Growing Families

These families have all received referrals in the past several weeks (and may even be our travel buddies):

The Blackwells
The Halls
The Forrests
The Blacks
The Renos
The Chans

And these families will be in Ethiopia meeting their children this Monday (they might even get to peek at Little Martin):

The Hutchinsons
The Winstroms

Ahhh...Name Dilemma

Shortly after we began our process to adopt from Ethiopia, the Lord placed a name for a boy on my heart. At that point we were not sure if we'd received a referral for a boy or a girl, but I shared the name with Vince anyway. Vince really liked the name, but some time later he discovered the 'long version' of this name, and decided that he would prefer to use the longer version of the name instead (that is, if we received a referral for a boy).

So, when we received our referral this week for our precious boy, we began to talk more about this name. Sorry...we do not feel comfortable sharing this name on our blog until we pass court. The more we actually said the name, the more we realized that it is a name that would be 'hard to spell and easy to forget'...NOT our intention! :)

So, at last, here we are full-circle -- returning to the original name I began to ponder many months ago...well, at least, I think??? :)

Inquiring Minds Want to Know!!

...seeing our boy for the first time...

I know many of you are dying for details...but, what we can share for now is limited, at least until we pass court.

Our little man is 3 months old, and ADORABLE!!! He has the biggest brown eyes!! As a matter of fact, when our Family Coordinator (Duni) called us yesterday, she said she thought he even looked like me!! :)

So, when is our court date?
We're not sure -- we will not be given the actual date, but we will be given tenative travels dates in the next couple of weeks (which will give us a clue about our court date). If all goes well with court, we will be notified the day of (we will also be notified even if we do not pass...several attemps at court is not uncommon).

When do we expect to travel?
Again, hard to tell...possibly the end of January or early February.

We will be sending our care-package for our little man with a family who is traveling to get their littel boy mid-December!

Hands are shaking....

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God.

This verse was my meditation this morning -- peacefully waiting, reminding myself of God's sovereignty!

We got THE CALL!

It's a BOY!!!!

We are so honored that God has chosen us to raise this precious little one in the "fear and admonition of the LORD"!!!!

Signing-Out for today

It's 4:50 EST in VA (AWAA offices), so it was a no-go today....check back tomorrow! :)

Feeling Calm

11:30am on Monday....no call yet.

For all you stalkers, I'll keep posting updates, even if there is no news --- it's so much fun/consolation to know you're all out there cheering for us!!! We love you all dearly!!!

Although Vince & I are very excited/anxious about Baby Martin, we are also very peaceful (I'm even teary-eyed as I type this, because God is just so good)!!

BTW, the term "Baby Martin" isn't much fun....any other suggestions or nicknames??? :)

Reprieve

No news on Friday (obviously) -- now we're enjoying a week-end of NOT jumping every time the phone rings. But, come Monday, the insanity begins again.

What is the likely-hood of getting THE CALL Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday???
I have absolutely no idea. What seemed so certain has become, well...actually, I have no words for this part of our journey...

...resting in God's sovereignty over our child's life....

No news (but thanks for peeking)...
although, I have developed what might be termed as a 'twitch' -- let me explain:
I have started randomly & spontaneously waving my arms around, as if cheering at a football game. I do not seem to produce any noise with this condition, just a flailing for the arms for about 3 seconds.

Guess I will call it anxietus happimus, or how about thewaitiskillingme syndrome.

Boy, am I weird, or what!!!!
:)

An Update...sort of...

So, new happenings:

After a long two-months of delays, our agency started issuing referrals again last Friday -- the referrals issued were for toddlers, but we're on the infant waiting list. The unofficial news is that we should hear something by the end of the month.
Follow me here...Since Thanksgiving is next week, our agency's office will close for the holiday, but I'm not sure when (note to self: FIND OUT!) -- because, if they're closed , say, Wednesday thru Friday, then the end of the month will be the 25th...maybe??

In the mean time, Vince & I have registered for baby items at Target. Some of our dear friends are hosting 'going-away/baby showers' for us -- we are so excited & honored that our needs are heavy on their hearts....even though we haven't received our referral yet!

And let me just add, I have no idea what I am doing...baby stuff, I mean. What have I been doing all this time??? I should have been shopping/researching for the items we'll need -- but, of course I haven't done this, and now I am CLUELESS!! :) So, all you mommies out there: what in the world do we need??? What are your favorite items?? Seriously, HELP!! :0

Note the cuddlies below...Vince & I have been sleeping with them, hoping they'll absorb our smell -- because as soon as we receive our referral we will be able send a care-package to Ethiopia with gifts for our little one: cuddlies/toys, photo album of mommy & daddy, and an outfit or two.

Adoptive Mommies & Mommies To-Be

Last night was our last official get-together (at least for a while) with our Springfield/Branson adoptive families. Two of the families might be in Ethiopia the same time we are....that would be so special!!!! The women in this picture are amazing, Godly women who are turning the world of adoption/orphans up-side-down -- Mommies, I have been so encouraged by your faith & perseverance!!!

You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates...

God is bigger than...

adoption...home studies...real estate...address changes

Our home is on the market and we're having an open-house this Sunday...watching for God's plan...we will rejoice when He reveals it...even in our uncertainty, we rejoice still...

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

Ish 43:19

Passing the time...

This past week-end Vince's parents came for a visit with two of our nephews, Lane and Carter...a trip to Springfield is never complete without a day at Bass Pro and Silver Dollar City!

Nada...

...nope, no news yet. Guess we're looking toward mid-Novemberish. The wait has certainly lingered on longer than we anticipated...well, actually, it seems as if God were lingering -- but, He is revealing to us that He has not lingered at all. We are already beginning to see how perfect His timing is -- can't wait to share the 'bigger picture' with you very soon!!!

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.