Words that put me on the Defense.

We had a yard sale a couple weeks ago to raise money for the adoption.  A big shout out to those who donated stuff for us to sell!  You made the fundraiser a success!!  So just like last time we advertised that we were hosting this as a fundraiser for our adoption.  One because we like to talk about adoption and once you meet someone who have adopted it doesn't seem like an impossible thing to do.  Second people tend to be more generous if they know it's to raise money, so they might actually pay the 50 cents marked on an item instead of asking if I'll take a quarter for it.  


I had some encouraging conversations and we were making sales when a couple of ladies came over to purchase their items.  The first question is "Well why aren't you adopting from America??" in a very condescending tone.  I smiled and politely explained to her exactly why (you can see my post Why Ethiopia? for the full explanation).  There is potential that I had a little tone of my own when telling her what happens to most orphans when they "age out" of the orphanage in most countries.  I don't think she caught it though because her next question was, "Won't they be black?" This one actually took me off guard, looking back I wish I had been more witty but it surprised me so much that all I could say was "Yes mam they will be."  "You all must really love kids!" she said a little disgusted sounding.  By this point my heart was much more sad than I could muster up anger.  I told her we do in fact love children and that we think all children are a blessing from the Lord.  "God loves children" I told her and we want to be after God's own heart.  It's words like that that make me stand up tall like the mama bear protecting her young....I think I might have actually been standing on my tip toes and stretching out my neck as I answered her.  I'm on the defense.  It's funny because they aren't even home yet!  


The next night I had the sweet privilege of going on a date with my husband to celebrate his birthday.  We always joke when we're out what we'll look like at a restaurant as a family of 6, the looks we'll get, and maybe the comments.  I tend to think, surely people won't say ugly things in front of my kids.  But people continue to surprise me.  So I wonder how many times I'll have to take my kids out in public for me to get down off my tip toes.  Because even without knowing what their faces look like I am defending them.  I will fiercely do so to anyone who questions their worth.  It's a precious thing to pray for them, to ask the God who knit together my girls in my womb to protect my children that He knit together so far away.  Even though the womb that gave birth to them won't be called "mom" she is a precious lady who loved her kids enough to give them life.  I'm so thankful for her and to our incredible God who has allowed me to be called "mommy".  

Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

This blog is getting real honest.  Just a heads up.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

It was officially announced this week that adoption cases processed by the Government of Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth will be reduced from 40 something a day to 5.  For us, best case scenario, it means significant delays.  My heart is aching.  If you see me out at the store and I'm mumbling to myself it's because I'm saying Phil 4:6-7 over and over again, trusting in the truth and authority of God's word.  I am pleading with the Lord to change this.  I believe He is in control of it and will change it.  There are few times Dan and I have been praying on our faces together, literally crying, with such heavy hearts.  Please pray that God will change the officials' hearts and open their eyes to the needs of the orphans to get home.  For our boys to be taken care of in the mean time.  That our case will be seen quickly and our boys will get home this year. 

A sweet friend sent me a card in the mail today that was such a huge encouragement to me.  It reminds me "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'" Rom 8:15  Her sacrifice to help us bring our boys home and encouraging words are just what I needed and I am so grateful. 

We have all of our paperwork for our dossier together with the exception of our official, notarized copy of our home study.  Our home study has been approved! YAY :) As soon as the official copy arrives our dossier will be mailed from place to place being approved at various levels of government, then on to Ethiopia. We also submitted last week our paperwork to our social worker to request the government to allow us to bring an immigrant (two actually) into our home.  It will be mailed with our official home study this week.  Then we will be sent a document to get fingerprinted, then wait for official approval.  Meanwhile, our dossier will be in an Ethiopian office, in a large waiting pile.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"