Progress...

We met with our social worker, Lyndsey, yesterday.  We are one visit away from finishing our part of the paper process!  Friday we'll wrap up our meetings, turn in the last of our paperwork and submit our final agency payments.  We're hoping that within a week or 2, our dossier can be sent along with our immigration application... and then it's WAIT WAIT WAIT!  Exciting and scary at the same time!  

The Lord has provided for our family every step of the way.  So far, we have raised $13,560 through His grace-filled provision... we've paid out $11,135 and have just over $2700 remaining in our adoption fund.  Words cannot express our appreciation for the literally HUNDREDS of people who have played some part in bringing our children home!

But we still have so far to go... we are praying for a short wait, and we know that our children are in Ethiopia somewhere and that the Lord is protecting them right now.  But we want to get to them NOW.  We want them HOME.  

We are praying that we'll have a match before the end of June, and that means our next-- and largest-- payment will be due!  When we receive a match (referral), we have 24 hours to provide payment if we accept it.  The first child referral fee is $9,200 and each additional child is $5,000... and since we're trusting the "how many" to God, we don't know "how much" will be needed.... as little as $14,200 or as much as $24,200.  But we're trusting Him completely with that as well, for we know that what He calls us to, He equips us for.

To God be the glory, great things He has done......

Surprises

How the Lord continues to surprise me!  In ways large and small, God is so full of grace and mercy that I simply do not deserve!

Last Thursday night, my cousin Carrie and Aunt Julie showed up while I was reffing at Southeast and surprised me with $560 in funds raised from a secret fundraiser they had been doing since Derby!  And through tears, I had just told Brian the night before that I was "DONE" with fundraising... that I just felt like this process is so daunting and never-ending!  What a shot in the arm and a HUGE dose of encouragement to "just keep swimming!"

And then just last night, when I was trying to cancel our fundraising Pampered Chef party because I was afraid no one was coming, 7 guests unexpected guests showed up!  And on top of that, our show (not finished yet) has reached over $700 in sales!!  We NEVER dreamed such an ending to this little fundraiser!

Just as I'm always asking of the Israelites as I read through the Old Testament, "When will you ever learn?!", I'm certain the Lord is asking the same of me!!!  Sometimes I have faith to move mountains... other times, like last night, I don't even have faith of a mustard seed!  And it's during these times that I know my heavenly Father is shaking His head, wondering when I'll ever learn....

Thankful for His steadfast love and His continued provision for our family.

What can we learn from Cookie?

So we're caring for Cookie, our neighbor's guinea pig, while they're at Disney. And already, we are learning lessons that will likely help us in some small way with the adjustment that comes with adding more children to our family.

First thing this morning, Ella excitedly ran to Cookie's cage and wanted to hold him. But every time she reached for him, he ran into his little play tunnel where he couldn't be touched.

"Well this isn't working out very well," she said. "He won't even let me pet him."

"Perhaps he's afraid," I explained.  "He's adjusting to new sounds, new smells, new surroundings...give him a little time to get used to it here and I'm sure it will get better. He's got a lot of new stuff around him and he might just need some time and space. It doesn't mean he doesn't like you or that he doesn't like it here."

"Yeah," she replied. "And he's probably missing his mommy, too. Brooklyn's his mom and her voice is different and so is her room."

I can't help but think the Lord has arranged this teaching moment just to help prepare us all for the transitions that lie in our future. How graceful and merciful the Lord is to give us simple ways to learn lessons and to prepare our hearts and our children's hearts for what is yet to come!

Obviously, bringing our new kiddos home will be much bigger than a little guinea pig. But I'm thankful for the blessings, both large and small, of preparation.

We'll continue to learn more each day that will help us all prepare for the adjustments of growing our family.

Even from little Cookie.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ella's first post...

Hi, brothers and/or sisters!

I would love to come see you in Ethiopia, Africa.  

And I will come to see you!  Some time we will come and have you come into our family.  I can't wait until I get to see you!  

We are raising money for you to come home and live with us.  All of our friends and family are helping raise money for you guys to come home!  I can't wait!  

We are so excited for you to have a family again!!  We have had lots of fundraisers to help raise the money that will help us bring you guys home with us!  

Hope you have lots of blessings until then!  We'll keep praying for you.

Love your sister,

Ella

Introducing my proxy....

I want to write.

Really, I do.  

I desperately want to have time to pour onto paper (or computer) my thoughts, feelings, desires, hurts, prayers, dreams... especially as we walk with God as He grows our family.

But, alas, it's just not something I'm able to squeeze into my day, or week, or month.  Or, I could.  But then I'd have to neglect some other part of my life that just is so much more important right now.  Like sitting with Roman in my lap as he has a breathing treatment, or rocking Kolby to sleep for his naps (which I never did with the others!), or reading with Ava, or playing backgammon with Ella.  Simple things, yes.  But important things nonetheless.  Things that I'd just rather not miss these days.

So, my brilliant little cousin suggested that I have Ella update our blog.  (Thanks, Annie!)  That she write her thoughts about our family life and this journey we're on together-- all from her 8 year-old perspective.  And-- bonus!!-- that it could even be her writing assignment each week for her schoolwork.  Genius, pure genius!

So here it is, folks.  I introduce my sweet angel, Ella Vivian.  8 years old, and writing to her future siblings about all that she wants them to know about our family and this journey we began long before we ever met them.

Enjoy.  I know I will.