Wanna get wet?

Our first experience with the sprinkler!  Very fun!  Levi is good with directing the water!  Hold your nose Beti!  The girls think our 70 degree weather is HOT!!!  Boy do they have another thing coming!

Sweet Girls

Ready for Church!  So cute!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  Here are Beti and Nardos in their traditional Ethiopian dresses.What a couple of princesses!

Here they are checking out their loot from the egg hunt in the back yard.

Even the big kids got in on the action!

Hey - I think I found one!

Blessings!

Crazy Times!

Ok ~ we are crazy, but taking the kids to the wonderful, wild world of Silver Dollar City just seemed like a great way to start Spring!  We teamed up with our cousins, Will and Sam and Uncle Bill and Aunt Jenn.  We had a fantabulous time!  Sure it rained and we were extremely over-stimulated, but it was fun.  The kids loved the rides and swimming at the hotel was truly exhilarating!  Once we convinced Nardos that going face-first in the pool water without holding your breath is a BAD idea, the rest was a blast!

Beti in her first School program!

Beti had only been in school for one and a half weeks when the First grade students were scheduled to perform the music program that they had been working on for a few months.  The Music Teacher said that Beti knew the music quite well.  Beti said that she wanted to sing, so we went and she sang.  In this picture she looks a little scared, but she did a great job!  Super job - we love you Beti!

Baking Cookies!

We have come to discover that so much of life is unpredictable.  Life is full of surprises and plenty of giggles!

Beti baked her first batch of cookies!  Check out the pictures ~ can't you just smell the cookies and the happiness???

Happy!!!

The girls had their first day of school today. Beti had a fabulous time and came home with a big smile on her face. She can't wait to go back tomorrow and every day after that! Nardos liked preschool ~ as long as Mommy was there. We stayed through lunch and came home for nap. We will do it that way for a few days while she gets used to the school thing.

After everyone got home, we went out to play in the back yard....the photos tell it all!

Princess Pics and Bikes

Thanks to Aunt Jenn for bringing the tiara and pink boa! The girls have loved wearing it. Beti even said that she wanted to wear it to church. I told her I didn't think so. The bikes have been a big hit and great exercise. Pray that Spring comes quickly or we will have some very upset girls - can't bike very well in the snow!

Transition ~ Nardos has learned what "no whining" means! She is very dramatic. She has the best giggle and can pout with the best of them. Beti is beginning to express herself more. She is putting together simple English sentences and loves to tease her sister and brothers. All in all we are doing very well.

The girls are going to start school on Monday. It will be three weeks after landing on US soil and Beti is definitely ready. She really wanted to start today, but the new quarter starts Monday, so we are going to wait. Nardos is not so excited about going to school and would rather stay home and play. The preschool that she will attend is going to allow me to come with her and stay as long and as many days as she needs. I was thrilled ~ not all schools would allow that! Nardos is definitely more clingy to me, which equals attachment. So, as hard as it is to carry her often and be with her most of the time, I know that I am building trust with her. Beti has really attached to Bob. Yesterday, every time the door opened or phone rang, she would say, "Daddy?" When he came home from work, she hugged him around the neck. So sweet.

Blessings,

Audra

More pictures for our Fans!

Here are a few pictures of the kids: Nardos eating her first Oreo, throwing snow at Alex's backend, Nardos in full giggle after throwing the snow! Beti blowing bubbles, and the kids eating ice cream.

Hanging out/ playing with playdoh

Playdoh is our friend and TV is fun too!

Ethiopia - a land of beautiful people

The short week we were in Ethiopia, we came to love the people. They are diligent, hard working people. They love children and will give what little they have to those around them that don't have. Here are a few pictures of life in Addis Ababa. The first picture is of two women standing at an intersection - one has a baby strapped to her back. The second picture is of school children. The last two pictures are of a woman and child walking on the street and a group of people outside a "store".

Most of the streets are dirt and not named/labeled. Less than 1/3 of the children are able to attend school due to required fees and uniforms. Toilet paper is a luxury and running water is often contaminated. However, those that have jobs take great pride in their work. They work tirelessly from before the sun rises until after it sets. They don't complain and they don't sit down to rest. Many of them know and love the Lord ~ particularly the ones working for Children's Hope International ~ you can see that their ministry means the world to them. It's all about the children!

Home at last!

We landed at KCI airport on Monday evening. We were exhausted and very glad to be on midwest ground! Yes, the girls were a bit shocked by the cold weather and sight of snow. Nardos touched the snow and got giggling...that's her default! Beti is more reserved and often shakes her head at Nardos' demonstrations. We are slowly acclimating into the American way of things. The girls are doing well, although the language barrier does limit our ability to explain why we do things or when something is going to happen. I do have to brag on their ability to play together - cooperatively - for hours. Of course we do interact also, but they are content to play with their toys. This is particularly handy when we are doing things like posting on a blog or calling insurance and such. Ok - so I want to post some pictures and you can ooh and ahh for a while until I have a moment to post some more.

(The first picture includes the in-country Directors for our agency - Almaz is in traditional attire).

Blessings,

Audra

Here we go....

We received permission to purchase tickets!!! Since our travel location is not reliably supported with electronic connections, we will not be posting pictures during travel, but will be able to post some upon our return. Pray for smooth travel, sweet transitions, happy boys at home with caregivers, and no adverse reactions to different environments/food!

Blessings!

Dirty Shower

Yes, dirty shower. Last weekend we were "nesting"... sort of. More like Spring cleaning. Our poor boys were cleaning house for several hours...along with Bob and myself. We really got into it...vacuuming, dusting, moping, organizing, and cleaning out the showers. You know, it gets grimy, they all do. We clean it regularly, but every now and then you have to get between the doors and into the cracks with an old toothbrush and scrub! That is what I found myself doing. On my hands and knees, hair pulled back and reallllly scrubbing.

Sunday morning, our class got into the discussion of prayer. We were dissecting the purpose and parts of prayer. I don't mean join-a-monastery-in-the-mountains kind of prayer, but rather the conversation with God kind of prayer. The question was asked, "If you only spoke with your spouse for 5 minutes each day, what kind of relationship would you have....close....or distant? Would you really 'know' your spouse? Would you feel connected?" Of course not! God, the creator of heaven and earth, the one who knows how many hairs you have on your head wants to talk to you. Not just when you are needing something, but about it all...life! My grandmother used to call it "communing" with her Maker! So that takes me back to the dirty shower.

If I only pray like I typically clean the shower, will I get grime building up in my life? Should I really wait until a special "Spring cleaning" to deal with the junk that I let get between the doors in my heart and the corners of my mind? Lately, I have been struggling with people who have a job to do (paid or otherwise) and they spend more time whining about the work they have been asked to do than they spend doing the work. Although I am far from perfect, I have become quite focused on their faults. So, I am attempting to consciously focus on cleaning out the grime. Clean out my heart...with an old toothbrush if necessary. How? Constant, Consistent, Conscious "Communion" with my Maker. Easy? Not at all. There are many distractions. I could easily find reasons to NOT stop and pray; however, I seem to find time for other things...like blogging or watching a favorite show. So, I make time for God. It's all about choice.

On the Adoption front...We still wait. We did send an email to our Adoption Agency Case Worker that contained a message to our girls. She in turn will forward it to the in-country Director who will interpret it and "read" it to our girls. It was a short message, only about 5 sentences. But in it was a message of hope, of expectant hope. We are hopeful that our efforts will aid in their transition. We anticipate travel in about 3 weeks. Much to do!

Blessings,

Audra

Blessings for 2010

I am not sure what to expect for this year, but I do know this: God never lets us go! This morning in our church service we sang those very words: "Oh, NO He never lets go, through the calm and through the storm. Oh, NO He Never lets go, every high and every low. Oh, NO He never lets go, Lord You never let go of me!" I don't know all of what will occur this year, but I do know that no matter what happens, God is in control. He still sits on His throne in Heaven and He still Loves me! No matter if life seems good or not, He still holds me in the palm of His hand.

Concerning the adoption progress....we are waiting for the "be in Ethiopia now" call. While we wait, we are getting things in order, packing, well -- thinking about packing, etc. I was told (by a good friend who has also adopted) that this time will feel like forever while you wait, but once we get the call, things will move at lightning speed. So, we put on our goggles and strap in as best we can -- for the ride of our lives!

Praise the Lord!!

Just a quick, but super-important announcement: our big boy Levi accepted Jesus into his heart tonight!! The angels are rejoicing about the news of his second birth. This is why Jesus came into the world, to save us for God's ultimate Home.

Not a better Christmas present could we be given this year!!

Give this Christmas away

As I am going about my morning, I am listening to Klove radio and there is a song playing that I have not heard before. So, I look it up on the Klove.com website and find that it is written by Matthew West. The song is titled "Give this Christmas Away" and it has really touched my heart. You can see the video for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ulYpoNXCo. I have to tell you that hearing it touched my heart, seeing the video made me sob! The premise of the song is not just about giving things at Christmas, but about giving Hope. When it comes to the real meaning for Christmas, it too is about Hope. Jesus came as a baby and we celebrate His birth. But the reason for His coming, was to give Hope...an expectant Hope...that if we believe in Him, one day He will come and save us from eternal death and we will live with Him in Heaven.

Just the other night, Bob and I sat down to the computer and ordered some items to send to Beti and Nardos. We want to help pass the time that we are all having to wait and wanted to give them the opportunity to share with the other children at the transition home. We are also writing them a letter that we Hope will give them a connection to us as we wait to go and meet/get them. The letter is one of Hope...expectant Hope. Hope of a place and a family and the promise of belonging and acceptance.

God the Father sent us a gift also. He sent his son wrapped in cloths, placed Him in a lowly manger among animals, gave Him common parents to care for Him, invited stinky shepherds to visit His birth, and 33 years later allowed him to be sacrificed on a cross to offer us Hope. He even wrote us a letter - the Bible - that gives us a connection as we wait for Him to one day come and get us!

I pray that you accept His gift. See it only works if you accept the gift. In accepting the gift, you also receive the opportunity to share. Just as we Hope that Beti and Nardos enjoy sharing the toys in the package, I too enjoy sharing my Jesus with you. He is a gift that is not intended to be kept locked up and hidden. He is for sharing. So, this Christmas as you receive, remember to give Hope....Give this Christmas away.

Audra

Again with the waiting!

We just received word that our girls have officially started their medical testing. We had been projecting travel to be mid-January based on the approximate 8 week time frame necessary to obtain results from those tests and started measuring from November 17th which was when we passed court. So, give the new information and the 8 week estimation ... that puts us a travel late January (I am a perpetual optimist!) or early February. As hard as it is to wait, we are trying keep it in perspective and use the time for things like learning more Amharic (their language) and save up a little more money to cover travel costs.

The waiting also builds longing - which we hope is true for the girls also. I really want to make up a BIG package of goodies to send to them ~ and then I remember that there are countless other children there in their orphanage that may not have a "family" yet and it would barely cover the need. So, I am looking for other ways to meet needs while I wait.

This past Thanksgiving was the second one without my Mom or Grandma (they passed away in January and February 2008) and we chose to start a new tradition with our family. My Sister and her family were going to be out of town and the traditional family gathering wasn't going to happen until Sunday after Thanksgiving, so we joined in on an event that our church has led in the past. We helped provide the full traditional Thanksgiving meal to "residents" at the Hope Lodge in Kansas City. Hope Lodge is a beautiful building provided by the American Cancer Society and located near Bartle Hall in Kansas City. Persons who live more than 50 miles outside of the city and coming into KC for Cancer treatment can stay there for free. They are required to purchase and prepare their own food. So, a group of us from our church (we took our three boys) went down to Hope Lodge on Thanksgiving Day to bring the meal. We fed more than 70 people (not counting those from our church). Some transplant patients that were not allowed to go anywhere but the Lodge and the Hospital had their families come in for the meal. It was fantastic. Meeting that small need - togetherness and thankfulness - really touched my heart. But what touched me even more was that our own children - on the way home that day - said "that was fun - we should do that every year!"

As I sit here freezing my toes off (it's near zero degrees outside) my heart is warm. We went to bless others and were blessed in doing so. One of our pastors said that to bless is to cause others to give God glory. He so deserves it!

New pics!

Here are some new pics of our girls. Beti and Nardos have both grown and changed so much since the referral photo taken in April. We will have to check the clothing sizes, may have to exchange some items to have stuff that fits! I am sure you will agree - they are sooooo adorable!

Still projecting travel to be in mid-January.... much to do!

Audra

Just waiting

Ok - so we passed court...you probably know that. We mailed a package to the girls (via our agency). We included a new baby doll for each girl and two (identical) photo albums filled with pictures of our family, the house, their room, things we like to do, and the dog. We expect to hear "any day now" from the orphanage via the agency. We should be receiving new pictures and measurements (height and weight). Shoe sizes - we hear - are a guessing game! So, while we wait, we have some paperwork to do and preparations for the boys while we are gone. So many people have been so very generous - giving us clothing, toys, and even a bed frame (complete with mattress and sheets). What amazing friends we have! I wish I had the time to list all of the ways people have extended love to us! A great friend of ours is making necklaces for us to give to the workers (with "thank you" written in Amharic & English) and more!

In our effort to reach out to others with God's love - they are reaching back! Around every corner, we meet God going about His business - the business of loving on us....and He offers that we can join Him. He invites you to join Him too!

Just a glimpse...

There have been a number of happenings that would have been easy to become discouraged by...

1. This summer there was a BIG investigation into abandonment cases in Ethiopia. This took all summer to resolve.
2. Once this issue was resolved, we filled out a "we are interested" form on the girls. Another family was already "reviewing their case".
3. Typically prospective families are given 10 days to "consider" what information is available. They took almost 21 days!
4. Once we were given the chance to "review" their 2 pages of information (not much!), we accepted the referral - almost overnight...Then the courts closed for the "rainy season" (about 6 weeks).
5. We received a court date...November 17th...no delays there. Our agency requested that their medical testing be started before the court date, but due to "regulations", the testing couldn't be started until we passed court. Which means that from the court date it could be as much as 9 weeks until we could hear if their testing is clear.

So, you can see how these events could have caused frustration... but the Lord has allowed us to see Just a Glimpse of what He is doing. It has come to our attention that if we pick up the girls after January 4th, the policy will have changed and will allow us to "skip" a step. So, we are reminded that Trusting in the Lord always yields the best results!

Praise the Lord - For He is GOOD!

Audra

The Blind Side

Ok - a little change of pace on the topic....

This is a little about adoption and a Lot about being "selfless". We went to see the movie "The Blind Side". Fabulous Movie!!!! You can check out the trailers and see the commercials, but to really get the big idea - see the movie! I can't say enough about how this REAL family went outside of their comfort zone to help another person. Real people showing real love. Based on a real story! You MUST go and see this one!

Here's the picture - the newest Koning Family members!

May I introduce....(drum roll please).....Betelhem and Nardos Koning. Ages approximately 7 and 5 years old. We should be able to go and get them somewhere around the Mid-January time frame! Praise the Lord!!!!

WE PASSED COURT!!!! FIRST TIME!!!!

It is a bit unusual to have one court date and pass the first time....so PRAISE THE LORD!!! I am in shock! I want to cry...I think.... Ok, the thoughts are all jumbled up....

Anyway, as far as Ethiopia is concerned, Betelhem and Nardos are Konings! When I get home, we will post the picture that we have of the girls. For now, just imagine the sweetest little faces in the world!

Audra and Bob (parents of five!)

Not yet.

I woke up, well, several times last night. Honestly, it was hard to tell the difference between my dreams and my awake times. When I got up this morning I realized that as I was starting my day, they were wrapping up their day of court in Ethiopia. Due to Daylight savings, they are now 10 hours ahead of us. I flipped on the radio (K-love) and they were playing Michael W. Smith's "A New Halleluia" which features the African Children's Choir. It couldn't have been more perfect. So, now we wait. I am praying for good news that our appointment was not delayed and that our paperwork was in good order - that we were granted the adoption and that we can continue to move forward. Check back later for more conclusive info!

Time flies ...

It seems like it should be farther away - I guess that comes from forcing myself to not get caught up in the "how many days" trap. I just kept telling myself that I couldn't just sit around and wait, so I have busied myself with other things. Yet, here it is, tomorrow is the day. If there are no complications, our girls will be born into our family on November 17, 2009...Tomorrow!

Today I attended the funeral of my friend's father. Truly it was a celebration of life! The truth was shared - he is no longer physically here and because of his faith and acceptance of Jesus as his savior, he is with the Lord in Heaven!!! What an amazing transformation that must be. As hard as I try, I cannot fathom the miracle that the Lord has orchestrated that brings us from one life into the next. Do we fly? Do we travel in a mist? Is there a light at the end of a dark tunnel? Are the angels singing? Are we greeted by loved ones that have already passed? Or do we instantly know everyone and so the welcoming crowd is indeed people we know...does that even make sense?

In contemplating this transition into the spiritual world - of which we have little information, it brings to mind the multitude of questions that our girls must have - or will have. How do we get there? Who are these people? In a city that is so big and yet so globally small - how do you describe the fact that they will travel halfway around the world??? How many 5 and 7 year olds do you know that have a concept of how BIG the Earth is??? Imagine leaving everything you know, the language, the only home you can remember, the first/only bed you ever had, the people that took you from the streets and fed you, loved on you, and found you a family. One that lives in....America? Will they be scared or be amazed in wonder? Will they be excited or timid? Will they let us hold their hands, help them, love on them? Will they like the things we are bringing to them? Will they miss their friends? Of course! Will they find comfort in each other? So many questions and suddenly I am feeling VERY unprepared. Trusting in the Lord is the only sure thing!

So, tonight I will try to sleep. I will pray for them every time I wake (and I am sure I will do LOTS of that!) and hand it over to the Lord. That's one piece of this that I think people don't get. Sure I think about the process, I feel overwhelmed and I intentionally hand it over to God. In the Bible (Psalm 37:4) it says "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." So I turn it over to the Lord. I trust Him to complete this process - A journey that he planted in our hearts- to watch over every detail and to bring our girls home.

Blessings and Sweet Dreams!

Audra

When will they know?

Ok - the count down....today is Saturday....our Court Date is Tuesday....they are 9 hours ahead of us....ARGHHHHHHH! I can't do all that math.....it will probably be about 3 full days - 72 hours - before we hear any word on the events that are set to occur on our behalf that day. I am filled with excitement and awe...and yes Butterflies!

It has been our understanding that the girls won't know that they have been matched and that we exist -- waiting here on the other side of the world -- until we pass court. That is so difficult for me to understand. I know that it has to do with the uncertainty of life and about not telling them something that is not in concrete -- legal. Once the court has put their stamp of approval on the whole deal -- they are KONINGS! I can't imagine what that conversation must sound like...will they believe what they are hearing? Will they be shown pictures of us (from our legal paperwork) or will they be given much information at all? Will they be excited? Will they be scared? Will they ask a million questions? Questions that the informing adult may have no answers for??? Do they know the Lord and will they have someone telling them that the Lord has ordained this family -- that He put us together and although the transition will be rough, the union will be perfect!?

A dear co-worker of mine just "lost" her father today. He knew Jesus here on earth and now he knows Him face-to-face. But to consider that loss, that feeling of missing someone dearly, has resurrected the vivid memory of my own mother's passing into eternity -- almost 2 years ago. This coming Tuesday -- if there are no delays -- we will have our "day in court" and two sweet little girls will have a passing of a different kind. They will pass from an orphaned life to one of belonging. It brings to mind the orphans all around me...co-workers, friends, family...who are orphaned here on this earth. They long to belong. They have not yet been told -- or have yet to accept that Jesus went to court for them. He faced the Judge on their behalf and told the Judge, "I want them to belong to MY Family!" He was found blameless - without fault. No flaws in his "paperwork" and we were granted Adoption into His family. The most amazing family! A family that will be separated from each other for a time, but the Reunion will be INCREDIBLE! A Holy Reunion in Heaven with golden streets, a crystal lake, angels singing, a feast!

I pray that I can take the picture of Adoption and make it real to the orphans all around me.

A new kind of Expecting

I really thought that the wait wouldn't be a big deal. I am plenty busy at work (as a Special Education Employee in a Public School) and with three kids at home -- the homework keeps us moving. Add in the daily management of a household (Praise the Lord for the wonderful husband he yolked me with who has taken on most of the evening meal preparations) and I really thought the time would pass quickly and without anxiety. With one week and one day to go until our official appointed Court Date, I am a nervous wreck! It's like a due date of another kind!

Years ago I participated in a Bible Study written and presented by Beth Moore. In that study, she described the word "hope" as a type of expectant waiting...knowing that what is hoped for is expected to occur! That perfectly defines the type of hope that I have for the events that surround the "birth" of our girls. I wait...expectantly. I long to meet them and get to know them and for them to get to know us. So many people ask us about how much English they will know and if they will go to school this year....so many unknowns. I have great aspirations and a rough draft of a plan, but in reality I really don't know them. I don't know if they will feel safe being apart...will they adapt quickly and easily or will the process seem to never end? So many folks that we have counseled with that are at the other end of the adjustment have shared such positive experiences. We are hopeful. We wait Expectantly! Please Lord, in your timing, in your way, bring this hope to fulfillment!

The Countdown!

We are about 10 days from our appointed court date in Ethiopia. We are blessed with multiple distractions that keep us busy...work, children, house chores, general busy-ness. But the reality of it all is that God is in the midst of us - doing a might work - shaping the miracle of a different kind of birth...adoption. When we stop and think about, our only response is to pray. Pray for patience, endurance, understanding and love. To love those of which we have only a picture and a page of statistics. To envision a future for them, with them. What a beautiful picture the Lord is painting. I can't wait to see it!

We have a Court Date!

We just got word from our case worker that we have a court date to finalize our adoption in Ethiopia. November 17, 2009 is the magic date! We pray that all of the paperwork is flawless and there are no questions! Then the girls will start their medical checkups. We are projecting to travel in January. Keep praying!

Waiting for a Court Date

OK - here are the last few months in a nutshell... We requested to be considered for a sibling pair of sisters, we were offered the referral and we accepted. We can't disclose names or bio info until we have passed court. We are currently waiting for a court date. The Courts recently reopened from a 6+ week closure for the rainy season. They are in the midst of training and trading responsibilities which may result in different judges hearing adoption cases. In any case, it may take them a bit of time to get back into things full-swing. As we wait for our court date, we pray for our girls. They won't even know that we exist or that they have been matched with a family until we pass court. So, we pray for their little hearts that they don't lose hope in this time ~ as they wait for a family. They are so precious and we can't wait to share their photo, names and eventually their lives with you. Our case worker seems to think that we will travel in January or February. All I know is that we have a lot to do in the meantime! We appreciate your prayers as we patiently wait on the Lord's perfect timing and trust in His infinite wisdom.

For your entertainment, I have added a photo of Levi (on a family trip to Branson this past summer) as he filled his swim shirt up with air bubbles in the hot tub! Lookin' pretty buff!

In Line

We are now officially in the "virtual line". Now we wait.....and wait.....
We joined a YahooGroup for families adopting children from Ethiopia - through the Children's Hope International Agency. We have had a few Godly events in the past few months. We were told our Homeland Security clearance would take as much as 4-6 weeks and it came back in 4 DAYS! We had to order new birth certificates for both Bob and myself. God was good to make sure those came along in good time. We submitted our packet of dossier info on February 5th, 2009 and received our "Approval" within two weeks. On Valentine's Day, 2009, Bob and I had a wonderful lunch at the Blue Nile Cafe in Kansas City. We will go back soon. We are using this time of waiting to pay off cars, and save up the monies to be able to pay for the adoption without debt. It can be done, if we don't get off focus. It seems like our past few months were driven by tasks: papers to sign, info to gather, fingerprinting, checks to write for the home study and fingerprinting....now we don't have a "to do list" and it is like wandering in a desert. It's like a pregnancy without a due date. I think the focus on paying off stuff will help to give us a focus, but it still isn't a date to drive for. I work well on deadlines, but this one doesn't have a date. We applied for a grant through Shoahannah's Hope and received a devotional booklet for our application. It is very inspirational and encouraging. I keep re-reading the entries. We haven't heard yet if we will recieve any grant money, but it has been good to be able to read the devos. I pray that the Lord will grant me patience and contentment in the wait.

Here we go!

Tomorrow we are officially mailing the application, check and requested photos to Children's Hope International. Their "acceptance" timeline is about two weeks. Then we can begin the more detailed portion of collecting information and completing tasks (like fingerprinting, etc.) for the dossier (like an adoption portfolio). We are still waiting on MBCH to confirm that they can complete our international home study update, but we decided that we were wasting time just sitting on the application, so it goes tomorrow. We are trusting the Lord to take care of the home study thing. Check back for more details.

Humor from Heaven

The Lord has found it necessary to keep me entertained as we go forward on this journey. I spoke with the ELL (English Language Learner) staff person today - she was very encouraging about the language acquisition and suggested that a child 1st grade or younger should have little trouble with picking up the English language. Our kindergarten and 1st grades - here in the US - are centered around letters and sounds. In the scheme of things - God being the source of all of this - I was not at all surprised that her roommate in college was from Ethiopia - Addis Ababa! She even said "I would love to go with you!" Last night Bob flipped over the Compassion International magazine to show me the "Ethiopian" themed t-shirts (pictured above) that upon purchase, help to support the feeding program there. Of course we bought two. You could buy some too at "https://store.compassion.com/Customer/ViewProductDetails.aspx?CatID=16&SubCatID=102&ProdID=152&Type=N" Then he opened the magazine to share the full spread article on Ethiopia. Needless to say, I have said and heard the word "Ethiopia" more times in the last two weeks than in my entire life! We eagerly await word from our previous agency (who completed our domestic home study) on what it will take to update our home study to make it international. One "reference family" from the Children's Hope International agency has been very good to correspond with me about our questions. In her words, we have so many similarities in our stories, "it is like we are living parallel lives"! She has been so helpful and encouraging. I know that the Lord hooked us up! They live in Pennsylvania, but email has brought our worlds side by side. They adopted two sisters from Ethiopia (ages 7 and 5). We were excited to hear how quickly their experience went (applied in October, traveled in April!). I know the Lord will take care of this in his time....Pray that I can be patient. We found an Ethiopian restaurant here in KC and are going to go there - just Bob and I at first - then eventually take the kids. A co-worker of mine and her husband pastor a church in town and know an Ethiopian pastor. She is getting his contact info to us and we are going to get together with him to "pick his brain" then we want to take the boys to one of their services. I want them to experience what it will be like for our girls to come here and not know the language. I hope it gives them perspective. Through prayer and leading, we know that we are going to bring two girls home. Please pray for them as they cling to each other and also to us. My new friend in Pennsylvania shared this from a Ethiopian adoption chat..."every day I wait for my adopted child(ren) is one more day a mother has to say goodbye."

GPS - God Positioning System

Here is a picture of the boys this past July 4th. Aren't they cute??? They look like they actually like each other.

This is the recent part of the adoption story in a nutshell:
Adoption has never really left my heart and Bob doesn't talk much (you know how they are), so I really didn't know what he was thinking on the subject and was a bit afraid to ask. I was afraid that he would have lost the passion that we had developed for adoption and you know it has to be both or nothing! So, about Thursday last week I said to him, "I feel like the Lord isn't finished with us yet on adoption. I know I like to think as I talk and you (Bob) like to think then talk. So, think about adoption, pray about it, read scripture with adoption in mind and in about 2 weeks, we will make a point of having a discussion about adoption." Then, as hard as it was, I left it alone. On Friday at school, the PE teacher asks me, "Are you adopting?" When I asked her why she would ask that..., she said "because Marshall says you are." Friday evening, our worship team had a gathering. Our minister of music shared with us that he and his family (wife and 4 kids) were "resigning" to become full time church planters. He said, "I asked God to show me His will and He told me church planting." Then he said something I knew, but the timing was so profound, "When the Lord shows you His will, and he does, it is not for your consideration....to compare to other options you may have...IT IS HIS WILL FOR YOU." Friday evening, I began looking around on the internet for international agencies. Ethiopia caught my attention. There are some 5 million orphans there! Then our Sunday School class topic was on the sin of omission - what hit me was that NOT adopting, when we had definitely felt the call to, was a sin of omission. The sermon was on GPS - God Positioning System. When the pastor got to the point where he said that God tells you what you need when you need it....and that if you get off track, He recomputes and gets you back on track....and that when Phillip was told to go on a certain road...to meet an ETHIOPIAN!!!" I about fell out of my chair. Bob and I talked all the way home about how to get the application going, revisit our finances (remember it was only a year and a few months ago that we became a two income family and so we have not forgotten how to be frugal!) and how fast we could get the process started! I am excited about how quick the Lord jumped on our willingness to be open and hear from Him - I am sure He is thinking, "It's about time!"

On the Road Again...

It has been so long since I blogged - is that a word? We are still in the adoption arena or so it seems. I think that God has been waiting patiently for us to come around. His will is still active and we were the ones that were blind to His intent for us. However, we believe that we are now attentive and following His lead in this adventure. We are pursuing his call to adoption - through Children's Hope International - THIS WEEK. The following postings will chronicle our journey. I really don't want to forget one single piece of this puzzle, so bear with me as I ramble. I am full up with JOY!