Asking for peace from Above

Unfortunately we have not gotten our necessary approval needed before courts close for the rainy season.  Disappointing to say the least.  It seems that we continue to get delays in bringing our 2 beautiful Ethiopian girls home.  HOWEVER, delays and disappointment are part of life and, God willing, we will get them home immediately following the court closure! 

Wish I could wrap my arms around my girls and let them know it'll all be OK.  I can't, but God can!  Wish I could assure my girls that they have a family who is trying everything in their power to complete these adoptions.  I'm not there to tell them, but God can send His Holy Spirit to give them peace and hope.  

In the meantime, please pray that all of us feels Gods peace!  I can honestly say that I am feeling that today!  I am sad, but know that God has a magnificent plan to bring them home and in the perfect time!  So, we wait on that perfect time.  Please pray that Todd feels this peace as I do.  This is a difficult place to be, but God lead us on this journey to adopt again, and I know with confidence, that He won't leave us!  He cares deeply about orphaned children as it's mentioned over 40 times in the scriptures!  HE cares about "T" and "B" and will not leave them orphaned and alone.  Praying that both girls feel in their hearts and know in their minds that God is real and He cares for them!  Asking our Lord for peace for all of us as we continue on....

Continuing in faith

Now that I've have a chance to process our negative news yesterday, a verse keeps echoing through my mind.  It's from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which says:  "In everything give thanks; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus."  I read that verse each time my Mom In Prayer group meets and know God is speaking to me as the Holy Spirit keeps whispering those words.

So today, I choose joy!  I'm looking for the ways that God remains faithful and they are very evident! Not sure why we continue to get delays, but I'm going to give thanks and enjoy the blessings He's granted me right now!

The Bethany Ethiopia team will try to get answers on Monday and appeal.  Only God knows what will happen, but likely we won't travel for court until mid-October.   That being said.....we are gonna pray like crazy that the decision could be changed on Monday!  God is good all the time and all the time God is good!  I can say that with confidence!

Today....I am working on giving thanks in everything, as I try to follow His will.

I have no words....

We got a negative approval.  Nothing short of a miraculous intervention will allow us to travel before rainy season court closure.  

I have no words.  I am numb.  

Review date coming...

Just got an update from our social worker and cases that were scheduled for review this month have been approved (all except 1).  They expect our cases to be reviewed any day, as they are trying to clear their desks prior to court closure.  

Please PRAY that they find our cases thorough, complete, uncomplicated and give them approval!  

I am amazed with all our prayer warriors!  Friends that say they are "praying every time they think of us, which is often", friends that are praying while they are packing for a move, friends that are passing along this prayer request to others, friends that wake in the night and think of our girls and pray.  

THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! 

  We feel it and better yet, God hears it!!

 

With God, ALL things are Possible

God can do anything!  We are praying that we get the approval needed by this week Friday and then can get a court travel date before court closure!  I know that God has the power to do this and believe He can and pray He will!! Please join us in praying:

Dear Heavenly Father,
You and You alone, have the control of all that happens.  We ask in Your Sons Holy and Precious Name to allow us to receive the necessary approvals.  You alone can do this, Lord God.  We plead with you to bring our daughters home to us.  We thank you for their lives and for being their Guide, as we already know how much they depend on You.  Keep them safe physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  Help them to remain hopeful and keep the comforting thought that they have a family who desperately wants them home, to get to know them and loves them so very much!  Dear Jesus, we pour out our hearts and cry to You to get this "formality" through and completed so that we can begin being parents to "T" and "B".  A forever family.  Lord, hold those 2 angels close to You.  Give them peace.  Help this time to pass quickly for them (and us!) and we desperately ask that you soften the hearts of those needing to approve this process.  We ask this all in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Fun Stuff!

Our Bethany lawyer delivered the paperwork on Monday and asked for an appeal (as I mentioned in the previous post).  We are now given a date of July 24 for our case to be determined!  We will take that earlier date (even if just a few days)!  At that point, we will either be approved or denied.  If approved, we will get our travel date!  Obviously praying hard for that option and that it happens prior to rainy season court closures!

In the meantime, WOOHOO!, we've gotten fun info on our girls!  Oh, how I can't wait to share photo's on-line!

I have a friend who traveled home from Ethiopia last Friday bringing home their new child.  Before she left, she asked about our case (just to get an inside advantage for us, which I really appreciate!)  She was told "the staff was celebrating and jumping up and down with excitement over a case!" 
                                       
                                           OUR CASE!

They have literally been fighting for over 8 months to get that signature!  What a blessed day to finally have it complete and in their hands!

Other fun stuff....within the past month, our social worker asked if we would like to be connected to other families who have adopted children from the orphanage our daughters are currently at.  YES!  I would love to and guessing our girlies would want to connect with Ethiopian friends living in the states.  So, this morning I opened my email and first thing I see is a picture of both of our girls with another little girl standing in between them with arms around each other.  My heart pounded as I read about the family who adopted the child in the photo and has been trying for the past year to find out who got matched with "T" and "B"!  She said she's been praying for this family and can't wait to find them and let them know how much their daughters meant to hers!  Seriously!  What a smile from God!!  How humbling it is to have people praying for our girls and our family, strangers at that!  

Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

                                            1 Thessalonians 5:18

REGIONAL APPROVAL!!!

Praising GOD for the blessed news of Regional Approval this morning!!  Our loyal and faithfully praying social worker called me this morning, on her holiday off, with this amazing news!!  We are beyond tears with excitement, as this one process has taken over 8 months to complete.  
Now, we proceed onto Federal.  Our lawyer in Ethiopia will hand deliver the necessary documents on Monday morning and will appeal our girls cases.  Our girls have been in an orphanage for a long time, we've been held up in Regional matters for a long time and Ethiopian court closures are coming and we really want to get our court date before court closure.  (Courts close due to rainy season usually by the 2nd week or so in August and are closed for 6-8 weeks.  I used to think "really, close courts for almost 2 months because of rain.  Can't they just grab an umbrella!?"  Well, having been to Ethiopia 3 years ago at the beginning of rainy season for Kyah's court hearing, I now understand.  Travel can be virtually impossible in many areas.  It's crazy!)
So, we are praying that we get a travel date before courts close! God is powerful and can make this all happen!  Our social workers are very optimistic that this is possible.  Time will tell...
I feel like a huge weight was just removed and that I should sleep good tonight.  However, now I'm too excited and anxious about the next process!!  Heehee :)
Soon, God willing, I will meet my new daughters!!
Thank you so much for all your prayers!!  God is good ALL the time, all the time God is GOOD!!