GOD SHOWED UP!!

So, I have an update from the Adopt a Build a Bear fundraiser that Parker and Paeton held last night.  Are you sitting down. . . They raised over $1000!!  No the last zero is not a typo!  It was amazing to witness  what God did with two kids, some bears and a community willing to serve His children orphaned in Ethiopia! 

And to top this news. . . we received confirmation we leave in just a few days to go and meet the twins!!  We will arrive home with the boys on July 4!  What a celebration we will have as we introduce our new children, now AMERICANS, on the day our wonderful country celebrates it's birthday!!  

Blessed and Amazed

My last post was about the adopt a build a bear fundraiser Parker and Paeton are holding this friday to raise money for Sele Enat orphanage where their baby brothers are.  Today in the mail a friend and sister in Christ sent them a card with a $ 60.oo donation.  I was reduced to tears reading the message she included in her card to them:

Parker and Paeton,

Please give this money to the orphanage where your brothers are at.

I am so proud of you both for having the courage to stand up for what 

you believe in.  Many adults could learn a lesson from you two.

God tells us to care for the poor and orphans, I'm so thankful you both

are following His lead!

Inspired and Thankful,

a friend in the LORD  (We know who you are)

God is good, all the time, He is good!  Bless You and Thank you for catching my children serving the LORD, and for calling attention to their servant hearts.  I appreciate the time you gave and the money you sent to encourage them in this act of servanthood.  We want to encourage them in blessing others.  Soli Deo Gloria, for the glory of God alone.

"In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free."  Psalm 118:5

ADOPT a BUILD a BEAR

In preparing for the boys arrival, we have also been tackling the basement.  Because the guest room is now the boys nursery, we decided to add the additional stress of finishing our basement so we will have a guest room for anyone who wants to come and visit.  We are excited to be able to finish our basement and are looking forward to all of the additional space it will provide our family.  We will post pictures along the way so you can see our progress : )

In our adventure of cleaning out the basement to prepare for the builders to start construction, we have decided to part with some important friends.  I am sure you all have seen and heard about the BUILD a BEAR phenomena.  These are the cutest, most cuddly hand created friends your child stuffs, complete with a heart, chooses an outfit, dresses them up, fluffs their fur and then names.  These little friends them become a member of your family and every time your child sees a BUILD a BEAR store they want to go and make a new member for the family.  Over the years Parker and Paeton have created quite and extended family of BUILD a BEARS.

They have decided to hold a BUILD A BEAR ADOPTION and accept donations for their bear friends and to donate all of the proceeds to Sele Enat orphanage in Ethiopia.  This of course is the orphanage where their brothers are, and they hope to be able to bless the orphanage with a meaningful donation while they are in Ethiopia.  I love their creativeness and their servant hearts.  Please come out and support this awesome fundraiser on friday June 19, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm at La Croix Church, in THE PORCH.  

CELEBRATION

We decided to celebrate over lunch at Mollies, in downtown Cape.  My mom, Pam was in  town, Jamie's mom, Vicki (on the right end in glasses) came and we celebrated passing court on Tuesday.  Chantelle and her darlings stopped in to say hey, and the grandmas got their baby fix holding Solie : )

We still have no confirmation when we will travel, they are trying very hard to collect all the documents needed for a July 1 embassy date.  We are beginning to pack and prepare in faith to bring home our boys soon!  Please stand with us in prayer for this travel date.

Outman family grows by 4 feet

It is official today, our case was heard in the Ethiopian courts and we passed.  There are two less orphans in the world tonight!  It is with joy we tell you our family has grown by not 2 but 4 feet!  Phelix and Phisher Outman, we love you and are so happy to have been chosen as your forever family!  Thank you to all who prayed for our family and for us to pass court.  He has answered our prayers and we are praising Him from whom all blessings flow!  God is good, all the time!

We still do not have a travel date.  We hope to travel for the July 1 embassy date as Paeton has her Miss Majorette of America competition July 20-25 in South Bend, IN.  We will keep you posted on this.  We are trusting in Him to oversee all of the travel arrangements and the timing.

Prayer for today

Father God, 

I ask you to bless my friends and family right now.  Please minister to their spirits at this very moment.  Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them.  Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, and strength as they learn submission to Your leading.  Where there is spiritual stagnation, please renew them by revealing Your nearness and by drawing them into greater intimacy with you.  Where there is sin blocking them, reveal it, and break it's hold over their life.  Bless their finances.  Give them great vision to serve You.  Please give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat them.  I ask You to do all these things in the name of Jesus.

Amen

*Thank you Marge for saying this prayer for my husband and I and blessing us with a copy to pray for our friends and family. 

Fabulous Fundraiser

I had a fundraiser friday night and saturday.  I had gathered designer purses from friends and family in new and like new condition to sell to raise $ for the orphanage where the twins are.  It was a lot of fun and a success!  We have raised $350 so far and I expect a few more donations to still come in.  Thank you to the Trendy Spot for donating space in  your darling boutique to hold the fundraiser.  Thank you friends who helped gather purses for the sale and helped me set up the sale.  Thanks to everyone who came out to support this cause that is near and dear to my heart.  Thank you to all who purchased a purse.  I hope you enjoy the purse you chose.  Thank you to everyone who donated $$ to Sele Enat orphanage.  Special thank you to KHIS 107.9 radio and Dave and Mo who prayed for us and this fundraiser and stopped by to offer even more support.  We had so much fun, we have decided to make this an annual event to benefit a local adoption ministry, Room For ONE more.  YEAH GOD!!!!!!

Do you recognize the beautiful baby I am holding in the picture below?  Solie Koket Becking  : )

Guess How Much WE Love You nursery

Memorial weekend we started the "Flip that Room" makeover on our current guest room to transform it into a nursery for our twin boys.  The whole family helped to make it a success.  We have decided not to ever paint stripes again, it was a lot of work!  We think the end result made it a labor of LOVE!  Tell us what you think of Phelix and Phisher's room.