Yes, our son is in China! However, we have a few Ethiopia adoption t-shirts left…..I would LOVE to sell our remaining stash….
$5 each….below are the sizes remaining:
1-XL
2-L
5-M
4-L (children)
Please email me if you would like one at dwan.graham@gmail.com
Thanks for following us on this journey! God is Faithful!!
Once there were two women who never knew each other
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother
Two different lives shaped to make you one
The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it
The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name
One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears
One made an adoption plan, that was all that she could do
The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.
Now, which of these two women, are you the product of?
Both, my darling, both, just two different types of love.
~ Author Unknown
Our good friends 13-year old niece was in a diving accident a week ago today. Please visit her CaringBridge site:
It is Saturday afternoon and this week with all its craziness felt like the LONGEST week ever. Noah was sick on Tuesday, I was sick on Wednesday and Thursday, and Isabel badly sprained her arm on Friday. Then our cat delivered her kittens sometime on Friday…..not sure when but the bug man found them outside when he came to spray for ants. Did I mentioned our kitchen was covered in ants from Wednesday until Friday? Ooh and we had a hiccup in our dossier that is in China!
The week was full of many emotions but I clung to the cross. Christ is sufficient.
Still in the midst of processing my mission trip to Southern Europe, I am pondering a few key words: alien, refugee, stranger, sojourner.
In the New Testament Paul says in Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” And Peter says in 1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.”
So the point here is that the life of faith is the life of an exile, a sojourner, a refugee. The promises of God are our real home and we have seen them from afar and have greeted them and tasted them and they have made us restless and uneasy. They have begun to shape our whole way of seeing and thinking and feeling. They have colored all our values and goals and desires. We have been put out of sync with this world because our treasure is in heaven.
Praying that I will be content as an alien, refugee, stranger, and/or sojourner wrestling against complacency, comfort, and conformity of the THIS world.
God is doing great and mighty things among the refugees in Southern Europe. This spring I had the amazing opportunity to GO and SERVE at a center. These refugees from around the world came to the center for clothing, for food, and for ESL. However, you can see that they are hoping and searching for something more than their temporary needs. Many are looking for hope, peace, love, and encouragement. The refugees are searching for more…..
In various conversations that I had with different ladies, many believe in God. BUT their faith is not about a relationship. Many follow the Muslim traditions without any understanding of Islam nor connection or investment. God is bringing refugees from around the world to the center so they may hear the Gospel. At the center refugees here truth about saving grace through faith in Christ Jesus.
During my week there I encountered many women open to hear the Gospel. When I shared I was always humbled and blessed to be a part of God’s story. Here are just a few testimonies of our time sharing together:
Thankful God called me to go and serve and love among the refugees in Southern Europe for His glory and my joy!
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. Psalm 98:2
We have a short video of our son. In the video he is being asked three questions:
1. What is your favorite animal? Frog
2. What is your favorite food? Watermelon
3. What is your favorite activity? Swimming
Last week my Monday morning bible study group SURPRISED me with a sweet frog stuffed animal. It was a huge encouragement and a sweet unexpected blessing. The really special thing about the frog is that he had been in all their homes so their family could pray over our son and our family and our journey. I came home and showed my kiddos the frog. We talked about this tangible frog and how families throughout our church are on this journey with us….step by step….God has raised up families to pray for us, to financially assist us, and to give us words encouragement. We are humbled and blessed and so thankful for each big and little thing God provides for us on this journey!
Wow! It has been a month since I have posted anything on the blog. So where should I begin?:) In the past month my baby girl turned two years old. We celebrated with a small family party since I was suffering from jet lag and just returned home from around the world. She loved the birthday wishes and gifts. I am thankful for my baby girl Ella-Lucille Mercy Graham!! She is a true joy and blessing from above.
We also celebrated our oldest daughter turning eleven years old. Isabel had her first ever slumber party:) It was fun and she had a great day with friends and family. I survived the party joyfully and can foresee more slumber parties in the future. My girl, Isabel Scott Graham, is growing tall and will soon be taller than me:) We already wear the same size shoe. She is stretching me in a good way as we embark together to the tween years.
Ella-Lu had her second eye surgery this month. One year ago on the exact same date we were officially logged into the Ethiopia court–April 18th. All last summer when I would see the 18th on the calendar I would count another month waiting. While Ella-Lu is having her surgery we have an update on our dossier–it was officially authenticated! Only God could work ALL things for His glory and our joy! We mourned the loss of adopting from Ethiopia but our cup overflows at God’s grace and goodness. And we are so thankful and encouraged that our son in China should be home before Christmas! God’s plan is perfect for our family and I am constantly reminding myself to await His perfect timing, trust in Him, and rest in His sovereignty. Our dossier is en-route to China and we are now awaiting a Log In Date. God is Faithful!
Time to pick up kids from school but I have SO much I want to share about my mission trip to Southern Europe, more celebrations in the past month and life. Hopefully I can post again before another month goes by!!!
Read this quote today from John Piper…..I think it sums up why I go around the world to share the Good News of Jesus Christ…..leaving behind my family and my comfort:
My sweet one will be two April 10th. She is a miracle and bring us all great JOY. Here are some awesome pictures a sweet friend took for me recently:
