We have troops on ground

Hey all,
I wanted to let you know that we have had to make our blogs private for the month of February while we have a team from The Raining Season on ground in Sierra Leone. We want to give our team there a chance to work on the adoption piece without any speculation from SL of our intentions before it can be explained. Remember the country is not real clear of our hearts as Americans and our desire to adopt internationally. This is one reason we must continue to pray. Please remember to pray for our team as they travel for God's favor. This is also the week that our kids will be told of our intentions to adopt them so please ask God to prepare their hearts to embrace their new future. As I mentioned, our team will be at government meetings to talk about the adoption ban. There is not a more perfect time to join together as one group of believers to lift this ban. Ok thank you all for your faithfulness and please know that you are appreciated.

With love,
Lori

Shoot for Africa

We are all up to our eyeballs in Fund raising...I wanted to share with you something neat that Malachi is doing. He is asking for pledges based on how many baskets he can shoot in 15 minutes. We have estimated that he can shoot anywhere from 85-115 baskets in that amount of time. This was Malachi's first attempt at fund raising independently. He was calling people and asking for these pledges. Fran and I were very proud of his efforts so I thought I would help him out just a little by posting a blog for him. If you would be interested in pledging for him please place your bid in the comments section with your email address or feel free to email me at loripyleslp@gmail.com Thank you so much for helping our son have this life changing experience.

A Perfect Saturday Morning

We had such a great Saturday last week. We were able to skype with our kids at The Covering. We don't always understand them and they don't always understand us, but it is true that love flows across all languages. These kids do not yet know of our intentions to adopt them, but one thing that was clear several times during our conversation was them referring to Fran and Me as "mom and dad". Fran was behind me in the camera and Sam was very quick to say "hi dad". I just can't believe how God has prepared everyone's hearts for this very time.

Other exciting news...we had our first visit for our home study tonight! Please continue to pray for us as we go through this process. I am believing for a speedy time frame for the home study/immigration to be processed and for favor in Sierra Leone when TRS meets with the government in just a few weeks to discuss adoption.

We need to see our kids again...

Well I have exciting news...my trip to return to see our kids at the orphanage is finally set for May! The even more exciting news is that our 10-year-old, Malachi, is making the trip with me. He cannot wait to meet his siblings and Fran and I believe that as the oldest sibling in our house, he will be able to better prepare himself and his sister and brother here for their arrival in September. I will keep you posted on the progression of our trip. A group from TRS is traveling to the center in just a few weeks and even though we will not be there, it is a very big trip for us because someone will be sitting down with our kids to announce to them our intentions to adopt and bring them here. I cannot wait to hear how they react to the news that they have such a bright future in front of them. It is so exciting!!!!

In addition, I want to introduce a new group that I am involved in called Warm Hearts Group. You will be hearing more about this group because the mission of it is to raise awareness and funds for the orphans in our community as well as around the world (namely Sierra Leone). We hope to come along side TRS and help them fulfill their mission because we believe so strongly in the cause. Warm Hearts Group is an amazing group of people who are dedicated to helping me get my kids home as well as helping others fund raise for travel or their own adoption. You will be amazed at the fun events planned for 2010. We are currently developing the website so I will share it when it is done.

Lastly, I am asking that everyone please continue to pray for this adoption process. Sometimes when you feel like you are being hit with adversity that's when you know you are in the middle of God's will. Knowing that doesn't always make it any easier. Pray for our kids in Sierra Leone. Pray for our fundraising efforts to make all of this happen. Pray that to God be ALL of the glory. We know we CANNOT do this without HIM.

We love you all. Thank you for your love and support.
Lori

The Silence of the Stable

The Pyle family had a wonderful Christmas, but as you can imagine, there were three very good reasons why it felt incomplete. This time last year we had no idea that we would have a missing part to our family, but each and everyone of us felt it this year. We had three candles with pictures of each child on them that we lit on Christmas Eve as we prayed for Sam, Betty and Fallah in faith that next year they will be present in our home. Malachi, Mckenna and Mackaden all received necklaces with Sam, Betty and Fallah's pictures on it which was a huge hit for them. I am very happy to report that the kids had a very blessed Christmas feast at The Covering which even ended with a rented TV for a movie and popcorn. It just warmed my heart to know they were happy on such a special day. Thank you Jesus for all of our gifts, but this year, I am extra thankful for the joy You brought to my kids in Sierra Leone. Please visit www.therainingseason.org to see some pictures of their Christmas party this year.
At the beginning of the Christmas week, just as things start to get "real" busy with baking cookies, wrapping gifts, and coordinating the different parties for the week, I found myself quite stressed. I have felt "Christmas stress" before and this was different. It was a mix of emotions that I was unable to place as familiar. I spent some time just asking God what He wanted me to get out of this Christmas season. I never want to miss what God has for me and especially during the years of having such young children in the home (which I have been told goes by way too quickly). I got an immediate response which was "I want you to hear the silence of the stable at My birth". I thought how is that possible during such a busy and hectic time? I think that is exactly what He was saying. As I began to think about the silence that must have been at the birth of Jesus, I imagined the animals slowly walking on the hay with the slight wind just outside and all of a sudden I began to feel the peace of that Christmas day. How very different than anything I have ever experienced at Christmas in this day and age. We did our very best to have a very low-key Christmas (honestly, slower than any Christmas I can remember) and I believe God is preparing us for the gifts we will soon receive. Christmas has never been about "stress" and how many parties can you possible fit into one weekend, but the love sent to earth on that very special day. You all know the story so I will leave it at that, but as I recall the Christmas of 2009, I will remember it as the silence of the stable.

We have a winner

Thank you so much to all of those who supported our blanket auction by placing your bids. Sorry for those who had difficulty posting, but I am VERY happy to announce our winner to be Robin Hastings of McKinney, TX with a final bid of $150. Robin and his wife Kim have been very close friends of ours since our college days. This is just one more way they have proven their love and support to us. Thank you guys. I can't help to mention the Swann family, as they were instrumental in providing that friendly competition I was hoping for.

All of the donation will be going toward our home study.

Thank you, again!

Bring on the Bids!!!!

Just in time for Christmas the kids made a beautiful Christmas blanket to raise money for our adoption. We all just spoke to Sam, Betty and Fallah this morning by cell phone and everytime we talk to them we are MORE anxious to get them home. Please help us by placing your bid to have this blanket sent to you just in time for the holidays. All of the proceeds from this blanket will go toward our home study.

To make a bid please include your name and amount in the comment section of this post. The auction will remain open until December 14th. The highest bid will be announced at that time and I will make contact by email for shipping information. Please tell everyone you know to make a bid. A little friendly competition among friends never hurt anyone.

Thank you in advance...good luck
Fran and Lori