While We Wait

O.K. Today is a snow day. I thought it would be the perfect day to hear about our little boy because we are all home. And, it is the last day in January that we can hear. Alas, the day is almost over, so it looks like we will be hoping for February. Oh, I hope!

In the meantime, I ran across this post from Shaun Groves (see his blog here for proper credits!). It was a great reminder.

"The Old Testament ends with two commands from the prophet Malachi. He tells God’s people to remember: Remember that God has done great things for you. Then he tells them to believe: Believe God’s not through doing great things for you.

Remember. Moses, manna, water gushing from a rock, the Law written down by the finger of God on a mountaintop. Remember.

Believe. Believe that no matter how much darkness comes your way God will not abandon you, forget you. He will rescue. Believe.

Then the prophet put down his pen and for the next 400 years the Israelites changed hands from empire to empire. Syrians. Persians. Greeks. Romans.

400 years. Some have called them the “darkest” in Jewish history.

Why? The Jews had known this kind of poverty, persecution and powerlessness before.

Why were these years the darkest?

Because God was the quietest.

For 400 years not a syllable was spoken by God to his suffering children. No prophets. No miracles.

Nothing but darkness.

And waiting, remembering, believing.

Then, one night, an angel appeared to shepherds watching their flocks. And light shone all around them. And Heaven sent a message to earth.

Before songs of joy there were cries of sorrow. Before peace on earth there was conflict. Before healing came hurt. Before the Light of the World there was darkness. Before the Word became flesh God was silent.

Wait. Remember all the great things God has done in your life. Believe that He’s not through doing them.

Wait. Your star will come."

Raegan Singing

The other day, I noticed Raegan singing her heart out in the van. We have this children's tape--yes, our van is still equipped with this ancient piece of technology!--and Raegan LOVES to sing the praise songs. I was loving it so much when I remembered I have our Flip camera! So, enjoy praise by Raegan!

Upward Basketball

First, I am trying to figure out how to efficiently use our Flip camera. I am so technically challenged!

On to the real point. . . Sydney and Jackson have both started playing basketball again this year. This time, we chose to play with Upwards Basketball. Here are a few clips!

This first video is one of Sydney being announced. Remember, I am still learning how to use this stuff!

The second is a video of Jackson scoring a basket!

Ethiopia Information

I added a new blog to my blogroll to the right. I just found it tonight, and I feel like it has given me a better picture into real life in Ethiopia. Sophie is an American nurse who is a medical missionary in the Soddo area of Ethiopia. She works with/knows one of the orphanage director--Stephne Bowers--of one of the CWA orphanages. (Our son could come from this very place.)

Some of her posts remind me a bit of Katie Davis's posts. Right now, she is caring for a little boy whose mother died. The father does not want to give him up for adoption, so she is taking care of him until the father can come get him, probably for 6 months. She already did this for another baby. Wow. I just want to go read more.

If you want to get a better picture, jump on over to African Heart to read an insider's account of life in Ethiopia.

Shirts for Shoes!

For Christmas, Chris and I tried to buy as many gifts that would "kill two birds with one stone". Let me explain. With so many issues in this world to address and with so many options of ways to help, it is often overwhelming to figure out where God wants us to jump in and play a part. I know you understand. So, we tried to buy gifts that would "pay it forward" to another family or organization that helped orphans or another good cause. What fun it was to show a family member/friend our love by getting something that also supported orphans!
Well, I have run into another opportunity that I wanted to share. First, I have already mentioned Tom Davis and his books, Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds and Scared. (Read these if you haven't already!) Well, his organization, Children's Hopechest, has partnered with Kari Gibson (see her blog here) to raise money for orphans by selling very cool t-shirts. Every shirt purchased will provide a brand new pair of shoes and new shirt for an orphan living in Ethiopia. If you are interested in participating in this Valentine's Day project, go HERE to get a t-shirt and provide some needed essentials for orphans in Ethiopia!

We are Officially Ready!

Last night, I realized why we haven't received our referral! For Christmas, we got a Flip camera to be able to record and easily upload to our computer all of the events connected with this adoption. We found a great deal online, but it hadn't arrived yet. Until today. Today, it came. Therefore, we are officially ready for that referral! We will be able to adequately record any and all reactions to that magical call! Call us, Patricia! Call us! :)


Here are the kids with the first video message!

Referral Needed

So, I thought it would be really hard during Christmas to deal with the fact that we still have not received our referral. Fortunately, we were so busy with fun events that the time sped by, and my heart was really in a good place. In fact, as this past weekend came to an end, I found myself getting excited again to enter into "active waiting" since I was sure that January would be the month.
So, when Monday rolled around, I was not expecting a case of the blues. But, it happened. Wow. I have been so sad about the fact that we have not received our referral. And, it is somewhat overwhelming to me right now to enter back into active waiting. I think I am so scared January will pass by without any news. In a way, this feels like the adoption twilight zone. I feel like there is no end in sight!

You can pray that God would continue to help us--me--trust Him and His timing. I know this and do trust Him. I guess I'm just ready to hear. Tomorrow will mark 7 months of waiting. I think it would be a great time to get a referral! So, in honor of this mark and in an attempt to bring some humor to this situation, I am wearing my sticker proudly today. Kendra, the bow-lady, went to great lengths to confiscate this from a doctor's office for me! Thanks, Kendra!

Why It is Great to Have Kids!

Having kids often reminds us how to have fun. So many times, we want to skip the loud noises, (Here, we are celebrating the new year with LOUD horns!)

the mess of playdough. . . (Thanks to a fellow teacher for sharing her playdough tools!)or the cold of going outside to play in the snow. But, when we have kids, they make us do those things. And we realize along the way that we are treated to a lot of fun in the process!

Chris found out this week that another perk of having a 7-yr-old boy is that he can help shovel the driveway. Jackson did this entire thing!