ELI ABDIKEGNA!!!

We bought a beautiful African painting for Eli's bedroom in which the artist printed words throughout the painting.  I get choked up every time I read them:

"I remember that moment when your heart called to me.  It was then that I began to search for you.  We searched.  We longingly searched for your face. Then we saw you.  We knew you, yes we knew you.  We'd travel those broken roads over again.  We climbed each and every mountain.  Loved. Chosen. Forever."

3 years and 3 countries later -- I am a mommy of 3! Only God can write this story.

                        

                                    Our first day meeting Eli!

We passed court! Eli is officially our son!

So happy!!

He loved playing with Mommy's sunglasses!

         

                Eli and his best friend, Tate!  They're from the same village and close in age! Tate's mommy has become a very close friend of mine.

Babe of my heart, right here.
"Our Hope",
Eli Abdikegna

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE!!!!!

Praise God --- we are finally going to meet our sweet Eli!! I am so beyond elated, and relieved.  Our flight leaves in 24 hours!!!  This month has been very difficult with a lot of unknowns and our hearts have been especially weary.  But God has moved mountains for us and we have a court date for next week!!!  WHOOOOO HOOOO!!! :)

When The Going Gets Tough...

…. the Tough  Get Going??

Yeah, I'm definitely not there quite yet.  I'm more like… "The 'Tough' Face-Plant It and Bawl Like a Baby".

I can't go into details quite yet.  I will when things smooth out.  But for now, I can say this:  We've come to (another) road block completely unexpectedly and in such bad timing.

We'd appreciate your prayers so much: for quick resolutions, peace and surrender for our hearts, and for smoother waters.

Thank you, thank you!!!

XOXO

"When God winks"

There's a book called "When God Winks" by SQuire Rushnell.  I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but it's on my list!  The preview/summary of the book describes, "How God speaks directly to you through the power of coincidence."  I usually call it a God-incidence, but I love the word "God-winks" so we'll go with that.

For several weeks I couldn't help but feel that God had almost been "radio silent."  I'd pray the same prayers over and over and over. "Please, Lord, move mountains to get such-and-such paper for us…" "Please give me peace of heart today…" "Please Lord, I need something. Give me something. I need to know You've got this…"  I can't even count the number of times that I've sat on the rocker in Eli's room at night, just praying and crying.  And sometimes I'd find myself just sitting on that rocker without any thoughts. Just kind of a numb feeling.  My mind eventually grew too exhausted from the hurdles and obstacles that have been coming at every. single. step -- and my heart eventually grew too weary to feel too much sometimes.  Think "zombie-like" wife/mom/teacher/friend -- all the time.  My poor mom -- having to work with me and share a living space with me!  One evening she just said something to the effect, "I know you've got a child on the other side of the world, but you've got to get yourself together and focus on the here and now…"  Nothing like a swift kick in the pants from Mom! Always seems to do the trick! ;)  And wouldn't you know -- that very night my cell phone completely fried.  No more frantic email checks or frenzied reads on the adoptive Facebook group I'm a part of.  That may just have been a much-needed "God-wink"!

And then I had the privilege of hearing an amazing Ethiopian pastor share 2 different messages in 1 day! He visits our church each year, and I am telling you -- this man is ANOINTED.  There is absolutely no other way to describe it.  I, of course, will not do justice in trying to re-tell his messages. But for the sake of me trying to record this for Eli some day, I'll do my best.

Dr. B's first message was on John 11.  You know the story -- it's the one of Lazarus and Mary and Martha.  Lazarus is very sick and the sisters say to Jesus, "Come quickly!" -- and Jesus comes 4 days later.  4 days later!  How many times do we say this same thing -- "Come quickly!" ?  (This alone gave me great pause.)

When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had already died.  The very FIRST thing Jesus did upon arriving was GIVE THANKS to God.  (What!? Give thanks!? For what?? Jesus' very special friend had just died!) We must always look UP and give Thanks.  No matter the circumstances.   And then Jesus said, "REMOVE THE STONES".  Dr. B described the stones as barriers between ourselves and Jesus.  Stones are dry and hard.  (Hmmm…. yup, I've definitely got me some barriers right now. And they're barriers that I've placed.  Anxiety, fear, worry, lack of faith and hope, impatience….) Now by this time, Mary and Martha, and even Jesus' disciples could not understand why Jesus would want the stones removed.  After all, Lazarus had already died.  But Jesus' act of having the stones removed reminds us that if we ONLY BELIEVE, we will see the glory of God in our future.  Everything that we do, should be to bring glory to God!

And then Jesus proclaimed, "Lazarus, COME OUT!"  Dr. B related this to DOING SOMETHING. If you feel a pull, a push, a tug.  Do! Something! The glory of God will be behind you.

And finally, Jesus said, "UNBIND HIM."  In other words, Go. And Do.  The will of God.

AMEN to that!!

Then that evening I went to a smaller service, again with Dr. B.  His message was all about "Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!"  "Trust ME", He says.  God-wink! :)  I was a hot mess.  Like totally and completely.  Tears and mascara were running all the way down my neck. My cheeks and ears were on fire. My nose was running and I had no kleenex! I think at one point I even snorted a little.  But whatever.  I went to Dr. B for prayer and right then and there, I could feel the Spirit move within me and bring me peace. 4 days later we were finally submitted for our 1st court date.

And then -- just a few days ago, I found another God-wink in the form of a sweet gift-wrapped package and card tucked inside our storm door.  The gift -- a beautiful reminder of Our Hope -- and of God's promises for Eli and our family.   From a dear dear friend, that knows all about digging deep for Hope.  My sweet friend -- (you know who you are) -- you lifted me up when I opened this and read your words, and each time I look at your beautiful gift.   I lift prayers for you and yours.  XOXO {But I'd really like to know at what time of day/night you slipped that little package in my door!!} :)

"When God winks, He is reaffirming that there is absolutely nothing about us that He does not know -- our every hurt.  Our every desire.  And that, to me, is very comforting." - SQuire Rushnell

Exciting Anticipation!!

Praise the Lord, our 1st court went well on Tuesday!!  I woke that morning with such peace!  My kinders and co-workers prayed over me the day before.  It was so uplifting.  The cutest were the reactions from my kiddos, "Why do you have black all over your face?" or "I saw Ms. Cindy's tears!" or "Mrs. V, why are you crying!?" :) It was just the sweetest.

Our agency believes that we will receive MOWA approval next week.  Then we get to TRAVEL -- to meet this beautiful boy -- that we've been praying for and aching for, -- for so very long.

I get teary every time I think about the road we've traveled to get here.  The team, the family of people that have been praying for Eli and our family through this.

I'm really at a loss for words.  Our time is SO close!!!  And as soon as we get approval -- we are LEAVING ON A JET PLANE! :)

EEEK!!!! :)

1st Court Date!!!

Whoo Hoooo!!!  Last Thursday we received word that our 1st court date (in which we do not attend) will be on Tuesday, April 15th!!  What. a. relief.  Those 4.5 weeks of waiting to hear was seriously BRUTAL.

I have been so completely checked out these last 3-4 months.  I feel so badly for my family and my mom (because she works with me!), but it's truly something I have not been able to shake away from.  My every waking thought is about this adoption.  This worry, fear, anxiety, and teetering hope is just shaking me to my core.  These are things I've never really experienced -- and it's been such a challenge to let go of everything and "let God be God".

Today is Palm Sunday and the sermon was on HOPE.  It was perfect timing for me to be reminded to give back to Christ, those things which He's already taken for me on the cross: fear, anxiety, micro-managing tendencies…

So between now and tomorrow night (since by the time I awake on Tuesday, the court hearing will have been done already) I will definitely be praying over this court hearing!! -- but I will also be praying for the strength to "Be Still".

Living Hope

Such exciting news for our family to learn that on March 11th we were finally submitted to court! We are so thankful!!  But these last 3 weeks have been really tough, as we've not received any court dates yet, and it's becoming more than disheartening.  (Apparently the court house is moving due to construction going on around the court site, so there are now delays.  And of course we would land in this timing too! :/ ) Truly, I am just feeling emotionally exhausted.  Each little step has brought new roadblocks, and my heart is feeling deflated.  It will be close to 1 year post-referral by the time we finally get Eli home. :(

But I'm trying really hard to keep the faith and hang on to that hope that only God can give.  And I'm learning how to have a living hope.  Through all of our roadblocks, anxieties, fears, and times of impatience.

Which brings me to something very special to my heart.  Living Hope Maternity Home is the only maternity home available for single mothers in crisis pregnancies.  God brought me to this ministry in a very special way in January as I was taking a day of fasting and prayer.  (See January post).  Right then I knew that I was to become part of this maternity home, and it would would become a part of me.  So a  little over a week ago I hosted a "Blessing Party" for the women and babies of the maternity home.  Several very special lady friends and family stopped over for some treats, fun conversation, and to share donations for the Maternity Home that we will bring over with us when we finally travel!

My heart is still swollen thinking of the ways in which other moms came together to bless the amazingly brave Ethiopian moms and their babies!  In a way, I feel that this is was a special way for me to honor Eli's first mommy.  I'm really bummed because I only managed to take a few pictures of our first guests… but I feel so good about the turn out that we had throughout the evening!  I can't wait to deliver these gifts!!!

Tenleigh and Mom helping me sort through some donations!

When we're all done situating, I think we will have 3 suitcases to bring!

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf." (Hebrews 6:19-20)