Movin on up!

This week we went to a home school conference and had a blast. We were able to go to some very encouraging sessions, get all our homeschool goodies, spend time with our friends, meet some new friends who are also in the adoption process and also some who have brought their baby home, and had some much needed rest and time with just Dan and I. We had such a great time.

While we were there we went to Starbucks each morning to check our email and of course have some amazing coffee (Oh, peppermint mocha, how I love thee!) When I was looking at the Yahoo group I saw that there were lots of referrals!! So many that we moved up 5 spaces! We are number 20 on the list! (it is the unofficial list, but whatever it gives me a number. :)  We are so excited to see things moving again. It is encouraging to hear that some of the scary changes have actually improved things. I love that God can use stuff for his glory that our minds see as obstacles.

We are just praying that more people continue to pass court quickly so the referrals can continue to come. We are waiting and continuing to fundraise/save for the rest of the costs. We are so excited that God has provided so much so that we now are just saving for travel (about $10,000 more) God has been so faithful and I just can't wait to see the details that he has in store for our little girl's story. Again thank you to all who are continuing to pray with us as we go on this journey. We are so blessed.

four and some change

Well, I have not done a very good job at keeping every one updated. Partially because there hasn't been much worth updating. We have been keeping very busy and the time is starting to fly by. We have been officially waiting over four months now. With all of the changes going on with Ethiopian adoption we are not sure for now what the time frame will look like. Our agency is still saying 7-11 months for a referral so hopefully that is the case. We are so excited to see our little girl.


In the mean time we have been busy with lots of other good things. Apex had a night of worship and graciously allowed us to sell cookies during the evening. We again joined up with the Rogers and the fun began.

We had so many people donate so many cookies. Our house church baked 26 dozen cookies. Dan and his brother and some friends baked 30 dozen. So we had COOKIES! Every one again was so generous. From bringing cookies to donating we were so blessed and thankful. With each fundraiser we get closer to funding the adoption. With each month that passes we get closer to bringing home our little one. :)

contentment

Today I saw this posted on the intercountry adoption page. It looks like the adoption process could be taking significantly longer than originally thought.  I know the roller coaster of emotions has only begun. We are trying to put our complete trust in the Lord because we know he is sovereign.

For now, I have to learn to be content. At this moment this adoption is putting us in a freeze. You see, for the past 10 years my life has been a whirlwind of constant happenings. I met Dan, I graduated high school, went to college, got engaged, moved into an apartment on my own, got married, moved into an apartment with Dan in Lafayette, he graduated college, we bought a home, we moved to OH, found out we were having a baby, had Isaac, got pregnant really quick, had a miscarriage, got pregnant really quick again, had Asher, made it to a first birthday not pregnant, got pregnant the next month, had Levi, realized we had grown out of our home, saved up a down payment and put our house on the market, God made it clear the down payment for a house was actually for an adoption.

I can tell you that many of these happenings were not in our timing. We knew we were getting married, but we ended up moving that up a year. We bought our house with the intention of living here for 2-3 years and moving into something bigger. We have lived here almost 6 years. We figured we would maybe have one baby in this house. Surprise we had 3 and plan on a fourth here. Our babies have all come quickly. In fact, most of the things in our lives have come quickly. Even if we hadn't planned on them coming so quickly. When we started the adoption paperwork we anticipated 18 months to 2 years until little girl would be home. Now, we are really unsure of any time frame. The significant delays could be months or years. We have no idea. We are stalled. We are stuck.

So now, in this chapter, I believe God is teaching me to be ok where I am. He has spent the last few years showing me that his timing is way better than my own. I wouldn't change any of my boys birthdays. So, I know God has our little girl's birthday in mind too. It may not fit on my plan. She may not be here for the fall pictures like I had hoped. She may not wear the Christmas dress I have already for her. But when she finally does get here we will rejoice all the more. She is so loved already. I can't wait to hold her and have her here. Until then I will wait. I will know God has her safe in his arms. I will anxiously see what God has to teach me in the waiting. And I will work on enjoying the blessings I am surrounded with right now.

Please join us in prayer

Last night we received this email from our agency.

We are writing to ask your family to join us in prayer for the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWA) regarding the number of cases they will be able to process each day. They have made statements that they desire to decrease the number of recommendation letters they write each day. We understand that because of these statements, the Court and MOWA are in the process of meeting to discuss and work out any potential changes or new processes regarding adoptions in Ethiopia. We want to blanket these meetings with prayer and ask you to come along side us in this.   

We are sorry to be sending information to your family so late in the day but we wanted to communicate this request to you before the weekend. We know rumors and concerns can arise from any information being shared in the adoption community and our desire is to continue to primarily provide you with any confirmed information in a timely manner. Please rest assured we will continue to seek information on what is happening in the adoption process in Ethiopia and will share with you any new confirmed information we receive.  

So we will be praying in our home. I know many other families who are also praying with us. We don't know what this means for us right now with the adoption. It may not change anything, but there is a chance it could slow our adoption process down dramatically. 

Also, if you are praying for Ethiopian adoption and MOWA please keep us in prayer. I know with out a shadow of a doubt that God is so much bigger than this. He has it under control. He knew about this before we started thinking about adoption. He has our little girl in his hands. But this side of the situation it is hard. We just want her home. We want her in our arms. I have clothes friends have given us for her that I don't know if she will ever fit in. I can't wait to hold her. The boys are asking more often when their sister is coming home, and I don't know.  Me the human, impatient, control freak wants the answers, and I have to be content that God just has it. So, please pray for me and our family as we attempt to put it all in God's hands and not hold back any worry or fear.  Ultimately God is so good!

^" 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

Practice

This week the boys and I have embarked on our first no daddy vacation. This is not by choice, but we are saving up Dan's vacation time for a very exciting trip (to Ethiopia...twice). Much of my family is out in AZ and we hadn't been to visit in a long time. It was at least before Levi was born. So, Tuesday I packed up the boys we did our normal Tuesday school thing. They had a fun Valentines day party. Then we went to our favorite place for Chicken and grabbed some nuggets (Holla for some Chick fil A). Then we got in the car and drove to South Bend, IN. Car trip was amazing. Every one napped. I got to chat with one of my BFFs for about an hour. Listened to one of my Dave Ramsey CDs and then we jammed out to some Veggie tales.

Wed we headed to the airport. Got checked in went through security and all went well. We rode a budget airline who is not super kid friendly. It was like the running of the bulls getting on this plane. From there it went down hill...They started boarding 45 mins before they were supposed to leave I was there 2 hours early so we were ready. However, being the super cheap frugal gal that I am I opted not to spend extra to board early (mistake number one). Then we boarded each big boy had a back pack, I had a backpack, a baby and a diaper bag, and a rolling suitcase. They had us walk up a set of stairs to the plane and just watched as Levi tried to wiggle out of my arms. As I was trying to find my seat one of the stewardess asked if she could check my rolling suitcase which had all our extra clothes in it. I had just checked Levi and he was totally dry so I said sure. We found our seats and got settled. As soon as we sat down Levi peed out all over me. I quickly changed his diaper on my lap, but we had to stay in our yucky clothes. Isaac and Asher were perfect through all this may I say. They were so excited. They played quietly ate snacks, and enjoy the flight. Then there was my precious baby who had apparently been possessed by the plane demon upon entry. Screaming kicking, hitting seats, stepping on his brothers. I did get him to sleep for a little over an hour (best part of the trip). Then he woke up during our descent and was ANGRY. Not quite as angry as the elderly lady sitting next to us, but he was mad.

Honestly we had a good flight with minimal issues, but  flying with a lapchild is less than ideal. It made me think about our trip home with our baby girl. This poor baby will be completely out of her element. With these two strangers for a really long time in a really short space. I don't know what that will look like, but I have a feeling God may have been giving me some practice before the big trip. All that being said I am still ready to get on the plane and go get her. (even though we still have a long while before that happens.)

The funny part about the whole trip is that we got off the plane and Levi was happy and sweet. You would never have thought he had just given his mama such a hard time. :) He slept well last night and today has been having fun at Gigi's and Pop pop's. Isaac is having a blast. He and Asher had a tennis lesson today. And now he and my mom are swimming. Asher is taking a nap and I am hanging out with my baby  for a bit. Tonight we get to go to the restaurant\my dad works at. Yum. We are spending time with my grandparents and Aunt and Uncle. It will be a fun week. We are missing Daddy though. It will be worth getting back on a plane to go home and see him.

Adoption freebie

I'm super excited about this freebie. You can download Adopted for Life FREE! I haven't read (or listened) to this yet, but I have heard it is a great book.

Ethiopia Video

I found this video on another adoption blog. It was too good not to share.