Baptized in the Name of the Father....

Kyah was baptized during a wonderfully themed orphan service a couple of weeks ago.  She did really well and it was a special day for our family!
Grampa Lee prayed for her and for us as we raise her in a Christian home.  Grampa Jack sang "Lullaby of Love" to her (the same song he sang for all 5 of his grandchildren now!)   Todd and I told about our adoption journey and how God totally had this all planned according to His purpose for all of our lives.  We were also able to share about how each one of us, as Christians, are called to care for orphans.  Yes, that may take us out of our "comfort zones" but if we truly do what God wants us to do, we may have to "get dirty".  Our good friend, Lisa, shared about the new orphan fund that our church recently began.  Hooray, that our church has this vision and can now help families in this way!  And finally, Tom, a representative from God's Littlest Angel's in Haiti, spoke and raised awareness of the needs they face each day.  He has a blog, check it out at:   http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/thoughts/2013/03/13/story-16-are-we-willing-to-get-dirty/
Jordan created a fantastic video that was played during the service and it went through all the events that took place during our wait to bring Kyah home.  I treasure that video and watch it often!
After the service, we celebrated with family and special friends.  It was such an amazing day for all of us and we owe it all to the One in charge!

Grampa Lee praying for Kyah

Grampa Jack singing "Lullaby of Love"

Kyah joined Todd & I on stage

Lookin' good, Solomon!!

Couldn't have done it without my "girls!"

Love, love my girls!!

 We praise God for uniting us with Kyah and being able to parent her!  She is a precious little gift and our prayer would be that others find this much happiness in what the world considers to be "the least of these".  As the song goes; "if not us, who will be like Jesus to the least of these?"

February 12

We want to thank each of you who prayed for our dear friends who were struggling with their Ethiopian adoption referral wait.  On February 12...they got it!!  
After 25 1/2 months of waiting they are now able to look into the eyes of their darling little boy's picture!  Oh, is he ever a cutie! Once again, God pulled them through their valley as they longed for news of him.  Their process of waiting continues as a court date will be assigned, but they are feeling so very blessed to be chosen to parent this little angel!

Thank you so much for crying out on their behalf.  I ask that you continue to remember in prayers all those who are waiting to bring their newest family members home forever.  My friends Kerri, Carmen and Lisa are all in the long waiting time right now.
God bless each of you.  Your prayers are being heard!!

I miss

I am feeling a bit sentimental.  I am blessed beyond what I deserve in life, and yet, I miss.  I fell in love with Ethiopia in so many wonderful ways.  You know what it's like when you visit a place and just really, really like it?  Well, it is more, so much more than that.  My sweet little daughter's life began there.  Her Ethiopian family is there.  Part of my heart remains there.  I miss it!  

We look through our photo's and video's from our 2 trips often.  I wish I was there to hear their accents, see their expressions, watch them herding their animals in the streets  =)  , admire their determination, taste new and delicious foods, sip their macchiato's, be encouraged by Burtikan, climb all those marble steps at the guesthouse, see their amazing mountainous views, visit with the homeless, parent less children at the feeding program,  even (gulp) be chauffeured around their crazy roads.  Our trips to Ethiopia will remain some of the best times in our lives!  AND, our lives will forever be changed because of them.  

God is faithful.  God is able.  God is good, all the time!

Some of our special friends in Ethiopia:

 

Our Ethiopian Family

Todd, Carrie & Firew just before heading out to pick up Kyah!

The Morning Coffee Guesthouse with Burtikan & Nasibu

We were fortunate and blessed on both trips to have a wonderful Christian man named Firew (pronounced Fray-O) be our Bethany guide.  On one excursion, we were at the top on Mt. Toto, which over looks Addis Ababa, and asked if we could video him saying his famous phrase "God is good, all the time".  Not only did he say it for us, he sang it!  It is a treasure to me.  

The way that I'm feeling.....

I realize that this is for an animal adoption, but I couldn't resist! :)

1 1/2 and loads of fun!

Kyah has turned 1 1/2 now and continues to be adjusting really well!  She is a real momma's girl (which I totally admit that I love!)  I have said from the day we brought her home that it feels like she's been with our family from the beginning and it still feels that way.  She has many Klaasen characteristics such as loves coffee, Mexican food, books, playing games on people to make them laugh, enjoys being outside and her silly personality.  Oh, she is just so much fun to have around and I enjoy my days with her immensely!  How thankful I am to be a stay at home mom!! 

Her vocabulary continues to amaze us.  She can say over 50 words, although we may be the only ones to understand all of them.  She absolutely loves her siblings and plays with them well.  She's very orderly and insists and closing things or shutting things immediately after use.  (My other kids could learn from her - ha!)  She loves shoes and boots and tries wearing other peoples as often as possible.  Although she still plays with tractors and trucks, I see her playing with her baby-dolls more often, much to Jordan's approval!  She likes chunky puzzles and, with a bit of help, will put them together over and over.

We recently met with our church elders and are planning on getting her baptized and are working on details.  I am very excited for that day!  Todd & I were asked if we would share a bit about our adoption experience at that service.  We are honored to and need to organize our thoughts.  Please pray we will be effective in sharing to others the wonderful gift that adoption can be!

 Thank you Trista, for your patience and beautiful photo's!!

It's a tough wait!

I just got off the phone with a dear friend of mine who is waiting for their Ethiopian referral.  It makes me tearfully sad to think of her pain she is going through right now.  It's tough!  She and her husband are nearing 25 months of just wait time.  ...not to mention the months of paperwork to get to this point!

I'm going to use this blog today as an opportunity to ask everyone to pray for my sweet friend and her family.  They need some news, any news.  They are at the "top of the list" and yet they wait, nothing happening.

I know God is at work and He's preparing their hearts and their Ethiopian child for each other.  I know that, but it's still tough!

Following God's plans are usually quite an adventure!  When I look back, I can see Him and His plans and how they've come together in such a grand orchestration, something I could never even have thought of!

Join me in praying and I thank you all!

"Dear Lord God,
You know the plans for this family.  You want the very best for them.  You know the plans for their future baby boy.  You want the very best for him.  We ask You to continue to give this family patience as the wait to bring their child home is growing longer.  Hold them in Your hand and surround them with Your perfect peace!  Love that little boy and put people in his life that love and support him until his Michigan family can.  Lord, this is all in Your timing and may Your will be done.  Now, we ask that they get matched with their child soon.  That the process for court & embassy happen quickly after their referral and that they can become the family you have always planned them to be! 

Father, You can do all things and we ask in the Name of Jesus for this family to get their referral and bring their little boy home!!  AMEN."

Pictures of Christmas

Christmas morning "pile-up on Todd!"

 Sisters having fun!

Kyah LOVES her her pink chair & tea-pot set!

Getting ready for her first time in the snow!!

Little snow-bunny!

Wearing new out-fit from Great Aunt Judy & hat from Pam  =)....and talking on the phone again!

Relaxing in her new pink chair

Loves to hear Gabe practice guitar

Fun in the snow with Grampa & Jordy

Jesse pulling Solomon & Kyah

Jesse & Solomon

Kyah & big brother Gabriel