Hannah's Prayer - 1 Samuel 2:1-2

"My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God."

We rejoice! We praise God for the blessings He has given and those yet to come.

Two Months and Counting...

Today marks two months since we became DTE (dossier to Ethiopia). We are getting more excited each day with the realization that we will have our baby home with us soon! Of course with international adoption you really can't predict a time table and I know, from the experience of others, not to have my heart set on a certain time frame...but guess what, I have my heart set on a certain time frame! It really is okay though because above all else God's timing is perfect and He has chosen our son from the beginning of time for our family! His blessings abound!!

Speaking of blessings (excuse me while a ramble just a bit)I was thinking today about the icing on the cake, and the sprinkles and the cherry on top. I was counting my blessings this morning which I do frequently because I know that I can't be grateful and anxious at the same time (did you know that is a proven fact). I had a realization that His perfect gift of salvation is enough...the cake, so to speak, but He doesn't stop there! He lavishes us daily with blessings. So many times I overlook or just take for granted the blessings, but He continues to give them not desiring recognition but instead just to LOVE me! Even, or especially, through the times in my life where I have grieved, God brought about the "cherry on top" through my suffering! I know that He is close to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18) and my prayer is for the hurting in the world to feel that LOVE! To know that He is waiting to be your personal cake-decorator!!!

One Year Ago...

Well, I missed it yesterday, but still had to post! One year ago (and a day) we submitted our application to America World to adopt a baby boy from Ethiopia. I can't believe it's been a full year! In that year we have filled out countless pieces of paper, gone through the home study process, had a million things notarized and re notarized (or so it seemed), given our fingerprints, gotten passports, read books, prayer-prayed-prayed, laughed, cried, dreamed, feared, and celebrated each and every step! We feel so blessed and grateful that God has chosen us to walk this journey and that He will so abundantly bless us with the care of one of His precious children! We love you so much baby Sam. We are getting so close to holding you in our arms!! Praying that you are being surrounded by His angels and that you are loved, warm, fed and that you feel safe and secure until we are united as a family!!

What a Blessing...

We have been abundantly blessed in so many ways, and this group of people is just another undeserved blessing God has showered on our lives! Each of these families lives nearby and they have all adopted and/or are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia! This is a great group of Christian families that we will be able to surround ourselves with who share such a wonderful bond through Ethiopian adoption and faith. Our children will have friends who are sharing the same experiences they are and whose families love the Lord! It doesn't get any better than that!! We are soooo grateful for these families!!!

One Month Waiting...

Today marks our first full month waiting for our referral of baby Sam!!
We now have bunk beds assembled and in Max's room and I even bought our little man some shorts. One pair is the bright red color of the Ethiopian flag and the other pair is the bright green color (no yellow in stock)and they were on clearance...how could I pass that up?

We are getting sooo excited to meet him!!

We ask anyone reading this blog to please join us in prayer as God leads you for all of the orphans in Ethiopia and the families that will have to give up their children for so many reasons. Also, please pray for the workers in the orphanages and transition homes to have energy and wisdom as they work hard to care for these precious children and that the adoption programs in Ethiopia would continue to run smoothly and be supported by the Ethiopian people.

Sorry for the snap-shoty picture. I had to rush in there before Max fell asleep for nap so I didn't grab my wide angle lens or bother to pick up the comforter sitting on the bottom bunk...but you get the idea! Max's comforter is red, but it's in the wash right now. They both have fun animals on them, many you might find in Africa. We got them at IKEA...love, love, love IKEA!!

Our Dossier is in Paris, France

Just for fun...we are tracking our Dossier on its way to Ethiopia. It went from VA to NJ and on to Paris! Lucky Dossier.

Dossier To Ethiopia (DTE)

Our agency let us know that our dossier was starting its FED EX journey to Ethiopia today. They also gave us a tracking number so we can see where it is.