Sweeeeeet

"Princess" who is our 7 year old daughter calls our daughter we're adopting, 'Our precious daughter'. When we pray for her or when she talks about her that is how she refers to her. Not her sister, or as Little Man (who is 5) says 'Our little girl in Liberia'. I just crack up every time I hear her say it. Tonight while we were at a church service we saw a little African American girl and Princess noted how cute she was and asked if 'Our little daughter will be that cute'. Even cuter, I'm sure!

Encouragement through this process

Last week we had a Bible conference at church. One night they talked about processes in general and gave some very good points. It really made me think of the whole adoption process. So, I wanted to share in hope that maybe it will encourage you as it did I.



He said processes are:
1. Unseen- we can't see what is happening at the time
2. Unhurried- we are unable to hurry them along
3. Unenduring- the process may not always be enjoyable but the end result is worth it

Then he also made a very good point: Opposition and oppression always arise with opportunity.

Of course we don't see behind the scenes the process of our adoption. We can't hurry them along, although many times we'd like to think we could! Sometimes the process really stinks. Maybe it takes forever, maybe you lose a referral. Or maybe you can't raise the funds and you're really stretched. But to bring our precious children HOME is worth all of the strife we face in the process.

And I have read from so many that they also have faced opposition from people, just as we have. With any opportunity this will happen. But how it really seems to happen to us when we're in the adoption process, yes? Not everybody will agree with what we're doing and many may vocalize their thoughts. But we need to keep in mind that we are working and employed by our Lord. We're doing what He has called us to and we need to keep our eyes on the path He laid out for us.



So while you are praying for your family through this process remember you are not alone and lift up a prayer for the other families enduring similar situations.

Hebrews 12: 1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A touching video

If you go here you can see another touching video on Liberia.

God is Good

What an awesome testimony of God's work. I remember praying for Darling Boy. I even sent a couple of emails asking for help for this boy. Just take a look at how God's hand has worked to change this boys life. God is good!

Getting Old

This waiting game is so frustrating. Every day I go to the mailbox in anticipation that we've received our I171h. But it hasn't been there yet. I know it will come, but every day we wait puts us a day later that we wait to see our daughter, to even know her name. And now our agency is changing some things and they're saying not to expect your child home for a year once they get everything for the dossier, including the I171h. So, that means we won't see our daughter until next fall or winter? Here I was hoping by the time we moved next summer we'd have her! I know AoH is doing all they can and I'm so thankful for their hard work. I am just not very good at waiting. Especially in circumstances like this. And so we wait some more.

I have a confession to make also. I have some built up hostility in my heart and I hate feeling that way. You see, it is no problem for a young woman to stand in front of our Sunday School class and share about her mission trip to England and to hand out prayer cards. This woman I've only seen at Sunday School a handful of times. I admit she has been preparing for this trip and I think she has even been serving on a different one. But when it is ok for one person to share about that, yet we are unable to share about our adoption? I have a really hard time not having resentment. It's not like we'd get up there and ask for money. We just wanted to share what God had laid upon our hearts. We're no different than the missionary going overseas...we will simply be a missionary in our own home. And part of me thinks that I shouldn't care. After all, next year at this time we'll be long gone from here. But at the same time this is our church family and they should be supportive and allow us to speak about how God is working in our lives. So, please pray that I can resolve this resentment I have built up in me.

Janet

My dear friend, Kim is adopting a 12 year old Liberian girl from another agency. A lady just returned from Dixville and had taken so many pictures of the children there, one of whom was Janet, Kim's daughter. I wanted to post one of the pictures of this beautiful girl! I cannot wait until she comes home to her family!!!

News

Zach has been real antsy lately wondering when we'll get our 171h. For some reason I keep thinking it has been only a month, but on Wednesday it will have been two months since we got fingerprinted. I bet God did that on purpose so it doesn't seem so L-O-N-G! Funny. Anyway, you can never find who to contact regarding it all. Zach emailed them and is hoping to hear back within two days. In the mean time I emailed our social worker, Jennifer, who did our homestudy and asked her if she knew how long they were taking. Here is her response:

Hey, Jamie! I actually spoke with someone at CIS on Friday. They were doing something with your case (I'm not sure what). They had the addendum and were trying to match it with your home study. She was supposed to let me know by today if she could not locate your home study and I haven't heard from her. So, at least you know they are working on you.I will let you know if I hear anything else.

So I am praying that our homestudy did not get lost and that they're simply working on our approval and I'm believing we will get it soon!