One step closer, but still a mile away

One step closer . . .

This morning I opened my email to a wonderous surprise.  Our case paperwork for "M^" has now been received at the US embassy in Addis.  They will now begin the investigation that affirms this is an ethical adoption.  The investigation is a process that all Ethiopian adoptions go through.  We are anxiously awaiting it's completion.  The last update we had on "M^" was in February.  At that point her medical condition was an issue and spreading.  The paperwork for our case has been flagged as a medical emergency.  Please pray for our sweet girl.  Please pray that the embassy will do everything they can to expedite her case.  Please pray that once she arrives home with us the doctors can work swiftly to heal her.  We ask all of this in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

But still a mile away . . .

The road is still long for our adoption process.  There is a court date for the birthfamily/orphange and a review of all the paperwork.  We still have to wait for a PAIR letter giving US government approval of our case.  There are multiple hurdles still in our path.  So many kind people ask us if we're getting closer.  We are, but with so much still ahead.  We honestly have no idea when we'll actually get to travel to bring home our sweet "M^".  We still hope that it will be August or so, but we honestly have no idea.  The medical expedite could move her case along quickly.  However, there are still so many snags that could occur.  Even when we do travel there will still be a court date for us, embassy medical exam, passport application, embassy interview and US visa application.  It's a long road, but we take each step one at a time in faith that we will bring our sweet girl home.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

Rummage Sale Success and an Adoption Update

After much preparation it was rummage sale weekend!  A huge thank you to all those families that donated items for our Adoption Fund Rummage Sale!  Thanks to all those that came to the sale!  Thanks to our awesome daughters and awesome Mammy (Kevin's mom) for working so hard setting up and taking down the sale with us.  We can't say thank you enough!  We are truly blessed!  The sale was extremely successful . . . drum roll please . . . we were able to raise just over $700.  We are truly blessed by our community!

The girls even sold lemonade and cookies to raise money for "M^"s plane ticket home!  It was a great day of raising money, sharing our story and advocating for adoption.  We will be starting up our next fundraiser in mid-June!  A little sneak-peek . . . a wonderful friend of ours painted some beautiful crosses for us!  More info to come later!

Many people asked where we are at with getting our sweet girl home.  We have filed our I-600 (US immigration paperwork).  We have heard that it is being sent over to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa.  So, our current prayer is that we will hear this week that our paperwork has been received in Ethiopia.  We also pray that the embassy will expedite our paperwork due to her medical condition.  God is watching over our sweet "M^". 

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Happy Birthday Miss "T"!

Today we have the pleasure of celebrating a very special little girl!  

Miss "T" turned 5 years old today.  What a milestone it is!  

My birthday prayer for our sweet girl . . .

From Numbers 6:24-25 . . .

"May God bless you and keep you."  

 Dearest "T", I pray that God may always keep you close to Him.  I pray that you will always recognize God's presence alongside you through your ups and downs in life.  May you always recognize how God blesses you, not with the tangible things in life, but the intangible . . . those pieces that make life worth living.

"May God make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you."  

Precious "T", I pray that you will see the beauty of God shining through every piece of His creation.  May you recognize the face of God in the faces of those you meet.  May you be gracious to others as God has been gracious with you. 

"May God look upon you with favor and give you peace."

My daughter, I pray that God's smile will forever be in you heart.  I want you to always know the comfort that comes from a relationship with you creator.  May you always know that you are a beloved child of God who is loved beyond measure. 

Amen.

Happy 5th Birthday my sweet girl!