The View on the Other Side of the World

A trickle of news.....

So I did not get any BIG news....but a little trickle:

"The filing is done but we won't hear anything for at least a week, when they issue our dates."

So hopefully next week, I will know our court date....

and then can start panicing, I mean planning! :)

Oh Dopey me...oh Smart God!

So I had an adrenelin rush today.

I got an email that I interpreted to say that my court date for Olivia Mame was tomorrow!

I cried, I giggled, I cried some more and was giddy. My heart actually hurt! It was swelling and full and overwhelmed. I even mailed folks, posted a message, and announced it on my yahoo group, only to find out, I misunderstood. Oh dopey me! Felt stupid.

What is interesting about it though, is, when I thought it was true, I felt panicky! I need more time to save up money for plane fare, and I am just now understanding that Mary has some attachment challenges, I need a month with her, before I take on another...and..

Any way, when I found out my error, I was not as upset as I could have been. It felt like, yep, God knows what He is doing. He knows the time I need.

So the real deal, is my papers get filed in court tomorrow so I can get a court date assigned. I was told the date would be around 5 weeks out, with travel 3-4 weeks after that.

That timeframe makes more sense.

Coming to Grips with Attachment

I have been just opening my eyes and starting to work with the attachment challenges I have with Mary. I am sure I will also have challenges with Olivia. I read a comment response the onther day on Grace's blog (another single adoptive mother, and co-director of Hope Adoption Agency) (http://sistermom.blogspot.com/) where someone
mentioned a book on attachments called "Coming to Grips with Attachment", by Katharine Leslie, Phd, who is also an adoptive mom of 4.

It is awesome. Mine came in the mail yesterday and I have read 1/2 of it. I recommend it for EVERYONE who is adopting, whether you THINK there are attachment issues or not. Eye opening...and freeing
from guilt, so you can grow the relationship and move forward.

I am getting so many ah-ha...and although I wish I had had it 3 years ago BEFORE I brought Mary home, it is probably even more appreciated now, having struggled with what I have struggled with.

www.brandnewdayconsulting.com is where I ordered it. Just the chapter about love and feeling love and why it can be different in adoption, expecially when adopting children around age 3 or older, was in itself worth the price of the whole book.

Good stuff!.

Nine, nine? I like Nine

The more I think on it, the more I like nine... if Olivia turns out to be 9.

I had a long, lying-on-the-bed face-to-face relaxed chat with Tadpole the other day.... and we talked about what if his new "little sister" was taller than him.

I didn't talk about older, since we really do not know her exact age, and even if 9, schooling-wise and Ethiopian birth certificate-wise, she may be treated as 7.

But heighth-wise. That can be a guy thing. So I wanted to probe those waters and see what Taddy thought, after all he is stocky, but not so tall.

His matter-of-fact statement on the subject was, "Well, Mom, there are FIRST graders taller than me and even one kindergartner!"

So no problem. No ego tied into his heighth, we just have to hope she is not too skilled at Hotwheels Velocity X and we will have it made.

Courts are OPEN!!

As of Sept 28th.....so I could hear about a court date anytime.....

Playdoh!

I received some new pictures of Olivia Mame today.... having fun with Playdoh. I wonder if thst is her first time? :) Still smiling, still growing!

Wanna Smile

This is a lovely blog of a family and their precious daughter....

Click on the video by the words First date...and get ready for your heart to smile.

http://gracieib.blogspot.com/2007/09/more-nursery-pics.html

Older than I thought....

So, besides more pictures, I just got an update from a returning mom regarding Olivia Mame:

"Mame: She is the leader of the pack. So smiley and pretty and
happy. We all fell in love with her. She looks like she's 9. She
is not 6 1/2. I'd lay money on that one. I have a 10 year old girl,
so I'm pretty sure about my estimate of being 9. She is the oldest
looking, biggest one in there. So sweet. I'd steal her any day."

So now, that flips things a bit. First off, Taddy is not getting another younger sister, but an older sister. Gulp. Not sure how he will handle that. I think with it being a sister, it will be better, easier, than another older brother. I don't think it will make a difference to Nick or Mary, since it does not change the birth order.

Besides the birth order consideration, I need to rethink school. I was planning on bringing her into the 1st grade. But at age 9, that would be the 4th grade. 3rd at the youngest. I have no clue if she has had any schooling, and the school my kids go to does not have an ESL program, so I need to find that on the side.

I know God knew, all this, and it is not a surprize to Him. I am not concerned, just thinking...what do we do differently..and how will it all work. :) I think a kg, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grader works well. Just gotta figure out how to do it.

Attachment Disorders

Now aren't those disturbing words. It is interesting, as I am starting to read, and to talk about my challenges with Mary, this has come up in several conversations. At first I wrote it off as the easy out...ie Folks here she is adopted and immediately jump to adoption as the root cause of the issues.But, in one conversation someone asked me, does she do this..and this..and that...and pretty much discribed her behavior to a tee..so I need to focus on it. It also does not help that I was going through my own Post-adoption issues, the first year she was home.So..now we are learning and planning on doing some back-tracking...and getting some ideas on what to do...things I can use for Olivia as well I am sure.Two good books mentioned to me...one I have the other I just ordered:Post-Adoptoin Blues by Karen J. Foli and John R. Thompson (http://www.amazon.colm/)and Coming to Grips with attachment by Katherine Leslie. (http://www.brandnewdayconsulting.com/)There is always hope.

Court Countdown...

It is 12 days until courts open in Ethiopia. Talking to one of the managers at the adoption agency, she said Mame's paperwork was all ready before the courts closed, they were just waiting on my dossier.

So now my dossier has been sitting there, waiting for the courts to reopen...

YIPEE! So 12 days and counting....and then we may have a court date assigned soon after that. All in God's timing I know.

Was told today by someone who got to visit the orphanage: "We really loved Mame! "

Can't wait!

Today is Olivia Mame's Birthday

Today is Mame's birthday..according to her profile. She is turning 7, according to her profile. I bet she never celebrated a birthday. I asked God to send her a special blessing today...a good laugh with a friend, a kind word or hug, and hope in her heart....Tonight I am taking my three kids shopping for Olivia Mame a gift, wrap it, put it on her top bunk and sing happy birthday and pray for her. (We are adding Olivia to her name Mame...So she will be Olivia Mame.(mah may) It is funny, my Mary Beth's nickname is Mei-mei (may may) So I will have a may may and a mah may.

Little Princess Far Away
Do you know that it's your day
Turning 7, the papers say
Today is Mame's Birthday.

Far away, yet close inside
Eyes that sparkle, smile wide
Joy in your heart, your face implies
Today is Mame's birthday.

Abba send her blessings I pray
Kindness, hugs and laughs today.
A hope of family, forever to stay
Today is Mame's birthday.

We pick out gifts, one from each
Some for play, some to teach
Placed up high (out of sister's reach)
Today is Mame's Birthday.

Happy Birthday to you we sing
Hearts are full, tears it brings
Each says a prayer to our heavenly King,
Bless Mame on her birthday.

Abba, bring us together soon. Keep us all safe and build the love even now. Amen.

The Waiting Child

The Waiting Child

By Debbie Bodie

I saw you meet your child today

You kissed your baby joyfully

And as you walked away with her

I pretended that you'd chosen me

I'm happy for the baby, yet

Inside I'm aching miserably

I want to plead as you go by

Does no one want a child of three?

I saw you meet your child today

In love with her before you met

And as I watched you take her out

I knew it wasn't my turn yet

I recognize you from last year

I knew I'd seen your face before

But you came for a second babe

Does no one want a child of four?

I saw you meet your child today

But this time it was something new

A nurse came in and took MY hand

And then she gave my hand to you

Can this be true? I'm almost six

And there are infants here, you see

But then you kissed me and I knew

The child you picked this time was me!

Stop...right now..and Hug 'em!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4434608n (Champman interview from 9/10/08)

Those little or big ones in your home and heart....here now and soon to be...hug em

Every day hug them...and laugh a lot and relish in who they are...and not what they are not.

Thank you for them Lord.

So why would you do this..?

Aren't your hands full already?

I read this poem on Holly's blog and it reflected what I think and feel:

Some would gather money along this path of life

Some would gather roses and rest from earthly strife.

But I would gather children from among the thorns of sin

I would seek some little curl or an awkward toothless grin.

For money cannot enter in that land of endless days

And roses that are gathered soon will wilt along the way.

But Oh, the laughing children as I cross that sunset sea

And the gates swing wide to heaven, I can bring them in with me.

** author unknown

A Hair Party...

So I got news and new pictures on Olivia today. Several of the pictures were of 3 or 4 of the girls in the orphanage all doing each others hair! It is so precious! (I can see the scrapbook page now!) And the news I got was:

Mame is very sweet and speaks Amahric. She was wearing a size 7 skirt (too tight) and a 14 jacket (too large) she is 52" high and has an 8" foot.

Whee! Now I know what language to learn phrases in, I did not know if she spoke Amharic or Oromo...and I know the sixe 7 shirts and pants I have are too small, so I will pass them down to Mary. Wish I could show you the pictures...they are just too cute.

No News...

And no news of news to come...tick tock..time stands still. Well not really, but I was hoping they would assign court dates for October and November, while the courts were closed...but it has been silent during the past two weeks. So I think they may not be. No one knows. The MOWA and some other government officials are meeting in Addis Ababa right now, and making decisions and changes to the international adoption process and policies. I have no idea how that might affect us.

But I DO know God is sovereign and in charge. His will be done.

wait...

ETHIOPIA: Coping with increasing orphan numbers through adoption

A perspective on the orphan crisis in Ethiopia. This is from the Humanitarian News and Analysis Website: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=52622

ETHIOPIA: Coping with increasing orphan numbers through adoption


ADDIS ABABA, 10 January 2005 (IRIN) - Wrapped in a bundle of warm blankets and lucky to be alive, four-month-old Thomas Bekele still faces a precarious future. Orphaned three weeks ago when his mother died from tuberculosis, he is one of the almost five million orphans in Ethiopia - a mushrooming crisis that the government warned was "tearing apart the social fabric" of the country.

The rising number of orphans has, however, raised the demand for adoptions to a record high. Some 1,400 children made new homes abroad last year, more than double from the previous year. Adoption agencies also doubled to 30 in the capital Addis Ababa in the last year, a highly lucrative market with some agencies charging parents fees of up to US $20,000 per child. Bulti Gutema, who heads the country's adoption authority, says adoption of orphans poses many moral quandaries to his government.

He blames the growing number of orphans and the increasing numbers of adoptions on poverty. "We would prefer these children to remain in Ethiopia because it is their country," he says. "Adoption is the last resort because it doesn't help alleviate poverty in Ethiopia." Bulti, however, admits that the $115 million a month needed to care for orphans in Ethiopia is simply out of the question, when compared to the country's annual health budget of $140 million. It means, for some children, overseas adoption is the only option, he says.

In a move to help stem the growing orphan crisis in Ethiopia, the US government announced a $20 million project in December to help the 530,000 HIV/AIDS orphans. "We can't afford to look after every orphan," Bulti adds. "That is why adoption is one of our existing alternative child-care programmes, although it really solves the problems of just a few children." Ethiopia has strict adoption laws, but the process can be pushed through in 10-15 days if the paperwork is in order, according to Balti.

An international convention, established in 1993, exists to protect children who are adopted overseas. It has been approved by 66 nations, although the Ethiopian government has not signed it yet. Most orphaned children from Ethiopia go to France, Australia, the US and Ireland. Couples are turning abroad because of the huge delays - four or five years sometimes - to adopt within their own country.

"Parents adopt from Ethiopia because of the poverty and the children are beautiful and attractive," said Tsegaye Berhe of Horizon Homes, a halfway house where children from orphanages wait until they are selected by parents from the US." It is not difficult to adopt here, the Ethiopian government has few restrictions for adoptive parents. Organisations like his will pay orphanages a small amount for upkeep of a child.

"This should not be seen as though we are purchasing a child," says Tsegaye. "We are just refunding the costs incurred by the orphanages."

Most adoption agencies are non-profit. His organisation, which opened last year, received around $6,000 a month to cover the expense of looking after the 32 children it sent to America. Next year, they hope to send more than 50 children.

For accountant Russell Giles, 33, and his wife Vivian, 30, who have four of their own children, they expect to be in Ethiopia for three weeks while they adopt brother and sister Philimon, 5, and Bersable, 6. "The government here has been very open and willing," said the couple from Salt Lake City, Utah, who are adopting privately from an orphanage, rather than through an agency. "Other countries appear very open, but clamp up once the process has started.

"While they meet Philimon and Bersable for the first time in a nervous encounter, just a few metres away, 15-year-old Genet Girma was trying to give her two children up. "I have nothing to give them," she said of the two tiny eight-week old twins strapped to her front and back. "I am too poor."

Most mothers will simply abandon their children near a police station or church rather than turn up at orphanages, where by law, they must be turned away. Most children that turn out to be HIV-positive cannot be put up for adoption. Daniel, a three-year-old, bright-eyed boy who is HIV-positive, sits and stares each day as new prospective parents walks around the orphanage, often crying when they leave. "It is very hard for him to see children leave with new moms and dads because he never leaves and he doesn't understand why," says Sister Camilla, who has worked in the country for more than 30 years.

The Chapman's

This video is a must see...and update on the Chapman Family.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5524419

Word from Ethiopia

Another mom-to-be, Kim, in Southern California, has a daughter and son-to be in the same orphanage as Olivia and her daughter, Ruby, and Olivia are good friends. We have a plan to meet at Disneyland sometime after we all bring our children home. Kim did the sweetest thing. She made a map of California and put photos on it of where Olivia will live, where her children will live, and one other family that has daughters that Ruby and Olivia are close to! Then she sent them each a copy in a "care package" sent over with a family who is now in Ethiopia.

I got word this morning that she gave Olivia the map with photos...she said that Olivia is "very sweet, loved her gift from Kim, I also got a video of her!"

I can't wait to see the video and thank you Kim and Jaclyn.

As I read what Jacyln wrote about each of the children there, I just wanted to cry. In fact, I did. Hearing the names and anecdotes about each and every one of these precious children that have a mommy or daddy waiting for them, who is clinging to every word, soaking in every photo. Each child is so special, each are precious.

I think of our heavenly Father is looking down and seeing the list and names and words, and thinking,yes, that one, yes, she fits in with that family, yes, I am especially fond of him. Our God can love each and every one wholeheartedly, tremendously, individually, uniquely.

I just want to hop on a plane and hang out there. Bring my three kiddos and just let them play and I would help do laundry or change diapers or wipe runny noses, teach some English or read a book. I would sing a song, but I can't carry a tune. Would they hire me?

I am so grateful. I am just overwhelmed this morning with the love of this group of families that are adopting from Hope Place and the awesome eternity-affecting things they are doing.

ok..cyber-hug fest... I gotta go find the tissue box.

A taste of Ethiopia

The kids and I, and Angela, joined four other families for dinner at an Ethiopian restuarant, Queen of Sheba. I prebriefed the kids on the fact that they get to eat with their hands, and that even if they don't like it, be polite.

Well, Nick, who is my pickiest eater, loved it! Mary, liked the chicken. I liked most the dishes, just not the injera...a sour pancake you use to scoop of the "wat", which can be vegtables, chicken, beef, lamb,.... Tadpole. Would not eat a thing, and more or less pouted. :( Angela was adventourous and at least tried it. :)

It was an experience. I wonder what Olivia will think of OUR food when she comes to live with us?

Courts are closed for the season....what to do.

I love this season...

Not the season that the courts are closed, back to school season.

Time to buy school supplies, fall around the corner....

I bought Olivia's school supplies today! Now I know she will not be home until November or December, and not in school until probably January, but I had the list for all the classes and since I was buying supplies for the other kids... I thought I would buy hers too and just keep them aside. By January, no telling WHERE that supply list would be.

So pink and purple folders and pencil box holders, notebooks and crayons, pencils galore, watercolors, scissors.... I know she has never had these things before and won't know what to make of them. I wish I was bringing her home NOW. That she was already hear.

The courts in Ethiopia have closed for the season, until October sometime. So nothing to do but wait....and buy school supplies.

God knows she is ours already in our hearts and when she will truly be here.

We Were Made for This

A mom from one of the adoption groups I belong to shared this..and I wanted to share it again.

We Were Made for This

I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. --Isaiah 43:6-7

Ever wonder exactly why God created you?
Or why he placed children in your specific family?
God couldn't have spelled it out any plainer than in Isaiah 43:6-7.

He created you and me for one purpose: to showcase his glory, to enjoy it, display it, and demonstrate it every day to all those we encounter.

What does it mean to put his glory on display?

It means highlighting his attributes and characteristics. It means making hard choices to do the right - that is, the righteous - thing. It means biting your tongue from gossiping, going out of your way for a neighbor in need, telling the truth even when it's hard, not snapping back when someone hurts you, or speaking freely and openly about your Father in heaven. In short, it's living like Jesus lived when he walked on earth.

God is invisible. In the Old Testament, whenever he wanted to display his character, his innermost being, he did so through something visible like a burning bush, a pillar of cloud or of fire, or a "theophany" (an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ). In the New Testament, God displayed his glory through his Son, Jesus. But Jesus doesn't physically walk on earth anymore, and bushes that burn are only in prairie fires or piles of raked leaves.

So how does an invisible God display his glory in this age?

Through you.

What a privilege.

Father God, what an honor I've been given! You no longer choose burning bushes through which to speak, you choose people like me. Point out ways I can showcase your character and glorious qualities to others today. In so doing, I'll be glorifying you... I'll be living the life I was created to live.

Taken from Pearls of Great Price. Copyright (c) 2006 by Joni Eareckson Tada.


This morning, as I was praying for my children, all four, I so want them to grasp the passion of God and love Him and see how life is Him. Not good behavior, but a changed heart. Not rules, but life. And I thought, what am I focused on. What do I spend my time with them doing, to nuture that?

Help me Lord, to keep our focus on you. You are the core of our lives and the foundation of our family. You put these sons and daughters in this family. Thank you.

Dossier in Ethiopia and need some stuff

• 
  YEA! My dossier is in Ethiopia, now being translated to Amharic, which I am told can take about two weeks! It feels good to finally be at this stage of the game.
  
  So the next thoughts are about court dates and travel dates.
  
  One of the things I wanted to share, was about donations for the orphanage. I saw this on another site from a family adopting through Hope and thought it was a good idea.
  
  There is only so much I can take with me, but thought I would try to collect some items for my trip (hopefully in November)
  
  Hope Place, the orphanage in Ethiopia where Olivia is living, has so many children right now, and a hard time getting all the supplies they need. Sometimes it's not just a matter of having the cash (birr) to buy things, but many items are just really difficult to purchase there. So here is a list of items needed. If you would like to make a donation I will take as much as I can with me to Ethiopia and give them to the orphanage. If you'd like to donate but don't want to ship things, please email me and let me know. I will do the shopping for you.
  
  Any donation is helpful --it doesn't have to be large.
  
  
  
  Diaper wipes, disposable diapers, diaper rash cream
  Cloth diapers, diaper pins, diaper covers, training pants
  Sheets and blankets for cribs and older kids' beds
  Baby bottles, bottle washers, pacifiers
  Sippy cups and children's utensils
  Hand sanitizer
  Baby lotion and good quality lotion for caregivers' hands (they get dry from washing so much)
  Children's and Infant's Tylenol or Motrin
  Shoes and clothes for all ages, but especially older kids --shoes are desperately needed
  School supplies
  Girls' hair accessories
  Books for children (The older kids love books in English)

Moving Closer....

Assistant Stork just told me this morning that my dossier is through the offices in Washington DC and on its way to Ethiopia. It should be there in about 3 days!

Hurray!

God made me....

Today, at the dinner table, talking about this and that, five year old Mary said: "God made you a momma...and gave you these children."

Yep! He did....and with it the grace to love rightly. Thank you Lord.

I have been reading a book, The Shack..I cannot rave about it enough. Among other things, it has given me a picture of my relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and Holy Spirit far different than I have ever had.

Also, a better picture of myself.

Yes, God planned from the beginning to make me a momma of these children and the power, love and grace to do it.

The Adoption Journey

This was written by Linsey, another mother on the road to adoption...when several families were delayed again, after a long wait, in getting their court date completed. I thought it was worth sharing, no matter what stage of the journey we are on.


Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known into the unknown; Each one of us is on a journey.

We all started for different reasons, some because of barren wombs, others simply desiring to love a child yet all have been called by God. Called to walk a path that most would never consider. It is a path you must travel, where your heart is open and vulnerable. You must lay down all your weapons of defense before you are allowed to start your journey.

You are required to expose all that you are; your short comings, your faults, and your mistakes all the while convincing someone that you are fit for the task. You are told ahead of time that the road is long and hard.

There will be moments when the path is clear, the road is marked and your strength will be renewed.

There will also be moments when you stand in a fog unable to decipher which way to turn and your mind will be clouded with doubt. In moments like these you need to remember your beginning.

Remember that you were called by God.

Look up, grasp hold of His fingers, close your eyes, and let the sound of His voice lead you out of the fog. Speak to Him, remind Him of the signs you've been given that declaed ryour called journey.

In remembering your faith will rise up.

Amen

Time to sing and dance...

(To be sung to the tune of a nursery rhyme)

I went to the mailbox

and what did I see?

A 171H peeking out at me

I jumped up and down

Shouted yippee

My 171H is peeking out at me!

Yea...ok, wierd. I know. But I got it today!!!!! :)

I got it.

I got it.

I'm happy cause I got it.

I think I will talk in song all day today.

One more scramble!!!...light on the horizon....

S0, I THOUGHT I was done with the paper scramble..but alas--I messed up! I had one piece of paper I did not get authenticated by the Secy of State. So yesterday I had to reprint it, get it notarized, drive to downtown, get it authenticated, then got back and had sent over night....to assistant stork.

sigh....

scramble scramble.

NOW...I am done scrambling. . . with my eyes on the horizon.

I think. :)

And it's off!!!!

My dossier, finally completed is off the Assistant Stork. http://www.assistantstork.com/ Assistant Stork is a courier service in Virginia. They take the dossier to the various goverment offices that have to do their authentication, including the Ethiopian Embassy, and then send it over to Ethiopia. So that will be my next big step, my dossier arriving in Ethiopia.

Somewhere in this journey it gets translated into Amharic, I think. To be honest, I am not sure. :) But my paper scrambling is OVER!

Yippee!!!

New Pictures...new words

I got several new pictures of Olivia yesterday and today...one with the wildest hair! I just loved it! And some words from those who just returned from Ethiopia.

"[Olivia]--another one who I wanted to steal--she is so sweet"
"Olivia is very smily, she was following us around and watching every move we made."

I can't wait to see your smiling face, face to face!

Written by Deanne...from God's Heart

This is written by a fellow journeyer on her way to adopting from Ethiopia. She said it so well and gave persmission to share:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's not OK with me that there are over 145 million orphans in theworld.

It's not OK with me that the poorest of the poor in America are amongthe 9% richest in the world.

It's not OK with me that there are 45 million orphans on the continent of Africa alone.

It's not OK with me that 3/4 of the world lives on less than onedollar a day.

It's not OK with me that 3/4 of the world does not have a toilet, noteven a pit latrine.

It's not OK with me that 6500 Africans die each day, 1500 each month(the same amount as were killed by the tsunami) from HIV.

It's not OK with me that more non-christians donate to AIDs andorphan charities than do Christians.

It's not OK with me to withhold lifesaving ARV's out of deference to the office of patents.

It's not OK with me that Where you live determine's whether you live.

It's not OK with me that every fourteen seconds another child iso rphaned by HIV/AIDS.

It's not OK with me that the church has been slow to respond to the modern day Leprosy of our time.

It's not OK with me that 2,102,400 more children become orphans each year(in Africa alone).

It's not OK with me that In Ukraine and Russia 10% -15% of children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide before age 18.

It's not OK with me that every hour one thousand children die fromHIV/AIDS.

I think you get the point, or at least some of it.

I am here today to talk about God's love of the poor, the orphans,the widows, the strangers of the world. I am here to talk about what you can do to make a difference in the world and in the life of a child by following God's word. I am here to tell you that the nameless and faceless orphan found in these statistics is by no means nameless or faceless to God.

Psalm 139:13-14 says: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother'swomb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Mostly I am here to deliver the message of our Lord that Caring forthe least; a major ingredient of Biblical Christianity has been forgotten by the church. I want to ignite this fire within each and everyone of you today.

Throughout scripture and throughout the history of his people, God has called his chosen one's to spend themselves on behalf of the poor, the oppressed, the orphan, the widow, the prisoner, and thes tranger in the land. In fact, caring for the orphan is mentioned over 40 times in the scripture. Poverty is mentioned over 2100 times. Now that's a lot of airtime my friends.

Galatians 6;2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you willfulfill the law of Christ

James 1;27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultlessis this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and tokeep oneself from being polluted from the world

Mathew 25;40 The king will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever youdid for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Mathew 18;10-14 See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

The gospel that I believe in offers a cup of cold water in Jesus'name.

The only gospel worth living is the one that incarnates love.

The only gospel worth giving our lives for is the one that elevates the needs of others above our own.

That's what the good news is all about folks. History will judge our generation by how we responded to those in need. History will judge the church by how it responded to those in need.

We have the opportunity to show the world just what it truly means to be Christ-followers. You and I can make a difference.

Someone once told me when I first wanted to adopt that I couldn't change the world. Well I happen to disagree. With God at my side anything is possible and you and I can change the world. We change the world when we lead with compassion and move from apology to action. And out of action springs hope- and out of hope, life.

So for our mistakes, I am sorry. But for our potential, for the impact you and I can have on a world in need....Iam hopeful.

Our adoption by God cost us nothing. However it did cost God something; it cost him his son.

The high fees and costs for adoption today are indefensible, but they are not inconceivable. Adoption is costly. Whether in the realm of finances, emotions, relationships,time, or effort, adoption will cost. But think of what it cost God, and yet he was willing to undergo that cost. And not simply undergo it but to undergo it with joy.

I have heard so many comments from people about adoptions and the ones that stun me the most are from Christians. Questions and comments like:

Well can't you have anymore children?

Why don't you just have another child?

Oh it's not that we don't want you to adopt but we just feel sorry for that poor black child being raised in a white family.

You don't have the money.

You will be taking away from your kids now.

Oh do you really want to do that to yourself.

First, yes I can have more children. and I don't know why people find it so hard to believe that I want to give a child a home that needs one.

And the sacrifice?

Well taking care of one of God's orphans is the least I can do to repay the price he paid for me.

We were not put on this earth to get by with the least possible. We were put on this earth to serve the Lord. Through adoption, I am serving the Lord.

I don'texpect it to be easy.

And about the poor black child being raised by a white family as opposed to not eating every day, sleeping on dirt, and suffering from needless illnesses, I think living with a white family may not be ideal, but we are all God's children. God adopted all of us, black,white, chinese, indian. We are all God's children.

He did not think twice about adopting us. It was more difficult for God to adopt any one of us than it would ever be for me to take care of one of his children.

We were not a cute little puppy, looking for a Father. No. we were evil and putrid and we were repulsive. Some of us would reject him forever, some of us would never want to know his love or grace and yet he still adopted all of us, even if only one would ever love him and come to know him.

Can you imagine dying for someone that would reject you and that you knew would reject you? How many of us would do that?

The adoption journey is not an easy one, but every hour of toil, every obstacle encountered, every tear shed, every sleepless night---all are but a shadow of the price that God paid for us.

Jesus came to be a ransom for many, and if God was willing to pay that ransom for us, how much more will he be willing to lead us in ransoming his beloved children from their state as orphans?

And it is his love that compels us onward in obedience, whatever the cost, for he who calls us is faithful. Our God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who is rich in mercy and grace, who generously provides for all that we need, this God knows the costs we will incur, and promises to be with us and for us every step of the way.

This is about faith in action.

This is an invitation to experience God in ways we've never experienced him before.

In Matthew, Jesus says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

God's heart is invested in adoption. Let us view the costs, both known and unknown, as an invitation for us to invest our resources, and therefore our hearts into the things of God.

You know I used to think the same way, that going to church, living right, praying, and talking to the Lord was enough, but the scripture tells us that faith is not enough. Faith without deeds is dead.

It'slike a quarter with only one side. Faith on one side and deeds on the other. You can't spend it unless you have both.

Bono tells a story of a wise man that changed his life. He told this man that he was always seeking the Lord's blessing when he had a new song, had a family to look after, or a crazy idea. The wise man said " Stop. Stop asking God to bless what you are doing. Get involved in what God is doing-because it is already blessed."

Well, God as I said is with the orphaned and the poor and the widows. That I believe is what God is doing. And that is what he is calling us to do.

I have often heard people talk of seeing the face of God in the poor. I never really understood it until the Lord sent me to Zambia with his own intentions in mind. Well let me tell you my friends that the orphans, the widows, the poor, the sick and oppressed is where God said he would be and it's there that you will truly experience him, see him, touch him, and walk with him.

I know that 40 million is an unconceivable number to comprehend.

Sometimes we hear the numbers and they are too overwhelming.

I want you to think about this number for a while. Think about 40 million children going to bed at night without a kiss from a mom or dad, 40million children that will never have anyone teach them how to ride a bike, rejoice with them every time they make an A on their spelling test, cheer them on in their soccer game, 40 million children with no mommy or daddy.

I also know that as a Christian not one of you would purposely ignore the grave statistics. Sometimes the sheer magnitude of the numbers is just too much to handle so we block it out and go about with our lives. It's so easy to just turn the channel instead of watching the two year old with big brown eyes and a swollen belly.

But I am asking you right now. right now if I told you that there was one child depending on you, one child that needed you, would you say no? As a Christian could you say no I won't help?

I don't think you would.

If you knew there was one child in the world that needed you, I think you would reach out and do whatever you could to help.

So don't tell me that I can't change the world.

I along with everyone in here can change the world.

My God is bigger than the 145 million orphans in the world.

My God is bigger than the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Howabout your God?

If you think you can't change the world by helping one child then you are wrong. That one child is one of God's chosen ones, destined for greatness. If you think you can't change the world by helping only one child, why don't you ask that child, because I guarantee, you would change that child's world.

So I am asking each and every one of you today to let this hurt into your heart. You can take this message and turn it off just like you do the TV shows or you can let the hurt in, feel it in your heart and decide to make a difference in the world. A difference in one of God's miracles, the lesser.

So I am asking you today to not only let this hurt into your heart but also to act on it. Turn your faith into a faith with action. I am asking you not only to believe in God, but to also walk the walk.

You don't have to adopt a child to help out, but why not?

Maybe someone in your church, or family, or neighborhood may feel the passion for adoption. This family may not have the financial resources to adopt. Support that family financially.

Start an orphan ministry within your church to support families that want to respond to the call of God to adopt.

Support a child through a Christian foundation for 30 dollars a month.

Go on a mission trip to an orphanage and teach the children about God. Tell them that even though they feel all alone in this world that they are God's chosen ones and he will not forsake them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Amen, Deanne, Amen!

Clickity-Clack, Clickity-Clack....

...moving on down that track! Another milestone met! Saturday I was fingerprinted by the Immigration Service! yea....

A stroll downtown....I have been authenticated!

I went downtown today, to the Secratary of State, and had my dossier authenticated. Another step in the long list of checkmarks. And a day that seemed would never arrive. But it did and is done.

It was interesting, as I strolled around by the capitol and the downtown area...what diversity. Race, economic status, architecture, and even the state of disrepair and renovation, side by side. I use to work down town, 20 years ago or so. It has changed...of course. Some parts nicer, some unkept. As I people watched, I found myself compelled to pray for this one and that one.

A heavyset young couple, red/blonde haired, sunburned, hot and frustrated, a double stoller with a chubby redhaired little boy in one seat, as the mom tore, what looked like his twin sister out of the dad's arms, spitting venom almost, I could not hear her words, but could she her expression and redfaced anger, the little girl reaching for her days arms, the man just standing. Not a new experience for him, I could tell. Sad. Sad for the little ones. Sad for the couple I had to pray for them.

The African American woman, spouting filth and obscenities at a Hispanic family group walking by, her man just window shopping, as if she wasn't even talking.

Gang clad teens, and teeny-boppers trying hard to be cool.

A bus of Chinese tourist, waiting on a couple taking just one more photo of the capitol buidling then sprinting for the door.

As I walked and looked, and sipped on my Jamba Juice, waiting to be authenticated, I thought, Lord, what rich diversity you created. You made us all. None better than the next. No one superior. No one inferior. And look what we do with it. How will I teach my children about race? What will I teach them? What do they need to know?

Where I see the shade of their skin means absolutely nothing positive or negative, I know they still have to live in that skin. And the world around them does tie meaning to the color of their skin, both negative and positive. How do I prepare them for that?

A few weeks ago, we all watched a movie where an elderly African American man was sharing his family story and how his father was killed, just because of the color of his skin. My boys are young enough, and sheltered enough, they had not yet heard that some people disliked (or still do dislike) other people due to the shade of color of their skin. The thought had never crossed their mind. I love that.

Yet, how do I prepare my daughters for the prejudice they will experience in their life time. And how do I prepare all my children to stand for what is right and be a light to the world around them when it comes to race and stereotypes?

....we are all precious in His sight. I am so glad God made us not all the same shade.

As I teach my children to stand for Christ in a world that is against them, I will also teach them to stand for equality in a world that judges.

I am inadequate to the task. God is more than adequate.

Stop......

ok, snagathis...again.

I thought I was all ready to progress to the next milestone. Yes, I have my homestudy. Yes, I have all my dossier docs.......

well....

Almost...

Since March I asked my homestudy agency to remember to send the post-placment visit document agreement to me. They assured me, yes they would send it with my homestudy.

You guess...did they? :)

Nada....

So I sent a copy again on Monday, asking. Was told by the SW that she would contact the homeoffice, and have not heard back yet....

sigh....

So stopped again.

On a good note, I received a new picture of Olivia today, from another visitor to Ethiopia. Was glad to see that. The last few visitors that have taken pictures did not have any of Olivia. I was beginning to wonder...where is she?

I also got a shortsnippet from Grace who is over their how sweet Olivia is. :)

November will be here before you know it!

In the headlights....

So, I feel like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. Finally, after waiting 80 days, I have my homestudy IN MY HANDS!

YEA!! The crowd roars!

I feel like it should scramble and hurry and do something. But my work and homelife have me pretty busy for the next three days..so it is just going to sit on my desk for a few. BUT I HAVE IT!

I had hoped to have it into time to have everything completed and get a court date before the rainy season court closure in Ethiopia, but that window has passed. So I will go through my dossier packet one more time, then trott on down to the Secratary of State and get the whole things aunthenticated.

:) Progress.

Stalking the Mailbox...

Well, my long and winding road is moving forward! After 76 days of no activity, my homestudy agency called today and said they are mailing the homestudy today!!!

Yea!!!! So I am stalking the mailbox!

I had a little scare earlier this week. I had this black bag I had all my other dossier papers in, just waiting for the homestudy, to get it all authenticated and sent to Ethiopia...and I LOST IT!

I thought I had it at my work office, but opened the cabinet and it was not there. So then I thought I must have it at home, and it was no where. Not wanting to panic (I HATE STRESS)...I realized any paper in there, I could get again, but it takes a while. My passport was in there too.

SO, I gave my children an incentive. The one who could find the black bag, gets $10.

So a sidenote: I had taken Nick to a Casting Crowns concert for his 10th birthday. He loved it. At the concert they talked about World Vision and sponsoring a child. (http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf) He was SOOO moved by it, he wanted to sponsor a child himself. I was hesitant, we already sponsor a little girl, Eva, in Mexico through Compassion (http://www.compassion.com/default.htm) I DO have a big heart, but also have lots of expenses, and adoption costs. But Nick felt so passionate about it, he said he would do extra chores to earn the $30 a month. I agreed, so Nick is sponsoring Sharif from Bangladesh.

SO, when Nick heard the reward, he was all over that...said he would have $10 toward his sponsorship for this month. He started upstairs and was looking diligently, under beds, closests...etc. Not an easy task, since we still have tons of boxes yet to unpack. I wanted him to go get his sleeping bag out of the garage, as he was heading off to Ranger camp at 5 am the next morning, but he was impassioned with the search.

SO, I went out to the garage, to dig up the sleeping bag, and what should be sitting beside it? Yep! The black bag!!!! I was overjoyed and camp in the house with the two bags. But then, immediately felt sad. I SOOOO wanted Nick to find it. So I slyly was trying to slip it under the couch with no one noticing, when Nick, at the top of the stairs, said, elated..."You found it!!!" Then turned to sad face, when he realized that yes, IIII had found it.

Trying to find the logic in it, I said, well actually YOU found it. How so? Well, if you had not been hunting so I was the one to go get the sleeping bag, we may not have found it. You might have just grabbed the sleeping bag and walked on by. So because of you, it was found. (Well, a mom has got to try!!)

So he got the reward, (actually Sharif did) and we have the all important papers! Woo-hoo.

So I will spend the next few days stalking the mailbox and getting ready for the next step in the process!!

Leaky Steam Valve

Ok...

I am fairly calm.... (aren't I?) I have been patient. I have come to grips with the timing that I will not be traveling until November or so, when the courts reopen. I have surrendered to God's timing....

but....(ah oh)....I just have to vent for 30 seconds, then let it go.

My homestudy agency!!! UGH!

I used them before, when I adopted my daughter from China two years ago. Was very happy. Went smoothly. Very caring SW.

SO..I thought, this time..no problem. Just an update really, right? So on April 4th, when the second visit was done, and I shared, politely, about the timing and the court closure in Ethiopia..etc. and asked how long...I was told 2 months!!

Didn't seem to care at all that I already had my daughter identified and that the courts would close. 30 days for the social worker to complete her part, and 30 days for the home office to approve and finalize. SO I gentley shared, if there was anyway to expedite, we (my daughter and I) would be grateful.

4 days short of 30 days, I send a gentle inquiry how is it going? Response, haven't started it. :( The following week, I get tons of questions, and hoop jumping requests..(that I could have been spending the last 30 days doing....)... stayed calm and jumped the hoops. Two weeks later, finally send to the homeoffice....hoping they would expedite and make up for lost time.

Homeoffice delays, wants a piece of paper that they would only accept Shimeless signing, and he was in Ethiopia....sigh....

Two days after he is home, he signs and mails it.

I wait.

At day 64, I gently inquire? How is it going? Am told they are working on it and will send the DRAFT to be reviewed by Hope that week.

A week comes and goes. I gently ask, again. AM told, it has not been sent yet. It is still in processing, hopefully this week they will email it to Grace. I share that Grace is going to Ethiopia in a few days (with other things on her agenda, understandably) so the sooner this week, the better.

Today, I get an email asking me about childcare for my kids during the summer, and where have I lived since I was 18...etc. (We went over all of this 70 plus days ago.)

sigh....so I kindly send the responses. And am told they are "processing it". Hopefully done soon.

Sad face. :(

I know it is outside my control.
I know I am just one amoung many.
I know this may be the first Ethiopian adoption this homestudy agency has done.
I know.

I know God's timing is perfect.

I know my daughter will be here at the right time.
I know.

Venting over.....pssssssssssss....escaping steam.

Wait

So.....

Wait, wait, wait....

Still no homestudy....

Was suppose to be 60 days max, that was ...hmmmm, 9 days ago.

Sigh...

Currently waiting for the homestudy agency to send a draft to the international agency for them to say it is ok....then send it to me, so I can move to the next step.

So nothing new....just waiting. Maybe I will hear something this coming week. It is funny, (not funny haha, but funny odd) the book I am reading about adoption talks about how so much of it is outside my control.. and how we can have the tendency to try to over-manage the process or obsess on the parts that are in our control...and I thought, BOY is that me.

So I have been trying to focus on when she comes home. What will it be like, and how to handle the adjustments.....as well as trying to get life in order now (OK pick yourself up off the floor from laughing.)

51 and I am still thinking, one day I will get my act together! Angela, (our au pair) gets here on July 17th, and I SO wanted to have my act together by then! What magic could I perform in the next 30 days, that I have not done in the last 51 years? HA~

Wait...

Worth a Happy Dance......Ethiopian style...

My piece of paper, the waiting piece of paper...is on it's way to my homestudy agency!! Yippee! Now the homestudy can be finished....makes you just want to dance!

Ethiopian Mesgana Dancers... Children of Ethioopia Education Fund. www.coeef.org

Pictures from Ethiopia..

Another family returned today, from Ethiopia and shared their pictures. There were about five new ones of Olivia, that I cannot post, but wanted to share some of just the sites around the city...as soon as I can get bloggers photo feature to work!!! You will see them here....
waiting by unpacking, but also reading a book on adopting older children and attachment. It will be interesting to see how our transition goes, with Olivia being older. Mary Beth was almost three when she came home. Olivia will be seven. Enjoy the pics....

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Nothing new under the sun...

at least on the adoption front....

I am in a wait mode. Waiting for the homestudy to be sent.

They are waiting on a piece of paper that they will only allow to be signed by the director of the adoption agency, who happens to be in Ethiopia right now and will not be back until next week.

So wait.

We are in our new house, with more space....

So we are living life, and waiting...

God's timing is perfect. So I am at peace on this. Have actually set my mind to realize my Nov/Dec will probably be the timeframe...and as I already posted, it may be better. We will be more settled, the kids in school, Angela will be here and more comfortable with the family and routine...so in many ways, probably better.

So, nothing new....:)

Just boxes to unpack!

Setbacks and Delays....

So I have had a piece of paper delay in my homestudy being completed...and again it is outside my control. With this added delay, I have pretty much given up hope to get to Ethiopia before the courts close....which would mean Oliva would be coming home in the November December time frame....

God knows what is best, and I am surrendered to His timing. I keep getting awesome pictures of her....and I know God is in charge of the whole situation...who knows what He may do.

So I am trying to learn about ESL and how to transition a child who does not speak English into the school system mid-year. Maybe Nov, Dec would be a better time anyway....less going on, kids in the school routine, so I could spend 1 on 1 time with her.

Our Abba loves us all...and we will be united....what a Christmas that would be, no? :) Can't wait. Hold on dear little daughter of mine....we are coming....we are coming soon, and we have made a great place for you....a house with many rooms, and one for you to share with your little sister. What laughs we will have. What fun. What pretty dresses, and dancing around the house and songs about Jesus. What hugs. What love. What a future. Our Abba Daddy is wrapping us all in...making us family. We are family. And we are coming.

Good News.....

No, I did not get my homestudy, yet. But I did get some good news, from another source.

The company I work for just added an adoption benefit. They will reimburse $5000 of my adoption cost! Isn't that an awesome blessing?!

Thank you Lord, and God bless Intel!

I also got to see some video footage today from the orphanage. I wish you could see these little precious smiling faces, and high-pitched voices. It is touching. I am hoping they will post the video of Olivia when she got our package and photo album.....

So here is a funny thing, I was thinking about the $5000 reimbursement from my company, that I was not planning on..... That is the exact amount to adopt a second child at the same time. Hmmmmm. Am I nuts?

BTW. The fabulous picture above was taken by a family who were in Ethiopia just a week or so ago.

Connected...

oh...more more thing, I forgot to mention....

In the many many pictures of Olivia Mame I got, one showed her holding a card, with her name and my name on it!!!!!

We are connected....we belong to each other. That is so amazing. To think, this little girl on the other side of the globe holds pictures of us and we hold pictures of her and the "belonging" is already starting. How awesome is that?

Just adjust...

Well, I did not get the good news I was looking for. :( The social worker was not done with the homestudy on the day she thought she would be, or on the 30 day mark....

But what can you do? Nothing I am not in charge of timing, and although she may not know it, neither is she.

So I had to adjust my thinking again, as I am counting days...and realize God is in charge of timing.

And regardless of when the next chain of events kicks off, it will be the perfect time in God's timing and it will all work out. :)

Isn't this a cool picture? A family that just got back from Ethiopia took it while they were there.

So...the homestudy is now being reviewed by various folks in the agency and should be sent to the head office...maybe Friday...in which they take up to 30 days to review and approve it.

Meanwhile, I am going to pull out all my dossier papers, double check that they are all in order, and then get them authenticated...so all I will have to do when I get my homestudy, is get it authenticated and send it off to Assistant Stork. Makes me feel like I am doing something.

On a happy note, I got TONS, I mean TONS of very cute pictures of Olivia, from the same family mentioned above. So cute. and in a few she was wearing the necklace and bracelets we sent her and the little purse!!! How cute!

She is always smiling and right in the middle of things and hugging her little friends. I am glad I have a full house for her to come home to, or she might me lonely.

What a blessing.

Hoping for good news on Monday....and Tues....

Well, I am hoping to hear good news on Monday: My social worker said a couple weeks back, that she hoped to have the homestudy done and sent to the agencies corporate offices by the end of April. Well, it is 4 days past that. I have not heard anything, but I sent her an email asking if it was done, on Friday...I am hoping to hear good news tomrrow! The home office gets another 30 days to review and approve it...I would love for them to be quicker than that....we are all waiting!! Hoping to beat the rainy season, as well as get Olivia home before school starts. ...Fret, fret....but God knows all this....Lord, your timing, your will.

My other good news, I am hoping to hear, is Tues or Wed. . . but more on that later...so waiting waiting.