Officially over a month

Well, it amazes me that we have been waiting now over a month - this Monday will be 5 weeks. I am amazed not because I expected less of a wait but because it has been relatively smooth and a peaceful time (which is completely the Lords grace because in myself I tend to go nuts!). But I do think it has been so helpful to have two boys who need my constant care each day. I feel like I can place my energy on caring for them and instead of dwelling too much on the child we don't yet have but focus on the two we DO have before our eyes. I have been trying to prioritize and organize as much as possible before the baby comes. I recently heard two VERY encouraging messages that helped me grow in my understanding of how to use my time well and try and get all the things done that a day holds...which at times can seem overwhelming! I know those of you who have/are currently working through the paperchase can relate. I know I seem like the resource queen over here on my blog but I have seen these things bear such good fruit in my life and edify me in the dry times so if you have a little bit of time (while driving, cleaning, organizing a closet, cooking dinner, when kids are napping....) try and listen to one. The first is called "Can you do it all?....And do it well?" and the next is on Priorities and is just a Q&A type format. I have to constantly be renewing my mind about the things God has on my to do list, not my seeking to vainly accomplish things apart from his grace and his guidance.

An Everlasting Rock

A couple who was waiting just over 3 months for a little girl got their referral Thursday, check out their blog and see the sweet pictures. I also wanted to post the link to a good article on transracial adoption that Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency posted on their blog. It's entitled Interview: Thabiti on Transracial Adoption and the Gospel. I really think this recent news about all those babies in the Gladney home is exciting but it can be very distracting because now I feel like I have expectations. I am trying to remember that God not only KNOWS who our baby is (which is comforting) but he has PLANNED who our baby is (even more comforting). I want that baby and no other so I want to be patient. Before the information from the blogworld came I was really expecting to wait quite a while but now I am more excited and more expectant. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around how Gladney even goes about their matching and how many families are waiting for infants, etc. It makes me treasure even more that though these things are changing and out of my control God never changes. "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:3-4. God is beckoning me, through this process, to trust in Him more and find a solid ground as opposed to my shaky replacements built of sand. I can't believe Monday will be a month already on the waiting list...praise God for his sustaining peace.

Could you be matched with us already baby Martin?

Ok, well I have been hearing "rumors" about there being a great big group of babies (15-20) in the Gladney baby home in Ethiopia just waiting to be referred. I was trying not to get too excited or presume our baby was there because if it's two more months I would go crazy thinking it was any day BUT after reading this post on the Daileaders blog I have to confess I am more excited than ever and thinking about our baby being with us soon! This is a family in Ethiopia picking up their adorable little baby girl, Sophie. They say on their blog: "After we spent more time with Sophie, we got a tour of the house and saw all 20 other babies. Yes, the house is very full right now (with 20 caregivers on shifts). For all of those waiting families – they are onto our ploy, so I didn’t get any specific info, but I do know that of the 20 babies, only 3 have already been referred, but all 17 others have been matched!! Sooo, as soon as the paperwork, medical testing, information gathering is complete, you will have your referral! Of course, this takes time for each child, but I can promise you that they are working very hard to get all of this done soon so they can take full advantage of the courts reopening. And amazingly, every baby there is under 9 months – and a few are only a month or so old!! Soo teensy – but not from lack of food – just from age! I’ll keep digging, but that’s my tidbit for today. I don’t know if I can post pictures from here, but I did take a picture of each baby and some video, so as soon as I can, you can see it. " --- WOW! How exciting that those babies have already been matched with families! Maybe our little one has been matched with us and is just waiting on all the details to get done and we will get our referral! But again, I am trying not to get myself too pumped up because I want to focus on the Lord and his perfect ways in bringing our baby to us. If this is His way then how awesome, but if not we will wait upon him and know that He is good!

Happy the Home

Happy the home when God is there,
And love fills every breast;
When one their wish, and one their prayer,
And one their heavenly rest.

Happy is the home where Jesus' name
Is sweet to every ear;
Where children early lisp His fame,
And parents hold him dear.

Happy the home where prayer is heard,
And praise is wont to rise;
Where parents love the sacred Word
That makes them truly wise.

Lord, let us in our homes agree,
This blessed peace to gain;
Until our hearts in love to Thee,
And love to all will reign.

Henry Ware, 1794-1843 (Taken from Secrets of Happy Home Life; J.R.Miller)

Race

I hope everyone is doing well. We are gearing up for Fall and we are anticipating the nice weather Fall always brings. We always spend more time outside and go on more walks because it's so beautiful so see the leaves changing and enjoy weather that isn't so sweltering. As it's something Gladney requires of us, Paul and I have to complete 10 hours of education regarding adoption. They provide some seminars online we can purchase and watch having to do with specific issues with adoption and Ethiopia. We can also read books. We were excited about this oppurtunity and my husband recently read a book on Adoption as a theological understanding. We want to use this training time to be steeping our minds as much as we can in God's word and how God's word can give us wisdom when it comes to this adoption and "issues". I have said it before but I get discouraged at times seeing the lack of biblical resources regarding adoption and international issues, etc. I feel that most of the books recommended to us have been bent in a worldy and unbiblical direction. Specifically the way it pertains to race. So when I read this Article called Many Ethnicities, One Race I was refreshed. He breaks down the way we, as a culture have developed this idea of "races" and that we can't find a biblical grounding for this nor the way cultural tradition allows race to define people, the church, etc. It's by Thabiti Anyabwile who is a pastor of a church of FBC Grand Cayman and used to be an elder at Mark Dever's church. We actually got to go to his church while visiting Grand Cayman earlier last year and he is an excellent preacher. We plan on reading a book called From every people and Nation: A biblical theology of race. I think we will enjoy watching the videos Gladney sent and reading things but I would encourage you (as well as Paul and myself) not to just read any book that you find at Barnes and Noble these days on adoption but seek to find things that are biblical and will help you see this adoption journey and "race" as God sees it!

Another family is blessed with their referral!

Check out this blog, congrats to Renee and Geert for all the exciting happenings in your world lately! I hadn't checked their blog lately and was sweetly surprised to see they got their referral for a cousin duo I believe and they are just edible! Our Ethiopian Adoption Story.

Phinehas at 16 months

I can't believe my youngest child is 16 months old! He is so cute and so much fun. It's neat to see him and Job playing together now that he is a little older and able to. Job and him are a little under 2 years apart. He is talking so much now too: "Juice", "Dat du" = thank you, "Job", "apple", "Bye", "down", "keys" and other stuff ...he even said "Oatmeal" this morning when we were at breakfast. He pointed to his bowl and said "Oatmeal", it was crazy. We also finally took scissors to his locks! It was tough for me because he had these adorable curls in the back but now he looks like such a big kid and I love that too! It's making me all the more excited to have a little baby in my arms again whom I can kiss on and eat up (I, of course do this with my boys but they usually won't have it for more than a second or two since they are such boys.) Well, enjoy the pics!

One week over with!

Well we have been officially waiting a whole week - yay! It has gone by surprisingly fast which encourages me. I have also been busy getting some nursery items together. We don't know which gender we will be getting so it's a little hard but I also don't want to completely wait to decorate. We decided to go with a more natural nursery and use creams, browns and some blues. The room is painted a nice blue color that has some green to it. I will try and post some pics when the art is hung. It's sweet to go in the room and see the new baby's crib there, it makes me very excited and things feel closer. Our youngest, Phin, will be sharing a room with the baby. They will most likely be pretty close in age (he's only 16 mos.) so hopefully it will work out fine. Our 3 year old is up a little later and on a little bit different schedule so we will see how things go but if need be we will stick Phin in with Job. I don't really know what to expect the first month or two with the baby waking up and all. I am used to newborns, who can wake up anywhere from 2-4 hours a night but my boys always slept through the night at like 6-8 weeks so I'm wondering how long things take with time changes. Anyone feel free to give some feedback although just like newborns every baby is probably really different as to how long adjustments take. I didn't mind waking up with the boys and as I've read some other people's posts it encourages me that the night feedings are a sweet time of bonding. Isn't it amazing we get to care for our children? Although I don't always, in my sinfulness, see things this way I am humbled that I get to be a mom and that the things I do in my day that can seem so monotonous are worship to God when I do them for His glory. Even the laundry and changing of diapers! These things that I do to care for my family are lasting and eternal. What an honor. Well, we will let you know when we hear anything - but we are here for the long haul!