Seriously!?

First of all let me say this:

We have NEVER experienced the body of Christ like we have over the past week.

Some of you have written letters to Lily, sent prayers for her, spent time writting me to and sharing such sweet encouraging words!
We've been given a gift for her and yet NONE of you know her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It amazes me that you can love someone so much you have never met before.

Sort of like being pregnant, because in MANY ways, this is like being pregnant.
Except for the gestation term of an elephant, two years.

When we got our acceptance from our agency it was like "POSITIVE!" Your pregnant!!!
I instantly literally felt my body change. Emotions went crazy, sick to my stomach, nervous, excited etc.

We've gotten lots of questions so I thought I would address them here all at one time :)
I'm trying to keep all of this lingo in my terms, bc I'm simple minded.

When will you get her?!
This entire process could anywhere for 18-24 months.

How old will she be?
We are requesting a girl between the ages of 2-3 yrs old.

Do you have a picture of her?
No. Not yet. Here's the process:

Apply to an adoption agency.
Acceptance in to the agency.
Complete homestudy.
Homestudy approved.
Complete paper work for Ethiopia.
Approval from Ethiopia.
Wait for our referral. ( This means we are "in line" waiting for a little girl between the ages of 2-3)
Matched with referral. (this is probably when we will see pictures!!!!)
Then all of the travel arrangements begin. Court dates are set. Etc.


How much is this going to cost?
approx $25,000

Do you have a question for us? Please ask, I'd love to share :)


I told you I would share the boy's reactions!!!!!!!

Let's start with Cameron :)

So first of all Cameron is a Believer. He has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

We were riding down the road, bc that's when I've found it's best to talk, and I began to explain to him that first of all, what the Lord has asked us to do this.
And just like we ask you to do something we expect you to obey. You trust us, you know we love you and have your best interest at hand.
Same as with Daddy and I and the Lord. We want to be obedient!
I also began to remind him of Ashley and Asher's stories and how now they live in a Christ centered home with sisters who love them more than anything and a momma and daddy that cherish them so!!
And that because God's Word tells us to. James 1:27

I also wanted to make him aware that she would be African American.
I asked him what he thought about that.

To which he replied: "That doesn't bother me, there will be pink stuff and barbies everywhere!"

I'm gonna be REAL HONEST HERE..... Cameron is/was my biggest concern.
He is the oldest. The one who is most aware of the situation & understands more.
My BIGGEST desire if for Cameron's heart to be WON OVER by this precious little girl.
All of the pictures I have seen of families who adopt almost ALWAYS the oldest son is holding the adopted younger daughter. And it melts.my.heart!!!
But you know what? All I can do is pray for him. And ask the Lord to slowly turn his heart for Lily. That the "pink" and "barbies" would be the last thing he thought of when he thinks of his sister. That he would see her and Jesus sees her! So that's what I have been doing. Praying.
His most recent comment:

"Momma, can Lily sit beside me at the table"

It's happening. He's thinking about her.
I'm still praying and won't stop :)


On to Malachi.....

He asks' when we are getting his sister every.single.day.
Malachi has no concept of time.
So as of right now it's "We are getting her after Christmas." Once it's starts getting closer to Christmas, we'll give another land mark! ha!
He's so precious talking about her. And really we've just had short to the point conversations.

God has a sister for you!! We are bringing her home from Africa! Her name will be Lily.

I did want to prepare him for physical appearance difference. I literally googled images of girls from Ethiopia and pointed to different ones and told him that she might look similar to them.
Here's how that conversation went:

Chi: momma, she's black
Me: Yes she is
Chi: it's ok
Me: Yes it is because you know what? God made her just like He made you! And He loves her just as much as He loves you!
Chi: He did?
Me: Yes He did.
Chi: yeeeeaaahhh I'm getting a sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So you will probably hear Malachi say "we are having a sister coming from Africa America", he hasn't quit gotten the "African American" down yet <3

Let me just tell you this little boy is THRILLED about his sister. Like is ready to go buy her a bike so they can ride bikes together thrilled!

And finally Elim.

I love to hear him say her name....... He's not as vocal but honestly doesn't really have the chance if Malachi's around :)

He talks about her and that they will share a room together <3

So that's where we are! Moving right along.
Fixing to get ready to start on our Homestudy.
Still super excited!!!
Still expectant of the Lord!!
And seriously our hearts are over flowing from the love we have felt!


May the things of Earth grow strangely dim... in the light of His glory and grace,

Kim