Snow, Snow go away....

Wow, spring has finally arrived in North Dakota.  It has been a wonderful week!  The temp. has been in the high 40's and we have shed the winter coats, hats, scarfs, and gloves.  I know I have lived here too long when I feel like sun bathing at 50 degrees.  But I am seriously considering it. 

I just can't believe that we still do not have our little boy home yet!!!  I pray that we get a court date in June or July.  I am worried, because the Ethiopian Government shuts down in August and September.  I don't even want to think about how much longer we are going to wait.  We bought a winter coat for Kidane, guess he won't get to use it until next winter. 

For now we are busy with 500 seedlings in our homemade plant nursery.  We are starting lots of marigolds, zinnia, pansy, petunia, and tomatoes.  I love watching them sprout and grow so quickly.  I am saddened  that I am missing all these months of watching Kidane grow....

Speaking of growing fast, Cassie will be 15 this summer!!!! She is an instructor this month for our homeschool PE group.  She is teaching gymnastics.  I love watching her in this role, and I think she is doing a great job!  Of course, I am biased.  But it's my job to think she is the best!! 

Carrie is also growing and growing, she is taller than me and taller than her big sister!  She is very proud of that fact.  I wonder just how tall she is going to be.....  At least I will be taller than Kidane for a little while,  I just hope he comes home soon lest he be all grown up too....

Here's the Latest News.....

Back at the keyboard....  we did get good news this week.  Kidane's paperwork has been finished!!  That is a big thing for which to be thankful.  The process can now move forward!  However, our case worker also said that she received the list of April and May court dates and we are not on it!!!  So, we pray that we get a date in June.  It just blows my mind how long things can take.  I am very sad because his legal birthday is in May, and he will turn 8 years old.  I really wanted to have him home for his birthday. 

While we wait we have been busy.  Russell built bed frames for Cassie and Carrie.  He had them almost finished and was ready to put drawer fronts on the drawers.  When arrangements were made for a student from the school where Russell works to move in with us.  So, we put the beds in Cassie & Carrie's room.  Then we set up Kidane's future room for the student.  So right now it looks more like a teen room, Nascar Calendar, Desk for lots of studying and bunk beds.  Eventually, it will be blue (Kidane's favorite color) and have lots of little boy stuff in it. 

I suppose God is giving us a little practice at learning to adjust to new people.  Julius has been here for 2 weeks and we can see already that everyone is adjusting better each day.  Julius will be moved out by the end of May when school is out for the summer.  All things work together for good (Rom. 8:28), God knew that Julius needed a place and we had one.  And God is watching over Kidane in the meantime.    

Today Russell bought a Suburban so we can have more room on our long trips to Grandma & Grandpa's house in Tennessee.  He will be busy working on that for the next few months.  It is wrecked and it is in Texas.  Hopefully, he will bring it home in April.  You know,  a Suburban has 7 seats.  When Kidane comes home we will fill 5 of them, hmmmm......  you do the math!  :)

Blizzards and Governments.....

They all have something in common.  They can really change life as you know it!  I don't really have any news so I haven't been posting.  I will try to be more consistent.  I should be posting pictures of the two cuties I already have.  They have kept me busy this past month or so and that has been a good diversion from the news I have received about Kidane. 

The Ethiopian agency MOWA (ministry of women's affairs) released a statement to the Ethiopian government that they would be intentionally slowing down the process of approving adoption cases.  Since the announcement was just made this week there are no other specifics, so we don't know how much time frames are changing, we don't really know how this will affect us.  The adoptive parents who have already gone on their first trip are not going to be affected by this statement since they already  have approval thus they went to court.  For the rest of us, this is not looking good.  All we can do is try to wait patiently. 

The good thing about blizzards is they pass quickly.  Government ....well.....

Prayer for my heart.

Haven't felt like posting anything since we heard that Kidane's paperwork is delayed.  I get tired of the same question "Have you heard anything yet?"  NO, I haven't!!!!  I don't want to think about it.  I don't like it when I am not in control.  Hmmm, maybe you can relate.  I just had to remind myself God loves Kidane more than I ever could.  So,  God please keep him safe.  Please bring him home soon.

What we need most is prayers.  I need your prayers so I can be patient and strong while waiting.  Kidane needs your prayers for protection and health.  The agencies need prayers so they can get this paperwork handled. There are millions of orphans who need prayers. Actually, we all need prayers!

Let's just pray that God comes soon!  And while we wait for Him, lets pray that we can do our part to reach out and help each other.  I am thankful to be a part of the family of God.  I gain strength from fellow believers.  I hang onto the hope of a better future.  I believe that one day Kidane will come home and be a part of our family.  For now, he is a part of my heart!   

Bad news and then more bad news.....

Monday night we got an email that informed us of some paperwork that needed to be updated ASAP.  One of the documents in our dossier (packet of adoption papers) was going to expire on Feb. 15 next week.  So we need to get a new document, notarize it, add a cover letter, get that notarized then get it authenticated by the state of North Dakota, then..... well you get the idea.  More paperwork and more fees.  Our first question was is this document holding up the adoption process.  Thankfully, the answer is no.  It is just a formality.  Everything is moving forward as it should.

Then the "more bad news" came today.  Another group of families was given a court date for the middle of March, and we were supposed to be in that group.  We should be going for court with them.  Well, turns out that because Kidane has been in the orphanage for so long his paperwork is not current.  So, he is not eligible to go to court yet until that is completed.  So, when is that going to happen???  Well, we don't know.  It depends on the Ethiopian government agencies.  So, now we really wait.  What we need most is your prayers.  God is ultimately in control and we know He can make this process happen in His timing.  Please pray for Kidane while he is still waiting in the orphanage. 

Sunshine!

Today is a BEAUTIFUL day!  It is 36 degrees outside and SUNNY!  I needed this, in fact, most people around here would agree we all need this.  The cloudy days were beginning to wear us down.  It causes depression; makes people moody & irritable, and the cold weather has given everyone some cabin fever!  When the sun comes out and warms us up we are much nicer!  God is like the sun.  When we have Him in our lives we are much better people!

The closer I get to meeting our son, the more I am aware that I need THE "Son".  I am so unqualified.  I feel like God is giving me a beautiful present.  I can't wait to "unwrap" this present and meet him for the first time.  We have been waiting for a phone call for 3 months,  and still no court date.  For now, the waiting is a good time to spend time in the "Son" so He can make me the parent He wants me to be.

A picture of love....

Today I bought a small puzzle for Kidane to play with on the plane ride home.  Every time I walk by the little boys clothing section I want to pick out something for him.  But I don't buy it.  I want to know what color he likes,  what  style he wants, what kind he likes....  But for now we are still waiting.  

I have been putting together a scrapbook of pictures for Kidane.  We will take it over on our first visit and leave it with him.  I keep thinking of more pictures to add,  his new sisters, his new home, new friends, lots of snow, and pictures of the house, our family eating, our family playing, our family going to church.  Oh so many new things.  I am sure he will feel overwhelmed.  The most important picture I want to give him is one of our hearts.  How do we show him how much we love him in a picture???