Our Next Fundraiser!

Last year, as we began our adoption journey, we were faced with many decisions. One in particular - How were we going to pay for the expenses associated with an adoption? Typical adoption costs range from $15,000-$30,000. Pretty daunting numbers, aren't they?
We spoke with several families who took different approaches to obtaining the funds needed and, in the end, we were encouraged the most by those who chose to fundraise for a good portion of their needed funds. To be honest, initially, we were not really open to the idea of asking people for money. We simply thought we would take out a loan to cover the costs and do it on our own. After prayer and encouragement from friends, we eventually saw how fundraising is such a beautiful picture of God using the body to work together to accomplish something. I went from being fearful of sharing our needs and asking for support to being overwhelmed by so many giving generously not just with money but with their time and gifts. Without each of you, we would not be where we are on our journey! 

Because of the work of many....
I am excited to share that our final fundraiser is coming up in a little under 2 months! It has been in the works for some months now and to see things finally coming together is very rewarding!
An invitation to my lady friends/family - come spend an evening out with other women being filled with encouragement and truths from God's word and laughing along the way!
Here are the details! 

** Click here to purchase tickets or for large groups call 636-697-7153.

Will you help us promote this event by sharing it with your friends and family? We know that with the help of each of you that this event can be a huge success!! 

This event is also a great reminder for me that we are getting closer and closer to growing our family! Gavin keeps asking "Mommy, why does adoption take so long?!" (My feelings exactly!)
I then remind him of how God's plans and timing are perfect. We prayed for a baby for a long time and God kept saying " not yet" but in God's timing we got pregnant with you....it was indeed perfect and so will be the timing for a brother or sister! 

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen" - Philippians 4:19-20

Waiting

I am back...to blogging that is!! 

Several months have gone by since my last post and God has done some amazing things during this time! 

As we began our adoption journey last year, my husband, Shane and I were also praying about a timeline to purchase a home. The thought of being settled in a home before we bring home our child was ideal! We spent many months praying about where God was leading us and if it was even possible. As we have come to realize over and over again in our lives is that God doesn't take the easiest and quickest path to accomplish something. Instead he takes you on the other path… the one that everyone says is impossible, including myself.

Our home journey is yet another testimony for us about how God worked things out so that He received the most glory!! While man said things were impossible (once again), God proved otherwise! 

Gavin has the key!

After many set backs, God did bless us with a beautiful home! We closed on January 10th, 2013 and have spent the last several weeks getting settled in. 

Our new home!

We are looking forward to scheduling our next visit with our social worker soon. She will be coming to our home...so needless to say I have the motivation to unpack quickly!

Over these past few months, we also have been blessed with several more families partnering with us financially. We have been so overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family and can not thank them enough for their continued support for our adoption. 

A reduction in fees from the adoption agency came as another blessing. The agency we are using sets their fees based on your income and ours was lower this past year than the year prior, placing us in a lower fee bracket!  So by waiting until when we filed taxes this year, we were able to reduce our fees by $1,250!! I am thrilled to share that we are currently 56.5% funded!! 

Needless to say, my original timeline of getting our home study done by January is out the window!! But by reflecting on all God has accomplished during these months, I am yet again reminded of how God's plans are nothing less than perfect. 

Our prayer is that this year, in 2013, our family will be blessed with our bundle of joy! I am excited to see how God's plans will unfold and grateful that we get to share our journey with you!

I encourage you to reflect and to be reminded of God's goodness in your own life. He is worthy of all our praise.

"I believe that I shall look up on the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

-Psalm 27:13-14

He IS Faithful

Why is it when I don't see all of the answers before me or things don't happen in my timing, I question God, doubt his calling, and fail to trust in his promises?
How quickly I forget his faithfulness from the days, weeks, months and years prior. Why would God now break his promises?
I know with all my heart that my family has been called to adoption.  If I know this and we are being obedient, why am I lacking peace?

I have been so convicted in these areas lately.

It has been a test of faith over these past few weeks as we mailed our application to the adoption agency and in the very same week we launched our fundraising campaign. While we waited for the official approval from our agency and for God to begin to stir the hearts of those whom he would have partner with us...I realized that I am not in control of any of this. I am being humbled each day as God reminds me that He is the author and is asking for me to submit all things to Him (Thank you God!!)  

This week has been very emotional as God began to reveal His plans. We got our official approval from the agency on Tuesday, which now means we are ready to start our home study!! We also received our first responses from those led to partner with us. With the generosity of just 4 families, we are at 24.38% of our goal amount of $16,000. Wow!!  PRAISE GOD!!! I know we still have a big financial mountain to climb, but with God all things are possible.

As I continue to pray for His will and to use our journey to glorify Him, I am seeing how this call is about so much more than just the "Bishop Family" adoption. 
It's about ADOPTION, period.
I pray that our journey will encourage others who are called to adoption to see that when you are obedient, God will supply all you need to complete the task.

The thought of adoption for me has been all about growing our family, bringing a beautiful child into our home and teaching him/her about the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
But what I overlooked is how much this journey would bring me closer to God.  It's through reading His word more and praying more that I am beginning to find the peace that I desire by seeking Him. 

I pray that each of you are encouraged as you hear about the great things that God is doing. He is worthy of all our praise! 



 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." 
Ephesians 3:20-21

'Team Bishop'

Surreal.

That's how I would sum up my feelings. It has been a long journey to get here. After years of desiring children and believing that adoption was right around the corner, we found those plans change when I unexpectedly found myself pregnant.

This journey so far has been incredibly different than a pregnancy. I do not have any morning sickness, fatigue or any other sign of a life growing. Instead it's paperwork, finger printing, background checks, meetings with a social worker, and a TON more paperwork. I have to keep reminding myself that at the end of this long road is our child.

I know that God began to work on our hearts through our infertility preparing us for the plans He has for our family. It's not as though we didn't love the beautiful picture of adoption but honestly it always seemed "easier" to have your own children. There's not a social worker asking for your autobiography, a profile to create, or a financial mountain to climb (to name a few) when you have your own.

Oh, how we have made God out to be too small.

While we are at the very beginning of this journey we have seen God work in mighty ways already.
He has placed such amazing people in our lives with unique gifts and willing hearts that want to embark on this journey with us.

'Team Bishop'

We had a handful of these friends pile in Cindy's family room yesterday to make up what they have decided to call 'Team Bishop'! They will all be a key part of our fundraising campaign, specifically our events.
It's through ordinary people like us that God can do something BIG!




Psalm 90:17
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!

Our story

My husband, Shane, and I

After marrying the man of my dreams in July 2004, we were ready to start a family hoping it would happen rather quickly. We had our own plans of around 4 children spaced not too far apart. Several months of not being pregnant resulted in an appointment with my doctor to try to determine the problem. 

Over the course of a few years, I had undergone numerous treatments and surgeries for infertility only to find myself still not pregnant. Heartbroken, we were finally beginning to accept the grim reality.


With the desire to be parents growing as we watched our friends get married and start families, we began to pray about adoption, attended adoption seminars, and doing other things to learn about adoption. 

God was beginning to stir our hearts as we were praying for children. Over and over again in scripture, God commands us to care for the fatherless. He reminds us that we were orphans once too, but by His grace He adopted us as His sons and daughters. 

As much as we wanted to start the adoption process immediately, we felt doors close, unsteadiness, and then heartache as God was once again saying....not yet. Months passed and we continued to pray. We had no idea the plans that God was about to reveal to us.

To our surprise, as well as the doctors, August 29, 2008, we found out we were expecting...we were going to be parents...a miracle before our eyes. It has been a whirlwind to say the least, Gavin, now 3, has been the biggest blessing in our lives and has grown our hearts even more for children. 

God has been working in our hearts through the years to get us to this point. We are excited to begin our adoption journey to grow our family and to see Gavin's prayers for a brother or sister answered! He is going to be an amazing big brother!

Our plans for 4 children may or may not happen, but God's plans are far better than anything we had ever dreamed!

To be 3 years old again!

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)