Hi all! There were two more referrals this week, both on Friday. In other good news our government decided not to shut down, Praise God! This would have stranded 6 families in Ethiopia, there from Rwanda to get passports and visa for their children to be able to enter the US. If the US government were to shut down, the Embassy would close and this paper work would be unattainable until it re-opened, forcing the families to stay in country with their children. But, the Lord, He is good! They posted today saying everything was on track and it had been a good day of bonding with their kids.
As for us. We are #126. This number will be etched into my memory forever. #71 got approval this week. 55 to go! At the rate things have been moving, it has taken about 3 months to get a referral, once a family is approved. The approval just means the Rwandan government says you are fit to have a child, the referral actually comes from the nuns who run the orphanage. Several families have posted on blogs that it is amazing to see how much the Sisters love our children.
On another amazing note, a family who just got back to the States with their baby girl got an awesomely clean bill of health and she is developmentally right on track! Great news, especially for a child spending months or yrs in an orphanage. Another testament to our Great God and the sweet Sisters who care for our babies.
Spring Break is officially over. One week til CATS testing. Eight weeks left of school before summer break. 55 approvals to go til they get to us...but who's counting? :)
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Some exciting news!
Ok, so is it bad when my husband, who is usually the one to say I am spending too much time on the computer, actually stopped me this evening and said, you know, you haven't updated the blog in a while. People read that and follow up on our adoption and you haven't written about any of the new progress.
So, here goes! There are two families (that we know of) in Rwanda RIGHT NOW, and have been for about a week, in process of getting their kiddos. They have posted the sweetest videos and photos on their blogs and it's been so great to see their progress.
There are some families (I don't know the exactly number, maybe 3?) who are traveling NEXT WEEK!!! to get their children. I know of these because they are with our agency, so there very well could be more that I just don't have contact with.
This is AWESOME!! Families and their children being united!
Another noteworthy development is that Rwanda is considering requiring families to travel twice, once to be present for court, and another trip to escort the child home. Ethiopia actually implemented this requirement in January of 2010, which was one of the reasons we chose to go with Rwanda. However, this has not been set in stone yet, so please pray the government decides not to push this. OR please pray about contributing to our adoption financially so that we will be able to travel twice! Either way, HE has this all under control and will provide!
I can't wait to see pictures of more precious little ones redeemed by the love of Christ and by the love of families. Praying for more approvals and referrals next week!!
So, here goes! There are two families (that we know of) in Rwanda RIGHT NOW, and have been for about a week, in process of getting their kiddos. They have posted the sweetest videos and photos on their blogs and it's been so great to see their progress.
There are some families (I don't know the exactly number, maybe 3?) who are traveling NEXT WEEK!!! to get their children. I know of these because they are with our agency, so there very well could be more that I just don't have contact with.
This is AWESOME!! Families and their children being united!
Another noteworthy development is that Rwanda is considering requiring families to travel twice, once to be present for court, and another trip to escort the child home. Ethiopia actually implemented this requirement in January of 2010, which was one of the reasons we chose to go with Rwanda. However, this has not been set in stone yet, so please pray the government decides not to push this. OR please pray about contributing to our adoption financially so that we will be able to travel twice! Either way, HE has this all under control and will provide!
I can't wait to see pictures of more precious little ones redeemed by the love of Christ and by the love of families. Praying for more approvals and referrals next week!!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
One Year Down....
Well, it hasn't actually been a year. It won't be until March 1st, but since that is Tuesday and I rarely find the time to blog during the week, I'll blog about it today. March 1st will be the "official" one year anniversary of our journey to adopt from Rwanda. This is the date we received confirmation of our acceptance into the program with our agency.
A lot has happened in that year. Adoption and non-adoption related. Gracie and Isaac have grown like weeds. She is a first grader this year and doing great in school. She loves to do art projects and read. Isaac is a 4-yr-old boy, and that says it all! He's constantly "flying" and "blasting" stuff and is full of energy. He still loves to snuggle and be held. Mama's baby.
My faith has grown a lot. Now, I know I have WAYS to go, but through barely making the paperwork deadline back in August and the weeks of silence then weeks of movement and back to weeks of silence, I have come to truly experience the feeling of casting all of my cares on Him. He loves this unknown child of mine much more than I ever will. He formed my child in another woman's womb and in my heart. My child is growing leaps and bounds every day in my heart.
Now, as more families receive approvals and referrals and rumors fly of time lines set, it is becoming more real, kind of like feeling those little kicks before Gracie and Isaac were born. We're minivan shopping (!) and in search of a nice set of bunk beds. Every day Gracie comes up with new names (she says she doesn't like the girl name we picked out.) Isaac often gets impatient, "WHEN is our little brother or sister getting here?!" They are going to be such great big siblings!
While we wait, please pray about helping us financially. The Lord has blessed Matt with extra work and we have been taken care of by our Wonderful Provider in so many ways, but if you would feel led of the Lord to help us on this journey, please contact our agency, America World Adoption Association, and ask about the Eternal Family Program. Please continue pouring out your hearts in prayer that our little one comes home soon!
A lot has happened in that year. Adoption and non-adoption related. Gracie and Isaac have grown like weeds. She is a first grader this year and doing great in school. She loves to do art projects and read. Isaac is a 4-yr-old boy, and that says it all! He's constantly "flying" and "blasting" stuff and is full of energy. He still loves to snuggle and be held. Mama's baby.
My faith has grown a lot. Now, I know I have WAYS to go, but through barely making the paperwork deadline back in August and the weeks of silence then weeks of movement and back to weeks of silence, I have come to truly experience the feeling of casting all of my cares on Him. He loves this unknown child of mine much more than I ever will. He formed my child in another woman's womb and in my heart. My child is growing leaps and bounds every day in my heart.
Now, as more families receive approvals and referrals and rumors fly of time lines set, it is becoming more real, kind of like feeling those little kicks before Gracie and Isaac were born. We're minivan shopping (!) and in search of a nice set of bunk beds. Every day Gracie comes up with new names (she says she doesn't like the girl name we picked out.) Isaac often gets impatient, "WHEN is our little brother or sister getting here?!" They are going to be such great big siblings!
While we wait, please pray about helping us financially. The Lord has blessed Matt with extra work and we have been taken care of by our Wonderful Provider in so many ways, but if you would feel led of the Lord to help us on this journey, please contact our agency, America World Adoption Association, and ask about the Eternal Family Program. Please continue pouring out your hearts in prayer that our little one comes home soon!
Friday, February 18, 2011
And the Movement continues!
Well, the last week has been exciting! Several families have received referrals this week, PRAISE GOD! This is the information that includes a picture of your child and medical history, background, etc. Kinda of like the adoption equivalent of an ultrasound. This is awesome to see people who have waited for 12 months or more final know their child.
Another noteworthy bit of info is that our agency has started what they are calling the "Eternal Family Program." This is a means by which family and friends can make a tax-deductable donation to our adoption costs. So many families do great fundraisers and apply for grants and loans to cover the adoption costs. In our case, I work full time, which I joke is our fund raiser, since I can't work and plan fund raiser at the same time :) Plus, with our join incomes, we haven't qualified for a lot of grants out there. So, if anyone, at any time, feels the Lord would have you contribute to process of bringing our child home, you can contact out agency America World Adoption Association, and they can give you any information you need.
Most importantly, we covet your prayers. Prayer for us as we wait with growing anticipation to bring our child home. And prayer for our child. That the Lord would keep him or her healthy and provide for his or her physical and emotional needs until the time comes for us to bring them home. Lord, make it soon!
Another noteworthy bit of info is that our agency has started what they are calling the "Eternal Family Program." This is a means by which family and friends can make a tax-deductable donation to our adoption costs. So many families do great fundraisers and apply for grants and loans to cover the adoption costs. In our case, I work full time, which I joke is our fund raiser, since I can't work and plan fund raiser at the same time :) Plus, with our join incomes, we haven't qualified for a lot of grants out there. So, if anyone, at any time, feels the Lord would have you contribute to process of bringing our child home, you can contact out agency America World Adoption Association, and they can give you any information you need.
Most importantly, we covet your prayers. Prayer for us as we wait with growing anticipation to bring our child home. And prayer for our child. That the Lord would keep him or her healthy and provide for his or her physical and emotional needs until the time comes for us to bring them home. Lord, make it soon!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Through the eyes of a child
I know I haven't posted anything in a while. There had been good news every few days there for awhile in December and January, but February has been very quiet, too quiet. We had heard a rumor a while back that thinks should be speeding up considerably, but no news is not the easiest thing to bare. No news is not good news, it's just no news.
I wanted to share something very special though. My 6 1/2 yr old daughter Gracie wrote a school assignment for a "personal narrative" a true story about a life experience. Gracie's was titled "We're Adopting":
"My family is adopting. One day in the afternoon momy said we were adopting. Momy what does adopting mean? I asked. Adopting means there is a child that doant have a home so we make them part of our family. said momy. Four weeks later a lady and her hasbend came to our house. They talked to momy and dady for along time. After a long time they came to me and Isaac and asked us if we wanted a boy or a girl. Isaac said he wanted a boy. I said I didn't care. They stayed until I thout thayd never leav. And they gave us lots of paper work about adoption. Now I can't amagin what will haen neksed!"
(spelling intentionally left "as is")
I can't wait to see what will happen next either baby girl!
I wanted to share something very special though. My 6 1/2 yr old daughter Gracie wrote a school assignment for a "personal narrative" a true story about a life experience. Gracie's was titled "We're Adopting":
"My family is adopting. One day in the afternoon momy said we were adopting. Momy what does adopting mean? I asked. Adopting means there is a child that doant have a home so we make them part of our family. said momy. Four weeks later a lady and her hasbend came to our house. They talked to momy and dady for along time. After a long time they came to me and Isaac and asked us if we wanted a boy or a girl. Isaac said he wanted a boy. I said I didn't care. They stayed until I thout thayd never leav. And they gave us lots of paper work about adoption. Now I can't amagin what will haen neksed!"
(spelling intentionally left "as is")
I can't wait to see what will happen next either baby girl!
Friday, January 14, 2011
More news!!
Two more approvals (that I know of) from Rwanda today!!God is soooo good! Also read the absolutely sweetest message from another Rwanda mama to be, who was able to visit the country with a missions group. It WAS comforting to hear her words about the care our children are getting and how hard the ministry is working. I am so thankful for her words and to know that there are people who go to visit our little ones on a weekly basis to take them our love. Every time I pray, I pray that God will send "someone special to love and care for my child until I can get there." God ANSWERS PRAYER people!!
By the way...three day weekend! which make for another 4 day week next week...I'm not going to know how to work 5 days in a row anymore :) so blessed to have the time with my kiddos!
By the way...three day weekend! which make for another 4 day week next week...I'm not going to know how to work 5 days in a row anymore :) so blessed to have the time with my kiddos!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Movement!
I know I haven't posted in a while. I guess this is because we've been busy with family activities over Christmas break and then there is always the house work and my job and well, I much rather read other people's posts and good news than post my own.
There has been movement in Rwanda over the last several weeks. At least 8 families, just from our agency, have received approvals. These are all way lower on the number line than our's, but of course it gives us hope that our's will not be too terribly far away. I believe there have been more approvals than these, but I don't have exact info from families that are not with our agency.
Movement of any sort is a wonderful answer to prayer. I truly appreciate all of the prayers for our family and our child and all of the other families waiting. I can't wait to see referrals come in for these families. I know that God is in complete control and in His timing we will bring our little one home. In the mean time, I'm going to get Gracie and Isaac dressed to play in the snow. We are having our 4th snow day of the school yr today. Goodbye June! I will miss you!
There has been movement in Rwanda over the last several weeks. At least 8 families, just from our agency, have received approvals. These are all way lower on the number line than our's, but of course it gives us hope that our's will not be too terribly far away. I believe there have been more approvals than these, but I don't have exact info from families that are not with our agency.
Movement of any sort is a wonderful answer to prayer. I truly appreciate all of the prayers for our family and our child and all of the other families waiting. I can't wait to see referrals come in for these families. I know that God is in complete control and in His timing we will bring our little one home. In the mean time, I'm going to get Gracie and Isaac dressed to play in the snow. We are having our 4th snow day of the school yr today. Goodbye June! I will miss you!
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