Thursday, May 28, 2009

"Read my lips..."


No. New. Court Date. Got an email response from our agency that pretty much dashed our hopes of moving the date up a little. Some people say "it could be worse", as if that should be a comfort. We are not the only ones in this positon (think: misery loves company?) I know there are people "on hold" right now and my heart goes out to them...and i feel kind of guilty complaining. But, seriously "it could be worse"? (Job, Paging Job, we have found one of your lost friends...) Another favorite is "it is always darkest before the dawn." Which I'm pretty sure is just simply not true. It is always darkest right before it goes pitch black, right? Trust me...i will be ok, but just to make me laugh what are your "favorite" crazy words of "encouragement"/expressions? It will help me while we wait...and wait...

Drink for a good cause!


That's one way to get Louisiana's attention...I'm talking about COFFEE!!!! An AWAA Ethiopia adoptive family in the restaurant biz has started an awesome way to support your adoption (or someone's you know & love). There is no upfront cost to the adoptive family, and each family has it's own page attached to the fair-trade coffee website. Check out this awesome opportunity at http://www.onelovecoffees.com/Site/Home.html.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Are Baptists the New Brangelina?

This year in Louisville, KY Southern Baptists will have a chance to vote on something more meaningful than Mickey Mouse at the convention....
http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/05/19/on-adoption-and-orphan-care-a-proposed-resolution/
If you attend a Southern Baptist church please encourage your messengers to vote "YES" to the adoption & orphan care resolution!!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Joy to the Heart & my new 2nd grader!

Today was the last day of first grade for my sweet potato. Here is an excerpt of his teacher's comments from his report card: "In the following verse i am reminded of JP and his enthusiasm for all things good and right. 'The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.' Psalm 19.8. He works with whatever he does with all of his heart..." He is reading at a third grade, fifth month level and finished in the top 15% in the US on the Presidential Fitness test for pull-ups. Yes, i know I'm bragging:)
On the adoption front, we notarized a new and improved power of attorney this morning, got it authenticated at the Secretary of State's office and FedEx'd it overnight express to AWAA. I'm sure i looked crazy this morning wearing my faded Florida State shirt from 1996 (literally) and a "don't mess with me" look in my eyes. Everyone was so friendly. Hmmmm... So we wait again. Try to hope again. (Hope we don't curse again.) We're trying to enjoy today, and rejoice in the bright-eyed strong boys playing in the next room.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

If you can't say something nice....

come sit next to me. Just kidding. We didn't pass. Our next try is June 16th. That's all i'm going to say about that.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Court Take 2

Tonight, while we sleep MOWA will write our letter and we will go to court again for our sweet JG. Please pray with us for her release to be adopted. If we pass then she is officially our daughter and we will travel soon to bring her home! If not, then we wait. Also going to court tomorrow for their kiddos are the Coles (2nd time, friends of ours from Natchez), the Gillmans, Stacklers, Dragoviches, Francos, Gagnons, and Keiderling family. Imagine what an awesome travel group we would have!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Friday, May 15, 2009

Raining Cats & Dogs (and Mice too!)


Well, today is another graduation at Southern Seminary in Louisville and I'm feeling nostalgic...Seven years ago, on a rainy May day, the campus was in full swing with Trustees in town, professors in their academic robes and tasseled hats, and me, hard at work in Campus Information and Guest Relations. Then, it got really exciting. My water broke. When i asked to leave early, my boss actually said, "Are you sure? The Trustees are in town!" OMG. Seriously. OK, moving on....I called DH to come and get me, and according to my cousin, Matt (who was there when DH got the call), he was in complete shock. While I waited for DH, people came in and out of the big doors of Honeycutt, with their umbrellas in tow. I will never forget what happened next...Dr. Cox walked by, looked at me, and said, "WOW! It really is coming down out there!". Realizing that he was alluding to my, er, drenched appearance, all i could do was smile and say, "it sure is!" with alot of enthusiasm. I decided that maybe i should wait outside for a bit to make sure the soaked look i was now sporting was a little more uniform. So begun one of the most meaningful days of my life. My baby, will be 7 in just a few days. How would i have known then that pain of labor would not compare to the heartbreak of an autism diagnosis? How would i know that the joy of seeing him for the first time would not compare to the joy of him hugging me tightly and not shrinking back? As i look at my tall boy who sports the most amazing dimples, i wonder, "am i even the same person i was 7 years ago?"...standing there soaked with the promise of motherhood, laughing nervously, waiting for our green Honda civic to come into view? The forcast calls for rain this weekend...a perfect day to snuggle on the couch and watch Tom & Jerry for the hundredth time and thank God for His goodness to me.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Sick day and Songs of Joy

My boys are both home today (JP is sick)…and were playing, packing up their Lighting McQueen suitcases to go on an adventure. They were packing hurriedly, even shoving the just-folded clothes into their luggage which of course, drove me crazy. Fast forward through the mom-gets-angry part to the part where they arrive at their journey. I overhear one say, “Wow! We’re finally here…in Ethiopia, Africa!” My ears perk up. I listen while they pretend to talk to their sister, telling her “We are proud of you, JG for waiting so patiently.” My tears start to flow, thinking of how impatient I feel, how sad and how angry I am that we failed court Monday, and that she is not coming home in May. They continue to play, handing her a Dunham pom-pom, books that JP wrote for school (where Tom & Jerry go to a haunted house and pray to God when they are scared. Yes I realize how funny this is.), and their favorite George and Martha book. I go into the laundry room to collect myself…ironic, mainly because the laundry room is so chaotic it is that place one should try to clear their head. I hear T say, “I think I will sing her a lullaby.” (Read my last post.) Then he changes his mind saying, “oh. She doesn’t need one.” I come out from the laundry room and argue with him that she does, in fact, need a lullaby. I glance at the clock reading 12.45…realizing it is almost 9 pm in Addis and she is probably in bed. My heart is sad…T again says, “Mom, she does NOT need a lullaby.” It strikes me not as him being obstinate (at it normally would from my son, so much like me), but instantly I think, “isn’t there a verse about God singing over us”? I found it in Zephaniah 3.17:
"Do not fear;
Zion, let not your hands be weak.
17 The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “ I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly,
Who are among you,
To whom its reproach is a burden.
19 Behold, at that time
I will deal with all who afflict you;
I will save the lame,
And gather those who were driven out;
I will appoint them for praise and fame
In every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will bring you back,
Even at the time I gather you;
For I will give you fame and praise
Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I return your captives before your eyes,”
Says the LORD."
So we wait until next week to hear of our second court date. Maybe longer. But while we wait, we can imagine a melody so sweet being sung over us and our sweet girl. Sleep tight, Gracie!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Not today...

Today's court did not go our way. We did get an explanation...but because of trying to keep JG's particular situation private (it is her story to tell) i cannot share much. We did hear that our new court date is May 20th...and that our agency thinks it is about 50/50...Anna said we need to pray that MOWA writes their recommendation letter in the way that accepts the documentation we have. I trust that our sweet girl is safe, and I pray that she is rocked to sleep tonight with a song of hope and deliverance.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Sarah's Laugh Echoes


In five more nights, our case will be heard in Ethiopia. I've been thinking ALOT lately about Abraham and Sarah. It is an amazing thing, after all this time, to be standing on the shore of faith, looking at the sand...and trusting that one grain stands for our sweet girl. What was it like for Sarah, and old woman, to feel a baby moving around inside of her, or to feel the beginning of labor pains? I can hear her laugh echo in my mind. A laugh of faith mingled with doubt, at the irony of LIFE coming from her almost dead body. But, also in that laugh, i hear hope. I am laughing today. Not unusual for me. Laughing with joy that i stand so close to the fulfillment of a dream....laughing that even though i doubt the stars in the sky and sands on the shore conspire together to preach to me, "HOPE"! 5 more nights...please pray and hope with us.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Update from Ethiopia


We recieved our first update on JG today. It included her new height, weight (she's still tiny), and some general info. The highlights: she is "VERY FUNNY", likes to eat pasta, and has a nanny & friends she is attatched to from her previous orphanage. I saw no hints of chicken pox (it's going around like crazy there) in her pictures...I am not sure if that is good or bad (will she be coming down with them right when we get there?). I needed this today...to see her face. I can't wait to SEE her face.