Well, it's Friday

Fridays are the mornings I look forward to and dread every week. Many referrals seem to happen on Fridays. So, the idea that "Today could be the day" seems even stronger on Fridays. Today I want to rejoice in what I do have not what I am waiting for. So here is a list of the little happies from this morning.

Levi and Asher came bouncing down the stairs wearing the same PJs. Adorable. 

So many hugs. 5 little ones have given me hugs and snuggles today. 

Chocolate. Shallow, yes, but I am so thankful for it. 

A hard working, God following, loving leader of a hubby. 

A messy, happy, busy home. 

Dance parties in the middle of the day.

God's word and the encouragement and comfort I only find in it. 

Sweaty headed, sticky fingered, dirty kneed little boys. They keep me busy and make me smile. 

Ethiopian coffee shared by friends

Summer rain

 

So many other little things that just remind me that God is so good and he loves me.

Friday

Ah, yes, it's Friday again. I have such mixed feelings about Friday. On one hand, I love the strong possibility of referrals. On the other hand I hate that I jump every time my phone rings. And my heart sinks when it isn't my agency. Fridays are a tease...So, today I woke up hopeful. I do most mornings. I jump out of bed thinking this could be the day! My stomach goes all butterflies. When I think about getting the call it is like being a Jr. High girl. You know, when the guy you like accidentally brushes up against you and internally your stomach is doing the worm. Yea, that's the feeling I get when I think about the call! We are talking butterflies of EPIC proportions.

So, I got out of bed this morning. As I am praying I felt like God just spoke the word "faithfulness" to me. I realize this is not a burning bush moment or anything, but nonetheless it was what God had for me this morning. He is faithful. Always has been. Always will be. He knows exactly who our daughter is. He knows her name. He knows each hair on her precious little baby head. (Oh, I can't wait to play with that hair!) He knows I yearn for my girl. He knows my heart hurts for her. He gets it. He hasn't left any of us hanging in this. God is faithful. It is who he is. It is his nature. I know he has brought us here. He is not going to leave us in this place forever. (Even if it feels like it some days).

The real test of faith is right about now. It is easy to be hopeful in the morning. But by 2-3 pm you are kind of feeling like this may never happen. I know it will. Trust me. I just feel like we will be waiting forever. So, I reserve this hour as a do nothing kind of time. Wait by the phone. Maybe watch a show, but don't leave the house, take a shower, or call a friend. Heaven forbid, you call a friend and the phone is busy when the agency calls! I know I sound like a freak. I am giving you the honest to goodness truth. By 5pm when the phone hasn't rang on a Friday. I have a good sob. Pray that next week is the week and go on with the weekend.

God is faithful. I know his timing is perfect. When we do get the call we will go absolutely insane and the whole neighborhood will know. I wait for that day with butterflies of anticipation. I know it is coming. I long for it. Who knows, this Friday isn't over. It could still be today. Or next week, or next month, but it will come. We will see our baby girl's face. And it will be the perfect time.

Friday again

It's Friday again. The name of the game is to stay busy. Fridays are known to have the most referrals. You could get a call any day, but for some reason Friday seems to be the big one. So, I have two options. #1 is to sit in my house by my phone all day begging it to ring. I have done this. It isn't pretty, but it has been known to happen. #2 Do stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. So, today we have done stuff. We went to Sam's found a whole bunch of reduced meat. Brought it home and stuck everything in the fridge. Went to the park and played and had lunch. Came home for nap time. Enlisted Abigail to help me with an impromptu mini freezer cook with said meet. We made 8 meals so far and I have one more pack to sort and freeze for the grill. Now I am on to laundry. Then I will do floors. I have few ideas for tonight all of which are fun, upbeat, and with people I love being around. Staying busy at this point is my main line of defense (aside of course from God) against insanity. I am keeping a to do list going to keep my time passing.

It may seem wildly productive, but yet my house still doesn't sparkle. What's up with that? Well, I have sat still too long and the 2 phones sitting here next to me still aren't ringing so I am going to go do laundry. Here's hoping my next post will be about our referral!

This is all my fault

So, our bio kids came fast. Like, really fast. So fast that by the time Levi came I was really tired. I remember not long after he was born laying in bed talking to God. I'm pretty sure the conversation went something like this:

God,
Thank you for my boys! I love them. Thank you for this precious little man you have given us. Please Lord, DON'T LET US HAVE ANOTHER BABY FOR A FEW YEARS. I'd love to wait to get pregnant again until at least after Levi is 2. It would be great if we could even wait 3 years...

So, as you can see, God answers prayers. Unfortunately, I just jumped the gun on my asking. However, the good news is that my baby will be three in less than a week. So, God, thank you for being good and giving me what I asked for. Now, I've learned my lesson. Can I please have a referral! :)

Thankful

Some days I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. When we started this journey we knew it would be expensive. We were planning on around $25,000. That is a crazy amount of money. We have 3 little boys and we do our best to live within our means. We try to be good stewards, but even still that is a lot of money. However, this was one area I just knew God had covered.

Then we realized that costs were rising. Things need renewed that weren't factored in. Gas prices went up and so did the cost of plane tickets. Paperwork costs were rising. Doctors visits were expensive. All these things factor in to making the cost of adoption so high.  We are estimating that at this point our adoption will cost will be closer to $40,000 total. That is nuts.

I am so awed because God has provided! He has blessed us sooo much. We are so close to our goal it is crazy. At this point we are only about $5,000 away from our estimated cost. So much of that came from gifts. Friends have donated, supported fundraisers, and be so generous. I am without words for how thankful we are. Some gifts have been anonymous. Some are from friends we haven't seen in years. Some are from strangers! All gifts are so appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who have given. Thank you to all who have prayed for us. Thank you to all who have loved us through even the tough spots. We are so thankful. 

Psalm 84

Psalm 84^[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.^[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹ How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
² My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
³ Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.^[c]

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.^[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.

⁸ Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
⁹ Look on our shield,^[e] O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

¹² Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

This morning as I was praying God brought this Psalm to mind. It is one of my favorites. I'm so thankful for God's word. I'm thankful for the truth that my God never leaves me, and knows the plans he has for me. He knows. I don't need to. 

Today I am praying for:

A referral for our baby girl

Joy through the wait

All of the families who have recent court dates. That they would pass and  bring their babies home soon. 

For our friend's the Rogers' paperwork to be miraculously where they need it when it needs to be there. 

Court Closures

Today we found out the official dates for court closures in Ethiopia. From August 22-October 1 the courts will be closed for the rainy season. The cool thing is that they will be closing later than we had anticipated. That is great. That means more court dates. There is a piece of me that is praying like crazy that we will get a referral and then get an amazingly quick court date. I am trying to remember that God's timing isn't on my schedule.

If we do have to wait until after closures it would be cool to get a date for the first week. My birthday is in early October, and I think that might be a good way to celebrate. :) Please pray for us as we wait. It is so appreciated. Today is 20 months since we joined the wait list (DTE). That is much longer than we had originally thought. Waiting is long, but we know it will be worth it. We are anxious for a call and a picture of our baby girl. Hopefully, soon we can update with some amazingly awesome news.