Quote of the Month

"If just one church in every four churches got one family to adopt there would be no more orphans in America. It's not because we lack the resources, or lack the knowledge, or lack the skills… what we lack is the willingness for a group of people to say enough is enough, no more orphans."

                                                                                  -- Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life

New Pic

We just got an updated picture of our handsome little man, and I can barely stand this smile and curly hair! 

I'm dying to hold this sweet boy again!!

Say Yes

There are so many children in need of a loving family.  Not a perfect family, or a rich family, or a family that completely has their act together.  Just a loving family.  I believe that if more Christian families opened their homes to children in need, it would change the world!  What a powerful witness.

Quote of the Month

 

"Few things are harder to do than to confront the violent forces of injustice the way Jesus taught--with love and faith, perseverance and strength, hope and humility.  This is the authentic transformation that earns a hearing from a tired, suspicious and wounded world: a band of believers who move out from behind "doors locked for fear" (John 20:19) and proceed by courageous love to become "these people who have been turning the world upside down" (Acts 17:6)."
                     --Gary Haugen, President of International Justice Mission, from his book Just Courage

Worth the Wait

It's funny when the heaviness of the wait hits you.  Jamey and I were watching the 4 year olds in kids church this past Sunday and I walked in to the large group meeting.  There was a little boy from Africa in the room, and as soon as I layed eyes on him I immediately and unexpectedly became overwhelmed with emotion.  I couldn't stop thinking about Lincoln and holding him and how much I longed to have him back in my arms.  This process gets long and challenging, but God is faithful and our sweet boy is worth every moment of the wait.

We recently found out that our case was submitted to the US Embassy this past Wednesday.  We were a bit bummed to find out that this means another 6-8 weeks of waiting before we're able to head back to Ethiopia to bring Lincoln home.  This time frame is only if there aren't any problems.  If there are, it'll take longer.  Please pray for patience for us as we wait, and for everything to go smoothly so we aren't delayed--a delay could mean that I would be too far along in my pregnancy to travel back with Jamey which would be very hard for me.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness."

--Lamentations 3:23

It's a Boy!!

The gender of our surprise baby has been revealed.  It's a boy!  He's due to arrive in June of this year.  The same month as Lincoln's birthday, so they'll be about a year apart exactly.  Praying that these two are the greatest of friends.

Starting a Movement

Watch for this ad during the Superbowl!

Tony Dungy, "We have an incredible opportunity to start a movement that says we won't rest until the orphan crisis has ended."

Trip of a Lifetime

We're back!  It's the middle of the night and my jetlagged self is wide-awake.  Since our return almost a week ago, I've been going to bed around 6 or 7pm and waking around 4am.  My pregnant body hasn't had the will to fight the jetlag, so the off-based schedule persists.  It's taken me all of this week to readjust after our trip and process all that happened.  Our time in Paris was a wonderful treat.  Our time in Ethiopia was amazing.  Our son was to die for.  The most precious, snuggly, sweet little boy I've ever had the privilege of holding.

We met some other amazing adoptive families, ate a traditional Ethiopian dinner, went to market, soaked up as much of the countryside as we could on our way to various restaurants, passed court, and cherished every moment we could with our little Lincoln Ryan Tesfa.

They tell us that it will be about 2-3 months until everything is processed with US Immigration Services, and then we'll get to go back and pick him up.  We're praying this is so!  Until then, we continue to pray blessings over this sweet boy, and praise God for bringing him in to our lives.