A Year Makes a Difference

It is so crazy to think that this time last year, I was getting ready for my 2nd surgery in 3 months. I had no idea what would be in store and what my Dr. would actually find during surgery. Granted I knew I was having surgery to remove 2 cysts on my ovary, but I wasn't prepared for what she would tell me after surgery. Kyle and I were on our way down the adoption road by this point and our entire dossier was done and we were on the waiting list. But, I still wondered if there was some hope that we could still get pregnant though. After my follow up appointment, I knew my thoughts should start to change.

I won't lie, it was a hard time for me. You never expect the Dr. to tell you how difficult and practically impossible it will be to carry let alone conceive a child. There were some really hard days in the months following. The more we watched ourselves climb up higher and higher on the wait list, it started making things easier. During this time, I had a ton of people message me on Facebook and ask me questions about adoption. There were people from my childhood, people from high school, and just other random people that knew about our story. That was a reminder that God had called both of us into something bigger than ourselves. Something that He was going to use both of us and especially use to heal me.

God was healing me in all of those moments, and even though I didn't always see it in the moment, I can look back now and totally see it. As the year went on, I could tell God had healed my heart about carrying a child of my own. I was now just carrying my child in my heart and that's all that mattered. I am still carrying my child in my heart right now, but I cannot wait to see who God is giving me to be my daughter. He will build our family  in such a beautiful way. It's going to be very different than most, but that's why God called us to do so. We have the support of an army and the love of God through so many people.

I want to say thank you to everyone who reads, our family, and our friends. You have all helped heal me in ways you may never know. Without your questions, without your positive feedback, and without your support I wouldn't be where I am today. You have all helped me grow into the soon to be mother and woman that I am today. Thank you so much and what a difference a year makes!!! :)

This time last year we were # 22 on the toddler girl list, now, we are #1!! What?! How amazing is God?

Rollercoaster of Waiting

Just a quick update to let you know that we are still waiting. I know there hasn't been a lot of exciting news, and believe me when I say it's 100 times more disappointing for us.

A lot of people say that life is like a roller coaster. You have ups, downs, and just plain plateaus. You go to highschool, then you have to decide what you want to do forever, then you go to college, yay! Then you're done and all your friends move away and you have to find a job, then you find a job, yay!! Then people worry about being single, then you meet the one, yay!! You wait to get married, then the day happens, yay!! You spend time together then have kids, yay that was easy!! It goes on and on for the rest of your life. There are times when you want to talk about all of it, and there are times you don't want to talk about any of it.

That is the point that Kyle and I are getting to. Adoption is like a roller coaster as well, and we knew that going into to, but it doesn't make it any easier. After getting on the list, we were so excited, then we would plateau for awhile, until there was another referral and we would move up a spot. Once we got to the top of the list, we were so so excited!! We had heard that it wouldn't be out of the question to think we could have a referral by Christmas. So, as we decorated this year for Christmas we were just so excited and it felt like cloud 9. Thinking we were decorating this year for the reveal of our daughter was so exciting.

After talking to our caseworker yesterday, she can't give a lot of information and I understand why, but she said she really has no idea and she is crossing her fingers. Lets just say we are now at another plateau and it is so discouraging. It really took the Christmas spirit out of both of us last night. As we were praying last night, I prayed specifically for us to remember what the Christmas season was about, about the birth of our King, and the fact that we get to adopt and that were called to adopt. As Christmas is approaching we are doing our best not to think about our adoption right now. We want to be busy with our jobs, our family, and the true meaning of Christmas. So, with that, ask us how life is going, or our jobs or funny stories about our nephews. We are still waiting and we will definitely fill you all in when more news comes up. We both want to think about the good and the excitement of life, not the reminder that we are still waiting for our precious daughter.

On another quick note, I'm starting a new job today at our church. I will be the Early Childhood Director. I am looking forward to jumping in and being so immersed in learning how to do this job, that I soon put our adoption on the back burner for now. I am becoming consumed with checking my email and having my phone with me at all times, so this is a good feeling today to start something new! :)

Have a happy Tuesday friends and here's another nice note... We chose a name!! It's not final yet because we don't know what her name will be to make her middle name, but the name we chose means peaceful. What a great feeling that she has a name in our hearts and in our mind. :)

Inspired and Amazed by YOU

Hey all!! I've been trying to blog for the past couple days and everytime I tried it wouldn't work. I have been wanting to give an update on how amazing YOU all were for our Ordinary Hero Grant Contest! Our grand total earnings were $2526.29!!! That goes straight to our agency and into our pot for when we get matched and have to pay our agency fee! :)

So here were the grand totals of items that you purchased to help kids or families in need:

7 donation combos = 14 children got raincoats, and 7 kids got a blanket and water shoes!!

7 sheep = you fed 280 children!!!

3 Amarhic bibles = 3 kids and probably their families and friends can now hear the Word of God!

3 backpacks = 3 children don't have to carry their books to school anymore!

3 half sheep = you fed 60 children!!!

3 raincoats = 3 more children can stay dry when it rains!

1 donkey = you are helping a family survive so a woman can carry everything she needs to make money!!!!

3 aqua shoes = 3 more children don't have to walk around barefoot!

2 fleece blankets = 2 more kids can be warm at night!!!

I mean YOU are all seriously amazing!!! I love seeing how many children and families YOU helped provide essential needs for. God really put it on my heart to challenge others to purchase for others this year, and with that they will be helping bring our daughter home. That's exactly what YOU all did!!! :) 

 

I have to be prideful of our little sisters real quick here. Now, I know everyone sacrificed by giving, but our little sisters are 11 years old. They have the biggest hearts and I could cry right now thinking of what they did for us. So, my mother-in-law asked them if they wanted to give to this as part of their Christmas, and they were both on board. The girls asked how much their parents spend on them, and she told the girls. The girls each said they wanted to spend half of their Christmas money, each on buying something for someone else in need!! Half each of their Christmas's!! They looked through the website and chose a sheep and a pair of tennis shoes. Those are big compassionate hearts right there! They are 11 and still kids, but they understand there are children and families who don't have enough. Their parents have instilled that in them, and God has wired them that way and we couldn't be more proud. Again, I know and I appreciate everyone else that gave and gave above and beyond, but I just wanted to point out that childlike faith as a reminder. :) 

 

We still don't have a timeline, but Kyle and I have been praying to be matched by Christmas. We just think that would be the most wonderful Christmas present this year. God always works in His time, but He is also a God of miracles, so we can't wait to see what He does. Some days are harder than others and I become inpatient, but I have to remember that God didn't call us to adopt because it was easy. God reminds me of how hard it must be for our daughter who has no one right now. We pray every night that God will give her peace and a sense of comfort, because I can't begin to fathom how she must feel on a daily basis.  So, if you get a moment or you think about it, pray for our daughter and pray that we get matched soon so she knows that someone is coming after her to bring her home!! 

 

We love YOU all and we are so so BLESSED!!! 

Food for Thought

Well you guys helped us WIN on day ONE!! Thank you so so much! We got the $100 for the day on top of our sales, that so put us at 227.89 that goes straight into our account at our agency to use when we accept the referral of our sweet little one. You all ROCK!!

With that being said, I wanted to have some food for thought today and do a little challenge. Could you imagine walking a mile or more to get your water, then carrying that giant jug of water back another mile on top of your head or on your back? Could you imagine carrying in ALL of your groceries by hand with no bags or boxes. Could you imagine making meals out of nothing and having no protein in your diet to keep you strong and healthy?

This is a very real reality for many villages and families who live in Ethiopia. They have to walk to get their water, then carry it back, then boil it when they get home. I don't know about you, but I would be exhausted!! If YOU or some friends could go in together and buy a donkey or half of donkey (that will be paired with another person who bought half) could help a village or family not have to carry their water or their food for miles. What a blessing YOU could be to a village or family. Maybe you'd like to purchase a sheep and provide 40 kids with a meal and some extra protein in their diets. How amazing would this be to have as a Christmas present that you tell your kids about?! Explain to them how many kids they are helping feed, by having 2 less presents this year. I think kids would jump on board and I think families would jump on board with this idea. I would love to know that I was helping feed 40 kids rather than having another scarf, and giving Kyle another book. These are all these things are nice to have, but it is a NECESSITY for kids to eat and not go hungry.

So, be challenged and think about purchasing a donkey or a sheep or half of an animal and help a village or family in need. What a blessing YOU all could be. You can also help bring our little girl home. Don't forget to choose Megan Chaffee in the drop down box next to Affiliate Name at http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/Donations-For-Children-In-Need-c15/

Thanks again!!!

Challenge Accepted

Okay friends... its HERE!!! It's our last chance at the Ordinary Hero Grant Contest for the month of October.

You have ONE week, but we need YOU everday!!!

This months challenge is a daily challenge... each day is a contest. If we get the most in sales each day, then we will win $100 on top of the 40% we recieve when you purchase something. If YOU help us WIN each day, then we get an extra $500 at the end of the week. That can add friends and all that money will literally help us bring our daughter home.

We are hoping to get to see the face of our new daughter in the next couple months. We will get the picture and medical history of her, and then make decision to accept her match and pay our fee. If you all help us WIN this grant contest, it will be helping us pay for our match :) How exciting is that?!

I had posted a couple weeks ago about praying and thinking about stretching your thinking of this contest. Let's see what we can do for OTHERS. :) There are some cute items in that store right now, and I would love to see people wearing the Ordinary Hero gear around to help raise awareness. Kyle and I would also love to see people step out in faith and buy for others in need. Like I said a couple weeks ago, maybe there is someone in need of some clothes in your community, you could buy them a shirt, maybe someone needs a bag to carry things back and forth to work, but they can't afford that bag... That's where you can come in. Maybe you want to start buying Christmas presents... Great!! You can buy items for them, or you can buy a sheep and help feed a village. How cool of a present would that be to get?! I would love to know that I was helping out others who can't eat on a daily basis, when I have pantry full of food that I pick and choose what I want to eat.

So today... think about what you can do someone for else. Find some friends and go in together to buy a donkey, a sheep, a box of bibles for people in Ethiopia! Think about this too... we need to win EVERYDAY, so maybe you want to purchase a couple things.... great, buy one each day so that we can get tha credit each day of the week to increase our chances to win each day!

Love you all and be prepared to see this all over facebook and in emails... each day I will challenge YOU to purchase something different. Thanks in advance and we are so thankful for all of you!!!

Get Ready for a Challenge

Good Morning Friends!

Well I said I would post again about something I want to challenge you all on. I'm not sure if you all remember last year when Kyle and I did the Ordinary Hero Grant Contest. I filled up Facebook about it, and you probably got far more emails than you were hoping for. Well, we won that contest and it helped a lot towards our adoption costs for our agency, and it was such a humbling experience for us to see all the people who stepped up and purchased something and helped us through our process.

There is a grant contest going on right now, and there will be another coming up in October. They have gotten a lot of new merchandise that is super cute, they have also added a lot new items to purchase for villages, kids, and families in need. This is where my challenge is going to come in.

I brought this idea up to Kyle and we talked about it, and want to encourage and challenge other people with it. So here it is: We want to challenge YOU and/or you FAMILY to purchase something for someone in need. We want you to start thinking about it, praying about it, and searching out what might be a possibility for you and your family. I also want to encourage you to reach out to others and go in on something if it is a more expensive item, how cool would that be?! Now, we are not saying don't buy anything for yourself or someone in your family as a gift or just because you want them to have it. We would love to see other people promoting Ordinary Hero and all that it stands for. :)

Maybe, you know someone in need at your church, and you could purchase them a shirt, or sweatshirt. Maybe, its someone across the world that you want to purchase a goat for and feed their family. There are so many people out in the world, and in our communities in need. So, I urge you to stretch your mind and your heart about this.

Again, this isn't until next month, and I will be posting about the dates when I find them out, but I just wanted to get you all thinking and praying. Last Christmas Kyle and I did this for his parents and his sister and brother-in-law. They didn't need anything, so instead we used that money we were going to spend on them, on someone else. We then presented them with a certificate I made up to show them what the money went towards. Maybe, this Christmas you want to open a new idea to your children and explain that not everyone in the world gets Christmas presents, or Christmas dinner, so you used some of the Christmas money for that. What a great thing to start early, and have your kids get excited about helping out a person or family in need. I know its October, but I'm sure its something you can talk to older kids about it, or if your kids are younger just wait closer to Christmas.

Thanks for listening to my challenge, and I can't wait to see what God does through all of this. It will not only help bring our little GIRL home, but I truly believe YOU will be touched through this experience. Have a wonderful day friends!!

A minor Change

Hello Friends!!

I have been wanting to post for almost 2 weeks now, and have just been so busy. Again, I'm sure many people are laughing and thinking, "You think your life is busy now?!"

Well on that note, we have some news... Kyle and I have decided to go down to one child and we are waiting for a toddler girl. We said age 36 months or under, but we are willing to go up to 47 months. We will see how the timing goes, but we are pretty high up on the toddler girl list... like unofficially #2!!! :)

Now, I have to admit, I felt kind of bad about going to down to one child, and I was going to let people down because we said we were adopting 2. Kyle and I have had many conversations about this, and he more than myself has had reservations about bringing home 2 children at once since the beginning. Like I said Kyle and talked in depth about this topic and we want to be able to dote over our little girl, spoil her, and make sure she adjusts well here in the US. If we had a baby within that mix of a toddler, we often wondered if we would pay more attention to a baby because they need the attention, or if we would be a little bit of a house divided, trying to make it all work well. We want to keep our marriage strong and we like the idea of building our family a little more naturally, as in typically 1 child at  a time.

We would like to put in our paperwork shortly after we get our little girl home and go on the infant list and wait for whatever gender comes first, which will more than likely be a boy, but you never know! There is a certain amount of time that has to be between adoptions and we want to make sure she is well adjusted and making sure she has her place within our family.

This weekend we are going to get her bed and a possibly a dresser. Kyle and I are getting so excited about this next adventure! :)

I will be posting again this week, hopefully, about another Ordinary Hero Grant contest. It's going to be a bit more of a challenge this time go around, so we will see. :)