It is officially the 4:59pm of March 2011

Feeling bummed today, the idea that maybe we could be able to travel this summer for Baby Girl is slipping out of my hands as today passes by. Trying to stay positive, but really just need some good news here....

Overwhelmed reading this tonight....

http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/2011/03/sometimes-we-find-it-easiest-to-look.html

Thank you Amy for this honest accountability.

When you keep moving but your really about a mile back...

That is what I think of when I see this picture.... You keep moving, even though really your body feels about a mile back on the track.

I have been on this ride lately, still moving forward faster than I know what is going on sometimes. The weeks seem to fly by, and before I knew it, we are almost done with March. Just 29 days ago I woke up praying for this month to go as slow as possible. The reality of getting a referral this month and traveling to Ethiopia before the Raining Season of closed courts was exciting. Now as we only have 2 1/2 days left of March, I am feeling like its 4:59pm...

For those of you have or are adopting, I think you know what I mean. When you are waiting for "THE CALL" of a referral, every morning seems to bring new hope and excitement. Then at 4:59pm, you start feeling the disappointment of another day gone by without any news. So this week seems to be the 4:59pm of the month of March.

Wow, as I am reading this, it is so depressing... Amazing how you know certain things. I am confident in God's timing of this process and I know that He is caring for our baby girl while we wait to bring here her. BUT actually resting in a peaceful knowledge of those things is really really hard.

So I keep moving, moving so fast I sometimes can't remember what day it is, but my mind and body feel about 6 months behind.

I am going to stop throwing my bummed mood out into never never land now and try to get somethings done around the house.

Feeling the delays this week...

Seems like I have not posted in a while, guess that it might be that I wanted to wait until we had solid news either way. Because that looks like it might be happening for some time I have stolen a recap from my friend's the Roth's blog, mostly because she did a great job and too, I am tired. Just kinda tired ya know?? Anyway here it is...

We have been in contact with our agency this week.  We haven't learned a whole lot but we do know a few things...
- referrals are still happening (a 6 month old baby boy was matched this week)
- 16 children were matched with families last month.  And, there are only 2 families ahead of us on the discussion boards.  
- new people have been hired within the Ethiopian court office who are now working on the backlog of court cases
- the time between the court date (first trip) and the embassy appointment (second trip) will likely be much longer
- there are rumors of an increase from the number of only processing 5 per day.  But, this is only a rumor!!!  
- God is in control!  That pretty much says it all! 


In a way, my mood matches the storm that is currently blowing trash cans down the street..... hopefully it blows through quickly. 

9:06am.... Ethiopia Time

In my mind, 9am seems like a great time for meeting, right? I am awake, even though its 11:06pm our time. I know there are many other adoptive parents awake right now doing what I am doing. Praying over the meeting that will take place, if its not already happening, in Ethiopia today.

Today, there will be the appointing of a new Head of Adoptions at MOWA
Today, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia will do his best to communicate the desire to assist in the care reviews
Today, Joint Council will present the petition that is still being signed... 36 thousand people and counting...!!!
Today, we are prayerful that our Mighty God will speak hope and love through the people attending this meeting
Today, we are praying for resolution that ends in the best interest of the children of Ethiopia.

Please pray with me tonight..... if you are suddenly awake when you normally would be sleeping, please take that as God calling you to your knees.

Thank you to each of your signed the petition! You all have been amazing and the support and love has been overwhelming. Thank you for reposting on your Facebook and Tweeting!!

I know God speaks to me through songs that I have heard or love to sing... right now...
"Amazing love, how can it be? That you my King would die for me. Amazing love, I know its true, its my joy to honor you, in all I do, I'll honor you." Michelle Kim

That is my prayer tonight... someone might need to remind me of this from time to time

Specific Prayer Requests

So we have been asked, because if you are not a total stalker of the situation like I am, what are some specific things that you all can pray over and for during this time of confusion and decisions in Ethiopia. So here is what we are praying for specifically and would love for you to join us!

1. First and Foremost, that decisions being made are in the best interest of the children of Ethiopia. Regardless what that means for waiting families.
2. A change in staff at MOWA is scheduled to take affect March 14th, 2011. We are praying over this positions. Over the person whom it will be assigned to this position. We are praying specifically that this person would have a heart for the Children of Ethiopia and will keep their best interest in the for front of their mind during this time of transition.
3. We are praying that MOWA will accept the offer of assistance from a non bias, non-government, non-adoption agency, like Joint Council on International Children's Affairs. This assistance would likely entail some technology, training and additional staff in the review and approval of adoption cases. YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS IN A TANGIBLE WAY!!! SIGN THIS PETITION!!!
4. We are also praying that through this time, waiting children will still be given a high priority as their circumstances are much more time sensitive and potentially life ending should their cases be drawn out over several years.
5. We are praying some some very special families whom we are honored to travel this road with... Josh and Sara Lyons and my sweet friend Rachel and her hubby Ben and their daughter Willow. This has been a time of fear and frustration for these people who mean a lot to us and we are praying for peace over their homes.
6. We are praying for a meeting that will take place on Monday, March 14, 2011 between the US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ethiopian Government  and MOWA.


Thank you to each of you have checked in with us over the past few days... especially our families, Deanna & Jimmy, Emily. Your words of encouragement and prayer have done more for my heart than you will ever know.

All day my sweet Savior has been speaking words of comfort to my soul... this keeps coming to my mind

Update from Conference Call this Morning

This morning the US State Department had a conference call with several other US and International Agencies.
Here is the update 

Please keep praying with us!