Adoption: What if Your Not that Sane in the First Place?

Our adoption social worker (Erica) once told us, "The adoption process can make the most sane person insane." I really wish I'd asked, "What if you're not the most sane person in the first place?"

A couple of adoption truths....
1. You will kill so many trees with all the paperwork that you will create your own personal hole in the ozone.
2. You learn the children's names, favorite color, and dog's dietary needs of your local postman as you wait for him to bring your immigration approval.
3. Your email box is sick of you and is filing for a divorce because you won't leave it alone.
And last but not least....
4. You wish you had a congressional vote for every time you heard, "It should be anytime." so you could create a "National Valium Day".

So next time you meet someone waiting in the adoption process, give them a hug, tell them "it should be anytime", hand them a Valium,....and run. :)

Memorial Box Monday-God's Placement

I've been trying to figure out how to write this post. A lot of this post is about timing, God's timing. If you would like to find out what "Memorial Box Monday" is, just look for the button on the right side of our blog!

When we were newlyweds my husband enlisted in the Army. This was our plan. This is just something my husband always wanted to do...serve his country. We were young, only 22 years old (at least that seems young to me now). Three weeks after we married I became pregnant...yep, we had an awesome honeymoon ;).

This was during the time of major upheaval in Bosnia and my husband was quickly stationed in a beautiful base overseas. I was VERY pregnant, so pregnant that when the orders came down I was too far along to fly until after the baby was born. My husband AND I had to make a major decision. He had to decide to defer going over to this choice assignment (and risk his orders changing and going where I could not accompany him for an entire a year) or he would miss the birth of his first child. We made a very tough decision ....that it was more important for him to be there for the first year of life then for the first 5 weeks. We found though, that it was a rough decision, but very God led.

My husband arrived at our first duty station at a point where many of the highly trained individuals and civilians were close to returning back to the states. He came in at the perfect time to be trained and replace these individuals. Because of God's timing we were the ONLY ONES we knew who weren't deployed while there. My husband would have gladly been deployed for his country, but God had other plans for us. Yet, even when we arrived back in the states, we arrived back to a place and time where he wouldn't be deployed AGAIN.

Maybe God knew my sanity may not have lasted :). Maybe He knew that losing five family members in five years (Uncle, Dad, Sister, Grandfather, Grandmother) left me in a place that I desperately needed my husband.

It didn't end there though. When we chose to leave the military, my husband left at a time where the job market was high. He was offered every job he applied for. We still can't believe it. We then were offered a job (close to his family) that offered a large adoption benefit. This was unheard of the year we got out.

He placed us in a cocoon of protection when we needed it. Things were not always easy, we had some very tough times.... but looking back...God has moved us, placed us when and where He wanted us.

We don't know what the future holds. We wonder where we will be placed in the future. Yet God has shown us over and over again that His will is best and even when we're not looking out.... He has a plan in mind.

I have to remind myself of this daily as we wait for the twins court date in Ethiopia. God will place them, and us together at a perfect time.

May God place all of us where and when we will glorify Him the most.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
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CONDENSED and VERY SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST LIST

1. We are praying for a quick court date.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
4. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
5. We are praying that we are able to travel in April...or at least very quickly, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth). We know God's timing is WAY better than ours though.
6. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on. It looks as if they lost weight as of the new pictures we've received.
7. Lastly, please pray for peace for our hearts as we wait (it's not easy after seeing their faces :)).

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Please continue to pray for a few others that, in their situations, governments (and mountains) need to move to bring their children home.
Please pray for Daniel, Junior and Diamoh (Liberia).
Please pray for Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)
Please pray for Rolando and Julia (Guatemala)

Please pray for my sweet friend (S's family) whose domestic adoption failed recently. Please pray for comfort for the family and wisdom and peace in their next steps. There is still a chance that the birth mother (who is struggling with her decision) may still place the infant with them. Please pray for God's will above all else.

Also, please pray for the C family whose international adoption failed recently. Please pray for peace and wisdom as they decide how to proceed.

Please also pray for the "A" family who suffered a miscarriage this week. Please pray for peace as they struggle with the pain that comes from losing a child.

Please pray for "The Covering" in Sierra Leone. Please pray they get the funds, supplies, and sponsorships needed to support these wonderful blessings.

Please pray for "Motherly Care" in Kenya as they struggle. Please pray sponsorship is found for this orphanage.

Please also pray for the Canadian and American Families that are waiting in Uganda (many for months and months). They are waiting for their countries decisions and investigations so that visas may be issues to bring their new children home.

Please also pray for healing for three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke. Abby has has been in this battle and is fighting as we speak. Her courage has been amazing. You can find out about Abby by clicking on the button on the right side of our blog

PRAISES!!!
The Wright family has a new member after a long and hard road to adoption!
Jubilee is home!!!
God has been financially supplying our needs to bring home Gabriel and Rachel!

Eternal Vision Through the Door

Today we got a call, a call I NEVER want to get again. My mother-in-law saying that our sweet 8 year old niece hit her head and they weren't sure if she was going to make it. She had fallen, hit her head on the tile, lost consciousness, and turned blue. God held onto her life and she is already home with her mommy.

This really opened up my eyes, again, to the frailty of life. We've told our kids that our skin is just a suit and it doesn't fit quite right. We squirm, uncomfortable in this world.

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:22-23

Yet, we cling to it, devastated at the consequences of our frailty. I feel like I have this fight in my head. I 100% long to be with our Father in Heaven, yet the thought of losing a child takes my breath away.

We long for eternal life, but the thought of death....

Yet, this one thought keeps popping in my head when I think of life with God.

What if we just lived to "truly live"? What if we stopped living, knowing we would die and started living, knowing we would live? If we could just readily remember that death was just a mere door to God. Sometimes I think we would be bolder, with a clear vision life beyond this one. I imagine our focus would stop being on what we could "do" or "accumulate". It would stop being on trivial differences and how neat our house is.

When we had a brief period today, not knowing if our niece would make it another hour, yet alone another day. We prayed for healing...our nine year old daughter dropped to her knees in prayer...but our son prayed something beyond. He prayed that "God's will be done". Though he knew that could mean something none of us wanted to face.

He prayed with that eternal vision that saw beyond the door to our Heavenly Father. He prayed knowing that what is beyond is what we all yearn for. He reminded me that death is not the worst thing in the world, but a new beginning.

May eternal vision be in our every thought and action and may all our days (and nights) be filled with the eternal vision through the door.

Two Months and A T-Shirt Giveaway

I can't believe it's this time already! We are creeping up on the two month anniversary of the referral of our twins Rachel and Gabriel. So far we have no news on a court date...yet. Who knows, maybe by the date of the giveaway (April 8th) we'll have a court date :). We received a 6 week update and the pictures make it obvious that our little ones need to be in our arms. We appreciate any and all prayers for first their health, a quick court date, passing the first time, and finally quick travel.

Anyway, that said, we will celebrate. We will celebrate the opportunity to parent these beautiful children! God is so good to favor us with these two precious blessings!!!

This month we are offering another t-shirt. This time supporting the adoption of another neat family. I love the verse (Ephesians 1:3-14) they use on this shirt which reminds us all that we're adopted sons and daughters of God. You can find the shirt on the following blog. Just let us know if you want men, women's, children's, or a onesie and leave it as a comment to this blog with the size you want. Don't forget to leave a way to contact you! Sorry, but we can only ship to the United States.
"It's Almost Naptime!!"
Thank you for coming to celebrate with us! Hopefully next month we'll be legally the parents of Gabriel and Rachel!

Thank you Lord for blessing us yet again!

"Learning How Much I Don't Know"

I really enjoyed reading a friend's blog today. She made me think about something that I don't a lot, yet know is very true.

And to answer the questions she asks in her blog....

I'm the weakest when everything is going...just going. It makes me think of the saying, "If Satan can't make you fall, he'll make you busy."

I'm closest to God the times He's challenging me, the times He's making me think so outside the box that it hurts. Also, sometimes painfully, I'm closest to Him when I get those brief glimpses of how He sees things.

I think often our Heavenly Father molds us by fire.

If you have a chance, check out "Learning How Much I Don't Know"

Our Babies-Today's Update

It has been six weeks since we received the referral of our sweet twins. We are so thankful as we watch the Ethiopian government and their concerns for our little ones. We know the time it takes to bring them home is often very necessary to insure the safety of the children. Yet today we miss our babies even more (if possible).

Today we received an update and we almost didn't recognize our children. Our sweet Gabriel and Rachel (their American names to protect their identities) look like they've both lost a little weight. I kept on asking my husband, "Are you sure this Gabriel? Are you sure that this is Rachel?" since they looked so very different. You could tell though.

Of course, my mommy arms want to wrap around my sweet babies. My mind respects the Ethiopian government and the necessary steps to to secure the proper and safe manner of creating legal families from across oceans. My heart yearns for my little ones.

Could you pray with me today? Could you pray for the health of our twins? That they are protected, healthy, and loved. Could you pray that we get a court date quickly, pass the first time, and travel even quicker?

God is good and very much in control. My humanness is showing today though.

Thank you for bringing my heart comfort, as I know I can come to my brothers and sisters and ask for prayers.

My Life As An Answer to Prayer

This is a difficult blog to write. Not for lack of material, but for the abundance of it. The Blog Hop for today is "Answered Prayers". From big to little...I've seen it.

I knew a friend (and a professor at Pepperdine) who had an aneurysm. They said that he may not live and would never teach again. Guess what? He's teaching.

I've seen a party boy get drunk, drive, and crash into a wall. He's was in a coma for the longest time...yet, what did He find through this tragedy? God.

I've seen a drug dealer turn into a youth minister.

I've seen a little girl with cancer on her brain. The doctors said that she wouldn't make it. She's a teen now...a healed teen.

I've seen a foreign government say that a family may not adopt a specific child, and now I see pictures of that child at home with her family.

I've seen big prayers answered. I've seen small ones. There are just so many to choose to write about.

For me, today, I'm going to write about my unspoken prayers...the dreams and prayers of my heart.

I've been blessed. Oh, life has not always been easy, but I have been blessed by my Heavenly Father day in and day out.

I had the dreams of the things that little girls dream of. They were vague prayers, beyond hopes, into dreams.

I dreamed that one day I would be married to a Christian man, have many children that desired God, become a missionary in Africa, live in a brick house, bring children home from across the world. Ordinary dreams to some, but dreams of my heart.

You know what? God has answered these prayers, though not always in the way I expected.

He has given me a husband that loves God above His family.

He has given me seven children (four from across the oceans).

I live in a brick house...though I would give it up in a second to move across those same oceans to spread God's word.

As for a missionary in Africa, well...God answered that one in a most unexpected way. He answered that one with three beautiful children, all from Africa...my children. We hope to someday preach the gospel and aid the orphans while in Africa, but that's not what God has planned for us this day. Right now, He has answered in a miraculous, unbelievable way that NEVER occurred to me growing up.

That is SO our Father in Heaven.... SO cool.

God has answered so many prayers for others...for me....that I can't begin to share with you the numerous prayers God has answered. His answers are so much bigger than a blog can contain. His answers are in the very essence of God Himself.

You, we, are not alone here, but have a Heavenly Father that loves us so much that not only did He give us His Son (which is more than we deserve or could ask for), but continues to bless us daily.

"As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him...'" Romans 10:11-12

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CONDENSED and VERY SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST LIST

1. We are praying for the lawyer and his conviction when He sees our children's faces.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for a quick court date.
4. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
5. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
6. We are praying that we are able to travel in April, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth). We know God's timing is WAY better than ours though.
7. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on.
8. We are also praying that God blesses us financially and the funds flood in for travel.
9. Lastly, please pray for peace for our hearts as we wait (it's not easy after seeing their faces :)).

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Please continue to pray for a few others that, in their situations, governments (and mountains) need to move to bring their children home.
Please pray for Daniel, Junior and Diamoh (Liberia).
Please pray for Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)
Please pray for Rolando and Julia (Guatemala)

Please pray for my sweet friend (God knows her name) whose domestic adoption failed yesterday. Please pray for comfort for the family.

Please pray for "The Covering" in Sierra Leone. Please pray they get the funds, supplies, and sponsorships needed to support these wonderful blessings.

Please pray for "Motherly Care" in Kenya as they struggle. Please pray sponsorship is found for this orphanage.

Please also pray for healing for three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke. Abby has has been in this battle and is fighting as we speak. Her courage has been amazing. You can find out about Abby by clicking on the button on the right side of our blog

Memorial Box Monday-Twins God? Really?!

I'm a firm believer in signs. I believe God works so intimately in our lives that often He gives us reminders of His promises and reminders of His will for our lives.

As we began our current adoptive journey it was like a slow moving stream, still thawing from winter. God gave us answers, often ones we did not expect.

We weren't sure where we were going. Just that God was taking us there.

After the absolute knowledge that God had another child planned for our family, we prayed...and prayed. There was a peaceful silence. If you know me, you'd know I don't usually do well with limbo (thus my current insanity). Therefore you probably already figured out that peace in limbo doesn't come naturally to me. It comes supernaturally...from God.

One night (after many months of praying) while I curled up in my bed, I had one word pop into my mind, "Twins". I looked at the clock and it was exactly 11:22. "God?", I thought, "Are you sure?"

My husband and I knew this was what God wanted. We hadn't had peace about just one child (just peace in waiting). It was tough getting our minds wrapped two children though. We firmly believe every child is a blessing, but (as many of you know) expanding your mind is not always comfortable...the stretching...yikes!.

I remember while driving a couple of hours to our in-laws, looking at my husband and saying, "Two? Really?"

Yet after much prayer, we knew what God wanted from us. I needed God's help though, to get my mind wrapped around this. I needed to be reminded that this is what we were supposed to do.

As we headed to the doctor the next day, my mom (not knowing of our adoption plans yet) started talking about a episode she saw about a couple with twins. I smiled and thought, "If she only knew". I walked with my little one in to get blood drawn and ran into our long time nurse. She was very pregnant. With a smile she patted her protruding belly, "It's twins!" she said.

Okay, yes, at this point God was getting my attention. Yet, He wasn't through.

We actually sped through the doctors office (which just doesn't happen). Next, we proceeded to swing by the grocery store on the way home. At the checkout I start chatting with the sweet woman helping us. Yes, this is normal for me. She talked about how cute my kids were (I couldn't help but agree, though I am a tad biased). She then starts talking about her two little ones...of course, you can see it coming, her twins.

The entire day was like that. I was smiling and laughing by the end of it. God is so very active in our lives that it is SO amazing. He reminded me His will for us. He is there and ever present in our lives.

So this is for my memorial box. A memory of God reminding us of His plans for our lives. How cool is that?!

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VERY SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST LIST

1. We are praying for the lawyer and his conviction when He sees our children's faces.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for a quick court date.
4. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
5. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
6. We are praying that we are able to travel in April, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth). We know God's timing is WAY better than ours though.
7. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on.
8. We are also praying that God blesses us financially and the funds flood in for travel.
9. Lastly, please pray for peace for our hearts as we wait (it's not easy after seeing their faces :)).

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Please continue to pray for a few others that, in their situations, governments (and mountains) need to move to bring their children home.
Please pray for Daniel, Junior and Diamoh (Liberia).
Please pray for Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)
Please pray for Rolando and Julia (Guatemala)

Please pray for my sweet friend (S's family) whose domestic adoption failed and "The C family" whose international adoption fell through last week as well. Please pray for comfort for the families and God's continued guidance.

Please pray for "The Covering" in Sierra Leone. Please pray they get the funds, supplies, and sponsorships needed to support these wonderful blessings.

Please pray for "Motherly Care" in Kenya as they struggle. Please pray sponsorship is found for this orphanage.

Please also pray for healing for three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke. Abby has has been in this battle and is fighting as we speak. Her courage has been amazing. You can find out about Abby by clicking on the button on the right side of our blog

World Water Day

As the Soli Deo Gloria blog reminded me, today is World Water Day. Water, doesn't sound too interesting. We turn on the faucet and there it is. We throw some bubbles into the tub and soak our aching muscles.

*Approximately one billion do not have any kind of regular access to a safe water.

* The World Health Organization states that about 1.8 million children have died each year from the lack of clean drinking water. That's one death per eight seconds.

*80 percent of illnesses in Third World countries are traceable to water contamination.

*50% of schools all over the world lack a safe water supply and any form of sanitation. Think about your own little ones.

*There are children not able to attend school because of the lack of close water sources. They, at times, have to walk for hours to reach the only water source available (which can be deadly).

Here's a couple of unwanted visitors contained in unclean drinking water.
*Cholera affects the intestinal region of the body. Without immediate medical treatment, it could cause death within 12 hours after the symptoms start.
*Guinea Worm Disease (see picture)-This parasite/disease affects poor communities in remote parts of Africa that do not have safe water to drink. There is no treatment for Guinea worm disease. Removal of the worm as it emerges from the infected person's skin is or surgical removal by a trained doctor is the ONLY cure.

The phrase "World Water Day" may not mean a lot to many, but it does to those dying.

If you want to help bring clean water to those in need click on the following link and scroll down.
WORLD VISION

Prayers for Others & Our Adoption Requests

It seems like there is such a great need for prayer lately. So many people going through life altering things. I will always praise God because He is much bigger than even the hardest things in life. We also know that God works through petitions of His sons and daughters as well. That thought in itself brings much comfort.

If you check my earlier posts, you can see that the need for prayer right now is great (I will post those again below).

Yet, a new and urgent prayer request has just been shared with me. There is a family in MN who were planning to adopt. They are a beautiful young family with a birth son in preschool. She has survived breast cancer, and they were in a church group of others stepping out to adopt. Yesterday she found out her breast cancer is back in her lungs and brain. Now she needs to prepare her son. As can with all of us, their life changed in an instant.

Here are some of the prayers from this last week...

Please pray...
* For "S's family" and "The C family" who suffered the loss of a child through a failed adoption. Please pray for their peace, comfort, and that God continues to mold their families into beautiful pictures that glorify Him.
* A Christian family arrived back from Ethiopia a couple of days ago with Ethiopian adopted daughter, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus. She had surgery on her back immediately upon arriving in the U.S. with the intent to put a shunt in to drain the brain fluid. They were not able to put the shunt in due to the excessive bleeding on her back. They didn't think the baby would survive the trip but she did. Please pray for God's grace to save her life and for strength for their family.
UPDATE ON THIS PRAYER REQUEST
She did have a shunt successfully put in last night, but she was still in critical condition. She is on a ventilator and the Dr.s gave a 50/50 prognosis of survival. Our God is a God of the impossible! Please pray for God's grace to save her life and for strength for the family. They are thankful that her pain has been relieved and she is resting comfortably.
* For Abby, Tatum, and Elke...little girls with Leukemia that are in great need of prayer.
* For Daniel, Diamoh, and Junior, Olivia Mame, and Rolondo and Julia. They are precious children of God waiting to come home to their forever families, but are in very hard situations in which governments need to move for this to happen.
* For "The Covering" in Sierra Leone. Please pray they receive the funds, supplies, and sponsorships needed to support 34 wonderful blessings that were welcomed there within this last week.
* For "Motherly Care" orphanage in Kenya as they struggle. Please pray sponsorship is found for these children specifically and the orphanage in general.

God has given us a family that is much bigger than the one that fills our houses. He has given us brothers and sisters around the world. Let's stand together and petition our Heavenly Father for these precious families.

"They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." Acts 1:14

OUR ADOPTION PRAYER REQUESTS

1. We are praying for the lawyer and his conviction when He sees our children's faces.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for a quick court date.
4. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
5. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
6. We are praying that we are able to travel in April, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth). We know God's timing is WAY better than ours though.
7. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on.
8. We are also praying that God blesses us financially and the funds flood in for travel.
9. Lastly, please pray for peace for our hearts as we wait (it's not easy after seeing their faces :)).

Remember Through All This...God Wins

I had this odd train of thought this morning. My brain tends to go a million places at once.

As I soaked after a night of illness (everything hurt). I started thinking about a phrase I heard in the movie Facing the Giants, "If we win, we praise Him. And if we loose, we praise Him."

Yet, I thought, none of us really wants to lose. We hope for blessing instead of trial.

I was feeling a little guilty after thinking this. Do I want to glorify God in all things? Yes. Will I choose what is hard, the trial, if it glorifies God more? I sure hope so!

Do I hope for trials...specifically trials? Ummm.....

I can praise God through my trials, but...do I want them? Not unless they will bring God more glory.

Yet again, guilt. We all pray for blessing. Every time we say, "Please God..." we pray for blessing. Occasionally it hits me that when I ask God for blessing, am I really praying for something that will glorify Him?

That's when I started completing my circle of thought. Yes, God can be glorified in all things and we can still have faith and believe in God's blessings. "If we win, we praise Him. And if we loose, we praise Him."

Jesus even said in Matthew 7:9-11.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

When trials are on us I've often heard Hebrews 12:5b-7 quoted,
"'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.'
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

Sometimes I need a good 2x4 to the head and sometimes trials ARE discipline, yet sometimes I believe they are something else as well. They are Satan working on us, and God being glorified through that. They are God molding us through fire. They are God saying that He has something better in mind.

I'm going to share with you the lyrics from a song by Mercy Me. For a long time I had trouble singing it. I feel unworthy. But God is our God that saved the sinners and the weak (thank you Lord!).

My Jesus, I need You now
May Your grace look my way
To hear You sing over me
Make Your desires and mine the same

Bless me indeed
Open wide my horizons to share Your name
Bless me indeed
Let Your hand keep me from harm and pain
Bless me, Bless me

Lord I cling to Your heart
Your love is what I need
All great things come from You
May Your greatness fall on me

Bless me indeed
Open wide my horizons to share Your name
Bless me indeed
Let Your hand keep me from harm and pain
Bless me, Bless me

The Lord bless and keep you
May His face shine upon you
And be gracious and give you peace

Bless me indeed
Open wide my horizons to share Your name
Bless me indeed
Let Your hand keep me from harm and pain

Bless me
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Remember through all this...all the trials...God wins.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

Friend's Loss of A Child....Adoption Prayers

I want to come to my friends today and ask them for prayers. Though we always cherish prayers for our adoption, we have some very special people this week that are hurting.

**Just added an emergency prayer request at the end of this blog.**

Two sets of people we care very much about have suffered failed adoptions this week...one domestically and one internationally. Though some may say that there are other children out there, it's much more than that. This is their miscarriage. This child that they expected to hold in their arms. They saw pictures of in some cases, and knew for months. The thought that they will not be snuggling into their chests at night is extremely hard. This is very painful and I'm asking those that may read this, to hold them up in prayer.

Please pray for these two families. Please pray for comfort and peace. Please pray that God helps them to feel the hope in the future plans He has for their families.

To protect their privacy I'm only calling them "S's family" and "The C family". God knows who they are...lovely children of Him.

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This prayer request just came on one of my Yahoo Groups. The need for prayer is immediate and is an emergency situation.

A Christian family arrived back from Ethiopia last night with Ethiopian adopted daugher, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus. She had surgery on her back this morning with the intent to put a shunt in to drain the brain fluid. They were not able to put the shunt in due to the excessive bleeding on her back. They didn't think the baby would survive the trip but she did. Please pray for God's grace to save her life and for strength for their family.

What it Must Have Been Like...Missing My Babies

Is it weakness to say how there's a hole, an empty gaping void, in your heart? Is it weakness to be in the same role as many and long to hold your children, just waiting for "the date" of court or travel? It is weakness, but a weakness that I celebrate. It's a weakness that says our hearts are tender and full of the love that God created us for.

I look at the longing in others and completely understand. I've been there. I am there. I am not even there for the agonizing long waits (years even) that some wait after seeing their child's picture. Our wait has been relatively short thus far. Yet...I still woke up this morning sad, missing my babies and longing to hold them.

Yet, in my "void" I've come to a clearer realization of God and Christ's relationship and how it must have felt being absent from a part of you. Yes, I realize God is all knowing and all seeing, yet....

He gave His Son, placed Him on this earth. His son who was dwelling with Him, was placed on this earth in an imperfect world. I can't imagine, also knowing what was going to occur, what that felt like.

If imagine my children across the world suffering, let alone in a degrading and painful way, my heart is ripped out.

What Jesus must have felt. His Father, who He sat with in perfection, sent Him to that same imperfect world. He had to feel such longing to be with His Father. He had seen His face, but...

I know the void must be there, even in little ones...our babies, that a parent is meant to fill. A longing to be loved, longing to be held and cherished.

I'm glad that God gives me this opportunity. The opportunity for my heart to ache. The opportunity to be sad. I rejoice in this, because you know...if I can understand just a little bit more of what God did for me....I will rejoice.

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5

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CONDENSED and VERY SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST LIST

1. We are praying for the lawyer and his conviction when He sees our children's faces.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for a quick court date.
4. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
5. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
6. We are praying that we are able to travel in April, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth). We know God's timing is WAY better than ours though.
7. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on.
8. We are also praying that God blesses us financially and the funds flood in for travel.
9. Lastly, please pray for peace for our hearts as we wait (it's not easy after seeing their faces :)).

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Please continue to pray for a few others that, in their situations, governments (and mountains) need to move to bring their children home.
Please pray for Daniel, Junior and Diamoh (Liberia).
Please pray for Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)
Please pray for Rolando and Julia (Guatemala)

Please pray for my sweet friend (God knows her name) whose domestic adoption failed yesterday. Please pray for comfort for the family.

Please pray for "The Covering" in Sierra Leone. Please pray they get the funds, supplies, and sponsorships needed to support these wonderful blessings.

Please pray for "Motherly Care" in Kenya as they struggle. Please pray sponsorship is found for this orphanage.

Please also pray for healing for three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke. Abby has has been in this battle and is fighting as we speak. Her courage has been amazing. You can find out about Abby by clicking on the button on the right side of our blog

The Cost of Adoption

"My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him."

- Derek Loux

Random Thoughts for the Night

1. Projectile vomiting in the car is not fun. Cleaning up your child, carseat, floor, backpack, hair, hands, puddle UNDER the car seat is even less fun. Note to self-"Prepare a "vomit box" for future clean up in the car."

2. My husband is awesome and that is without him even cleaning up the car! That says something.

3. Cat vomit is only minutely better than child vomit.

4. Chocolate cookies do not come back up as good as they go in.

5. Size of child does is not equivalent to how much can come out of them.

6. If it can be shot out of the body, it will be...at mommy.

7. Dove's "Chocolate Brownie Affair" ice cream can still be forced down after a day of cleaning up vomit.

Ethiopian Adoption News Part III

Many are still talking about the two trips that may be required to adopt in Ethiopia. We know many agencies are responding and sharing this with their clients. Here is some info you might be interested in.

* It was one judge in the Federal Court that suggested this change and posted the notice on Thursday/Friday of last week.

* A group of adoption attorneys, "The International Adoption Network", got together to contested the change.

* Through April 8th (at least) the proposal is suspended.

*The attorneys are now working to reverse it permanently.

If you've read my previous posts "Ethiopian Adoption News" and "Ethiopian Adoption News Part II" you know that there could be some very positive effects from instituting this change, but I do have some concerns.

I don't know what's going to happen, none of us do. I think the hardest part is not knowing what to plan for. You know what though? God Hand is there, with the judges, with the lawyers, with our children, and with us as we wait. He has planned children for families and is much bigger than any law change or government.

Let's continue to stay in prayer. Praying for the wisdom of the Ethiopian government. Not praying that they do what we want, but that they will do whatever is best for the children.

Let's pray for the lawyers to also keep in mind and see what's best for our Ethiopian blessings.

Lastly, let's pray for each other, because we are all in this together.

May God bless your night.

Memorial Box Monday-We Didn't Provide Funds, God Did....

Most of you know that our family was formed in a unique and original way.

Yet, since God adopted me as His daughter, it actually runs in the family.

"He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." Ephesians 1:5

Our family is colorful, not only because we're a little "different" (as my crazy friend loves to say), but because God has painted our family is such an brilliant way.

Yet bringing this family together, well...to most it may have seemed insane. How could a family with three children afford the cost of international adoption? How could they do it again...and again?

I'm here to tell you today, in my Memorial Box, that God works. He works in ways we could never fathom. People can chalk it up to sweet spirits, or altruistic humans, but God has worked...no that's not the right word...blessed our family more than we could ever imagine. Today, well today took the cake, but it's not where I want to start. This "Memorial Box" just can't be about one instance of God's blessing, but how God brought our children home.

We know financial need. We all have times where we juggle, pull out our hair, or feel like we're coming unglued as the bills pile up or everything in your house falls apart at once. Let me tell you, that doesn't stop during an adoption.

It started when we adopted Max from Russia. Money wasn't there, but my husband and I both had a very deliberate leading from God that we were supposed to adopt. We knew our son was in Russia, but the process and paperwork was a little daunting. Beyond that, the cost made us feel like the air was sucked out of the room. Yet we knew that God had our backs, fronts, sides, and all over. We knew we could not limit God.

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20b-21

We cashed out IRA's (yes, we knew this would have people in shock). We took everything we had, but it still wasn't enough. Yet God moved.

My favorite story is of a woman. A woman who was a new member of the Church I grew up in. She had converted from Judaism and found a relationship with Christ. I didn't know know her. We'd never met. Yet one day we received a check for $1000 in the mail. She had heard of our plight and knew the need of orphans around the world and specifically our family. Money came in like this all through our adoption with Max...God provided yet again.



Yet could we expect this from God again? Announcing the adoption of our fifth child met with a lot of concern. Concern and questions, "Are you sure? What about your health? What about saving for the future? I'm afraid your kids won't get enough attention." That last one (maybe not the best thing to do) made me laugh. These were legitimate concerns. We really respect the love these concerns came from. Yet, God had led us again and we didn't doubt for a SECOND that God had a new blessing in mind for us.

Money, money stressed us out though. We didn't want to struggle or wait for the funds (Pride?). This is where we made our mistake, we took out a loan. For us, this was human fear conquering our trust in God. This is my ONLY regret in our adoptions. That we didn't just trust and let God provide. You see, God didn't mean for us to be in debt. Bekah would have come home without a loan, but our humanness overrode trust. Yet, even in our fallibility, God STILL provided. We didn't provide, but God did.

When we got notice that it was time for travel we only had two weeks notice....two weeks. Every flight sold out, except for flights with a million stops (seriously) or the tickets on more expensive airlines. We were about $2000 short. Someone heard this and immediately handed over $2000. Almost no one I know of (including this person) had an extra $2000. Yet...God prompted and He provided.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:6-8



Announcing the adoption of our twins left many speechless. Adopting again? Two? Yet this time we stepped forward with much more confidence. We knew that the ONLY way these twins would be propelled into our arms was God. There wasn't extra money for a loan, and actually we wouldn't even consider it (we saw our mistake). We knew to trust God. Was it daunting? Weirdly enough it wasn't?! We knew God had/has a purpose.

We started with our tax return being bigger than we expected and then my husband's bonus the biggest ever. Then checks started showing up at our agency from friends and then a donation from a complete stranger. Next was a yard sale. We shared with everyone that we would welcome any used and discarded things around their houses. Yes, we had to convince some that the donations truly would bless us and not hinder us. The items poured in...and poured, and poured, and poured. We were stunned. We had SO much left even after the second yard sale (though we had sold a ton). As we counted and counted, we couldn't believe the total. The first and second yard sales raised over three thousand dollars. This was beyond what we hoped for. This was just beyond....but it wasn't beyond our Heavenly Father.

This is what our house looked liked before our SECOND sale. There wasn't room in the garage to put everything.



Yet today...today God did it again. It was time for a bonus, but with the economy we weren't sure we'd get much of one. God knew. God provided...big time! More than we expected.

Our Father worked again today. This one will go in the "Memorial Box".

"May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you." Psalm 67:3

"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever." Psalms 86:12

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This is my very first "Memorial Box Monday". If you would like to read exactly what a memorial box is (or celebrate your "Memorial Box"), please go to "A Place Called Simplicity".
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CONDENSED and VERY SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST LIST

1. We are praying for the lawyer and his conviction when He sees our children's faces.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for a quick court date.
4. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
5. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
6. We are praying that we are able to travel in April, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth). We know God's timing is WAY better than ours though.
7. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on.
8. We are also praying that God blesses us financially and the funds flood in for travel.
9. Lastly, please pray for peace for our hearts as we wait (it's not easy after seeing their faces :)).

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Please continue to pray for a few others that, in their situations, governments (and mountains) need to move to bring their children home.
Please pray for Daniel, Junior and Diamoh (Liberia).
Please pray for Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)
Please pray for Rolando and Julia (Guatemala)

Please pray for my sweet friend (God knows her name) whose domestic adoption failed yesterday. Please pray for comfort for the family.

Please pray for "The Covering" in Sierra Leone. Please pray they get the funds, supplies, and sponsorships needed to support these wonderful blessing that are being admitted (see previous post).

Please pray for "Motherly Care" in Kenya as they struggle. Please pray sponsorship is found for this orphanage.

Please also pray for healing for three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke. Abby has has been in this battle and is fighting as we speak. Her courage has been amazing. You can find out about Abby by clicking on the button on the right side of our blog

Our Ethiopian Blessing

You know there are times when you look at your kids and just think...why am I so blessed? (Not talking about the times where my eyes glow red and my head spins around on my shoulders.)

Today was one of those times. The picture quality may not be the best, but Bekah's personality just shines. I just felt God's blessing abound as I watched Bekah dance around, no music...just Bekah.

Phobia Workshop-LAUGHTER ROCKS!!!!

Thanks to my friend Mark who shared this with me. This had me rolling on the floor laughing! Yes, I know I'm easily entertained.

"We Didn't Get the Memo"

I just sat down after reading a wonderful bloggy friend's newest post. I found that we didn't get the memo either. If you want to discover what that memo is, You can find it at....
"A Place Called Simplicity"

Where We Are & Prayers.....

This is the third time we've been through the adoption process.

The paperwork is not a lot of fun. There seems to always be one paper that is difficult (though I will say that in this adoption...not so much).

Once your paperwork is in country, the wait for referral seems to just go on and on (though God gave us an amazing peace this time...cool, huh?)

Our least favorite part though, is the part where you have seen your little ones and wait for the green light to travel to bring them home. I'll tell you :) this is STILL my least favorite part...lol. We have seen Gabriel and Rachel and now we wait.

The first step is our court appointment and the wait to pass court. This is what we are waiting on right now. We know God's timing is excellent. We know this sits in His Hands (beyond the courts). Yet we still long to hold our little ones. It's amazing how God expands our hearts and our love does not divide, but multiplies.

That said, I thought I'd post some prayer requests today. Though most are for our family, there are some vitally important ones for others as well.

CONDENSED and VERY SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST LIST

1. We are praying for the lawyer and his conviction when He sees our children's faces.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for a quick court date.
4. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
5. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
6. We are praying that we are able to travel in April, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth). We know God's timing is WAY better than ours though.
7. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on.
8. We are also praying that God blesses us financially and the funds flood in for travel.
9. Lastly, please pray for peace for our hearts as we wait (it's not easy after seeing their faces :)).

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Please continue to pray for a few others that, in their situations, governments (and mountains) need to move to bring their children home.
Please pray for Daniel, Junior and Dimoh (Liberia).
Please pray for Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)
Please pray for Rolando and Julia (Guatemala)

Please pray for my sweet friend (God knows her name) whose domestic adoption failed yesterday. Please pray for comfort for the family.

Please pray for "The Covering" in Sierra Leone. Please pray they get the funds, supplies, and sponsorships needed to support these wonderful blessing that are being admitted (see previous post).

Please pray for "Motherly Care" in Kenya as they struggle. Please pray sponsorship is found for this orphanage.

Please also pray for healing for three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke. Abby has has been in this battle and is fighting as we speak. Her courage has been amazing. You can find out about Abby by clicking on the button on the right side of our blog.

Save the Orphan

"The Covering" in Sierra Leone needs help. They have found a terrible situation in a place marked with poverty. Though they see poverty and hunger daily, this went beyond what they imagined. They will be taking 38 children into "The Covering" on Monday. This puts them over capacity, but there is no way anyone could turn away children in such dire need. They need sponsors. They need funds. Please check out their blog and consider giving.
Here is their blog
"Save the Orphan"
Here is the organization running "The Covering".
"The Raining Season"

Praying for My Friends...

I hate to see my friends hurt. Whether friends I see everyday, friends that are my email buddies, or fellow blogger friends...I hurt for them...I ache for them.

Today, a friend's domestic adoption fell through. I can't imagine the pain of loss that great. Many understand the loss in miscarriage. They understand the pain of losing a baby that lay in your womb. This child was a child of their heart. A footprint lay embedded. I ache so badly for them. I hurt for them and wish I could take away their pain. I know that God will bring the child into their family that is perfectly meant for them, but that doesn't help in the midst of this. My heart hurts.

Then there's Abby Riggs. She's so young to be fighting this battle with Leukemia. It seems like the battle rages daily. This entire family too...they are all gifts from God.

I hate to see families hurt. I hate to see the pain others are going through. Yet I know my God...our God, is sovereign. He's sees a picture we cannot. In this temporary life we can cling to Him.

To my sweet friends...know I am praying for you tonight.

Ethiopian Adoption News Part II

Are two trips required to bring your adopted child home from Ethiopia?

Though it seems as many agencies are stepping ahead and announcing a change, as with anything, all the facts did not seem present. Do I know what this will mean for the future? No. Could this come into play at some point? Possibly. The logistics for a change this big (two trips to bring home an adopted child) are a lot more complicated than originally perceived. Here is some information you might like to know.

To make a program change this big a few things would need to occur or are occurring.

*All seven federal courts would have to agree to implement this change.

*Lawyers already have contacted the higher Court and they are disputing this change as not legal.

*This change was posted on the Federal Court door yesterday. It has already been removed.

It sounds as if the process has not legally changed and that if it does, it will be in the future and not currently.

We do not claim to know it all or be able to see the future. This is just the information that has been shared thus far.

Also, many rumors abound as fact in any adoption process. It really does seem this started from a logical place, but abounded in rumor. Though it seems as many agencies are jumping on board, we need to remember that any new changes will be added to the US State Department website.

I eagerly await for more news and either this to be cleared up or for this to become law in a greater legal fashion.

To read more about this announcement please read "Ethiopian Adoption News"

Are We All Meant to Adopt?

Some may take our passion and ask, "Are you saying that we are all meant to adopt?"

That's a hard one to answer. What I can say is this, adoption may not be God's purpose for everyone, but for a lot more people than are open to it.

I think often ALL OF US (fingers pointed toward me as well) need to be seeking God when we see the importance God places on the orphans and on other ministries. I think we all tend to throw out the phrase, "God hasn't led me in that direction..." too readily.

It concerns me that often our hearts aren't open to leading. I wonder how many opportunities we missed, because we were not to the place where we could truly give it to God. How many blessings did we miss seeing?

Some people may not be led by God to adopt, absolutely. Yet we all want to make sure we use that phrase prayerfully.

I also hear the phrase, "We help the in other ways" said a lot. Again, this is so vitally important. The funds (and prayer cover) need to be there for all ministries. The financial and spiritual contributions to missionaries and orphans ARE vital. I do NOT want to diminish that.

I just want us all to take it a step farther and pray about it...with hearts open to God's will. This may not be the purpose God has in store, but isn't it better to be open to God than limit what He may have in store for all of us.

I think of Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son. There are so many aspects of this story, but one thing that really hits me is that it wasn't that God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac, but that Abraham was WILLING and OBEYING.

Our Heavenly Father cannot be thwarted. His purpose cannot be undone. Yet He does give us freedom of choice to do His will or not. Often, I think, God is just asking for willingness on a certain paths. Yet we don't always know until we ask.

Don't judge those who do not adopt. It may not be God's purpose for them.

Yet, I do have a concern that we often step off of God's chosen path for us, solely out of our lack of willingness. I do have a concern that we are so set in our ways that our comfort zone is more important than openness to God. And finally, I do have a concern that God's will must trump everything else, yet doesn't in our lives.

So what do we answer when people ask us the question, "Is everyone meant to adopt?"

Adoption may not be God's purpose for everyone, but willingness to answer Him beyond our comfort zone is.

Now if I could only get that to stick in my head and do completely away with my comfort zone....

Ethiopian Adoption News

Since you all know I tend to write more about adoption than just about any other subject, I thought I'd touch on today's news about the change in Ethiopian Adoptions.

There's been a lot of panic after a few news stories about a couple of unscrupulous agencies. Often these were agencies we would NOT have expected. Of course this threw people for a loop! It's horrible to see how children can be viewed as profit, instead of the cherished blessings they are.

The Ethiopian government, thus far, has shown strength and thought as they've tried to dissuade corruption in Ethiopian adoptions. They have not only implemented more (rightly so) paperwork to insure the children are really orphans, but also the relinquishing party must appear at court. Those are only two of the things we "see". I'm sure much more goes on behind the scenes.

The latest news occurred today. It has been stated that two trips will now be required for those adopting from Ethiopia. There are several versions I've heard and I don't believe any of us have the full picture of what this will mean. It could mean that those awaiting court dates are not effected...COULD being the optimum word.

WHY?
Though I'm not aware of the complete reasoning behind it, my thought is that they are trying to insure the children are not left with little options. As many of you know, most only make one trip to Ethiopia. Their newly adopted children are theirs legally before they even arrive. Court has already taken place. In a few instances parents arrive there and feel they cannot take custody of the child. I will not comment on my feelings on this, but just that this leaves the child in a very difficult place. The child belongs, legally, to one set of parents (from another country) and they abandon them again. I can't fathom not only the legal ramifications and time to void the adoption, but the emotional ramifications for the child. That would be my guess in answer to "Why?"

HOW DOES THIS EFFECT US?
All the facts are not in place yet. We honestly don't know. If, because we are awaiting a court date and our papers are already with the court, we are grandfathered in...this will effect us very little. If we are not, we will be in Ethiopia very shortly. We're not worried and will touch on why we are not a little later on.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST WORRY FOR ETHIOPIAN ADOPTIVE PARENTS RIGHT NOW?
The biggest concern that we are seeing from many adoptive parents right now is finances. The cost of adopting can be daunting anyway. Add to that the cost of a second trip...ouch! Yet (as we've said many times...sorry to be repetitive :)) we have never had the funds for adoption and, because we were secure in following God, the funds came in truly amazing ways. If you are reading this and concerned, we would love for you to contact us (there is a place at the right side of this page) and we'd love to talk to you...just to let you know that it really will be okay. Check this verse out though...an awesome reminder that God is listening...

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.'" Matthew 21:21-23

THE BENEFIT AND THE COST
Here is a benefit that I don't think many may have thought of. The current laws discourage much contact with biological family or parents. Being at court should enable us (if it's not normally possible) to meet the biological families. Some agencies still arrange this, but many do not. The hardest part would be leaving your child for weeks, before coming back. That makes my heart hurt thinking of it. It also concerns me that the "one trip" is the reason some choose this country (because they know their hearts could not handle leaving) and adoptions in Ethiopia may decrease.

WHAT WOULD I SUGGEST
I am SO not always wise AND I do think the idea of seeing the children before court is a wise one for the Ethiopian government, but I wish it was set up a little different. I wish an adoptive parent was required to be in Ethiopia about three days before court to meet the child, then required to attend court. Next, I wish (as long as they passed court) that the embassy appointment was only one week after court. This way it would be one trip...a little longer than previously, but only one trip. This would require our government to give as well. Will this happen? Unlikely, but I'd love to see it happen this way.


GOD IS IN CONTROL
When it comes down to our worries, our stresses about the the changing view of Ethiopian adoption, we need to realize that God has a panoramic view, an encompassing view. He sees it all. Man cannot undo God's will. Man cannot change God's plan. Yes, we can choose not to answer His call (we have freedom of choice), but if we trust Him all things will work together for good.

As I've said before to many...God's got your back, front, sides, and all over. God cannot be undone. Trust Him...this will be okay too.

Mac Powell (Third Day) Adoption Story

Love this video! He said what I try to say, but a lot more eloquently. He says something to the effect that adoption may not be God's purpose for everyone, but for a lot more people than are open to it.

God has placed a passion on our hearts, consider praying...just praying (hearts open), asking God if adoption is His will for you.

I Wonder How Long Will it Take For Us to Answer God?

I wonder how long it will take for us to realize that what God wants us to do trumps what we feel "comfortable" doing.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

I wonder how long it will take for us to realize that "comfortable" is not what we need.

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 9:10

I wonder how long it will take us to see that often we make a conscious, logical decision to try to have a biological child. Often we didn't feel led, but made a decision. Sadly it is not always a decision that is even prayed about. Yet often the response to adoption is, "It's not what I'm called to do." (often said without even one prayer). We filled a deep physical desire placed by God to give birth to a child. What about the deep physical desire to follow God's commands?

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

I wonder how long it will take for us to realize that when we are talking about adoption and we say "I can't afford it.", we are limiting God and our lack of faith is staring us in the face.

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.'" Matthew 21:21-23

I wonder how long it will be before we realize that we cannot store our treasures up on earth...that a new car, 401K, or a college fund has no eternal value.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20

I wonder how long it will take for us to see that every child is a blessing from God and not an "expense","inconvenience",or "bad timing".

"But Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'" Luke 18:16

I wonder how long it will take to see that little girl walking down the road with an infant tied to her back? At night, she is curling up on the floor, trying to keep her brother warm. She is only six and the only parent this baby has. How long will it take us to see that we are giving her $100 and driving away...leaving her to take care of herself and a baby? How long before we see that giving money may aid the orphan (which is needed and blessed), but it doesn't tuck them in at night and tell them that they are loved and wanted?

"If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." I Corinthians 13:3

I wonder how long it will take for us to see that saying "No" to God only hurts ourselves.

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15-16

I wonder how long it will take us to see, in our spirits, that God is holding the orphans, He's holding them out to us.

"Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.'" Mark 3:34-35

I wonder how long it will take us to see that we are raising God's children, not our own...Christ's brother, Christ's sister.

He gave us His son and wants to give us more. He's given us life and yet still wants to bless us. When will we, as a family of Christian brothers and sisters, stop making excuses and gladly take the blessings that God has in store?

He's holding them out to you? Will you listen?

A Winner, Our Adoption Journey, and One Month Today!

Today it has been one month since we had the first glimpse of our children. Yet, today it seems like we've always known them.

We came upon the realization that our babies (and their biological family) were covered in prayer from the time the twins were still forming in the womb. It's amazing to watch God work in this.

We are in wait for a court date. Though we've all said that we'd be fine just finding out we passed :). We pray for early travel (April). Please know even when that's our prayer, it's not stressing us out (though we LONG to hold our babies). We know that God's timing is the best timing. We see from inside a little window in our house, asking God for what we "think" we need. He sees everything from outside the house and knows what really needs to happen. We pray. We step forward in faith, believing. We know that God is ultimately in control and we have EVERY desire (above all else) for His will.

Though I will place our prayer requests below, I want to share that I will be doing a "Blog Hop" later today. It's about serving and I'll be touching on adoption and serving God. If you're interested check back!

And so you don't think I forgot (picked by our sweet little Ethiopian Princess) the winner of the beautiful necklace (benefiting AHope in Ethiopia) is (though it feels like I should be saying are :))....."Dave and Jody"!!! I will be contacting you sometime today! Gotta tell you, I'm finding it VERY hard not to order one for myself! LOVE the necklace!!!

Check back next month during this time for our next giveaway! We'll be praying we've passed court by then! Maybe we'll be celebrating a travel date!

CONDENSED and VERY SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST LIST

1. We are praying for the lawyer and his conviction when He sees our children's faces.
2. We are praying for paperwork to be perfect and present.
3. We are praying for those relinquishing...for their spirit, hope, God's peace. We are also praying they are able to be present with the correct identification.
4. We are praying for the judge and that he sees the need to pass us the first time we come to court and the papers are sped to the embassy where we receive a very quick embassy date.
5. We are praying that we are able to travel in April, not for convenience, but to know our children are safe during elections in Ethiopia and to have confidence they are where they are supposed to be...forever (as long as God loans our children to us on this earth).
6. Most importantly we are praying that our twins are warm, comforted, loved, held, that angels are surrounding them, that God's hand is upon them...and the list goes on and on.
7. We are also praying that God blesses us financially and the funds flood in for travel.

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Please continue to pray for a few others that, in their situations, governments (and mountains) need to move to bring their children home.
Please pray for Daniel, Junior and Dimoh (Liberia).
Please pray for Olivia Mame (Ethiopia)
Please pray for Rolando and Julia (Guatemala)

Please also pray for healing for three little girls with Leukemia, Abby, Tatum, and Elke.

How Can You Afford All Those Children?

Often as adoptive parents and parents of a large family, we are asked how we can afford it...

Here's a very simple explanation that I found through an acquaintance of mine...

We have a wealthy father who's into cattle ranching(Psalm 50:10).

He's pretty big in the fishing industry(Mark 1:17).

He owns an extremely large house, and we always have an invitation to go there(John 14:2).

He approves of having lots of children,(Genesis 1:28) and has offered to help us out whenever we need it!(Isaiah 41:10)

With a situation like this, how can we afford not to?