Blog to Book

I've been meaning to write this for a long time, but keep forgetting (do you know me? hahaha). Many of you have been so great about commenting on my posts - so appreciated! Mostly, though, people comment on my Facebook posts about the blog or email me responses back. And I haven't saved most of those comments.

SPECIAL REQUEST: A while ago I decided that I wanted to capture for our little ones the journey their parents were on to bring them home. Thus the blog. But beyond that, I want to re-purpose the blog into a book just for them to read someday. I want them to know how thought of, prayed for, longed for, hoped for, and dreamed of they were. I want them to see the thousands of people who helped bring them home via donations, prayers, blog hits, etc.

So, from now on would you post comments on my blog? I want for them to see your names, comments, prayers, and dreams for them, as well as what their momma wrote about them.

African villages get it right:
it takes a village to raise a child.
And we want them to know how big and loving their village really is!

9 Months :: I'm Full Term Baby!

Today marks 9 months on the wait list, and I'm about to pop!! :) Have you ever noticed that Africa is shaped like the number 9? Kinda cool. I know it's a little crazy, but I wanted to let you in on a little secret. I often think about how cool it would be to get a phone call "today because..." I've become quite good in the past few months of seeing how God might be orchestrating something intricate, beautiful, and complex for THE DAY when our call comes. For example: Today I think wouldn't it be cool and so like God if our call came today because...it's been exactly 9 months on the wait list - like a pregnancy. Brian and I are working from home together today so we wouldn't have to connive our way out of the office to run home to be together. Plus, I had a meeting that just got moved so maybe the call's coming between now and then. And this next week we are traveling and would make our individual trips so fulfilling and rewarding. I know. I'm crazy. Welcome to my world.

Would you pray that our referrals either come by tomorrow or after next Wednesday? Since, Brian and I are doing some traveling separately over the next week, getting our phone call while we aren't together feels yucky. Yet, we want to see their faces as soon as possible!

We believe God's timing is always perfect. Never late. Never a surprise to him. He's working together our kiddos to be prepared for our family, and of course we are also being prepared to be their parents. I know that looking back on this time, we'll see so much more of what God was doing than we have eyes for now. In my grandma's words, it's so easy to run ahead of God and need to stop and let God lead again. I want to follow him. Period.

2 Trips :: airline miles?

I've wanted to post this request for a long time, but have honestly been a little hesitant. Mainly because, "generosity" is a gross understatement of how friends and family have supported us financially to bring our babies home! [To be clear, it will end up costing approx $30,000 for the entire adoption]

BOTTOM LINE: it's gonna cost an additional $5000-6000 to travel to Ethiopia since we now have 2 required trips. [See the original post explaining "why" HERE.] The vast majority of that cost is in airline tickets.

I'm wondering if you would pray with us that God would provide the mileage or finances for this 2nd trip? And if you have the means, would you see if God wants to use you to help bring our kiddos home?

We've already had someone offer airline miles for 1 of the trips - amazing! We were/ARE overwhelmed that a couple who we've NEVER MET [I am friends with their kids] have offered their frequent flier miles for 1 trip. It's a regular reminder that God will provide and mobilizes his Body to care for orphans!

If you are interested, please send me an email or Facebook me. Thanks again for your prayers.