getting our "Feet Wet" in our first fundraiser

God has good purposes for our lives, which He reveals to us through His word, His people, His nature, and our own hearts.  Jeremiah 29:11 says that for I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  God has placed some great people around Jesse and I and just in the right timing, His timing. Brooke and Kevin Maschmeier are some of those great people.  God has a plan for their life as well.   So you can see how excited I was to be able to partner with such a wonderful and inspiring couple for our first adoption fundraiser.  

In this fundraiser Jesse, Brooke, Kevin, and I sold "Tins for Tots" to our co-workers at our offices. Beginning in December we began selling Christmas tins that

we would later fill with delicious homemade Christmas treats to 91 of our co-workers. We were blessed to be able to raise $800 per family for a total of $1,600. God is so good! Thanks to each of you that purchased the tins to help fund the Aguirre and Maschmeier Tot. Also Praise the Lord for Hobby Lobby and their 50% off on all Decorative Christmas Items, in that we were able to purchase nice tins at an affordable costs.  

So the fun began on Friday, December 13th as I began the baking process. Thank you Kroger for having all the right stuff.. Sugar, Butter, Nuts.... YUM!  What a great time I had baking!!! The same could not been said for Jesse as he was able to experience the joy of baking... It was controlled chaos. We had brittle in this pan and cookies in that pan and we were alternating items in the oven and then the timer was going off and dishes piling up in the sink..... 
Fun times in the Kitchen!!!

On Sunday December 15th, the stuffing began!  Thanks to Adria, Jaye, Brooke, and Rebecca for helping us stuff these goodies! Also thank to all of you who donated your own homemade goodies.  I heard story after story from those baking goodies. There was a mom who baked their goodies with her young daughter and shared with her the gift of helping and giving to others. Another friend baked her cookies with her grandmother and her daughter sharing experiences about her own adoption. One woman talked to her grandchildren about our adoption and how this small gift can play a huge role in child's life. My heart was so overwhelmed with joy as I heard each and every story.  God was working in each of your homes as you baked for our fundraiser. Philippians 1:3-6 says "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.   

Thank you again for your prayer support for our adoption. Remember Brooke and Kevin Maschmeier's in your prayers as well.  Here is a link to follow their journey. http://love-found-us.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

take the shackles off my "Feet" so I can dance

This morning as I drove into work one of my favorite songs was on the radio.

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace

Thank you Lord for setting me free and breaking me out of these chains.  For the past six years I have been held in bondage because of my anger with God for not being able to have kids.  I allowed the fear and doubt to consume my life.  Even though Jesse was in remission and he was healed, I wasn’t. I knew I loved God and I loved Jesse and I thanked God for sparing Jesse’s life, but having this void in my heart took years to heal.  After Jesse’s extensive treatment was over, we decided to elope and get married.  Even though at that time it seemed rushed, it was the best decision I made.  See I am not very romantic and I like things very simple, so this was perfect for me.  I would not have had it any other way.   

But year’s passed and the void remained… I still felt at a loss not being able to have kids.  Mother’s Days and Father’s Days would pass and I would allow myself to remain behind closed doors because I was unable to face what the world was celebrating.  It took until this last year before I could fully embrace why….. until I fully surrendered it over to God and trusted that there was a reason.  His hand was molding and shaping each and every part of our lives during these past few years.  God had broken those chains that held my anger and fear and I was free.  Now what?????

Well there are so many kids that need parents and need a home.  We do not need to make our own, because there are kids out there.  We will love them like they are our own.  So guess what…. God is calling us to adopt.  To say that I have overcome all of this would not be correct.  I am in this journey with God, and He is molding and shaping me even today.   Jesse and I covet your prayers as we take you guys on this journey with us.  God is shaping and molding those little hands and feet to add to the Aguirre Family. 
 

1 Samuel 1:27 says for this child I prayed for… 

 

even though I "Walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death"

 

Here is the continuation of my story.....

 

After the initial shock of the diagnoses settled, Krista and I had no other choice but to work with the hand God gave us. My faith was shaken but not gone. Deep down I knew that God had a reason for this current slump. I was always reminded of II Corinthians 12:9-11.  ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  ¹⁰  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong. In my weakness there He was. 

  From time to time I felt lost, distant, as if no one would understand and felt as I did at the time; however, I was never alone, although it certainly felt that way. God gave me strength even when my physical & spiritual body were weak. During one of my darkest days, I felt God starting to move in me and spoke to me. Why should I be depressed? I had Him on my side and that this was only temporary. My sickness was not a negative but just opposite. From that point forward I realized that it was not a punishment however a pivotal moment in my life. That He was going to be glorified through me. Wow I was chosen to help God?! It was not going towards my story but His. My faith was renewed. My frustrations became happiness, I didn't feel lonely but known. I then enjoyed and looked forward to going to chemotherapy sessions. Showing that God had a purpose for all this pain and sorrow. God strengthen my faith so much I began openly professing my faith to others in the hospital. So much so that I began asking my doctors and nurses to pray with me before sessions and surgeries.

A few months passed and my cancer started to shrink, I started thinking to myself, my time is almost over. I can pull all of this behind me, and NEVER think of this again. Boy was I wrong. My walk wasn't almost over but just beginning. "My Story" is not something you can just tuck away, God didn't just put me through hell just to forget. He asks us to share our trails with others for that He will be seen in the unseen. Till this day I thankful that I was able to experience Cancer and wouldn't trade it in the world. But it's not just all smiles and rainbows. Even now there is a high percentage of reoccurrence. A normal physical is not just a physical but a worrisome event hoping and praying that nothing would appear. Even if it does shown up again what can we do but just be faithful and know that He is with us and that in our weakness, His strength is revealed.