The Non-Official List Ranking Update

I know, I know.........it's been soooo long since an update

I have had many ask me about updating, but quite honestly there hasn't been much to update about

until recently!!!

There is no "official" waiting list with our agency,

but there is an unofficial one that we have followed for quite sometime

along with most of the other waiting families.

We have finally moved up on that list and 

we are tied for the 

#1

spot........

FINALLY!!!

Now, the way this list is sorted is by DTE dates and specific requests

What is a DTE date? - it is the date our dossier was sent - "Dossier To Ethiopia"

Our family and 2 others - the Wages & the Wades -  had our paperwork sent out on the same day.  

We all three are requesting infant girls so we are all tied for 1st place right now.

We have no way of knowing who of us will get the first referral, but we will rejoice with whichever one that may be!!!

The referral process has slowed down CONSIDERABLY,

 but we have finally seen 2 infant girls referrals  over the past month.

I believe, before these last 2 referrals, there had only been 2 infant girl referrals in a 7 month time span. 

That is extremely slow considering the rate of referrals that were going through at the beginning of the year.  However, God doesn't call us to the quick and easy most of the time does He.

We do not feel like "a wait" is a door closing but a journey for faith developing.

Please continue with us in prayer for our sweet daughter and our family as we continue to wait!

Here is a random photo of the kiddos!  Several have asked to see them.  This is the most recent picture I have of them all together that wasn't taken with my phone!  Pitiful I know.  Cerra's hair is much shorter now as she finally reached her donation length and was able to cut and donate finally!

Culture, Christianity, & The Gospel - REPOST

I took time to watch this video today over at Resurgence and found it to be an excellent interview/conversation. 

I would encourage you to take time to watch and process it as well.

(or at least listen to it play in the background while you work on something else)

Church isn't some place we attend weekly or something we show up to do,

 it's who we are as Christians.

I pray for more growth and maturity in myself and among my brothers & sisters in Christ.

Our daily life is the example of "church" in our culture.

I pray that we become more burdened about it modeling Christ daily.

My heart has been and remains burdened so heavily 

for the "typical" American gathering of the church that we see today.

May the Gospel be the center.

Homeschooling/Christian Education --- Why?

We have been back in school for a bit now and loving our year!!!

The kids are doing great, we are loving our curriculum choices, the schedules are working well, and

the community around us has already started back in with the random questions and random looks as well. :)  It all serves as a reminder that while homeschooling is growing at a great rate in our country, we are still the odd man out. 

Every year we face the random questions from people:

"What school do you go to that you haven't started yet?"

"Where do you go to school that you are out this time of day?"

"What are you guys doing out of school?"

"Is someone sick for you guys to be out of school?"

"Why aren't your kids in school?"

............ and the list continues.

While this is our norm and we think nothing of it on a daily basis, I am challenged regularly to think about why we do this (in a positive way) when asked often any of the questions listed above. 

That is a good thing to be challenged to remember.  

When did we decide to do this?  Why did we start?  Why do we continue?  

Why do we answer "through graduation" when people ask how long we plan on doing this?

This is a touchy subject.  This is a violent subject when discussed among the wrong crowds (and I've been part of that also --- not fun). This is a subject debated in our churches.

I'm just always challenged to think of it more at the beginning of our year than any other time throughout the year.  With that being the case,  it is fresh on my mind and heart, so this post really came at a great time for me today.

I found this to be very encouraging and confirming and I wanted to share for anyone interested in reading!!!

"Education:  The Forgotten Key To Discipleship"

Enjoy

Kids & Old People - by: Andrea Young

Obviously I'm not writing much lately. I've been reading A LOT and setting before the Lord seeking HIM alone on many different subjects. It's been a nice place to be, near to the creator, my creator, Father.  While a nice place to be, it has also been VERY challenging!  I've been "doing life" with some other people and that isn't easy, but I know full well it's where God has me now second to wife and mom.  It's my journey at this time, and because this is my current journey, I just haven't had much time to right leisurely.  So, in it's place, I've just been sharing links to great reads and short updates on our adoption process lately.  

Today, I have another link that I just LOVED reading today!

I hope you do as well:

"Why I Love Kids & Old People"

A Story of Adoption - Hatmaker Family

Here is a story of a family that was called to adopt without doubt

2 children from Ethiopia.

They are also adopting through AWAA, the agency we are going through.

As the doors seemed to slam shut, they refused to let them stay that way.

 They knew 100 % they had been called from God to adopt 2 children 

and they were willing to fight for them.

The adoption journey is not an easy journey on so many levels for so many families.

This particular journey was a battle, and fight they did.

However, the story comes together the way it does because of God's hand in it all.

He has a plan in it all.

Here is a view from the front seat of how adoption sometimes works:

"I'm Not Done Yet"

Jen Hatmaker is is also an author/speaker if that name sounds familiar to you.

Here is the Book Trailer for her book called "7" to be released January 2012:

Recent Update from AWAA

Here is our most recent update from our Adoption Agency:

As your family is in the waiting stage of the adoption process, we are writing to inform you of a change to our predicted timeframes between dossier submission and referral.     

The wait for a male referral is now predicted to be between 10 and 16 months.  The wait for a female referral is now predicted to be between 11 and 18 months.  Wait times currently show a trend of increasing.

There are many factors that contribute to wait times.   Each child’s case can vary in the amount of time it takes to be ready to be referred to a family.   America World thoroughly investigates each case and it can take weeks, and at times months, to clear referrals with medical or documentation issues, or to obtain necessary governmental documents/clearances/etc. that are needed before he or she can be referred. 

While we know this news is disappointing, we are encouraged to share that MOWCYA has increased the number of recommendation letters they write to 15 per day. We will continue to apprise your family of any other changes that occur, and we are praying for your family and all families in the various stages of the adoption process. 

Here were the previous referral wait times:  infant male is 7-10 months and the wait time for a female infant is 7-11 months. 

Please continue with us in prayer for this program & most especially our daughter!!!  We will be in the 11 mth time frame July 27th!  We are still "on deck" and hopeful for a referral sooner than later!  Ethiopia is suffering much at this time and your prayers for the country as a whole is also much appreciated.  They are facing a very serious season of drought causing many deaths in country. 

Links to "Sermons On Racial Harmony"

Recently, in an adoption discussion, the subject arose of a family pursuing adoption and facing confrontation with their extended family.  It's sad really, but it is the reality for many.  This was a resource shared with them to reference that I haven't looked at in awhile but have enjoyed in the past.  I haven't read all of these sermons, but I have read through a few different ones. I encourage you to utilize this resource if you are in a similar situation or if you are one who doesn't want racial boundaries crossed.  Great information provided here.  

SERMONS ON RACIAL HARMONY

This is a great scripturally based resource for those in the adoption world crossing "racial barriers" to adopt.  Inter-racial families are a very debated subject even today (which is sad).  When being obedient in God's call for adoption, it's quickly learned by many that it is accepted by some extended family members and despised by others.  One must keep their focus on the fact that God calls us to obey HIM. Often our obedience to the Lord isn't comfortable or easy.  

We knew when we said yes, that we needed to discuss racism as being  a possibility we would face.  We discussed together, before we shared the news with anyone else, that we were following the Lord in this even if we had negative responses, hateful behaviors, or discouragement from others, our choice was right and it was made.  We were following the Lord in this.  It was great, as we came into confrontational conversations (only the beginning I'm sure), that we were both firm in this decision.  I knew John was with me and he knew I was with him.  I encourage every family to have such a conversation with their spouse and children before they announce such a decision to anyone else.  The confirmation of knowing you are walking in obedience to the Lord TOGETHER is a great comfort.

I've been encouraged to see the many families who walk this road and choose God first .  It's a tough decision, but when God calls, we MUST obey.  We have faced questions as to why another race, what is your future going to look like for this child and your other children, aren't you afraid of "insert random concerns (aka-fears) here", etc.  It's just the beginning of the road.  We will learn as we continue to follow.  We trust that God will provide.

Encouragement to those of you traveling down this road!!

GOD is good all the time!

Motherhood As A Mission Field - linked

Here is a link to an article that I believe would be wonderful for every Christian mother to read

MOTHERHOOD AS A MISSION FIELD

a DesiringGod.org post

Here are a few pictures from our home to yours of  us enjoying Spring

No, it didn't pee on him!!!

They LOVE frogs

Me - I'm learning to.......at least I'm trying to like them

ON DECK!!!!!

We received good news with the adoption today!

WE ARE ON DECK!!!

What this means pretty much is that our paper work isn't a file setting somewhere in a cabinet. 

We've made it far enough up the list that our family file is being looked at on someones desk, and we are to the point of actually being matched up with our sweet daughter!  

We are at the top of the list somewhere. 

We are thrilled to have heard any good news with the recent trials in this program. 

We could still be 1 - 3 months out from getting our referral, but we at least know they are in the process of placing a child with our family.

This is thrilling I'm telling you!

Thank you for your prayers and please continue!

We need them and so does the Ethiopian International Adoption Program!!!

We will keep you up to date as to when we receive a referral!!!!

Ethiopia Adoption Update

For another update...we are still waiting and we are #3 on the unofficial wait list!  We are asking for a lot of prayer for the Ethiopia program and specifically for the organization MOWCYA.  We have not seen a referral in several weeks.  They are only writing 5 referral letters a day --- for the WHOLE COUNTRY.  This isn't just 5 letters a day for our agency, but for the whole country.  This is down from some where between 30 - 50 cases a day.  It's unexplainable really, but it is what it is.  People are showing up for court and having to wait extra days for MOWYCA to get their stuff together and to the judge.  They are causing delay in many areas of this process and making it quiet difficult for the families showing up for court.  

Please lift these children, this program, and the families in this program specifically up in prayer.

The International Adoption Program in Ethiopia has helped benefit thousands of children.

There is some interest in domestic adoption in that country, but many children adopted domestically in Ethiopia are adopted to fill a "slave" type role and not necessarily to become part of a family.

Here is a picture of our kids meeting new friends who have now been home from Ethiopia now for 1 month!

They had a great time laughing and playing together.

It made them long to meet our sweet Nora all the more!

CONGRATULATIONS again to this family to have their sweet sons home!