Challenge

Having a week (or so ... !) of being challenged by my own stinking attitude when it comes to kids and being overwhelmed by attachment issues, complaining, lack of gratitude, you name it.  It has been long enough, I think, that these behaviors should be starting to subside a little.  My "look-the-other-way, cut-you-a-LOT-of-slack, make-excuses-for-you" mode has, well, ended.  Almost one year has passed and what I realize about me is that I am patient, but not really extra-patient.  I'm done.  Over it.  Ready for everyone (everyone!) to pull up the boot straps and fall in line.  Done with the lazy approach to learning, done with acting as though you're on a long vacation and it's the job of some in this family to serve your every whim and complaint.  Done, done, done.  I know you can do better than that.  I expect you to do better than that.  You owe it to your birth mom to do better than that.

 

Which lead me to feeling utterly justified in catering to my flesh and my desire to unload "with both barrels" (as my mom used to say).  Not a good place from which to start - tired, irritated, filled with some not-so-nice thoughts as to your behavior and just what I'd like to do if I hear it one more time.  Nope.

 

And then, when I was knee-deep in my feeling justified and forming the words for the very next opportunity that arose, I came across this ...

 

 

Took the wind right out from under my attitude.  Ugh.  Slowed down my beating drum of anger and 'doneness' and made me think.  I really, really felt justified in my sin abounding.  Wanted to not only live in it, but get right down and wallow in it.  And, to be honest, there have been days when I did just that.  It felt pretty good for a minute or three.  And then, it didn't.  It felt a lot like NOT walking in newness of life.  It felt a lot like death.  Death of relationship, death of a happy home, death of safety to speak up, death of my heart when I see the look of pain that comes from me acting on the conversation in my mind, and death of a child's heart and trust when a not-so-happy-mama unloads "with both barrels".

Sometimes God uses a seven-year-old little boy to do his bidding.  So thankful He does.

Thirteen

I have been so negligent with the blog these past few weeks!  So much has happened - birthdays (5 of them!), swimming for the first time (an experience none of us will forget!), the first summer at the lake for all 13 of us, lots and lots of cooking, gardening and canning, and visits with friends new and old.

 

It's late and this mama is headed to bed, but I wanted to post SOMETHING to get me back in the swing of blogging.

Here are a few photos of Jesse on his 13th birthday.  The boy loves his bicycle.  He's growing up and growing into such a neat young man.  He started basketball conditioning with Isaac this summer preparing for the long season coming up in October.  He's been taking guitar lessons . . . more on that later . . . and really loves church.  We were talking about tithing tonight and he said, "Mom!  EVERY Sunday I want to take dollar to church.  When I get there, I forget and then I almost cry."  Sweet, sweet boy. 

I have so many posts and photos to share.  Some fun, some funny, some serious, some informative and hopefully helpful to someone.  If there's anything you'd like to ask or know about large family life, homeschooling, and/or adoption of many and older children, please feel free to ask.  I could use a few good prompts to get me writing again!

I'm knee deep in planning for the upcoming year with ELEVEN students!  Feeling pretty good about what's to come and praying for a good year.

Adoption is beautiful, but also stretching in ways we could have never imagined.  Just when we feel like we've figured something out, a new issue arises.  No sleeping on the job around here!

Hope you're all surviving the heat!

And Now For Some Humor!

As the days march on, we are settling well into a new routine.  Different forever than the old one, but not bad.  Just different.  Luckily, we are finding humor in things that otherwise may just push us all over the edge.

Things about America that African children find amazing:

1.  Washers and dryers.  Who knew?  All of the kids are fascinated by the bizarre American custom of throwing dirty clothes into a deep, dark hole in a large metal machine and having them come out sometime later (after much churning and spinning) wet and clean.  "MOM!  What???"

The dryer . . . rates even higher however.  Pulling warm clothes and towels out and holding them up to their faces just about did them in.  How is this possible??? they seemed to ask with their expressions.

It has also become a game for them as dirty laundry goes in and then comes out sometime later - warm and dry and smelling like Downy - to see if they can identify the owner of each item.  Phoebe especially, likes to stand right.up.in.the.dryer. when I'm trying to unload it and shout out with such excitement, "MOM!!!  Phoebe!!!",  "MOM!!!  Eliza!", "MOM!!!! Olivia!!"  (Which sounds like "O-Lee-Vee-Uh")  This is cute for about the first two minutes.  Then, after the first FIVE minutes or so and after about the tenth load . . . not so cute.  I have to keep reminding myself that she is taking such joy in what is such a mundane task for me.  It has actually helped me enjoy doing laundry.  Such wonder and pleasure in such a simple thing.

For Ben, our most mechanically inclined, these two machines completely captivate him.  When I'm in the kitchen, content knowing that the laundry is clipping along, my bliss is interrupted by the ringing of bells on the dryer.  I tiptoe down the hall and see him open the dryer door, close it, push any and all buttons and re-start the dryer on all different settings.  This little dance may happen five or six times in a five minute period.  He is dead-set on figuring out how this thing can be responsible for such magic.  Some days, I open the dryer and find his wet and muddy snowpants stuffed in with a load of clean and almost dry towels.  OR . . . I open the washer and find a load of clothing - already washed - sharing space with wet, muddy jeans. 

I started noticing that my go-to washer settings - Load size: Super, Temp: Hot, Task: Heavy Duty Wash - were mysteriously changed when I went to take a load out.  The dials now read such ridiculous things as Load size: Small (this has NEVER happened), Temp: Cold (very rare) and Task: Rinse Only.  The first few times I thought either I was losing it or the machine was malfunctioning.  I'm slow.

Utterly fascinated . . . but not yet comprehending the process!  Ha!  :-) 

2.  Ice.  Who knew?  Two love it . . . two hate it.  "Mom!!! (always with a LOUD volume and ended with an exclamation point!)  Water!  ICE!!!"  . . . or . . . "Mom!!  Water!  NO ICE!!!"

Also included in this category is ice cream.  I know this will sound so cruel, but I cannot tell you how utterly hilarious it is to witness someone's first popsicle headache.  And even MORE hilarious to see it happening to FOUR people at the same time!  :-)  Sick, I know.

3.  Volume controls.  Up.  Down.  Up.  Down.  "Um . . . Isaac . . . could you please go and see what exactly is going on in there?" 

This fascination also applies to remote controls of any kind.  Take the batteries in.  Take the batteries out.  Push all the buttons.  Hold it up to the ear to see if it makes a sound. 

Week number two, Zane came marching up the stairs from the basement - Jesse and Ben left in his wake - shouting at full volume, "YOU ARE FORBIDDEN FROM EVER TOUCHING THE REMOTES AGAIN!!!!!"  Followed by, "Mom!!!  Do I have authority over them???  They are touching everything and now they have PERMANENTLY ruined the XBox!!!"  Did I mention he is six?  He has no fear and thinks it is his sole purpose in life to point out to Jesse and Ben all the ways they are NOT acting like normal Americans. 

The unforeseen gift in this is that all of the kids, while completely annoyed at many and different points throughout the day, have also found great humor in it.  All 13 of us have had SUCH moments of side-splitting laughter over the silliest things.  It has helped us see how things that seem normal to us are completely weird to the new kids and we all just LAUGH.  And then we fall on the floor and laugh some more. 

And truly, laughter is THE best medicine for healing and growing.

Cuteness and Fun on a Warm Day in . . . January?

Yesterday was long but good and while still thinking through Part 2, I thought I'd post some photos of our day.  Such a strange, glorious block of weather we've been having.  I think it was almost 55 degrees.  Midwest, middle of January, should be snowy and COLD.  We are ALL really glad it's not!  :-)

Right hand woman.  :-)

Have a great day!

The Hard and Beautiful Truth . . .

Quick Update

I have so, so many thoughts and feelings swirling through my head and heart these past few days.  Still trying to process and write them out in some coherent manner.  As soon as I can find 5 minutes to do that, I will share with you here.  Adoption before kids arrive is such a consuming experience of anticipation.  After . . . well . . . after is where reality sets it.  Raw, real, heartbreaking, heart-exploding-full-of-love reality.

For now, the kids really enjoyed the brief snow day.  Woke up to a blanket of white exclaiming, "Beh REH doh, beh REH doh!!!"  (Sounds like bear- REH-do with the 'r' rolling off the tongue like a Spanish 'r'.)  We're pretty sure they've never actually seen or felt or tasted snow, but have heard about it and seen photos from traveling families who have visited the Transition Home.  Pretty cool to see it their first week home.

Phoebe hamming it up for the camera.  Loads of personality.

Ben.  This boy spent the ENTIRE day outside.  When the snow got boring, he came in, put on shorts, went back out and rode a bike for about 3 hours straight.  He and Jesse spent two full days - no breaks - teaching themselves to ride a bike.  They'd never seen or ridden one, but for some reason their image of America included bikes and they couldn't wait to give it a try.  After two days, lots of falls, and incredible tenacity, they both mastered it. :-)

 

And then we have Georgia.  Or Cindy Lou Who as we like to call her.  Not amused with her sister pointing the camera at her endlessly.  A twelve-year-old trapped in a two-year-old body.

Yes

Back to Ethiopia for Our Embassy Appointment!

Rob and Olivia flew out Sunday morning at 5:50 a.m. to go get our kids!  Our embassy appointment was today (Tuesday) at 1:00 p.m. Ethiopia time, and we PASSED!  Rob was able to get a lot of good information on the kids' history, some medical questions answered and take the kids out to eat for lunch.  This was their FIRST EVER time to eat in a restaurant and maybe their first time to use a fork!  Crazy, but in Ethiopia the traditional meal is eaten with your hands and it is likely that's all they've ever eaten.  They were pretty talented right off the bat and enjoyed showing off their fork skills for Dad.  :-)

Tomorrow they'll get a chance to spend one last day with their friends and nannies, one last night sleeping in their beds at the Transition Home and then, on Thursday morning, they will be with Rob until they board the plane.  I have to tell you all that the scene of them saying goodbye continually plays in my head.  Shedding a lot of tears these past few days.  This has been their home and family for the past year and while they are coming to a family that loves them, this will be one more time of losing people they love and of saying goodbye forever.  So much wrenching heartache that braids itself throughout the joy.  Such a complicated, beautiful, horrible reality adoption is.

We would be so thankful for prayers for them.  This is surely all very exciting for them, but we also know that inside they have to be scared to death and so uncertain of what's to come.  If eating in a restaurant and using utensils is new, can you imagine all they will have to acclimate to once in the U.S.?  We are going to be very diligent about taking it slow with them and giving them time to adjust.  We would really love specific prayers that they would learn English quickly and be able to communicate their feelings to us. 

This is a forever home, but it will take some time to bond as a family, get used to America, and grieve.  For the next couple of months we will be hanging out very close to home.  Probably won't see us at church for a while, probably won't be seeing us much at all.  This seems really severe, but all the good literature on adoption AND families who have gone before, advise that it is critical that we bond well at the outset to help with success long-term as a family.  In the context of the rest of their lives, a few months seems not so long.  We have appreciated so much - do appreciate - all the kindness shown to us by so many of you. We pray everyone will be understanding of our decision and patient with them as they graft into the Thomas family.

Our good friend Tracy has set up a meal schedule at http://www.takethemameal.com/ .  If you are interested in helping us out in this way, please email me and I will get you the login information.  We don't expect this, but many people have asked if they could bless us this way, and the answer is yes!  I have no idea what to expect in the next few weeks, but imagine it will be challenging and not having to plan meals and grocery shop will help this mama a ton.

I am hoping to post more photos soon.  Olivia promises to put her photography skills to use today (at midnight our time, they are just going down to eat breakfast (8:00 a.m.) and preparing for their day.)  The plan today is to stick close to the Transition Home, spend time with our kids and the kids still waiting on their forever families to come.

Susannah Konjit - 3 1/2 years

Hope you all take time today and the next few to focus on Christ and the true beauty of this season.  Slow down, pray up and enjoy.

Love you all . . .

Have You Ever Wondered . . .

. . . if those sponsor kids are really real?  Is it really true that $34.00 a month is all it takes to feed and educate a child in a poor country?

I am writing tonight to advocate for a particular program called Children's Hopechest.  You can find their button on the left side of the blog if you scroll down a little.  We have been sponsoring a little boy through CH for a little over a year now.  Last year, if you remember, Rob went to Ethiopia to help out with several projects at a Children's Hopechest carepoint  - Trees of Glory.  The little boy we sponsor attended the school there and we were both really excited to meet him in person and take him a care package.  When Rob met him, he (Abush) cried most of the time, barely talked to anyone and was visibly a scared, sad little boy.  He was found alone and wandering the streets when he was 4 years old - a full orphan - and except for the dedicated people at Trees of Glory and an elderly woman who now cares for him, he is alone in the world.  He wanted nothing to do with Rob and when one of the teachers at the carepoint asked him what was wrong, he told him he knew Rob wouldn't ever come back.  His heart had been broken and abandoned and he had no interest in playing that game again.  How much can one little heart endure?  Rob had a very difficult time leaving him and we have prayed for him and worried about him ever since.

These photos are from last year . . .

What I want to share with you is this . . . YES. YES. YES!!!  Sponsoring a child makes a VERY real difference in their lives.  We have been so blessed because Rob and three of our kids have been able to meet our sponsor child and able to visit with him AGAIN this year when we went to Ethiopia for our court trip.  Since he began attending Trees of Glory, he has been receiving meals and schooling each day for the past year  AND, he has been able to do that because we sponsor him for a mere $34.00 per month.  Seriously.  I haven't thought much about that money this past year - haven't even missed it - and truthfully, I haven't thought a ton about how it might be helping or what it was really meaning to him.  I've thought a TON about him, but the money, not so much.

What has the price of a few drinks at Starbucks given him?  A chance.  A chance to eat regular meals.  A chance to learn to read.  A chance to have something of a family - a community of friends - and loving adults at the carepoint who know him and love him and NOTICE him.  And most of all, a chance to not have to wander about in a dark night, foraging for food, terrified of every sound and movement in the darkness with no mommy or daddy to hold him, or worry about him, or love him.

This year, the day after I flew home, Rob was able to hire a driver to take him back up to Trees of Glory.  It so beautifully happened to be the same day a team of people from the U.S. - some of whom had been there last year - was arriving to work and visit with the children.  (you can read more about that at http://family-from-afar.blogspot.com/ .)  When he got there, he looked high and low and across the field he spotted him!  And WOW, what a difference a year makes.  What a difference a tiny bit of money and a whole lot of prayers and knowing - believing - that somewhere across the world, someone loves you and is thinking of you and CARES how you are doing.  And all of that makes one very important difference - it brings HOPE back into your life, and the world looks very different from the vantage point of hope.  Very different from the one of despair you knew such a short time ago.  He was full of life and laughter and HAPPY to see Rob.

And here is the same darling boy the day after Rob flew home, opening his care package from us . . .

Is he not the most handsome little man you've ever seen?  Just sayin'.  And yes, we are both still praying for God to make a way for him to join our family.  The twelfth man.  :-)

If you've ever thought about sponsoring a child, PLEASE don't hesitate.  Don't think so long that you never act.  If you want more information on Children's Hopechest, PLEASE send me an email.  I would be THRILLED to help you get in contact with the right people.  Children's Hopechest has sponsor programs all over the world wherever the need is great.  Of course . . . my heart is slightly partial to Ethiopia!  :-)

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Advent Reading - Day 9


Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:  "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain.  You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"  See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him.  See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.  He tends his flock like a shepherd:  He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.  (NIV)

Advent Reading - Day 7

This is the last day of Prophecy week in Advent.  These verses from Malachi and Luke foretell the coming of John the Baptist, who was the final prophet to tell of the coming Messiah . . .

Malachi 3:1

"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me.  And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.

Luke 1:67-79

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:  "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.  He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us -- to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham:  to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.  And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (NIV)

Embassy! and Reading - Day 3

We got an email tonight saying . . .

"Congratulations, your family’s paperwork is being submitted to the US Embassy tomorrow."

. . . and all  I can say is "YIPPEE"!!!!!  This means that if all goes well and their file looks good, we could be cleared for travel in as little as 8-10 days.  PRAYING! We feel pretty confident that it will be a smooth clearance.  Usually, hold-ups occur because of questions in their status (are they true orphans?, etc.) or issues with health (positive TB test, etc.).  Our kids' case is well documented, well investigated and they are healthy.  And yes, we are praying!  It would be such a gift to have them home and settling in before Christmas morning.  As a homeschooling mama, I would also love that month-long break to allow all the kids to have time to 'mesh' before the grind of school picks back up.

We've been gathering little gifts to send over to the kids with another family, but maybe, just maybe, we'll be delivering them in person!  :-)

And now, here's Day 3 - Waiting in anticipation . . .

Isaiah 42:1, 5-6

Behold, My Servant, whom I

uphold

My chosen one in whom My soul

delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the

nations.

Thus says God the LORD,

Who created the heavens and

stretched them out,

Who spread out the earth and its

offspring,

Who gives breath to the people on

it

And spirit to those who walk in it,

"I am the LORD, I have called You

in righteousness,

I will also hold you by the hand

and watch over You,

And I will appoint You as a

covenant to the people,

As a light to the nations." (NASB)

Isaiah 60:1-3, 19-22

"Arise, shine; for your light has

come,

And the glory of the LORD has

risen upon you.

"For behold, darkness will cover

the earth

And deep darkness the peoples;

But the LORD will rise upon you

And His glory will appear upon

you.

"Nations will come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of

your rising.

"No longer will you have the sun

for light by day,

Nor for brightness will the moon

give you light;

But you will have the LORD for an

everlasting light,

And your God for your glory.

"Your sun will no longer set,

Nor will your moon want;

For you will have the LORD for an

everlasting light,

And the days of your mourning

will be over.

"Then all your people will be

righteous;

they will possess the land

forever,

The branch of My planting,

The work of My hands,

That I may be glorified.

"The smallest one will become a

clan,

And the least one a mighty nation.

I, the LORD, will hasten it in its

time."

The Best Part of All

First of all, we want to say THANK YOU to so many people who have walked beside us in this journey.  Your prayers, kind words, helping hands, donations, time and love will forever be etched in our hearts.  We have learned so much from you about being His hands and feet.

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the playlist before viewing and please . . .

Meet the newest members of our family . . .

2nd Leg Is On The Way!

I elected to leave my laptop at home and use hubby's while away.  Unfortunately, that meant I also needed to remember all of my passwords/login information after many hours of flying and serious jet lag.  If you've been following this blog over the past week, you know that didn't happen.  :-) I could not remember my login info for the blog.  Not.  Tried every password I could remember (and there are several) but not one worked.  Not one.  So . . . I am just going to pretend it's one week earlier and post our updates like I wanted to from Ethiopia.  Please, play along . . .

This is the second team heading out for Dulles at 4 a.m.  Our dear friends graciously offered to drive us to the airport.  They got up at 3:30 a.m. in order to be at our house on time.  Oh.my.goodness.  I did not sleep more than an hour before having to get up and go.  I never sleep well before traveling and this was no exception.  Longer trip + farther away + leaving kids at home = no sleep.  Eliza and I were running on fumes, but VERY excited to go and meet our new kids and reunite with Daddy and Ava . . .



See how happy we look?  So far, all was going as planned.  HOWEVER, that was about to change.  When we got inside and ready to check our baggage, the ticket agent informed us that we were flying to D.C. and then the FOLLOWING day flying out to Addis Ababa. 

"Hmmmm . . . could you please repeat that?" 

"Your ticket has you flying out from Indianapolis to Washington D.C. today and flying on to Ethiopia tomorrow."

"Umm . . . that's not gonna work.  I have to be in Addis by the morning of the 7th.  Can you please call Ethiopian Airlines and see if you can change the flight?"

"Sorry.  I tried their 800 number and they said they couldn't change it because the tickets were purchased through a travel agent."  (Using my ticket to cover his mouth as he coughed.  Gross.)

"Okay, well, I HAVE to be on that flight.  Any suggestions???" 

"You can try to talk to the agent in D.C. and see if they have room on the flight.  I can't guarantee they'll have room though."

Time to think on your feet mama!  There was no way we would make it to Ethiopia if we didn't risk it and go on to D.C.  Praying all the way, I decided to head on and trust God would make the way to get us on that day's flight to Ethiopia.  Once in D.C., we had to go down to baggage claim, get ALL of our bags (thanking God we sent the biggest donation bags with Rob the day before), go back through security (for the third time this trip - note to self:  do not wear a belt while flying!) up to the top level and BEG the Ethiopian airlines guy to let us on the flight.  He was willing, if we were willing to pay an extra $200/ticket!  Can you say, "Not in the game plan!"???  Once he realized it was the travel agent's mistake, he took pity and let us on for no extra charge.  Not the way we planned for the day to go, but it taught us both a lot about staying calm and trusting that God would work it out for good.

After that, the flight to Ethiopia was great.  Nice, new plane (Boeing 777), smooth, and decent food and movies.  We were blessed to be on the same flight with three other families adopting through America World who were in our travel group.

More to come . ..

We're On Our Way!

Today, bright and early, Rob, Ava and I got up around 4 a.m. and prepared to go to the airport.  This little lady woke up about ten minutes before Ava.  Out of the blue.  A little alarm clock?  She started crying and was having no part of going back to sleep.  That is completely out of the ordinary for her.  She's a through-the-night sleeper.  Being wise to the ways of children, we knew our only options were to take her along or let her cry and wake up all the other kids at 4 a.m.  Hmmmm . . . didn't seem like much of a decision.  :-)  So . . . we grabbed the nearest hat - her brother's - and along she came. 

She did not stop talking the entire time we were in the car.  "Is that the airfort?  No?  Oh, maaaaan!"  "Wook at doze wights.  They pretty.  Is that the airfort?"  "You going to Afica Daddy?  Oh, maaaan. . ."  "Doze wights is pretty."  The.entire.time.  So sweet and nothing sweeter than baby kisses to say goodbye on.

Here's the first leg team . . . They should be touching down in Addis Ababa at around midnight our time.  Ethiopia is about 8 hours ahead of us.  Unfortunately, that means they will have to hit the ground running as it will be 8 a.m. Addis time.  Hoping they slept on the plane . . .

Eliza and I will be flying out at 5:45 tomorrow morning - bright and early with bells on!  The best little gift is that tonight starts daylight savings time so we'll get an exta hour of sleep tonight.  :-)  Doubt mama will sleep much anyway, but the idea of an extra hour still sounds nice.

We'll try to keep the blog updated from Ethiopia.  Internet is spotty, so can't promise, but we will definitely give it our best shot. If we pass court on Thursday, we can post photos of the kids.  PRAYING we pass the first time.  If all goes well and all the letters are there, we should pass.  That could mean that our Embassy date will come within 4-6 weeks (or sooner, God willing!) and we can bring these little guys home forever!  In an ideal world that would be sometime just after Thanksgiving and a couple of weeks before Christmas.  (That pretty much narrows it down to the first week of December!)

THANK YOU to ALL of our friends and family who have been and continue to pray for us.  We have felt and continue to feel the peace and sense that you are praying.  Keep it up.  Please.  We love you all and can never put words to the emotions we feel - gratitude doesn't seem to come close.  There is something so precious about knowing you're being lifted up in prayer - truly a peace that passes all understanding.

Field Guide or "How to be the Village"

Hop on over to Jen Hatmaker's blog to read her post on "How to be the Village: http://jenhatmaker.com/blog

Thoughts . . . and a Challenge

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.""

II Corinthians 8:9-15


"The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164 million needy children.


And at first glance that looks like a big number.


2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.


The truth is that if only 8% of the Christians would care for ONE more child, there would not be any statistics left.”


~From the book Kisses from Katie



"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."


I Timothy 6:17-19

Leaving in 2 Weeks!!!

We will be somewhere over the Atlantic in just two weeks. While in-country we will be visiting several orphanages where the day-to-day needs are great. The nannies work very hard to make do with what they have, and so appreciate any items that come to them via adoptive families. Their needs/wants are not extravagant - just practical items that help tremendously to care for the little ones awaiting families.

We would be thrilled to deliver items if any of you would like to donate to the orphanages. No pressure, but we love to help and wanted to extend that ministry opportunity to our friends. No shipping costs . . . we'll deliver the items right into the hands of the nannies!

Below is a list of their current needs:

General Items:

- Children's clothing (new or slightly used only); boys' or girls', sizes 0-8 years.  Clothing needs include day clothes, pajamas, underwear and shoes

- Diapers for up to 30 pounds

- Toys to stimulate babies such as colorful objects, rattles, etc. that are appropriate for babies up to 2 years.

- Unscented baby wipes

- Powder baby formula with DHA/RHA (MUST be one of the following brands to keep their diets consistent:  Enfamil, Similac, Parents Coice from WalMart, Target's generic formula, Kirkland formula from Costco)

- A&D Original Ointmen, Diaper Rash and All-Purpose Skincare Formula

- Hand sanitizer

- Underwear for the older kids (8-14 years old)

- Clothes for older kids (especially trousers, dresses)

Medical items/Medications:

- Multivitamins:  (Tri-vi-sol (0-6 mos.), Poly-vi-sol (6 mos. - 2 yrs), Chewable multi-vitamins (2 to 9 years), Adult multi-vitamin (9 yrs. +)

- Tylenol (acetaminophen):  Infants, Children's, Suppository

- Syringes for giving medications (5mL)

- Plastic disposable gloves

- Baby nose saline spray

- Neosporin

- Mouth and nose masks

- Benadryl liquid/elixir

- Permetherin for scabies

- Toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss

If you would like to donate any of the items above, you can either contact me via email or by leaving a message here on the blog.  For those of you with my phone number, feel free to call.  I will be happy to pick items up to save you a trip.

THANK YOU so much.  We will take loads of photos so you can see the nannies and little ones your kindness helps.

Preparing to Travel . . .

We're busy getting the house ready, getting travel shots, and just generally trying to prepare for life with four new children. We have been submitted to court and are not so patiently waiting for word of when that date will be. It could be as early as mid/late October! The courts in Ethiopia have been closed for several weeks because of their rainy season. The constant rain makes travel difficult, so the courts essentially shut down during that time. Hard to imagine if you live the U.S., but that is life in Africa. Once we get the call, we will have to be prepared to fly within a few weeks. Did I ever mention I hate to fly? Really hate it. Hate the thought of leaving my babies here. Hate the thought of being cooped up in a plane for 18+ hours. This, of all the componets of this adoption, is the thing that is testing my faith the most.


Yet . . . after seeing update photos of the kids and getting even newer ones from a traveling fellow adoptive family, I almost cannot breathe most days. I need to get to them. Need to see them, hold them, tell them it will be okay. It is almost impossible to put into words the feelings now that we KNOW who they are. Trying hard to wait on God, yet not wanting to miss one more day with them. Wanting them out of the Transition Home and into our home, with their OWN beds, their OWN toys, their OWN clothes. They are very, very well cared for in the Transition Home, but everything there is community property. They will leave with only the clothes on their backs. Try to imagine that.

I want them to come home to rest and be filled with plenty of food and to be able to curl up in a warm bed that belongs all to them . . . a pillow that belongs all to them . . . pretty dresses and shoes - all yours baby girls . . . a new coat and new shoes that fit and weren't worn by several kids before you - all yours, dear sons. Most of all, I want them to have the chance to be kids again. To not live in fear. To REST. In literal terms and in emotional and spiritual terms too.

We know the road set before us will be difficult at times. We've read the books, gone to the seminars. We aren't kidding ourselves, but we also know without a doubt that this whole journey has been carefully orchestrated by a great and AWESOME God. And as with all things He ordains, there is incredible joy and sometimes fear too. And as is always the case, there is a whole lot of walking in faith. What we've learned over the years of parenting a large crew and especially through this past year, is that taking the steps is worth it. Totally.

Referral!!!!!

We are THRILLED to announce that we have accepted a referral for a sibling set of  . . . . .

FOUR!!!!!!!

You read that right.  And yes, we are thrilled.  Did I mention that already?

We are scrambling about updating our homestudy (as luck would have it, all of the documents from our first homestudy are soon to expire), updating our I-171 and fingerprints and praying for a speedy court date.  Ethiopian courts close soon for their rainy season, so the best we can hope for is probably sometime in late September or early October.  If that is the case, then hopefully an embassy date will come a few weeks after that and we will have these kiddos home by Thanksgiving or Christmas at the latest.

We would really appreciate your prayers for smooth paperwork updates, an efficient court process in Ethiopia and especially for the hearts of these little ones.  While gaining a forever home is such a good thing for them, still there will be grief. 

Hope you're all surviving the heat.  Oh.my.goodness.  I NEVER thought I'd wish for winter!!!

Still Waiting!

Well . . . we are still waiting! :-( June 3 marked . . .

. . . months of being DTE (Dossier to Ethiopia).  We are SOOOO very close to getting our referral.  Right.at.the.top.of.the.list.  KILLING ME!!!  We are both trying to stay busy (NOT difficult, believe me), keep our eyes and hearts turned to and focused on God, and believing that the ONE who has called us to this is exceedingly, abundantly able to do more than we can think or imagine.  It has in the most blessed way caused us to keep our eyes fixed on him.  Caused us to pray more and better and to TRUST that He is working ALL things together for good.  ALL things.  Not just on the adoption front, but in every tiny detail of our lives.

I was reminded by a cousin-in-law this past Sunday that God already knows the outcome.  He has had the exact children for our family decided from the beginning of time.  His timing and the orchestration of events is happening now in ways we may never see or even be able to imagine this side of heaven.  Our job is to pray and BELIEVE that He has it.  He has it.

I will be completely candid and say that for several months now I have been playing the game of shoving all thoughts of this adoption out of my mind. The idea of waiting and waiting since the slow down kills me.  The idea that there are children sitting in an orphanage somewhere WAITING for paperwork to be done so they can be placed in a HOME and a forever family kills me.  The thought that people who could expedite that paperwork will not or cannot kills me.  So, over time, I've begun to realize that I have stopped believing that God can or will make this all come together.  That He who called us to this really cares how or if it will all turn out. 

And then this . . .

From that unbelief, I realized that for so long I have functioned in my own strength.  I pray, but I'm not sure I really believe he hears or cares.  I pray, but I don't lay it all out there.  I don't want to burden him with my deal.  Make any sense???  Like . . . He's got enough going on without adding more to His plate.  Somewhere along the way I went from a little girl who BELIEVED He loved me and CARED about every detail of my life and LOVED to tell Him about every detail to a woman who read too many books and heard way too many academic sermons and lost the ability to TALK to my ABBA.

I realized a few weeks ago that I have been praying for Him to restore that desire and belief in me.  Even while praying not being sure I believed He would.  But, He has.  In an incredible way.  In this way - THY WILL be done.  In this adoption, in our family life (immediate and extended), in our marriage, in our homeschool, in our ministry.  Thy will be done. 

Thy.will.be.done.  And you know what?  It feels free and terrifying all at the same time.  To pray it and say it and mean it.  To really mean it.  Take my life - our lives, we pray together - and use them for your glory and your kingdom.  The stuff?  Use it for your glory.   Our time?  Use it for your glory.  Career?  For your glory.  Help us to be completely done with my way - our way - and have our eyes fixed firmly on you.  Scares the pants off me.  But there is no other way to go beyond with Him.  To move past the ordinary, safe, in my own strength kind of living.  No other way.

And so, we are waiting.  :-)  Expectantly and with great hope.  Knowing without a doubt that it will come together in exactly the way and time and place that He ordains.