When we started this journey a year ago, we stayed quiet. We told only a select few. We told people we knew would support us, pray for us, and encourage us. We knew that telling the rest of our community would bring support, but also questions. We did not realize that this calling would bring hurtful words from those closest to us, and from strangers, unimaginable financial challenges, a severe spiritual attack on our marriage, and everyday hiccups that we now know have been thrown at us because of our bigger calling. But we serve a great God. One that knows our needs before we ask. One that will provide a place for us to live so we can provide a family for this little guy, in His timing. Do we doubt? Yes. Do we cling to Him as He slowly reveals His plan? Absolutely. The lilies of the field trust Him, why wouldn't we?
Please pray for us as we dig our heels in and continue this journey. We are aware that we could say no, no to this little guy, and a lot of our worldly "problems" could go away. But we refuse to give up. He's got this, and our little guy, on the other side of the world, in the palm of His hand.
Matthew 6:25-27
New International Version
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
The Hansel Family
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Summer Goals?
With our home study nearing an end, our fee schedule for this adoption is speeding up...
Exciting? Yes.
Closer to this little guy being a part of our family? Yes.
Having to completely trust that God has this and will provide? Big gulp. YES!
Training for a triathlon? Running your first 5k, 10k, or half marathon? Simply want the accountability that comes from a coach helping you stay in shape?
At $100/month I can help you reach your fitness goals. With a 6 month commitment of working together, it is $75/month.
What you get:
- customized daily workouts sent each week via email that help you reach your goals
- unlimited text, email, and phone support
Email me, erinmhansel@hotmail.com and lets get you started on achieving those goals!
Exciting? Yes.
Closer to this little guy being a part of our family? Yes.
Having to completely trust that God has this and will provide? Big gulp. YES!
Training for a triathlon? Running your first 5k, 10k, or half marathon? Simply want the accountability that comes from a coach helping you stay in shape?
At $100/month I can help you reach your fitness goals. With a 6 month commitment of working together, it is $75/month.
What you get:
- customized daily workouts sent each week via email that help you reach your goals
- unlimited text, email, and phone support
Email me, erinmhansel@hotmail.com and lets get you started on achieving those goals!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
An Arbonne Opportunity
A few years back, while I was a full time mom, I started selling Arbonne's amazing skincare products as a way to help supplement our growing families needs. While coaching soon became a full time job, I never stopped using their nutritional products.
Fast forward a few years, a few more kids, and now an international adoption on the horizon, we are again hoping that it will help us finance an international adoption to bring our little guy home.
As I stood in the kitchen this morning, a tired M in my arms, F wrapped around my leg, and J walking up the stairs, sleepy eyed but with the words "Happy Mother's Day" coming out of his mouth, I felt blessed. Their presence in my life overwhelms my heart each day. And with those thoughts, come the dreams of our little guy, who's story I don't know yet, but who I love already. This journey to get him weighs heavily on the financial side of things, so our brains our constantly getting creative in ways to raise the necessary funds.
Here's how you can help:
1. Host an Arbonne party with 5 friends that I haven't met. Let me come, tell our story, and present the health and wellness products that I love and use!
2. Browse Arbonne.com, let me know what you'd like to purchase. I can order it for you and have it at your door, with 35% of it going directly toward our adoption!
3. Become a consultant yourself and share these products with your friends and family, while having extra income yourself!
Lots of love to you Momma's out there today, I cherish the feelings we share, of doing anything for our children, the ones in our homes and the ones on the other side of the world!
Fast forward a few years, a few more kids, and now an international adoption on the horizon, we are again hoping that it will help us finance an international adoption to bring our little guy home.
As I stood in the kitchen this morning, a tired M in my arms, F wrapped around my leg, and J walking up the stairs, sleepy eyed but with the words "Happy Mother's Day" coming out of his mouth, I felt blessed. Their presence in my life overwhelms my heart each day. And with those thoughts, come the dreams of our little guy, who's story I don't know yet, but who I love already. This journey to get him weighs heavily on the financial side of things, so our brains our constantly getting creative in ways to raise the necessary funds.
Here's how you can help:
1. Host an Arbonne party with 5 friends that I haven't met. Let me come, tell our story, and present the health and wellness products that I love and use!
2. Browse Arbonne.com, let me know what you'd like to purchase. I can order it for you and have it at your door, with 35% of it going directly toward our adoption!
3. Become a consultant yourself and share these products with your friends and family, while having extra income yourself!
Lots of love to you Momma's out there today, I cherish the feelings we share, of doing anything for our children, the ones in our homes and the ones on the other side of the world!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
give thanks
Bob and I had our second adoption training class yesterday, on the drive there I was telling him how I had read in Mark that morning about Jesus feeding the 4000. In each of the gospels, we hear this story, and each time he does this, he take the loaves and fish, they start with giving thanks. Giving thanks for what Jesus is about to do, what they know he can do, and what he will do, if they just bring him the loaves and fish.
In the midst of this adoption, I get caught up in what we need, very easily. We need to read this book, take that class, gather that paperwork, have this much money ready, and can easily lose sight of this journey, and how thankful I am for it. Nor do I want anyone to think this has been a picture perfect box of an adoption, or our family is the smiling, calm picture above. We yell, we fight, we get impatient, and wonder what we're getting into, often. But know that if we continue, the blessings now and then far outweigh the rough road now.
It's been a tough road, and I'm thankful for it. We are and will be a stronger family, have a stronger marriage, and get to experience one of the greatest joys in life, another child in our family. This journey has produced amazing conversations along the way with people that are becoming close friends. Whether they've been in touched by adoption or are learning about it through us, we've felt supported in the exciting times, as well as the tough times. Along the road of exploring what is best for our family during this process, we've made and are making some decisions that will further our walk, our life, and our children's lives indefinitely, and that excites me. I am thankful for the women we've come in contact with through our adoption home study agency, they have been encouraging, supportive, and extremely informative. We could easily look at an all day Saturday class as boring, the 6 hours each time have passed quickly and left us more aware and informed of how we are going to parent this kiddo. We know we'll fail at that too, and we're thankful, because we'll grow and be challenged and know that we are moving forward.
Right now I'd love to seek your prayers in this journey for where our next step would be. While our initial plan is a little boy from Uganda, we are making sure to seek out and understand how domestic adoption would fit our family as well. We know whatever choice we come to, he'll pave the way, and we'll give thanks.
In the midst of this adoption, I get caught up in what we need, very easily. We need to read this book, take that class, gather that paperwork, have this much money ready, and can easily lose sight of this journey, and how thankful I am for it. Nor do I want anyone to think this has been a picture perfect box of an adoption, or our family is the smiling, calm picture above. We yell, we fight, we get impatient, and wonder what we're getting into, often. But know that if we continue, the blessings now and then far outweigh the rough road now.
It's been a tough road, and I'm thankful for it. We are and will be a stronger family, have a stronger marriage, and get to experience one of the greatest joys in life, another child in our family. This journey has produced amazing conversations along the way with people that are becoming close friends. Whether they've been in touched by adoption or are learning about it through us, we've felt supported in the exciting times, as well as the tough times. Along the road of exploring what is best for our family during this process, we've made and are making some decisions that will further our walk, our life, and our children's lives indefinitely, and that excites me. I am thankful for the women we've come in contact with through our adoption home study agency, they have been encouraging, supportive, and extremely informative. We could easily look at an all day Saturday class as boring, the 6 hours each time have passed quickly and left us more aware and informed of how we are going to parent this kiddo. We know we'll fail at that too, and we're thankful, because we'll grow and be challenged and know that we are moving forward.
Right now I'd love to seek your prayers in this journey for where our next step would be. While our initial plan is a little boy from Uganda, we are making sure to seek out and understand how domestic adoption would fit our family as well. We know whatever choice we come to, he'll pave the way, and we'll give thanks.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Rawr!
My dear friend Emelie, made these, as a donation for our adoption. And you benefit! These two are for sale for a minimum donation of $50 for one. No need to live near us, I'll mail them to you!
Each bracelet also has a little sterling silver charm that reads "Rawr!", if you've ever talked to Emelie, shes probably rawr-ed at you a few times! I met Emelie one morning a little over a year ago, teaching her the sport I love. Luckily she has fallen for the sport too and we've become fast friends in the process. She has blessed me in more ways than I can count!
All stones are natural semi-precious stones, the wire and findings are sterling silver. Please let me know if you'd like the Tigers Eye or Green Agate. There are just two so grab them quickly. You're support means the world to us!
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