CHRISTMAS IN ETHIOPIA!

Guess who will be spending CHRISTMAS with their SONS!  IN ETHIOPIA!!!  Yupper!!!  Jeff and I will be WITH OUR BOYS for both US Christmas as well as Ethiopia Christmas, which is January 8th!!!

We received word this morning that we have a January 3rd Court Date for our sweet "S!"  {Big Brother}

Kristen tried to call my cell this morning and when I didn't answer (didn't hear it), she called Jeff's cell.  He was walking into one of his hospitals and still had reception to take the call.  It was SO MUCH FUN for him to receive such a GREAT NEWS phone call!!!!  I have gotten all of the other calls, so this was a special treat for Daddy!  He was so excited to share the news with me, knowing it would lift me out of the "funk" I have been in since learning we would not get submitted to embassy until, most likely, December 28th.

Boy, did it EVER remove the heaviness in my heart, as well as the questions and doubt!!!  God had this beautiful plan in mind all along!!!!  CHRISTMAS WITH BOTH BOYS IN ETHIOPIA!!!!!

I cannot believe the details God has orchestrated!  Oh, YES I CAN believe it!!!!  Details that only God could bring together!

Jeff is already scheduled to have Christmas and New Years off this year!  I have vacation that I have to use this month ~ or lose it! ~ so I have time to get all the details together before we leave!

On top of this great news, we received today the I-171H form that show US government approval for a boy "Big Brother's" age!  We have been waiting for this for a few weeks now!  What a glorious day to receive it!!!  The blessings continue to pour in today!!!

Do you see how God coordinated Kaleab's embassy submission (and hopefully clearance!) to be right around Big Brother's Court Date!?!?!?!?!?  A.w.e.s.o.m.e!!!!!

All of this AND it looks like we will have time to visit BOTH boy's birth villages while in Ethiopia!!!!!

My heart is racing FAST with excitement!  I am OVERFLOWING with JOY!!!!

In pure amazement at our Heavenly Father!  How He coordinates so many details is beyond me.  I am just awed by all He has done, is doing, and will continue to do in our lives and in our family!

WE ARE COMING, BOYS!!!!  WE ARE COMING!!!!

GOD IS ON THE MOVE!!!

Let me update you on some A-M-A-Z-I-N-G things God has been up to lately!.........

Jeff and I bought quite a few donations for the precious children in Ethiopia to take on our first trip.  We decided to extend an invite to anyone who may feel lead to add to our donations, and the "donation drive" has been extremely blessed!  We are FULL to overflowing!  Praise God!  He has moved so many hearts to join us in buying things for these precious children in ET!  SO MUCH SO, in fact.........


That we have EIGHT containers (2 suitcases and 6 bins) FULL of love for these kiddos!  This started to raise concern as to HOW we were going to come up with the $800 we are going to be charged for our extra luggage when traveling.  {YES!  You read that right!  $200/extra bin!}


Well, we gave it up to God and asked Him to show us how much He wanted us to take this trip.  And He did!  He showed up BIG!!!  In literally 24 hours, He provided ~ though donations of generous friends who also wanted to love on these precious children! ~ the FULL $800!!!  I kid you not!  The charges for the extra luggage was COVERED within 24 hours!!!!  

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

When He wants His children cared for, He provides a way!  He only asks us to say "Okay!"  And so many of you have said "Okay" alongside of us, with joyful and giving hearts!  Whether you donated items or funds to help cover the luggage fees, or gave money to buy things over there in ET.......we are using your money EXACTLY as you have requested, and we cannot THANK each one of you ENOUGH for playing your part!!!!


Here is another God story that happened today!.........


Jeff and I had to request an extension for our fingerprints, as they are only valid for one year.  However, our gov't made a mistake and put 8.3.11 as Jeff's expiration date instead of the accurate date of 8.31.11.  Well, we sent off our letter for the extension, but had not heard from them.  So, Jeff hounded USCIS for an update on our case and at first she tried to brush him off and say we were at the bottom of her pile, so she wouldn't even get to our case until the end of the month!!!!  


When Jeff explained the mistake on USCIS side, she looked up our file, saw that he was correct ~ offered to make a correction AND faxed him a letter of invitation for us to get printed!!!!  Talk about God's POWER!!!!!  She couldn't assign Jeff a date until late Aug, but suggested that we try to go in today and see if they would re-fingerprint us early.  We tried.  


The fingerprint guy had just gone off-shift when we arrived.  The front guard was sweet and said we would have to come back and wait for anyone ahead of us with an assigned appt for that day, but she thought we could get printed tomorrow, if we could wait around indefinitely.  GOD HAD OTHER PLANS!!!  


After we explained our predicament that we leave the country in three days, she phoned the supervisor........and he asked her to open the doors at 7:30am (they open at 8am on Wed!) on our behalf!  WHAT!?!?!?  He personally gave us an appt before the office is even suppose to open!  The fingerprint man was there (but clocked out) and he said he would be happy to print us early!  WHAT!?!?  Government personnel going out of their way on our behalf!!!???!!!????!!????  GOD IS ON THE MOVE!!!!!!!  So, we get our fingerprints done TOMORROW morning before work!!!!  AND.....because it is before the (incorrect) expiration date of 8.3.11, it is still going to be a free extension!!!!  {we would have had to pay again if all of this was not expedited today}


AMAZED.  GOD is moving mountains and parting the Red Sea for us!  Just as our pastor's wife had asked Him to do throughout the remainder of our journey on this road to adopting baby "K!"  AWE-STRUCK.  Truly.


We are SOOOOOO EXCITED to meet our sweet, precious son!!!  And being able to love on these other children is icing on the sweetest cake ever!!!!  {smile}


Yes.  God moves.  BIG.  He stirred our hearts to bring donations and He provided donations.  AND a means to get them there.  He stirred our hearts to form our family through adoption in Ethiopia.  AND He has provided us a means to do just that!  And now, in just THREE WAKE-UPS, we will be leaving to MEET that precious little boy He hand -picked for us to raise, love and call "  our son."


Floored.  Flabergasted, really.  No idea how He orchestrated bringing "K" to us.  But that is our God.  His ways are higher than our ways!  And, athough I don't like not always seeing the "whys" "whens" and "wheres,"  I am eternally grateful for our Heavenly Father who oversees it all!  Who orchestrates the details.  Even when we do not see Him at work!


So, you ask how I stand so strong in my BELIEF?  Because of all the ways in which God has provided in my life.  Because of all of the ways He has shown up BIG in my life.  Because of the many ways in which He has proven ever-loving and true in my life.  In the past and in the present!


Just as the prostitute in the Bible spent an entire year's earnings on an expensive perfume ~ and then poured it onto Jesus; I lay down my life's greatest "possession"........our son........at Your feet, Lord.  Jeff and I lay baby "K" before you.  THANKING YOU for choosing US to love him forever.  THANKING YOU for all you have done and are doing to bring him HOME.  To us.  Forever.  Our prayer is that we PASS COURT ON our Court Date {July 21st}.  BEFORE court closures.  We realize this calls for a miracle.  


We BELIEVE You for this miracle!  May it be your will!


THANK YOU, Lord, for loving all of your children, and allowing us the privilege of delivering these precious donations.  THANK YOU, Lord, that you love our little baby "K" and are working out the logistics and details to finalize this adoption.  Making him our son.  Forever.  We are eternally grateful.                   AMEN.

GOD Provides!

So, remember a while back when I "panicked" at Babys-R-Us over the costs of ALL that we need for baby "K", say nothing about the costs for adoption?  Well, if you recall, I felt like God was saying, "Don't fret, I have it all under control.  I will provide for you what you need.  Just focus on getting your son home."

Well, He sure has been holding true to His word throughout this journey!  Whether it was buying a gently used highchair and "BOB" stroller (that was e.x.a.c.t.l.y. what we wanted!) from our friends Mary and Todd; or Erica and Josh gifting us a double stroller (in case we came home with two ~ or it holds the "extras" nicely Erica says); or Allison and Bill buying us the exact same ERGOBABY carrier we had at the top of our list; or Krista offering to give us her dirty diaper holder thingamajig; or the most recent blessing ~  a brand new baby gate from my friend Cindy!  

Last weekend we used our big REI dividend to get one of our carry-ons, and my dear friend, Allison is lending me the one that both she and another one of our friends, Caycee, used for their two trips!!!  {this bag has already made four trips to ET and is about to embark on its fifth!  lucky bag!}

GOD IS PROVIDING!  THANK YOU, FRIENDS!

Here is another way in which He helped meet our needs!  Jeff found a sweet deal on luggage for our travels at the site theclymb.com!  Our suitcases had rips and tears and would SO not be reliable for international travel, and we kept putting off getting new ones.  So glad we did, as this 50% discount was a blessing indeed!  Eagle Creek offers a lifetime warranty, and the bags are so durable!  We. love. them!!!!  You should check out the site for deals!

Now we need to start filling up these suitcases for our trip to see baby "K!"  Can't. even. believe. we. are. doing. this!  Still feels surreal!  We will be holding him in our arms in 16 days!  

Any suggestions or "must have" items that you would recommend we pack in these bags, PLEASE feel free to comment! 

If you still desire to contribute to donations we plan to take over to four different orphanages, please click HERE to read of the current needs!

CHURCH FAMILY LOVE

As if we didn't feel BLESSED beyond measure already with our referral of our sweet baby boy, and our July 21st Court Date.....

....Today we were reminded of what a precious Church Family we have as well!  One of our pastors invited us to come to their weekly Prayer Meeting that they hold, so they could pray over Jeff and me, baby K, and the whole adoption process!  How sweet is THAT!?!?!?

Our Church Family already SO. LOVES. OUR. SON!!!!

We are so blessed and thankful!  They have been there for us during our fertility issues and miscarriages, and now they are standing right alongside us as we walk out this JOYFUL journey to our sweet baby boy!  They have been such great sources of encouragement, joy, genuine love, and most importantly, Prayers!  They showered us with this love and with their prayers this morning, and was it ever sweet!

Pastor Tri prayed with such power for all anxiety and fear to be removed so that we could bask in the pure JOY of these last steps to our son!  I had not yet shared with him the fear and anxiety I was carrying with me regarding the looming court closures, paperwork/MOWCYA letter, and the current issues that show the enemy is at work in trying to cease or delay adoptions in ET right now....

As Jeff and I left church, I was almost giggling with a freedom!  A JOY!  Just like that, the fear and anxiety were lifted!  Thank You, God!  I don't think I realized the burden I was carrying, until it was lifted from me!

So many sweet words were prayed over us.  Hearts that poured out love, words asking God to guide every. single. remaining. step. ahead.  Requests of His intervention with the MOWCYA Director and staff for complete paperwork.  Pleas for protection over our hearts when we have to say "see ya soon" and leave ET.  I could go on and on!  There was such POWER in these prayers!  And they came from such genuine hearts!

Pastor Mike shared his vision of Haggar, when she was sent into the wilderness with her son.  As she ran out of food and water, she placed her son under a shrub in fear that he would die.  "God heard the boy crying," Mike shared with us.  An angel came to Haggar saying, "....do not be afraid;  God has heard the boy crying as he lies there."  If you recall this story, God provided a well for the boy to drink!

Pastor Mike clarified that his picture had nothing to do with the description of Haggar's son {THANK YOU, GOD!  Ha!}, and everything to do with God hearing the boy's cry and meeting his need.  Such a great reminder that our Heavenly Father knows even better than we do, what our son needs.......and He is providing for "K!"

Michael shared with us the verse Isaiah 40:11......

He will tend His flock like a shephard,

He will gather the lambs in His arms;

He will carry them in His bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

God is carrying our son in his bosom!  HE. HAS. THIS!!!  I need not worry over the "what ifs."  I, once again, need to surrender my son to my Heavenly Father.  I need to lay him at the cross, trusting that God has so beautifully orchestrated every detail thus far, and He is not going to leave loose ends dangling now.  He is gently guiding Jeff and me......and will continue to......as we seek His divine guidance with parenting our precious son.

What precious ways to be reminded that God is protecting and providing for our son!  

It was such a memorable morning!  We will never forget the desire of our Church Family to cover us, our son, and the remaining steps of our adoption in His Power, Peace and Love!  We felt it this morning, and we still carry it with us tonight!  I am sure God will bless us with it at every. single. remaining. step!

THANK YOU, CHURCH FAMILY!  For the awesome prayers this morning.  For the love that overflows from you.  And for giving us such a divine family to raise our son in!  He will be blessed, as we are, to grow up knowing each one of you!

We cannot WAIT for you all to meet him!

Our blessing you are helping to PRAY HOME!!!!