Lots has happened and nothing at all....

If you're in the "adoption world" or know anything about it at all, this statement makes perfect sense.

Thanks so much to all of you who have been praying our daughters home!  For all of you who are brave enough and care enough to ask us how things are going, we thank you.  It means the world to us to have support and "power-prayers" backing us up!

Our girls cases were submitted and were denied on December 3.  They are now requiring more documentation and approvals.  Truthfully, I don't understand it all.  We are told that they want to exhaust every effort to keep children in country.  I get that!  In a perfect world, that would be best for all.  Now, Bethany in Ethiopia, has obtained the necessary papers to prove this and have resubmitted again.  Currently, we are waiting approval and then can proceed with a court date.  This could be weeks or we may get to travel soon.  Looking at this as a huge adventure!  LOL!  It's super exciting actually!  Just wish it would happen!!

We are trying to be positive and keep our chins up, but this is tough.  When I see my amazing husband just aching and anguishing that his daughters are "stuck", it's painful for me.  I keep busy getting their room prepared and dreaming of the trip that will bring us to them.  I'm getting our "donation suit case" ready and have connected with a local group who makes washable feminine hygiene products.  We are purchasing many packages of these to donate while there.  Trying, trying to keep my mind from racing into the "what if's" and "why's" and focusing on the reason we are doing what we are doing.....

"In adoption, we engage a child's broken situation, form a new present reality for them and write a future story of hope for their life.  That's exactly what Jesus did for us."
quote from All IN Orphan Care

One more step before we can get a court date set.  Yes, we were through all the processes, however, things changed earlier this month and now the Bethany Ethiopian team is scrambling to retrieve the original documents on all papers instead of photo copies. All these, we are told, will be collected and presented to the appropriate people on December 3rd.

OK, our prayer is that all the papers are in fact the correct ones and that it's a simple approval.  We ask God to soften the hearts of those who have authority over the girls cases.  We pray we will hear the results from this soon after and that we are cleared to get a court date set up!

Courts will close in January for a few weeks and if we don't get a court date set before closure, it will be delayed for weeks. 

On a much brighter note.....we got an update on our 2 beautiful girls this afternoon!  Our family recorded a video of all of us explaining who we are and a little greeting for them.  Their social worker showed them the video and while they watched it, they were being recorded for us to see their reactions!  It is priceless!!  Oh my!  They are so sweet and keep asking when we are coming.

Dear Lord,

You alone are in control!  Our hope and faith are in You and we know you can move mountains and care about these girls.  If it be Your will, we ask that you allow the process to be approved soon and allow us to travel before court closure.  Love and watch over these 2 darlings and bring us to them soon.  Amen.

Update and Thank You

Just an update; first of all, thanks for all the prayers for Jordan!  We have a visit with her hematologist in 3 days and will hopefully get some more answers.  We pray that her platelets can remain stable, even if low is stable.  She continues to feel well and we are so thankful for that!

Secondly, as you know, the next step in our adoption processes are getting a court date for us to travel.  There have been some additional changes made in this process recently.  Please pray that the paperwork is all easily obtained and we "pass" and get a court date before the end of the year!  With God ALL things are possible and we truly hold this to be true!  We earnestly pray that we are able to travel soon.

We are sincerely amazed when thinking that less than one year ago, we were sensing the call to adopt again.  At that time, not knowing that God was wanting for us to adopt 2 older children.  God has been working at changing our hearts and minds, since adopting an older child was something I said I would never, ever do.  God has a wonderful sense of humor!  I am totally in love with 2 children who I have never met and long to call my own.

When we began this process, we were planning on one child, not two.  Not quite sure how we were going to afford another adoption, but believed that if God wanted this to happen that He would find a way.  Praise The Lord, He certainly has!  

We want to thank each and everyone who has supported us financially for these adoptions!  For those who supported us through the LifeSong account, privately, the grants we received and through the Rada cutlery fund raiser (thanks, Cindy!) God has provided abundantly and has left us truly amazed at how He provides for what He cares about!

Non adoption prayer request

With all of the adoption happenings lately, we honestly have been preoccupied with our daughter Jordan's health.  On September 22, she got diagnosed with Iodiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP).  Basically, this is a condition that we are not sure why is happening but her immune system is destroying her platelets in her blood, leaving her at risk for bleeding.
This appears to be a chronic condition that we will deal with for a long time.  Right now, it is super frustrating, as the correct medicine and treatments are being figured out for her.  The doctors are confident that this is manageable and that she will not live with ITP forever.  However, as parents, it is so hard to see our daughter suffering from medicine side effects, worrying about her platelets crashing and wondering when a medicine will work.

We don't know exactly when we will be traveling to Africa and the thought of leaving her here on 2 separate occasions, is a great fear for us.  We have been obviously looking forward to this for a long, long time now and the timing of this has really taken the wind out of our sails.  Quite honestly, we are trying to live day by day.  The thought of major travels to the other side of the world isn't even that exciting when our daughter is home dealing with this.

Would you please pray for Jordan.  That the right treatment would be found quickly and that her platelets would maintain a healthy level. Also pray for peace for Todd and I as parents.  We know that God is in control and His plan and timing are perfect.  We are overwhelmed and we covet you prayers.

Early morning email from the US Embassy

Woohoo!!  Todd woke me at 4:42 this morning to tell me we got an email from the US Embassy in Ethiopia stating:  NOTICE OF COMPLETED I-604 INVESTIGATION

Woohoo!!  This means that one final paper we have been waiting for has not only surfaced, but has been submitted to the Embassy!

It's still early and the significance of this hasn't completely hit me.  Can't believe things are finally progressing. :)

At this point, if I'm understanding these final processes correctly, we will receive confirmation that we have completed the PAIR process (pre adoption immigration review) and that notification is our authorization to set up a court date for us to travel!  Yes, I said we are getting this close to our travel date for court!!

Thanks so very much for all the continued prayers.  If we can be specific about what we would see as a wonderful time for all of this to happen, it would be over the long Thanksgiving break.  :) I know Gods timing is better than what I plan, but as a mom of 5 and growing, it would be really nice to travel while Gabe is home from MSU and the other kiddos don't have to think about schedules much.  Is that too much to ask!?!  

Praying today for our girls to have peace about all the changes they are about to experience.

Birth Family Court!

There are many parts and steps to an International adoption.  Dealing with 2 countries (the US and Ethiopia, in our case) there are different processes and requirements for both.  

We are close to finishing the PAIR process with the US Embassy.  Once that is complete, we move forward to setting an adoptive parent court (assuming the Birth Parent Court is complete and finalized).

And, there are 2 steps in completing the Ethiopian process.  The first is the Birth Family court, the 2nd is the adoptive parent court.  The Birth Parent Court is set for Wednesday, October 22!  This coming Wednesday!  

We ask you to pray for this process scheduled to take place in just a couple of days.  That those needed for court will arrive promptly and that there will be no issues that arise with our girls cases.  

Thanks to those of you who pray for these adoptions!  May you be blessed because you care about orphans!

Just have to say a big prayer of praise that our good friends recently received their referral for a beautiful little 2 year old Ethiopian boy!  He is absolutely adorable and we give God all the praise for his little life and matching him with this family!  Another friend received good news this past week about a step achieved in bringing home their little girl from Haiti!  AND, friends from church just told me this morning about a match with a foster child!  God is working in SO many lives on behalf of His children who need families!  To God be the glory, forever and ever!  Amen!!

2 Years HOME!!

Today marks 2 years having Kyah HOME!  Can't believe this little honey has been with us for this length of time and can't imagine life without her!  

She turned 3 in June, 
  *seriously talks all the time (Solomon has a hard time keeping up!)
  *loves country music and watching their videos
  *always, always puts her shoes on the correct feet =)
  *pretends to text and talk on the phone all the time
  *loves macaroni & cheese and could eat it for all 3 meals a day!
  *wants coffee with hazelnut syrup every morning
  *loves to dance to fast paced music
  *wants to wear Jordan's hot pink lipstick and mascara
  *likes to pretend she's a Dr and makes us take deep breaths, looks in our
    ears, eyes and mouth, pushes on our bellies and wears a stethoscope 
    around her neck
  *or pretends she's a Phlebotomist and "draws blood" wearing gloves, she
   looks for our veins, taps on them and uses a syringe.  HA!
  *always likes her nails painted
  *prays to get her sisters "T" and "B" home everyday in an urgent way.

                                             LOVE this girl!