Maybe soon

Tomorrow I am really hoping to get some news about the adoption. Supposedly our paperwork should have been done this week. But they haven't been able to confirm that yet. The offices in ET were closed thursday and friday for Ethiopian new year. So I'm anxious to find out more info tomorrow. I'm not letting myself believe it's done until it's actually turned in to the court. I did receive some new pictures of Tytus. He is SO cute. So, I'm hoping that since they were able to email pictures, they should have been able to email his second medicals. We'll see.
I was feeling really frustrated/angry last week about the whole thing. But for the millionth time God worked on my heart this morning and reminded me that He is ALWAYS working. And that He is ALWAYS in control. I'm not hopeless because my hope is in Him. And He never changes.
People continue to whole heartedly support us, and I continue to be amazed. Several people told me this week that they are praying everyday for our babies and for us. And it boosts my heart everytime I hear that. It's been a long wearisome journey. Sometimes I feel lonely. But God is quick to remind me how many people are fighting this battle with us in prayer. Tytus and Violet are two very blessed babies, they just don't know it yet. Thank you for continuing to love and support us. We could NEVER have endured this without all of you.

Keep Praying

Remember when I said I wasn't going to post anything until we got a court date. Who would have thought we'd still be here now.
Well, things are moving in a positive direction. It's hard for me to think that we wont just hit another snag, because that's what's happened for the last 5 months. But in a nut shell, Aster was able to meet with the official. They are trying to get things moving with the orphanage. The official sounds like she is willing to work with the orphanage director and that is a good thing not only for my adoption but for all the other little ones in the orphanage.
Thank you all for your continued prayers. This has been a LONG process. I appreciate your support so much. We would never make it without you all.
We still don't have Tytus's second medical report. So please pray that it comes in and we can move forward in his case.
Pray that the official will sign Violet's paperwork.
Thank you!

Growing Weary

The last week has been tough for me. Sometimes I just feel so weary of the journey. God has taught me so much but sometimes my heart is still so heavy as I receive more pictures of my baby and she gets bigger and bigger.
Here are my prayer requests. Pray that we get Tytus's medical report back so they can begin the paperwork to get ready for a court date.
Pray that Aster (a CWA employee) is able to gain the favor of the official in Violet's region so that she can finish her paperwork.
Pray that when the courts reopen on October 6th both cases will be ready to be assigned a court date.
And lastly, pray that I keep my eyes fixed of God. That I remember that He is always working. Even when we can't see it.

My Baby Boy

Well, I waited as long as I could to post this. But I must share with the world. I am adopting a beautiful baby boy! Sam and I got our second referral on July 28th. We plan to name him Tytus. He is about 5 months old. He is SO cute. We officially accepted the referral last week, while I was at camp. So I am going to have two babies about 4 months apart. God is so awesome!
So the courts will close until October 6th. So be praying that both Violet and Tytus's cases are ready to go when they re-open.

God's Children

A lady I met online made this video. I really liked it and thought I would share.

News

When I started this journey, I pretty much had no idea what I was doing. And I certainly had no idea what God was doing. After getting our referral in February and waiting and waiting and waiting and praying that we would be able to bring our little girl home. There have been many times I've wanted to question God and His ways. Many times that I felt that God had forgotten us and wasn't hearing our prayers. But he has shown us that He indeed has heard our prayers and indeed has been working. Though the whole story would be too long to write out, we believe that God has called us not to adopt one baby, but to adopt two. That's right! We are adopting another child. We started the paperwork and are on the waitlist for another baby between 0-18 months, either gender. We have no idea when either child will come home and it's quite possible that we may have to travel twice. But we are so excited! I feel very cofident that this is the path God has for us. And it was the plan from the beginning...we just didn't know it! I'll post again later and share more about how God lead us to this decision. For now I just want to leave you with this verse once again:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21

Unlikely

The most recent update is that the Ministry Of Womens Affairs (MOWA) has closed for two weeks. That means people who had court dates in the next two weeks will be postponed. Which means the likelihood of anyone not already in process, getting a court date, is pretty much zero.
In our case. The official is finally ready to sign the document we need and now the birth mother is missing. She has to be there when they sign the document. So we're waiting for the same document, for a different reason now. So pray they find the birth mom. I am hoping that our case will at least be ready for court by the time they re-open.
I expected to fall apart once I knew that we definitely wouldn't be getting in before the court closed. But God is moving. He knows exactly when Violet is going to come home and He is the one leading us on this journey. I will keep my eyes fixed on Him.