One of the families waiting for court dates sent this devotional to our Ethiopia Yahoo group. It was encouraging to me as I wait.
"...but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
Ever feel like God signed you up for an intense "wait training" class?
You pray. You ask. You anticipate God's answer, but like an Internet page taking a long time load, you must wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.
I had to wait years before I became pregnant. During that time I attended baby showers while choking back tears.
I had to wait nearly throee years for our too-expensive-for-our-new-financial-situation home to sell. During that time, I pinched pennies and lost sleep.
And I'm still waiting on many prayer requests: for a spiritually lost loved one, a family friend in ICU, a plan for my high school son's future. Waiting, waiting, waiting....
But just as physical weight traing builds strength, so does spiritual "wait training". We are promised this in Isaiah 40:31:
"...but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
How can waiting renew our strength? After all, doesn't waiting seem to sap our strength as we worry and fret and drum our fingers impatiently? It's exhausting playing the "What if?" game in our minds:
What if this doesn't work out?
What if God's answer is "no"?
What if the thing I fear the most actually happens..what then?
All this worry-laden waiting drains rather than strengthens. How can we turn this around and actually find ourselves renewed?
I have found that to shift my perspective in the waiting times replenishes my strength. I try not to think of those times of seemingly silence from God as waiting in the sense of sitting and anxiously anticipating a response. But as in waiting like a butler, maid or restaurant server.
Those who "wait on the Lord"--as in serve Him, cater to Him, help Him, accomplish His work; those who take His order and bring Him what He wants-they are the ones who renew their strength.
They mount up with wings as eagles.
They walk and do not faint.
As we serve, we become more aware of what the One we are waiting on desires. We become alert, attentive, and in tune with His wishes. We begin to take our eyes off of our problems and fix them on the Lord instead. As we do, we get a glimpse into His heart.
Then, instead of the wait sapping our spiritual strength, it is renewed as we seek to do the Lord's will...to make Him famous...to give Him glory. Even in theose long, hard times of waiting for an answer, we continue to serve Him.
Will you sign up with me for Wait Training 101?
You'lll grow stronger spiriual muscles if you do. But we must commit to this perspective: we won't just "wait on the Lord," we'll wait on Him. Trust me, the tips He leaves are out of this world!
Dear Lord,
Teach me to shif my perspective during those times of waiting and oubt. May I stop fretting and worrying, and busy myself serving You instead.
In Jesus' Name. Amen
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
News!
A little good news can go a long way in this process called adoption. We received updated pictures and information about our girls today. It was so nice to see their smiling faces. They are so beautiful! I can't wait to share their smiling faces with you.
We are still waiting for a MOWCYA court date and recommendation letter. We are now expecting that court date to be scheduled in March. Then the expectation is to travel 10 days later. I am half afraid to receive the call with the date, knowing that our whole world is going to be turned upside down from that day forward.
Oh, that God would choose me to be a mother again, to two precious girls. My emotions are all over the place when I think about the gravity of our decision to adopt. How could we say yes when our lives were so full and busy; yet how could we say no, when we have room for more. When the Lord of all creation calls you to do something--something so radical that it shakes your whole world upside down--so out of your comfort zone--so completely out of your control; the only choice is to say "Yes!" To say "no" would be to turn down an opportunity for God's glory to be revealed and for God to work in our lives. So, we wait...expecting that God's timing will be perfect.
We are still waiting for a MOWCYA court date and recommendation letter. We are now expecting that court date to be scheduled in March. Then the expectation is to travel 10 days later. I am half afraid to receive the call with the date, knowing that our whole world is going to be turned upside down from that day forward.
Oh, that God would choose me to be a mother again, to two precious girls. My emotions are all over the place when I think about the gravity of our decision to adopt. How could we say yes when our lives were so full and busy; yet how could we say no, when we have room for more. When the Lord of all creation calls you to do something--something so radical that it shakes your whole world upside down--so out of your comfort zone--so completely out of your control; the only choice is to say "Yes!" To say "no" would be to turn down an opportunity for God's glory to be revealed and for God to work in our lives. So, we wait...expecting that God's timing will be perfect.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Donations
There is a long list of needs for America World's transition homes and local orphanages. As the items below are difficult to purchase in or ship to Ethiopia, America World is thankful for the traveling families who bring donation items.
Current Priority Transition Home Needs:
Crocs for children and nannies
Shoes and clothing (gently used are ok)for children 3-14
Toothpaste
Foam/Rubber (lightweight) soccer/playing balls for toddlers
Diaper cream, specifically with zinc oxide (Destin or Boudreaux's)
Orphanage and Transitional Home General Donation Needs
Clothing and shoes for children ages -14
Warm clothing-sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts, etc.
Bath towels for children
Antibacterial hand gel (40 oz containers available at WalMart for $5)
Small sized diapers
Baby bottles and nipples
Vitamin D drops
Unscented baby wipes ***unsecnted/sensitive skin wipes are the only type used***
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Scrubs for Nannies
Crocs for Nannies
General first aid items
Powder-free gloves for nannies and doctors
DVD and VHS children's videos-especially christian videos and ones with singing/dancing
Puzzles for young children
Toy cars for toddler aged children
Iron drops
Diaper rash ointment
Paper towels
Children's notebooks
Medications/Medical Donation Needs (Please check the expiration date to make sure not expired)
Multivitamins: Tri-vi-sol (o-6 months)
Poly-vi-sol (6 months to 2 years)
Chewable mulit-vitamin (2 years to 9 years)
Adult vitamin
Tylenol: Infants, Children, Suppository
Syringes for giving medicines (5mL)
Plastic and Latex diposable gloves
Baby nose saline spray
Neosporin
Motuth and nose masks
Benadryl liquid/elixir
Permetherin for scabies
Lice kits
If anyone would like to donate these items, you can bring them to New Hope Church or contact me and I will meet you. Thanks so much for your support.
Please continue to PRAY for movement within the Ethiopian government and adoption entities. We have seen very little movement and there are many families waiting for court dates, letters of recommendations and referrals.
Current Priority Transition Home Needs:
Crocs for children and nannies
Shoes and clothing (gently used are ok)for children 3-14
Toothpaste
Foam/Rubber (lightweight) soccer/playing balls for toddlers
Diaper cream, specifically with zinc oxide (Destin or Boudreaux's)
Orphanage and Transitional Home General Donation Needs
Clothing and shoes for children ages -14
Warm clothing-sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts, etc.
Bath towels for children
Antibacterial hand gel (40 oz containers available at WalMart for $5)
Small sized diapers
Baby bottles and nipples
Vitamin D drops
Unscented baby wipes ***unsecnted/sensitive skin wipes are the only type used***
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Scrubs for Nannies
Crocs for Nannies
General first aid items
Powder-free gloves for nannies and doctors
DVD and VHS children's videos-especially christian videos and ones with singing/dancing
Puzzles for young children
Toy cars for toddler aged children
Iron drops
Diaper rash ointment
Paper towels
Children's notebooks
Medications/Medical Donation Needs (Please check the expiration date to make sure not expired)
Multivitamins: Tri-vi-sol (o-6 months)
Poly-vi-sol (6 months to 2 years)
Chewable mulit-vitamin (2 years to 9 years)
Adult vitamin
Tylenol: Infants, Children, Suppository
Syringes for giving medicines (5mL)
Plastic and Latex diposable gloves
Baby nose saline spray
Neosporin
Motuth and nose masks
Benadryl liquid/elixir
Permetherin for scabies
Lice kits
If anyone would like to donate these items, you can bring them to New Hope Church or contact me and I will meet you. Thanks so much for your support.
Please continue to PRAY for movement within the Ethiopian government and adoption entities. We have seen very little movement and there are many families waiting for court dates, letters of recommendations and referrals.
Monday, January 14, 2013
MOWCYA
We sent our care package with another family last week and yesterday she sent me pictures of the girls opening their care packages. She said that the girls carried their bags around all day showing everyone their photo book. It was so nice to see updated pictures. They are absolutely beautiful girls!
We are currently waiting for a Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA) date from the court. These dates are issued sporadically and America World has seen MOWCYA dates being issued ranging from late January to early March. Because of this, it is very difficult to predict when our family's MOWCYA date will occur. We need the recommendation letter from MOWCYA before we are issued a court date. Once this letter is received, we are told we should be prepared to travel about 10 days later.
Prayer requests:
1. Timely MOWCYA date and recommendation letter (we are praying for January, not March) :)
2. Organization on my part to gather donations, prepare for travel.
3. Health and wellness for our family.
4. Provision for our girls at the Transition Home. (I am praying for their emotional, spiritual, and physical well being, as well as protection.)
Once we know we are traveling, I will post our schedule.
Donation list to come. :)
We are currently waiting for a Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA) date from the court. These dates are issued sporadically and America World has seen MOWCYA dates being issued ranging from late January to early March. Because of this, it is very difficult to predict when our family's MOWCYA date will occur. We need the recommendation letter from MOWCYA before we are issued a court date. Once this letter is received, we are told we should be prepared to travel about 10 days later.
Prayer requests:
1. Timely MOWCYA date and recommendation letter (we are praying for January, not March) :)
2. Organization on my part to gather donations, prepare for travel.
3. Health and wellness for our family.
4. Provision for our girls at the Transition Home. (I am praying for their emotional, spiritual, and physical well being, as well as protection.)
Once we know we are traveling, I will post our schedule.
Donation list to come. :)
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Waiting and Paperwork
It will be three weeks tomorrow since we received our referral. Since then we have learned that a few of our documents are close to being 2 years old. We will need to update our Financial Statement, Background checks, and Physical Exam forms. We have the first two completed and will have our physicals this week. One more thing to check off the list. :)
We were also able to get a care package sent off to the girls. That was alittle more stressful for me, since the family traveling was leaving on Jan. 5. But I got a small photo book made (Walmart is good for something), a T-shirt, costume jewelry, and a fun play phone sent off 2 day Express Mail to a family who was traveling from Texas. Can't wait to see the pictures they take of our girls opening their package.
Tonight we met with the Haskins family, who brought two children home in August. They gave us all kinds of information on traveling to Addis and what to bring with us. I am so thankful for all the ways God is preparing us for this adoption. He continues to give me peace and affirmation.
We were also able to get a care package sent off to the girls. That was alittle more stressful for me, since the family traveling was leaving on Jan. 5. But I got a small photo book made (Walmart is good for something), a T-shirt, costume jewelry, and a fun play phone sent off 2 day Express Mail to a family who was traveling from Texas. Can't wait to see the pictures they take of our girls opening their package.
Tonight we met with the Haskins family, who brought two children home in August. They gave us all kinds of information on traveling to Addis and what to bring with us. I am so thankful for all the ways God is preparing us for this adoption. He continues to give me peace and affirmation.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Referral!!!!
Yes! We finally received "the call." I was totally taken by surprise. I think when you spend so much time waiting and waiting, you just think it won't happen. Then, when it does, it's almost unbelievable. But it was real and God's timing is perfect. We received that call on Monday, the 17th, and accepted the referral on Wednesday, the 19th.
We received a referral for two little girls. Oh, my! Two beautiful girls (sisters)! They are ages 8 and 5. We are so excited! My mind is whirling with all there is to think about. I feel so blessed and so terrified. But already, God has given me amazing peace about our decision to adopt these girls. I have had encouragement from wise friends, who have gone before, and from our adoption agency, as well as our social worker. So many of you have already sent us encouraging emails and we are so thankful for your words and prayers.
Next on our list:
1. Getting a care package ready for the girls and finding someone traveling for their court date to deliver it to the Transition House. I am putting Olivia in charge of creating a photo album for them.
2. Waiting for a court date. (This could be approximately 6 weeks or so). Then we would travel to Ethiopia to meet our girls.
3. Lots of reading, more paperwork, gathering items to take with us.
When I know what we should take with us, I will post a list for anyone who would like to help out. I know there are several items of need for the orphanages in Addis. I will keep you posted. Until then, have a Merry Christmas!
We received a referral for two little girls. Oh, my! Two beautiful girls (sisters)! They are ages 8 and 5. We are so excited! My mind is whirling with all there is to think about. I feel so blessed and so terrified. But already, God has given me amazing peace about our decision to adopt these girls. I have had encouragement from wise friends, who have gone before, and from our adoption agency, as well as our social worker. So many of you have already sent us encouraging emails and we are so thankful for your words and prayers.
Next on our list:
1. Getting a care package ready for the girls and finding someone traveling for their court date to deliver it to the Transition House. I am putting Olivia in charge of creating a photo album for them.
2. Waiting for a court date. (This could be approximately 6 weeks or so). Then we would travel to Ethiopia to meet our girls.
3. Lots of reading, more paperwork, gathering items to take with us.
When I know what we should take with us, I will post a list for anyone who would like to help out. I know there are several items of need for the orphanages in Addis. I will keep you posted. Until then, have a Merry Christmas!
God's Timeline
I am finally starting a blog to keep all of you family and friends in-the-loop about our adoption adventure. I know you have been wondering and asking and now there is finally something fun to write about. :) So here goes.
Jay and I have had adoption on our hearts for many years. Ever since we struggled with infertility early in our marriage, God has placed the seed of adoption there. Now, after 22 years of marriage and three kids later, we are finally following God's plan for our family to adopt. It has been a journey to come to this place in our lives, but as always, God's timing is perfect, and we are excited to be adding to our family.
We have chosen to adopt internationally, specifically Ethiopia. Here is God's timeline of how our adoption journey has gone.
November 20, 2010--Began paperwork with America World Adoption Agency
This process lasted for 6 months and included a home study done by Catholic Chairities in Minot, office visits, online training, personality tests, financial reports, medical exams, fingerprinting (local and federal), etc. We are totally checked out. :) We are requesting to adopt a little girl 0-6.
May 6, 2011--Our dossier is finally complete and in Addis Abba, Ethiopia. This is called the DTE or Date to Ethiopia. Yeh! This is a milestone to celebrate!
May 16, 2011--Completed our 8 hr. Multicultural Training in Minot
April 9, 2012--Easter Monday...We made a flying trip to Rapid City, SD to get our fingerprints renewed. The paperwork is only good for one year.
May 3, 2012--One year from completing our Home Study and it needs updating. Met with social worker and updated our paperwork. We changed our request to be one female 0-9 or a sibling group 0-9. This required sending more paperwork to USCIS to be approved and then that paperwork forwarded to be state certified. We will pray and wait.
August 30, 2012--Still Waiting!!! Still Praying!!!
December 3, 2012--Received an email from America World explaining the wait time. "Paperwork, specifically the government-issued clearance, is still the main contributor for the slowdown in the Ethiopia process. If we have a child in the transition home that is completely paper ready, but who does not have a clearance, we need to wait on that final document before referring the child to a family." So we wait some more! And pray some more!
December 17, 2012--REFERRAL DAY!
Jay and I have had adoption on our hearts for many years. Ever since we struggled with infertility early in our marriage, God has placed the seed of adoption there. Now, after 22 years of marriage and three kids later, we are finally following God's plan for our family to adopt. It has been a journey to come to this place in our lives, but as always, God's timing is perfect, and we are excited to be adding to our family.
We have chosen to adopt internationally, specifically Ethiopia. Here is God's timeline of how our adoption journey has gone.
November 20, 2010--Began paperwork with America World Adoption Agency
This process lasted for 6 months and included a home study done by Catholic Chairities in Minot, office visits, online training, personality tests, financial reports, medical exams, fingerprinting (local and federal), etc. We are totally checked out. :) We are requesting to adopt a little girl 0-6.
May 6, 2011--Our dossier is finally complete and in Addis Abba, Ethiopia. This is called the DTE or Date to Ethiopia. Yeh! This is a milestone to celebrate!
May 16, 2011--Completed our 8 hr. Multicultural Training in Minot
April 9, 2012--Easter Monday...We made a flying trip to Rapid City, SD to get our fingerprints renewed. The paperwork is only good for one year.
May 3, 2012--One year from completing our Home Study and it needs updating. Met with social worker and updated our paperwork. We changed our request to be one female 0-9 or a sibling group 0-9. This required sending more paperwork to USCIS to be approved and then that paperwork forwarded to be state certified. We will pray and wait.
August 30, 2012--Still Waiting!!! Still Praying!!!
December 3, 2012--Received an email from America World explaining the wait time. "Paperwork, specifically the government-issued clearance, is still the main contributor for the slowdown in the Ethiopia process. If we have a child in the transition home that is completely paper ready, but who does not have a clearance, we need to wait on that final document before referring the child to a family." So we wait some more! And pray some more!
December 17, 2012--REFERRAL DAY!
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