December Numbers!

 

Today we received our December waitlist numbers from AGCI!

 

Our new numbers are:

 

130

For a girl 0-12 months old

 

AND

 

60

For siblings--a girl 0-12 months old and a birthsister 0-5 years old

 

We moved 3 spots down on the girls list and 1 spot down on the siblings list!

 

Overall, we have moved 9 spots down on the girls list and 3 spots down on the siblings list!

 

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits

and in His word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

 

Save us and help us with your right hand,

that those you love may be delivered.

Psalm 60:5 

Words On Prayer, Love, and Adoption

When you pray, move your feet.

~African proverb
 

Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.

~Mother Teresa

I believe there is only one truly courageous thing we can do with our lives: to love unconditionally. Absolutely, with all of ourselves, so much that it hurts and then more.

~Katie Davis
 

We adopt not because we are rescuers, but because we have been rescued.

~David Platt

 

Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.

~David Platt

 

When I have learned to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.

~C.S. Lewis

 

What happens in the spiritual realm when we pray? It's such a mystery. What words prompt the Spirit to move? What goodness do we join Him on when we pray for peace? How powerful are our prayer words? They are a catalyst for miracles, the impetus for healing. Does God wait for us to pray in His will, primed to move for righteousness? How many relationships is He waiting to mend? How much turmoil is He poised to soothe? How much peace is He ready to administer? Are we withholding the necessary words to trigger God's intervention?

~Jen Hatmaker

I Heart Africa

I have two nieces and a nephew (and also a nephew on the way!) in Washington.

 

During our visit December 11-17th, my 8-year-old niece Mariesa made me the above bracelet. It is the sweetest gift! Her creation of the bracelet and the act of her giving it to me was completely unprompted by anybody.

 

She gets it!

 

Colin and I decided to gift Mariesa, her sister Natalie, and their brother Caleb with presents related to our Ethiopian adoption. We got them an Explore Ethiopia coloring book to share, zebra + monkey puppets, and an Ethiopian doll. It was fun and meaningful teaching them about Ethiopia and adoption.

 

They are excited for an Ethiopian cousin/s and want her/them here soon!

 

We do too.

USCIS Fingerprinting

Today, Colin and I drove to Milwaukee to get fingerprinted! This is the second set of fingerprints needed for our adoption, and thankfully, the last thing on our list to do for paperwork. That is, until yearly homestudy updates are needed or other paperwork expires.

 

We had to go to the USCIS (United States Customs and Immigration Services) building. Quick and easy. We will receive paperwork in the mail shortly and then we will have to get a form notarized and sent off to AGCI in Oregon.

 

Since it is a 2+ hour drive to Milwaukee for us, we had to make the trip worthwhile, so of course we had to have lunch at Ethiopian Cottage Restaurant! It was a lovely time, sharing food of our child/ren's culture together. It will be exciting to bring our child/ren there someday.

Wisconsin Snow

looking out over our deck

 

We got our first large snowfall. I always say that we must have snow for Christmas, and God always seems to bless us with it just before.

 

The trees are beautifully glazed with the white fluff. It is just cold enough (30s) that I think it may stick around rather than melt.

 

Yesterday, it felt nice to sit back, sip my scrumptious mocha that Colin made me, and listen to classic Christmas songs.

 

We have been busy little bees, working, fulfilling plenty of Etsy jewelry/ornament orders (praise God!), purchasing Christmas gifts, wrapping, writing cards, etc.

 

But, now is our time to rest intermittently through the rest of the month. We will still have to work some, but we will be squeezing in a trip to Olympia, Washington to visit Colin's family, and a trip to Spring Valley, WI to visit my family before the month is over.

 

We are excited to spend time with family. I will be taking a short break from blogging for the rest of the month. I may stop in for a hello or two, but I will be back in full force in January.

 

It is good to take breaks. Refresh. Reenergize. Focus on Jesus' birth and the purpose of His coming.

He came to give us life, eternal life.

He came to give us grace.

He came to give us a purpose, a future.

 

And that is to be celebrated!

 

He also came to LOVE. To SERVE. To TEACH. To EMBRACE.

 

And that is to be received. And given!

 

I wish you and yours a very blessed Christmas season!

O Christmas Tree

 

Colin and I got our Christmas tree on November 18th. Usually we get it the Friday after Thanksgiving, but Colin worked that day and the two days after. So, to ensure we could find the perfect tree, we decided to go to the tree farm early this year. Besides, Christmas is our favorite! Why not decorate early?

 

the Country Christmas Store

 

no snow on the ground yet--just a chill in the air

we hiked and hiked to find the most beautiful tree; we ended up back at the beginning and finally found our love

my love, my Colin

 



here she is all aglow--with Dahlia and Mercedes trying to steal the spotlight

and at the very top--under the angel--our Africa ornament, representing our baby



One Month Dreaming

We have been on the waitlist to adopt for 1 month today!

 

Our case manager told us to tune out these first months of waiting, because the wait can get really stressful and even agonizing, especially down the road when we will be closer to our referral.

 

But, I am finding it difficult.

 

I want to know when other parents receive their precious referrals.

I want to know about babies coming home to join their forever families.

I want to know about the struggles other families are facing.

I want to know just about everything!

 

And so I tune in.

 

And, perhaps it may hurt me in the long run. But, for today, I want to know!

 

I LOVE being on the waitlist. It makes it more real--having a daughter (or two!).

 

I DREAM. Of curls. Of chubby arms and legs. Of tiny toes. Of giggles.

 

I even dream of the messy.

 

Dreaming of our girl/s takes me to another place. A place of love. A Heavenly place.

 

And I am SO in love!

November Numbers!

 

Yesterday, November 30, 2012, we received our November waitlist numbers from AGCI!

 

 Our new numbers are:

 

 133

For a girl 0-12 months old

 

AND

 

61

For siblings--a girl 0-12 months old and a birthsister 0-5 years old

 

We moved 6 spots down on the girls list and 2 spots down on the siblings list!

 

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

 

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2