INVISIBLE

Have you ever felt invisible?  I was a shy child growing up and often felt invisible. As I stood on the sidelines at recess, lunch time and parties I often wondered "Does anybody see me?"  I dreaded PE because I was not athletic.  When it came time to pick teams, I was without fail among the last ones picked.  When I was at a roller skating party and it was time for "couples skate," nobody noticed me.  Perhaps you too have felt invisible at times and can identify.

The older children at the orphanages experience this feeling of "invisibility" day in and day out.  When they first come to live at the orphanages and see the new mommies and daddies come, their hearts start beating faster and they ask themselves "Is it me, is it me?"  Sadly, the new parents walk right past them as if they were not even there and reach out for a cute little baby or an adorable toddler.  So the older child gets back in the line and hopes that maybe next time, a new mommy or daddy will come and pick them.  The days go by and babies and toddlers come and go.  The older child, still standing in line, becomes downcast and that glimmer of hope slowly dies within them.  "Does anybody see me?"  Does anybody know who I am?"  "Does anybody care?"

Our agency has had 3 older boys (T, L, & Z) who have been waiting over a year for a forever family. Can you imagine how it would feel to watch other children come and go as you wait and wait to be picked?  People often overlook older children, especially boys, out of fear.  A younger child seems more safe and with less issues.  (I know we had some of the same fears but God helped us look past them when He showed us He had two older sisters for us instead of one girl toddler.)  Yet these children need homes just like all the other children.  Here are how T, L, & Z are described:

T – T is a quiet boy who likes to play with his friends. He has a calm and friendly personality that one might see as being shy, but after he warms up to someone he is more outgoing, kind and friendly.

T likes to be active and play soccer with his buddies. He is good at sharing and is kind to the younger children at the Care Center.

L-L is an adorable little guy who loves to have fun! He can be shy around adults but is friendly with the other children. He loves to play cars and enjoys trying to make one-on-one conversations with visiting adults. Showing off what English he is learning.

Z-Z is a very compassionate boy. He is always looking out for the younger boys at the Care Center. He is seen as a big brother to every one there and is sweet to every one.

Z is fun and loves to play games with his friends. He is not over powering for attention but is willing to wait his turn.

Fortunately, T, L, & Z have been noticed by a few parents with compassionate hearts who have met them in Ethiopia.  These parents have joined together to help these precious boys.  They are hosting an online silent auction to raise money and provide a grant to any family who will step up and provide a home for one of these boys.

Please go to http://tlcfortlz.blogspot.com/ to see how you might help these boys find a forever home.

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE...

Well after 3 days of trying, I finally got our plane tickets booked.  The MKI travel agent came highly recommended and she did get us the best price; it is just that she was traveling and at a conference yesterday and today that made communicating more challenging.  We were able to get tickets for the boys to travel with us and Michael's teachers agreed to let him make up work over the holidays.  He still homeschools but goes to a Classical school 1.5 days a week and then does the rest of his work at home using an online system.  His teachers agreed that this is an experience he should not miss.

Today I also attended a Webinar to prepare us for the court process.  All of the families stay at the same guest house and our agency provides transportation to and from the airport, court house and care center where we will be able to visit with our girls.  They will be in school in the morning so we will only get to see them a couple of hours each afternoon.  We hope to meet some member(s) from the birth family while we are there.

We also hope to visit the Ethiopia Compassion project while we are in Ethiopia and perhaps do some volunteer work.  Our older daughter volunteered at one in Peru a few years ago and said it was a life changing experience.

I look forward to eating Ethiopian food and experiencing the culture.  I even get to eat with my hand!  The only trouble is that proper etiquette is to eat with one's right hand and I am left handed!  The Ethiopians use a nutrition packed, sourdough, flat type bread called Injera to scoop up their food.  Using hands to eat sure would save time on doing the dishes.  One doesn't even need a napkin there because it is proper to clean your hands off after each bite with one's mouth!  Think of all the trees that would be saved!  David looks forward to the Ethiopian coffee times.  Ethiopia is known for its coffee.  Hopefully there will be something our kiddos like!  I would also like to take a trip out to the countryside to get a different perspective from the capital city, Addis Ababa.  I saw in our travel packet there is an opportunity to take trail rides outside the city.  It is $300 birr which would be $17 in U.S. currency.  That is pretty cheap!

We have been in contact with the another family from our area that is traveling at the same time.  They are traveling to adopt a young daughter.  They have other kids around the ages of our boys.  They even live close to us so we are looking forward to getting to know them better.

Please continue to pray that the process will go smoothly.  Thanks for your friendship and support.

GOOD NEWS!!!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  We received our court assignment today!  Our court date is December 6th!!  The birth family court date (date a remaining family member transfers rights to us) is on November 24, Thanksgiving.  While it will be a sad, emotional time for them, we will have thankful hearts for the two precious gifts that they are giving to us.  We hope to meet a member of the birth family when we travel for court.  I doubt that we will be able to travel to the Sidama region where the girls are from due to its distance from Addis, the capital.

Our girls' father died in 1/2010 and their mother in 5/2010.  Their grandfather, age 86, was unable to care for them and brought them to an orphanage on 9/21/2010.  By the time we will be able to bring them home (hopefully January or February) they will have been in orphan care for 1.5 years.

Our agency told us that 3 other families will be traveling at the same time and one is from our town!  We will receive contact information for the other families soon.  December 6th is a week of school for the boys but I will be contacting their teachers to see if they can make up work over the Christmas break.  Time to book our travel!

Last year, November 7th was Orphan Sunday at our church and the day we both decided to embark on our journey of adoption.  December 6th was a day of "closed doors" for us.  Our agency informed us that we could not pursue a China adoption due to our medical history of skin cancer.  But God new the plans He had for us in Ethiopia and we rejoice that this year December 6th will be a day of "open doors" and happiness.

Psalm 136:1-3
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.  His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.  His love endures forever.


Psalm 136:8
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

COURT REOPENS

Today the Ethiopian courts reopened.  Still no word about our court date.  Our agency representative said that our dossier has been submitted to court but once there, they have no way to track status.  So we wait patiently for God's perfect timing.  Waiting is often a time of preparation so:

Last week we attended a webinar on adopting older children.  A mom who came home with sibling boys last April sat in on the discussion.  It was helpful to draw on her experiences and know a little more about what to expect.

David painted the girls room a pretty soft yellow and will be hanging some white lacy curtains to complete the decor.  We also purchased a white Pottery Barn bookcase yesterday from Craig's List.  It goes well with the white dresser that was already in the room.

We are reading a book entitled "20 Things Adoptive Kids Wished Their Adoptive Parents Knew," with our adoption group at church.  I'm also reading, "I'm Chocolate, You're Vanilla" and "Parenting the Internationally Adopted Child."  All great books.

We are connecting through blogs, e-mail and facebook with other families from our agency who have or are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia.

So we are staying busy preparing for the girls' arrival but I must admit the wait is more difficult now that I know the courts have opened again.  I received new pictures of the girls this weekend from a family that traveled to pick up their twin sons.  I wish I could post the pictures of our girls but posting pictures is only allowed once they are legally ours.  So we continue to wait...

Psalm 130:5-6 - I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word, I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

This great hymn has been in my mind all week.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Truly we have seen God's great faithfulness as He has worked through our life and the lives of those who have surrounded us in love.  Recently I received an update for our LifeSong account and not only was our goal met, it was exceeded - to God be the glory!

In my devotion and BSF lessons, I have been studying about the power of God.  In the book of Acts, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit following Jesus' resurrection, new believers were filled with joy and united in their faith.  Nobody was in need because the community of believers did what ever was necessary to take care of each other.  That same power of the Holy Spirit has been at work in the lives of those who have given of themselves to help our girls come home.  We have seen wonders and miracles as people with their own financial concerns have given generously from their hearts.  Here are a few examples that I am aware of:

• A small church (whose leadership has never met us) gave generously from their church operating budget to our account.  Since the church does not have their own building and shares with another church,  I see this as a big sacrifice on their part.

• Members of this same church rallied together to bring in their "spare change" after our friend showed a powerpoint presentation to them that she created on our girls and Ethiopian culture.  Somehow I don't think the amount of funds that were collected were exactly spare change!

• This same friend's family also had a lemonade stand to raise funds.  In addition, their children matched the money they raised selling lemonade with money from their personal funds.  What also makes this a sacrifice of love is the time this family has spent on both fund raisers when so much of their time has recently been taken up with two new toddler foster children and birth parental visitations required of foster parents.

• A family who has had numerous medical bills due to the mom's bout with Stage III cancer gave to our account and used their ingenuity to organize a baking contest to raise even additional funds.  This was at a time when the mom was suffering from fatigue and pain due to her radiation treatments.  What love!

• Another family who has been making do for some time with one car due to major repairs needed on their 2nd car, gave from their heart.

• A family who recently returned from Ethiopia with their own son and had their own adoption expenses also gave generously.

• Finally, a family who is self-insured and has also had some significant medical expenses blessed us with their gift.

I'm sure the list could go on but these are a few examples of the Holy Spirit at work.  It has been so exciting to watch and I can't tell you how much we have been blessed by all those who have joined with us in the journey to bring these precious girls home.  Your names have been written in their adoption story journal. Thank you and God bless you!

"All that we needed His hand hath provided."  Last fall when we answered God's call to adopt, He began His initial provision for us to adopt with a family gift that each of my siblings and I received last fall and a new job for David, enabling us to save more.  Now He has completed His provision of the estimated amount we need to complete the adoption through the LifeSong fund and an additional grant we recently received from a local Christian organization.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.


Phillipians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

What is cool is that it is not just our lives in which was have seen God's faithfulness.  We have had the pleasure of watching His provision and the power of His Holy Spirit in the lives of others we have come to know on the same journey.  It is exciting and uplifting to read their blogs and their own testimonies.

When we began the process, we were told by so many people who had completed their own adoption journeys that God provides the resources to those who are obedient to His call and they were certainly right!

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

What is the next step?  Painting the girls room a pretty light yellow and waiting for court to reopen in 15 days so we can get our court date.  The countdown is on......

SHALOM

Does the unknown hold fear or anxiety for you?  Sometimes when I think about bringing our little girls home, my thoughts turn from sweet ones to anxious ones.  Questions arise like "Will they bond with us?" or "Will we be able to help them through the grief they will inevitably experience?" or "How will the boys take to more sisters and sharing my time?" or "What is this going to do to our family?" or "Will they even like us?" or "How will I homeschool two more children?" or "I'm tired, where will my strength come from?" and "How will I know where to start with their schooling?"  My Bible study lesson in the first book of Acts really spoke to me in regards to these fears.  Jesus had just left the disciples.  He told them to wait and pray for the gift He would send them.  They had to wait just like we have had to wait in this long process.  It most likely did not make sense to them either.  Jesus asked them to trust Him and He asks the same of us.  His timing is perfect.  During the time of waiting, I imagine all sorts of questions ran through their mind.  Questions like  "What will happen to us; we saw what they did to Jesus?" or "What will it cost us to be His witness to the ends of the world?" or "What is this gift that He has promised us?" or "How will we ever be able to fill His shoes how that He has left us?"  Not only is God's timing perfect, His power is sufficient.  One only has to read another chapter to discover that the gift was the Holy Spirit and He gave them everything they needed to fulfill what Jesus called them to do.  When I think upon these things, then peace comes once more to my mind making room for those sweet thoughts to continue.  And so we continue in prayer.......

THE MIRACULOUS JAR

It has been nothing short of amazing watching God work in our lives this year.  It has been a tough year in many respects but I would not trade this year for anything in the world.  God has worked in our lives in so many ways and through so many wonderful people: family, old friends, new friends and even people we have never met both through my bout with cancer and our adoption.  He is truly faithful.  He brought to my mind a story from the Bible of what He is doing to provide for our little girls to come home.  Perhaps you remember it; the story of Elijah and the miraculous jar of oil.  When our story is complete, I will go into more detail of how our jar has been miraculously filled as we have almost completely emptied it out for our girls.  All glory goes to Him.  But for now, here is the kids' version of the story from holyspiritinteractive.net posted below:


God said to Elijah, “Pack up your things and go to the land of Sidon. There is a widow there, and I have commanded that she will provide you with food.”

And so Elijah did exactly what God told him to do (that’s always a good idea!). He packed up his things and made the hot dusty walk to Sidon.

You should know that Sidon was not part of the kingdom of Israel. The people who lived there were not Elijah’s people. They were not Jews, they were Gentiles. They weren’t descendants of Abraham, they didn’t follow God’s laws, and, many times they were enemies of Elijah’s people. Still, that’s where God told Elijah to go, so that’s where he went.

Under the blistering sun, Elijah walked off to the town of Zarephath.

When Elijah came to the town gate, he found a widow there. She was gathering up a few dry, dusty sticks.

Elijah said to her, “Please, would you bring me some water in a jar to drink?” As she was going to get some water for this complete stranger, Elijah called out to her, “And please, bring me some bread!”

Well, that did it! This guy must be crazy! Didn’t he know it hadn't rained for months?! There was barely any water, and hardly a scrap of food left. 

“Sir,” the woman said to Elijah, “As sure as the Lord your God lives, I don’t have any bread!” At least the poor widow seemed to know there WAS a God in heaven, she just wasn’t sure who he was, or why he was making life so difficult.

The widow said, “All I have left in this world is a handful of flour and a little jar of oil. I am gathering up these sticks so that I can make one last meal for my son and me. And then we will die.”

Things looked pretty bad.

But, no matter how bad things might have seemed, God was still there.

Elijah said to the widow, “Do not worry. Go home and do just what you planned to do. But before you do, make a small loaf of bread for me. And then, from what you have left, make a loaf of bread for you and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel has promised, ‘The flour will not be used up and the jar of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’ ”

What a simple plan for life!

Don't worry. Follow God's plan for your life and give to God first, and God will take care of the rest.

And so, that is exactly what the widow did.

And day after day there was water to drink and food to eat. The flour was not used up, and the jar of oil did not run dry - just as God had promised!

One day at a time, God provided for Elijah and the widow.

Now, the thing is, God didn’t deliver 20 giant stone jars of oil to the widow’s door the next morning. She couldn’t open her pantry, and find it filled with jars of oil. 

Elijah and the widow couldn’t see where the oil was going to come from. They just had to trust that each day somehow there would be enough.

They didn’t put their trust in what they could see - that would be easy! Instead they learned to put their trust in what they couldn’t see.

And they learned a wonderful thing - trust in God, and God will provide!

They didn’t say, “Everything will be okay because, look! we have lots of oil and bread!” Instead they learned to say, “Everything will be okay - because God will take care of us!”

They didn't put their trust in their own riches, like King Ahab had, because, no matter how much they had - even if they had great store houses full of oil and bread - one day it would come to an end. 

But there is no end to God and his love for us.

And that is worth more than all the treasures in the world.

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

DOSSIER IN ETHIOPIA!

Today we learned our dossier made it to Ethiopia and is in the process of being translated.  We hope to hear on a court date before court closes August 6th.

A CHILD'S HEART

Today I was moved to tears as I spoke to a friend on the phone.  Her children plan to make a lemonade stand this week to raise money to bring our little girls home.  All the profits they make will be donated to LifeSong, an organization that has graciously agreed to match gifts given toward the adoption.  I praise God for their missional hearts.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Matthew 19:14

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Today we hand delivered our final documents to our agency on the way to the airport to get David's parents who are flying in for our daughter's wedding next week.  Our agency said the completed dossier went off to Washington today to be Federally authenticated.  From there it goes straight to Ethiopia.  We are hoping it gets to Ethiopia to get a court date assigned before courts close for six weeks due to their rainy season beginning August 6th.  No court dates will be assigned during that time.  It feels great to have all that paperwork completed!!!

WIDE OPEN DOOR

Today we got our I-171H Form! It came in only six days and I had been told it takes 3-4 weeks by several people. Our next step is to get it authenticated and sent to our agency so our dossier can be sent to Ethiopia.

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

The following quote on this verse from Joni Eareckson Tada spoke deeply to me during the time our adoption was on hold.

"How many of us see this verse as a template for finding God's will for our life? Yet that's what it is. SImply put, if you are operating in God's general will - that is, if you are living in the power of the Spirit and obeying by faith the commands of God already made plain in scripture - you can confidently move forward to pursue your deepest desires, for it is God who has put them in your heart. And once you are rolling God can grab the steering wheel with the strong arms of his will to direct you to exactly where he wants you to go. Finding the Lord's specific will for you may mean pushing down the narrow line until you hit a dead end, but at that point, God will open a door so wide that you won't be able to see around it - only go through it.

It truly does seems like God has thrown the doors wide open in so many aspects of our adoption since it was taken off hold.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

In May we were pre-matched with our beautiful waiting girls. Our home study was updated and approved once again. In June, I spent time updating our dossier and it was submitted and approved. Now all we are waiting for is our I-171H immigration form. We had our biometric fingerprints done last week so hopefully it will be soon. Once we receive our form, our dossier can be sent to Ethiopia. Sadly the courts will be closed beginning August 6th for 6 weeks of rainy season in Ethiopia. We are praying that we will be able to travel this year for court and to bring our precious girls home. We have heard so many wonderful things about them from other people who have been to the care center and have met them.

A TIME OF CELEBRATION

In May we celebrated my complete recovery from breast cancer. Surgery had been successful in removing all the cancerous cells and no chemo or radiation was required. The doctor submitted a letter to our adoption agency and we were taken off hold!! The downside was that we had to update our home study and dossier documents.

Back in March when our agency put us on hold, I did not understand what God was doing and felt very frustrated. I especially did not understand the month wait following the completion of treatment. I knew the prognosis was not going to change and felt that the paperwork should at least continue since the adoption process is so long. John 13:7 says “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” When I looked back, I came to the understanding that the waiting period was a wise and beautiful gift from God.

Psalm 23:2 - The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 
 He makes me lie down in green pastures, 
he leads me beside quiet waters, 
he refreshes my soul.

I am a task oriented person. God knew what He was doing when He pushed my “stop” button and made me “lie down in green pastures.” If the adoption had continued during my treatment, I would have been busy, busy. God wanted me to be still, rest, listen and see what treasures He had for me in my time of waiting. He wanted me to pay attention not to the future, but to what He had for me in the present. I have to admit the month was a lonely time as my life came to a stop and those around me continued at their normal life pace but in the midst of loneliness were blessings. Oswald Chambers has said “Grace is for right now.” It was during these days of quiet, that I experienced His Grace and mercy. My quiet times took on new meaning in depth and intimacy. I truly found rest not only for my body but my soul.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

During this time of waiting and rest, God also spoke to me about expanding my horizons regarding our adoption parameters. He told me to trust Him with the issues one can face in adopting an older child and to trust Him in adopting a sibling group. On April 16th, He gave me a glimpse of hope as He showed me what lay around that “bend in the road.” On that day, a few days before my surgery, we had our last adoption class and met someone who was adopting a 7 year old girl from Ethiopia. The girl had been on their agency's waiting child list. (Parents can be matched up with waiting children before a home-study is finished). I mentioned to the lady that our agency has only had older boys on their waiting child list. However, I had not checked the waiting child list in a few weeks so just out of curiosity I decided to check and see when I got home that day. Sure enough, there were two precious sisters, ages 6 and 8, just waiting for us. Coincidental? I don't think so. When I first met David, I knew that he was the one I was going to marry and somehow, when I looked at these girls, I had that same feeling that these precious girls were our new daughters. The girls parents died of illness at separate times in 2010. They were living with their 86 year old grandfather and four other siblings in the Sidama region until September 2010 when they were relinquished to an orphanage for adoption.

Revelation 3:8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Isaiah 46:13 - See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

A BEND IN THE ROAD

In February our home study was completed and approved just as I was diagnosed with Stage 1A Ductal Carcinoma breast cancer. Our adoption was put on hold until treatment was complete and a medical diagnosis could be made. The next few weeks were a time of confusion and searching for God's will.

I poured over my prayer journals for the past few years and prayed. Later that day a poem, The Bend In the Road, was sent to me. As I read it, I felt God's presence and His voice telling me that He is standing at this crossroad of adoption and health issues with me and even though it looks like the end to me, He sees the big picture and it is simply a bend in the road, that the pause in the adoption process caused by the cancer is simply a rest in the journey, and the best is yet to come. My work is not finished or ended, I've simply come to a bend in the road.


THE BEND IN THE ROAD
When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the song has ended,
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,
Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying?
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying?
There's but one place to go and that is to God,
And dropping all pretence and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side.
And together we stand at life's cross roads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision,
And He tells us it's only a bend.
For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the pause in the song is a rest,
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger
Let go and let God share your load.
Your work is not finished or ended
You've just come to a bend in the road.

Helen Steiner Rice

Philippians 3:13-14, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

IN THE BEGINNING

Welcome to our journey to Ethiopia to adopt. The steps to our journey began back in November. God had been speaking to my heart for several years regarding adoption. I mostly looked at foster adopt because the costs of International Adoption seemed overwhelming. David had a heart for orphans but did not feel this was our call. In November we listened to a series of sermons entitled "Awaken" and then attended an adoption meeting at our church. That day we both went home knowing our call to adopt was an international one and we would need to trust God for the resources. Suddenly the cost did not seem so overwhelming anymore. We've always had a heart for African missions but let the two trip requirement for an Ethiopian adoption sway us to China where only one trip is required. We applied to an agency for a Special Needs China adoption but God had other plans for us. We were turned down for a China adoption because we both had incurred mild forms of skin cancer previously. God steered us back to Ethiopia knowing that was what He had placed on our heart all along. In January we began our home study and dossier and were well on the road to Ethiopia.