Monday! (oops!)

UPDATE:

O.K., just got off the phone again! This is so much fun!

I just realized that today is actually Monday, so I changed the title as such! I'm a bit off, it seems! Anyway...

It seems that the dinner I had so rudely interrupted earlier ended up being a fine affair in which the traditional dancers entertained them and even got Chris up to dance! I would have LOVED to see that! I can just imagine his face! I'm sure he was a good sport.

Julie told me a little more about today and how much they got to do with Isaiah. He was a little unsure of them at first, but the workers were really wonderful at helping to make him smile and feel comfortable. Chris apparently already has a way with him to make him laugh! He loved the picture-book they brought with his siblings in it! It's a good thing he's social as those kids are just going to love on him like crazy! Julie and Chris were able to feed him, discover all his many ticklish spots, and when they went to change his diaper, he fell fast asleep. On the floor. Guess he was pooped! (Gotta admit, that's a funny pun! - yep you're gonna get this kind of humor with me!) Julie then was able to pick him up and snuggle her sleeping baby for 45 minutes!

They are totally in love!

ORIGINAL POST:

Melissa again!

(Disclaimer - if you are a bit of a writing editor like my husband, I will be using a profuse amount of exclamation marks!!!!!)

I just called them and I had to post! Of course, I called right as they were ordering dinner! I'll be calling later for more, but just wanted to share right now.

Chris answered the phone and you could seriously hear the joy in his voice! It was so fun! After telling me they got to spend a luxurious 2.5 hours with him, (O.K., he didn't use those exact words) he passed the phone on to Julie. You could hear that the previous feelings of being overwhelmed had dissipated in her as well as she confirmed the fabulously long meeting time! She said he was an absolute sweetie! Now, if you've seen a snapshot, you knew that had to be true! She also said that they got him to laugh and discovered he's a bit ticklish! I can't imagine how full of joy it made them to hear his laugh for the first time! Isaiah even fell asleep with them and you could hear how precious that was to Julie. What an amazing first meeting!

They did have a production team to video, so they did not do the flip video. I'm actually very glad that they could just focus on Isaiah and not figure out how to video for us. I'll be excited to see that video, though!

We only talked for a few brief moments since I wanted to let her enjoy her dinner, so I'll call later and hear more! Keep praying for their time to be sweet and for Isaiah to begin to recognize them and feel their love! She said they lost the feeling of being overwhelmed and are just thrilled! Praise God for that blessing! Praise God for the other news that they can go visit him every day! Court is tomorrow, so also pray for that appointment to be smooth and God's hand over it. Thanks for keeping them lifted to the Lord!

We PASSED!

Yesterday, we found out that we passed court! We are soooo excited. Tickets have been booked, and we are heading to Ethiopia in less than three weeks. This is all finally happening! We are so thrilled, and we are thankful for all of you who have joined us in this journey. Thank you for walking with us!!!!!

Here are the kids in their excitement! We have imagined singing this song, "Sing, Sing, Sing," since the beginning of this wait, and it is fun to praise Jesus now!

Getting closer. . .

Well, we didn't pass court; however, we got close! The MOWA recommendation was there, but Isaiah's birth father was not able to make it. Fortunately, he is on his way, and the judge agreed to hear his statement tomorrow (tonight our time). Hopefully, we will hear, "You Passed!" tomorrow.

Until then, we will be praying for a father who has to surrender his son, just because he lives in a place of poverty. This is the hard part of adoption. I don't like to think about it, but I will today so that this reality can continue to soften my heart for people.

Thank you for praying for this process. I could feel the Peace that passes understanding last night.

More to come. . .

1st Court Tonight!

Please pray with us today. Tonight when we are sleeping, a judge in Ethiopia will review our case for the first time. In the "olden days", before the two trips were mandated, this would make Isaiah officially ours, and we would travel to go get him shortly after. Now that Chris and I have to also appear before a judge, this is like Step 1. Then, our court date on Aug. 3 will be Step 2.

Fifty percent of families do not pass the first time at court. This is either because the birth family is unable to appear or because some of the paperwork is missing, usually due to power outages or other uncontrollable issues. If we do not pass, we are not sure how this could affect our trip in a few weeks.

So, it would just be fabulous if we could pass the first time. Please pray that God would orchestrate everything. It seems like we are so close, and after holding an Ethiopian baby, my heart is ready for Isaiah!

Jumping For Joy!

I wonder why they are jumping for joy!


We are officially in the first batch of families who will travel twice to Ethiopia. Our first court date (which we will not attend) is July 8. This is when the birth family will testify and documents will be reviewed by the judge. This is the "regular" court date which has always happened. Then, we will travel at the end of July in order to get there for a second court date on August 3! We will first spend time with Isaiah; then we will go to court and testify that we want him to be our son. Wow. I cannot wait for that moment.

The tough part of all of this is that we will then have to leave Isaiah there for a few weeks (4-8 weeks) until we can get an embassy date. At that point, we will return to Ethiopia in order to get Isaiah, go to our embassy date, and come home!

Yeah! I can hardly stop shaking! I am so excited that we actually have a date. I am so thankful for everyone who has been praying with us. Thank you!!! God has really kept us full of His peace these past few weeks as we've waited. Please continue to pray that we pass our first court date in July.

Hooray for now! We had to toast to the good news!

Travel in July?!

Our case worker just called, asking if we were available and willing to travel before August 6. YES!!!!! So, we are officially on a list of willing parents. She said it is very possible we could get a court date before courts close!!!

Oh, please keep praying that we can squeeze in. I was praying this morning that God would multiply court dates for families waiting, just like he multiplied the loaves and the fish. I just want every family in our position to get through court before the recess. Oh, I pray!