all of you that are praying for our family and our adoption every day! We need you and we appreciate your support.

Friday, January 22, 2010

If it's not building, it's breaking.

Daily devotional:
In order to move where God wants you to go, you'll need to serve an eviction notice to all of your haters trying to bring you down. In this spiritual journey, you need to avoid anyone and/or anything that's contrary to what God has for you. Unless you serve up an eviction notice to all that which is trying to bring you down, you'll always face drama in your life. Once you've served up the eviction notice, the next thing to do is open the door and shout 'see ya, don't want to be ya.' Financial worry needs an eviction. Emotional baggage needs an eviction. Loneliness, depression, anger, and greed need to be evicted. Allow God to step in and order your steps. You won't regret it.

I really needed to hear this. What a rough week! Lots of stress and worries that have been weighing down my husband and I. Praise God that we have been able to work through them and refocus and what is important. We have a beautiful, blessed family. I had to re-evaluate my status. Am I willing to learn and grown from mistakes during this adoption process? Am I willing to listen to my lifelong partner in my marriage when he voices concerns? Am I willing to hand over all of my weakness and sin to God?

Pray for our family as we struggle to continue on what has become the most difficult journey of our lives. May it also be the most meaningful.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Don't Get Distracted By Distractions

Whenever you've made up your mind to reach your destination, any hesitation on your part will cause you to be delayed in getting to where you need to go. When you decide to follow Christ, your steps are ordered by the One who knows you and knows all about you. If you get caught up with distractions, you'll miss what's in front of you. What God has for you is in front of you, not behind you or beside you, but in front of you.

This is what I prayed today. There are so many distractions all around me - some of them legitimate. Sick babies, job stress, money, etc. However, none of them are as powerful as what God has in store for our family! I am going to try to view the next week (pending home study visit with no funds yet) as a "done deal!" I am beginning to personally coin the phrase "fly on faith" for our adoption. What other way will we succeed? Odds are stacked against us. God is for us.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Finding My Purpose

From Psalms "In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Am I doing what God's called me to do? Am I doing everything with purpose or simply going through the motions waiting for something to happen? When I see things as possible, I will do the unthinkable. As long as I have breath in my body, there is time to fulfill all that God has called me to do.

This is a very scary time. Home study visit pending and no deposit ready for them. Do we reschedule? Or do we fly on faith? We may have to back up the visit a week but that is still okay. I refuse to allow lack of funds to halt this adoption progress! I must have faith and be strong! Please pray for us to have faith during this trying time. We need your support!

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)


Side Note: Thank you so much to my blog followers and friends! Your kind and supportive comments here have meant the world to me. May God bless each of you for being so inspirational to us!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

"Your life and mine shall be valued not by what we take, but by what we give."

- Easter Seals founder Edgar "Daddy" Allen

Friday, January 8, 2010

Big Things To Come

We are approved to adopt from the Ukraine! PRAISE GOD - HE IS SO GOOD! We also received approval for a fundraising/grant program. YAY! I would like to take a moment and give thanks to God. Thank you Lord for standing by us every step of the way. We doubt you and worry, but we know better! Your mighty hand always pats our backs and steers us in the right direction - if we allow You to. We are setting up our first home study visit sometime next week, too! WOW! I am overcome with pure joy and "my cup runneth over."

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

When God speaks, we need to move.

Everyday that we're blessed to wake up, we should be seeking to do all that God has called us to do. When God speaks, we need to move. When God speaks, He directs you in what you need which may go counter to what you want. God's need is always better than your want. God can and will speak to you through various means. God isn't limited in His communication method. Often times we want God to speak to us audibly but fail to listen when He speaks to us through those around us. God can use anybody and anything to speak to you.

As this adoption process moves along (we are cleared from our background checks!)I am becoming fearful of many things. Worried about funds, grant acceptance, people's opinions, time off work, leaving my children to travel, taking my baby along, etc.... I pray fervently for trust and faith in Him.

Monday, January 4, 2010

**2010** This Is Our Year!

Daily prayer from Rev G: "Whenever you make up your mind to do something, you need to write it out and discipline yourself everyday. Anything worth having is worth working for. It begins with having the right attitude. With the right attitude, you'll begin to achieve all that God has for you. God is planning to do something very powerful in your life this year. In a real sense, all that you went through in 2009 has prepared you for a major breakthrough in 2010. Let this be the greatest year of your life. Activate your faith and trust in God to take care of the rest."

This will be our year! This adoption will be one of the most important things we have ever done. God called - we must listen. We have no choice you see. Our eyes are open now - we can never forget. We must act!