Some pictures from the Fundraiser!

An Update from our Fundraiser

Well we have huge news to report and don't know how else to say it but we exceeded our goal of $10,000 and raised almost $12,000 for the adoption. Our puzzle is practically full. Incredible. We were definitely the recipients of the blessings of the body of Christ on December 3rd. The conversations we've had since the fundraiser have been incredible as well. Here are some things we've heard people say...

"Last night was so much fun and it completely changed my perspective on adoption."

"Seeing adopted children made adoption more real and was very impactful."

"It was good to hear about adoption in a lighthearted way, it made it seem more positive and showed that the blessings really out weight the stress."

It was a wonderful night. It's encouraging to see people who have a heart for the gospel and therefore a heart for adoption. We were truly able to fellowship around the idea that we're all orphans whether spiritual or earthly and can all somehow be apart of the rescuing process! Thank you to everyone who came and everyone who gave. We are truly grateful! Hopefully with everyones efforts we'll be able to bring home some babies soon!

Christmas Card 2010

Big Red Bow Christmas

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The 3-D's, Dessert, Dancing, and Donations!

We are having a Fundraiser this friday December 3rd to raise money for our adoption. If you've been through this process or know anyone who has you know it is quite pricey. But honestly, you can't put a price on it! We don't want finances to be an issue to keep us or anyone we know from being able to help an orphan have a home. That's why we are bringing together our friends, families, church, etc. together to help us raise money to get to Ethiopia. Our goal is to raise $10,000 this friday night. We will be selling puzzle pieces for $100 a piece trying to get 100 to complete our puzzle. If you can't afford a puzzle piece join forces with others to share one. Each piece sold will be signed by the owner and will be put together and displayed in our children's room. This way we will always be able to remember those who helped bring our family together.

So, if you're looking for something to do friday night or you'd like to help us in this process please join us. Friday, December 3rd. Tates Creek Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, Lexington, Ky at 7:30 p.m.

We Serve a Sovereign God

"As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!" Psalm 40:11

I had heard the adoption process was hard. But I don't think I fully comprehended what that meant until recently. Of course you hear alot of things are going to be difficult before you go through them; your first year of marriage, having your first child, moving to a new town, starting a new job, etc. It is good to receive advice on such things but hard to comprehend those difficulties until you are experiencing them yourself.

This process has been a whirlwind of emotions for us. Just when you get to the point of thinking you've done everything you need to do and once you think you've waited as long as you have to there are more things to be done and more things to wait for. I am very thankful for the love and support of our family and friends that have and are walking through this with us. I'm also thankful for the sustaining grace and strength that can only come from our God. And I'm not just saying that. I'm thankful that our faith is being proved genuine and that we are able to rely on all of the promises God has given us in his word.

As of now in the process we are waiting. We thought we knew who are children would be but it seems as though we do not yet know. So now we pray, wait, hope and look forward to the day when all of the things that seemed so hard won't even compare to the joy that comes from having our child/children.

"But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the Lord!" Psalm 40:16

Our Adoption Story

"How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure. That he should give his only son, to make a wretch his treasure. How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns his face away, as wounds which mar the chosen one, bring many sons to glory...I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, his wounds have paid my ransom..."

Tony and I both grew up in very loving, giving, and privileged homes. We both had wonderful parents that cared for us and gave us the beauties of our childhood. We took for granted many experiences, such as playing sports, slumber parties, and being carried to bed even if we weren't really sleeping at night. No matter what we went through, the good and the bad, our parents were there to love us and forgive us and help us in our time of need.

Tony and I both became believers and followers of Jesus Christ at different points in our lives. I was younger, having grown up learning about God and the Bible and living what you would call a "good life" For the most part I obeyed my parents, made good grades, and was scared to rebel to much in life. Tony also grew up learning about the Bible but thought he was invincible. He thought he could say and do whatever he wanted and that God would be ok with the outcome. For both of us it came to the point of realizing how sinful we were before we saw our need for a savior. Eph. 2:4-6 says, "But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved." Both of us at different times came to the realization that we were dead in our sin. Our sin might have looked different but we were both just as dead as the other one. Both of us could only do as much as a dead person could in order to have a right relationship with God, and that was nothing. A dead person can't move, breathe, think, or make their way to a good and Holy God. And that's where we were. But GOD, who is rich in mercy chose to pour his grace onto mine and Tony's lives and give us a relationship with him. This came through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and this is our adoption story.

How does this relate to being an orphan. At one point in our lives we did not know the creator of this world as our father. We were living our lives searching for what the world had to offer instead of what God had to offer. We weren't living in light of the way we were created to live. This led to a certain desperation in our lives. We were left looking for satisfaction in things that could not fulfill and didn't know what our identity was. Then God our Father, rescued us from our sin, rescued us from death, and rescued us from destruction on this earth now and after. Not only did he rescue us but then he made us his children! Ephesians 1:11 says,"In Him we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." God our Father, found us, rescued us, and gave us his inheritance. We are no longer spiritual orphans but are a son and daughter of a Holy King.

It is with great priviledge and humility to announce that we will be able to reflect this relationship God has given us for 2 orphans from Ethiopia. Tony and I are adopting!!!!!! It brings tears to my eyes to think of having the honor of being a mother to one who has none. All of the experiences we took for granted as children we will be able to give. For those who have lost their family, identity, purpose, and hope we will be able to bring them into our family to become our son/daughter and make them a Wells!