japan & jedidiah

here's another way to help with the relief effort in japan

$15 from every shirt purchased will be donated to the world vision/japan disaster relief fund.

check them out

my heart is so full.... a good full!

this morning i got an e.mail from my friend susan who is in ethiopia meeting her kiddos for the first time and to testify in court.
she had already left for her trip when we got our referral.  i sent her a photo consent form to let her take pictures of our little hun-nee!!

we haven't seen pictures yet, but this is the next best thing!

my heart is so FULL!
i am so thankful and grateful that someone that loves us, got to love on our little hun-nee!  it makes my eye fill up with tears EVERY TIME i think about it!!

a new stage of walking by faith...

Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing

March 9, 2011

Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA)  will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011.  Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing.  The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures.  We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent.  If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays.  It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches. 

Prospective adoptive parents should remain in close contact with their adoption service provider to obtain updates on individual cases.

http://adoption.state.gov/news/ethiopia_alert.html 

we know his face...

 friday we received our referral call!!!

we are the PROUD parents of beautiful baby boy

he is about 2 months old

he has gorgeous brown eyes, full lips, and a head FULL of hair!! 

{due to confidentiality we cannot show post his picture}  

but i can show you some feet!!

i mean aren't they the cutest feet ever!?!

we can't stop staring at his picture and our cheeks hurt from smiling!

when we heard "this is your referral call" i just sobbed...really.

i couldn't believe this day was FINALLY here.

evan prayed and thanked God for his faithfulness and especially in the waiting.

we thanked God for our little hun-nee and asked that we could meet him soon!

then we saw him.  our son!!!

we tried the to read the information on him, but our heads were whirling.

he is healthy!!  beautiful!! we are over the moon!!

 my mom was at the women's retreat at our church.... let's just say our good news spread REALLy quickly!  :D

we called our families and a few friends and then quickly filled up our weekend telling people our good news! 

evan talking to lesley

calling matthew

 quick bite with the connelly's and the graham's before we went to tell a few more folks...

co-workers i had met up with after meeting up with karly

 

our kids "meeting" for the first time!

choi's "meeting" our little hun-nee

jacob giving zekel a hug!

unfortunately we didn't get pictures with everyone we saw this weekend.  mainly because we weren't always thinking straight!!  

we met up with evan's family in richmond on saturday evening to celebrate.

evan sharing the picture with his granddad

my favorite moments from the weekend:

THE phone call

our first look

the gasps from evan's family and my brother when they saw him

pat cassada when he opened the door to find us at his door step

every tear, scream, and smile from family and friends rejoicing with us!!

we are exhausted, but it is the best exhausted i think we have ever felt!!

resting

today was truly a peaceful day.

it was BUSY and LONG... but it was a good day

right now i am so thankful for this place of just resting in Him.

this 18th week of being dte has brought a heart change

tears fill and fall from my eyes often

i'm getting better at it

i'm realizing, i would rather cry and have a soft heart

than be "tough" and grow frustrated, angry, and bitter

His timing is perfect

our son is perfect

when we see his face, meet him, and bring him home...

will. be. perfect.

happy birthday dr. seuss!

in honor of dr. seuss' birthday we have read a lot of his books already this week! i linked one of my favorite books, the sneetches!  it has a great meaning!!

(warning: the songs might get stuck in your head!)

He met me

didn't feel like taking the time to read this morning

i wasn't really up for cleaning that wound in my heart

i decided to be faithful and He met me where i was at

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest -matt. 11:28

this morning He gave me rest from my heavy heart...

what happens when

we focus more on our

battles than on God?

our "enemy" appears

bigger, we appear

weaker, and our God

appears smaller. 

                  

God has not forgotten.  He has seen your battles.

He has gathered your tears and blotted your brow.

He knows those who have treated you unfairly.

He knows when you're almost ready to give up or give in.

keep telling Him.  stay in His word.

keep claiming His promises. 

                           -beth moore

psalm 10:14

 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
   you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
   you are the helper of the fatherless.