BRE Court Date!

We just got news that we passed our BRE court date!  This is one of 3 pieces of the puzzle that we need to go to our adoptive family court date, where we will meet Matthew finally.

What is a BRE court date?  Well it is when the birth relatives or finder/police officers (if an abandonment case) go before the judge for an interview. The judge could request additional interviews at times.  In our case he didn't need any additional investigation or police reports so we passed the first court date.

Please continue to pray as we still need our PAIR approval letter and the MOWCYA letter in order to obtain our adoptive family court date.  While we wait we will rejoice that we are 1/3 of the way done with this portion of the process!

Happy Birthday Daniel

Happy Birthday Daniel!  I can’t believe he is 6 already.  We are so proud of the little man he is becoming.  He has such an infectious spirit about him that everyone falls in love with him the minute you meet him (that will be a problem in a few short years haha).  He is so fun to be around and cares so much about everyone. 

Over the weekend we had his big birthday celebration.  And as usual we had my favorite part, the cake making!  This year he decided to go with a Monsters University theme.  This was so fun to turn the house into a dorm room.  Instead of a big party at Chuck E. Cheese this year all he wanted was to celebrate with his family.  

Here are a few pictures of the big 6 year old and his celebration.

 

Every year on Daniels birthday I can’t help but think of his birth mother.  I pray that one day we will meet her in heaven and she will see what an amazing young man Daniel has become.  I thank God for her decision but my heart also aches that she can not see this amazing, caring, loving, funny boy that is now my son.  

February Update - Matthew

We received our first update today!  Oh how I lived for seeing these emails when we adopted Daniel.  The updates each month give us basic information on personality, health updates and physical development.  Plus we get to ask specific questions we would like to know.  So far we have found out:

Measurement:

• Weight: 20.9 pounds
• Height: 61 cm

Development:

• He has a great appetitie (will fit in great with Daniel, might need a second job to keep food in the house)
• He can support his head while on tummy.
• He can grasp and play with toys.
• He can roll and grasp near by objects.
• He is very easy going
• He sleeps well through the night
• He enjoys being hugged and cuddled

Oh and the pictures.  Be still my heart, he is so adorable (then again I might be biased).  I can't show any pictures until he is officially ours when we pass court.  Take my word for it totally adorable.

It is so hard when 1/2 your heart is in Africa and 1/2 here.  Please pray the process is short and efficient and we get to meet our baby boy soon.  Daniel is quite the proud big brother with a photo album all his own he takes to school and shows his friends.  

We got the call! We got the call@

I can't believe I am posting this - we got the call!

After my pitty party yesterday, we got the call this afternoon.  I finally got the background letters from the police department and joked with Mark that they can call anytime now.  Guess what they called while I was in Walmart of all places.  I waited so long to see that 703 area code on my phone and I missed it!  I was taking my time shopping and when I had to wait in line to check out I checked my phone.  I had 3 missed calls from Mark, one from AWAA and a voicemail from Mark that said call me we have a referral!  What!  And of course you know how those lines in Walmart move.  The place I dislike the most is where I missed that call.  So of course I waited patiently for the people in front of me to question every item that rang up and ran to my car. It was in that parking lot that I heard we have a referrral for a 5 month old little boy.  5 months old can you believe it!   Oh my heart is so full of joy!  Remember God says "joy comes in the morning" and it sure did (more like late afternoon but it came).

Daniels reaction when we told him was priceless.  He was so excited until he saw the pictures check out the videos below:

"Who's going to change his diapers"  So funny.  I can't wait to see both of them together.  I am reminded that we are to be "Joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer" - Romans 12:12.  When we put our faith in Him, give Him all our worries and cares great things happen.  Like that beautiful brown face I have been waiting to see.  I have now seen and am 100% truly and hopelessly in love.

So what is next.  We have to wait some more.  Haha.  There is a process called the PAIR process, we have to wait for the agency to get some documents finished translated and completed then we will submit for our government for this approval.  We will also need to wait for the BRE court date to happen in Ethiopia (we don't have to be there for that) and then also the MOWCYA letter (you know the one that we waited through 9 court dates with Daniel for) and lastly this PAIR approval letter and we will get the court date we have to be in EThiopia for.  With any luck this baby will be home by the end of summer.

Thank you God for always being faithful, for the way you are knitting my family together and for the works you are doing through us.   Your plan is always so much better!

I am now going to go and enjoy staring at this little face!  Ahhhhhh....

Increased wait times

So I just got off a conference call. Wait times have again increased to 36-48 months.  We are at 39 months waiting.  Just when we get close they increase again and it looks like possibly another year.
Another long year of waiting.  My heart is heavy and hurts with an ache to see that brown face with those big eyes, to hold him in my arms and to see Daniel love on his baby brother.  Just when we think we are almost there.

To top off the wonderful conference call news, I had to give 7 vials of blood to update our medical paperwork again.  Oh and the Austintown Police department is being difficult to get our local background clearance checks done.

It is just not a good day and my heart can't take much more today.  Praying God will answer our prayers soon.  We have waited patiently so far.  When will it be our turn, when will we get our baby boy?

I am done with my pity party now, tomorrow is a new day.  As I am reminded "joy comes in the morning".  May tomorrow be filled with joy (and sunshine).

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  Today as we celebrate with family and friends, may we not forget the real reason for the season.  Jesus was born today.  Thank you God for the gift of your son.  While we unwrap way to many presents and eat way to much food I pray each family takes time to thank God and also acknowledge the wonderful gift we have received.  Better than any gift that is wrapped under that tree!

Praying that this is our last Christmas as a family of 3, next year may there be one more little Ethiopian in this picture!

Grinch Party

It is Grinch Party day! This is one of Daniels most favorite holiday traditions.  What is a Grinch Party you might ask? It is such a fun night. Here are some things we do!

Dinner:

Dinner consists of  Roast Beast (Ham), Who Hash (potatoes), Green Grinch Beans, Who Pudding (pudding cups), Grinch Kabobs, Grinch Pills (M&Ms) and cookies, Rolls and Grinch Floats







Activities:

Coloring pages.  Ornament making and my favorite new activity this year an indoor snowball fight. Oh and we managed to get all of us in one selfie!

Best time ever!  The kids all eat way to much junk food, we watch the grinch and Papa falls asleep on the couch.  Every year!  We can't wait until next year.

Christmas is always the hardest part of the wait

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  But when you are in the adoption process it is the hardest time of the wait.  Everyone is shopping, family get togethers, stockings to hang, but in my heart I know while I am going through all these fun traditions a part of my heart is still in Africa.  There is one stocking missing, there is one set of little feet that won't be coming down the stairs Christmas morning, one little face that won't be looking up smiling at me with Daniel while he sneaks just a little more icing from the cookies.  As much as I love this season and this time with Daniel I can't help but stop and think each day about the little boy that I have yet to meet.  Is he safe?  Is someone holding him this Christmas?  Is someone loving him?  Will anyone tell him Merry Christmas?

This is probably the 3rd time in this process I have posted this video but I listen to it every year and cry.  I can't wait for the year that I get to have both my boys under the Christmas tree.

Next year will be the year our family is complete for Christmas.  Until then I will keep praying for the boy that we will meet someday.  May God keep him safe until he is home.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

3 Years Waiting....

Well we have officially been waiting for 3 years now.  3 long years waiting for our son and brother.  In our hearts we know that God has the perfect son for us his plan is always way better than ours.  Doesn't make the 3 years waiting any easier though.

This process is so different than Daniels.  So many people ask all the time since we have already adopted once shouldn't it be easier.  The reality is things change constantly.  So far just in this process the wait times and processes have changed 2-3 times already.  The changes are in the best interest of the children, which also extends the wait times.  There are many things we have had to do or learn about that are way different than what we did the fir

Looking back I am sure we will see God's movement in this time of waiting and if we don't I know it was all for his glory in some way.  This next year will be the year we get to see who God has picked for our family.  I just know it, for those of you who are ready and are in a season of waiting here are some scriptures and words of wisdom that I am hanging onto:

Colossians 1:17
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together"

Patience isn't always learned through the accumulation of trials, but through accepting the trials so patience can have its perfect work

John 14:1
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God: trust in me.

There are many more but today this is what I am hanging onto.  God will bring him home this year!

Goodbye Carmen

With broken hearts we had to say goodbye to our family dog Carmen today.  Even though it was the best for her, it was the hardest thing we have ever had to do.  She was almost 11 years old and a faithful friend.  Mark and I got her about 4 months after we got married so she could keep me company when he worked late.  She was the best companion and the best dog ever.  She will be forever in our hearts and missed so dearly.  Daniel says she is up in Heaven with great grandpa running in the field.  

We love you Carmen and we will miss you.  Enjoy the forever sunshine and bunnies to you can chase until we see you again.

Halloween

Happy Halloween!  It is still not our favorite time of year so this year on Halloween in leiu of trick or treating Daniel has chosen to go eat at his favorite place at the moment Panera.  I will be nice and warm while everyone else is cold and wet and sugar filled.  Seems like a great trade off to me!  Daniel did dress up for school and for the Pumpkin Race at the track.  He did not like all the other costumes at the track so we only went to one or 2 trailers and then sat on my lap under a blanket (head and all) while I helped pass out candy.

I have to say I am really not mad that Halloween isn't a favorite!  Here are a few pictures of my favorite superhero!

The moment you realize the world is broken

So Mark came home today to a surprise, someone had broken into our house.  It is one of those days that you will never ever forget!  Luckily Daniel had a dentist appointment so we were not the first ones home.

I was at my brothers when Mark called.  Of course the first time, I hit ignore because I was talking and I will just call him in a few minutes when I leave.  Then he calls again, by the third time I figured I should probably answer.  As soon as he said "We have been robbed" I thought he was joking.  Haha. Joke is on me!  He was not.

We went through all the steps with the officer to file the report and interview the neighbors.  We know we won't get our stuff back.  They didn't take much, just our TV, Playstation, laptop and hard drive.  That is the most devasting part, the hard drive.  Our whole life was on there.  All our pictures from 2007 and up.  Memories that we won't get back.  I am praising God that I saved every email I ever received from Daniels adoption and am able to pull some of those pictures, etc. back off the computer again (when we get one).

Now what do we tell Daniel, will he be afraid?  I had left him at my brothers to go and see the damage.  So when I brought him home, of course he is going to notice the huge empty space where he used to watch Chuck My Truck. So Mark sat him down and talked to him, told him someone took our stuff.  Daniels very first question "Why would someone take our stuff, God says not to steal".  This is the best part of the story, my wonderful husband Mark looked him in the eye and said "Well buddy they probably don't know God"  He then proceeded to pray for the people that broke into our house.   Wow what a teachable moment.  I can honestly say with all my heart that all I was thinking was "Don't freak out in front of Daniel, don't show that you are now terrified to be in your own home" and Mark was praying.  Just one of the many reasons I love this man.

So today we were broken into, our lives invaded and temporarily turned upside down, but my son learned from his dad about grace.  How many people can honestly say 2 hours after finding your home broken into that you would stop and pray for those very people.  In my opinion this day and age, not enough!  I thank God every day that he chose that man to be my Husband!

First Day of School!

I can't believe Daniel is starting Kindergarten.  Where has the time gone!  He is so excited and can't wait to ride the bus.  I pray that this year he learns so much and makes many new friends.  He lights up a room when he walks in and I can't wait to see what God is going to do in him and through him this year.

When Daniel grows up he wants to be a Police Officer so he can go as fast as he wants to and not get a ticket.  (Wonder what brought thought on!?!?!!?  I will never tell)

  Look out Elementary School, here comes Daniel! 

"In the same way let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven" 

- Matthew 5:16

Waiting is the hardest part

It has been a long week!  It seems like life is on hold and we are waiting for everything including the weather to change.  We got news last week that the wait times (for a referral) are increasing again.  Wait times are now 36-42 months.  Our wait is at the 28 month mark right now.  We were hopeful to receive a referral by the summertime but as I know all to well, my timing is not always Gods timing and in adoption the timing always changes.  I knew the increase was coming since there haven't been many referrals it seems for awhile and I have been here before, but this wait increase was harder to digest.  It feels like we have been waiting forever.  Daniel is getting older, we just celebrated his 5 year birthday last month (blog post update will come soon), he is starting T-ball and we register for kindergarten this month and all he wants is his brother.  He talks about him all the time.  It's so hard to wait, even though life is full of waiting.  I have spent some time with God this week begging him to help me be ok with the wait (or just bring our son home but one thing at a time).

I thought I would share what he has taught me in hopes that it might help someone else in the midst of their wait.  Just this morning I read this in my devotion:

Know, sisters, He will wait with you if you ask. He will sustain your faith. He will assure you that He is in control. He has a plan and it’s not ours to figure out. He will turn your restlessness into rest. Rest in Him.

All you have to do is ask, he will wait with you, give you peace and help you rest.  Just ask!  Simple yet asking him to help me wait is never the first thing that comes to my mind.

He also revealed in one day the following scriptures:

Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience - Colossians 1:11

Finding my strength in him.  He has this under control.  He knows the plan but yet my first reaction is complete devistation and my first thought is "this wait is never going to end".  Instead of "God you got this, give me strength to continue this wait"

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth - Psalm 121:2 

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see - Hebrews 11:1

When you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, look for His light and have faith in God.  He can see what we can't.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God: trust in Me - John 14:1

My heart has been breaking at the though of at least another year without knowing who our son is, without getting to see that face and hold that hand.  I am trusting in God - while I am not able to hold my son I know he has him in his hands. More importantly my trust in Him gives peace to my heart because he is holding me too.

Search me God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting - Psalm 139: 23-24 

I laughed out loud when I read this scripture.  Not because it is funny but anyone who knows me knows I can be about as anxious as they come!  At the moment I read this anxiety was taking over and I felt out of control.

Music is a big outlet for me, God speaks through songs on the radio, in my ipod, etc. all the time.  When I need to feel closer I love to get in my car, turn up the radio and worship him like know one is watching. I was listening to Mandisa on my way to work one day and her song "Press On" came on.  I was struggling that morning with the wait and why is it so hard when all we want to do is grow our family. Deep in a me me me mood.  Well the lyrics go something like this:

When I'm alone, when I'm afraidWhen I have had all I can takeLosin my grip, I start to slip away

When I can hear the voice of doubtInside my head screamin loudStrengthen my faith and help me say today, today

I will follow, I will press onEven when the walk feels longYour hands hold me togetherYour love is with me foreverThrough the broken, through the victoryI will praise you through it allAnd run hard til the race doneI'm gonna press on, press on! 

How many storm have I been through?How many lead me right to You?Using the pain, the hardest days for my good, my goodSo, what do I fear, God you are with meGuiding my steps todayThrough the mountains, valleys, sun and rainLord, lead the way - lead the way! 

I will follow, I will press onEven when the walk feels longYour hands hold me togetherYour love is with me foreverThrough the broken, through the victoryI will praise you through it allAnd run hard til the race doneI'm gonna press on, press on! 

One step in front of the other, No lookin back, no looking back! One step in front of the other, I'm gonna press on, press on! 

So I am pressing on following God and his plan.  One step in front of the other until the wait is done (which in adoption one phase of waiting means another one is starting).  I am so grateful for God's love, guidance and most importantly patience as it takes me awhile sometimes to remember He's in control!

28 months waiting - 8-14 more to go!