Sometimes I am not above shameless self-promotion... so here goes. It's a bit crazy to me that this blog has nearly 100,000 hits. For reals... how did that happen? We are so grateful for all of the love and support all of you showed us on our "Road to Mercy". I know God placed so many of you into our lives to help push us along when the road got difficult, to hold our hands up to God when we did not have the energy, to pray when we simply did not have the words, and to rejoice with us when we finally got to be united as a family of five. Many of you I do not know, I do not know how you found this blog, or why you kept reading. I think part of it is like that car accident you just can't turn away from. ha! But that's ok, however you found us, we are glad you were along for the ride.
Now we are in the next chapter of our lives and God continues to do some pretty awesome and often hilarious things. I know I've posted the links to our news blogs before, but I wanted to encouarge you once again to check us out and "follow" along. Looking Around the Bend and Mercy for Mamas
This past weekend, our family was featured on two local TV stations. I got to share my heart for adoption and for our ministry, Mercy for Mamas. In case you missed it, I'd love for you to check it out. You can see how awesome Mercy is doing now and the incredible work God is doing to help the women of Uganda. You can watch the stories here and here.
Check out the Mercy for Mamas website and read about the amazing things already happening! Don't forget to sign up as a "follower" or you can sign up for email updates if you'd prefer.
Just wanted to give you all a heads up... I have a new blog. Check it out here. I know many of you started reading and subscribing to this blog because of your interest in our soap opera, I mean, adoption story. If you have any interest at all in following our story in the days ahead, check out the new blog. We aren't quite as drama filled these days. No court appointments or police investigations, but every once in a while I might have something interesting to say... or at least my kids might.
Also, exciting things are in the works for Mercy for Mamas (my mama kit ministry). Tomorrow night is my first speaking engagement. I am very excited about this opportunity. Granted this first gig is at my own church, where they have to listen to me and love me. But if you are in the greater Wichita area, you are lady, and you want to know more about Mercy for Mamas, come see me at First Baptist Church in Mulvane at 6:30. If nothing else, yummy dessert will be served. Also later this week I'll be officially launching the Mercy for Mamas blog, so stay tuned!!
I have a few more pieces of jewelry to offer up in order to help Rick and Kendra bring home their two sweet girls. I forgot I had this inventory at a friend's house! Check out my last post for more info. Email me or leave a comment with your order. (melissarbusby@gmail.com) Thanks!
blue-based with primary accents, 33" long, $15 (quantity 1)
blue based with neutral colors, 30", $15 (quantity 2)
multi-colored small bead, 25" long, $15
green based multi colored, 28"and 34" long, $15 (quantity 1)
brown based small beads, 27" long, $15
large pendants on small beads. These are so pretty! Green, brown/black, and red, approx 11" long with pendant, $15 each
large pendant on small beads, 11" approx, black and brown, $15 each SOLD!
I thought you might want me to help clean out my basement and also help out a sweet adoptive family. My friend, Kendra, the one who made our awesome homecoming video, will soon be returning to Uganda to adopt two more beautiful little girls. That will be three adoptions in one year for her and her husband, Rick! Wow!! That takes a lot of love, patience, faith, energy, and most importantly MONEY! We have a limited amount to be donating to people right now, but I decided that I could sell my remaining t-shirt and jewelry inventory and give them the profits.
Can I just tell you how much I love seeing you all wearing your Love Mercy shirts when I go to the school, church, store, or on Facebook?! Such a blessing and a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision. Maybe your shirt is getting faded or worn out? Maybe you or your kiddo needs a new size? Or are you one of the few that never got your Love Mercy shirt? Here are the sizes I have left:
Youth: XS (1), S (3), M (2)
Adult: L (2),XL (2), XXL (3)
All shirts are $15. Here is an explanation of the design: The design on the shirt symbolizes how a relationship with Christ changes our hearts on the inside (white arrows) and therefore, changes our outward actions toward others (black arrows). The words come from the verse God gave me for this adoption, Micah 6:8,”This is what the Lord requires of you, that you act justly, love Mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Email me or leave a comment here with your order (melissarbusby@gmail.com) and I will send you payment information. Thank you so much for helping me bless this family! I can't wait to see them all together as a family of 7!
I also love seeing women (and a few men!) all over town wearing Ugandan jewelry! Love it!! Below are the items I have left and their prices (No comments on my awesome photography skills, ha!!):
I have not been able to get things together this year. I feel like I'm constantly playing catch up. Needless to say, we did not manage to get Christmas cards done. We've been battling sickness and it seemed impossible to find a time to get a picture taken. Then a friend of mine told me that she chose to not do one this year. She said that they have lots of family pictures on Facebook. I realized she was on to something. You've all been inundated with pictures of us on this blog and Facebook. I should not spend this season stressed, so I've decided to simplify my life. (Let me just say that I do love and treasure all of the cards that we have received. You all have beautiful families and amazing photography skills. Next year I'll try to do a card, really I will.)
Honestly, I've tried to pare down a lot of our Christmas stuff. I'm trying to find that balance between doing things from obligation and things that bring us joy. We've done some of our favorite traditions. We've filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. We've volunteered at a local Christmas Store for needy families. We've watched Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, and The Grinch. We've gone to look at Christmas lights. We've had Christmas music dance parties. We've played games as a family. Cody sang a solo in our church's "Sounds and Tastes of Christmas"... so sweet and hilarious. We went to see Santa (yes, we do Santa. Don't judge. Check out my friend Lara's post on this... she echoes my thoughts beautifully). And some time before Sunday we'll attempt some baking. We'll attend Christmas Eve Lord's Supper service and Christmas morning worship. Granted since my hubby is the pastor, those are also sort of an obligation, but we'd do it anyway... one of my favorite parts of Christmas.
I'm trying to not go OCD over the placement of our ornaments.
She refused to smile, but wasn't crying, so we'll call that success.
Mercy was not impressed with Christmas lights.
Emma as "Jane Blonde" in the Christmas musical
I prefer the non-wig version, but when did she get so grown up???
Pretty girl showing off her new haircut.
So much sass!!
Everyone told me that Africa will mess with you, especially when it comes to Christmas. They were right. I experienced some of it last year, but not like this time. I don't know how to explain the inner struggle I have with all of it. There is part of me that would like to say we don't do any gifts, give all of our money away, and my children only think of Jesus when it comes to Christmas. On the other hand, I love to give my children gifts and see the glimmer of delight in their eyes. I love my husband surprising me with some gift I would never buy myself. I like to overeat on Christmas sweets and sing "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". I may have had at least one meltdown over all of this... okay, maybe a couple.. [Ok, as an aside, I'll tell you one funny meltdown story. Cody decided to give me an early gift. It was a box of Raspberry filled Krispy Kreme Donuts. I've never been a huge donut person, but since I've been home, I've been craving them. I've eyed them in the store several times. But for some reason (calories or $5 per box for a pure indulgence when I know the kids would prefer sprinkles or chocolate) I could not allow myself to buy them. So when my sweet hubby gave them to his hormonal, sleep-deprived wife, I may have cried... a lot. I know it's weird, but somehow it hit me as the sweetest thing that he knew just what I wanted, but wouldn't buy myself. And they were SO good.]
Ok, back to the big questions I've been wrestling with... How much is too much? What else could be done with this money? Am I teaching my children to be generous? Do they really appreciate this stuff? Is it okay to take part in some purely American folklore traditions? At what point does it all get ridiculous? I think part of me wants to spoil the girls' like crazy because it's Mercy's first Christmas and I feel like Emma and Avery have earned it, and the other part of me realizes how much they have and neednothing. I'm still working through all of this, but I think we've figured out most of the answers for our family. I know I'm not alone in this. I've had numerous conversations with people working through these same things. Avery summed up a lot of it for me with this Santa letter she brought home from school... "Dear Santa, I want a smart board, but if you don't get me one, that's ok. I would like to spend more time with my family." (Thanks goodness, since a smart board is not quite in the budget!)
Since Thanksgiving we've all talked about how different this year is from last. How there was a sadness to the holidays last year since we weren't all together. We were writing posts like this one, or this one. We went to visit Cody's family for Thanksgiving. After our 3 day trip, we pulled into our neighborhood and Mercy started cheering, "We're home, we're home!". It meant the world to me that she knows she is home.
Our daredevil helping Daddy with the lights on our home.
Today we got a very special gift. Kendra, a friend from our area and a fellow Uganda mama, made this video for us. She and her family came to the airport for our homecoming back in July with just 2 hours notice. I've had several people give us pictures from that day, but no video. I've often thought how much I wish we had some. She answered that prayer for me in a big way with this very special video.
I watched it at 5:30 this morning and bawled. (Those of you who know me well are thinking, really Melissa, you were up at 5:30? I know it's hard to believe, but Cody had to take someone to the airport, which woke up me and the dog.) Then I watched it again later this morning with Avery and Mercy and cried some more. Avery said she wanted to keep playing it to see if I would cry every time. Punk kid. So grab some tissues, and enjoy. My favorite part is how it captures the joy and excitement of the moment in all of our faces. I cannot explain to you in words how that moment felt, but the video does a pretty good job. Take this as our Christmas card. This is a season of JOY, so I hope you can feel some of ours and praise the Lord , as we continue to do, for the work he has done and is continuing to do in our family. May we praise Him every day, in our JOY and our sorrows. May the awe and wonder of the season translate to awe and wonder that Christ came to earth to be our Savior. Merry Christmas!
Do you like books? Looking for a unique gift for one of your loved ones? Wondering what to buy the person who had everything? I have some links and recommendations for you!! I promise you won't be disappointed.
My sweet friend, Marci, wrote a family devotional, Advent: A Family Guide to Savoring Christ in Christmas
I've been looking for a good one for our family for years, so I'm really excited about trying this out this year. And it's not too late to start, especially since it comes in a downloadable version that you can have instantly. Plus, here is the bonus... all of the profits go to help fund the two adoptions they completed this year. I got to meet both of their children in Uganda. It was a privlege to play a very small part in their adoptions and it warms my heart to see their family all together.
Marci and her family on her recent homecoming with her baby girl.
Don't mind the blurs... it's hard to get a pic of that many all being still and looking at the camera. ;)
My friend, Jodi, and her daughter, Agnes, just wrote a book about the ins and outs of older child adoption, Fasten Your Sweet Belt. It's a great resource for those at any stage in the process. Jodi and her husband adopted three children from Uganda last year. Jodi has been a huge encouragement to me all through out our process and she is a huge advocate for adoption. She is even the chairperson for "Orphan Sunday" sponsored by Christian Alliance for Orphans. I count it a privelege to call her my friend. Now go buy her book!
I love the idea of shopping with a purpose. I love supporting small businesses, good causes, fair trade, and also picking up very cute and unique gifts. I thought of doing a whole list of my favorite sites, but several of my friends beat me to it. So, I thought I would instead just post links to their posts. Plus they all have great stories and blogs that you should check out anyway.
First up is a list from Love. She has lots of beautiful items on here that I would love to have. Anyway, her blog must be cool, c'mon, her name is Love.
LoraLynn, though on bedrest, homeschooling, and caring for her 6 children, found the time to once again do her list of gifts that also help fund adoptions. Check it out here: Home For Christmas 2011
I loved reading about how my friend, Kim, and her family challenged each other to give gifts with purpose. She's compiled a fun list with all different kinds of items and places where you can make a donation. If you are in the process of adopting, I also think you should check out some of her recent posts on their adoption. Her writing is beautiful, her honesty is refreshing, and her love story with her son is a joy to watch.
My friend, Rachel, came up with her own list. Actually two lists... here is the 2nd list.. Lots of great things on here to help people all over the world. Rachel is a huge advocate for fair trade, so she really knows her stuff.
And Kristen at Rage Against the Minivan also wrote a great list. I love some of the things on this list.
Do you have your own list or item for sale? Leave a comment with a link. I challenge each of you this year to buy at least one gift with a purpose. It's one simple way to add more meaning to your Christmas season this year.
For the past two years, our lives have revolved around adopting Mercy. As you all know, it's been a major roller coaster and very time consuming. Thankfully, we are moving into a new phase of our lives. I'm still trying to figure out what all of than entails, but I know God has some big plans for our family. We started this blog as a way to communicate information about our adoption to friends and families. It's turned into a lot more than that and I have really enjoyed writing and sharing our lives with all of you.
My Halloween cuties... Minnie Mouse, 80's Rocker, and Double Rainbow.
On the adoption front... Mercy's adoption is officially as complete as it can get. Her name is now legally Mercy Renee (my middle name too!) Busby and her readoption is done. She even has an official Kansas birth certificate. I don't think I let myself really believe that it was all over until we got that birth certificate in the mail. I am finally breathing a true sigh of relief.
Mercy finally meets P-Pa!
Mercy loving on Grandma!
Many of you have asked me if I will continue to blog. The past few months I've set blogging aside so I could focus on my family. After sharing so many details and feelings with everyone for so long, it was nice to take a break for a bit, but I do want to continue to blog. I don't know if anyone will still read it, but I want to share more about my thoughts on life with Christ, parenting, adoption, Africa, and my crazy family. I plan to soon change to a new blog address that can encompass all of these areas. I would LOVE any suggestions from you for a name for that blog. I have a few I am considering, but I'm always open to more.
Our attempt at another family photo while my parents were visiting.
I also will soon be launching a blog/website for "Mercy for Mamas". I really have a heart for this ministry and I hope that some of you will too. For me, it's one tangible way that I can help prevent more children from becoming orphans. More kits are needed. The crisis pregnancy centers that received them are running out. Harriett has women asking for more. My friend, Kathryn, has been passing them out in Arua. They are making a difference. She mentions them in a few of her recent blog posts, here, here, and here. I would love to see more community and church groups get involved. If you have a group that would like more information please let me know. I also would love to come speak at a meeting or event to help spread the word about how a simple kit can help save lives. It's crazy to think that $7 can truly change a woman's life.
One of the women using a Mama Kit that Kathryn gave her.
She is sitting outside the hospital while in labor.
Some of you have asked about Oasis of Life Orphanage. The money you donated has continued to help. Recently some people from "The Hope Venture" visited Oasis and were able to spend the remainder of the money to provide more food, another term of school fees, and clear some medical bills. The needs are still great, but we need a good solid plan on a long-term solution before moving forward. We are praying and seeking wisdom on how to proceed with things from here on out. But their faces will forever be etched in my mind.
I wish I knew what the future holds for my family. I've never been good with surprises, but they are part of the beauty of walking with God. He knows it all. He molds and shapes us for each adventure and crisis. People so often say that "God won't give you more than you can handle." I say that is a bunch of baloney. There are very few things I can handle on my own. My body grows weary, my mind loses focus, my patience is non-existent, and my wisdom is too often focused on my selfish desires. But God is the ultimate power and authority and only through Him can I accomplish anything. The most important thing I've learned in the past two years is that I can control nothing, but I know who can.
From the words of Jesus Calling and Philippians 4, "Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My presence. Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to my precious promises. 'I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from my Love.' " I am clinging to His promises, resting in His timing and will, and excited to see what lies ahead in this next chapter of our lives.
For just $7 you can help to change the life of a woman in Uganda and her new baby. All donations go toward the purchase of Mama Kits, which give women the supplies they need for a safe and clean delivery and encourages them to seek medical help while in labor. The world does not need more orphans. www.mercyformamas.com
