T-2

We've been waiting TWO months!
And honestly the Lord has kept us so busy the days have flown by.
THAT'S GOOD FOR THIS MOMMA!!
Our time waiting so far as been spent praying for our sweet baby girl.
For her health & protection. For the Lord to send missionaries to serve in her orphanage. For her caretakers. For rain. LOTS of things to pray for.

HOPE: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
             Trust - expect - anticipate

In this waiting room, this verse has taken on new meaning for me:

If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently & confidently.

Romans 8:24-25

 

 

We dont' have her yet, so we are hoping for her and waiting patiently & confidently.

 

And how are we doing this?

 

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Romans 8:26

 

We are asking the Holy Spirit to help us.

 

I'm not gonna lie.

If I sit and think about waiting for an email, wondering what she's doing, how old she's going to be, what will be going on work wise for me, my palms immediately sweat, my fingers tingle & my heart beats super fast.

It's the wondering & not knowing that gets me.

The lack of control that I have.

It's an area of weakness that I have to ask the Holy Spirit to help me in.

And guess what, He does! And He is! #teamHolySpirit




 

 Ultimately, the hope of this adoption is the glory of God.

We are living with a hope. An anticipation!

Similar to how we should be living in light of Jesus' return!

No one knows when He's coming back for His church so in the mean time we wait! Patiently & confidently & we tell others about Him. {Matt 24:36}

 

Today also happens to be Orphan Sunday.

A day for Christians to stand for the orphans.

We are a people called to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress.

 

So today we stand not only for our daughter but for the other orphans in this world.

Be it across the ocean or in a foster home right down the street.

 

Adoption makes God's heart visible.

 

There are numerous INCREDIBLE videos out there to watch but I'll just go ahead and warn you, grab a tissue before you hit play.

 

This is the best video I've seen on the perfect explanation of adoption.

 

http://av.vimeo.com/88012/815/113797742.mp4?token=1352089966_c0065496eb4c6a7bde6dd6699aa42934

 

Adoption is all Gospel centered.

It's all about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Not about us rescuing these children.

 

Have you sought asked the Lord what James 1:27 looks like for you?

Caring could be adopting but it could also mean fostering, sponsoring, clothing, feeding; the list goes on and on. You must do something. Ask Him what He would have YOU do.

 

I hope next year when we observe Orphan Sunday there will be ONE LESS and she'll be fast asleep with her sweet little head on her hot pink pillow right here in this house! *SQUEEL*

 

Tonight at church a sweet friend gave us a PRECIOUS gift!

I can't tell you enough how much it means for friends to be praying for her!! I can't WAIT to get this on our tree at Christmas! Thank you so much my friend!

 

 

 

Another sweet friend who was serving as a missionary in Ethiopia brought these cross necklaces back for us!

She said the children at the orphanage prayed for Lily before she left.

SO SPECIAL TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! {I smelled them. Because I smell everything. But I really wanted a hint of Ethiopia in that box!}

 

 

I can tell you when I think of having any part of anything the Lord does humbles me to no end.

That the Creator of the Universe would choose/allow us to be a part of this blows.my.mind.

We are experiencing Him in ways I just don't know that we would have apart from this journey and the truth is I've been told this is the easy part. The hard part comes after they arrive...

 

Do what only you can do Lord.

Find Your glory here.

Our hope is in You and You alone.

We trust in Your perfect timing.

 

Lily, we are crazy about you. 

Your brothers talk about you and pray for you everyday.

Your Meme's heart is expanding.

Your Pepaw asks about you.

My best friend prays for you daily.

And there are LOTS of friends who are just plain excited to meet you.

 

We love you and hope to see you soon!

 

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

 

Kim 

 

 

 

Ethiopia

*Ethiopia is almost twice the size of Texas
*The favorite drink of many Ethiopians is bunna (coffee). Bunna is drank in a unique and traditional way known as a "coffee ceremony". First the coffee is roasted, then ground and placed in a Jebena (coffee pot) with boiling water. When ready it is then served to people in little cups, up to three times per ceremony.
*Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world.
*Ethiopia's staple food is injera, a spongy bread made of a unique crop only grown in Ethiopia called "teff." Injera is baked in a clay pan and eaten with sauce made of either meat, ground grains, beans or vegetables.
*The lively and irresistible eskista dance is performed almost entirely with the shoulders.
*Soccer is the most popular sport
*Ethiopia is the fourth poorest nation in the world with nearly 5 million orphans struggling every day to survive.
*Nearly 2 million people are infected with HIV and many children will watch their parents die of the disease.
*One in every ten children do not make it to their first birthday and one in six die before their fifth birthday

Ethiopian Flag

*Red stripe stands for power, faith and blood
*Yellow symbolizes the church, peace, natural wealth and love
*Green represents the land and hope.

The colors were also interpreted to have a connection to the Holy Trinity, and the three main provinces of Ethiopia.

*Star represents unity of the people and the races that make up Ethiopia.
*The five rays on the outside of the star represent prosperity and the blue disk represents peace.



Awesome Organizations:

Visiting Orphans
Ordinary Hero
Created for Care
Small World Adoption Agency
AMG International
Red Thread Sessions

Time Line!

2011 

*9.30.11 Mailed Application to Small World Adoption Agency 
*10.4.11 Received approval from Small World 
*12.14.11 Mailed in paper work for Home Study to Open Door Adoption Agency

2012

*2.1.12 1st Home Study Meeting 
*2.7.12 2nd Home Study Meeting 
*2.14.12 3rd Home Study Meeting 
*2.16.12 Homestudy COMPLETE! 
*4.30.12 Agency Fee PAID! WOOT! 
*5.9.12 Received $20,000 grant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
*6.7.12 Mailed application for I600a 
*6.29.12 Had finger prints done in Jacksonville 
*7.13.12 MAILED OUR DOSSIER to Small World 
*8.31.12 Officially waiting with Small World!!!!

2013

*4.12.13 #2 on the wait list!

*5.24.13 #1 on the wait list!!!!!!! 

 2014

*1.14 Found out Small World officially lost their operating license in Ethiopia
*2.14.14 Withdrew from Small World 
*2.17.14 Accepted by IAN (International Adoption Net)
*3.14.14 Officially waiting with IAN 
   Infant Girl: 40, #24 of active families

  Toddler Girl: 39, #26 of active families

  Sibling group: 24, #17 of active families
*5.15.14 Homestudy update/increased age range joined boy wait lists/opened up to SN

2015

*8.26.15 Waitlist update

   Infant girl: #26, active # 16

   Infant boy: #24, active # 17

  Toddler girl:#27,active # 20

  Toddler boy:#20 ,active # 14

  Siblings:#15, active #11

  Older girl:#8, active #8

  Older boy:#6, active number 5

*10.16.15 RECEIVED OUR REFERRAL CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
*10.20.15 Accepted our REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

2016

*3.11.16 Submitted to PAIR  (still need 2 documents. anticipating RFE's for them. Working towards obtaining then 
while in PAIR.)
* 3.31.16 Dossier arrived in Ethiopia
*4.2.16 Received PAIR packet back missing signature 4.1.16 mailed back 4.2.16
*4.2.16 Received one of the documents (police report) we have been praying about for MONTHS!!!!! GLORY!!
* 5.27.16 passed 1st court appointment
*Received RFE's (copy of police report & international letter) Have until July 16th to get them in. 
*6.16.16 Received international letter we were waiting on for RFE's. Submitted to officer at immigration.
*6.30.16 Our case is now at Embassy in Ethiopia! They will request a finder interview with the police officer with his case. Once this is complete we are done with PAIR!
*8.18.16 Finder/Police officer interview scheduled at Embassy
*8.29.16 I-604 Investigation is complete! Waiting on PAIR Letter.
*8.30.16 Back to Jacksonville for 4th & final set of fingerprints
*9.3.16 Received our long awaited PAIR letter in the mail!
*12.29.16 COURT!

About Us

We are a Jesus lovin' family who desire for the Lord to get all the glory from our journey to bring home our son (#4) from Ethiopia!!

Me & my Luvah {Roger}

#1 {Cameron}

#2 {Malachi}

#3 {Elim}

T - 1

It's been a year.
We've been in this process for a year.
I can't believe it! I mean I can but I can't!
10.04.2011 is when we received approval into our agency.

And we have been waiting for ONE solid month!
I know it's only one but that's A LOT for this waiting momma!

And while we still haven't "heard" anything we are still excited and expectant!

We surprised our boys with a trip to Wild Adventures last Saturday.
It was #2&3's very first time to any theme park much less a roller coaster! I was
curious to see their reactions and they LOVED riding the coasters!

This was them waiting to ride their 1st one!

 

Me & Cam in line for our coaster :)

The swings are my favorite ride :)

My eye heart caught every.single. precious African American little girl.
I stared at their hair, cute outfits, eyelashes, little toes, their mommas holding them & honestly wanted to tear up but I couldn't!
{At this point in the waiting game the excitement is still fresh.}

Then we went over to the "African Safari" Train ride.

I'll be real honest, once you have seen, smelled, tasted the real thing, it's almost offensive to be in a "pretend" one. We sat in the back of the train directly in front of the young guy who talked over the mic about what he knew about the animals. When we got around to the Wildebeest he said a few facts about them and when he finished I turned to him and said "In Africa they call them "Veel-duh-beast." He laughed and it was fun talking about the real Africa. The kids loved it.

{on the train}

{night safari S. Africa, May 2012}

 



"Veel-duh-beest" aka Wildebeest

We thought of Lily the whole time but for obvious reasons we needed another RIDER! At 5 we are un-even :)

But also because just about every time E checked to see if he was tall enough to ride the poles looked like this:

The colors from the Ethiopian flag <3

We had yummy treats and then visited the Tiger Show.

The Tiger show did me in.
As we sat there waiting for the show to begin they were playing real, authentic African music. There really isn't as much talk about tigers in Africa as there are lions but never the less they were playing African music.
It took me baaaaaaaack to South Africa and made the teaaaaaars start comin'.

You just sometimes don't realize how much you miss something until you hear a sound, smell a smell or see a picture.

I missed Africa at that moment real bad. Like cover my face for a sec with the ugly cry, real bad.

The faces, the dirt, they way they say "I greet you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ" when someone stands before you, the way in prayer they say "Mighty God" many times because to them He is their mighty God and to us He's just what we call to when we need something, the desperation for Christ & they haven't heard yet, the smiles, the singing, their voices, the dry air, the baobab trees, the hugs, the bumpy roads, the rocks, the animals, the sweet juice every morning, the slow pace, the rawness, the boys at the shelter, playing football, their hands, their feet, those eyes.... I miss it.

And while I can't WAIT to see my daughter for the first time I can't WAIT to be back in Africa.
There is a longing to be back there nothing here satisfies.

Before we left Musina, S. Africa,  I asked our guide which way was Ethiopia. He pointed and so I went there and had a little moment by myself with the Lord. Emily had given me a card with "wishes" in it. You know, the little white things from dandelions. {we love wishing flowers} I took those wishes and turned them into prayers and blew them in her direction. Telling her we'd be coming back soon and couldn't wait to hold her. Asking the Lord to protect her and keep her safe, for her to remain healthy & keep her learning right on track.

This was my view:

 Over that fence and over those hills is where Ethiopia is.
 Over those hills lies something good.
 I know because God's Word says He's good to those who wait and hope in Him. {Lam 3:25}

And one day we'll be back and even closer.

Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be!!!


T - ONE month down, who knows how else many more?
He does.
So we wait.


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

Kim

Here's a link to a video of our groups favorite song while we were in Africa!

http://vimeo.com/44269825

 

Wild Olive!!

It's no secret that if you want to wear the coolest Adoption Gear you MUST visit Wild Olive!!

 

They just released their newest design and it's SOOOOOO awesome!

They are having a give away!!!

Visit this site for details on how to win!

AND see my new Pinterst Board here!

 

 

Big Lots!

I just had to share a couple of things that the Lord has done for us in the past week or so.

First of all I received a call from a friend and the conversation went something like this:

Friend: Hey Kim. My son is getting a new bed. Would you be interested in this set of bunk beds we are replacing?
Me: Ummmm yes I would! How much are you asking for them?
Friend: Um, well, I'd like to just give them to you.
Me: ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? ARE YOU SERIOUS????
Friend: Yes I am.

These beds are SUPER nice. I mean, they ain't Big Lot's bunk beds, they REAL beds. (I'm not hatin' on Big Lots, #2&3 are fast asleep in Big Lot Bunk Beds right now!)
Like heavy, can smell the wood bunk beds.
AND they came with mattresses, I'm not talking regular mattresses, I'm talking REAL thick heavy mattresses!!

Me: Lord, are you SURE you want us to bring this child home? You know we only have a 3 bedroom house with little square footage. How in the world will we all fit up in here???

The Lord: "Well, here's you another bed. Fo' FREE. Put her in this one. Oh you of little faith."

He just does it y'all. Just.does.it.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 

Second of all:

A family in our church is hosting an international student. She is living with them, attending SCA, attending our church and is beautiful as she can be.

Guess where she is from?
Kenya, Africa. One country over from Ethiopia!
Guess what her name is?
Lillian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess who is now in my Sunday School class? (I co-teach the 9th grade girls)
Lillian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean, this student could have been male.
Could have been from Russia.
Could be a senior and could be named Henry.

But it's not.

Every Sunday morning from the choir loft I get to see her sweet face, watch her worship & teach her in class. I'm so excited to get to know her!
**SQUEEL**


Third of all, we got to do this last week:

Do you know what an act of congress it is to have everyone looking at one time?? It takes a LOT!

When the Lord does simple things like giving me a new picture of my whole family it means the WORLD to me. I take pictures of families all the time but to have one of my own means more than you'll every know! Thank you Emily! I can't wait for the day our little African Princess is sitting in that chair!

I can't tell you how much it means to me that the Creator of the Universe would orchestrate such things for us.

He is not only preparing our hearts for our daughter he is preparing our home, literally, with an extra bed.

Right off the bat. Letting us know He's working. She's waiting and we are SO EXCITED!!!!!!

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

Kim

WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!



Well, we got the email that our final set of Documents are being sent to Ethiopia and that means

we

are

officially

WAITING!!!

 

Here's a picture of the stamp!!

*notice who's signature it is*

 

 

 

Ok, so what really does that mean?

 

There are 2 parts to an adoption process. Each part takes anywhere from 6-12 months.

 

Part 1- paperwork

Part 2- waiting

 

We still don't know who she is.

BUT we are officially on the list for a little girl between the ages of 0-4 years old!

 

I told Roger that when we were officially waiting I wanted to plant a tree.

There's something about watching something grow.

Whether it's a plant or a person, it's special.

Every time I look out the window and every time we are playing ball in the yard, this tree will be a reminder that our God is faithful and while sometimes it may not seem like things are moving along, He is always moving. In His perfect and good timing. Because He.is.GOOD!

 

The best hole digger ever!! <3 and the cutest one ;)

 

We invited MeeMee to help us! Lily will be her one and only granddaughter :)

While I was at the plant nursery talking to the guy about planting this tree he explained the steps we needed to take.

He said when you get the bucket from around the roots, you need to injure this tree. Take a shovel & cut the roots. You need to injure it's roots so when you put it in the ground, it will begin to heal. The roots will begin to reach deep into the soil and the healing/growing process will begin.....

I couldn't help but think about the Lord doing that with us sometimes.

We feel injured/broken by things He allows in our lives but it's in the injury/brokenness the healing and the growing takes place.

 

Sometimes the injured time is the only time we cry out to Him.
You know, the feeling of hitting the bottom before we look up to the Lord sort of thing?
Conviction of sin & true repentance.
Getting to the end of our self before we recognize and make Him Lord of our lives.
We can choose to get angry & bitter or we can press into Him and surrender!
It hurts and isn't pretty but my goodness when the healing and the growing begins it's a beautiful thing my friend!!

Lots of hands to love on you baby girl!!

Oh Lily, you are in for a treat with these brother's of yours!

Voila! A tree for Lily!

We are expectant for You in this waiting time Lord!!

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Lam 3:25

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

Kim

PS- My friend Hayhay suggested this song and it.is.PERFECT!! Turn it up!!