Reminders from God

Here's a list of things God has been reminding me of lately (in no particular order):

1. Others go through some of the same emotional stages of the adoption process that I've been going through & I'm not crazy!

One of my blog buddies mentioned a post where someone discussed the various emotional stages of the adoption process (similar to Kubler-Ross' grief cycle). It was so good to know that there are other's who can identify with the same feelings I've been dealing with. I have always wanted to help a child through International adoption, but a few weeks ago I started feeling selfish for spending all this money to bring a child into our home. I began thinking about how it would be better to help the people where they are without removing a child from their birth country. If you are familiar with the post, I was tiltering between stages 4-8. Honestly, it scared me to be having those feelings at this point in the process b/c I thought we had dealt with these things before officially beginning our adoption. Now I have made it through this time of questioning (& to stage 9), and I am determined that now is our time to help a specific child by bringing a daughter into our family. However, this will not be the end of our journey. We will strive to bring more awareness to the needs in Africa & help in other ways for the rest of our lives.

2. "Adopting will almost certainly bring heartache & stress & suffering; just like adoption cost God the life of his Son. We dare only adopt children if we have a firm faith in the all-sufficiency of God's future grace." ~John Piper

Another feeling that I have been struggling with was fear..."What if this adoption causes major disruption in our family? What if our daughter one day wishes that she wasn't adopted into a family that looks so much different than herself & doesn't want anything to do with us?"...Then, another blog buddy shared John Piper's "Reflections on Being Adopted by God & Adopting Children". It was just what I needed hear! He was not putting earthly adoption on the same level as Jesus dying on the cross so that we could be adopted by God the Father, but He used the story of the cross & God's adoption of us as His children to illustrate several important truths about adoption. The bottom line for me...Yes, there will be heartache & hard times, but God's grace is sufficient for whatever we will face & it will ALL be for His glory!

3. "Armor up in the armor of God to stand against the enemy."

This was the theme for the boys this week at VBS. What a good reminder for us parents, as well. There is an enemy who wants us to distract us from God's purpose & work in our lives. We must stay in His word, stand in faith, walk in His ways & rest in His peace! This is so true in the adoption process! There are so many ups & downs & twists & turns, so many ways for Satan to gain ground. We have to stand firm & guard against His attack & stay focused on the purpose (which leads to #4 on my list of lessons).

4. All of this is for God & for His glory!

When the world & Satan tries to tell us it's not worth it or we're being selfish or whatever the lie may be, we have to remember that we are God's children & on His mission. All of our days, we are to live to proclaim that He has made the way. There is urgency in our lives. We have to live every second of every day as if it matters b/c it is all that matters.. the Gospel of His love for the world!

Popcorn

We are a popcorn loving family (especially me & C). We eat A LOT of popcorn! We were so excited to learn that popcorn is a part of an important Ethiopian tradition, the Coffee Ceremony. The Coffee Ceremony is a mark of friendship, where Ethiopians celebrate friendship by roasting, brewing, & drinking coffee together. They often eat popcorn during the Coffee Ceremony! Fun stuff!

Ouch!

Today we had our travel medical appointment. N had to get 4 shots & I had to get 5. N was so brave & didn't pass out (LOL! He has a thing with passing out when he gets shots!). My list of things to get done before we get a referral is getting very short! Woohoo!

4 Weeks

Today marks 4 weeks of being on the waiting list! We are in the midst of a big heat wave, so the only way to enjoy the outdoors is with water! Here are our silly boys & one of their best neighborhood buddies. We definately need some more girls around here! We are having the best summer ever, but we sure wish our daughter was here with us!

27

Well, the much anticipated call came. We are, indeed, #27 on the girl list (just as my calculations had indicated). It was actually a little anti-climatic, but that's my fault for playing the numbers game. Kate didn't have our toddler number calculated but made a note for next month to figure it for me. I'm okay with that b/c I figure my guess is pretty close to correct there, as well. I'm still feeling very "okay" with the wait. The little bump last week with the news of the suspensions got me for about 12 hours & then the peace was back. I'm excited to get a referral, but I know it's going to be awhile & I'm good with God's timing on it! He does much better at figuring things out than I do, so I'll give Him this one, as well! Lol!

My Girl

As we anxiously await our monthly call from Kate with our number, I have changed my cell phone ring for Kate to "My Girl" (I copied my blog buddy, Michelle, on this one...thanks, Michelle!!). Can't wait to hear my phone ring with that song!!! Hopefully today...

New Numbers Soon & Update

We should be getting our updated numbers very soon! We can't wait to see where we are officially! We have learned a little more about the situation with the suspended referrals & we feel much better about the situation. I still feel very confident in the stability of the courts in Ethiopia. The situation seems to be one where they are working to see that the high standards of transparency & ethics are maintained. The suspensions have actually reminded me that investigations of the sorts are part of what's missing in current Vietnamese adoption system that needs more safeguards. My prayers & thoughts are still with families who are facing the delays & the people who working diligently to advocate on behalf of the families & children.

Hannah's Hope Ethiopia

Thought I would share a glimpse into Hannah's Hope Ethiopia,

the orphanage where our daughter will be while she waits for us!

This is road from the Union Hotel (where we will stay while in ET)

to Hannah's Hope. We cannot wait to walk this road!

Gates similar to these are seen through out Addis Ababa (the capitol of ET).

However, this one is very special b/c behind this gate is a refuge of God's love

for orphaned children. We cannot wait to walk through this gate & meet our daughter! Hannah's Hope Ethiopia