We did it!!!

What did we do?? We signed on with the adoption agency we hope to bring our son home with. After prayer, talking to CHSFS, and each other, we decided to go with them. At this time projected times for referral are still about 9 months, That means if we complete our home study in 2 months and court in ET in 3 months we will have baby home in the summer of 2009. That sounds so far away, but we are all VERY excited to get things going!!!

A son? The Voice of Truth...

Those "voices" are so loud sometimes, so loud I have to cry out; cry out to my King, my Refuge, my Strength; cry out to hear HIS VOICE. I need to hear HIS Voice, I need to believe what He is telling me, what HIS word has already said...

Today I came across this song and all I could do was cry...and thank my sweet Abba!!!

Voice Of Truth Lyrics
Artist (Band):Casting Crowns

Oh, what I would do to have

the kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is,
And he's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name
and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win,
you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

but the stone was just the right size
to put the giant on the ground
and the waves they don't seem so high
from on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
singing over me

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says do not be afraid
And the voice of truth says this is for my glory
Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)
I will choose to listen and believe (I will choose to listen and believe)
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

I will listen and believe
I will listen and believe the voice of truth
I will listen and believe
'Cause Jesus you are the voice of truth
And I will listen to you.. Oh you are

A battle in the heavenlies and in my living room too...

This last week has been, well incredible. Every little aggravating thing that could happen has happened, especially with anything that has to do with the adoption OR with giving us time to get to the adoption paperwork. It got to the point today that I IM'ed Samuel wondering if we were crazy doing this. Of course he reminded me how the exact same thing happened with both of the previous adoptions and even with our journeys to conceive and carry Avonlea and Olivia!

One area we would ask you to stand with us in is concerning which agency to use. As you know we had pretty much chosen one from the agencies I had found and passed on to Samuel. However, after hearing there are 540 families in the program presently (this means we may be waiting almost 2 years for a referral.) I began to do more searching and I have found a new agency working in ET. The major issues with waiting are our ages and more importantly the fact that both of us felt it was time to move on with an adoption now, as opposed to waiting a year for VN to open again. I hate this part, have I said that before? I hate that foolish thought that comes to mind and says, "You're going to go with the wrong agency and you'll miss bringing YOUR son home." I know where the thought comes from... and I know it is NOT the Lord. So I must quiet myself and wait on the Lord, wait to hear HIS voice...

Strolling down memory lane...

Gathering documents for our application I was curious to see our family photos for Annelise' and Amelia's Adoptions.The way were were as 4!


The way were were as 5!


The way we are as 6!

For the RIGHT REASONS...

Last night we we worked late into the evening on adoption paperwork. The first step was just to organize what needs to go to who and when, LOL! WHEW!

Anyway, this morning I got an email from another PAP (Prospective Adoptive Parent) stating that dossiers may still be accepted in VN until 5/1.

Very interesting timing. Right as we are about to sign on the dotted line with an agency for an adoption in Ethiopia. Samuel and I took time out to pray ans asked others to stand with us. We wanted to make sure we were heading in the right direction for the RIGHT REASONS. It didn't take long for us to realize that even if VN was an option God had opened our hearts to Africa and we were thrilled to follow HIM there!

I believe the timing of this email was perfect. It gave us the opportunity to decide on Ethiopia based on desire. Amazingly shortly after we prayed I received an email from our old adoption agency. It read:
"Vietnam is going to close to adoptions, and when they open up again to the US, will at best, be awhile. I would recommend you look elsewhere. We are, of course, heartbroken about Vietnam and pray that the issues will be resolved soon."

Amazing how a few days or even hours can change things in the world of International Adoptions!

Buried in paperwork and ...

I need to come up for a breath of fresh air! Seriously I don't remember there being this much paperwork before. There's a hill for Homeland security/USCIS, a mound for CHSFS and a mountain for our homestudy agency, CAS! WHEW!!!

Time to start my signature line!!!

Just a reminder to everyone of some fun adoption terminology that I will be using in my timeline...

Paper Peddlers-filling out papers for our agency to use to put together our homestudy.

Paper Chasing- gathering papers for our dossier. So what is a dossier?

Dossier- official documents sent to the foreign country and used in the adoption process.

Lady in Waiting-once dossier is complete the wait to meet your baby begins

Paper Pregnant- you receive your referral and WAIT for the adoption to be approved

Mama!!!-travel approval, we’re on our way to get you baby!!!

Big? No way...

As you all know we have 4 children, only 4 children. So you can imagine how floored I was this week that at 2 different take out places we got the ,"You want 6 waters?" and" "You want 6 sandwiches?" Here we are thinking we have a small family and people think we're crazy to want more. Our children are treasures from heaven, blessings given to us by God and if HE desires to bless us again we are thrilled!!!

Ethiopian food...

Today we were blessed to finally be able to go to USCIS in Charlotte to have an interview for Annelise's Certificate Of Citizenship. Though she was officially made a citizen when we adopted her in Tampa the COC document just gives that extra layer of protection, if you know what I mean.

While in Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes from our house, we decided to check out a local Ethiopian restaurant, which came highly recommended. The food was served family style and with no utensils. Along with the entree you receive a spongy tortilla type bread call injera which you use to 'pick' up the food. Lot's of fun and the food was great!

Can you guess???

Ok, I am pleasantly surprised,

NAH, shocked,

NAH, giddy with joy!!! WHY???

I just got an email from Nora!

“Our social work and country program staff say that your family should be fine for an adoption from Ethiopia."

WOOOHOOO!!!!!! PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!

So now to start on all that paperwork!

I am amazed...

So what I am about to write amazes even me. I cannot believe that a month or so ago I would have not been affected at all if we could not adopt from Ethiopia yet now the thought of CHSFS coming back and saying they would not recommend we adopt from there just makes me sad...and I feel an ache in my heart...

I emailed the information out to CHSFS on 2/26 so it has only been 3 working days they have had it. We really don't expect any news for a while but how I wish and pray we would hear something sooner than later...

Agency research...

We have spent the week looking at YouTube spots on Ethiopian adoption, testimonies about CHSFS and Ethiopia, videos on their website about the child care centers, adoption DVD's from several agencies, DVD of waiting Ethiopian children and sibling groups and reading through a stack of adoption agency "stuff". Though we have contacted several agencies and done our homework on several more (there are MANY forums you can join to check on adoption agencies) CHSFS really stands out. They comes highly recommended, are highly respected in the adoption community and as we watched the video of the care center in Adis Ababa we were so blessed to see how well the children were being cared for. That really is what this is all abut...the children!