Friday, August 29, 2008

Update

I have been desperate for an update....look what email I just read...I wish I could post their pictures because they are both getting so big and healthy and beautiful....

This was written by one of the staff members in Ethiopia...
"These children have come a long way! We are so proud of them and have loved watching them develop! They are very expressive and fun to play with or just watch! B seems as shocked by the size of his belly as I am, and neither one of us can resist rubbing it! He was so funny today; matching me noise for noise! He would watch my tongue and wiggle his the same way, making the same sound! Y is equally expressive but her beauty makes me take her a little more seriously! Her smile is mesmerizing! B and Y are very much compatible and obviously love each other very much!"

They are 15 months old....B Weight- 20.9 pounds Y Weight- 16.5 pounds

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Solio Deo Gloria

***Updated with awesome news of some of our other favorite buddies....Go check out Jana and Michael...they got their referral after 7 long months of waiting!



We have met some amazing people along this adoption journey...God has been amazingly kind to us in the friendships He has brought us and the community He has created for all of our family!

Go check one of our favorite buddies...the Alexanders...who are in Ethiopia right now picking up their son. And as a plus for us all...they have a professional photographer traveling with them so the pictures are beautiful and a must see...

New pets

The kids started school last week. My camera somehow replaced their first day of school pictures with these weird graphics...I have no idea how that happened or what to do about it.

The only pictures that survived are these below...we have new pets. To explain the madness of more pest...we have the awesome school experience where the kids go to a part time school...they go 2 full days a week and I home school the remaining days. As part of our homeschooling this semester we are doing science and art projects. So these pets are more like "projects"...and the learning aspect gives me better motivation to clean fish tanks and hamster cages.

In the pet store Hannah insisted on getting something pink...thus the fish. But getting home she realized the hamster is way cooler and lots more fun...so she is rethinking the pink strategy. A few days ago I caught her walking toward the fish tank with the fish net in her hands. After approaching her she said, "Mom I'm just going to play with my fish" Well, duh! Great idea...fish love to be played with.






Sunday, August 17, 2008

Peer pressure?

We are blessed with many friends who share our hearts for adoption...yeah!!!! And apparently the men have decided they share a heart for tattoos...yikes! This weekend 3 Daddies permanently displayed their love for their adopted children, the countries in which they were born, and the Savior who has adopted us all (Ephesians 1:5).






Sunday, August 10, 2008

October 17th

We have a new court date....October 17th. We are hopeful that we can then bring the twins home a few weeks following that date. As we enter yet another season of waiting...we are still learning what it means to fully trust in the Lord's perfect plan...

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

A note on the previous post...I included a portion of Ephesians 3...I was "randomly" reading that paragraph a few minutes before our case worker called. I knew I was waiting to find out when we would be allowed to bring the babies home and I was stealing a few minutes of time to myself....I read "to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" and I just stopped and thought "Oh NO!"....I thought "Lord I know my vision and desires are so limited...I just want these babies home....help me to trust in what You have planned" Then the phone rang....and tonight I still am "trying" to learn through the tears what it means to trust in what He has planned.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Sad news...

We did not pass court today like we had hoped for. The rainy season court closure has begun....so our next expected appearance in court is sometime in October. We are so sad and asking for God's power and peace to guide us these next few months of more waiting....

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Pray and Shop

***Updated....Go read this post if you too are waiting...
Pray....
Tomorrow, August 6th, the courts close for the rainy season. Our case is still open in court....please pray for us tonight (Ethiopia is 7 hours ahead of us)...that while we are sleeping (trying to sleep) our case is approved by the judge in Ethiopia!
Shop....
Some of our dearest friends have designed the coolest logo. Please go check out their cafe press site and buy something! You will be supporting something great and wearing something very cool! Please pass the word around....