Waiting for their cousin!!!

My sister-in-law, Kim, shared this with me last week about our niece, Mary Claire:

I wish you could hear Mary Claire pray for you, Vince and your babies. She always prays that you will get them soon, and then she prays that the babies will like you and Vince ...it is funny, and sweet, too.

Mary Claire, we ask God for those very same things!!!

Last fall, we shared with our family that we were pursuing an adoption from Ethiopia. Some time during the Christmas holidays, Spence (Mary Claire's 7 year-old brother) appeared and asked Vince, "Will he be able to play baseball?"

And Vince -- who was utterly confused because the question was so random; we had not even talked about the adoption that day -- responded, "Will who be able to play base ball?"

And Spence said, "You know, that boy."

Still confused, Vince said, "What boy?"

Frustrated, Spence exclaimed, "That boy you're getting from Africa!"

Ah ha! Vince then told Spence that he'd get to teach him (or her) how to play baseball!!

Spence grinned and said, "OK!" His heart obvioulsy at peace again, knowing that little kids from Africa are athletes, too!

Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

The Bitter-Sweet Reality of Adoption

Down - up - and down, again.

This week an AWAA family received news that their little girl (still waiting for them in Ethiopia) had developed pneumonia and was in the hospital.

Our agency also gave three referrals for families waiting for toddlers/older children. Although we are waiting for an infant, my heart absolutely soars when I hear of older children being matched with their forever families. Maybe it's because they are older and can somewhat grasp the gravity of their situation. Some are old enough to dream, or despair, about their future...old enough to wrestle with their desire to belong & be loved...old enough to understand families are adopting children, but perceive they've been left behind. I can only imagine the explosion of hope an older child experiences when they learn that a family is coming for them this time.

Back to the AWAA family's sick baby. She didn't make it. Devastating. This family received their referral almost a month ago...a month of planning for their daughter, looking at her pictures, praying for her, celebrating with friends and family... but, The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Even in the midst of this tragedy, we Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.

Saint Augustine

Eureka Springs!

Take what you can get...at least that's my opinion when it comes to getting-away with my hubby! Yesterday, we made a mad dash to Eureka Springs for an over-night stay. We lodged at a wonderful bed and breakfast, had dinner last night, and did some shopping this afternoon. We've not been to Eureka Springs before, and I highly recommend it if you're ever in the area. It's a charming town in the mountains -- actually, reminiscent of New Orleans -- with fun places to eat, nature to explore, and a quite eccentric atmosphere.

bed and breakfast...

complete with wild-life...
YES, Mr. Healthy ate the french toast souffle!

loved the shops...

and more shops...

NOTE TO SELF: do not plan get-away during major televised sporting event, unless destination has no TV's..hee hee

A Good Week

This Wednesday, several AWAA families met in Branson for a wonderful evening of fellowship & encouragement!

Gillmans, Blackwells, Gibsons (Zoie from ET), Semlows, Cassie Lane & us!

On Tuesday, we had a conference call with Duni, our Ethiopia coordinator. Several exciting updates include: ET staff moving to a larger transition home (more room for the kiddos), another partnership with a new orphanage is being finalized, and more staff has been hired in ET to assist with court procedures.

And more exciting news...the wait for our referral seems to be right on target (5-7 mos). AWAA issued 10 referrals in July, and anticipates issuing 10-15 in August. So where are we?? According to our 'unofficial' list, there are about 15 families ahead of us. Another hint Duni gave about referrals is that all families who specified 'either' gender were always referred boys...hhhmmm :)