Beyond Words.........

There are no words to even begin to describe the humbling and overwhelming experience we have experienced in just a week. Last Monday, one of our best friends posted a note about running 30 miles on her 30th birthday. She is taking pledges from her friends & family and already has quite a few---many are $30 pledges---$1 for each mile she runs. Then today, we found out someone from our church family is planning on matching (up to $2000) anything that Missy makes from her run to "Bring Chloe Home". Also this week, I have at least 4-5 corportate sponsors that have responded to be major sponsors for our 5K race, that hopefully will be held on May 7th. The more corporate sponsors, the better chances of covering the cost of the race and then the fee to the race should go directly to our adoption fund. Finally, today Chris' brother did something similar to Missy and already has a couple hundred in a matter of hours. Most of these people don't even know Chris or I, but because of the commitment/challenge of Missy & Greg, they are becoming part of our journey to bring home Chloe.....and again we are humbled. Humbled by the generosity of these two people, amazed at the generosity of strangers who aren't necessarily getting anything in return, overwhelmed by the matching gift that is not a blood relative, surprised that there aren't enough words to capture what I am feeling. Gratitude. Confirmation. Joy. Peace. Love. Family. Hope. Enthusiastic. and the list goes on....

On a different note, continue to pray about the job lead. I am hoping to hear about one this week!! And that was an act of God too, that I will post about if He (God) decides to let me have this job. lol.

The tough words for the week came on Friday when Ethiopian adoption news came to us. The Ministry of Women who run the adoptions in Ethopia (Compared to our Child Protective Services) stated that Ethiopian adoptions will be cut by 90% effective 3/10/2011. So to make this more clear: they are use to seeing about 50 adoption cases a day (total--us, in-country, and other foreign countries) and now they will be seeing 5 adoption cases a day. This has come as quite a blow to several families who have already been waiting. Chris and I are not on the waiting list as of yet. We have been encouraged not to get too antsy yet. This may be temporary and the fact that Chris and I probably will adopt an older child (toddler is considered 'old') means there is a chance for a shorter wait for us, because many people request infants. Now that shorter wait may be relative. But none the less, we are in this for the long haul. We may be at the semi-beginning of our journey, but we have been so encouraged this week that the journey itself is and will continue to be an opportunity to see God's abundant blessings on our life. But if you see yourself lacking some prayer requests, please pray that this will be temporary as they plan to clean up their system and hopes that the program will be above reproach.

Also this week, we had our first home study visit at CHI in Stl. It went pretty well overall. This Thursday our social worker will visit our home for the 2nd visit of the home study. Hopefully I do not get too freaked out about what is expected. Finally, I am also traveling a few times this week to visit family and a mom's conference at the end of the week.

Prayer Needs: 1)That I get the job within the school district. 2) Ethiopia's adoption programs 3) The efforts of Missy & Greg and the fundraising they are doing on behalf of us, as well as matching donors and friends, family and strangers that are giving to them. 4) Home visit on Thursday. 5) The Mom conference that I am attending this weekend with 16 of our own moms from MOPS/FCC who will join up with about 2000 moms to worship, laugh, and learn how to be the best mom, wife, or godly woman they can be. I always am recharged when I come back from this event!