Hello Again!

    It has been what seems like years since I have actually posted one of my blog entries. I have wrote many but just can't seem to bring myself to posting them. If you only know us from the blog then I would like to give you a little update. Last June (2012), we accepted the referral of a precious 14 month old boy from Gambella, Ethiopia. On July 23, 2012 we passed court in Addis Ababa and he became our son. After a long three and a half months, a decline from the US Embassy, and then a review and acceptance from USCIS, we returned to Ethiopia to bring him home. He has now been home exactly 11 months today. His name is Was (sounds like Woz) and he is a joy. The last 11 months has consisted of lots of adjusting, transitioning, and refining, most of it by Josh and I. We have had moments of pure bliss and others filled with grief and heartache. I think even the "easiest" adoptions are still more than most imagine.

     Our girls have been great throughout the entire year. They welcomed their brother with open arms and their hearts bursting with love for him. I think there were days when their love came close to even smothering him. ;) He has gotten used to it though, and often approaches them for hugs and kisses now.

     Almost a year later, life is finally seeming back to normal, or at least our normal. We currently have a 9 month old boy staying with us Sunday night through Friday night. He and his mother are enrolled in the Safe Families movement. A movement that definitely has our hearts. The other day we were discussing serving God and the ways we serve. Safe Families was brought up and D (age 4) said "it's really great when God ask us to take care of babies". ;)  We also began homeschooling this year, just the younger three. It has definitely been an adventure. The kids and I are really enjoying it. We have lots of kinks to work out but I think we may always have those.

     Well that should catch you up a bit.

I hope to keep the momentum going and post a little more often.


~Andrea

 

Summit = New Challenges!

A few months back if you remember I posted a link to the Christian Alliance Orphan Summit. Well, Josh and I attended the conference earlier last month . WOW! The two days were great! I expected the conference to be every bit as inspiring as last year's and it was. People gathered from all over. Everyone there had at least two things in common. They love Jesus and want to know how to better care for the fatherless.

I wanted to share a few highlights of the jammed-packed two days. There were way too many to write all in one post. Hopefully, I will be able to share more later.

On the first day, we listened to Russell Moore speak. He is the author of the book Adopted for Life. I have not read the book yet. Josh has and says it is a must. After hearing Russell speak, I now have it on my ever growing reading list.

He discussed the things that are really holding us, as believers, from adopting: fear, cost, and unpredictability. He stated that we have an impoverished sense of freedom and fear of not being in control.

How true is that??? How many times do we claim how big and powerful are God is and yet we hesitate to get out of the boat when He commands us to.

We also sat in on a forum over our lunch. The topic was International Adoptions 2011: Challenges, Changes, and Difficult Questions. There were three speakers from the CCAI, NCA, and JCICS. One of the things that stuck out to me most was a comment made about doors closing on international adoptions. It was stated that International adoption is one of the only causes that when a minority of injustice occurs, it causes someone to propose for it to be shut down. They went on to say the same things happen in disaster relief, foster care, and etc. However you don't hear of anyone proposing to shut those programs down. Again..how true!

I believe the truth is there are injustices in all kinds of social services. We must fight to resolve the injustices and to improve the services, not to just wash our hands of them. The "systems" will only get better and the children get taken care of, if we are willing to go the distance. In other words if we are willingly to make sure we have jumped through every hoop necessary and have made sure we are responsible for investigating the agencies we use and help fund.

Well, I think that is enough for tonight. I am getting all charged up again just writing about it! Like I said hope to share more later. Praying what new info we have does lay dormant with us. Praying that action follows and we seek the direction of the Lord and continue to leap without hesitation.

~ANDREA

A Sister? From Ethiopia?!? A Post by Gracie

In May I found out that I would have another sibling. That him or her would be from Africa. I was so excited, I thought 3 SIBLINGS!! Now November, we have done paperwork, rummage sales, trips, and made sacrifices.

Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(It's on my wall in my room)

So I believe that God has placed a lot of strength in us and has made our family strong.

Ephesians 1:5 says he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

I think since we have started adopting all of our family has grown a lot closer to him. Alex has been like a rope pulling us closer and closer to her and to him.

Every night at dinner this month we have been stating what we are thankful for; daddy and mommy are thankful for our family, me for family and friends, Delaney for Jesus, and every night Genna for ALEX!!!

Finally I want to share one of my favorite verses.

Jesus says my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in WEAKNESS.

2Corinthians 12:9

That means to me even though the adoption might be hard, in the end our power in the adoption will end up almost perfect through Christ!

Thanks, Gracie (11)

Accepted and it feels so good!

I am not one that usually seeks the acceptance of others however.......this time it is different!!!!

On Wednesday, we got the call that our application went through. We were ACCEPTED!!!!!! We could not be more thrilled, well maybe if we had been picking up our new baby on that day! This upcoming Wednesday we have our orientation call with our agency. This means we have a lot more paperwork ahead of us and will soon begin paying some of the fees.

After talking with the caseworker, from our agency, we realized it would probably be best for us if we decided between a girl or a boy. We found out we can't have opposite genders sharing a room and our plans had been to put Delaney and the baby together. We have an extra room that can be converted into a nursery, but it is across the house from our bedroom and I am not liking the thought of any of my children that far away at night. So we will continue to pray and have heart to hearts on what to do.

Yesterday we had a wonderful summer day together. The big girls played on the slip and slide and Delaney sat in her new baby pool.

They also washed the Jeep and van with daddy!

Oh....how I enjoy relaxing days when we are all at home!

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Why, Why, Why?

I/we have been asked this numerous times in the last few weeks. So why? Why do you want to adopt?


I have had adoption on my heart since I was a teenager. I have a sister that is three years older than me that was adopted. She was adopted through a domestic adoption within a few days after her birth. We are two very different people. "Night and day different" as my parents would explain when we were kids. She is musical, artistic, and a perfectionist. I, on the other hand, love music but, can't play a thing or sing on key, make stick men look bad, and can be very lax-a-daisy! However, we are family and love our differences and enjoy each other's company. It has always broke my heart to think what if she hadn't found her forever family and what if she wasn't a part of our lives.


I have been blessed to have a family that has always shown great love. Family was more about those who gathered at our dinner table than those who had the same blood line. I can remember when I took my first job at the children's home. So many young people there at that time didn't have someone to call and check on them. Many had been done wrong by those that were supposed to be their family. I was baffled and in disbelieve. I was only 21 when I started and couldn't fathom not having a mother or father that I could trust or find help from. I was often saddened by what I had seen or witnessed in the lives of these kids. Many nights I returned home to my husband and newborn daughter and cried myself to sleep. Why? Why would the Lord bless me with such love and leave others without much? It was then that God began working on my heart and changing how I viewed theirs and my situation. I felt as if he was saying over and over to me why would I have blessed you and then put you here? You have received much love in order to give just that... MUCH LOVE!!! So my life's greatest blessing has become my burden.

I know my family and many others through God's grace have what these children need. Love. The kind that doesn't give up. The kind that is there in spite of all the flaws. The kind that rejoices with them in the good times and griefs with them in the tough ones.

It is not enough for us, personally, to send money to help feed or clothe a child. I know it takes more. Sometimes that is all one can do, but I know God is calling us to do more. To share the greatest gift we have ever received, love. The love of our heavenly Father first and foremost, and also the love of a family.

If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? Proverbs 24:12

And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40