not yet & intro to our story

We are ready to go back. But it's not time.  We are longing to be in Uganda. But it's not time.  We miss our friends that we made there. We want Jaxon and Vivi to experience the people and culture that we grew to love in just one week.  We know they will, too.  But it's not time. 

 

Some days are easier than others. I try to enjoy the quiet in my house while my big kids are at school and I can do laundry and clean with out stopping to make Vivi a snack, 3 separate times, and talk Jaxon out of beating his face against his video game controller.  In these moments I know that soon enough I will be spread even a little bit more thin, that I may be doing my work with a child strapped to me, like I was accustomed to just 6 years ago. (wow, has it been that long?!)

 

We have been in steady contact with the people that we met in Kampala's baby homes.  We know that God will finish for us the good work that he started. 

 

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I have had a few requests from friends who wanted to know how we got started on this journey.  So here is part of the story.

Did you know that Sally Struthers did this to us?  I know that some of you who were a child of the 80's & early 90's, like myself, hafta remember her.  I think they chose her because she had the saddest voice on television then.  And they had her tell us about the children who were starving in Ethiopia.  They showed the tiny African children with distended bellies and flies all over them, starving.  Breaking my 8 year old heart.  I have been called to this mission by God through Sally Struthers. :) He will use whoever he wants, y'all. 

So this has always been the plan, after we were blessed the biological way with babies, we would go this route.  Mikeblair and I discussed this in February of 2013 and decided that if we waiting many longer, our kids would be so self sufficient that we would talk ourselves out of it and it would be 'meant t0' but God never opened the door, kind of dream.  Sometimes God needs for you to be still and other times He says move. 

We started the move by doing research on international adoption on the internet and asking a few of our friends who have made this journey for some pointers.  We quickly found that Ethiopia was a hotspot right now(maybe b/c of Sally) and that scared me.  From what I had found, most of the developing world countries that were doing a high volume of IA, would end up in a mess and be shut down.  When desperate people in desperate situations see a way to make money, they will try to get in on it.  If that means selling children, so be it.  Now, before you judge them, imagine that your children were literally starving....who knows what we are capable of. 

My gut told me that Ethiopia was not a good place for us to start then.  And I don't know about you, but since I hit my 30's...I trust my gut.  So made a list of all of the countries that do IA, then narrowed it down to the countries that we could adopt through, still in Africa (of course, see Sally)  Some have ridiculous regulations.  After I had the list down to the countries that would accept us, I did research on the country itself.  What was the culture?  Why was it a 3rd world?  How recent was the war that tore it apart?

Both Mikeblair and I felt lead toward Uganda, but that is another story for another day.  Thank you all for being part of our village.  God always sends one of you to write me a love note when I am having trouble waiting on His timing.  Your encouragement means more than you know!  Thank you for listening to Him, when he whispers to you that someone needs your encouragement.
Love You All
tif

New things of Spring

 

This is a picture of a simple display of spring clothes for toddlers.  This is an exciting sign of the end of cold, happy baby colors and the promise of warmer weather.  For at least 10 years this has been an extremely happy sign for me.  I hate cold.  I love chubby legs sticking out of new short pants for the season. I have memories of those chubby legs in my house.

But this year, I feel very differently about this.  As I walking into the store, feeling blessed to buy food to feed my family, this display brought tears to my eyes.  What is wrong with me?!  I have a child somewhere, that God has promised to me, that I am SO ready to provide for.  I am ready to know the size and age and gender.  I am ready to tuck them in at night. I am ready to read stories, kiss boo-boos and say "I love you and am so glad that God brought you to us."  I don't know if there is anyone to make sure that they are eating and getting rest.  I doubt that there is someone to comfort when they are crying.  This is breaking my heart, and the display is reminding me that I can't do this for my child yet.

 

 

Some days I am really much better at this than others.  Thank you for the many people who supported us by buying a shirt or jewelry.  I would love for you to use the piece that you bought to remember to pray for us.  When you wear it, or even just when you look at it. Spring is coming I feel the progress and it's similar to babies kicking in my stomach; We are really doing this!

 

I Love you, My Village, and I couldn't do it with out you.                   

.we went to Africa.

Wow.  What a whirlwind week.

We left for Africa on Saturday @8am from KC, and arrived at our guest house in Kampala on Sunday night @midnight. 
On Monday we met with our attorney and got a game plan together and set out to meet with orphanage directors all week.  Of course, I made lots of time for holding babies and playing with the big kids, too.
We met with 6 different directors.  We saw so many people who were inspiring and trying to do what they can for some needy children.  That part elevated my faith in humanity.  But there was also, starring us in the face, the sad reality that there are so many children with out a family. 
Some of the children were scared of us, we were the only white people that had seen.  The word for it is muzungu.  It seemed to be a term of endearment.;)  Some cried when we left.  Some braided my hair.  Some bit us.  Some squeezed us so tight, afraid we would leave too soon.  Some slapped us.  Some checked to see if our color would rub off. Some peed on me.  Some kissed us. Some danced with us.  Some sang for us.  Some just wanted to sit in our laps.
They all touched our hearts.
The trip was completely confirming that we are on the perfect path for our family.  Uganda is a beautiful place filled with beautiful welcoming people.  We felt safe and happy to be in the land where our 3rd child is right now.  That made it a little hard to leave.  But we rest in the fact that we will be going back to be united with that child soon.

Some of you are wondering about a time line.  So are we.  :)  We are waiting on the Lord to put us on the mind and in the heart of the orphanage director who is caring for our child now.  It may be next week, it may be next year.  We don't get to know.  That is the hard part for me.  I am not good at "not knowing" but He is working on me and I am much better at that than I was when we started this Journey, last February.

On the Friday we were there we went to "Friday Market"  It was full of Ugandans selling their crafts and it was amazing.  Of course, I couldn't help but bring some of it home, to share with you all.  We bought a lot of beaded necklaces from ladies who were making the beads right there in front of us.  Awesome.  This helps put food on their tables, not fund the next girls night out.  They are also going to help us bring the child home to our family. 

 long multicolored bead that I have doubled $10

 

 

 

 

 

Shorter colors shown here $10

 

 

 funky colors $10

 

 

 

 

 Mike Blair's Nebraska Family, you know you need these for game day! $10

 

 

 Funky Bracelets $5

 

 

There is so much more to share about or trip... all in good time, my village. I'm still a lil tired!

XO~tif

 

Here we go!

This is going to be short, I am busy, y'all.  But I needed to say that we are feeling ever so blessed.  We just turned in the first round of shirt orders and every time I got another order and sat down to add it to my list it brought tears to my eyes. not even exaggerating.  Each one of you who are supporting us through prayer and love notes and donations have just filled this Blair house love tank to overflowing!  We are stepping out on faith here.  This is not a required trip, but we feel like it is time to do something.  And with as perfectly as everything surrounding it has fallen into place, we know that God is honoring this decision and we have no fear. 

 

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

II Timothy 1:7

 

 

 

 



 

 

To those of you who donated formula, your money and efforts are being delivered this week!  You have been doers and that is a credit to you.  Notice that MikeBlair dumped a bunch of candy in with the formula. Surprised? surely not.

 

 

Guess What!?! It's February!

Yay for February!

Guess what else!?!  We booked tickets and are leaving for Uganda this Saturday!  No, we don't have a child to bring home.  Mikeblair and I are going for just a week to meet with the attorney that we have been talking to and to personally take our home study to some baby homes.  We have been advised to do this, in hopes that it will speed up the rest of our journey to being a family of 5.

Today I am feeling:

ANXIOUS.  Today I have diagnosed myself with stress induced vertigo.  I know this isn't real.  I just googled it. :)  But I also know that i had debilitating vertigo on every Friday in the month of October.  For those of you who know me, know that is the busiest time for us.  I didn't think that i was stressed or anxious, in fact i thought that i was dealing with the stress of it, better than i had in the 3 Octobers prior.  But my body was showing me different.  And after October was over, i didn't have another attack of vertigo until... last night after my house emptied of family who had been over to watch the super bowl.  It hit me.  And today, still here.  It's GOTTA be anxiety.  There are some things i just know about me.

READY.  Despite my head spinning.  I am so ready to go!  I have my bio babies schedule ready, that is a huge load off of my conscience.  We have such a great village that I don't even have to worry about what my current favorite things will be doing, while their Daddy and I are across the world.  They are loved so much by so many.  This is a huge factor that we took into account in our decision to adopt.  There is plenty of love to go around!  Secondly, I am preparing my heart as best i can.  We are going to see amazing things in Africa, but we are also going to see hard things.  I know, after going to Haiti last year, that one cannot be fully prepared to see what we will see. But i also know that our God is going to walk with us and we will not fear.

SO BLESSED.  I have a new friend who is taking time out of her own life to walk me through this.  For no other reason than because she has travel the path that she saw us wanting to travel, and she knew the obstacles that were ahead for us.  People, this is one of the main reasons why God put you on the earth!  So that after you have traveled a dangerous and HARD road that you can turn around and make it a little bit easier for the next one.  I am forever in your debt, Mandie Cantrell.  And I hope that after I have reached the end of the road, I have the energy to turn around and reach out my hand and help someone else. XO ((tears?!, fa real?? I'm a mess))
     We have had so many in our village offer to wear our shirt, to support us, and pray with us.  We want to that you for the support that we have received so far.  Also, if you have been meaning to get one of our snazzy shirts but haven't yet...you better get on it :)  You can email me with you order or any questions @ tif.pepper@gmail.com.  We will be sending the first order in at the end of this week so they will be ready to wear when we get back from our trip.

Prayer Requests-

• that we can get done the things we need to in this short week
• for traveling mercies
• our hearts to be open to what God will show us in Uganda
• Jaxon and Vivi while we are gone and their blessed caregivers (those 2 can be a lot)
• the directors of the baby homes that we will visit to recognize our sincerity

With so much love to our village,
tif

Shirts for Sale

So, here it is!  I am so excited to show you our shirt!  We are taking orders, they are $20.  This could be a huge blessing to help offset some of the cost in our adoption.  I know y'all need a new shirt.

The border is made up of the words from an African proverb, "it takes a village..." to raise a child.  Uganda is known as the pearl of Africa, so we placed a pearl in it's location. 

Thank you for being part of our village, now you can represent. If you are interested in a shirt, let us know however you would like and we can bill you through paypal, just send us your email address.  XOXO
tif

 

 

It's still January

and I am still under attack. 

My kids have been sick with the flu for almost a week.  So we have been under house arrest with a few restrictions.  We have gone to a drive-thru here and there and my fabulous in-laws came over last night for an hour so I could take dinner to the Children's Haven.  Hooray for listening to Lorde as loud as my soccer mom speakers could blast it. 
I am also sad to report, that we are not going to be able to have a fundraiser at Chicfila.  They called me this morning and apologized.  The manager that Mikeblair spoke to, when he stopped by a few weeks ago, was new and didn't know their policy on fundraisers.  I guess they are asked all of the time for many different things and had to draw the line somewhere.  They only do schools.  Of course, I am disappointed, but I understand and I still love what they are doing for our community on so many levels. 

The message that we were waiting for from the baby home in Uganda still has not come.  I did receive news that there is a meeting coming up that has made her hesitant to do anything until afterward.  She said that it sounds like they are discouraging the baby homes from inter-country adoption, wanting them to do more in-country adoptions.  Our attorney doesn't seem concerned, so I am trying to remain positive.  When the average age person in the country is 19, and it is the size of Oregon with 2.5 million orphans... I know they need help.  Who is able to adopt in-country? 
Feeling my January, yet?

The t-shirt guys is super backed up, but that is still in the works!  And he is being really good to us on the price!  It's going to be an awesome shirt I can't wait to share it with you all!  Thank you for being my village, even while I remain to be DebbieDowner for approximately 8 more days.



Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.   NLT

 

Praying and waiting for him to show us the path.  Please, join us.