Oh.My.Word. God is so good!

I would never in a million years dreamed we would raise almost 100% of our funds needed to bring Chloe home in less than a year.  Today was a great day.  The coffee ceremony went really well.  I was overwhelmed with the friendships represented there, the kindness to our family, and the hospitality of the Rudd's.  We officially started raising money w/ Missy's 30 Mile Run on Chris & my's wedding anniversary on March 26th.  And less than a year later, we are $2500 away from being fully funded.  This does include grants and very generous donations from long time friend/minister of a different church that went to OCC w/ Chris and I.  It has been humbling to say the least and we haven't even hit February. The drawing for the quilt will take place the evening of Feb. 7th so get in your chances while you still can---but we can actually continue to sell the coffee for a bit longer.  But as I have said before, Chris and I are not bringing her home.  The CHURCH is and it is beautiful.


MAJOR PRAYER NEED:  Pray for my friend who has waited over 11 weeks to hear of her court date when she was told 5-8 weeks she should hear something.  She is trying to wait patiently but it is getting hard.  We are so grateful for those on the journey with us.

6 MONTHS Wait-iversary & New ( & Not Improved) Number

መልካም ገና (Melkam Gena) - Merry Christmas
- celebrated on 7th of January  (THAT IS TODAY!)

Apparently there is more than one way to say Merry Christmas in Ahmaric.  I have seen it above and a dear friend gave me an African shaped ornament that says "Melkin Yelidet Beall" which is another way to say it.  Thank you Faith.  How ironic that you gave it to me on Ethiopia's Christmas Day!

We have been waiting for 6 months....Half a year.  We could have another half a year ahead of us before a referral is made.  We had quite a lull when we first got on the wait list.  Let's pray for referrals to roll on in. 

Then again.....sometimes referrals roll on in and then unfortunately don't work out.  Which is why we are #41.  We had gotten down to 39 before Christmas.  (Janurary 3rd also marks the date where we sent off our application and started this process officially---ONE year!)  OK, first off we are told not to focus on our number.  (Much easier said than done)...Like telling a pregnant woman not to look at her growing belly.  Or not to notice any movement when those flutters start.  Anyways, I try to listen to that advice, to no avail.  I want to know our number.  But then when we climb in the opposite direction, it gets kind of discouraging. 

Here is the reality:  Although Ethiopia is open for adoption, it isn't necessarily easy.  Even in March, before we got on the wait list they (the Ministry of Women's Affairs or as we like to call MOWA) decided to limit the number of cases they will approve each day.  Also staff changes at both the Children's Hope International Ethiopian site and the US Embassy has caused a slow down, and then there are orphange closures in the south.  Now apparently the closures are all in an effort to make sure ethical adoptions are going on, as well as community-driven, charitable aid efforts are being made.In other words, they want to be more self-sufficient, taking care of their own, if possible.  At this time, the number of orphans don't make that possible....but it doesn't mean strides can't be made to building wells, work opportunities, and educational opportunities for those remaining in Ethiopia.  But I have gone off on a tagent.....In the summer 3 CHI families recieved their referral and due to those orphanage closures their cases are in limbo....not exactly sure what is happening to their referred children and if they are now even adoptable (which is crazy to me---they are orphans...shouldn't they be adoptable?) But without knowing for sure, 2 of the 3 were put back on our waiting list, hence our number moving the wrong way.  :)  The 3rd family could go back on the list if they wish as well.  So here are prayer needs:

1.  Pray for these "lost" referrals.  Could you imagine seeing your child's face that God has put in front of you, say yes and accept that referral, tell all your loved ones "we have a baby", and then lose that referral?  I cannot.  I hope I don't have too.  It doesn't happen a whole lot, but it does happen.  Pray for the children in Ethiopa and pray for the families who recieved these referrals.  (I don't want to hit a touchy subject; obviously some have experienced miscarriage and I won't pretend to know what that feels like.  I never have experienced this.---but I could imagine the losing of a referral would be somewhat similar---our hearts attach to the possibility of what might be very quickly).

2.  Continue to pray for Chloe along with us.  We believe she has already been born, so pray for her birthmother/birthfamily and for her current caretakers.  Pray for patience and God's perfect timing.

3.  Pray for what should be our final fundraiser.  We are selling raffle tickets for a gorgeous handmade quilt.  You can buy some delicious & smooth coffee and recieve a chance, OR just buy chances for the "coffee" quilt.  To see more details of this fundraiser go HERE.    You have one month.  February 7th, we will draw a ticket to see who the lucky person is.  (If I don't try to keep the quilt for myself.)

Ethiopian Inspired Quilt Raffle.....This.Is.Gorgeous!!!

What is a Coffee Quilt?                                                               Glad you asked.                                                                                                                   I made it up.  But it celebrates Ethiopia, coffee, and especially friendship.  One of my best friends hand made it for us (with a little help from her Phoenician friends).  And  I envision a friend or new friend snuggling up with a nice hot cup of coffee (or tea, or hot cocoa) with their quilt and enjoying a good book, or pondering & enjoying friendships, etc. 

*Ethiopia's coffee ceremony is an integral part of their social and cultural life. An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an excellent example of Ethiopian hospitality.

Coffee holds a sacred place in their country -just the growing and picking process of coffee involves over 12 million Ethiopians and produces over two-thirds of the country's earnings. The best Ethiopian coffee may be compared with the finest coffee in the world, and premium washed Arabica beans fetch some of the highest prices on the world market. In a world where time has long become a commodity, the Ethiopian coffee ceremony takes us back to a time when value was given to conversation and human relations. Perhaps an ancient proverb best describes the place of coffee in Ethiopian life, "Buna dabo naw", which when translated means "Coffee is our bread!"

According to national folklore, the origin of coffee is firmly rooted in Ethiopia's history. Their most popular legend concerns the goat herder from Kaffa, where the plants still grow wild in the forest hills. After discovering his goats to be excited, almost dancing on their hind legs, he noticed a few mangled branches of the coffee plant which was hung with bright red berries. He tried the berries himself and rushed home to his wife who told him that he must tell the monks. The monks tossed the sinful drug into the flames, an action soon to be followed by the smell we are all so familiar with now. They crushed the beans, raked them out of the fire, and distilled the stimulating substance in boiling water. Within minutes the monastery filled with the heavenly aroma of roasting beans, and the other monks gathered to investigate. After sitting up all night, they found a renewed energy to their holy devotions. The rest, as they say, is history. 

*Taken from http://www.epicurean.com/articles/ethiopian-coffee-ceremony.html

*** You may choose 1 lb. ground coffee or 1 lb. whole bean 

of Arabica blends, including some Ethiopian. 

                                                                  QUILT RAFFLE

Ways to Win

1. Purchase a 1 lb.bag of COFFEE FOR HOPE: CHLOE’S CUP

for $15 (plus S & H) & get one chance.

2. Don’t like coffee?

Buy one chance for $10 or 3 chances for $25.

3.  OR MIX-N-MATCH your chances…..buy some coffee and buy some chances.  Whatever you wish.  :)

Call 636.667.1811 to buy chances or for any ???

You may also donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/bringchloehome

But small fees apply so please only if you must (using credit card & must be over $25)

You can email me at tee.time4me@yahoo.com as well.

Drawing will take place Feb. 7th

(7 Month Wait-iversary)

A Few Good Numbers....& A RAFFLE!

We are now.....

.

Woohoo!!! 2 more referrals came today on our 5th Month Waitiversary.  FYI---those that got their referrals today waited exactly 10 months....so realistically speaking we could be half way done with our wait.  Aghhh!!!!

So...We are half way there but almost completely done with our fundraising efforts.  (Can I get a whoop!whoop! ?) Excited to share our last fundraiser that you can participate in and help bring Chloe home.  It is a gorgeous quilt hand made by a dear friend and means so much to me.  I WANT THIS QUILT!  But instead, it will go to one of you. (insert super happy face!)  Actually, the same dear friend made a baby quilt for Chloe as well with some of the same prints---so I will get a bit of the quilt to keep at home with me.  You can check it out above on the Fundraiser Tab or here on Facebook.

Thank you all for your support, prayers, love for a girl you haven't met.  All because of Christ!!  I keep saying this, but it is worth repeating, "Chris and I are not bringing Chloe home, but you are.  The Church is!!!"

***Disclaimer: This will be hopefully the last fundraiser should we bring Chloe home in 2012.  We reserve the right to hold a fundraiser if tax credits change, etc.  LOL.  Just didn't want you to say I lied IF we must have a fundraiser.  (BUT we have every reason to think she will be home in 2012!)