Needs at Hannah's Hope

Many of you have asked about the needs at Hannah's Hope. Here is the list of the most needed items. We are so anxious to begin gathering donations which we will carry over with us when we travel.

For babies
~Whole suitcase of diapers, half being for newborn babies
~Pull-ups (for the few toddlers that are almost toilet trained)
~Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo
~Lotions, baby oils and baby wash
~Diaper rash cream—Desitin is the best, or whatever other kinds you think is a better
~Baby Wipes
~Bottles-Avent bottles—both large and small sizes
~Clothing for newborn babies both for boys and girls
~Moses’ Baskets
~Multivitamins for babies—liquid drops. Also, organic flax seed
~Vegetable or soy based formula—this is the kind that is most needed
~Dairy based formula

Things for older children
~Shampoos and conditioners that are fortified for curly hair
~Dandruff shampoos
~Body soap
~Toothpastes and toothbrushes for children
~Body lotions—especially for dryer or ashy skin
~Clothing for boys and girls between 4 and 13 years old and especially need pants and pajamas
~Shoes including crocs, sneakers, for 4 through 13 years old children
~Bedding-sheets for the older children (twin sizes; Pink (bright), red and lime green)
~Chewable Multivitamins for the older children

Other things
~Scrubs in sizes small or medium for the special mothers**
~Air refresher (any kind that is safe to use in children/babies rooms an bathrooms)
~Regular size towels (both blue and pink).

Just Can't Sleep

What a wonderful day today has been! The AGCI families who were experiencing the delay in their adoptions got word that they are through court & the children are officially their's! This is truly an absolute miracle! It is a long, long story (& I'm sure I don't know the half of it), but only the hands of our great God could have worked it out! He is amazing! There were also several more referrals today. When I talked to Kate to confirm that our paperwork was good, I asked her if they were partying in the AGCI office! What a wonderful day & what an awesome God we have (now please let us get through courts before they close!...He, he, he!)! Now, I can't go to sleep! :-)

The Process from Here

Kate just called & all of our paperwork was correct! The process (as we understand it..please correct me if I'm wrong) from here is this: The AGCI coordinator in Ethioia is opening our file at the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) & the Federal Court of Addis Ababa. Once our file is reviewed by MOWA it will then go to the Courts for the Court date—this will be scheduled up to 2-3 weeks later. We have to keep in mind that it may not get scheduled until after courts reopen in October. We'll see. We are definately praying that it will get scheduled by the end of July (before courts close for August & September)! After the court decree is issued (whether it's before court closure or after), AGCI will request our U.S. Embassy appointment . Once this is scheduled, this will be the magic date that we have to be in Ethiopia (usually it's 2-3 weeks after the Court Decree is issued).

7 o'clock

We have had many late nights working on paperwork since we got our referral. Today I was exhausted & took a break from it to catch up on some work. After lunch, I got a second wind after I spoke to our homestudy agency & found out that our addendum had already been forwarded to USCIS (Dept of Homeland Security) & AGCI (our agency). I immediately called the UPS Store to find out what time we had to have our stuff there in order to make sure it could be overnighted to AGCI. The magic time was 7 o'clock! We busted it & got the last of it completed. We made it to the UPS Store shortly before 6:45! Woohoo...I was so excited to seal that package & have it all out of my hands (paperwork AND photo album, stickers, blanket, & bear for our princess)! Hoping to get word from Kate tomorrow that we did it all right! Now, I'm ready to hit the sack (& dream about my girl)! Good night!!!

Papa Johns

When I heard the mail come today, I rushed out to see if the addendum to our homestudy (for the age change) had arrived. It was not there, but there was the sweetest card with a $60 Papa Johns giftcard from someone who is very special to us! Wow...wasn't that thoughtful! She loves my boys, & I'm sure she didn't want them to miss any more meals or have to eat burnt Rice-a-Roni! God knows just what you need when you need it! What a blessing! I know He is taking care of us & going to provide for all of our other needs, as well!

Burned Rice-a-Roni

Things are such a whirl-wind in our household! This week has been nuts (but in a good way, of course)! The poor boys are so excited about their sister but are getting pretty neglected. Here was their lovely lunch today...burned Rice-a-Roni! This is proof to all my friends & neighbors who think I cook my family a good, nutritious meal 3 times a day that I am not superwoman!!! I told you so but oh, are we having fun celebrating our referral!!! Her picture is already everywhere, all over the house! We are so blessed!

Amazing

Earlier today, something reminded me about a piece of paper that I have carried in my Bible for the past 17 years or so. It was a date page from a calendar from the day that I surrendered my life to the call of Christ. I had been a Christian for years, but it was the day that I said, "Lord, however you want to use me & my circumstances, I give it ALL to you". I didn't know the whole plan of what God had for me (nor do I at this point :-) ), but I did know that it had to do with the orphans of the world. Well, I just looked at that page & you would never believe the date! June 23rd--the same date as our referral! Read below the verse & quote for the day. Goose Bumps!!!!

"I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on

the palms of my hands..." Isaiah 49:15, 16 In those nail-scarred hands we see

the evidence of his love, the assurance that we are his family forever.

Referral!!!!

Yes, that's right! We got a referral!!!! We got the call Monday evening for an adorable 4 year old. We are joining the "slightly outside of our parameters" club. She just turned 4 less than a month ago, & our stated parameters were 0-3 years old. We are thrilled! She is absolutely adorable! Since she is slightly older, we wanted to take some time to pray & seek God's will. Having done that, we have been given an overwhelming peace & are so excited. She seems like a perfect fit for our family! More details to come, but I will say now that she is part Asian! Who would have thought that we would end up finding our daughter of Asian descent in Africa!!! It is so neat to see a glimpse of where God was taking us when we began our journey in an Asian adoption & ended up in Africa with an Ethiopian-Asian! God is so good! Kate is overnighting our acceptance information, so we can get started on moving forward with the process! Praise the Lord!