Ethiopia or bust.....

We got the call on Friday (while buying groceries at Walmart). Our embassy date is confirmed for April 19th!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

Big Days

I have posted so much adoption news lately. I don't want to fail to capture some other big days around here. Within just 8 weeks we had our oldest turn 13 (wow) and our youngest turn 3. I often think what a great balance it is having a teenager and toddler at the same time. I am enjoying special times watching Carson grow into a beautiful young lady. Our relationship is evolving and changing. I am learning (not so well sometimes) how to parent a teenager. But, it is hard to take things to seriously when you have a 3 year old jabbering away and doing such sweet "baby" things. Harper is always making me laugh.

I will never forget the moment I had at Walmart in 2007 when I looked at my shopping cart and I had Carson's first bra (she will be so glad I wrote that) and nursing pads as part of my purchases for the day?!? We moms certainly wear many different hats......

The moment

It seems very interesting to me that we would get the "referral call" and the "he is legally yours" call while at church, but that is the way God orchestrated our moments. I had my phone in my lap in anticipation of a call from AGCI telling us we passed court. At precisely 10:30 a.m. I felt the vibrations of my phone and I RAN out of the room. I could tell in our case manager's voice that the news was good, and it was ooohhhhh so sweet!!! At this moment I officially became the mother of 5!

I also realized yesterday that the pain and anxiousness of being pregnant is similar in a lot of ways to working through an adoption. For me, I think this adoption process has been more difficult. But you know what, just as I forgot all of that when I gave birth to my children, it was the same for me yesterday when I received this phone call. All the months of stress and concern faded away. He is our son and I couldn't be more grateful!!!

(I'm just a little bit sad I couldn't capture Jody when I called him at his office and shared our news.....sorry babe, I guess A.J. will know who loves him more?!?!)

It is "almost" official

We just heard from our Case Manager and AJ is "almost" officially ours. The Ethiopian judge is missing one piece of paper from MOWA. He/she is supposed to have it tomorrow for the final approval. We are cautiously celebrating!!! Tomorrow is also the day that the American doctor in Addis will be examining and evaluating him. Tomorrow is a big day!!

I told someone yesterday that I don't know how you walk this journey (or any other for that matter) if you are not a believer. Through all the uncertainty, the waiting, and the unknown, I have rested in the fact that He is my Rock. It is beyond comforting for me to know that He loves AJ more than I do and our lives are in His hands. He is teaching me things I never would have known that have strengthened my faith and brought me closer to Him. I am forever grateful......

No news today......I am emotionally exhausted!

Not today.....

Well we didn't get the news we were hoping for. The call came this morning telling me that MOWA did not have our paperwork ready for court. We were rescheduled for March 8th, which happens to be Ms. Harper's 3rd birthday. My mind was prepared for this, but not my heart.......two weeks seems like a long time away.

Today

Today my chest fills heavy and I am distracted. My mind is consumed with what is taking place in that Ethiopian court room thousands of miles away. My heart is heavy for AJ's birth mother. She is there. After court ends she will be given a letter from us along with an album of our family and home so that she can hold onto a piece of her son's future. What brought her to make this decision? What were the circumstances that would lead her to relinquish all rights to her son? Is she a believer? How can I feel so connected to someone that I have never met?

Philippians 4:6 tells me, "Do not be anxious about anything, (that's a little difficult for me right now), but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my request to God."

Psalms 46:10 tells me, "Be still and know that He is God."