Freedom

I heard the most amazing, freeing thought this week... a conversation from my women's Bible study went like this: a parent was worrying about their newborn child's well-being and safety but felt the Lord respond with: Your child is invincible until the day I call her home. One of these dear, sweet ladies concluded that truth must apply to ourselves as well <<--that we are invincible until the Lord calls us home(Did I mention she is wise, too? I have good friends!).  The more I've meditated on it this week the more I've realized it's not some pie-in-the-sky thought for living life with zest.  It's not some dreamy idea to sike yourself out of fear.  It is sound, biblical perspective. 


Psalm 139:16 says, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 
 I think that is worth repeating:  EVERY day of my life WAS recorded in God's book.  EVERY moment was laid out BEFORE a single day had passed.


I should probably pause here and let y'all in on a little something.  I am mildly obsessed with words like always, never, and every.  You see, I am  a bit very much a perfectionist.  In fact, it's so bad, I think others should be like me and then wonder why I am so wildly disappointed when no one, including myself, can live up to those expectations! (This problem is a whole other blog entry!)  Anyway, I am learning that only God Almighty, can be described in terms of ALWAYS, NEVER, and EVERY!!  (I promise, Harley, I am learning! Love you!)

So, with that being said, I think camping out on those words is a tad important.   This above-mentioned conversation was centered on what holds us back from living out generous and compassionate lives, lives that recklessly abandon our comfort zones, put safety on the back burner, and make us restless with the status quo.  Before one of your days came to be, they were known!  The unfortunate part is we don't know how many days we are guaranteed.  Our clocks are ticking! That begs to know, are you using your days to live out the purpose for which you were designed?  Or are you making excuses? Are we taking the opportunities set before us to use our lives for an extremely high calling?  Or are we telling ourselves we don't matter?  It doesn't just happen, folks!  We have to intentionally go for it!  For this to happen I think two very significant things must be in place.  1.) You have to know where you are headed.  You future must be decided. When you know where you're headed, don't you go with a little more confidence? We can be confident in our mission, but that happens only with faith in Christ Jesus. Romans 10:9,10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 2.) You must be where you are supposed to be.  When we are aligned with God's will and purpose for our lives, it doesn't matter if it's safe or dangerous, because exactly what is supposed to happen is going to happen! Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

When I fill my thoughts with this perspective, I know every fiber of my being must press on toward that which God has called me and my family. We are getting there!  Stay tuned...

Adoption Update

Harley and I are well on our way to becoming adoptive parents.  Our current stage is "fixing" some things on our turned in application.  We are scheduling fingerprint appointments, health and fire inspections of our home, preparing for a homestudy and generally ready to welcome home our daughter(s).  I use the plural because we have stated we are open to siblings, ages 3-11.  Yay, girl power!!  We've spent hours and hours in the first part of 2012 being "trained"  and I 've realized that it is helpful and silly all the same time.  For example, the sexual abuse class: helpful, loss and grief: helpful, supervision: silly.  I mean, I have 3 kids at home...can we opt out on good faith that they are being watched properly and that is why I feel I would make a good adoptive parent in the first place!? Oh, well, what are you going to do?  So, we did it!  We have a case manager of sorts. Our agency, Arrow Family Ministries, calls them Ambassador Family Specialists.  Our AFS's name is Lindsey, and she rocks!  She checks in with me all the time.  She calls if something is pertinent.  I feel God has so richly blessed this union between the Jeanises and Arrow.  We are in constant prayer over these desicions.  We are starting to feel more confident to talk about it openly.  We are telling everyone now instead of just the few who we think will understand.  Which pretty well catches you up, Friends, and brings me to my point.

Typically, we don't blurt out: "We're adpopting!"  However, our family dynamic and make-up draw many oberservations.  1. We have three children.  2. We have only boys.  Many times people want to know if we are "done."(I assume they mean with child-bearing, and my body says, oh, yeah, YOU, Missy are DONE!)  Or if we are going to "try" for a girl. (I don't even know what that means.)  So, now that we are getting oh-so-very-close, we have started answering with: "well, actually, we've begun the process to adopt."   A very normal response is "that I must love being a mom!?"  And yes, while that is  true alwaysmost days, it is not the reason we feel we must adopt.  Another, repsonse is: "You, two are just such great people for doing that.  You are just so good."  Ummm, yeah, we are! Yeah, not so much! 

Just to be clear, The Jeanise are decent folks.  We have high moral standards.  We try to be like Jesus.  However, we are human.  We are not perfect.  And we are certainly not, good.  The bible says it like this in the parable of the rich man in Luke 18:  Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”  “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.  But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.
The rich guy answers that he has kept those since he was young. CHECK! BAM!  Then, Jesus lays it out in verse 22:  When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  (Gulp!) W-w-w-wh-what?  I think the point Jesus was trying to make here is that all those actions in the commandments are important.  They show others you are upstanding.  But so true to character, Jesus is concerned with the heart of man!  Following Jesus is hard.  So far,  since beginning this journey, people have thought we were insane or glorious; we lost friends and made new ones; we have family crisises and professional ones.  Nothing has been easy.  Our children have been left with their grandparents so we could go and "learn" how to become parents of children who have been hurt.  We have cried, we have yelled, we have thought about quitting! Romans 3:10 reminds us that “No one is righteous— not even one."  But God's precious nudging has been a constant the whole time. 

Lastly, this journey is for his glory, not ours.  This is his story and we feel so blessed to be included in it.  We will keep you posted, Friends! Thanks for your prayers!

Spring Cleaning

ALERT: My family and I are NOT celebrating Easter this year!  Yeah, you read that right.  No chocolate Easter bunnies or visits, no dying eggs, or Easter gift baskets!  But before you put me on your church prayer list and start throwing holy water on me, hear me out!  We are exchanging it for a festival!  Instead of celebrating our cultural norms, that have so many secular, ungodly demands, we are focusing on a more biblical representation of the season that reflects who we are and who we want to be.  In that spirit, we ARE celebrating Passover!
                                           
God has been stirring me for sometime regarding holidays and how our family celebrates them.  Then, Jen Hatmaker's book, 7, came into my life and I could NOT ignore the engraved invitation from the Lord to learn more.  She states it like this:
            "Easter is a little name picked up from the Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess of spring, Eostre, who saved a frozen bird from the harsh winter by turning it into a magical rabbit who could lay eggs. Hence: 'Easter' bunnies and eggs." 

This information confirmed that I am slave to pagan rituals and led by culture.  Many of my holiday practices represents nothing of what I say I believe.  As a side note, if you intend to continue dying Easter eggs with you babies and leaving carrots out for the Easter Bunny, more power to you and you will not receive any judgement from me.  You don't have to delete me on Facebook! We will just be doing things differently.

Friends, you may be thinking, we've lost it.  I  mean, first, she's ditching the Christmas Tree and reindeer food and (gasp!) Santa.  Now, the poor Jeanise children are not even going to have a chocolate bunny to eat that morning!  It's OK, really! We will all survive with a little less sweets and egg dying around and bonus: our waistlines will thank us!
                                                                
Here are a few reasons why we are celebrating Passover:
1. It is biblical. Passover is not just a Jewish holiday, but "a special festival to the Lord." (Exodus 12:14)  Messianic Rabbi, Eric Carlson, puts it like this: "This Feast is directly related to and fulfilled by the Jewish Messiah, Messiah Yeshua! (Jesus Christ). John the Baptist refers to Yeshua as 'The Lamb', 'Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.' (John 1:29)."  The people in Jesus' day understood this profound meaning in that description.  Isaiah 53:7-10 provided them(and us, in retrospect) the foretelling of the "human lamb" that would suffer for us. 
2. It acknowledges the redemptive blood atoned for our sins through sacrifice. God says only blood can atone for sin. (Leviticus 17:11)  We believe it is through the Lord, Jesus Christ that we can be reconciled to God.  Jesus identified himself as the Passover Lamb. (Matthew 26:17-28) (John 12:9-19)
3.  It is part of who we are. (Romans 11:17) 
Who knew?  We, Christians, mere Gentiles, are grafted in.  This is our identity.  Jesus goes a step further in his suffering and dying for us. The outcome is not only for the forgiveness of our sins, but also, to bring us into inheritance with him.  Ephesians 1:11: "Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."

In conclusion, we are going to begin Passover with a traditional Seder(Jesus being the focused Passover Lamb).  If you're interested you can find instructions here: http://www.zionsake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66.  We are so excited and pray that the Lord would draw us closer to him during this precious time as we reflect on the lavish love of our Heavenly Father and the sacrifice of his Holy Son!  It is already working! ;)  Lastly, no matter how your family takes time to remember the love of Christ this spring, I hope it is a time filled with renewing and refreshing. 
                                          

The Loving Things

It's February, the month of love.  The stores are bursting at the seams with red and pink decorations.  The jewelry commercials are literally on in every-other-one-increments.  Normally, I boycott Valentine's Day.  I think it's crap, to be completely candid.  I think it just another way for big marketing to make people think they have to spend money.  A way for those with to show up those without.  It's disgusting.  In addition, I don't like these holidays: mother's day/father's day; Saint Patrick's Day; or Halloween.  I am pretty sure the Bible says, "honor your mother and father," not just the second Sundays of May and June.  What the heck is St. Patrick's Day anyway? And really all year, I tell my children Stranger Danger, now tonight let's go get candy from them.  Ick!  Harley loves me and hates me for this.  I know it sounds like I am a stick. in. the. mud.  I know!  It gets worse, I don't even do Easter Baskets for my kids! Uh, gasp, the horror! That's right folks, no Easter bunnies here!  But, I digress! 


As I normally try to avoid all things Cupid this month, today in my Bible Study reading God's Word, I got smacked right up side my head with a couple of very undeniable facts  God is extremely clear on his idea of what is love.  When put to that test, my grade was an epic fail!  I don't love well.  I love poorly.  Very poorly, in fact.  Even those that are easy to love, the ones I naturally love.  I was seriously brought to tears in repentance. 

Honestly, people, there is a whole world culture out there to tell us what love looks like, feels like, and it's all about what we are getting out of it!  The world's idea of love is feeling and emotion and completely selfish.  God's love is undeniably selfless and covered in humility.  It is evident in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 when Paul writes, "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."  I know if anyone has ever been to a wedding or in church for longer than 6 months they have probably heard these words before.  However, I am hear to tell you it is a whole different ballgame when you put someones face in your mind and ask yourself questions regarding these statements.  

Try it:
Picture someone(your spouse, your friend, your kids, your enemy, someone you just do not get along with)
Then ask yourself these questions:
 1. Am I patient with this person?
 2. Am I kind to this person?
 3. Am I ever jealous of this person?
 4. Am I ever boastful or proud around this person?
 5. Am I ever rude to this person?
 6. Do I ever demand my way?
 7. Am I ever irritable with this person?
 8. Do I ever hold grudges against this person?
 9. Am I glad when this person fails?
10. Am I happy when this person is successful no matter the circumstance?

Now, remember, God's law is perfect.  So, these are always and never situations!  Oh my goodness, everyone of us should fail!  Thankfully, everyday I can draw nearer to The One whose love is unfailing and is eternal and learn to love as I should!  I hope these words stick with you as they have with me during this month of hearts and Cupid.  They are life-changing and more useful than being a reading at wedding ceremony! 

P.S. I was so traumatized by my failure to love like Christ that it took me awhile to even see past my failure.  But Christ is full of mercy and grace.  He doesn't long to see us linger in our failures.  He wants repentance and to become our focus.  It is how we going from a failing love to an enduring one!  Happy Love Month! 

Super Bowl Sunday

As many get ready to gather for some fun watching the pigskin, I cannot help but think of the many women and children who have been exploited this weekend.  That's right, Super Bowl Sunday is one of the worst times for human trafficking victims.  I am sick.  I don't know what happened to me.  For years, I've watched this game and enjoyed it and not worried someone was being hurt due to the hoopla surrounding it.  I also thought prostitutes, by definition, could only be adult women who, by whatever the circumstance, chose their professions.  Now, my eyes and ears don't seem to be my own anymore.  And you know what dear reader?  I am glad for it.  As much as one would think it would be nice to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear, I think I am better off.  Ignorance is not bliss; ignorance is death. 

For awhile now, Micah 6:8 has been stuck in my head: "No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  I never realized when God opened my heart to the global orphan crisis that He would be opening my mind to the injustices of slavery.  Growing up in modern times and white, slavery has never been more than something evil in a history book and a shameful existence in my ancestors' pasts. It did  not really effect me.  Before, it was simple, it is wrong and in the past.  However, present-day me, realizes that there are more enslaved TODAY than any other time in history and it's growing!  Moreover, I contribute to it in so many ways. For instance, much of American lifestyle comes at the expense of an impoverished person or people somewhere in an underdeveloped area of the world.  How, you ask?  They make our clothes, toys, food, uh, my Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod.  Ugh, seriously, those hurt!  But, I am telling y'all, it is even over coffee.  I know what you are thinking: Don't-even-start-messing-with-my-awesome-Nantucket-Blend!  No, really, People, many suffer for us to enjoy our favorite coffee brands! 

I know it seems impossible to stop.  This is the 2nd largest crime industry behind drugs, after all.  It is a 9.5 billion dollar a year money-maker.  However, our God is BIG and He does BIG things!  Luke 1:37 says, "For nothing is impossible with God."  We have a great opportunity here to bring change.  We need to educate ourselves on the subject and to become aware of the products we use.  I am not trying to be a hypocrite here...I literally could send this message out from my iPhone or iPad!  Ouch!  I am saying we have to put behind us the days of being cattle-herded consumers and PAY ATTENTION!   

With this in mind, I came across this great article http://theresurgence.com/2012/02/02/sex-trafficking-at-the-super-bowl  Please, take the time to read it.  It has some great information.  It offers some great educational tips.  Also, you can visit these websites if you are in need of commodities:

www.cometogethertrading.com
www.redearthtradingco.com
www.furnacehillscoffee.com/index
www.preemptivelove.org
www.noondaycollection.com
www.bethejoy.com
www.goodnewsgoods.com
www.theopenarmsshop.com
www.commonthreadz.org
www.globalgirlfriend.com
www.3seams.com
www.ravenandlily.com
www.tradeasone.com
www.thehungersite.org
www.funkyfishdesigns.com

Together we can make a difference!  I don't really care who wins the Superbowl tonight, but I do pray, in The Hope, that the most vulnerable and most marginalized of the world are protected and safe tonight! 

Strangers Among Us

As you know, we have spent the first days of 2012 not listening to the many presidential debates or tracking our list of new year resolutions, but hours in parenting training classes for fostering/adopting.  While these classes have been a welcomed sign of where we are headed and relief for knowledge of how to handle certain situations, they have also brought me to my knees in face of fears. The perfectionist in me says, "You are going to fail."  God keeps saying, "you will, if you don't let Me do this."  The fear subsides, a bit.

At the end of 2011, we followed God's path seamlessly and easily to Arrow Family Ministries.  We met with a guy named Michael, who we both liked(as a person and instructor).  Michael is funny and cool guy and a foster/adoptive dad.  He brought so much insight to the training information.  The class group in training was awesome, too.  Some, really great folks.  Then, as I was getting ready for the next class, Michael messaged me that as of "this" morning he was no longer with Arrow.  My first instinct was to scream and kick and whine like my two-year old toddler.  My next thought was to freak out and think I was on a shinking ship and this was it, another door slamming shut in my face, but Michael/Arrow's teaching was "respond don't react." So, deep breath and you know what, People?  God answered, "Keep going.  Don't get to attached to anyone and keep your eyes on Me."  Whoa!  So, with that we attended our next several classes.  They went great.  As it turns out, we still have some contact with Michael and I think he will be a great example for us.  God is so generous! Coincidentally, there have been some bumps for others(which totally freak me out), but Harley and I just keep saying 'that's not our lane,  that's not our path.' 

Likewise, Harley and I have had thousands of pillow talk discussions regarding adoption.  In recent weeks, they have all been about our training and our vision of adoption.  However, one night in this last month after all the children were nicely tucked in bed, he stayed up watching a total guy movie.  I probably ruined it.  I sat next to him on the couch and just cried.  It felt good.  We didn't have to say anything.  I cried from the stress of the month(busy on an insane level), I cried for our children(those at home and those to come), I cried for the love the Father has shown me over and over again in my life(oh, how he must love me). Jesus is so patient with me, I am definitely a slow learner! 

Moreover, in these training classes all the glamour and charity was stripped away.  All we were left with was some babies from some terrible places who need US to be strong and capable of loving them through the hurt and healing.  Honestly, without Jesus' lead, I don't know how you even consider adoption.  It is more than charity.  It is more than pity.  It is more than wanting more kids or becoming a parent.  It IS the gospel lived out through selflessness and sacrificial offerings of love, time and talent.

In addition, it is opening your home, your life to "the least of these," in essence, to strangers.  The thought of a child being raised in our home who is not of our DNA is somewhat of a fear.  Ok, it is a fear.  I look at my biological kids and see my eyes, or Harley's sense of humor and I know where that comes from.  Even not-so-great sides: I see my hot temper and Harley's stubbornness.  What about the kids we will adopt? Whose personality will be coming out?  Then, all of a sudden in my bible study last week it all made perfect peace and sense in my heart and my head!  I read Leviticus 19:34, "The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."  Wow! What a promise!  I get it!  I understand the comparison of loving an insider or of loving one born to our family.  I feel the comparison with my heart.  The bond that I share with my sister, my children, my parents.  I understand that I, too, was once a stranger, that I was separated from God through my sin and that in Christ I am his beloved daughter.  I'm sure it won't be all easy and at times we will be tested, maybe even beyond what we think we can endure.  But our God is so big, he knows our deepest anxieties and he answers them and calms them.  I know there will be challenges to endure.  I think God has been preparing me all along.

Dr. Russell Moore's book Adopted For Life: The Priority for Christian Families & Churches concludes like this:

   "The reality, though, is that in most ways parenting is parenting, and growing up is growing up.  It's always hard.  Some unique challenges go along with adoption-challenges related to finding a sense of belonging, to discipline and discipleship, to answering questions about origins.  Count these all as joy.  They point all of us-not just kids who were adopted-to the gospel.  The gospel welcomes us and receives us as loved children.  The gospel disciplines us and prepares us for eternity as heirs.  The gospels speaks truth to us and shows us our misery in Adam and our glory in Christ.  The gospel shows us that we were born into death and then shows us, by free grace, that we're adopted for life."

2012 - The Year to Throw & Go!

Well, a new year has begun.  The last week of the year has always been so intriguing to me.  I love looking at news articles or watching shows or countdowns of the best and worst of the year.  It is a look back over triumphs and fails.  I think it is because I like looking in the rearview mirror.  I camp out in the past and find some twisted comfort going over and over it.  I considered having the subject of this blog be a farewell to the past year.  I thought for a moment of the many things that happened to me and my family over the last year, and while some things I would like to forget, many amazing things happened too.  However, my mind continued to drift excitedly to the horizon.  To the future. To look forward. 

Then, yesterday at church our Youth Minister delivered a most challenging sermon about getting off of the sidelines of life and living intentionally with God's purpose and pace in mind.  Through Hebrews 12:1, he dared us to "throw and go."  He called us to stop worrying about our past and "get in our lane." The one God wants us to be in!  It is in this spirit, that we seek to offer our lives as living sacrifices to Jesus and love others.  Interestingly enough, I was reminded of the scriptural basis for this line of thinking from another blogger's point of view based on Philippians 3:12-14: ¹² I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,^[d] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 

Thus, we look ahead.  As we do, we are filled with hope and joy of what our future might be.  We press on to grow in our love of Christ and His existence in our lives.  We press on to help others know His relevance in their lives, too.  We press on to change the face of our family forever.  FOREVER.  With this in mind, we are currently filling out an application to adopt.  There are many reasons you may be wondering, why?  Well, for one thing, biological children are not an option anymore and we really desire more(with 3 already, sometimes we wonder why too!).  Most importantly, we believe it is God's charge to us to care for orphans, We firmly believe Jesus is speaking of this in the Gospel of Matthew. chapter 25, verses 34-40:  
 ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
 ³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
 ⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[f] you were doing it to me!’

Sure, this can be done in many ways, through prayer, financial offerings and short term visits or events, but anyone who really knows Mr. & Mrs. Harley Jeanise knows we are an "all-in" kind of people! (Remember, we dated a solid three months before marriage.)  We are confident we can offer no better "care of orphans" than to become parents of them.  Likewise, there are 147 million orphans globally and we believe those aging out of systems become many of the victims of human sex trade, drugs/alcohol, suicide, or prison. Also,  the thought of adoption was a vision we both could always see, and the "one day" idea became the 'why not now' one.  

For sure, it is a lengthy process and a bit scary one, too.  The idea and process has taught me so much about myself, my husband, and my faith in God.  It is like the game where you are blind-folded and your Partner is calling out directions to you and you have to listen and follow exactly what is being said so you know where to go.  Questions I ask myself daily, sometimes hourly, Do I trust God?  No, do I REALLY trust God, really?  Do I believe His heart for orphans is meant for someone like me? And truthfully, why would God pick someone like me, so imperfect and unequipped, to do such holy work?  Do I really believe He opens and closes doors meant for us to walk through or do I just give that lip service because it makes me sound faithful?  Does my husband really want this too or is he just being supportive?  Will people think I am/We are crazy?  What if the child/ren hate us or what if WE have a hard time adjusting?  Just being honest here, people.  As we decided to step into the world of orphans, some definite things we knew right away: we have a heart for domestic adoption and we feel drawn those in foster care.  Since educating ourselves through conferences, books, and friends who had gone through the process, we are heartbroken to think a child at the tender age of 5 is considered "hard to place" because of their age.  I am horrified at the thought of a child aging out of the foster care system and never having anyone step up and say, 'You are loved and you belong here.' 

So, in closing, we ask that you pray for us in this journey.  We, also, ask that you pray for our child/ren that we don't know yet.  Also, if you are very observant you've noticed I say child/ren in stead of child and that is because we have inquired about a sibling group, two sisters, who are ages 10 and 6.  Would you also pray for them?  We don't know if the state will think we are the right match for them, but even if they don't become our daughters I know God had and has a purpose for them.  They are the reason we are at this next step,which is actually Step 1.  On Thursday, January 5th, we will attend orientation and then we can turn in our application and so on and so forth.  We are excited and expectant of what God will do!  We are grateful for what He has already done!