See ya' Doss-c-a!!!!

We mailed off the last of our paperwork TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Don't let these faces fool you, they are excited about their sister.
{It's the whole boy/always have to take picture faces. Some of you can relate!}

Would you join with us in praying for this sweet package?

Pray for:

*it to make to our Agency in the mail
*for all of the dates/spellings/figures to be correct
*for the other mailings to be successful
*for the translation to be easy
*for Ethiopia to find favor with us

I can't go any further without a few "thank yous!"

To the friends/families who have written referral letters!
To the notaries!!
To the Employers for references!
To the ones who waived fees for us bc we are adopting!
To the "dumbo" ears for all the questions, you know who you are :)

Thank you for your time in helping us get this done!!

This is a HUGE step in the time line friends!!

Once this packet of paperwork is translated and approved we will officially be "in waiting!"
The average wait time for the current families in our agency are averaging 6-12 months.
This sounds so long but the past 9 months have FLOWN by. It's been 9 months since we were accepted into our Agency. AND we got news yesterday that our agency has partnered with an additional orphanage so hopefully this will speed up wait time a little!

All in all, we just trust.

Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Trust in our Mighty God.

Part of me feels like this journey is just beginning.

From here on out, their won't be any paperwork milestones, no goals to reach, just sitting in the waiting room. Waiting for our name to be called.

God made the length of pregnancy 9 months for a reason. Every month something vital to that child's life is happening inside of the womb. Every month we wait, there is something vital happening in the life of our daughter. And in our lives. There is more preparation needed. Other events have to take place. Strengthening to take place.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

James 1:3

He is the orchestrator of it all. We are trusting in His sovereignty.

Sovereignty: Supreme power or authority

While we wait we will seek His face and lift our hands high in praise for all He has done and all He will do!
And pray for our precious one!
For rain in Ethiopia so the farmers will have a great crop and she will have plenty of food.
For her mental & physical growth to be right on track.
For the Lord to send missionaries to her orphanage to love on her and pray over her.
For the orphanage workers to know Christ.
And for Lily to know we are longing and praying for her daily!!

Yes I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14

So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Isiah 30: 18

My best friend gave these to me today.

We'll just call these my Dossier (Doss-c-a) Beads.

It's been a good day friends, a good day!

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

Kim

Music in the waiting room....

Finga-prints & BEACH!

We had a great family day last Friday and went down to Jacksonville to have our fingerprints done at U.S. Department of Homeland Security!!

What exactly does this mean & what is it for??

It means the United States is giving us permission to bring an orphan from another country into the US. When we finally receive her referral (aka-know who she is) we will be able to have her name (birth name) listed as the orphan.

The more of this process we get to do as a family the happier it makes this momma! We pray/talk about Lily all of the time and try to include the boys in as much as we can when it comes to what the Lord has done, how we can save in preparation for her, rearranging their rooms to make room for her etc but THIS was as all inclusive as you can get!
Greeting the guard at the door, going thru security, sitting and waiting for our number to be called, the whole 9 yards they got to see! It was great! We couldn't take the camera in, had to have our cell phones off & they even threw my gum away! #worthit

{side note} This particular day we chose to have this done, was "Ceremony Day" and we didn't know it! As we sat on one side of the room we watched the other side of the room fill up with people of all sorts of nationalities & race. They were all becoming US Citizens on this day!! They all wore their best dress and all had the biggest smiles ever! Some brought their families along. Such an exciting day in their lives!!!
I couldn't help but think of the day I became a daughter of the King and celebrated in baptism. What a beautiful reminder of what Christ does for us! He just brings us ALL in. No matter our skin color or nationality!!! Brings tears to my eyes!!

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it!

1 Cor 12:27

We took pb&j and ate it on the way to the beach!! It's been several years since we have all been at the beach together!! We had such a great time and even found a little pink seashell to bring home with us <3

So what's next and HOW MUCH LONGER??!?!?!

We are in the process of gathering our last little bit of paperwork!

Here are a few examples of what this includes:

* Original/certified copies of: Birth Certificates/marriage license/divorce decree
* Reference letters from 3 friends
* Bank Letter
* Medical Examinations
* Letter of Intent to Ethiopia {Basically explaining why we would like to adopt a child from ET.}
* Power of Attorney
*Home Study

This is for our Dossier (doss-c-a) and will go directly to Ethiopia. Once it's translated/approved we will be placed on an official WAITING LIST! Our estimated wait time is 6-12 months. My prayer is that by Christmas we have at least been on the list for a few months!!! Trusting in the Lords timing all the way!!

I can't WAIT to show you a picture of us mailing off this Dossier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Kim

Mother's Day in Africa

I can tell you that this Mother's Day was the BEST Mother's Day I've ever had.

This year, Mother's Day was spent on the continent of Africa, the land that our daughter will come from. My prayer leading up to this missions trip to South Africa was that the Lord would sustain my emotions. I did NOT want to be a walking tear ball the entire time we were there. I wanted to be effective for the sharing of the Gospel and ministering/loving on the people of South Africa. He held me together! He really did. I just knew I'd be a basket case stepping foot in the plane but I wasn't!! I can't really describe what I was feeling. Receiving the news of our $20,000 grant the DAY BEFORE we left was INCREDIBLE. He's so good that way. He allowed me to travel to her place KNOWING this process is covered!!! 

The first night we were in Musina, South Africa, we were eating dinner with Debbie, our contact in Musina. The topic of adoption came up and I told her we were in the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia. I've said that same thing to many people but it just occurred to me that I said it for the first time to person actually from Africa. She just sat and looked at me for a minute with the most compassionate eyes. Makes me tear up thinking about it. She went on to tell me that she has an Ethiopian family who rents from her. I said "REALLY!!?!?" I got all excited and just blurted out "I'd love to meet them!!!!" She said she would call them and organise that.

So the next day was Mother's Day. She told me what time to be ready and picked up me, Hayley & Emilee. On the way to their house my heart was beating a MILLION miles an hour. I seriously felt like I could squal at this point but  asked the Lord to hold me together!! I didn't need to cry the whole time we were there!

We pulled up and out stepped this tall gentleman onto the porch. My hands were shaking as I opened the door to the car. When I got out of the car and started heading for the porch out stepped his wife and their PRECIOUS daughter. OK, at this point I am SERIOUSLY trying not to make THE cry face, you know THE one.

They welcomed us into their home, brought out juice & glasses and Deb introduced us to them. They were SO incredibly nice. Very tall and thin, pleasant smiles, friendly & what I really wanted to do was latch onto her neck and not let go!! The mother was BEAUTIFUL and the daughter took my breath away. Literally. Her name was Danite. (like Delight with an "n") "Dan" from the son of Jacob and "nite" for a female. She was about 2 yrs old. Very shy and began warming up to us as it was time to go. Deb began to tell them that my husband and I are adopting from Ethiopia and I REALLY held my breath for their response. I mean telling an African was one thing but telling someone from ETHIOPIA?!?!? I just didn't know what to expect!

They smiled, and said that was nice, asked a few questions and we talked for a while. I don't really know if they understood 100% what "adoption" meant. Deb described it as this "her country has an agreement with your country for a baby girl. They are going to give her one." Either way their response was positive.

These are some thoughts I had while sitting on their couch:

This is what she will favor when she is grown. She.is.BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!
LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Am I really sitting in this room with an ENTIRE ETHIOPIAN FAMILY!?!?! Who just happens to have a precious baby girl.
Who am I that you would arrange this JUST FOR ME LORD. Just for me............. on Mother's Day.

(Danite)

{thank you Hayley for these pictures. I'll cherish them forever!!}

 We left and as we drove away it happened.
The flood gates poured over in thankfulness, humbleness of what had just happened, and I seriously felt the Lord pouring His love just over and over and over me. Such a special day for me. Such a special day. He knows me so well and that He orchastrated that 45 mins on Mother's Day was so special to me. That the Creator of the universe allowed that to happen for this momma. So special.



He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Deu 10:21

When I lay my eyes on you my baby girl the first time oh what a day it will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am happy to tell you that today we mailed off our I600A.  (Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative with the USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services)).

So once we receive our Fingerprint Appointment cards we can head down to Jacksonville, be finger printed and as soon as those clearances come in we mail off our Dossier!! Our  FINAL package of paperwork!!! It will take a couple of months to be translated and approved but once it is we will officially be in WAITING!! We will wait anywhere from 6-12 months. What ever length of time the Lord sees fit. It's getting closer!!!!! GEEZ WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A side note on the grant. That money is given directly to our agency. We don't ever see it and our agency pays for the costs directly. Isn't this whole thing so interesting?!?!?

A special thanks to Nooks & Crannies Cleaners who donated a portion of their May income to help bring Lily home!!!! If you need a good house cleaning from a Christ follower who seeks to honor the Lord with her business, please contact Jenna!!!

 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever;  from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

Ps 79:13

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

Kim

HE DID IT!!!!!!!!

He who calls is FAITHFUL and will DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Thess 5:24

A few weeks ago I posted about several things to pray for. One of those was that we would find favor with the foundation we sent in an application for an adoption grant.

Diane (the woman from The JSC Foundation that I will never meet face-to-face but could squeeze to pieces because of her kindness) told me the that on April 20th the board would be meeting to dicuss, review & decided on what, if any, amount we would be awarded. {The max of this grant was $20,000.} She told me it would be around the middle of May before we knew anything. I knew that I would be in S. Africa on a mission trip when she would probably deliver the news and I was totally fine with that.

I remember being on my knees on April 20th in my bedroom boldly asking the Lord to do something only He could do. For an amount that only He could provide. I talked with Him just like He was sitting on my bed and I said "Lord this money is for You! This isn't for us! This is to bring You glory. This if for Your recognition. This has nothing to do with us, we are just willing to be Your vehicle. I trust You will give us exactly what you want us to have. Not a penny more or a penny less." 

When you ask Him for something, you BELIEVE Him for it!

Yesterday, my hands are shaking, I received an email from Ms. Sweet Diane that we had been awarded $20,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to blink and get the tears from my eyes because I thought SURELY that comma was in the wrong place! SURELY!! But it wasn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ON MY FACE Y'ALL! ON MY FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could barley breath!!!! I still shake talking about it!!!

 

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

John 14:13



For Your Glory, Lord!!!! You get all of the glory!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND we got this news ONE day before I traveled to Africa for a mission trip. That's her continent y'all!! ONE DAY. He could have waited. Waited until the middle of the month while I was there but He let me know ahead of time!!

As a momma, knowing I will be so close and not see her but KNOW through this confirmation of the Lord that SHE IS THERE AND WILL BE OURS makes me shout from the rooftops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It may sounds silly but just being closer geographically soothes my soul and makes it beat even faster in anticipation!!!

We are coming baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This momma is SO READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUESTIONS: What does this mean??

Will this speed up the process?

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This whole journey is a prepare paperwork & turn in money process. While we may be waiting on paper work to come through we CAN go ahead and turn it in once it's complete. No more waiting on money!!!

Will this pay for all of it?

This will cover all of the fees associated with the actual adoption paperwork process, the only thing left to cover will be travel and we are confident there will be some left over to apply towards travel costs! There are still a couple of fundraisers going on that will help cover the cost of travel as well!! We are so grateful!!!

If you are reading this, please know this is HUGE!!! This is something only the Lord could do!!

 He just wants your "yes" for His glory. Be willing and hang on!! He will bless your obedience!!

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

Kim

Ps- I have posted a LOT about Africa the past what seems like year! The trip I am leaving for today is a mission trip that was planned a year ago. We will be serving in South Africa. You can read all about our trip and keep up with here here: http://loveafricateam.wordpress.com/  Most importantly pray for us!

Apart from Him we can do NOTHING!!

John 15:5b

4.30.12

Do you know what today is?
It is the last day of the month.
April 30
4.30.12
The day we boldly asked the Lord to provide the amount we need for our agency fee.

And guess what.......

HE DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In a post on 4.28.12 we gave a break down of the approximate cost of this adoption process. The next goal we had was for the $6,000 agency fee. At that time we had $4,400 left. First of all, let me say that our agency offers a discount if you tithe! So this reduced our amount to $5,400!!!!

The night of this post as Roger and I were praying we asked the Lord with great boldness for this entire agency fee by end of April.

I admit to you this is the first time in my life I have ever asked for a specific amount by a specific date non the less! We told the Lord You have called us to this and we are confident that You will provide!!! And that if we don't receive this remainder of this fee by the end of April we trust that You have other things in mind and we are ok with that! You can't put a time table on the Lord peeps, He ways are NOT our ways! {Isaiah 55:8-9}

BUT He also says:

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

John 14:14

This is not asking for a new car or bigger house, this is asking Jesus for what Jesus would ask for. For what would please Him and bring Him glory. And asking for something "in His name" is not to be taken lightly!! Our desires are His desires. Do you see it?  This is so comforting us to us!! And affirms that we are in His will!!! Such a humbling yet, Lord-give-us-wisdom place to be!!

Our fundraiser yesterday for Lilypalooza that 5 of our photographer friends were so gracious to do for us brought in $1,510!!!! And one of our brides sent in her final payment for her wedding!!

Guess what?!?!!?

THAT. DID. IT!!

ON THE NEXT TO LAST DAY OF THE MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, what's next?

We wait to receive our Dossier (Doss-c-a) package from our agency. This will consist of another set of documents that we will send to Ethiopia, be translated, and wait for approval. This also comes with another hefty amount to pay.

We have applied for two grants. 

We should know the outcome of one by mid May and just mailed the other off so it will take a couple of weeks to hear from them.

We still have 2 fun-raisers going!!!!

I just love my family at Flint Community Bank!! You can swing by and purchase tickets or see me, I have some with me. 1 for $5 or 3 for $10!!

AND!!

The TJ MAULDIN BAND is giving 100% of their album sales until the end of May to help us bring Lily home!!! Like them on Facebook!!

You can purchase their album here from iTunes!! 



Thank you so much for praying.

Thank you so much for giving.

Thank you so much for the support and encouraging words, hugs and notes!

"Thank you" will never feel like enough!

Lord!! All praise and honor and glory and recognition goes to You and only You!!!

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

Kim

HOOKFM

Good Morning!!!!!!!!!!! Just a quick post to let you know we have the privilege to share about this crazy adoption journey this morning on our local Christian Station HOOKFM at 8:30am!!

Please pray for us that the Lord would receive all the glory and that we could communicate effectively and share the Gospel!!

More on LILYPALOOZA this afternoon!! It was SUCH an incredible success!!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim

Wait....

So out of curiosity I emailed our agency yesterday and just asked what the wait time is averaging.

By wait time I mean, after all of this money is paid, paper work (dossier) is turned in and we are literally waiting to get a referral, how much time is going by.

By referral I mean, we requested specific age range & gender. When there is a child that meets those specifics they will send us our "referral." The child's folder that contains all of their information and hopefully a sweet little picture.

His response to my email was brief.

This is what it said:

"The wait time has been increasing recently. My best guestimate on wait time from when your dossier is sent to Ethiopia until you receive a referral is about 6 to 12 months right now. We don’t have enough families in the Ethiopia program to get referrals every month. We have 2 families with completed dossier’s and waiting on referrals right now. They have both been waiting about 7 months now."

Ummm.... what exactly does that mean? I felt like it wasn't a very good response. All I saw were numbers and stuff that I really couldn't understand.

It means a couple things:

#1-they fact that there are only 2-TWO- families waiting with our agency is INCREDIBLE. I mean at an adoption conference about a month ago all I heard was "we are number 76" or "we waited 2 years" This means that if we were done with paper work/money we would be 3 on the list!!! This is encouraging!!!

#2- the fact that the wait time for a referral is averaging 6-12 months is SO much better than 24 months! Listen, 6 months to this girl right here is just about no time.

And even if we do wait for more than 12 months, it's worth it. Every.single.day.
AND it just means we have more time to press into the Lord and learn more about Him.
It helps me to write all of these things out, y'all.
It helps me to talk it out. Talking with Em this afternoon really helped me.
I'll be honest, this adoption journey is a learn along the way thing and we have a loooooong way to go!

So so thankful for friends who have been there-done that-have 50 t-shirts and can encourage us along the way. Helping us understand the "what exactly does that mean" emails and all of the information coming in. THANK YOU LORD!!!!

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.

Ecc 3:11

Trusting in His timing. Knowing it... SHE.. will be beautiful!!

 

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

Kim

 

{Canvas paper
{tip of a pencil eraser
{purple stamp pad
{thumb prints for the heart
{sits over our couch in between pictures of our boys

{waitin' on you guh-fran <3}