Good news! T, L and Z all have pending adoptions now and I've learned that two of the families live near us. How cool is that. It will be fun for our girls to have friends nearby that they new at the Care Center in Ethiopia.
This is the last week for the auction to raise funds for the three families adopting these older boys. http://tlcfortlz.blogspot.com/
We are still praying that the girls' Grandfather will make it to court this week. However we did find out that our court date will remain the same regardless of when he travels. We just won't pass court until he does make it to court.
Last week I was feeling quite anxious about things and God sent me a strong message about worry at Sunday's service. The pastor said we worry when we have a wrong perspective, focus and priorities. Boy was that convicting for me because I could pin point my misplaced earthly perspective and my focus on the negative (what might go wrong). How easily it is to forget God's past provision and that He is sovereign and in control. No matter what happens, He will keep His promises and guide us to the end of this journey.
Thank you for your prayers for these wonderful boys and our family.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
PRAY
Yesterday the other two families who are traveling with us learned that their birth family court date on the 24th went as planned. We did not hear anything until today. Our agency informed us that the girls' Grandfather did not make it to court and is rescheduled for December 1st. They will know by Wednesday if he makes it to Addis. They said this is not unusual to see and for us not to be concerned. We would still appreciate your prayers that he is able to travel and everything goes as scheduled and planned. He is quite aged. Our flight leaves on the 2nd. Pray for our girls as they see him one last time too.
Other prayer requests:
Other prayer requests:
- Michael has come down with a cold so pray for good health for our entire family now and during our travel.
- Travel safety, timely flights and rest on the airplane.
- A positive meeting with our girls and that we will be well received.
- For the birth family meeting - we hope to meet their Grandfather and would love to meet siblings too. We are told that will be unlikely but praying that it will be possible.
- A smooth court process.
- Our time with touring with Compassion and that God will grow missional hearts for our boys during the trip.
Thank you for your prayers and walking along with us on this wonderful journey of adoption.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A GREAT LOSS
Today we learned that a family who was adopting a 4 year old girl, had the same court date as us and lived near us lost their referral. An Aunt came and claimed the precious girl. They already had the same experience with a boy referral earlier this year. We met this family a couple of weeks ago when they joined us for dinner. They were so excited about their upcoming travel, but understandably apprehensive that another loss could occur.
Those of us adopting, know in our heart that it is usually best if a child can stay with their family and in their country but that doesn't make the loss any easier when it happens. My heart breaks for this family. I've had two miscarriages and have experienced loss and grief. Because the adoption process is so long and their court date was within two weeks, this family's loss would be more like carrying a child to term and then losing the child during delivery. Please pray with us for their great loss.
It is so hard to understand what is happening when things don't go the way we intended for them to go. I know I felt things were hopeless and futile for our adoption earlier this year. But when we cry out to the Lord in our pain, He hears our voice. He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). His plan is always perfect and He is in control. "Surely just as I have intended it so it has happened and just as I have planned so it will stand (Isaiah 14:24). In John 13:7 He said, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Meanwhile He keeps our lamp burning and turns our darkness into light (Psalm 18:28). His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). He calls us to live by faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). He calls us to surrender our will, lay it on the altar and listen for that small voice behind us that says "This is the way, walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21) These are all verses in which I found comfort during my own time of darkness.
When we started our adoption, we heard a sermon about the call of adoption. The speaker said some people who are called will have a road of ease and some a road of suffering. He pointed out all the great people of faith who answered God's call as noted in Hebrews 11; they answered God's call but still encountered much suffering along the way.
Just because we encounter trials does not mean that we are outside the will of God and His plan for our lives. We live in a fallen world with much pain. In her book "Kisses from Katie," Katie says being a Christ follower means being acquainted with sorrow. We must know sorrow to be able to fully appreciate joy. Joy cost pain but the pain is worth it. After all, the murder had to take place before the resurrection." Katie, who experienced the loss of an adopted child, also said "This life is beautiful and terrible and simple and difficult, and He is using it for His glory."
Along the same lines, a principle from my BSF teaching leader the other day was "When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we have a new spiritual perspective that helps us be obedient to God's call, to have perseverance that gets us through the tough times and learn from our failures and have peace that comes as we trust God with every result."
Please keep our two girls and their birth family in your prayers as the birth family court date comes up in two days. Pray that God's will be done for our lives and theirs.
Those of us adopting, know in our heart that it is usually best if a child can stay with their family and in their country but that doesn't make the loss any easier when it happens. My heart breaks for this family. I've had two miscarriages and have experienced loss and grief. Because the adoption process is so long and their court date was within two weeks, this family's loss would be more like carrying a child to term and then losing the child during delivery. Please pray with us for their great loss.
It is so hard to understand what is happening when things don't go the way we intended for them to go. I know I felt things were hopeless and futile for our adoption earlier this year. But when we cry out to the Lord in our pain, He hears our voice. He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). His plan is always perfect and He is in control. "Surely just as I have intended it so it has happened and just as I have planned so it will stand (Isaiah 14:24). In John 13:7 He said, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Meanwhile He keeps our lamp burning and turns our darkness into light (Psalm 18:28). His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). He calls us to live by faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). He calls us to surrender our will, lay it on the altar and listen for that small voice behind us that says "This is the way, walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21) These are all verses in which I found comfort during my own time of darkness.
When we started our adoption, we heard a sermon about the call of adoption. The speaker said some people who are called will have a road of ease and some a road of suffering. He pointed out all the great people of faith who answered God's call as noted in Hebrews 11; they answered God's call but still encountered much suffering along the way.
Just because we encounter trials does not mean that we are outside the will of God and His plan for our lives. We live in a fallen world with much pain. In her book "Kisses from Katie," Katie says being a Christ follower means being acquainted with sorrow. We must know sorrow to be able to fully appreciate joy. Joy cost pain but the pain is worth it. After all, the murder had to take place before the resurrection." Katie, who experienced the loss of an adopted child, also said "This life is beautiful and terrible and simple and difficult, and He is using it for His glory."
Along the same lines, a principle from my BSF teaching leader the other day was "When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we have a new spiritual perspective that helps us be obedient to God's call, to have perseverance that gets us through the tough times and learn from our failures and have peace that comes as we trust God with every result."
Please keep our two girls and their birth family in your prayers as the birth family court date comes up in two days. Pray that God's will be done for our lives and theirs.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
READY!
Here are the pictures of the girls' completed room. Now we just need two little girls to bless it with their presence! I also hope to get some decor for it from Ethiopia to make them feel more at home.
Orphan Sunday
Today is Orphan Sunday and the one year anniversary of our adoption journey. It was on Orphan Sunday last year that both of us were positive that God was calling us to adopt. Today we celebrated Orphan Sunday with a luncheon at our church, joining other families who have adopted, are in the process of adoption or those who are just seeking more information.
Today we are rejoicing that the older boys in my previous post, T & L, have adoptions pending!! Be sure and check out the upcoming silent auction to raise funds for their adoption. I understand there have been some very nice donations that will make great Christmas gifts. (http://tlcfortlz.blogspot.com) Continue to pray for a family for Z.
Today we are praying for the orphans in Sudan. Our friends' organization Make Way Partners provides love, protection, education, housing and food for these orphans under very difficult and dangerous country circumstances. Furthermore, the east African draught has caused their food costs to soar and they are raising funds to compensate for the food crisis. You can learn more at www.makewaypartners.org.
Today we pray for the 15 million orphans of the world who have lost both parents.
Today we rejoice that we can make a difference in the lives of two little girls and give them the family that they have lost. We are thankful that they will change our lives forever.
Today I rejoice over my own spiritual adoption. God tells me in His Word (Ephesians 1:5-7) that He decided long ago to adopt me as His child. He did it because of what Jesus Christ did for me and it pleased God to do it. He freely gave me His grace because of the One He loves. I have been set free because of what Christ has done. Through His blood my sins have been forgiven. John 14:18 records Christ's promise before He went to the cross not to leave us as orphans. I am thankful He was faithful to His promise and that through Him, I have my inheritance; I am born again as a child of God with all the special privileges and responsibilities of a daughter of the King. Praise God for the Grace He lavished on me!!!
Today we are rejoicing that the older boys in my previous post, T & L, have adoptions pending!! Be sure and check out the upcoming silent auction to raise funds for their adoption. I understand there have been some very nice donations that will make great Christmas gifts. (http://tlcfortlz.blogspot.com) Continue to pray for a family for Z.
Today we are praying for the orphans in Sudan. Our friends' organization Make Way Partners provides love, protection, education, housing and food for these orphans under very difficult and dangerous country circumstances. Furthermore, the east African draught has caused their food costs to soar and they are raising funds to compensate for the food crisis. You can learn more at www.makewaypartners.org.
Today we pray for the 15 million orphans of the world who have lost both parents.
Today we rejoice that we can make a difference in the lives of two little girls and give them the family that they have lost. We are thankful that they will change our lives forever.
Today I rejoice over my own spiritual adoption. God tells me in His Word (Ephesians 1:5-7) that He decided long ago to adopt me as His child. He did it because of what Jesus Christ did for me and it pleased God to do it. He freely gave me His grace because of the One He loves. I have been set free because of what Christ has done. Through His blood my sins have been forgiven. John 14:18 records Christ's promise before He went to the cross not to leave us as orphans. I am thankful He was faithful to His promise and that through Him, I have my inheritance; I am born again as a child of God with all the special privileges and responsibilities of a daughter of the King. Praise God for the Grace He lavished on me!!!
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