Grateful!

 Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I love this time of year because everywhere you look you see reminders to be thankful. Wall art, decorations, on-line bible studies - all remind us to be grateful! And sometimes, if we are honest, we all need the reminders. We get so busy with life that we forget to stop and thank God for all the things, both small and large, that He gives us everyday! 

 Thank you, Jesus, for our family.

As many of you know, God has called us to open a children's home for children with special needs. When He first laid this on my heart, my very first reaction was fear. Could we do this? Could we raise the money? Could we find the right house? 

I am so thankful that God gave us the answers and peace we needed to respond with a "YES!" And as we are continuing on this journey, I am so grateful for how God is leading us. I am thankful that He showed us the perfect house, I am thankful for how He is providing for the house, I am thankful for so many of you who have joined us on this journey. I am thankful for your prayers, your notes of encouragement, your support, and your love! I am thankful that God is entrusting us with this calling. I am thankful for the children that He will send to our home for us to love and care for. 

Praises

* Thank you, Jesus, for your guidance on this journey.

* Thank you, Jesus, for sending supporters to join with us in welcoming your precious lambs into our home.

* Thank you, God, for sending your son, Jesus, to bring hope to this world. 

Prayer Requests

* For the needed finances for Lambs of God Children's Home.

* For traveling mercies for Alia, Lacy,and Jordan to come to Guatemala for Christmas.

* For the devastation that these last two hurricanes have brought to Central America. May the light of Jesus shine brightly in the darkness!

Thank you so much to all of you for your continued support and love! We love you all and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Love and Blessings,

Carl and Lisa 

 

National Adoption Month

 November is National Adoption Month and November 8 is Orphan Sunday. Our family has been touched by adoption and the plight of the orphan. Since moving to Guatemala, God has led us to adopt two little boys, work alongside existing orphanages - building relationships with the precious children through therapy, play, teaching English and sharing the love of Jesus, and now God has led us to open a children's home for children with special needs! 

My birthday goal was to reach 50% of our initial fundraising goal for set-up costs. I am excited to say that we are close to reaching that goal! God has definitely been moving and we are humbled by how many of you have given sacrificially so that we can welcome these precious children into our home! We still have a ways to go but we trust that God will contiue to raise up monthly supporters for our ministry. To join us click here . Simply choose Individual Support (F-Z) and click on our name. We appreciate it so much!!

We have found a home that will house our family and the precious children that God sends to us! God has sent us so many confirmations during this process. Every time I began to doubt if this was the house for God, God sent me some type of encouragement to know that this is the house He had for our family. One neat God story is that the owner is a Christian and also has a heart for the orphans of Guatemala. Some chidren's home directors have found it hard to find a home because the owners don't want their homes used in this way. But the owner of our home is excited that we will be opening a children's home. They want to repaint the inside and outside of the whole house before we move in so its in "perfect shape" for our home! She told us she had been praying for the family that would move into their home.

We thank all of you for your prayers, your support, and your encouragement! We are blessed by each one of you and are humbled by how God wants to use us in Guatemala!

Here are a few other things we have been doing lately:

Fun family time at the beach!

Celebrated Bella's 8th Birthday!

                                                                                                                         For His Glory,

                                                                                                                         Carl and Lisa

                                                                                                                Commission to Every Nation

It's October!!

 It's October! That means it is my birthday month!! This will be my last year of being in my 40s! What a decade! While in my 40s we welcomed our last birthed baby, moved to Guatemala, adopted two little boys from Guatemala, saw our oldest daughter get married, and began the process of opening an orphanage!! Wow, what will this next year bring?

For one, we will be opening an orphanage for children with special needs here in Guatemala. We have found a house that meets all the requirements and are trusting that God will provide the funds! 

And so, in honor of my 49th birthday, will you consider helping us move into our home and begin getting it licensed? We need your help! If you are able, would you please consider becoming a monthly supporter? You can give by clicking here:  Hope for Home. Simply click on the Individual Support (K-Z) and select our name from the drop down list. Or mail your check to the address on the page. (Be sure to indicate it is for the Norton Family.) Thank you so much!!

Compassion for the Fatherless

40,000 is a big number - but our God is bigger!  A home big enough for our family of 8, plus the littles we will welcome in, plus space for therapy and play seems impossible - but with God everything is possible! These are promises of God that we are clinging to as we work toward opening a home for children with special needs!  Would you like to join us? Would you like to help us to welcome these precious lambs of God into our home? We need your prayers and we need your support. 

$40,000 is what we are raising to open the home. This amount includes: the cost of licensing the  home, first and last month rent and security deposit to move into the home, the furnishings and supplies  to accommodate the children,  renovations and security measures to make the house legal, as well as, the first three months of salaries that we will need to pay for the required staff in the home.

Click here to give to help us to welcome these children! Simply click on the Individual Support (K-Z) and select our name. Or you may mail your check to the address given with a note that it is for Norton Home.  Thanks so much!!

Also, a  huge thank you to those of you who are already praying and who have already given toward our goal! We love you all!

  "For in You the fatherless find compassion." Hosea 14:3

 

September 2020

Brothers for Life!!

Our latest newsletter!

 

Here are a few pictures of what our life has looked liked lately!

Willy loves smelling the flowers!

Lots of kids on one swing!

Big sister helping little brother.

When was the last time you walked on can stilts?

Willy and Noah have a special bond! What a blessing!

New toy from a friend!

Enjoying the sun at the park!

Obstacle course champions!

Love my boy (and the view!)

We took the little boys out for the first time in 5 months to get new shoes!

Lots of beans

and rice for hungry families!

Tree climbing fun!

Glad we took advantage of the sunny days in August because September is turning out to be a RAINY month!!

Packing food

Restaurants are starting to open up! Pappy's in Antigua makes a great date night!

Date lunch with Mom and Dad for Molly's 14th Birthday!

Not even sure what was happening here, haha!!

There we go! Happy 14th Birthday, Molly! We love you!!