A Word of Encouragement from my Father

This feels a bit random, but as I lived it, I thought I'd share it in hopes that it would also encourage you my friends.

Tonight I went to the wake of a sweet friend, who is now home with Jesus.  She lost the battle with cancer, but never lost the focus of her passion and love for Jesus.  She was 75 years young and never have I met someone so positive, so full of thanksgiving and always ready with a kind word of encouragement. 

It was supposed to be just 6-8 p.m. calling hours, but it turned into the most beautiful service I have been to.  People got up and shared, people sang, people preached the goodness of God.  I was so greatly blessed by Tiny's life and by how she touched all of us that gathered to show our love.  I was slightly jealous that I wasn't Jamaican, as at 75 she didn't have one wrinkle on her beautiful peace filled face.

As I sat listening tonight, I was so encouraged to meet so much of my family in Christ.  I met brothers and sisters I may never see again, but share the same Father with me.

As I drove home, I was talking to my Father in heaven.  I was thanking Him for letting me know Tiny for the past year and a half.  For the blessing of meeting a woman like her, a woman who has influenced my life for the Kingdom.  I was telling Him how I will miss her prayer in Bible study, for as we go around the table she always prayed in King James  (and for those of you who don't know, though I most often read the Bible in a more modern translation, I have a great love for the King James Version of the Bible).  We came from different denominations, but are the same family.

As I drove my Knight's car home, I began to thank God that He had my earthly father teach me how to drive a standard car.  I rarely drive one these days, as the bigger vehicles we have moved into don't allow for my preference of standard, but tonight as I reflected on my friend's life He allowed me to shift and clutch all the way home. 

I remembered my father teaching me, I was in a Volkswagen van, it was bright orange.  His way of teaching me wasn't the conventional way, but it worked.  I share it not to shock you, but to get to the next part.  My papa would take me out on to a dirt road with a slight incline.  He'd get out of the car, put me into the drivers seat and would stand directly behind me (well, probably giving himself a few feet of jumping room) and tell me to *balance* (which means; don't stall out the car and DON"T ROLL BACKWARDS)!  It was high pressure to not kill my father.  I laugh now, but then I didn't quite get it.  I will tell you that I learned FAST.  I am not sure if this was because I didn't want to kill my father, or that I just wanted to not have any more driving lessons out on that dirt road. 

Tonight, as I thanked God for my father and for my ability to drive a standard, God told me that He stands behind me just like my father did.  How He pushes me out into areas I am not so confident in. How He puts me on paths that sometimes I am not very experienced at.  But, how He is behind me, His loving hands on my shoulders ready to catch me and push me forward on this path of life He has for me. A path so very different than I ever dared to imagine.

Tears of thanksgiving came down my face as I realized why my Hungarian father, who I adored, had stood behind me as I learned to drive that Volkswagen Bus-it was so my Heavenly Father could tell me tonight that;

 ~He is always standing behind me, and in front of me and beside me...

All ways, always.

Jeremiah 29:11 (The Amplified Bible)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

...(The Message Bible)

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Adoption of an Older Child

Popping in for a moment to share the latest here.  Actually, there is so much to share, but just haven't found the time to sit and post. 

If you have been paying attention to the tiny changes here (like the number 7 being added to the header) or the new pictures of the kids on the sidebar, then maybe you noticed
that Princess Sweetness did an age jump. 

A few days ago, she explained to us that in Woliso they make the older kids younger, so they will be adopted.  Really, a sad reflection on us I'd say.  The human reality makes me shake my head and cry out harder for the world's orphans.  What is with us that we think that a child older than (pick your number) is too hard to adopt?

So, though it isn't official on paper yet, we have made the jump from 10 years old to 13. (which at the beginning of this journey, up to meeting her we had thought was her true age.)

Does it matter to us?  Not one bit. Will it screw up our children's birth order?  According to God...nope.  This is the child who God picked for us.  The child who God spoke to us about and moved our hearts towards last September.  So she is not 10, but we knew that she probably wasn't.  So now, we will embrace 13 and move forward without a blink.  Why, because our God is faithful and we are in His hands. 

All.of.us. 

Funny, my heart has always said that a child is never too old to be adopted.  13 isn't too hard.  Honestly, I fell in love with a boy there who is 16 in reality (10 on papers)...I would have brought him home in a heart beat, if he hadn't already had a family.  God is moving me to a new place of confidence in Him-how good it is and how thankful I am to be called to this life of adoption. 

Oh, how we love our new daughter.  What a joy she is too us.  I will share more soon...I promise. 

Please keep praying...as it is moving all of us to new levels of His love and mercy.

One Million Arrows...in my life

A Book Review: One Million Arrows by Julie Ferwerda

buy your copy now!

I have already written several posts on One Million Arrows, but just wanted to add that this is a must buy! 

Really, you are saying? 

 Well, let me just say that as the book unfolded, sharing stories of  God's vision of raising children as arrows, of reaching out to the lonely and poor, as a wake up call to the Church to jump into the river that God is moving in, as an outcry for the orphan...I found myself again crying out to God to use my life.  Through the words that Julie used, I found myself in tears, surrendering myself, my family, my home, all that I have into His hands. I am asking Him to come and use our lives for His purposes.  It's been a long time since I've read a book that stirred my heart like this. 

Honestly, it was the book I had been praying for; as I was sick of buying a book only to have it be a watered down version of something I had already read. Not true of One Million Arrows! I thank God for this book, for Julie, for her gift of words and how it will ripple into our lives as Believer's. 

He had given me the passion, Julie's book stirred it and enlarged it in my life. 

Really.

here's a little bit more of what One Million Arrow's is about:

Will the world change our children...or will our children change the world? Time is short and lives are at stake. Right now, God is inviting our families to become part of a bigger story—a vision that will engage hearts to make a radical difference. One Million Arrows is an inspirational call to raise our kids to impact their culture, community, and world for Christ. If we want our kids to discover their purpose, if we want them to live with passion for the Kingdom, if we want our family to go down in His-Story, accept the mission...and leave a mark for eternity.

Guys You Might Want to Skip this One....

To all of my guy readers...this might be a post you want to skip.  We will be talking about girlie stuff...

Okay the subtitle of today's post is...

 God Speaks in my Dreams by way of Pads, Interpretation and Preparation...

Last night I had a dream. 

In my dream my Ethiopian daughter came to me with a HUGE rectangular mop pad.  She didn't know what it was.  It baffled her, but she came to me looking for answers. In my dream we still had a language barrier.  I knew what this huge pad she held was.  I took the pad from her hands and stretched out the two gray elastics, grabbed my enormous mop and began to show her its purpose, once the pad was in place.  She thanked me and smiled...end of dream.

Now, my door opens, it is early in the morning; it is my new Ethiopian daughter.  She is troubled.  She can't find words.  She leaves and comes back trying to find words that I might understand.  I ask her if she had a nightmare, if her stomach hurts, if she is okay...she searches for words. She is growing more and more troubled by our lack of common language.

The one word she knows I know is modest.  She says it. I point to a strap, wondering what a bra could have anything to do with her current perplexity.  (I had previously explained that bras were a way of being modest, as one is developing; she wasn't buying it at first.)  Now, she was using this same word 'modest' again to me.

Then she looked down and I knew. 

 Suddenly my dream came to mind.  That huge pad was telling me what my daughter needed.  She was in need of her first sanitary products, she didn't know their name or where to look in her new house. 

When I showed her she was relieved.  Thank you God. Thank you for making it so enormous in my dream, so I wouldn't miss the message you were trying to give me.  Even without language, you have come to help me in my moments of need.  Thank you for preparing me in my sleep for what my daughter would need from me.  How could I walk this road without you and your Holy Spirit that leads me both by day and by night?

God is so able to come to our aid, He only awaits our invitation.

Thank you Lord!

A God Story; A Faith Builder

I had a free hour on Sunday after church got out.  I decided to go to our local Saver's (a huge thrift shop, clean, organized and did I say HUGE?) to see if I could find a new sundress for summer.  It has been a while since I have shopped for me, so this was a treat.

I had popped in on Thursday for a few minutes, but I had the baby and didn't have enough time before picking the kids up from their Bible club to try anything on.

So...here I was, all alone with a few dollars screaming spend me ;-)  I remembered there was a long white skirt that I had liked, but as I looked through the row it had been in, I discovered it was gone.  I headed for the dresses, as I browsed the Holy Spirit said,"Your skirt is by the dressing room, hanging on a return rack."

I kept shopping.  I almost forgot about the skirt, but then I rounded the corner to the dressing rooms with an arm load of sundresses in tow.  There was the white skirt. I laughed out loud.

It

was

waiting

for

me.

God had saved it for me.  It was brand new and fit perfectly.  The other dresses didn't. 

I am always amazed when I hear God's voice.  This time, I wonder if I doubted that it was Him...as I didn't rush over to the rack to grab my skirt.  Perhaps, it was because I knew it would be there waiting? 

In any regards, God speaks.  He speaks to His children and blesses them as they seek His face.

As you know, I am living in constant prayer as of late.  Believing He is listening and ready to move into action on our behalf.

Ethiopia~ Adoption ~Shopping (buna/coffee)

Our new friend Elias-our Ethiopian driver through Celebrate Children International.  A sweet man, with a heart of pure gold.  We enjoyed driving about with him and having him share his knowledge and love of Ethiopia with us.  I will always remember his belly laugh, when I told him that Ethiopian buna (coffee) is the very best in the world.  Without a doubt he agreed.

 We invited him to come visit us in the states, as he has never left Ethiopia, but perhaps this is better...as Ethiopia is such a beautiful country.  Our home is your home, Elias, if ever you want to venture out of your beautiful country.  Elias is expecting his second child soon.  Oh how we love this man of God!

Might I add, his smile begins in his big beautiful Ethiopian heart.

Our chariot awaits!

Elias is ready to take us about Addis Ababa to buy some Ethiopian things for our new girl and our home.

The sign of the coffee shop (taken from the inside of the people packed shop).  Wish you could smell the bunna.  Heaven, pure heaven!

Like I needed any encouragement to drink more coffee.  Strong and black with sugar is how I drank it here...at home with milk and no sugar.  But how wonderful it was and how we could have sat or stood there all day.  And to see our Elias smile from the inside out as we praised his buna...priceless.

Equipment galore!

Elias helps my Knight buy oodles of coffee bags to bring home. We learned last time...stock up, as this stuff is wonderful and so inexpensive in Ethiopia.  It cost us about $2 for a one pound bag.

The coffee beans

Our Ethiopian Beauty, who also was giddy with her shopping day adventure.  She set about serving others their coffee as her Papa waited in line for coffee.  Everyone in Ethiopia is so warm and friendly.  Oh how I love Ethiopia.

God says I will go back "in a time."  Hopefully it won't be too long.  And MAYBE it will be to bring more of our family home. 

Update on the home front:

I want to clear up any confusion I may have left you with in the last post.  I am experiencing both highs and lows in our transition with our girl.  We love her so very much.  God is guiding our every step and there is no fear where perfect Love is.  Though I am human and sometimes let fear enter in.  Fear is not of God, and never will be.  Fear is sent by our adversary, the devil, to try to keep us from walking in the fullness of God's joy and will. 

We are trusting Him for wisdom in what we do and how we do it.  I don't want to paint a negative picture of our daughter, or of adoption.  There is nothing negative, just bumps in the road .  God will smooth our bumps and my fears; as I submit it all into His loving caring hands.

We continue to press on and listen for His still small voice to guide the way.  We delight in walking this path He has chosen for us and are so grateful for Him blessing us with her.

We continue to share our life with transparency, hoping it will encourage you and lead you deeper in your faith and walk with Him. 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Ethiopia, Adoption and Ode to my Knight

Day 2 Ethiopia (April 2010)

Wiping her Papa off after a game of football (soccer) in Grace Guest House's yard.

Adopting a 13 year old daughter

Speaks 2 languages:  Oromigna and Amharic

and a bit of English

Lived at Emmanuel Orphanage in Woliso for the past 6 years.

Our Princess Sweetness in Ethiopia...trying on one of her new outfits we brought her.

Update on the home front:

Yesterday she asked again about school and why school buses came on our road, but why none of our family went.  I tried to explain the best I could that God has directed us to homeschool (over 15 years ago.)  I tried to explain.  I am not sure if she understood?  She was angry for hours, so maybe she did. 

I found myself crying out to God for help (yet again).  As this is His plan for our family, I am just a follower of Him.  He has called us (and our girl) to this life of homeschooling, so I am asking Him to give her peace about it. 

It got a little ugly right before dinner.  There was a box of pencils that was thrown at her sister.  Some yelling (by her) and some intervention by me to stop it. 

She was mad.  She went to school in Woliso and was the top student in the village school.  She is smart, very smart, but doesn't understand why some of the books I have bought her are not the 6th grade level she thinks she is in still. Even when she has difficulty doing the papers that she is asking for (she is learning hungry, which is good!), she still is angry.  I've tried to explain that we will quickly move through the lower levels and back up to the 6th grade, as we try to fill in necessary understanding in English.

My Knight is my stabilizer with arms right now.  I found myself fighting back tears several times through dinner.  I want her to like me, I want her to be excited about all that God has for her; including homeschool.  I don't want her to yell, "NO!" at me any more. 

Patience.

In the midst of it.  God spoke to my heart...He said read Isaiah 41.  I was up to my elbows in creating dinner, so I had my 15 year old daughter read it to me as I cooked and wiped back tears. (She had gone into hiding with some of her school books, so she didn't see the tears or my struggle.)

In the center of it all, this is what the Holy Spirit said...(verse 13)

 For I am the LORD, your God,

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

sigh...God is so good.  He is my help in times of trouble.

Need a Great Book to Read?

I've never done this before, but guess there is a time for everything under heaven, right?

I am highly recommending this book.  It is a good read, especially if this list I throw at you speaks to your heart:

You want to know what God is up to in this world today

You desire to follow Him

You want to be a world changer

 You want the gospel to go into all the world and change lives for God's Kingdom

 You are a Believer or are curious as to what this life of a Christian is supposed to look like

You have children or are thinking about having children

You would like to be in action where God is

You desire to do more with your life

You wish to help others

You want to raise children to serve Him

You don't want to be a typical selfish American

You want to help those who are hurting

You care about putting James 1:27 to action (helping widows and orphans)

You are thinking about adopting

You want to see the lonely (orphans) in godly families

You are sick and tired of the same old, same old

You know your children (and yourself) have a bigger purpose in life than you are currently walking in

You are plain old hungry for more of God

You want your family to be arrows in the Hand of God

You want to love others in a deeper more meaningful way

You are curious about what this book might say to you....

One Million Arrows by Julie Ferwerda

The Beauty of Ethiopia

One thing my Knight and I discovered on this trip to Ethiopia is that what we were taught in grade school about Africa (and Ethiopia) was a lie.  Ethiopia is not a brown, hot and dry desert like place.  It is very green and very beautiful.  This time God allowed us to venture out of Addis Ababa (the capitol city) and into the country side of Ethiopia.  WOW, what a difference.  As much as I love Addis, the charm of the country has planted itself deeply within my heart. 

I will share the pictures soon, of all the beauty that God let us drink in.  I desperately tried to capture it on my camera, so when I became homesick for Ethiopia, that I'd have a bit of it always within my grasp.  The funny thing is, where God planted us, oft times looks like the village my daughter is from.  Not so much the houses, or the paved roads, but occasionally as I drive past freshly plowed fields and acres and acres of dark rich soil, I point to our new daughter and say, "Woliso."  And she nods her head in agreement.  A tiny bit the same, but so vastly different too.

An update on us:

I'd be negligent in not telling you that we are exhausted.  I think with each adoption, we have become aware that adoption is mentally, spiritually and physically exhausting.  Oft times, when the children are all tucked in bed (usually by 7:30-8 p.m. at our house for everyone under 11 years old), either my Knight or myself will say how tired we are.  A different kind of tired than we normally experience, a tired that we have only known that comes with adoption.  I am guessing it is part of the submission into His hands, part of the release of our will for His own. 

Of course we are thankful for your prayers, without you, well, I can't even imagine what it would be like.

Our new baby is doing remarkably well.  The stubborn has disappeared.  She is asking when we can go to church. Part of the problem we have at church, is the number of people who want to welcome her.  A good problem, but for her overwhelming because of the language barrier we still have.  I think also the preaching part exhausts her still, just so much English still for her ears to take in. 

We went to a different church over the weekend, I explained to her that we were visiting to say good-bye to a dear friend who is dieing of cancer.  It was my friend's birthday, it was also Mother's Day.  My friend is now having hospice, she was unable to attend the service that had been her hope for months.  After church, a large group of the church brought church to my friend's home.  She understood all that the day was centered around.  She kissed my friend and hugged her brown face, as she lay in her hospital bed in her room filled with balloons and flowers.  Our Ethiopian beauty joined in singing, 
"Happy Birthday to YOU," as we sang to our dear sister in the Lord.  It was one of those times when you could feel God's presence and you just felt the need to take of your shoes, as the place was of Holy ground.

As we drove away from my friend's home, she said that she liked the church, but that she really liked ours better.  Actually what she said is, "Bella's church what I like."  We laughed, because the weeks before she had given us a bit of grief in getting dressed or participating in church.  My mother's heart was heavy.  Funny, how God works things into us.  Change is sometimes hard, but He has a way of coming into each situation with His Spirit and filling in the hard parts. 

To which I have to say, "amen!"

Ethiopia Adoption~ (Grace Guest House)

Good Morning Mother! (Day 2)

The words like gold to me. 

My new daughter and I shared a bed at Grace Guest House (which we loved!), as we had two rooms that were too far apart for a mother's comfort.  My Knight kindly took the second room and let the girls have a party of their own.  The party began at 3 a.m. when she decided it was time to get up and eat her chocolate Easter bunny we had packed her.  As my eyes adjusted to the new day, I saw her munching her new love (chocolate) and reading her Papa's English Bible. 

I had no idea what time it was, as the Knight had the alarm clock and I am not a *time* wearer.  After realizing that the house was quiet...I tiptoed down the hall to ask the Knight what time, in reality, it was.  When He informed me it was 3ish, I happily marched back to our room and announced to her it was still mahtah-mahtah time.  A few more hours of sleep, well if you can block out the Muslim chanting over the loud speakers and every dog that lives in Addis, that was making itself known through it's bark/howl. Not exactly what I'd call ideal for sleep. 

Sue Hedberg (the director of Celebrate Children) happened to be staying at Grace Guest House with us.  We enjoyed breakfast (a scrambled egg type sandwich on a soft roll) and a pot of tea.  The buna (coffee) ceremony was already beginning downstairs in the sitting room.

The living room/sitting room at Grace Guest House.  Where we came as guests and left as friends. 

The lovely owner (who is a passionate Christian) of Grace Guest House.  Her vision is to get the business to the place of giving 50% of the proceeds to orphan care.  The Guest House is only 6 months old, and already they are giving 10-15% to orphan care.  Love that!!

Can you smell the world's best coffee?  Can you smell the incense they burn along side of it? 
Oh heaven!

3 cups of buna is what is customary, so this is not hurry up and grab a cup of coffee.  It is about friendship, about community, about culture, about true fellowship with one another.  Oh, how much we have to learn in America. 

Did I mention that I love Ethiopia?

And yes, the coffee is strong, but does not make you shakey.  If you haven't tried it, the button on our side bar-Just LOVE coffee- will lead you to some delectable Ethiopian coffee for your very own!

Things are going well here.  Thanks for the prayers.  We are living simply, the days go quickly, but most of all my heart sings how thankful I am for this call of adoption on my life.  I look at the 8 beautiful children He has blessed me with and find myself overwhelmed by His goodness.  Our Princess Sweetness is a gift, and oh, how we are loving getting to know her better. 

Funny, funny girl!

What God is Saying to Me

God has been speaking to me very specifically; as to what He wants me to read in the Word each day.  What He wants me to be pondering in my heart.  He has also been speaking to me in my dreams and guiding me through the very images that He puts there in the night. Using my dreams to help me minister to the needs of my new daughter in my waking moments.  God is so cool. And how thankful I am!!

Yesterday, He sent me to Psalm 71.  The Psalms have been something I have been reading and pondering over the past year, so that He sent me here again was no big surprise. The Psalms bring us into a heart of worship.  As believers and followers of God, worship is the key (besides repentance) to entering into His Presence.  But yesterday He spoke something different.  He spoke a few verses that really have melted my heart.

Psalm 71:7

I am as a wonder unto many; but You are my strong refuge.

Now *wonder* was something I don't think about myself as...but God is telling me that He is going to use my life for His purposes.  He is going to use me as an example to those He puts in my path. 

 You might be saying, 'Yeah, isn't this  what we all are supposed to do with our lives, right?  This is a no brainer Kimmie.'  To which I'd agree.  But. God spoke it to me.  He said He is going to make my life an example to many. He said that my family, our life, my life is to be a display of His Power.  But the thing is, He is using present and future tense in what He is speaking.

 My life. 

I am struck with wonder at this. He wants to use my life as a sign and a wonder to those around us.  I am amazed.

Then He spoke Psalm 71:21.  Honestly, I had to spend at least 30 minutes before I even understood what it was He was saying in this one....

You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

What?  My greatness (I didn't even know I had any)?  After research of the word honor and greatness, I found that He was saying that He plans (or is) to bring an increase to my influence to those around me.  He is going to display the greatness of His character and His actions in my life. What does one say to this? 

So here I stand, waiting on Him and praying that this influence brings many many (can I believe for all 147 million orphans Lord?) into families of believers.  It is my prayer. It is my heart's desire.  Oh, Lord you indeed are my Hope and my Comfort.

Sharing, not to exalt me...but to show you that God does speak and that He has stuff He wants to share with you too.  He wants to bring Glory to His Name...and guess what...He wants to use us.  I can't get my mind about it, but my heart screams, "YES!'

Orphan Care.. Deeper into the Father's Heart

Day 4- of 40 Day Prayer Guide for Orphan Care

God's HEART for the ORPHAN

Today, ask the Lord to help your church congregation to FEEL His heart for the orphans as seen in

Psalm 68:5-6
"A Father (Abba-Papa-Daddy) to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families...."

This verse is about God's love, care and deep concern for those who are fatherless (orphans, those without one or more parent.)  It says, (be still my HEART) that He places the orphans (the lonely) in families! This means He is all about adoption. Oh that more Believers would ask if He want them to adopt!

A little word study:

definition of lonely: solitary, only, only one, dear one, precious one, the forsaken, the wretched. (Strong's Dictionary H3173).

definition of orphan: A child who is bereaved of father or mother or of both. (from the Noah Webster
1828 Dictionary).

definition of set: to dwell, have one's abode,to cause to abide, set,, to cause to dwell, to set, place. ( from Strong's H3427- yashab).

                                                                  ********

This clearly means that God's intention is for orphans to not be in orphanages (this is not a family!!) He desires that these cast offs, these fatherless ~are dear and precious to Him (as if they were the only ones before His eyes and very dear to Him)...He places and sets them into willing families! Oh God, please hear our prayer and move your Church. Change Believer's hearts about adoption, make them aware of your command to care for your orphans. Oh Lord that we would see You move in our own churches, that you would SET orphans into families in our church.

Oh Lord, there is in excess of 147 MILLION orphans today in this world, how this must sadden your heart; knowing that You have commanded us to care for them and it is YOUR heart's desire to place them into families. Let the Believer's awaken and let these orphans be arrows in your hand.

Oh Father, let them become ours and let us wholeheartedly embark into training them to serve You. What a powerful testimony each of these precious children has, what a powerful tool in Your hand and what an army of 147 Million that can carry Your gospel into all of the world. Arise Oh God and hear our cry. Bring us into a new level of your Love and understanding.

 In Jesus' Name I pray. amen!

                                                             James 1:27 if you're curious what it says...

Bonding-Adoption

Psalm 9: 10 (New International Version-NIV)

Those who know your name will trust in You, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

I love it in The Amplified Bible too.

and so many of us need to read it like this.

Now on to life at our house...this chapter of my life is to be titled:

Walking out the Call of Adoption....

I am finding it hard to come up with words to go with all of the 1500 pictures I took, while in Ethiopia, adopting our 13 year old daughter.  I will be honest and say that this has been the most *stretching* adoption out of our 7. 

Adopting an older child is wonderful, but so different than infant, toddlers, preschoolers or the oldest we've done up until last week-who was 5 when she first joined us. Really, it is about us being willing to be changed.  In our other adoptions the children (even the sibling group of 3) came to us and were so quickly absorbed into our ways.  This time our baby comes carrying so much that we want to have become us, if that makes sense.  It isn't that we didn't bring culture in or embrace who are children were with our previous adoptions, but somehow we are finding this totally different.  Maybe it is that we have a language difference that right now is huge?  Or maybe it is just time for a radical life change.

I have to be honest and say I don't know how you would do this without a relationship with God.  How you would find the strength or the energy (or the wisdom) that is required to walk it out.  We are relying on Him, we are seeking Him through prayer and being fed and led by His Word (the Bible).  How thankful we are to have friends praying for us moment by moment, without you, I am sure we would be totally undone right now.

So thank you.  Please don't stop praying and seeking God's help for us. 

Our Ethiopian girl is very sweet. 

She is also very stubborn.

She knows what she likes or wants and doesn't.  She hasn't had a parent for 6 years.  Sometimes we tell her something and she looks at us and says, "No." An example being Sunday morning when my oldest told her to get dressed for church.  She said," No, pj's."  She doesn't yet see the God who she loved and worshiped in Ethiopia, as the same God here in America; the same God at our church where we worship together as a family.  Post church service she decided she had enough and walked out of the building alone.  I guess in Woliso this was okay, do as you wish.  There were no *strangers* to worry of, no crime, or so we are told by our friend Alazar who educated us on the ways of the orphan and of Ethiopian culture.  So different than here I am afraid.

We are working on language.  She has asked for school, so I am beginning a bit of math and I found some ESL (English as a second language for children) that I am introducing.  She is smart and happy to do school.  Last night we took her on a shopping trip to get her school items, she was very enthusiastic.  I am not sure she understands that she will be home schooled, that this is what God has for her and our family.  We now wish in hindsight that we had them explain it to her while we were in Ethiopia, (heads up for other families who will be walking this same road.)  School of course is bits and pieces for the moment, my other children are all finished for the year, as we accelerated our year for her arrival.  I am confident that God will provide what she needs and what will be the very best for her and for us. 

Moment by moment and breath by breath we will seek His face.  He knows what He is doing and that this isn't more than we are able to handle.  He will walk it out with us and help us love one another.  We love her so deeply and want her to know that.

We are thankful for surprises...like finding worship music in Amharic on You Tube.  This makes our daughter so very happy.  She knows to just stay in the *Church music* as she calls it.  She sings and worships with abandon in Amharic.  We get to see a glimpse of her love for Him in these moments and are eager for the day when her two worlds join and she walks into the fullness of life that He has for her.

*You Tube is a tool in His hand, He can use whatever it is He wishes to accomplish His purposes in our lives!  A warning comes with it though, please use discernment and govern your children.  There is much good available on You Tube (or the internet, or television), but also much EVIL.  My children have been clearly taught, *Garbage in garbage out.*  What we put before our eyes, goes into our heart, it goes into our minds, it comes out of our mouths.  Be careful little eyes what you *see!*

Off to pray for Day 3 of my family's 40 Days of Prayer for Orphan Care.  Pastor Rick Warren (who wrote a Purpose Driven Life) has so graciously shared this with all of us to join in...how thankful I am when God leads me by His Spirit deeper into His heart.  How grateful I am not to have to *reinvent the wheel* each day, but to just humble myself and follow Him.  It's not too late to join us....all the info is in yesterdays post....I double dog dare you to jump in...I can assure you that

 WE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!

Grace Guest House-Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Bonding on Day One of our journey in Ethiopia.  My beautiful girl braiding my hair.

40 Days of Prayer for Orphan Care...Begins today!

I am going to post this, in case any of you feel led to join me in daring to jump into what God would have for us in putting James 1:27 into action.  I don't know if He is asking me/us just to pray, or if there is a bigger picture, my eyes don't quite know the whole vision God is sharing yet.  Today, we will begin with Day One of the prayer guide (see bottom link to 40 days of prayer).

 However, I will tell you that the passion and fire within has led me to a new level of prayer and to the point where I can feel God growing me in a new level of brokenness for the fatherless.  A few days ago I experience something in the physical that felt like *growing pains* that I had as a child.  I asked God if it was that I was just so tired from the adoption trip to Ethiopia and back...

He said, "No, it isn't jet lag, it is MY Spirit.  I am growing you to a new level of love.  Follow me." 

So I invite you to also to follow Him with abandonment like you have never yet known. Let us never be the same again!

When I got home from Ethiopia last week, I began to pray about what He'd have me to do now.  He spoke to my heart about praying for orphan care.  He then led me to Pastor Rick Warren's site, as I had no idea of how to begin with such things.  I am enclosing a link.  Feel free to join us, click on each page to print it off from this site.  We will also add a day of fasting (for my family it will be Tuesdays)...to which we will be introducing *fasting* to our children.  Our Children will participate (any or all who are willing on that day) in a Daniel Fast.  My husband and I will do a full fast, which means abstaining from all food and drink for a day. Let me know if you need help, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

I know there isn't a lot of time to think on this...but as this is a move of the Spirit, sometimes we have to be willing to move in the *suddenlies* of God.

40 Day Prayer Guide for Orphan Care

I will also link to the main site page for more help and resources for you as you seek God's hand and heart in this!

Saddleback Church Orphan Care Connection

Adoption~ Meeting in Ethiopia

The Welcoming Committee!  

A donkey and two street dogs... and yes, the donkey is just walking about with nobody overseeing him.  (so tempting for me, as I love donkeys...I'd love to bring him home too!)

A map that shows the children where they will be going in the United States, when they are adopted.  The Transition House is a preparation home the children who have passed the *court* stage move to when their travel time is approaching. It is about a 20 minute ride from Grace Guest House (which we love, love, loved and highly recommend).

Shortly after our arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia-we dropped our luggage off at Grace Guest House and then headed out to Celebrate Children International's Transition House to meet our new daughter, Princess Sweetness.

We were fortunate to be traveling with the director of the agency, Sue Hedberg, so she was hand in hand with us for this God adventure.

Our emotions were on edge, we were so eager to hold our new daughter and begin the bonding process with her.

The New Family...well plus one wee one who wanted to be held.

The girl responsible for the oversight of the Transition House, Hewitt.  A lovely young woman with a heart filled with love for these children who have had so little.  She helps over the few weeks she has them to prepare them for the transition from orphan to family; no small undertaking to bear.

Our girl on her bed.

Another woman who works caring for the children at the Transition House. 

Another caretaker (maybe I can find out the names of these precious ladies in the moment somehow we didn't write them all down.)

Ethiopians are such loving people, another caretaker of our daughter.

There were children ranging from infant to 16 years old, I'd guess about 20 waiting children being prepared for their coming families.  Sue was in Ethiopia to escort a little baby girl home, what a precious bundle to deliver to her expectant family.

You better believe that I held and kissed as many of the children who were there.  How could I not they are all so beautiful and so eager to receive love. 

The water tank on the roof of the Transition House.  Water is often hard to come by in Ethiopia, especially in the non-raining months of the year.

Oh how we love Ethiopia and its people.  We will continue to pray for Ethiopia and for adoptions, how can we not, God has taken His finger and written them on our hearts.

From Home:

Things are going well, with a few moments of struggle.
 Please keep us in prayer!