As I am lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all everyone to Myself. -Jesus

This is probably my favorite blog post because it has nothing to do with us & everything to do with the Lord. There are several stories only He could write and I wanted to share them! 

So here we are lifting up HIS NAME.

Story #1  The day we met our son

April 2016

You might remember about this time last year me posting to Facebook about a sweet lady, Stefanie, that LIVES DOWN THE STREET FROM US knocking on the door one Sunday afternoon and saying "we heard that you are adopting from Ethiopia & I just wanted to let you know we will be moving to Ethiopia in October (2015) to serve as missionaries & we are happy to take your baby anything it needs." 

At that time we didn't know if we would be matched with a boy or a girl.
1 or 2.
And had no idea how old he or she or they would be!

October of 2015 came and this sweet family found out their departure date was delayed.

October of 2015 also came and we were matched with our SON!! 

They found out they would be leaving in January of 2016 and again Stefanie said she would take anything we wanted her to take to him!!

So, we made him a book of us to send with her. 

Our picture was on the front along with John 3:16. 

Pictures of Roger and I that said "momma & daddy."

Pages of the kids together and individually with their names and ages showing him his brothers.

Pictures of grandparents & our cat, Wrigley Ann. 

Pictures of our house, his bed where he will sleep, the yard, the kids at the beach, playing soccer in front of our church.

We also included a storying scarf we got from the IMB that's used around the world as you minister to oral learners and asked her to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our son using this. 

You can find one here: http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/product/detail/prodID/1619

Our agency told us our son did not know about us and they would not tell him until we were submitted to PAIR, which is one of the final stages we are currently in!

So........on Thursday April 28, 2016 at 2:30am (our time) Stefanie along with her son, our gracious new Ethiopian friend Fekadu who translated for her, visited the care center in Ethiopia and she introduced our son to us. 

Roger and I got all of the kids up and sat on the couch & got to FaceTime with him for about 30 minutes. <insert cry face>

Fekadu's face came on the screen first, then to Stefanie's face and then Fekadu said "are you ready for your boy?" 

HOW CAN I BE READY FOR THIS MOMENT?!?!!?

We said yes and saw his face. The sweetest, cutest, most precious face I've ever seen. He was smiling and holding the book we sent him. Looking through the pages pointing and looking back at us. 

It's still overwhelming when I think about. Stefanie and her family were supposed to leave in October & THIS would not have happened if she would have left then. We didn't even know about our son at that time. What a gift. A gift from the Lord. In His sovereignty He arranged this moment. I can't describe to you my thoughts.

  

Stefanie is also an adoptive momma. She said she prayed over him and loved on him from me. The Lord just knew it needed to be her. She has identified with the waiting, the longing, the hard, the ups and downs, the delays, the victories. All of it, she knew and wrapped her arms around our son with all of that in her heart. 

The voice we have longed to hear, the face we have longed to see smile and giggle. We saw him and he saw us. And he knows he is loved and wanted by 5 crazy americans across the big pond. 

The first thing he asked was "when are you coming?" We didn't make any promises but told him as soon as we could!  He told us his favorite color is yellow and as Malachi held up Wrigley to the phone he said "I no like cats!" We might be in trouble ;) He showed us his bed and we showed him his here. The boys were so excited to meet him. Elim is going to be stuck to him like glue I can already tell <3 At one point we were making fishy-kiss faces to each other. I can't WAIT squeeze himmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

After we hung up Stefanie shared the Gospel with him using the pictures on the story cloth and said that he has been attended a Protestant church and has seen the Jesus film! We are SO GRATEFUL!!

Stefanie, thank you so much for doing this for us. We are forever grateful. I can't wait to hug your neck in Ethiopia soon! We are continuing to pray for your family as you serve Jesus in Africa! 

Story #2: a visitor

May 2016

My friend Danielle who is adopting 2 children was traveling to Ethiopia THE VERY NEXT MONTH to visit her kids and graciously offered to take him a package from us. Some of the things he specifically asked for while we were Face timing with him were a book bag, some crayons and coloring pages so he's got it :) Along with pjs, blue crocs from Aunt Em, suckers, some of the boys favorite cars, fresh paintings & a precious story book that we recorded our voices reading to him. 

Earlier in the month of April my best friend put together a surprise birthday party for him. Including an incredible cake that my sweet friend Karen made & gifts from everyone for him. <insert many many tears> So we included a couple of pictures from that party in with this care package. This is a picture of him holding the picture we sent.

Our first picture together (cry face)

She videoed him opening his book bag . Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry faccccccccccccccccccce.

He was grinning the whole time!!!!! Couldn't hardly wait to get inside of it and see what treasures his family sent him!!

 Welcome to the gun show ;)

look what's on his shirt #4 :)

This timing of this visit is God ordained & was the first step in establishing trust with him. He asked us for a bookbag with color book and crayons and then the very next month it showed up. This is huge! 

Danielle I can't thank you enough for this treasure. Thank you for loving on him while you were there. I know you know just how much this means. We are praying for Mek's paperwork!

Story #3: Another visitor

June 2016

A fellow adoptive momma with our agency traveled to Ethiopia to get their daughter and while she was there she spent some time with our #4!!! She sent me these pictures. She said he was thrilled to show her his book we sent him. 

Thank you so much Addie for visiting with him and loving on him for us! Are continued prayers are with your family as guys as you transition home with your daughter!

Story #4: another visitor 

August 2016 

Danielle is in Ethiopia right now & has passed court with her son and is waiting for paperwork to be finalized so they can pass court with their daughter. Would you please pray this is quickly resolved so they can all come home?

She's been visiting with our son at the Care Center while she was there and sent us these pictures <3

They played hacky sac and she said he made up his own ruled to tic tac toe :) Rascal <3 

that smile tho!

We are praying Danielle! Love you friend! 

Story #5 another visitor

August 2016

My friend Tisha who has adopted 5 children from Ethiopia is there THIS week as well for her Organization called  A Heart for Korah.

 I encourage you to check it out! She's been posting families that are available for sponsorship on their FB page  and on their Instagram.  This is a way for you to:

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

-Proverbs 31:8-9

The rainy season is beginning and the temperature drops in Ethiopia. Tisha was gracious enough to take a care page over to our son for us!! She visited with him this week and gave it to him.

Here are a few pictures.

 sitting on his bed

This hoodie was a hand me down from our neighbors. I was so excited to text her and tell her it made it all the way to Ethiopia!! 

This kid!! He smiles all the time!!!!!! 

We stand in awe of You, Jesus.  

There's no way in the world we could have arranged all of these visits!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a thrill & privilege to be used as Your hands to extend love.

I hope you are SEEING JESUS my friends!!!!!!!!!!
Look at the people He has sent to love on him!

 The story of his life God is writing, it is incredible. There is no mistaking the hand of the Lord all over it. He is seen and known by the Creator of the Universe.
There is a plan for his life and while we live in this broken world and we can never replace his birth mother and father we are so ready to receive &  love him.

SO WHEN CAN WE GO GET HIM??

That's the bazillion dollar question.

As I have been composing this post we received an email for the FINAL step of our PAIR process with the US Embassy. An interview with his finder. 
After this interview is complete we will be issued a PAIR letter and will be DONE with the paperwork! #chills

The next thing is to receive a positive recommendation from MOWA on his case and be issued a court date! THEN WE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

We are inline with several other families waiting for this positive comment already. I have zero idea of the time frame. All I know to do is pray.

 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Pray for his finder interview to be completed, if it is missed and has to be rescheduled it would delay us for weeks.

Pray for a flood of positive comments to  be issued and court dates to be given. (The courts are closing for rainy season and will re-open end of September.)

Pray that our eyes will remain on Jesus and not the months passing by, that our faith will be strengthened and that He will continue to be honored in our wait.

He knows. He sees and He knows. That is my greatest comfort. And we are clinging to His promises.

We can't thank you enough for interceding for us. For stopping us & asking how it's going and immediately  praying with us right then. For the random texts and prayer cards that arrive just at the right time.

I wish I were better with words like my friend Candace but I'm not.

We are in awe of our God and His perfect timing and undeserving grace.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Psalm 115:1

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

Kim

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:28-29 

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act.

Psalm 37:7 

 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff reassure me.

Psalm 23:4

 You will keep perfectly peaceful the one whose mind remains focused on you, because he remains in you.

Isaiah 26:3