ONE LITTLE GIRL...

It's absolutely amazing to our whole family just how God is making His provision so abundant for the purpose of bringing our four little girls home from the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Man, have we got stories...lots of stories...and, well, we just had to share this one...

Back at the beginning of February, a friend of ours from out-of-state dropped me a late-night text that said, "Our daughter's (Elizabeth) birthday is coming up...wanted to let you know that she decided to ask her guests to make donations to the Hopkins Family Adoption Fund in lieu of gifts...we're hoping to be able to send something to you by the end of February..."

Whoa! 

My friend's text stopped me dead in my tracks.  I ran through the house gathering whoever was awake to excitedly share with them that a girl they barely know was GIVING UP her birthday presents to help us bring our four girls home.  Varying shades of surprise, gratitude, and excitement swelled in our kids as I shared of Elizabeth's generosity.  It's an uncommon generosity, isn't it?!?  A young girl giving up highly anticipated birthday presents to help friends of her parents adopt four little girls...you don't see that everyday, do you? 

Well, the other day, Elizabeth had her birthday party.  Her Dad told me that there were seventeen girls who showed up (that's one big birthday party, by the way!) and Elizabeth's Dad handed me the envelope yesterday with Elizabeth's sacrificial gift inside. 

When I got home late last night, at the conclusion of what had been a whirlwind day, I sat down with Danna, hardly able to contain my anticipation about tearing into that envelope.  Now, hear me...my excitement wasn't about how MUCH money was in that envelope.  It could have had a single dollar bill in it and I would have been just as pumped as I was.  For me, for us, for our family, the worship that was building in us about this gift was all about the heart that had compelled little Elizabeth to give so generously.

Turns out there was more than a single dollar bill in that envelope...399 more, to be exact...that's $400 that Elizabeth and her friends so generously gave our adoption fund to help bring our four daughters home...astounding.  So astounding, as a matter of fact, that when I told Danna that there was $400 in the envelope, she said, "Huh uh"..."Uh Huh!" I replied...$400...

So, thank you, Elizabeth.  Thank you all the seventeen friends of Elizabeth and your families.  Thank you God for Elizabeth's heart and for how You're providing for us in this season through Your kids (literally).  We could not be more grateful.

Wild Trust

Our dossier is translated and in the DRC!!!  We now wait for our court date when the DRC government will determine they are orphans and they will legally become our daughters.  At that time, the US Embassy will do their investigation and make sure they agree that they truly are orphans, then they will prepare their VISA's so they can come home!  Sounds like a pretty easy process however, they still expect it to take at least 6-9 months :(  Such a bummer!  Please pray that it goes faster than expected and that we can bring our little girls home!!!

I just read a book called "Outrageous Courage". It is about a lady named Tracy Evans, a physicians assistant that lived in Mozambique.  She cared for 900 HIV + orphans and even treated the rebel guerillas when they held her captive.

The eighth chapter is so fantastic, I just had to share!  It is entitled Wild Trust and this is what it says:

"One thing that has been true of my relationship with Christ in every season is that He loves to invite me to step out and take some outrageous leap of faith into the unknown with Him.  I have become convinced that risk is God's love language.  Like a father playing with a child, the Lord loves to throw me up in the air just to prove that He will always be there to catch me.  Over the years, the risk taking lifestyle has forged a firm foundation of confidence in my heart.  No matter how impossible or unlikely the circumstances appear, when God asks me to jump, I do not have to wonder, I know His arms are waiting."

Isn't that fantastic?!?!  I want to live my life taking risks for Christ.  I don't want to live my life working towards the "American dream"- whatever that is...a nicer house, car, stuff and things...

I had a friend ask me the other day if I'm worried that the girls will have attachment disorders or other medical issues.  The quote from the book is such a perfect response!  We do NOT know what the girls struggles will be.  We do know that whatever they are, all He is asking us to do today is keep taking one step forward and trusting that HE-the one who loves us ALL more than we can fathom- is in control!  What outrageous leap of faith into the unknown is God asking you to take today??

Bozeman wrestler brings a large cheering section...his family

Even KTVQ in Billings joined the movement to help us bring our four little girls home!  Thanks KTVQ for doing such a great job helping us tell our story!!! Click on the link below to watch the video!

http://www.ktvq.com/news/bozeman-wrestler-brings-a-large-cheering-section-his-family/?fullsite