The phone call

Friday, December 10, 2010 we heard some devastating news from our sending agency. Referrals were not coming out of Ethiopia as fast as they would like, which means we probably wouldn't get a referral until the end of 2011. We were heart broken. With the bad news from my friend who tried to get her baby home, but couldn't...to this depressing news. I was wondering why we had even tried. About a month before that phone call we had decided to hold off on sending in our Dossier because of the mess in Ethiopia. We were praying about switching agencies, but scared we would have to start all over again on the waiting list. The waiting was killing me. I've already waited 11 years for another child and now I would have to wait again.

Sunday, December 12, 2010 we received a phone call from a dear friend. Brent was talking, writing things down and walking around the house. I was his shadow asking in a whispering voice "what is going on"? After the long conversation that seemed to take forever, he sat me down and told me about the conversation. He said..."two beautiful little girls are ready to be adopted in the state of Indiana. They are from Ethiopia and have only been in the states for 4 months." I sat their with my mouth open and then started to cry. I knew at that very moment that God had heard my cries and said "My child, you have waited long enough. You asked for one baby, but I'm going to give you two." We called our friend back and received some more information about the children and then asked for the phone number so we could talk with this family. We prayed together and then called right away. Immediately we felt a connection and asked to meet with them. They asked if we wanted to see a picture of the girls and of course my response was "Yes". When we received the email, we hesitated a moment and asked each other if we really wanted to do this...without an answer, Brent clicked on the image of the girls. We both started to cry and then held each other while we stared at the most beautiful little girl we have ever seen. We filled Haley in on what was going on and she started to cry. We held her in our arms and stared at the pictures. Then the 3 of us held on to each other and sobbed. The only thing that was going through my mind was how awesome our God is. I felt so unworthy, but grateful all at the same time.

Our first meeting with Mabrae and Mekdez was filled with so many emotions, but the 3 of us knew the moment we looked into their eyes they were our miracle babies.

I often think about the traveling that we would of had to do...going to Africa twice would have been so hard on Brent. He doesn't like to travel and was actually dreading going to Africa. I was excited about the adventure, but I also understand how sick Brent gets when he travels. God knew and worked it out so that we still get our Ethiopian babies that we prayed for, but we don't have to travel to Africa to get them...we have to travel to Indiana.

Our story is unique, but this gives us an opportunity to tell everyone about our incredible God. We are forever and eternally grateful for our friends who thought of us and made that phone call, and we are forever and eternally grateful for this family that God chose to be a vessel. Some people would call this fate...I call it a miracle. Thank you God for choosing us to parent these beautiful girls. YOU ARE AMAZING!

Mabrae and Mekdez will be at our Adoption Fundraiser on January 29. We should have legal custody of them sometime in February.

A bit down today

You know the feeling when you've worked so hard at something and you set your expectations way too high and then you start to realize that you shouldn't have done that? Well, that's where I am right now. Not sure if I ever want to do another Fundraiser again. This is wearing me down. It's hard to see so many "No's and unanswered RSVP's. I know it's a busy season and times are tough, but I'm tired and I just want this to end. Brent tells me all the time that we are blessed to have so many friends that care about us. I wish I was stronger. There are people attending our Fundraiser that we don't know very well and I cry when I see their names on our RSVP list. I look at our growing list and touch the names of those attending and ask a blessing over everyone. I am overwhelmed by their support. Our Fundraiser is in just a few short weeks and I'm scared, excited and nervous all at the same time. I know God will provide the funds...I know it because He said it. The evil one tries so hard to put doubts in my head, but I can't look at the "No's" on our list...I have to stay focused and look at all the friends that have said "Yes". As I write this my heart is starting to feel blessed. Will I have times of sadness? Yes. Will I have times of gladness? Yes. It's what I choose to do with my life that will make who I am. I choose "JOY".

Thank you to all my friends who are supporting us on this Journey. I am looking forward to the day that you get to meet the little ones you helped bring home.

May God Bless you.

Fundraiser January 29

We have our BIG Fundraiser on January 29 from 12:30-2:30 at Outback Steakhouse in Grandville, MI and I'm really scared that we won't reach our goal of selling 150 tickets. Times are tough right now and it's hard asking for help, but I have to believe that we will be OK no matter what the outcome. I keep praying that we start receiving phone calls regarding tickets, but so far...not very many calls have come in and the last thing I want to do is guilt our family and friends into coming. I put up some posters at work and I've been very surprised at some of the reactions I've been getting. Most people look at it and then look away really quickly and don't say a word, others read it and then say "good luck" and some ask questions and then say "so happy for you, hope you get what you need." I'm very tempted to take down the posters because of how uncomfortable it is, but I will leave them up and see what God does. I just have to keep praying and letting go, because I know that I can't force anyone to come...I will leave this in God's hands.

We are moving along very quickly with this adoption and should be hearing some news shortly about where we are on the waiting list. We are so excited and can't wait to fill our home.

Please keep praying with us.