Tshirt Orders on the New Blog!

If you haven't joined us on the new blog, please visit us at HE'S WRITING OUR STORY! T-shirt orders are open!

Meet Us on the NEW Blog!

It's been a fun journey blogging about our adoption journey at Mississippi Meets Ethiopia, but we have moved physical location to Tennessee, and it was time for a move in cyberworld, as well! Come join the Powell's journey through marriage, family and to Africa to bring our baby girl home HERE: at HE'S WRITING OUR STORY.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

T-Shirt Time!!!

It has been a while since a fundraiser! I'm not going to lie... it was a nice break. Some days the sheer cost of adoption seems to overshadow the fact that our child is waiting on us... and we are waiting on her! If you have any part in adoption, you know how broken the system is. It's heartbreaking. But the fact is... We are called to do this. And no matter how broken the system is, there are millions of children who desire to be a part of a family. So........ we continue fundraising... with a smile. :)

We have been beyond blessed by our t-shirt fundraiser. Our awesome graphic designer, Eric Abbott, really did an amazing job last year designing such an awesome shirt! I believe our whole family will be ordering new shirts this go round because we have about worn ours out! You could probably spot this shirt on any given day from at least one family member in our household!

So here's how it works...
(We are only doing short sleeve shirts for this order)

You can order by paying:
1. via PayPal by clicking the link on the right (just add into instructions the size(s) you are ordering)
2. By sending a check to 345 Westwood Ave, Jackson, TN 38301

Sizes:
Kids XS-XL
Adult S-XXXXL

All shirts are $15. Shipping is $3/shirt.

APRIL 6 IS THE DEADLINE!!!!!!!

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at tiffanipowell7@yahoo.com.

The way God has blessed our adoption financially has been nothing short of unbelievable. We still have a long way to go, but we are moving one step at a time and one due payment at a time. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey to bring our girl home!!!


Give thanks to the Lord, for He is GOOD, His steadfast love endures FOREVER! 
Psalm 107:1

Blessed to Wait

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:13-14

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130: 5-6

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in theLord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. Psalm 40:1-17

But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

We spend so much of our life waiting.

Waiting is hard. 

It's hard to wait in a grocery line. Or wait on a website to load. Or wait at a red light. Or wait on food in a restaurant. Or wait on the latest movie to come out. Or wait on that dream job. Or wait on finding the right mate. Or wait on the huge break in our career. Or wait on the next stage in life. 

Or wait...

.... on a child. 

I have really been struggling lately with waiting. As a matter of fact, if you look through the texts I send to my husband, on multiple occasions over the past few weeks you will find me saying... I'm ready to fly to Africa and pick up Matsy Grace TODAY. 

I don't want to wait on this process. 

It's hard, and honestly, some days I don't love it.

BUT...

Isn't it amazing that the God of Abraham, the God of Jacob, the God of David, the God of Micah, the God of Isaiah, the God of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the God of Paul, the God of this universe and the God of you and me talks about waiting?!?

He knew before he ever created me that waiting is hard. But he tells us we are BLESSED when we WAIT!?! 

It's so crazy to me to think how often I look at my material blessings, everything I HAVE and say... wow, I'm so blessed. 

The Lord said we are blessed when we wait. 

Plain and simple. 

Waiting=Blessed. 

Be intentional about finding blessings in whatever you are waiting on today. The Lord considers you blessed and highly favored!!

Where have we been?!?!

Well.... When taking a look at my last post... it was written October 29. WOW! Time flies by!

So what have we been up to?

At the beginning of November, we found out our family would be making a big move. (I say big as this would be my first move out of the huge state of Mississippi!) As much as I love Mississippi, God was calling us to move way up north to Tennessee. I truly wish I had the time to give you all the intricate details of how amazing God is to orchestrate our lives and lead our paths to bring us here.

Our house in Mississippi sold at record speed for our expectations so the week before Christmas, we loaded up the UHAUL and moved our life to Jackson, TN. We were able to have an awesome holiday with our families- even a short trip with both of our families present before starting this new chapter!

So... what's been going on since we moved to TN?

Where to start? The first 6 weeks we lived in a really neat apartment in the heart of downtown that a sweet family at church allowed us to live in. Matthew's first day of work it was 7 degrees outside and I felt like it didn't warm up much the first several weeks. So... two flights of stairs with 2 babies during the winter was interesting to say the least. But we survived and were blessed to get to meet so many people during our first six weeks while we were still living out of boxes! In the meantime, we found a home that was beyond perfect. So perfect that the sweet family that we bought from has already adopted 1 child and is in the process of adopting 2 more from Africa! Amazing how God works to allow us to get to know this family! And the better news... they only moved a couple of streets over :) We closed on our house February 7, so it has been a huge blessing to be able to have a house to call home!
**Side note: If you want to know how to meet all your neighbors, just call the Fire Department 3 days after you move in a new home at 9:00 at night because you've never used a gas stove before! Word to the wise-- don't ever leave a burner on without a flame for 3 hours while you run errands or you WILL meet all your neighbors in their jammies! 

As he does so well, Satan has been working hard to keep us from being about the Lord's work. Our normally very healthy family has been a little sickly since we moved here... 5 stomach viruses, 4 ear infections, the flu, lots of snotty noses and meeting our insurance deductible within a month and a half later... we are more than excited for spring! As I type this, I have my shorts on, it's 78 degrees, and are about to head outdoors for a 2 on 1 baseball game with my little guys so things are looking up!

I am thankful I have been able to stay home with my sweet babies during this transition. For a long time, my heart has been longing to stay home with our boys and God granted us this opportunity. I will soon start working part time, but I am so thankful for the community of Stay at Home moms here that has been so encouraging while I'm learning the challenges and blessings of staying home with our boys!

Besides the house and sickness business, we have beyond blessed with a church family that has truly taken us under their wings like we have been here forever. I don't know how we could have made it without them! They have been so encouraging and helpful.

Okay now that I've rambled about our life... why most of you read this blog is to keep up with our journey to bring home Matsy Grace. We have had some ups and downs in this process since we found out we were moving including Ethiopia threatening to close down international adoptions. We are blessed that all of that has been worked out and since Friday, I can officially say we are FINALLY moving forward with our adoption. Our homestudy was updated for TN. We were on hold until we moved into our house and could have our social worker come up and update things with our life in TN. That has finally happen and as we speak... my table is covered with paperwork... AGAIN :)

I put that smile there because I am SO THANKFUL to finally be back on the journey to bringing our baby girl home. One of my best friends text me yesterday and told me how much she has been praying for our adoption. Isn't the Holy Spirit just amazing? For the past couple of weeks my heart has been longing to hop on a plane to Africa and hold the next sweet little Powell baby. I know He let her in on my hearts longings and knew Matsy Grace and I both needed her prayers.

I am so thankful for the power of prayer and the praying friends God has placed in my life.

So... Life? It's good. It's full of blessing. Yet, it's still full of longing. Longing for our daughter to have a family and longing for Jesus to make Himself known to the world through us and all of His followers.

For today, my heart is here....

In an orphanage in Ethiopia and enjoying hearing my Noah's voice when I ask him his sister's name... Mat-y Gwace. :)

Big News with the Holidays on the Way!

It's truly amazing how God works. With all of the changes in our adoption lately, I have felt like the only thing that would hold us back would be raising funds... which is heart breaking.

Well...God is good and is using the most amazing people to help us!

Honestly, it is so humbling to be blessed by people that are SO selfless.

In the month of November, I have 5 different fundraisers that will be taking place. And... I only planned one of them. How amazing? God is so so good.

Do you LOVE the holidays as much as I do? The Thanksgiving food, the Christmas spirit, the lights, the smells, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh... I just love it!

Well with the holidays coming up, these fundraisers couldn't come at a better time! AND they are some AWESOME fundraisers!!

Are you ready??? Drumroll please........

1. On November 3rd AND November 4th, I am having TWO different Noonday parties!!! Yay! I just LOVE Noonday! If you can come to one of the parties that would be awesome. If not, you can order by going HERE!!! Enter Powell Adoption as your trunk show name.

2. Laura Beth Lamb, who serves alongside her husband and 2 little boys, as a missionary in the Dominican Republic, will be donating her commission for a THIRTY-ONE party in November! Their personalized bags, duffles, suitcases, makeup bags, etc. are perfect Christmas gifts for anyone! The party will open up on the first!

I just can't tell you how thankful I am to have such God fearing people supporting this journey that truly are models for putting others before themselves to serve God. It's amazing all the ways I have seen God through this journey.

3. WHO WANTS TO BE FIT?!? Ever heard of HipHop Abs, Insanity, P90X, Shakeology, Brazil Butt Lift or Slim in 6?! For the month of November, 50% OF YOUR PURCHASE towards BEACHBODY products goes towards bringing our baby girl home!! I am SO SO excited about this fundraiser!

Get fit during the holidays instead of putting on extra pounds! Have your own BeachBody coach! Clair Jenkins has been beyond gracious to do this fundraiser for us! You can visit HERE FOR BEACHBODY or HERE FOR SHAKEOLOGY!This flyer gives a little bit more information about it:

4. Keep collecting your change at the end of the day in your little houses! We are praying for great things to happen with these little houses!

Can you see the way God is working to bring Matsy Grace home the way I can? It has truly been unbelievable. Every day last week I felt like I was having deja vu because I was calling my husband saying, "You aren't going to believe how blessed we are. Guess who volunteered to help us today?!  or Guess what money we received today?!"

God is good. God is gracious.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. -Psalm 145:8

Whirlwind of Changes

In my last post, I mentioned some changes in our adoption. I know that left some of you hanging, so I wanted to recap what the last month or so has meant for us bringing Matsy Grace home. I'll try to give the best description I can of our life for the past 2 months.

About 2 months ago, my heart began to hurt for the Congo. I have met a few people adopting from the Congo, but never really thought about adopting from their. I began researching the Congo, realizing the hurt and devastation going on in that nation. I began to pray for the Congolese people, those adopting from the Congo, and the kids there. Several weeks later, I came across fell in love with a little girl on the waiting child list from the Congo. I text my husband a picture and asked him to start praying about her. I really thought this could be our daughter. I contacted the agency she was with, got all of her information, and told them I was going to pray about it. Not knowing much about the agency, I started e-mailing anyone I could find that had used the agency. Unfortunately, I didn't hear great things. I kept praying. I'm still praying for that little girl. I couldn't get a peace about using that agency. My heart was broken. It's so hard to look at the face of a child, know their story, and not bring her home.

God had different plans.

Still praying for the Congo, I wasn't sure what we were supposed to do. I contacted a few agencies with programs in the Congo just to gather information. We have been married a little over 4 years, and the Congo program technically says you should be married 5 years to adopt from there. Many times, they will give you permission if you are close to the 5 year mark. However, with the agency we really liked, they said they would only accept couples that had been married 5 years. She asked if I was interested in their Ethiopia program. I said, "Not really, but you can tell me about it if you would like." Well......

In the meantime, the Congo closed exit permits. I feel sure that God knew that there would be people sitting in the Congo that needed my prayers. They are there to bring home their children- but they can't until the government their decides to issue exit permits again- which could be up to a year. Through learning about their conditions, I have learned to hurt with them. Isn't it amazing how we can talk to God and plead with him for help for people literally on the other side of the world!?!

We prayed more...

And we are switching agencies.

We are still adopting from Ethiopia. And that is where our Matsy Grace lives. We have a peace about that and are so thankful that God has made it evident the decisions we should make when we asked for His guidance.

The biggest change is the timeline. This process moves faster with our new agency. They are much smaller than our old agency.

This is the biggest part of the emotional rollercoaster that adoption can often bring.

Our family is about to GROW again! However, we thought we would have about 3 years to raise the necessary funds. Now it's looking like the whole process will take 12-15 months... to be HOME... and several fees are due along the way.

It's so sad to a mommy that money is the biggest obstacle to bringing a child home. I had a blog post in my head called The Fundraising Blues. That's how I feel these days. But, God always gives you comfort when you need it, and my adoption friend McCall couldn't have expressed it any better in her blog post Friday. I know that some people don't agree with adoption, and definitely don't agree with fundraising for adoption. And that is ok. It is hard for me to wrap my head around most days. But as for me and my family, we are going to serve the Lord. And the Lord has planted in us a love for a child that doesn't have parents to show her the love of Jesus. A child that lives in Africa. A child that lives in Ethiopia to be exact.

And we are going to bring her home.

So... please bear with me over the next several months as I drive you crazy with fundraisers on the blog. God is such a great provider, and I can't tell you how blessed we have already been financially in funding this adoption. He has provided every milestone we have needed to fund. It has seriously been nothing short of miraculous.

But there's more coming. BIG milestones. We are excited, humbled, and putting aside our pride.

Please join us. We need your prayers. We need you before we bring Matsy Grace home. We need you after we bring her home.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. -Psalm 32:8

A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? -Proverbs 20:24

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. - John 16:13a