Lila's Window

Screaming and shouting and cheer-spirit fingers were going on everywhere when Lila's tooth came flying out of her mouth (with the help of her mother and some dental floss). She had been working on that tooth for a good few weeks and today was the day! Of course, Vince wanted NOTHING to do with this and insisted it should come out on its own timing; I think his stomach just isn't cut out for that sort of thing. Lila's gum bled big time and she already has a huge tooth growing in behind it. I think we'll need some major orthodontic work. Here is a picture!

A Double Blessing

BIG NEWS!!!! BIG NEWS!!!!
We are expecting again!!! No wonder this adoption has taken so long, because God knew we needed to bring home a brother for Titus! About a month ago, Pam wrote us about some misc. stuff and then P.S. saying "Tell Vince there are lots of baby boys in the orphanage and you are approved up to two! Ha! Ha! That's how much I love Vince." Long before this, we had known that Titus was going to have a brother, but honestly, it was hard even imagining going through this process again, emotionally, monetarily, physically. This is one of the hardest, most consuming things I have ever embarked on in my life. So when I got her email, I got excited. Vince and I prayed about it and I left it up to Vince...Scout's honor! I left the ball in his court and he ended up talking to Pam without me knowing about it. That week, we had a picture of our sweet little 3-4 month old Elias G. We had to wait till his medicals were completed but they were soon finished. He is so beautiful, just like his brother and I can't wait to get my hands on both of them. Pray that we will be able to get Elias' case heard the same time as Tariku's. If he doesn't pass around the same time, Vince will have to go back and get him later. I am trusting God that He knows what is best. I'll be able to post pictures of our boys as soon as they pass court and are legally ours. Oh, what a sweet day of celebration that will be!

Get out of town!!! Hopefully by Christmas at least!

We have a court date!!!! We have a court date!!! We got the call this morning and our 2nd court date is October 26th! All prayers for a successful pass are greatly appreciated!
Last night, I was watching one of Beth Moore's Esther videos. It was the one about waiting and the different reasons why sometimes we wait. It was a tremendous blessing to me and really just spoke total confirmation to me as to what the Lord has been doing in Vince and I's life. She talked about how sometimes the wait has to happen because God has to do something in another person's life before this one thing occurs. That will have to be another story for another time, but it will nonetheless, BLOW your socks off! Another reason is because God wants to use the "wait" time to get closer to you and prepare you for what He has for you by drawing you closer to Him. I have told many friends, how God has truly been faithful to not let this make me anger or bitter, but to use this to actually fall in love with Him more and rest in His timing and not my own. About 4 years ago we lost our close brother-in-Christ, to cancer. It was one of the hardest things I have ever experienced in my life (and I've had a lot), and it took me a good 2 years to trust God and pray my heart out to Him. SO for Him to keep me close to Him throughout all this and to be in love with God, even through the suffering, is only from Him.
I was searching scripture for this one verse last night and couldn't find it and then low and behold there it was. Isaiah 46:11 "Truly I have spoken, truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it". I prayed, totally honestly "Lord, I completely trust in your timing. Whatever it is, I will be happy with it. I trust you to bring this to pass and no matter how long, I am okay with it."
I am excited and am really praying this will pass and the other family we have gone through this with will pass too. But even if it doesn't, God has it planned and He will surely do it! The above pictures were taking yesterday before we left for the USCIS office to renew our I-600a, as it was only good for 18 months! We left around 6:15 am and hopefully we will never have to go back to that office again!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Adoption Date--"Just Kiddin'"

Well, what do you know? We just found out that we never really had a court date, even though time and time again we were reassured "Yes, you have a court date, it just needs to be translated." The Wednesday we got the exciting news, I asked "Are they lying to us??" That was the first of many times I asked that as I was becoming more skeptical of this situation. We found out yesterday at church, after our director had returned from Ethiopia. What I do know is 3 months of being an "open case" our case has to be re-submitted to the court. Our case was reapplied in August and I think the person just assumed we'd have a court date by the end of this month. My thoughts: I trust in God and he is and will be faithful to bring this adoption to completion. Our God is a BIG God and I expect to see him do amazingly more than we could ever ask or imagine, and honestly, I am excited! Of course, this is very maddening, but I am keeping my eyes on the author and perfector of my faith and KNOW we will bring Titus home in his perfect timing. Please pray that God will work mightily on our case (and our friends also) and for our friend Eileen Huffman, who is courageously battling breast cancer. You can find her site here: www.caringbridge.org/visit/eileenhuffman

Our Non-Cruise Cruise

On August 10, after months of planning and anticipation, we left at 4 am to take off for our family cruise. With 100+ braids in the girls' hair, excitement was in the air. My parents were taking us, Jenny and Ryan and the cousins, and Grandma for a 4 night cruise; our girls flying for the first time. We boarded the airplane and waited anxiously for take-off...and waited some more. An hour later the pilot shared that we would not be leaving, as someone forgot to plug in a much-needed battery. 'Are you kidding me????' We think surely we will find another flight to Miami; it's 5:30 am. Nope. Luckily my parents bought cruise insurance and they footed the bill for us to stay at Great Wolf Lodge. The plan was to leave at 4:30 am, flying to Nassau to meet our ship. So day two, my birthday, we are getting our on-board passes and it asks to swipe our passports. That's when I knew...We would not be able to go. We had bought the girls passcards. The cards are cheaper and they work for land and sea travel, ie. Mexico, Canada, Caribbean but you can't fly to another country. Should have worked if we would have left via Miami. Honestly, writing this story and seeing these pictures still makes me sick. Our girls were bawling, Papa and Nana crying and running to the plane, I was wanting to throw up. Really, it was one of the worst moments in my life. HORRIBLE! Seeing my three girls being ripped apart from the family, NOT getting to go on the cruise they have been looking forward to for 6 months. The airlines did send us to Miami and put us in a hotel (vouchers they gave us were messed up and not what they told us) because Vince said "You are putting my kids on a flight SOMEWHERE!" All of the kids clothes were with my parents (or the other luggage that was currently lost), except for their swimsuits and cover-ups, which were in our carry-on. Note to parents: Always keep swimsuits in your carry-on. So to sum it all up: We paid almost $500 for a non-cruise cruise, no clothes, the ocean stung our bottoms, tears, pop-tarts (hotel breakfast was $125) and we were glad to be home.

Adoption Date

A lot has happened since I've last blogged. Vince and I went on a non-cruise cruise, got married, and finally, after many months of waiting, received news that we have a court date in October. I will explain the other major events in another post, but I want to focus this one on our adoption. Courts closed on August 21 for rainy season and should open back up the end of September or early October. On the 23rd, I prayed for a miracle; that even though courts were closed, God would still provide. That week we received word that our case was one of three that the courts were still looking at and that we were hoping to get our case heard soon, or at least get a court date when they reopen. Well, things were looking hopeful and then not-so hopeful, as some miscommunication were taking place. Last Sunday night, as I was praying, I just felt that we were going to receive some news on Wednesday. I wasn't about to let my hopes up, and just took it for a possibility, a gentle whisper that I could have mistaken... That Monday, our pregnancy care center director called and asked if she and our good friend could come over and pray for us the next day, as the Lord had been putting it on their hearts. How could I turn that down?! What a gift!

I don't know if I wrote this down or not, but July 22nd, I thought that I might hear something and around noon, I was crying and asking God to tell me if today was the day or not. I opened my Bible and He gave me Habakkuk 2:3 "For the vision is yet for its appointed time;it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Well, on Tuesday, right before my friends came to pray, I opened my Bible to Psalm 102:13 "It is time to be gracious to her; the appointed time has come". They prayed and blessed me greatly. Honestly, when people spend time praying for you, that is one of the greatest gifts of love I can think of.

The next morning, I got the call that we had a court date for sometime in October. (It is in Ethiopian calendar and needs to be converted to ours). I praise God for providing for us, but I am asking for even a better, sooner date. I pray that God is working in Titus' heart, preparing him for us, that he would somehow KNOW we are his mom and dad and that he is not scared but is at peace.

One other thing that was cool... Last weekend, I was telling Vince that maybe I should have Pam take some clothes of mine when she goes to Ethiopia and put them in the orphanage, so that when I get there, I can put them on, and I will smell familiar. Well, while my friends were praying for me, Barbara said "And Lord, I just pray that you will give Titus Julie's scent. That he would be smelling her now so that he will know that she is his mother." WOW! Whatever this adoption looks like, however it plays out, I know God is working mightily to provide good things and it will be amazing when it comes. I can't wait!!! God is so good! Now I need to get to filling out adoption paperwork (our I-600 was only good for 18 months and we need to renew it :( )