New TTDs

We received our new tentative travel dates today. If we pass court on June 16, then we hope to leave the first weekend in July and be gone a week. We have tickets on hold with Susan Parr Travel, and our travel dates will be confirmed by Friday, 19th if we pass. I'm pretty sure Susan is tired of holding tickets and cancelling tickets for us over and over...so that makes one more person hoping that third time's the charm! There are alot of other AWAA families with court within a week of us, so we should have a good travel group if all goes well!
PS. if you are a burglar with evil intentions our house will not be empty..and our babysitter is a black belt in Taequondo!

The Audacity to Hope

Two weeks to our third court date. I am once again prepared for the worst. But inside me lurks the audacity to hope. Perhaps it is because I have seen God work in the past and i trust Him for the future. Perhaps it's because dean and i have recently been on a low-carb, low-fat diet and a 5 day running/biking exercize plan and we said we'd order Pizza Hut the night we pass court.....Romans 5:
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

"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.

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!!

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.

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.