Here is some good news: the process after referral seems to be moving along quicker. Of course this can be one of the major variables. The normal process is birth parent interview, then usually court date would be scheduled 4 weeks after (if everything was in place and the birth parent interview went well).......but I know of 3 families who had a birth parent interview and then were needing to be in Ethiopia within 5-10 days!!!! {That is NOT much notice, people!} But that is also so exciting because if we "hypothetically" get a referral at the beginning of June and have our birth parent interview 4-5 weeks later, that means if things move as quickly as they have been we could be in Africa at the end of July!! THIS IS OUR PRAYER! Please continue to pray on Chloe's behalf.
We have A LOT going on with our family. Baseball, baseball rain outs, rescheduled baseball and throw in some dance recitals, bible bowl trips, church camp, prepping for VBS (oh yeah, I am interim elementary children't minister for the summer!), swim lessons coming up, etc. So the business of summer will surely be a good distraction and keep me focused instead of a blubbering mess for whatever stage I'm in. I now have a 5th grader, 2nd grader, and a Kindergartner. Say WHAT???!!!
We had a wonderful 3rd Annual Love 2 Run 4 Love on Mother's Day weekend. Due to some amazing sponsors (especially jacobyco---who donated the tshirts), we made about $4200. Three different families will benefit from this and 5 different orphans (The Kramel's, The Douglas', and us). My friend, Dianna Kramel celebrated her first official Mother's Day (although in her heart she's been a mama for a long time). God provided a gorgeous day with wonderful weather and amazing friends and supporters. So grateful to each and everyone of you!
I have been reminded in May to take nothing for granted, to hug your loved ones often, to say "I love you!" when telling your kiddos good bye, and that we must continue to pray. I've attended 3 funerals in May (well one is this weekend--but he went to Jesus in May). One was after a long battle of illness, one was a shock even in the midst of a continued storm (thinking things were turning around for the better) and one was so tragic there was no way you could even imagine it coming, ranging from a 77 year old to a 2 year old. {Sidenote: I was blessed to see the 2 year old's celebration of life memorial service via a live stream---which was just so moving. Blessed by this family's testimony and faithfulness in the midst of brokenness and I haven't even met them in 'real' life. If possible, please watch this small segment where the pastor shares some thoughts on adoption, both literally and our adoption into Christ's family. It is worth the watch!} The entire service is long as you might expect so you can just skip to 1:19:20 or so and find it. His entire message starts around 1:10:10. Click HERE to watch. |
| Ethiopian princess. |
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| My jr high and high school BFF, Christy got to meet up at Nick's wedding. :) |
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| My best friend and I on a much needed R&R in downtown New Haven, MO on the river. I highly recommend it! Thanks Missy for loving on our kiddos! |
But I have also had a few praises this month after praying for years for some of them. We were able to witness 2 weddings (one renewal). Chris got to be a groomsmen for a dear, dear friend who now works with some of our closest, bestest friends (a bit jealous, but trying to get over it and yes I know 'bestest' is not a word). The three funerals were all people who loved Christ and are with the angels in heaven. One family is on their way to Ghana right now to meet their 3 children and stand in court to say "yes" to being their forever family after 1 1/2 years of waiting. Already mentioned my friend Dianna, who the day after Mother's Day learned about the day she would meet her son and has already been to Ethiopia and back, passed court and is waiting to go back to get her sweet son {seriously, people the lashes on this boy are breathtaking!}, one of my best friends that I have been praying for the last 5-6 years recieved a good prognosis on her reoccuring brain tumor. It is so good for the heart when you see prayers answered, even after such long waits. It reminds me of 1 Peter 4: 12-13 from the Message: "Friends, when life gets really difficult don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job---instead be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process with glory just around the corner." It is good to see God's answers. It is good to see growth during the refining process (even though we don't like it) and I KNOW that God is on the job. He always has been. I'm just waiting to turn the corner!
