Saturday, February 26, 2011

Our Calling to Embrace

There are times in our lives when blessings come along
completely out of no where...
no warning~
no forethought~
ones that seem SO unlikely and illogical.
But NOT to God... He knew all along!

Times when the ONLY explanation is GOD!

we are not called to a life of complete order
where we are able to figure it all out and plan every single choice.
If that were true, why would there be a need for God?

God doesn't just call people that have it all together...
He calls the people that sometimes seem the least likely.
Then, as they rely on Him alone to provide
(whether it be finances, change of heart, or whatever),
He gives them exactly what they need to do what He has called them to.
It just takes stepping out IN FAITH. If it seems logical and you can figure it all out,
then what glory does God get in that,
if there is no risk, no sacrifice??
We step out IN FAITH when it seems IMPOSSIBLE to US!!!
God steps in, does the IMPOSSIBLE and gets the glory HE ALONE deserves.
So, I challenge you today to STEP OUT--if it doesn't make sense to the world
and those around us,
SO WHAT??
Life is a vapor...make a difference for Him.

So many people have asked lately about
the wedding,
the two graduations,
the many dr visits with SJ,
not to mention all that goes on day to day.
"Are you so stressed about it being just 10 weeks away?"
"How do you do all you have to do?"

All I can say is, "It is completely God that allows me to
Embrace all we are living right now."
God alone is to be glorified in all the blessings He pours on us each day.
I honestly believe there are no coincidences...
only God's Will~
He knew it all along and has allowed it to come to pass.

When I chose my word this year
~ Embrace ~
I thought I knew everything I would be called to embrace...


With all that said,
We would like to introduce one of the biggest blessings we have ever had...
Our Son... God's Will
William Scott Minzhong Ankerich
calling him Will.

Two and a half years old
CHD repaired
Living in Beijing @ Phillip Hayden Foundation

We received PA last night~ pre approval. :)
The amazing God's Will story coming soon!!!

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
~ Neale Donald Walsch



36 comments:

  1. YEAH!!! I L*O*V*E the blog title!! CONGRATS !!! This is beyond exciting!!!

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  2. Such a blessing (: God is so good !!!! I love you

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  3. I'm so amazed at all God does each day! Who would have thought we would ever have a brother?!? Love you and I look forward to the day Will is home in our arms!

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  4. So happy for you! Congratulations!!! What a blessing to have a son. :-)

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  5. I got to your blog through Lucy's! Congratulations on the son! Get ready, boys are sooooooo different than girls! God made them that way and its a different animal all together!

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  6. WOW!!! That is so amazing!! God is trully good!!

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  7. SO amazingly happy for you and your family. I can't wait to see you finally with a BOY!!! An adorable sweet loving little boy. Only our God girlfriend ;)

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  8. Oh my gosh I can't believe you are his family!!!!! I have been watching him on the site for the last month or so wondering when his family would find him. PHF is a wonderful organization. Everett lived there for 15 months. I hope you get to visit them when you travel.

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  9. I'm SO happy for you Shay!!!!!! Have tears in my eyes...for so many reasons. Sons are such a blessing. Your little Will is a doll baby, what a sweet little guy!

    Congratulations! Can't wait to follow your journey and how it unfolds. You have so much to look forward to this year!!!

    hugs,
    Gail

    And I love that last quote!!!!!

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  10. Oh my goodness! This is wonderful! And funny, after my post about your husband being brave to live in a house full of females :-) Congratulations. (Aidan is from Beijing, too)

    Ruby

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  11. oh my! I am so excited for you all! I think you all are doing God's amazing work! Love to you all!

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  12. I was so thrilled when I saw his sweet face in your header! I love him already and cannot wait to kiss those sweet cheeks. You are one amazing Mommy!

    ~Lynn

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  13. OH MY WORD!!! Congratulations! Will is adorable!!! I can not wait to hear all about him and God's amazing story.

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  14. OVERjoyed!!! So privileged to have such a LOVELY ~God honoring lady !!! Can't wait to hear each and EVERY UPdate!!!

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  15. Okay, I just have to add.....do you know how much I love that you are finally going to have your house messed up??!!! :)

    ~Lynn

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  16. I meant "God honoring lady in my life!! "

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  17. You can't even begin to imagine the goosebumps I have right now... he is SO gorgeous... I am so incredibly happy for you all... very, very, very happy indeed :)

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  18. Congratulations!!!! He is adorable!!!!

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  19. S.e.r.I.ou.u.s.l.y!!!

    Congrats hardly seems enough, Shay. Welcome to another crazy ride of God's blessings! I know you already love Will in your heart and soon in you arms!

    God is good!

    Love ya,
    Sara

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  20. He's absolutely gorgeous, Shay! Those pictures have me smiling ear to ear. Looking forward to following your next big adventure to China. :) I've been thinking about comfort zones a lot lately with this uprooting move to VA. I know it's God-led, so all I can do is trust Him. Can't wait to see what lies ahead for us!

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  21. What a wonderful news!!
    He's definitely so cute!!!
    He has no idea how is life is going to change with 5 oldest sisters and amazing parents.
    Congratulations!
    isa

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  22. I am so excited for you guys! That is wonderful news and you have truly shown a faith in trusting the Lord! This is such wonderful news and I know you cannot wait to travel to bring Will home. Did SJ know him from China? I read (I think on FB) that she wants to bring her friend home.
    Oh my! I just cannot get over your news! Congratulations!

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  23. Your blog so touches me. Thank you for sharing your family and sharing such wonderful faith filled words. God has used them both to bless me. I will be praying for you, your family,and you new son. God is amazing, isnt He?

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  24. so glad it's "official"....he is such a precious little guy. :)

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  25. Wow, this is so exciting! Congratulations and I can't wait to follow your journey to him!

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  26. Loved your post and love your new header. Such a creative blog title. Maybe you can help me come up with a new one. :>) All I can say is you're finally going to have a boy and I'm so excited for you. Boys are THE BEST! And I hope you don't think I feel differently...I was just tired and not feeling well last night...

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  27. Rejoicing over this incredible news. I had been praying over the decisions you shared you needed to make and thought in my heart it was over another adoption. I LOVE how the Lord allows us to see him working so clearly when we allow our eyes to see him. I can't believe how much he looks like SJ. You have an amazing family. We will be praying for this next journey. So excited to be experiencing this one from the beginning.

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  28. Wow! I skip a few days reading, and look at the good news I missed! I can't wait for my daughter to read this!!! (We usually read together.) So amazing!
    Congratulations to your family!
    Tamara

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  29. OMG!!! You have so been holding back on me!! I adore the header!! I love that you're going to have a boy!! We got our PA on Friday!! Maybe we'll meet in China!! I can't wait to hear the amazing story!

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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  30. A BIG Congrats on your precious Will!
    Somehow I am not surprised...I share your joy!

    And I love how our Lord works in big ways and small ways, thanks for sharing your faith!
    Blessings, Cindy

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  31. YAY! for God's WILL!!

    love ya friend!

    xo ellie

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  32. Oh my word!! I commented last night but did not scroll down and read your previous posts. I did not recognize Will's new pics as the child I have been praying for on the BAAS list. I have been praying for his new family this past month that they would be lead to step out in faith and get him!! Wow is all I can say, god is so very faithful!!! So happy it is your family!!! What a blessed family and boy! he just makes me smile!!!

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  33. Congrats! He is precious! And I love that SJ is calling you "My Mama"

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  34. CONGRATS to you and your family! God's WILL is certainly amazing....and beautiful!

    I could not be happier for your Sharon. Oh my goodness...this little one takes my breath away. He is so very sweet and he does really resemble SJ.

    Okay.... how did I miss this in your post that I commented on last night and your new header? Can you say clueless.... I guess it did not hit me what was going on!! Needless to say, I have been a little slow on the uptake.....but I could not be more thrilled for you. What an exciting time for your family.... it just keeps getting better and better:)

    Much Love and Many Blessings~

    xoxo,

    Lisa

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  35. Thank you for letting the Lord use you and sharing this post! (I just clicked over from your new post.) This is so encouraging to me! God is doing some miracles in our lives and I'm hoping and praying that another adoption is soon in our future. We share in common some of the same circumstances. Praying for God to abundantly provide all you need!
    Blessings,
    Lydia

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