OUR STORY

While we wait for our court date, we are going through the steps to prepare our family for travel. We now have the boys' passports and today we went to the travel clinic for our vaccinations. David and I had to get 6 shots each! The boys thought it was pretty cool that they only had to get one each. We all chose to take the Typhoid vaccine orally.

You may not have known of our plans to take the boys. We feel strongly that this is "our story" as a family that God is writing for our lives. Therefore, it is important that the boys be a part of it and see the country their sisters are coming from, meet their sisters, see the things that we see and hear the things that we hear while in Ethiopia. We believe that it will help unify us in God's call and purpose for our family. Unless the boys see everything firsthand, how else can they understand what we are doing as a family if they stay home in their comfy American home? Going to Ethiopia will be an invaluable experience for them and us.

When we started the adoption process, we put our desire for the boys to go with us before God. We have prayed throughout the process that He would provide the resources for them to go. We felt Him leading us to step out in faith and go ahead and apply for their passports and get their immunizations. We trust in Him as Jehovah-Jireh - the God who provides (Genesis 22:12-14). Already we have seen Him provide in so many ways and through so many people. We are so thankful for all the wonderful friends and family who have stepped forward to help. When God calls, He equips and provides. He truly takes the offering and miraculously multiplies it. If you are someone considering International Adoption, please don't let the cost deter you. If God is calling you to adopt, He will provide.

FIRST GIFT!

This past weekend we enjoyed a visit from my parents. Mom and I went shopping and she bought our girls their first coming home gifts, soft bodied dolls from Pottery Barn. Doll Anna has the denim skirt and doll Olivia has the pink pants with a tan shirt. I imagine these may be the first dolls our girls have had of their own. The dolls are really soft and cuddly. I can't wait to see their eyes when they unwrap the brightly wrapped boxes.

THE JUDGE

Yesterday we went to our agency's picnic and we met the Ethiopian Judge who will hear our case when we get a court date.  She is in the United States for a period of time to train and meet families in which she has placed children.  She was very kind and personable. She is wearing the blue blouse in the photos below.  We also learned that some court dates have been assigned since court closed so maybe there is still a chance we could hear something before Oct. 15.........

COURT CLOSED

Girls' Comforter

The Ethiopian court closed on August 6th for the rainy season.  Originally it was to open in September but the date is now October 15th before it reopens.  We did not receive a court date before it closed so now we are in a period of waiting.  Waiting is hard but there are still many things to do.

Yesterday I ordered a comforter for the girls' room.  They will share a pretty, white iron, double bed.  David is going to paint the room once I choose a color.  Curtains will need to be made and hung.  American names need to be selected.  We are going to keep their Ethiopian names as their middle names.  The end of August we have an appointment with the Health Department for travel consultation and vaccinations.  I can't say I am looking forward to that!

This past Sunday we had a picnic with the adoption group from our church.  It was fun meeting with the people we already knew and getting to know many others.  We have families who are foster adopting, adopting from China and from Ethiopia.  We have families who have already been down the road of adoption and came to support those of us on the journey.  It made for a great afternoon.

This coming Sunday we are going to a picnic that our adoption agency is hosting for all their families.  We look forward to meeting all the people on the road to Ethiopia and the ones who are already back with their children.

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”... Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:9-11

When we first started our adoption journey, we were told by several families who had adopted, that God would provide the resources we needed for an international adoption. At the time, the amount seemed overwhelming but we decided to step out in faith and trust Him. We knew that no need is too great for God and that He had determined where the resources would come from before we even responded in obedience to His call to adopt. God often uses the gifts of other people to meet the needs of those who respond to Him in obedience. He takes the offerings of others and multiplies them through His power just like He did when Jesus fed the thousands with the small gift of a young boy. We have found this to be so true and have found ourselves falling to our knees in tears of joy and amazement as we watch how He is providing for our two girls to come home. God is so good. His love endures forever.

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

I recently read a book entitled “Radical” by David Platt, a pastor of a prominent church in Birmingham. In His book, David Platt calls American Christians to abandon the attachments of this world and pursue God's will for their lives rather than the “American Dream.” He challenges Christians to lay aside all that keeps them from pursuing God's will in their life to follow Him and also to pursue His global purpose for all of us to make Christ's glory known to all nations.

I know that as I have stepped out in faith and have said “yes” to His will in my life, it has been one wild ride that I would not trade for anything else. I'm not much of one for roller coasters and this past year, I must say I have felt like I have been on the ride of my life with many highs and some very big lows. But the average “Merry Go Round” ride pales to the new spiritual heights I have climbed, the blessings I have received and the intimacy of His arms holding me tight as the ride swoops from heights to the valleys and back up. I know personally that as I have abandoned my own agenda for my life, what I think will please and fulfill me, for what He calls me too, I have discovered true fulfillment, freedom, joy and satisfaction that can only be found in a life abandoned to following Him. He gives my life purpose and meaning.

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39