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.