tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82466055509825341092011-07-07T22:22:05.734-04:00"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water,that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green,and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.comBlogger151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-38116676098643411042009-07-25T08:58:00.000-04:002009-07-25T08:59:04.203-04:00

It is now official. Paul is jobless and we are praying earnestly that we would be homeless in the near future as well. A little clarification may be needed here for some. Circumstances have worked out where I have been able to resign from my full-time job at the fire department so that we could finish raising our support and preparing to go to the field. We are still praying that God would

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-55030682779544397082009-05-23T11:57:00.002-04:002009-05-23T12:17:51.197-04:00

Many of you might have thought that no news was good news, but in this case it has been quite the opposite. Paul and I found out on Wednesday that the second embryo transfer was not successful in getting me pregnant. Thank you for your continued prayers. We feel compelled to tell you that we are more confident than ever that our God is a good God. Most of you have been on this journey with us for

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-71875076514971254242009-04-28T08:29:00.006-04:002009-05-23T11:56:29.459-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,As usual, our update comes to you with long anticipation for most people. If you have heard the outcome of our latest attempt at adoption, it is probably by word-of-mouth. There are even fewer who have heard our latest plans. For all of this, we apologize. I would like to give an account of the events following the embryo implantation and our plans for the future. We would

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-49287349535433451022009-04-28T08:29:00.004-04:002009-04-28T08:38:43.246-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,As usual, our update comes to you with long anticipation for most people. If you have heard the outcome of our latest attempt at adoption, it is probably by word-of-mouth. There are even fewer who have heard our latest plans. For all of this, we apologize. I would like to give an account of the events following the embryo implantation and our plans for the future. We would

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-1424070799338682192009-03-26T10:02:00.003-04:002009-03-26T10:37:41.089-04:00

How did the embryo transfer go?It went extremely well. We went up to TN the night before and stayed in a nice hotel (thanks to a generous brother in Christ). It was nice to have some time alone with no house choirs staring me in the face. The doctor said after the procedure that it was "good" and that now we just needed to "pray and wait." How do you feel?I feel fine...actually really normal. I

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-38544272080566528172009-03-19T11:36:00.003-04:002009-03-19T11:45:10.908-04:00

Thank all of you who continue to pray with us concerning our adoption. I had an appointment with morning that seemed to go really well. I will be getting a call this afternoon to let me know if we are still on for Tuesday. In this case, no news is good news. I will not be updating you guys until after Tuesday.On the same road of life, just a different passenger in life's vehicle, we have been

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-87297011876270370832009-03-16T14:46:00.002-04:002009-03-16T15:09:58.485-04:00

.....That many of you are desiring to be updated on our adoption process. I am happy to say that all seems to be going as planned. I am thankful that we do not have to think otherwise. All that is left before the implantation on the 24th (a week away!) is my appointment on the 19th (Thursday). This appointment confirms that all my medications are working properly and that I can start with the

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-11261300135272937352009-02-07T10:51:00.003-05:002009-02-07T16:27:49.790-05:00

We finally recieved the profiles on the different donor couples. Choosing which embryos to adopt was both exciting and slightly odd. Exciting because God has brought us one step closer, and it is fun to actually be selecting a child instead of going through endless testing. What was odd was the whole process of sorting through couples to see which embryos we would like to adopt. It was kind

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-30674376907259496902009-01-28T09:41:00.002-05:002009-01-28T10:07:04.900-05:00

Have you ever prayed that you would get a call back from a job interview? "God, if only you will give me this job."Well, I would equate parenting to a job in this way. For those who "plan" a pregnancy, the first step in the plan is to consider the option of being a parent. It only seems natural that if you are married and capable of parenting that you would have kids. Is this not what God

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-22180132359453254832009-01-26T09:25:00.003-05:002009-01-26T09:32:14.479-05:00

Dear Encouragers,I will be brief. I had blood drawn on the 21st of January along with two of the tests I was unable to have completed in December. It was really nice to have a morning appointment because with an appointment before 10am you get same day results. So.....I passed! I am keeping it brief because I will find out this afternoon the details of our next steps. Then, I will not keep it so

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-32254171293232208712008-12-07T15:06:00.001-05:002008-12-07T15:08:50.173-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,I want to be able to get all of you an update quickly on the adoption process. If you have any questions that I do not answer in the email, feel free to ask. In regards to the embryo adoption process, the hormones did not work correctly for this doctors appointment on Thursday. I was really frustrated the day before the appointment and honestly reacted in a sinful attitude

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-25049571584956543352008-11-11T22:17:00.004-05:002008-11-11T22:24:29.339-05:00

For all of you who are wondering, we received our personal development plan. The plan is put together by a set of assessors who take part in our counseling session and who read our portfolios. The plan outlines our personal preparation goals (counseling, book reading, classes), ministry preparation goals (another book, research paper on country, cross cultural training, language acquisition etc),

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-79821881848231405292008-11-07T18:37:00.006-05:002008-11-07T18:54:56.437-05:00

This is a note that Paul sent the Flintoffs this afternoon in response to the question of how we are holding up. (Amanda and Eric Flintoff are in France and went through the same orientation process June '07). The notes in ( ) are for clarification.Dear Amanda,Thanks for your note. I couldn't image what they (counselors) would do to cause my boat to be seriously rocked, but, it sure has happened

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-61103400340367080372008-11-03T16:51:00.002-05:002008-11-03T16:59:19.133-05:00

Thank you so much for your prayers and generosity in getting us here. We have been encouraged with truth from the Word and testimonies of God's sovereign hand in the lives of other believers here. We had lunch with John and Rachel Sherwood and were able to catch up a little. It's fun to have extended family in the area, and very convenient. Part of the "getting to know us" process is having

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8246605550982534109.post-40907072666818504332008-10-20T13:54:00.005-04:002008-10-21T15:30:27.379-04:00

When do Paul and I officially become "missionaries?" Well, although opinions may vary, I would have to say, that although we are not officailly official missionaries, we are official. A missionary is often thought of as someone who takes the gospel to a foreign land where there are few who profess the name of Jesus Christ. How about sharing Christ in a land where many profess His name but few

The Bellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00224484473107112254noreply@blogger.com5