WE HAVE A MACH!!

WE HAVE A MATCH! 

WE HAVE A MATCH! 

WE HAVE A MATCH!

Meet, our newest little Donnie. :) (the 4th to be exact!)

I know, I know....you cannot contain yourself!!! We (even though Big D doesn't show it!!) can't either!!! I mean, lets just stop and look at him for a second.......................... seriously, HE IS PERFECT! This, my friends is who we have been waiting for, OUR SON! He is over a year old and he is HEALTHY!!!! Did you just get that??? Yep, he sure is. God is seriously so good!!! I cannot wait for you to see his little face!!!!! (should I add more exclamation marks?) YES!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO DARN EXCITED ABOUT THIIIIIISSSSSSSSS!!!!!

TRUE STORY to show Gods hand (yet again) in all of this;

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are ALL THINGS. To Him be glory for ever. Amen" Romans 11:36

So we see from Gods word that God totally knew who our son was before we were even born, and God knew exactly when our paperwork needed to be in China and on that persons desk in order to get Donnies referral (yep...theres a new Donnie in the mix... Little D not Big D :) to us in the knick of time. And boy did it! 

I mean, get this...

Our paperwork was mailed to China on a Friday and arrived in China THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY! That is SUPER crazy. International mail just doesn't move that fast and I'm pretty sure our agency didn't spend a fortune to overnight it....(except, even if it was overnighted, it still wouldn't have been there until at least the next week....MAYBE!) Then, our paperwork was logged in (aka stamped) THE VERY NEXT DAY! For those that aren't familiar with adoptions.... that is waaaaaaaaaay fast. 

It gets crazier, THEN we were matched exactly a week later, the DAY our agency received their first batch of referrals for the month! God knew exactly when little D's referral was going to be on that persons desk to send out to our agency and he made sure it was there just in the nick of time! 

I mean, are we surprised!? He does say,  "I am God and there is no other, I am God and there is none like me. My counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose" Isaiah 46:9-10 

PROOF! To God be ALL the glory for this amazing thing he has done by uniting us with our son! (through email haha)

OK SO YOU HAVE A MILLION QUESTIONS! (most of them 

cannot be answered on social media, so call me :)


Why did we name him Donnie? We named him Donald Richard Murray IIII. Donnie (my husband .... yeah.... this is gonna be weird lol) is the third. To be honest with you, we lean more towards names like Silas or Jedediah but we both were drawn towards giving little D this name because it means much much more. Just as Big Donnie and I were adopted by God (we were orphans lost at the fall, blinded by sin, but God, being rich in mercy and love, made us see Jesus and then He gave us a seat in his Kingdom AS HIS CHILDREN and He also gave us His inheritance!!!) we thought that by giving him the family name it would be another powerfully tangible way to show him that he IS in fact a Murray even if might look a little different than us. But more importantly, giving him the family name also paints the picture of Gods adoption of His children. Little Donnie was an orphan but we have adopted him as our son, so much that he is given the family name and our inheritance. 

When will we travel to pick him up? We are told we will get him in the fall but we are praying our hearts out that it is SOONER!!!

What is next? Lots and lots of paperwork, waiting and CASH!!! 

International adoption is expensive. Like, crazy expensive. For those who have been asking, and for those that need to see what mountain the Lord is going to move I wanted to give you the breakdown of this craziness. 

REFERAL ACCEPTANCE
* $2,000 - final program fee
* $600 - orphan care fee
* $900 - post adoption administrative fee
* $1,125 - post adoption reports
 TOTAL - $8,125

TRAVEL
* $480 - filling and processing fee
* $750 - Visas
* $7,000 ish or less for plane tickets (2 adults 1 child)
* $5,000 - $7,000 in country travel Package
* $7,300 - International Program Fee
TOTAL - $20,530 - $22,530

 If I take my mind of of the power and providence of God, I start to really freak out over this. But LOOK UP THERE AGAIN on this blog! God can move mountains! He will do what he pleases! And it is VERY clear that God wants this baby home with us! SO, I am 100% confident that the Lord will provide what is necessary to bring this guy home!

I am so excited to share this next fundraiser with you all.

Its my favorite yet!! Its called;


Little D's PIECES


It works like this:

1. We had a 500 piece puzzle created by Venus Puzzle with Ephesians 1:4-5 written out on China and it looks like this! (I figured between the two of us we know 500 friends right!?! lol) 

2. Sponsors can purchase puzzle pieces and we will write that person or familys name on the back of each piece purchased. Each piece is $20. You can choose to buy 1, 2, 3, or 10! There is no limit! You can even go half with your roommate! 
   
3. Once a puzzle piece has a sponsor, we will write their name on the back of the puzzle piece/s and send them a picture. 

4. Once every single piece has been sponsored, we will put the puzzle together and hang it in a double-sided glass frame for Little D's room so that he can always look back and be reminded of his story and how God brought all of those people together to have a little "piece" in helping bring him ONE STEP CLOSER TO HOME!

To Purchase a puzzle piece click here: (I will receive and email with your paypal name once the order goes through) If you don't have paypal....

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** if you wish to donate but would rather send a check you may absolutely do that! Please email me at tiffanymurray84@gmail.com for our address. 

So, our goal with this Puzzle Fundraiser is to sell all 500 pieces which will raise $10,000!!!! That will take care of our full referral process! How amazing would that be?!?! We would be honored and humbled to have you be a part of this story.

Laugh & Dine Success!

Despite my new grey hairs and loss of a few pounds, Laugh and Dine was a success!

Can I just show you all one of the most beautiful pictures I've ever seen? Take a look at this...

These people aren't adopting a boy from China. They have zero obligation to clean up our mess after we throw a big dinner party. Its 9:45 on a friday night and they have the option to go home and relax after a days work or stay here and clean a messy kitchen. Some of these people weren't even the helpers we asked originally. These people simply love us. This picture tangibly shows the Lord providing for our son through His people who love Him above all things. 

John 4:19 "We love because He first loved us." 

So that was the end of the night, let me show you the beginning!

The Regal Hour 

did all of the beautiful decor. I mean really, It was so romantic and regal!! 

Live music, you guys. 3 violins and a piano. (I didn't get a picture of all them, darn it.) 

THANKS TO DANIEL AND TAYLOR FOR HEADING THAT UP! It was so beautiful.  

 The food. 

Joelle Seasing went above and beyond with the menu. When I said italian, I was thinking jars of Trader Joes spaghetti sauce and noodles. Nope, not with Joelle. Nothing but the best with this lady. Her menu was the talk of the night, FOR SURE. Joelle Seasing went above and beyond with the menu. Absolutely DELICIOUS! 

If  you are wondering why I now have grey hair and went down a size..... clearly you don't know me well. (neither is the case, I was just being dramatic.) 

You know, the Lord really likes to keep me on my toes!! Two days before the event we only had 20 people signed up to join us for the dinner. At that point, we would have lost about $300. Lets just say, I was stressed out :) 

Well, so, like all the times before.... I continued to pray, trusting God to provide for our son (with wavering confidence, stupid me). I prayed very specifically for 30 people, thinking that was a long shot with only a day and a half left before the event.

70 PEOPLE 

Yep. The Lord gave us 70 instead :) We didn't loose $300, we MADE $1360!! Why!? Because the Lord is simply bringing our son One Step Closer to Home. 

"...He chose us in Him....that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love he predestined us for ADOPTION as sons through Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:4-5

John 4:19 "We love because He first loved us." 

 Thank you everyone for your prayers and support! 

Hold on to the Promises

Hold on to the Promises

I have been on this roller coaster of emotions for months. I am a mother of two, a wife, a teacher and I could go on to name about 300 other things that I am currently responsible for. Life is OVERWHELMING. On top of the 300 things, we are in the process of adoption. International Adoption.

Can I be real? I am scared. I am scared I will not be good enough for this. I am scared these 300 other things in my life will take over. I am scared we won't like each other. Im afraid of the racial difference, Im afraid of the possible language barrier, and Im afraid of special needs, and I am afraid of being afraid!

But then God does this.....

I have taken on a new job selling Young Living Essential Oils in hopes to raise funds to bring our son home from China. My first official pay check was $721. (I should add, that is not normal) We couldn't believe Gods speedy provision on something we literally JUST started. A few weeks later when I went to write a check for the next adoption paperwork that was due, I noticed something that made my jaw hit the floor. It read;

"Form I-800A: Amount due = $721.00" 

The form was EXACTLY $721.00 and that amount is EXACTLY what I earned from my first month in this new job. I think the Lord threw in that extra dollar just for me, to show me that my fear is worthless. Clearly, He can and He will provide for our son.

"When I am afraid I put my trust in you. In God who's word I praise in God I trust. I shall not be afraid, what can flesh to do me?" Psalm 56: 3-4

Just a few days ago I was going over all of the things I need to get done this month. I should add, they aren't simple things, they are huge things. Things that feel impossible. I began to feel defeated and...you guessed it, afraid. Donnie pointed out the car window to show me this massive double rainbow. As I looked I noticed the song "Hold on to the Promises" was blaring over the radio. As I sat there freaking out in my head, God syncs radio stations and massive double rainbows to give His children peace.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27

A quick update on the Murray boy adoption:

We are working on our last piece of paperwork. This paperwork includes a lot of different things so it takes a few months to collect and receive responses. Once all of the responses have come to us, we will drive all of our fancy papers over to LA and get them authenticated and certified. 

We have been approved for the "Waiting Children Program" through our agency, which means we are open to adopting a child with special needs. These needs range from a missing finger to repaired Spina Bifida. Since this paperwork is already processed, we could be matched with a child at any time within this specific program. We are trusting Jesus with this. It sounds super crazy but we are surprisingly at peace with where the Lord is guiding us. (well... haha its a struggle of peace but peace always wins...)

All of that to say, we are close...very close! Once our paperwork reaches China, we can be matched with our son. We are hearing there is no wait time for boys and especially for families open to minor special needs. We have no idea when this will happen or when he will come home but we are guessing around October.

Our newest adventure is a Valentines Laugh & Dine Fundraiser to bring our son one step closer to home. I am so excited because the Lord is pouring in the most amazing donations. From wedding event planners!!! to Wedding Florists, to Daily Brew Italian Sodas, to a Professional Comedian! I mean really. Why do I ever worry?

SO, if you are looking for a place to take your loved ones for Valentines Day, look no further. We are hosting a beautiful event called Laugh & Dine where you can come enjoy a classy night of laughter with the ones you love! The best part about all this fun, is that every ticket brings our son

  One Step Closer to Home!! 

For more Information and Tickets visit www.onestepclosertohome.myevent.com

This event is brought to you by:

www.theregalhour.com

www.natureofthings.net

www.dailybrew.com 

What The Heck is an Essential Oil and What Makes it So "Essential"?

Are you one of those who think essential oils are some oily substance that hippies pull from flowers and pray over and do a happy dance and say "Go, flower..... make peace..." .... ? HAHA 

Lets look at what these this actually are... and why they are so "essential". 

Essential oils 101, ready?

What are essential oils? 

Essential oils are extracted from plants using distillation. An essential oil has the “essential” aromatic and chemical properties of that plant.

How do they work?

They are made up of tiny molecules that are very easily absorbed. Each oil has a special chemical composition of (science lesson ready?) terpenes, esters, oxides, alcohols, phenols, ketones, and aldehydes. Each of these interact with bodily systems and, depending on the essential oil, can stimulate the immune system, aid cell growth, help eliminate toxins, kill bacteria and viruses, and more…!!!

If your like me and didn’t pay attention in chemistry class…. Here is what all that means… ;)

•    Terpenes – inhibit toxin accumulation and discharge them from liver and kidneys

•    Esters – anti-fungal, calming, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral

•    Oxides – expectorant, antiseptic, anesthetic

•    Alcohols – antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, stimulate immunes system

•    Phenols – fragrance, antiseptic, anti-acterial, possibly anti-cancerious

•    Ketones – stimulate cell regeneration, loosen mucous

•    Aldehydes – anti-infectious, sedative, topical irritants, calming when inhaled

For example: Lavender essential oil has 40% linalyl acetate which is an ester. Studies have shown linalyl acetate to be anti-inflammatory, sedative, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Amazing right?!  So then it would make sense to take advantage of these properties by using lavender essential oils for sleep and first aid!

                                                                         

How do you use them?:

Smelling them (Aroma): When you smell an essential oil, cilia and receptor cells in the olfactory organ (as I push my glasses up my nose) receive the aroma and send signals to the limbic system of the brain, which is the center of memory and emotion! (right?! Im not just making this stuff up… so cool..)  It also is connected to areas of the brain that control blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, hormone balance, and more! BAM. (lol)

Absorption: When essential oils are absorbed through the skin or lungs, they enter fluids and are distributed throughout the body, where their chemical constituents can interact with other bodily systems.

So, wait… how do we actually use them, Tiff.....?

1. By applying them to the skin! (Some oils require a carrier oil like coconut or Olive oil) Essential oils are absorbed into the blood stream in 28 seconds, yo! The most effective areas are the bottom of your feet, under your arms, head and wrists or palms.

 

2.By breathing them in. When you inhale essential oils, little droplets of oil are absorbed by the lungs.

3. By ingesting them. There is debate about whether this is ok or not…and by debate I mean polar opposite opinions. Here is why we ingest Young Living oils when needed. In other words. QUALITY MATTERS!

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Ingesting Essential Oils... The Great Debate...

I was asked to write this by someone just getting started with essential oils who wanted to know about using them by mouth. Lots of people do use them this way. It can be confusing especially if you start reading books or articles that say never take oils by mouth. Others recommend they be used by mouth aggressively if that is most appropriate for a particular situation, assuming one is trained and knowledgeable about how to use them safely and effectively. Who is right?
Well, both of them may be right sometimes. There are valid uses for ingestion of oils. Many physicians who are trained in clinical aromatherapy in France and other countries regularly prescribe oils to be ingested for sometimes serious medical problems, when they know they are the safest and best option for that particular patient. They use aromatograms to test bacterial sensitivity to oils. There’s a lot of clinical experience using ingested oils. And there’s controversy for a number of reasons. Most important is to know the oils and how to use them and to use only quality oils that are safe, effective and do no harm.

Not all oils are the same high quality that is needed for therapeutic use. Oils on the market that are not intended for that don’t necessarily have to be purest or the highest grade. They may warn you on the label they are not for internal use. Even if the label says pure, natural, organic, it may not be. It may be adulterated with toxic chemicals like antifreeze, or other synthetic chemicals to make more profit. The clerk in the health food store most likely believes and will tell you it’s OK but how does he/she really know? There is no control over the quality of oils you can get OTC in the US. Far more oils are brokered, imported and sold than are grown.

For example, the US imports far more tons of lavender every year from France than is grown there. There’s a study that tested oils on the shelves in US stores around the country, and found that a significant percentage of them are not what they are represented to be. If you don’t know whether the oil you are using is safe for internal or even external use, even if it’s got the same name as the oil you want to use, and even if it is labeled as pure or organic or whatever, do not use it.  I know and trust Young Living oils. They are the only kind I have ingested. I can’t speak for the rest.
I can’t tell you to use or not to use oils by mouth. Nor can I give you medical advice here. It is your choice but you need to be informed. It may cause some anxiety if you have never ingested essential oils, and it is important if you decide to use them by mouth that you proceed cautiously and safely, starting with only 1 drop, only with pure oils that are recognized as safe to ingest. Always read the labels and read about the oil first, and follow the directions. Actually we all consume some oils every day if we eat mints, chew gum, or eat food that is flavored for instance with natural flavorings like lemon zest, spices, and herbs.

It would be sad if we could not take them orally when that is the best route for the problem. Ingesting oils is a perfectly valid way to use a number of oils sometimes. Many Young Living oils are designated by the FDA as GRAS, generally recognized as safe for ingestion. The label states “Essential Oil Supplement.” I have friends that use oils by mouth when they needed quick relief from an asthma attack. I have used them by mouth to stop a sore throat, cold or flu in its tracks before it takes hold. It’s best to start immediately when you‘ve got the first symptom. One advantage is that unlike antibiotics, using the antimicrobial oils don’t have the side effects, bacteria have not become resistant to them (a big problem with antibiotics), and they have not harmed the good bacteria in our gut that are an important part of our immune system.

Dr Kurt Schnaubelt in his book, Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils, has a chapter on ingesting oils. Page 135 is about starting by ingesting lemon oil. He says while it’s an entirely harmless exercise for many aromatherapy users, first- time users should start with just 1 drop and see how they feel. He reminds us that essential oils are powerful concentrated messengers from the plant world. He says ingesting lemon oil begins the detox of many xenobiotics (toxic chemicals).
Lemon is a good oil to start with. It has many potential functions. It is antiviral, antibacterial, limonene in it has been shown to regress breast cancer in lab animals, it is calming, antidepressant, can help get rid of gas, is antispasmotic, helps clear phlegm, and is alkalinizing to name a few. Essential oils are by nature multi-potential, can do many different things, and if needed, likely will. I ingest lemon, copaiba and frankincense oils every day in water or in capsules or in Ningxia Red. Lemon oil in water is often used in France for slimming and for detoxification (“spring cleaning”). Young Living makes many products that contain essential oils, including nutritional supplements, Longevity capsules, Sleep Essence and Inner Defense.

Whether you use them orally depends on what you need. If I waited an hour or two before I started using oils by mouth for a potent virus infection I might be too late. You want to stop a virus before it takes hold in the cells and starts multiplying. If that has already happened then using lots of antiviral topical oils might help slow it down, according to Dr Daniel Penoel.

If I want the oils to go to my intestine, swallowing it in a capsule would be best. As a matter of fact, peppermint oil in enteric coated capsules has been studied, approved, and is prescribed by doctors to treat irritable bowel symptoms even in young children effectively and safely without side effects. Oral frankincense has been studied and found as effective as drugs routinely used to treat colitis and Crohn’s disease. It may be used for this in some other countries.

Ingesting is not always the best. It depends. If you have a headache and take peppermint by mouth you are missing the most therapeutic effects from inhaling the aroma and applying it topically close to where the pain is. If you want to treat localized pain, rubbing the oils on the pain will get a larger concentration of pain relieving oils absorbed directly where it is needed. You will need a smaller amount.

If you take an oil by mouth, it’s going to quickly go to the liver where it will be metabolized and excreted. According to Dr Schnaubelt, “it is advantageous to ingest an essential oil only if the metabolic intermediates produced during elimination create a desired therapeutic effect and safety parameters are favorable.” I know that’s heavy duty, but if you don’t know, let someone help you who has the training and knowledge. And get the Essential Oils Desk Reference and read about each oil you use. You might even want to take some training too. It is fascinating to learn in depth about what the oils can do and how they work.

Sometimes using oils by applying them to the skin or by inhaling them is better than oral, and can be very effective. The oils are readily absorbed through the skin, in minutes they get into our bloodstream just by applying them to the skin. After they do what is needed, they go to the liver and are metabolized and excreted. If we breathe the aroma of oils through the nose, their effect goes directly to the brain and affects our emotions, our hormones, and our physical bodies. Breathing them into the lungs gets them directly into our bloodstream too.

It is wonderful that the plant oils work for us, and that we have the enzymes to metabolize them. I believe they were made for us. Scripture tells us God gave us plants for medicine, and that He instructed Moses how to blend specific essential oils to make the Holy anointing oil as well as the Holy incense that Aaron used to save Israelites from the plague.