another homestudy

Had our first of two homestudies for foster care on Tuesday the 6th. Our licensing agent was wonderful and didn't mind the couple inches of water on the basement floor :) We have a few things to do before our next visit, but praise the Lord nothing major.

paperwork complete

Paperwork complete. Our second set of paperwork- the first set for Ethiopia was a lot of work. So collecting the stuff for foster care was quick and painless.

Training complete. We finished our 16 hours of mandatory PRIDE training. Again, not very painful.

Now we are waiting for our home study to be set up and completed before we can become licensed foster parents. Praying this too will be a painless process :) We know we need a window installed in the basements, so looking forward to some demolition.

foster care

Since we sent in our paperwork to our agency, a few things have changed. The adoption process in Ethiopia has slowed down to ensure that things are being done ethically...this is a hard thing, but also a good thing...to make sure things are done properly and in order, it may take more time. Also one of the orphanages that works with our agency closed. The agency is expecting the wait to be well over 2 years. We have been praying about how to use the time wisely and we are excited to use this time of waiting to be foster parents. We have our second training on Saturday. Then we have to get the house ready...another home study...then more waiting.

it's official

we are on the wait list. Praise the Lord all our paperwork was in proper order.

it's in the mail

Finally sent in our dossier to our agency in St. Louis:) Lord willing, it will arrive at our agency Saturday and should take about 15 days to get on the waiting list with our agency!! We are super excited!!!

sickies

Got some sick girls over here. Poor Emma has shingles and Erin just can't kick a nasty cold. Unfortunately, I think Elli is starting to get the cold too. As much as I hate them being sick- they are super cute.

tears

I really haven't cried or wigged out too much about the adoption slow down in Ethiopia. I know that God has the hearts of kings in his hands, but tonight as midnight began to roll around my heart became super heavy. Now I don't get the "cry face" like some sweet people I know, but I am having a hard time shaking this heavy feeling. I decided to check the time in Ethiopia...midnight here is 8am there...the new procedures are taking place. Families who have had referrals in hand will wait for court dates. Babies will be in orphanages longer. All is not well in God's creation-it hasn't been for a good 6,000 years. There is a problem. The spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places are working hard to get us to not trust our mighty King. We pray for the truth to come out through this process, we pray that the adoptions that are done in a righteous way will continue to move along quickly. We pray that the name of our LORD will be glorified through our adoption and the adoption process in Ethiopia. We pray for HIS will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I don't know for sure that we will bring 2 little Ethiopian boys home. I do know that the Lord has called us to adopt and that he has put Ethiopia on our hearts. I also know that I am learning more and more to walk by faith and not by sight. I am glad we serve such a mighty God.

praying for Ethiopia

this insightful article highlights some things to pray for.

but how cool

is this

trust

in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM and he will direct your paths." Prov 3:5

This article explains why Ethiopia is slowing adoptions down to a snails pace. On the one hand, we are thrilled that they are acting to ensure that every adoption above board. On the other hand, if there is very little movement out of the orphanages, that leaves little room for those who are orphans to find a place of shelter and substance (many of the children being adopted are suffering from malnutrition). On a personal note, an almost 90% reduction is alarming to us when some families have waited 18 month plus when the system was moving along.

Those things weigh on our hearts tonight, but we know we can trust in the HIM who is able to do exceedingly more than we ask or imagine.

fingerprints

we are moving right along...a few bumps here and there. We got our fingerprinting appointment and thanks to some good advice from my sister, Aimee and some wonderful people at the immigration office we were able to get our fingerprints this morning. Scott only works a half day on Tuesday so this was a great way to save his vacation time for our trips to Ethiopia...here's hoping they fall in this calendar year.

Monocle boy

so glad that we had to take the kids for a medical check up for our home study. We found out that Josiah has trouble seeing in just one eye. I took him to a marathon eye appointment today (2 hours- the other kids did a great job waiting). So with one eye that sees just fine, I keep joking that I am going to get him a monocle. I think it goes just great with his personality. I was really proud of him today, probably because he was able to put a contact lens in his eye and I don't think I could do it. Just another reminder that my boy is growing up. We are excited that his contacts will last twice as long because he only needs one at a time. Love this little boy. (who is taller than me)

one step closer

I went to a wonderful funeral for my first Sunday School teacher Miss Ethel. She was an amazing godly woman. I feel so blessed to have been one of the children that she taught, prayed for and encouraged. After 90 years on this earth, she is home. Her adoption is complete.

When I got home, Scott casually said, "Did you see that we got our fingerprint appointment?" I got all excited...he calmly in his wonderful Scott fashion said, "didn't know it was a big deal". Truth be told, we still have a long way, but each step is a step closer to bringing my boys home.

encouraged by Piper

listened to this excellent sermon by John Piper today. He talks about 8 ways that adoption here on earth is similar to our adoption by Christ. Two of my favorite points were:

There is legal red tape in both adoptions, but one is soaked in the blood of Christ.

This is not plan B. Ephesians 1 says

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV)

before sin entered the world he chose to adopt us. This wasn't an afterthought. Our boys our chosen for us on the other side of the world. We are not plan B for them, we are God's plan for them...they are God's plan for us.

Home study complete...

and in the mail to the U.S. government. Yippeee.

got this in an email yesterday

Congratulations! Your application for adoption has been approved by the Program Director on .


We will be mailing out your approval packet today or tomorrow with instructions on how to proceed.

We are very excited for you, and wish you well as you begin your adoption journey!

Gloria Akers
The Intake Department
Children’s Hope International

u.s. mail

I am sure there will be times during this journey that I will be frustrated that the mail is too slow, but we were filled with joy and hope as we sent off this tiny package...waiting to see how the Lord is going to orchestrate this process for us.

moving forward

the application is signed, documents ordered, homestudy COMPLETE:) So thrilled to be beginning this process. I have literally dreamed about it for years. After much prayer and many phone calls, we have realized that Ethiopia is where the Lord is calling us to adopt from. We are excited to begin our journey...knowing that the Lord knows every step we will take