Today

Today is 2 years and 4 months since we started the adoption process, or if you think in terms of weeks, our 121st week of waiting. 


The past 45 days, out of the 843 days that we've been in this process, have been the hardest. No question. 


We're still waiting on our court date, and every single day (every.single.day.) for the past 45 days since we were submitted to court, we have been praying, and hoping, and anticipating good news. Before we go to bed, we pray that God will work for us while we sleep, that our file will be picked up, reviewed, and assigned a date. And every morning we wake up hoping for the phone call or the email that will tell us that we have a court date and that we'll finally be able to travel to see our babies. And every afternoon for the past 45 days, we've had the crushing disappointment that it still hasn't happened. It's a hard cycle to be in.


Please pray for us. We are not without hope, but we definitely feel a heavy burden and sorrow over the time that has been lost. 


Lord willing, later this week, our agency's representative in Ethiopia is going to talk to one of the judges on our behalf to try to find out why we still haven't been assigned a date- please pray that they will be able to resolve this issue right away and that a court date will be assigned this week (tomorrow would be nice).  


Pray that God will cause us to persevere in prayer, and that He will sustain our hope and our joy. 


Pray for the boys that God will provide all that they need and that he will give them much happiness. 


Speaking of the boys... today they are 8 months old! They are both growing like crazy and while we are thankful for the growth, part of me wants to slow the whole thing down and keep them tiny babies until we can go and get them. It's hard to miss even a day with them, let alone entire stages of their lives.


Thank you all for your support and prayers- we have been well-loved throughout this entire journey. I can't wait to be able to post good news- hopefully soon!

Third Care Package

We're sending off another care package! This time it's going with the families that we hoped to travel with, but it's okay because they've promised to take pictures and to spend some time loving our boys.


We haven't seen a picture in two months and we CANNOT wait to see how they've grown!! We've watched our little video of them so many times and have thoroughly analyzed every picture we have, so we can just imagine what their reaction is going to be to their new toys... 


Big Guy: probably give it a little shake and then break into a huge smile.
Little Guy: probably give it a shake and then stare in amazement/wonder. 

So thankful for families that understand how our hearts ache to be with our babies and who are willing to take time to give them some love on our behalf! I can't wait to return the favor!

It's In- Still Waiting

The document we needed arrived yesterday. The judge has everything she needs to issue us a court date. The courts are behind (surprise, surprise), so our anticipated wait is 1-2 more weeks, though we're praying it will be much, much sooner! Please, Lord, let it be sooner! 


Since most of my prayers of late have taken on a repetitive nature, this was a helpful post that we read recently from Between Two Worlds on using God's word for prayer:

Word-Woven Prayers

Joni Eareckson Tada:

Often I attend prayer meetings where various requests for healing, finances, safety in travel, or job promotions are divvied out. Naturally, we desire prayer for such things. But a closer look at God’s Word would reveal deeper and more divinely inspired ways to pray for friends and family.

Is there a cancer? Yes, prayer for healing is in order, but so is prayer for the robust blessings of Ps. 119:140: “Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.” How rich to pray, “Lord, this cancer is testing Your promises in the life of my friend who is ill, but You are faithful to every promise You’ve made to her. May Your servant love Your promises through this time of testing.”

Is there a need for finances? Yes, prayer for needed money is in order, but so is prayer for the rewards of Prov. 15:17: “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” How invigorating to pray, “Lord, financial blessing isn’t the focus; Your Word says that love should be. May we learn to live on little if it means leaning harder on You, as well as each other.”

When I pray for disabled children I know, I intercede with Mt. 19:14 in mind: “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ” In verse 15 we’re given a picture of Jesus tenderly placing His hand on each child. “Lord Jesus,” I’ll say, “Your heart went out to children when You walked on earth. I can picture You tousling their hair, bouncing them on Your knee, and laying Your hands on their heads to bestow a blessing. If Your heart went out this way to the boys and girls who could walk up to You, how much more must Your heart overflow toward little Jeanette with spina bifida or Benjamin who has cerebral palsy? Today, may they feel Your hand of blessing on their heads.”

Often it’s good to quote an entire passage, substituting a person’s name for the pronoun in the passage. Colossians 1:9-12 is a good example of scripture to pray this way: “I ask God to fill Susan with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And I pray this in order that Susan may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work she does, being strengthened with all power, so that she may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father.”

Remember, God’s Word is alive, active, and powerful. Prayers laced with the Word of God not only bring about fundamental changes in people and situations, but such prayers keep us in touch with God’s priorities. Weaving God’s Word into our prayers brings His purposes to the forefront of every request

The Latest

 It's been a tough week. We found out on Monday that the reason we didn't get a court date was because there is a document that is missing from our file. Basically, we need the written approval of the district court where our boys are from and it hasn't come in yet. The courts have been closed for what seems like almost a month now. I still don't fully understand when they exactly closed or when they are re-opening (which I thought they had already done but I was wrong), so that is why there has been a delay in getting the written approval and ultimately the delay in the court date.  


Apparently when they re-open- hopefully on Monday- they are supposed to submit the approval letter we need. And then- hopefully- we will get a court date. 


Please pray that this happens.


And we haven't seen a new picture of our babies in seven weeks. We miss them. We really, really, really want to go see them and to have the legal portion of this process finalized. We want them to be home sleeping in their cribs, playing in the bathtub, and pushing their toy cars around on the floors. You can also pray that this happens soon- it feels like we've got miles and miles to go before this is all over, and with our track record, we're going to have to double, triple, and even quadruple the already-too-long estimated time frames. Please pray that the last portion of this process actually speeds along and goes quicker than expected. That'd be a nice change of pace.   


Despite the heaviness, I am thankful for Psalm 103, which has been a constant companion this week. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

 who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

 who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

 who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

 He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

 He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

 As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

 For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

 As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting 

to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children's children,

 to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over all.

 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word!

 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,

his ministers, who do his will!

 Bless the Lord, all his works,

in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!