The Good and The Bad

We had a good time celebrating the Birth of Jesus! Here is the cake Isaac wanted to have at my mom's house this Christmas.

Good news is a few people found out they passed court and others received their court dates. Bad news is some families did not pass the first time, or the courts ran out of time to hear their case. I was so sad thinking about the kids waiting months for their families. We want to hear more Good News! Proverbs 25:25 "Good News from far away is like cold water to the thirsty."
I saw this verse in the Focus on the Family magazine this month and I need to keep meditating on it: "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27

Off to buy chocolate so we can set up my new chocolate fountain for New Years Eve!!

Because of Our Need

I read this devotional this morning by Max Lucado-
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17

Can you imagine prospective parents saying, "We'd like to adopt Johnny, but first we want to know a few things. Does he have a house to live in? Does he have money for tuition? Does he have a ride to school every morning and clothes to wear every day? Can he prepare his own meals and mend his own clothes?

No agency would stand for such talk. Its representative would lift her hand and say, "Wait a minute. You don't understand. You don't adopt Johnny because of what he has; you adopt him because of what he needs. He needs a home."
The same is true with God. He doesn't adopt us because of what we have. He doesn't give us his name because of our wit or wallet or good attitude... Adoption is something we receive, not something we earn.
From the Great House of God

I love this devotional because I think the Spirit of Adoption is so important. We are adopted into God's family, what an honor. The King of the universe loves us and wants us to be apart of his life everyday.
I am thankful we can adopt a child and have them be apart of our family forever too!!

Over 3 Months

We have been waiting now about 3 1/2 months. It is exciting to see several referrals given out last week!
We pray for court dates, travel and overall health of the children.
Here is a picture of Matt and I in front of a mountain in Mexico, I believe it is Chipenque. The weather was warm and wonderful. We had a great host to take us everywhere as well. I would go back anytime, next time I would make sure we got some hiking in!
We also traveled with another couple, they were a lot of fun. I laughed so much! Thanks Todd and Brooke. Here is a picture of Brooke and I overlooking the city. If you only knew what we went through to get this ONE picture!!!

To Mexico!

It has been a long time since I posted anything! Busy with the holidays I guess!
Here is a picture of my future sister-in-law at my parents house. The snow is so awesome there right now.
On another note...Matt and I are flying to Mexico for the weekend. His company has a plant down there and we are going to help celebrate with them at their Christmas party. Not like they need any help, right? I have had a hard time packing because I can't imagine going from boots to tank tops. Although Matt said his friends there say it is cold, COLD at 75 degrees. I may have to look like an American tourist, I don't care.
We are thankful some new referrals came out yesterday. We hope the program continues to move quickly. Matt and I are sponsoring a child and encourage you to do it too. You can go to Bethany.org if you want or Helps International Ministries. I believe I have a link off my blog.
Enjoy the sun or snow wherever you live:)

Samuel's Birthday Today

Today is Samuel's first birthday. I wanted to share a few photos of him. We will send the day with Matt's family and run over to see a couple of my sisters for an hour this afternoon. I am glad Matt and I have our faith in God and knowledge of life with Him for eternity. We miss you Samuel!

Great Verse

I just love this bible verse so I had to share it!
Isaiah 30:15 "In quietness and confidence is your strength."

Also, a good quote,

"If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten." -Anthony Robbins

Here is a sweet picture of Isaac after building his first snowman of the year!

This and That

Today we got information about our sweet sponsor child in Ethiopia. He is a cutie pie!!! I keep crying and staring at his picture. What will I do when we actually get our referral?
This months Cooking Light magazine has some articles and recipes about Ethiopian Food in case anyone wants to check it out!

Waiting, Listening and Learning

Here is a picture of my 7 point that I got opening morning! It was very exciting to be hunting with Matt. And isn't the snow beautiful? You should see the huge flakes at my house right now.
My heart has been heavy lately due to different situations and at times my spirit unsettled. Know how that feels? The medicine that helps me is time spent in prayer talking to God and reading the bible. Also, being open and vulnerable with my husband. He always listens and when I talk to him it opens up the doors to healing.

Two verses that have helped me are, Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." and Isaiah 49:25 "...I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save."
We hope to hear of more referrals this week. Many families will have been waiting 6 months now.

Important Link

http://www.facinglife.tv/episode/season_3/episode_7/episode_307.html
This is a link to view some information regarding adopting children with special needs. Yes, you may need kleenex!

My Brother is Getting Married!

Deer season starts on Saturday so we are going to head up north to hunt. My nephew is coming too this year for the first time! We love venison and just being outdoors.
Congratulations to two families who received court dates for Christmas Eve! I wish it wasn't so far away, but at least they know a date.
In other news...My brother is engaged! Welcome Emily to our family. They are looking at a summer wedding. I am putting a picture of them up on the blog.
We were hoping to attend an adoption benefit concert Thursday night but I have a new bible study that just started so we can't go. I am sorry we can't be there.
I will post how our hunting goes this weekend!

Two Months in Ethiopia!

I have a little sister who is handicap and Isaac loves to help push her in her stroller and bump heads with her. She watches him play and it makes her smile. We went out to dinner last weekend when my parents were visiting and took this picture. Isaac is learning about special people, what their needs are and how they are different than ours.
Otherwise today is our 2 MONTH anniversary of having our dossier in Ethiopia!!!! I actually feel like two months have gone by fast.
The weather has been incredibly warm the past few days and we have spent hours outside playing with the neighbors.
I am praying for our country and our new leadership. Here is a good verse to pray. "Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found." Psalms 119:35

Picture and Prayer

Isaac was Lightening McQueen for Halloween. He looks so old here!


Check out this link. Pray for Ethiopia. This article states there is an imminent terrorist attack coming. Thank God He is powerful and in control. Pray against the enemy and for safety for all the citizens of Ethiopia.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gK-KHXXSiMPsuoKqg3AFb-7khwzw

I Choose

Here is a picture of my brother and Isaac in front of a sunflower in my dad's garden.

Today I was re-reading something a friend sent me. It is by Max Lucado. I think you will enjoy it too.

I Choose Love...
No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings, created by God
I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than
an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of
cursing the one who takes my place. I'll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long.
I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist
at a new assignment. I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Goodness...
I will go without a dollar before
I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast.
I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word.
My wife will not question my love.
And my children will never fear that
their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control...
I am a spiritual being...
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose Self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek his grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow
and rest.
Max Lucado-When God whispers Your Name

Our Time With Ethiopian Missionaries Part 1

Isaac and I playing football with his older cousins. He was tired of taking pictures!!

Last Friday night we met with a couple from Holland, Michigan who have been missionaries since 1965. They have been dear friends of Matt’s aunt. They have spent time in Oman, Ethiopia and Liberia. Now they are going to Cameroon in Western Africa for the next 5 months.
The spent two years learning Arabic years ago and took their two young boys with them to Oman. The boys went to school in India while living there.
Both are now in their seventies. Can you imagine taking on a new experience in Camroon at that age? I told Matt most people their age are playing golf and bingo in Florida!
What wonderful people who seek to do God’s will. He is a surgeon who educates in hospitals while she teaches English. I think we could have talked all night long to them.

They just returned home from Ethiopia, about 5 or 6 hours south west of Addis Ababa.
I talked to him about the NOVA program where women often develop obstetrical fistulas during childbirth. He said he has performed those surgeries.
They had written down several sayings and stories. One stands out right now.
A father brought a young boy to him at the hospital. He had a large growth on his face. He kept asking the father why he waited so long to bring him to him because the growth was huge and may not be able to be removed. The little boy said, “it got too heavy and I could not carry it anymore.” Keep in mind the growth was now resting on his shoulder!
He said that when people get diseases, growths etc… they typically hope it goes away and do not seek help.

They gave us several books about Ethiopia and some local artwork painted on sheep’s skin. I am excited to frame it for our little one. Books on Ethiopia have been hard to find to this is a great help to us.
Because we learned so much I will keep posting information they gave to us!

On another note, a friend sent me a daily devotional in the mail this week. We went to graduate school together and though I have not seen her in years it was a blessing to hear from her. Something broke inside of me when I received it. I think my emotions from the babies that have went to heaven in Ethiopia and thinking about our Samuel just came to a head. I had a good cry and talked to God about it.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by a friend to post seven weird/random facts about myself.
1. I have visited three other countries
2. I am a member of a Native American Tribe
3. I have climbed an active volcano
4. I spent two months in Perth Australia 10 years ago
5. I lived in Chicago for 2 years while going to University of Illinois Chicago
6. I would love to get my nose pierced
7. I burp louder than my brother
You must all feel like you really know me now!
The picture above is from our Trunk or Treat at MOPS. I actually won. I am pretty much the opposite of Martha Stewart so I went in with low expectations. Think I won because of the bale of hay I bought on the way there that morning.

Our Heart Breaks

We heard that another little baby went to heaven on Saturday in Ethiopia.
His family was given their referral in September, he truly was their own. We weep with this family as they miss there little one. So many emotions at this time.
Please pray for the other babies at the transition home and for all the caregivers. We need God to have mercy on them and heal their illness.

No Computer

Oh how I hope our computer is fixed tomorrow. So we are without for awhile longer. More posts later!!

More Northern Michigan Beauty

We are enjoying a few more days up north. The trees are still so beautiful!
My computer is down and being repaired so I have not been able to congratulate the families who were told they had gotten referrals for new little ones this month.
Four more referrals were handed out this week!!
Hope my computer is up and running soon.
Our pastor talked about Kingdom issues that are important during this election.
Check it out at reslife.org it was an awesome message of what issues are important to God and not negotiable.
Hope you can see some gorgeous trees turning colors near you.

Loving October

October may be one of my favorite months. Isaac and I just got home from Northern Michigan and it was beautiful. Every year I look forward to the weather cooling off, leaves changing and Christmas coming. Matt is also back from his business trip. We are excited to spend time with him again.
Here are a few pictures from our trip up north. I took one from the deer blind where we hunt and another of my parents dog Idgy and Isaac on the gator. The hunting property is about a mile from my parents house and we frequently drive the gator over to sit and look at the birds and deer.
I think Isaac spent the majority of the time outside this week. We were up visiting for a few days. What a wonderful time.
On a side note, we need to watch out for division in the church, between friends, relatives or co-workers. During election times people have strong opinions and sometimes I think words come out that hurt others. I am as much to blame here. I come from a very politically aware family and love discussing it. But, remember our hearts can hold grudges and that is not healthy .
We live in a free country and I thank God for the men and women who have served and are serving to keep our country free and fight wars in other lands. I am thankful we are not fighting on our soil.
So many verses come to mind over what is happening.
Matthew 16:3 "...Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times."
1 Tim 4:1-2 "The spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared with a hot iron." For more information on things taught by demons go to reslife.org Our pastor completed a series you can listen to on Doctrines of Demons.
I Peter 4:7-8 "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins."
I think we can watch cable tv for 5 minutes and know how things are morally in the US. But, God is bigger than that and our prayers do make a difference. Continue to love people and seek God for our country. Remember we are apart of God's kingdom and if we have accepted Jesus in our heart and live for him than we can trust Him without fear. This is one of my favorite verses:
I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
There is one more important verse I have been dwelling on and I can't find the address for it so more later!!

Prayer

We continue to lift up three little baby boys in Ethiopia.
We know two of them are in the hospital right now. We also are asking God for Grace for our friends who lost their baby Jaren last Thursday before he made it to the hospital. Matt and I know what it feels like to have a child in heaven and it brings back a lot of feelings.
I have so much to say about God's healing power but it will have to wait until I get some sleep. I always tell Isaac Jesus not only died for our sins on the cross but our healing and protection as well.
I am believing and asking God for a miracle in Ethiopia and in the bodies of these boys.

Prayers for our Friends

Today our friends received word their little boy in Ethiopia has died and went to be with Jesus. He was only four months old. My heart feels so heavy for them.

Two scriptures came to mind.
Proverbs 15:13&14 "A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken."
Isaiah 51:11 "Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: They shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away."
Pray for this family, lift them up to the Lord.
The loss of a child is incredibly difficult. All the hopes and dreams you had for them will have to wait.
Isn't it good to know we can have eternal life through Jesus and spend eternity with our babies? That is the hope we have.
Today our little friend met our Samuel in heaven. Thank God for his promises.

Have You Ever Felt Shock?

I just finished reading It's Not Okay With Me by Janine Maxwell. I am so numb from reading this book I can hardly stand it. I have had troubling sleeping and eating since starting it. It isn't for the faint of heart or a "light read."
Read it if you want to be challenged and makes changes in your world and the lives of orphans around the world. I have a link to the website Heart For Africa in my sidebar. This is Janine's organization.
Ask yourself these questions:
Is it ok that every 3 seconds a child dies of hunger?
Is it ok that everyday 30,000 children die of hunger?
Is is ok that every year 2.9 million children die of hunger/malnutrition?
Is it ok with you that 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS?

You know what, It is Not OK with Me.

FYI-

Foundation Establishes HIV/AIDS Clinic in Ethiopia

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Jolie-Pitt Foundation has made a $2 million donation to the Global Health Committee to establish a center to aid children affected by tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. The center will be modeled after the Cambodian Health Committee's Maddox Chivan Children's Center in Cambodia, where children receive medical, education and social services. "Our goal is to transfer the success we have had in Cambodia to Ethiopia where people are needlessly dying of tuberculosis, a curable disease, and HIV/AIDS, a treatable disease," Jolie said in a statement. As in Cambodia, where the couple named the center after their eldest child, the Ethiopian branch will be named for Zahara, 3, who was adopted from Ethiopia."It is our hope when Zahara is older she will take responsibility of the clinic and continue its mission," Pitt said in a statement. The clinic will also focus on tuberculosis care. The disease causes approximately 2 million deaths yearly, and is the largest cause of death worldwide for children and adults with AIDS. "The fact that poor people continue to die in our world today of TB, a curable disease, because of lack of access to drugs and care is unacceptable," Pitt said. The Jolie-Pitt foundation was established in Sept. 2006, when the couple donated $1 million to the Global Action for Children organization and $1 million to Doctors Without Borders.

We took Isaac to the Circus on Saturday! I think we may have enjoyed it more than him. He kept asking us where the trampolines were?? We did get to see Tigers, Zebras, and Elephants. Very fun.
He loves his sandbox. He makes "wombat stew" quite often. There is a book entitled Wombat Stew my friend from Australia gave him. He puts sand, various bugs, grass and whatever else he can find in his bucket.
We met another family last week who received a referral for a baby boy, four months old from Ethiopia. He is a doll!! This family has only been waiting 3 1/2 montsh. They are very blessed.

Isaac had to put his goggles on and use his saw to "cut" his toy lizard!
Isn't Matt's shirt cute? Thanks Shadley for the shirts!!
We are still fighting colds. Mine seems worse today but it can only get better right?
We have to get out of the house today. My list of errands are piling up.

Rainy Days-Fighting Colds

Isaac had fun picking peaches and raspberries at the orchard last week. Here are a couple of pictures of him. Not sure what the gourds were he is picking up. I didn't get a chance to ask!! A friend of mine asked, "do we eat those?" I hope not.

Isaac has been fighting a cold since Friday night. It has been a very rainy weekend so it is good we can stay inside and heal. I made chicken soup yesterday and apple cake. My mother-in-law picked us a big bag of honey crisp apples. They are incredible!! Matt headed to church by himself today and for lunch we go to eat at Aunt Tara's.
We are watching church on-line right now. If you click on the link on the right hand side that says Resurrection Life Church and then go to live sermons you can watch too!
Matt and I start bible school through church next Monday. It will be my first semester and his second. We are excited for it to begin.
Think Isaac needs a nice steamy bath now.

September 5th Dossier Sent!

Our dossier was sent on September 5th. We are officially waiting for our referral for a boy or girl 0-18 months of age. We are very excited!
Thanks for everyone's prayers

Could it be Gone?

I am waiting to hear if our dossier was sent last Friday to Ethiopia. Hopefully tomorrow we get an answer from our adoption specialist! I can't imagine that we have finally reached the "waiting" stage!
Today we visited the local firehouse. Isaac and the other kids all got to drive and sit in the fire trucks. What a highlight for a little boy! I think even the moms had fun. It was all arranged by my MOPS group. They have been very supportive and helpful. Our year starts again next Monday.
Tomorrow we are off to an orchard to pick peaches and apples with Grandma and Aunt Tara.
More news on our dossier coming soon...

Dossier to D.C.

We are back from our Canada vacation. Here are a few pictures of us in the Bay in front of the cottage and at the Sand River in Provencial Park north of the cottage. Isaac was able to play with all his cousins during the week. In fact, there were five kids there 3 and under! He had a lot of fun.
Our dossier was sent out the last week in August. We believe it was the 25th. We are not sure how long it will take to get back to Bethany headquarters here in GR but hopefully it sees its way to Ethiopia in September!
Isaac started Kindermusik today. He had to go in by himself part of the time with the kids and teacher. Afterwards he said, "I missed you and didn't have fun." I bet he will have fun next week:)
Sissy is here with us this week. She is my little sister who has seizures. She is 26. We are enjoying our time with her!

Welcome New Friends

We have been waiting and waiting to hear how our Bethany friends are doing in Ethiopia and we heard lots of news today. So touching and wonderful. We can't wait to meet our new friends someday. Welcome home Levi and Bereket!

Our family enjoyed a wonderful night with friends from Northern Michigan. Great to be around supportive and Christlike people. We had awesome discussions on family, schools, politics and Christianity. This verse reminds me of our time together. "Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you." I Timothy 6: 20-22

This picture of Isaac reminds me of how we are in the waiting process right now. Hmmmmm......can't wait for our referral!

All Turned In

Though we would like to sleep like little Isaac now that our paperwork is gone we won't! I keep reminding myself all that what will happen now is a phone call saying we have a referral. God sure surprised us with a quick immigration turn around so who knows what He can do next. We know for sure He has good plans for us and will do exceedingly and abundantly above all we should ever ask or think.
Matt is biking today with friends at the trail. He loves it! Isaac and I will have a good morning together.
Prayers for the three families who left on Wednesday to pick up there children in Ethiopia.

Getting things tied up

We should have our entire dossier to our adoption worker on Thursday. The Sec. of States office is closed until then. I didn't know they closed and I need one piece of paper state sealed!! So after that our dossier goes to Washington D.C. back to Grand Rapids and then off to Ethiopia. After it is there it should be around a month until it is through their process. Very exciting!
Isaac is so much fun. The other night he was in his room with a flashlight singing, "Here Come the Sun." He started praying and asking Jesus what plans he had for him. So wonderful to know God's spirit works in the little ones minds and lives.

I went to a women's meeting at church last night. The topic was Being not Doing. I know we can get caught up in Doing a lot and not Being with God. It was a great message by Cheryl Salem. She is a former Miss America. So challenging and deep.
Looking forward to a great day.

A Paperwork Miracle

So here is a picture of my bridesmaids. Aren't they beautiful? They look even better today than seven years ago.
On another note...We received our paperwork from immigration today approving us to adopted an orphan. This really is a miracle because Matt was just fingerprinted July 25th. Our adoption worker said it would be 8-12 weeks from then!! And here we are August 9th.
Also, My dad won the election up north and is county commissioner again. He is doing a great job!
Now we get our I-171h notarized, state sealed and give our check to Bethany for the Ethiopian country fee. Bethany already has our dossier with everything ready to go. Hopefully our dossier is in the country within a few weeks!

Wedding Memories

A couple of weeks ago we were given the option to buy our wedding negatives. This last week I had them put on a CD and downloaded them to my computer. I will be posting a few of them. It is fun to have a look back at 7 years ago. I think we look younger, although I don't feel older.
Matt recently got a job promotion at work. It is great and he is enjoying the change.
Congratulations to our Bethany friends who are traveling next week!!! I don't think I could sleep or eat because of excitement!

Lots of Vacation

It really has been a great summer. Last week we spent part of the week in Northern Michigan and attended the Venetian festival in Charlevoix. We had tons of fun at my parents house riding their gator, visiting the deer blind, going on the boat, etc...
Too many things to mention. We got to see my sister Julie, her husband Steve and my niece and nephew Luke and Eva. We always get to spend time with friends and family while we are there.
My dad is running for County Commissiner so vote August 5th if you live up there. He has been in 2 years and is doing a great job. I will be glad when the votes are in!

If you live in my area this Saturday at my church we are having a walk-a-thon to raise money for the A21 campaign. This campaign was developed to raise awareness and money to stop the selling of children, as young as four into the sex slave trade industry. Let me know if you are interested in attending. I have more information on my facebook page.
Also, some great news on Matt's job front. He got a promotion to finance director. Of course he got a raise too. This offsets my working a couple of days a week. We are so thankful for God provision for our family.
On the "new" baby front there isn't much to report. When we talk about the new baby coming from Ethiopia Isaac usually asks, "where is the old one?" The minds of little ones are so sweet. We did get to take him to the Ethiopian restaurant on Friday night. It is so good and we are always up for going if anyone is interested!

Finally Matt's been fingerprinted!

Today Matt had his appt. Now we wait. Our adoption worker said it was taking about 8 weeks for immigration paperwork to come back. That puts us at the end of September. Then we get it notarized, state sealed and send everything off to Washington D.C. Then it comes back to the Bethany headquarters in Grand Rapids before being sent to Ethiopia. Sometime in October our dossier will be there, and they tell us it could be 12-15 months for a referral. Of course we hope it is sooner.
Pray for us that things move quickly.
Here is a picture of Isaac playing piano at my parents house. He loves to sit and play. I am sure lessons are in his future!

Fun up North!

My son loves the boat so it is a treat to go out with my parents when we are up north. This is a picture of him and my mom. We had fun with our cousins, they loved to get pulled behind the boat on tubes.
This past week I decided to quit the job I started a month ago. I thought I would enjoy working in the mental health field part-time again, but I really did not!!!! This will be my last week there and I am praying I get cut from the days I am scheduled. Wouldn't that be great??!! Thank God for teaching me things and meeting kind people while I was there.
I will be back to being a full-time stay at home mom. Oh, how I missed it! My son will be happy too, although he had great family members to stay with while I was away.
Yesterday was my birthday. I am 33 years old now, so is Matt, and Isaac is 3. Weird huh? I was really blessed with some wonderful gifts. And as with most birthdays it isn't over yet!
We are so happy to our adopting friends who's court dates went through on the first try! They will be traveling soon to Ethiopia to pick up there kids, Bereket, Levi and Ruby. Praise the Lord

I had to post this picture of Matt's huge Walleye caught on Batchawana Bay, Canada!
Also, I am reading a book entitled, There is no me without you, by Melissa Fay Greene.
If you are at all interested in Ethiopia, the world AIDS epidemic, are adopting from any African country or want to be deeply touched by one women's story read this book. I think it is life changing.

Yeah for Matt's Appointment

We finally got word today Matt has his Fingerprinting appt. on July 23rd. Wish we didn't have to wait so long, but when you reschedule you are at their mercy. Congratulations to those friends who are having their dossier sent to Ethiopia. You guys are very fortunate and now wait to receive word of your little one!
Isaac loves playing outside and enjoyed his time with Grandma and Grandpa.
Off to Canada later this week for fun in the water and lots of fishing.

Fun at Papa and Grandma's

As you can see Isaac picked up his first Mouse! He ran into the house to show my parents. Lots of fun at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We went boating twice, rode the gator and sat in the deer blind. We even got to see a mom and baby deer. So much fun!

Flower

Today Isaac has been telling us he would like to have a sister like our neighbor girl, and name her Flower. It is so sweet. I told him to talk to God about it because he decides. He told me, "I don't talk loud so maybe you should ask." He also said, "I have to lift my head way up so I can talk to him." Isn't it cute how little ones think they need to pray? I told him God would hear you even if you are quiet or laying down. He knows our thoughts in our head. I remember praying for a little brother for YEARS. And I have the best brother in the world!! Here is my brother and Isaac, he helps me a lot!
New referrals are coming in through Bethany, so wonderful for the waiting families.
I have my fingerprints taken tomorrow, one step closer.

Fingerprinting Appointment

Today we found out when our appointments are and guess what? Matt is out of town so he had to reschedule his. Pray it goes well. I am keeping mine! After that our adoption worker said it will be 2-3 months before we have the piece of paper we need to finally send our Dossier to Ethiopia!!

Adopting Friends Journal

Today I received our adopting friends journal. There are around 11 of us included. We send the journal to each other and write notes, bible verses ect... and pass it on. Isaac got some special stickers for Kim in PA. today, Thanks Kim!
It is such a blessing to share with other moms our journey.

Here is a poem/saying by Benjamin Malachi Franklin (1882-1965)

My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride forget He sees the upper but I the under side.
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needed in the Weaver's skillful hand, as threads of gold and silver in the pattern life has planned.

Good News

Finally this week the first Bethany referrals came! Congratulations to all the families. We are really excited for them.
We have been enjoying open houses and visiting with friends and family this summer. Hopefully next summer we will have our new addition here!
Thanks for praying for us.

Ups and Downs

Today we paid our country fee and got our big bill from Bethany. I just didn't think it would be so much at once! We will be praying a lot today. Why is it so hard to just have another baby?
Also, bad news that I didn't expect. I thought our dossier would be sent out today but they need to wait for our immigration paperwork to go through, so maybe in 2-3 months? Again, why is it so difficult to expand your family?
Today my little flip devotional was about fully relying on God. Very appropriate for today.
Here is a picture of a bird that nested in our tree. I named her Molly. I know God is taking care of her and is so big he will take care of us too.

Paperwork Almost Done

This has been a big week for us. Our immigration paperwork was sent out and our dossier was state sealed! Tomorrow I drop off the big check, $5,000 for the country fee. We are making good progress and should hear back about our fingerprinting appt. soon.
Thanks to everyone who is praying for us.

Getting Closer

I hope to have our dossier completely done really soon. Our worker has it so we are praying it looks good!
I watched a NOVA special on-line today about Ethiopian women if anyone has a chance to watch the link is http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/program.html

Here is a picture of Isaac with daddy at his 3 year b-day party!

Isaiah 60:4

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I was reading this verse this week and it jumped out at me.
"Lift up your eyes and see! For your sons and daughters are coming home to you from distant lands." Isn't it great?!