the sweetest

I was just watching a little Beth Moore on TV. She was talking about our calling to reach the world, and not just the comfort of our own little selves. It was showing footage of her time in Africa. The children were dirty and lined up for food. Gibson said, "Don't worry Mom, you'll just go get our baby brother from Africa, brush him off, and he'll be so happy!". Then out of nowhere he began singing "Jesus Loves the Little Children".
I LOVE his little heart!
And now I need to go wipe my tears...

hooray!

I am so happy to start seeing the referrals rolling in for families! There has been a bit of a "drought" lately, so it is so refreshing to hear the good news. It is very exciting to hear about these families being united. And also exciting that it means we move up the list with each one! Can't wait to see that baby face...

Merry Christmas!

It is hard to believe we are coming upon 4 months of waiting. I have definitely been missing our sweet babe this Christmas. I can't help but wonder if he's having his first Christmas, or if we will experience that with him next year. All I know is that my arms ache to hold him! He has been on my mind so much, along with his birth family, and I've been praying for them so much. I have not been able to sing "O Holy Night" this season without thinking of our baby and Ethiopia. This is the verse that always brings the tears:

Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and his gospel is peace
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease

All oppression shall cease! Sweet, sweet words.

Merry Christmas from the Wings! 2009 is going to be an exciting year!

3 months!

Wow, 3 months waiting! I definitely have not intended to only post monthly, there just hasn't been too much to report on the adoption front. We do have some good news. There are only a few things to tweak and the CD goes to print! This has been a long process, with a lot of time and work poured into it. Everyone who has helped Phil pull this off has donated their time and services! We are so thankful for everyone who has helped, and we can't wait to hold the finished copy in our hands. We are also excited to see how God uses this to help bring our sweet baby home.
Thank you for your continued prayer and support!

2 months!

I was so happy today when I visited our site and noticed we were at 2 months of waiting!  Crazy!

We were so blessed last week when we were given an envelope with a very generous donation in it!  The gift was anonymous, so if the person reads this blog, thank you so so much!!!  It was a wonderfully sweet surprise.  

We are also very excited that Phil's CD is almost done!  Only a few more things and it will be ready to go to print.  This is such a relief to us and we are just so excited to see our next fundraiser come into place.  I am so proud of Phil and the work he has done on this project.  He is so talented.

I am also excited to report that the first travel group after the reopening of courts is in Ethiopia right now picking up their children.  I read their blogs and look at their pictures and just cry!  It is so amazing to watch these families being united, and also to think that we will be in that same place in just a few months. 

Wow.  God is so good.

still here

We get asked all of the time, "So what's up with the adoption?". Not a whole lot right now! We are just in the waiting phase. Our biggest challenges right now are trying to organize funding by the time that referral arrives! Phil is finishing up his CD and we are applying for grants. We also found out recently that there is an increase in the fees from Ethiopia. I am constantly reminding myself that God is going to provide for our family. He has amazed us and showed us miracle after miracle so far, so we don't doubt His provision.
The wait time really is flying by so far. I know other adoptive families could kill me for saying that! I am just enjoying my family of four right now before the craziness dials up as a family of five. Absolutely I cannot wait to see our sweet baby's face, but I am thankful for the grace that God is giving us to have joy in each day.
God has also been spurring my heart to be praying even more for our baby and the birth family. After the recent loss of several referred babies, I just am reminded how grave the situation truly is in Ethiopia. We are praying for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and baby. I can't wait to hold my little sweetheart, look into his/her eyes, and give out more kisses than they can take! Oh what a day that will be.

prayer

Please pray for the Forrest family. They are a family with our agency who had received a referral for two children and were waiting for a court date and travel. Their gorgeous little baby girl died in a hospital with pneumonia this weekend. They never got to hold their daughter, but we can have joy knowing that she is in Jesus' arms right now!
Please pray for them during this difficult time.