Torn

My heart is all over the place today...  I dropped Justin off at the airport for him to fly to the other side of the globe and pick up our son in Ethiopia. I want to be with him so, so bad. To sit next to him on the plane, to watch his face as he see Mathias again, to see the bond begin to form between he and Mathias. To experience frustrating 3rd world issues with him... My momma heart wants to hold Mathias so badly, to have time to bond before we get home to Texas. Yet it is torn to also be here with Micah preparing him for whats to come. To cherish these last 5 days alone with him.
Im just torn. So excited, yet torn.

Please pray for Justin as he travels. Thank you....

Homecoming Details & T-Shirt Picture Request

Justin will be leaving Monday the 27th for Ethiopia, please pray for him as he is traveling alone. He will have his embassy appointments and have some bonding time with Mathias while he is there. He and Mathias will return to the San Antonio Airport on the evening of Saturday, February 1st. 

My dream was always to have everyone in their ADOPT t-shirts for a welcome home party but almost everyone who has a t-shirt is in Dallas! But we know y'all will be with us in spirit, you all played a huge part in bringing him home.
We love and appreciate our Dallas family and friends so much. 

I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU COULD TAKE A PICTURE IN YOUR ADOPT T-SHIRT OR OF YOUR FAMILY IN 

THEIR T-SHIRTS AND EMAIL IT TO ME AT JUSTIN.CANDACE@GMAIL.COM

I WANT TO MAKE BANNER WITH EVERYONES PICTURES ON IT FOR THE AIRPORT AND THEN TO KEEP FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS =)

If you are local and would like to come to the San Antonio Airport to welcome home Justin and Mathias just get in contact with me and I will keep you updated on flight times =) 

Please be praying for Justin as he is in Africa with Mathias that it is a special time for them and for me as I prepare Micah's heart to welcome his little brother home. The time following his arrival we will be on a sort of "lock down/ family bonding time" for a few weeks or however long Mathias needs! Thank you for your understanding =)

I get teary thinking about how many people are invested in our family and our adoption journey! I will never forget, and neither will Mathias. 

-Candace-

He's coming home...

We cleared Embassy this morning!!! Mathias is coming home!!! We are awaiting our embassy date that will be sometime next week.

The Lord answers prayers. Thank you to everyone who joined with us.

Our son is coming home.

Please pray over our transition time, this will be the saddest and hardest on Mathias leaving the world he knows and we understand that.

DETAILS coming soon!!!!

Its a good good day.

referral photo

our sweet son

We can do something.

I joined Noonday Collection a little over 3 months ago because I wanted to be a part of what they were doing. It took an investment on my end, but Justin and I felt it was worth it to join up with such a cause. Noonday uses fashion and design to create economic opportunity for the vulnerable all over the globe. As a stay at home mom I have a lot of impact on my son, and as a pastors wife we have impact on our church family and community, but I crave more than that. Any of us can drive to the airport and be anywhere in the world by tomorrow. So why are we acting like the starving children in Africa and the impoverished in Peru are out of reach? We have full bellies and warm homes and yet still we desire more and are never satisfied. When I let me mind settle on how much "stuff" I feel like I need... it sickens me. 

Matthew 25:35-40
" 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them,‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"

Guys... this rocks me. This is our hands and feet moment. The chance to be Jesus to the world. There are so many awesome organizations out there that are truly doing this. Noonday is one of them. 

-------------------------

I had the privilege to join with 150 Noonday ambassadors this weekend in Marble Falls. I've never felt sisterhood as strong as I did this weekend. We wept over global statistics, were challenged to keep fighting the good fight, and looked pretty dang cute while doing it all. The talent of our artisans always impresses me and the new spring line launching at the end of February was just beautiful, it is truly works of art. If you are interested in opening your home for the artisans. I would love to partner with you and throw a Trunk Show with you and your friends! 

One of the most fun parts of the weekend was making virtual friends, real friends!

Jessica Honneger - Founder of Noonday

Wynne Elder - Check out her blog The Elder Adventures
She had huge impact into our decision to adopt and
to become a Noonday Ambassaor

More lovely ladies - Ashley, Krista, Debra, and McCall

So I'm Cheating...

After accepting the challenge to read my Bible cover to cover in a month with Justin... I started cheating. I know it't not November yet but I am already in Numbers (the 3rd book of the Bible)

Here are some tips I have learned already!

Variety

Paperback Bible

Iphone Bible App 

Ipad or Kindle

You Version Bible App (audio)

Once I got into the lengthy law part, I found that switching to listening to 

the Bible be read to me on my iPhone, made it more enjoyable! If you listen to the 

NKJ version, the man reading has a sweet Lord of the Rings voice. 

I prefer the ESV translation personally... but the NKJ reader was awesome. 

I've been listening to it while I put away laundry or drive in the car, 

surprisingly Micah doesn't seem to mind. 

Random thoughts while reading (so far):

• The Israelites were super annoying when wandering the desert. "Manna is the worst lunch I have ever had....can we just have a salad or something, don't you know I have had diarrhea since Egypt?" ( a little Nacho Libre humor, sorry....)
• God still uses people who fail Him (be encouraged) 
• I am SO GLAD Jesus came and died for us so we are no longer under the law because HOLY MOLY there were a lot of laws.....
• Also I am seeing God preparing Israelis hearts for Jesus through almost everything he does for them. 
• DO NOT GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH leprosy.... don't do it. 
• Random thought... so Joseph was the reason that all the Israelites ended up in Egypt.... when you read it all in a row it all starts to make sense. 
• There are some pretty hilarious stand alone verses in the Leviticus. I kinda want to make a living off of making prints out of them... no one would buy them. but it would be hilarious.... to me. 
• God cares ALOT about details... just read the account he gave to Moses about the tabernacle... which I can only imagine was GORGEOUS.
  

Bible in 30 Days

I had tried to prepare myself mentally for the time in between meeting/adopting Mathias and going back to get him. I admit I'm struggling. A lot. The emotions I feel being disconnected from my child by oceans and not knowing when I can go bring him home are some of the strongest I have ever experienced. I have felt lost these last weeks, feeling myself sinking into a funk. There are a few other struggles my family is facing that add to the overwhelming sense of attempting to climb up a slippery mountain. God is using the season to develops perseverance, but frankly I just want it to be over. My sweet husband is the best and he never allows me to wallow in self pity. Sometimes that's super frustrating, but for the most part I choose to be thankful for it! 

His challenge to me to help us both get out of this downward spiral is drastic, almost as crazy as asking me to train and run a half marathon with him (which he asked while I was pregnant) I had never even run around the block, but with his encouragement we ran that 1/2 marathon last year! 

His drastic challenge to me this times as reading the Bible cover to cover in the 30 days of November! The Bible is a long book y'all ;)  I am looking forward to having truth overtake my mind and leave no room for doubt, pity, sadness, and lies.

Here is some info if you think your life needs a reboot of truth! 

We are following this plan. 

http://www.teachtochangelives.com/30dayplan/

Tips:

• Use a plain Bible, not a study Bible - you'll be less distracted by all those notes
• Read with a theme or topic in mind.
• Get a partner or small group and do this together - mutual positive encouragement and accountability!
• If you fall behind, don't give up.  Just pick up where you left off and keep going.  Finishing in 40 or 50 days is still a great achievement.

The theme I have chosen to read everything "thought the lens of" is that God is the main character in the bible. Everything is about him and how He is working through his creation. There are a tons of people and history in the Bible and it's easy to get muddled down. I do have a total bonus in having a theologian as a husband... To ask all my questions too. Feel free to email justinevans13@mac.com with any questions you have while reading the Bible! He is the best!

Mathias Tariku Evans

Mathias is now ours! On October 17th we officially adopted our new son. Now we wait to bring him home to Texas! Our agency says to give at least 3 months until that will happen. We had hoped to have him home before Christmas and our move to San Antonio, but it is not looking like that it a possibility.  I wanted to share some Africa photos with y'all! I still haven't been able to process all of my emotion from the trip into words... maybe someday. ;) But for now you will have to be content with photos. 

To everyone who participated in our fundraisers and helped us make this possible, 

we thank you, 

Mathias thanks you. 

Africa!

The streets of Addis Ababa

Mathias Care Center - He is on the top floor

Daddys Boy =)

I miss his sweet face. 

Pretty excited to have a snuggle bug.

after his 1st haircut - handsome little dude

I promise to share my heart with y'all soon. 

It is just the weirdest experience to endure... there really aren't words...

Prayers appreciated!