My Penpal

It's like the Embassy is my penpal. I wake up with a new correspondence from them everyday now.
I kind of like it! It seems that they email step-by-step what they are doing. (If I were to assign a gender to the Embassy, I would make them female---they are detail oriented for sure!)
Today, they are seeking an interview with Melaku's finder. This person is in Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Our agency is in charge of setting up the interview and if they are timely and successful in doing this the interview could happen as early as next Monday.
In all honesty, I don't expect this to happen unless God works a miracle. Mostly because I know our agency is closed until January 2nd and Kwanza began in Ethiopia on December 26th, so things are probably slow there too.
BUT God can work in a big way and this "Finder" (It's like we're in a fantasy novel or something.) will be at the Embassy next week.
If this happens and they can meet with the "Finder" then this eliminates the need for a "prolonged field investigation" (their words).
We ask you pray, pray, pray, pray that the "Finder" finds his way to the Embassy in Addis sometime next week. It doesn't have to be Monday, it could be Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday, but next week nonetheless!

Have a great Friday! We love you all and are thankful to have you on this journey!!
We are SO CLOSE!! Can you feel it?! Are you getting excited? All of us are so close to being able to see him and hold him and have him in our lives on a daily basis!

Grace

We got another email from the Embassy in Addis this morning stating that they had completed a preliminary review of our immigration forms and were now starting the official review of our case.
This is significant because we were told last week that the Embassy would be closed this week and wouldn't review any cases until next week.
I don't know if they're closed or if they're just reviewing our case. Either way, I feel very blessed that they have started reviewing it.
One day closer to bringing Melaku home.

We covet your prayers and LOVE having you on this journey with us.

Stay tuned! lol

While We Were Sleeping

Our case was submitted to the U.S. Embassy December 26th. It happened while we were sleeping due to the eight hour time difference between here and Ethiopia. What a nice surprise to wake up to?! An email telling us that our case had been received (and a lot of other stuff, too. lol )
Now the Embassy will begin their own investigation to determine if Melaku is indeed an orphan or not. If they determine that he is indeed an orphan, they will approve our case and we will travel to get him.
If they cannot determine that he is, they will send our case to Nairobi, Kenya to the USCIS Field Office and they will investigate further.
We now have approximately 3-7 weeks to wait to hear something from the Embassy. (Or longer)
Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of this journey with us.
We are one step closer to the end of this process.
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will enjoy the New Year's festivities!
We have been overwhelmed with blessings---so many people stopped by yesterday to visit and bless us!
Our cup is running over with blessings!!

Any News Is Good Newa

We heard today that our case should be submitted to the Embassy next Wednesday, December 26th. We are thankful the Embassy is going to take it next week. They don't have to, but have agreed to.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for praying and traveling this journey with us!

A Thousand Years is like a Day (to Him)

Several weeks ago we had received word that our case would hopefully be submitted to the US Embassy on December 18th and then after that we would probably wait 3-7 weeks to hear when we could travel to bring Melaku home.
We were notified today that Melaku's passport has not been received and we will NOT be submitted to the US Embassy tomorrow. If his passport comes in the next day or two, our case manager in Ethiopia is going to take our case to the Embassy later this week. Apparently, submission days for our agency are only on Tuesdays. (I believe this is an US Embassy assignment, not our agency's thing.) Our case manager in Ethiopia is going to take our case anyway and ask the Embassy to take it anyway, IF the passport comes in time.
Additionally, the Embassy will close next week for the holidays, so even if they took our case this week, they wouldn't begin reviewing it until after next week. Our prayer is that the passport would come in the next day or so and that the Embassy would take our case this week even though it's won't be submitted on the right submission day.
I would like to emphasize that this is the US Embassy we're dealing with, not the people of Ethiopia, so it's not the Ethiopians who are placing regulations on when cases can be submitted.
Additionally, I know the US Embassy does more than process adoption cases and they of course receive a pretty bum rap due to other immigration issues and concerns in this country.

God is not constrained by time. A thousand years is like one day to Him and vice versa. In situations like this when I feel disappointment and a little out of control of things, I remind myself that God is always good and He does what is best. I have to ask myself when I wonder why things aren't going like I think they should "Do I believe God's Word? Not just part of it, but all of it?" The answer is yes, I do and I know He does what is best always!
Thank you for being on this journey with us and we covet your prayers that our case will make it to the Embassy this week and that they will begin the review.
Have a great week!

The Waiting Game Round Two

As we celebrated Thanksgiving, we were overwhelmed with thankfulness at all that God had done. It seems surreal to me now to think that just a few weeks ago, I was in Ethiopia meeting Melaku for the first time. Time surely does go by quickly.
We learned today that our court decree in Ethiopia has been finished and picked up. Now a birth certificate is being prepared for Melaku. Ethiopia is not like the United States; people are not issued birth certificates at the time of birth or even after. Most do not have birth certificates. It's just a difference in culture and lifestyle. (Not worse or better---just different.)
So, once his birth certificate is processed, an official working on his behalf will apply for an Ethiopian passport. Once he gets this, we can be submitted to the US Embassy for citizenship and a visa.
We are estimating that we could possibly be submitted to Embassy in two weeks.
After we are submitted to Embassy, it will most likely take another four weeks for the Embassy to "do their thang". It could be shorter or it could take longer. One thing I've learned and heard time and time again from other adoptive parents---there ain't no rushin' the Embassy. Don't even try--Don't even call and ask. Just let them be and practice putting on patience. (Lol) Apparently, they get really grumpy if you call and check on the status of your child's visa, etc.
Hopefully, we'll be traveling back to Ethiopia in January.
My prayer is that Melaku will be home before his first birthday which is January 23rd.
I wish I had something more exciting to report, but life is just life right now as we play the waiting game again.
I will say that the wait for a referral was much, much harder than this wait. I feel like I see a light at the end of the tunnel now.
This Christmas will be two years since we decided to pursue adoption. Two years---it's hard to believe it's been that long, but God has been so faithful throughout and I've learned so much about Him and His love and patience for us.

On a side note--John Owen is incredibly funny. He is either cracking me up or driving me nuts! He's taken to sitting around naked--completely naked. It makes it interesting when we have visitors.

I'm feeling very blessed and so incredibly blessed by all of you.
We are so thankful to have you on this journey with us!

Not Good-bye...See you later

We saw James for the last time until we return to take him home. He cried most of the visit. He seems to be attached to one of the nannies and she to him. This is a good thing in the long run.
We've made many memories and some good Ethiopian friends. I can't wait to share all our experiences with you all.
We should arrive in Lexington Wednesday evening!
This has been some trip in many, many ways.
See you soon!

The Sons Of Thunder

James, the brother of John Thurman was officially adopted by Zachary and Jennifer Thurman.
Melaku, a boy born with no last name. A boy with no family, living in an orphanage with 38 other children now has a forever family!
He is now Melaku Thurman. We will call him James Melaku Thurman.
Adoption is irreversible in Ethiopia. The judge asks you if you understand that and are ok with it.
Our adoption by Christ is irreversible. Just as we are co-heirs with Christ, Melaku is co-heirs with John Owen Thurman.
It is final, sealed.
We wait for the US Embassy to notify us that we can come and get him. They issue his citizenship.
To God be the glory.
Again thank you for traveling this journey with us and for your prayers
James is an orphan NO MORE!!!

A Vast History

Today was a "free" day. We didn't get to go to the orphanage to see James, so we hired a driver named Dawit. He took us to some historical sites. We saw the Entoto Mountains and the Lucy museum. If you aren't familiar with Lucy, you should google her. She is supposedly the oldest homo sapien. It was interesting to see her fossil remains. Our driver was excited to show us the museum, which was neat.
We didn't argue with the assumption that Lucy is 3.3 million years old. It wasn't the time or place. We really got to know Dawit, which was interesting to us.
Tonight we visited a traditional Ethiopian restaurant where Ethiopians performed traditional dances and sung traditional songs. My stomach is weak--really weak, but I have eaten Ethiopian food twice today.
I may not eat anything else this trip. Lol
I want to soak in as much of Ethiopia as I can. I want to be able to remember for James because he won't.
I wish you all were here with me because I cannot find the words to explain it. There is no type of poverty in the States that comes close to what I have seen, except for spiritual poverty. That is world-wide.
I've met some incredible people who will be life-long friends. I wish you could know them.
Tomorrow we visit James in the morning for a few hours and then we have court at 2pm Ethiopian time which is 6am Eastern Standard time. If you're up say a prayer that our adoption is finalized tomorrow. I'm posting some pictures from the restaurant.

The Not So Big Deal

Today we made our way to Tikuret orphanage. Our agency sent a driver and he weaved, pushed, and honked our way through Addis Ababa for the thirty minute drive to the orphanage. We walk in and are greeted by small children who want to hug and touch us. We wait inside for a few minutes and then a woman brings Melaku down to us. He looks exactly like the pictures--curly hair, brown skin, and enormous brown eyes. They are huge! We take him from the woman--our new son and he immediately begins to cry. Not little whimpering, but wailing and crocodile tears. He kept looking for the woman who brought him to us or anyone else with a brown face.
He cried on and off for almost two hours and then we fed him and he fell asleep. The director let us stay during his nap time and we were able to spend another hour and a half with him before leaving. He was content for this second time with him.
It struck me that he doesn't know us, obviously, but he doesn't realize that we offer him more than what he has now. Not just more stuff, but a family where he'll get the time and attention he doesn't always get at the orphanage. He'll get a last name. Something he doesn't have now.
I felt for the little fella. It's so overwhelming to meet your parents--white people from America.
We know that years from now this place won't even be a memory for him. He will forget it as he grows. We will be all he remembers, but I will remember the nannies who watched us with him with bittersweet expressions.
Adoption is incredible, but it comes at a cost.
The Gospel is incredible, but it came at a cost---the life of Jesus Christ.
That's what I'm left with today as we prepare for bed and try to stream some college football.
Pray for Melaku and his nannies in the coming weeks when they will have to say good-bye to him and he to them. He will not remember them, but they will never forget him.

Sleep, Bollywood, and Euros

Sleep is evading me even though my body is tired. My mind is full and won't shut down. It's 5:30 am here. I wish you all were here to experience this with us. Not just meeting Melaku, but this place. It is so radically different from home. Not just in language or fashion or food, but it is a different life. It's still funny to me to turn the tv on and watch a Bollywood version of the American show The Voice.
I wondered at Western influence. It's obvious the guest house owners/operators have tried to give us what they think we want. When you read the room descriptions, they include things like buffet breakfast, private hot showers, t.v., and high speed Internet. Haha. I'm glad for those things for sure!
While we were in Frankfurt, Germany waiting for our next flight, we ordered breakfast. It consisted of a coke, a bowl of yogurt, and a cup of coffee. It came to 14 Euro which cost us 21.50 in US dollars. Crazy, isn't it?
I hope to post pictures of the city today, but no promises.
Love you all!

Shew!

What a journey?! We left Chicago at 2:15 and arrived in Frankfurt, Germany at 5:30am. We were there four hours and then left again for Sudan. We waited on the plane in Sudan for close to an hour while some people disembarked. One person got off by mistake and the Sudan custom officials wouldn't let him get back on the plane. We left without him. We then finished our flight to Addis Ababa, stood in a long line to get visas, stood in another long line to go through customs and then proceeded to baggage claim where all three of our checked bags were waiting for us! Praise God!
We met a fellow Frankfort, Kentucky person on the flight to Germany. He was a flight attendant and lives in downtown Frankfort. Go figure!
It's 10:22pm here and I feel like I've been traveling for two days. Lol.
Tomorrow morning we'll meet Melaku and get to spend a few hours with him.
Thanks for going on this journey with us. Note to self or anyone else: Don't get off the plane in Sudan. Just saying.

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

A big shout-out to the Kyle Hancock for taking us to the airport this morning in the wee, wee hours of the morning.
We are presently waiting in Chicago O'Hare Airport for our next flight which will take us to Frankfurt, Germany.
From there we'll fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We should get there tomorrow evening around 9pm.
While we wait our activities include, but are not limited to....
1. Eating
2. People watching
3. Reading
4. Eating some more
5. Eavesdropping
6. Eating some more

Sometimes when I people watch, I wonder if other people people watch me and find me as fascinating as I find other people.
I would post pictures of the people I'm watching, but that would be mean.
I will say there is one girl walking around in Daisy Duke shorts. (We're in Chicago. It's cold here.) SMH.

Thank you for being on this journey with us.
I'll keep you updated.

I'm Leaving on an Airplane...

That's right dear friends...We got a court date! Monday, November 12th is our official court date.
We will leave NEXT week to arrive three days prior to our court date in order to meet MELAKU and spend some time with him before Monday. We will then travel back on Tuesday probably.
If you don't know about flying to Africa---It's a really LONG flight and lots of layovers and stops.
Pray for us!
Pray also that all of our paperwork and that the MOWCY will submit all of Melaku's paperwork on time so our case will be complete and finalized on November 12th. If they don't have the paperwork submitted, then we will still travel, but our case may not be finalized on November 12th. God is faithful and we trust His plans and work in this. Whatever happens we trust is His best for us and Melaku.
It's amazing to think that this time two weeks from now, I'll have met my son, James Melaku!

We are now running around crazy---well John Owen is running around crazy, but that's normal for him. We are booking flights and the guest house and praying that God will guide us to get the best price for everything. We want to be good stewards of the money He has provided for this adoption.

A thousand "thank you's" to all of you who have walked this journey with us and for those of you maybe just joining. May God bless you each immensely for your part in fighting for this orphan and for orphans everywhere.

Holy Cow! We're headed to Ethiopia NEXT week!!!

When the Lord is a blessin', the devil is a messin'!

We learned today that we were submitted to court. This may seem confusing, as the adoption process is somewhat confusing (I think.) We DON'T have a court date yet. Our paperwork has been submitted to the Ethiopian court and they have been asked for a court date.
We'll actually get two court dates. The first one we don't have to be there for. Our agency will send a representative on our behalf and they will take care of the process. The second court date we WILL have to be present for.
Our case manager has said that we will most likely not receive any word from the court for 2-3 weeks. When we do hear from the court, we will receive two dates. The first one we won't worry over; the second one will be the date we will be required to appear before the judge in Ethiopia.
We will need to immediately make travel plans to arrive two days prior to this court date in order to meet Melaku and spend time with him. Then we will appear before the judge and he/she will decide if we are to legally be Melaku's parents. Once this decision is made---it is final in the eyes of the Ethiopian court.
Then we will return home (to our crazy funny boy John Owen) and wait to be submitted to the US Embassy in Ethiopia. They will process our paperwork and request for Melaku's US Citizenship.
This will most likely take 4-6 weeks.
Then they will email us (yes, email) and tell us when to appear before them with Melaku to receive his US Citizenship. We will travel to Ethiopia and arrive a day before our Embassy appointment. We will take custody of Melaku and then appear before the Embassy. We will then wait two business days to receive his passport and visa so we can travel home.
Then we will get on that big ol' aeroplane and head back to the US and to where the grass is blue and the horses are fast---HOME!
And then IT IS FINISHED and he is ours and we can claim victory in the war on orphans!

Pray with us and for us during this time. As Zack said this morning and I quote, "When the Lord is a blessin', the devil is a messin'!"
Pray for the funds to travel, pray for faithfulness on our part to wait patiently and to be a light in a dark world.
Pray for John Owen and the transition from TOP DAWG, to big brother extraordinaire!
Pray that the Lord begins a work in the hearts of every person we meet and encounter in Ethiopia that we may share the Gospel and show them the Gospel!

Thanks for riding along on this journey with us. Things really are heating up now, so buckle in and hang on!

Moving Along

Things are moving for sure.
We received word today that we'd most likely be submitted to court for a court date next week.
We also received almost thirty, twenty-eight to be exact, new pictures of Melaku.
He's growing and we saw two teeth. Soon we'll get to meet him in person. We hope to take pictures of us, his family when we go.
Keep up the prayers! Let's get baby James as John Owen calls him home.

And So It Begins

Today is October 5th.
Today the courts in Ethiopia reopened. Actually Ethiopia is seven hours ahead of us, so they've been reopened for some time.
Today we received an email with Melaku's test results.
His final test is done!
We approved the results (as we knew we would all along) and now we can be submitted for court.

An interesting note for our Buck Run family. Melaku is in the Tikuret orphanage in Addis. Some of our folks traveled there this past spring and visited the very orphanage that he is living in now.
Interesting how big our world can seem, when it actuality it isn't so big.
Praying that God helps us know this as we seek to live outside of our own "little" world and help those around us (even those thousands of miles away from us).

We continue to wait patiently for God's timing for court.
This process could take a while or could happen very soon.

Thanks for taking this journey with us!

Blood Draws

This has been a theme in our life lately.

From my bloody toes from running the Bourbon Chase to Melaku's blood being drawn for his last test prior to our submission to court, blood has been apart of our lives.

Malaku's blood being drawn is way more exciting than bloody toes.

We are thankful to receive this news and praying that he receives the test and we get the results.

Our case manager is working to get more pictures and an update.

We continue to wait patiently on the Lord's timing.

Thanks for your continued prayers! We know God is moving!

Endurance Part Two

Endurance is definitely the word for our family.
We received word from our case manager that the lab in Ethiopia has a few of the tests that Melaku needs, but they are not available publicly. This means the orphanage will take Malaku to the lab and ask that he be tested. They plan to do that this week, so we may still get the results and get submitted right as court reopens this Friday.
If not, we trust God's work and timing.
Please join us in praying that Melaku is able to get the test and the we're able to get the results back and submitted for a court date very soon.

Hope I can update with good news soon!

Thanks for praying!

Endurance

Friday. The only work day left in this week. So far we've not received word that the last final little test has made it to Addis or to Melaku who isn't in Addis. Courts reopen Friday, October 5th.

Realistically, the test could get there early next week and we could be submitted for a court date the 5th. 

We are praying that the test makes it and that our paperwork is sitting on the court clerk's desk on October 5th. 

BUT we trust God implicitly and know that if there is a delay, then there's a good reason.

So we trust Him and the delay.

In the meantime, we continue to live life which is full of ministry and fun extra-curricular activities.

In case you've missed the latest world news, US Embassies have been attacked. This may or may not affect the US Embassy in Ethiopia, but please join us in praying for the safety of all US Embassy employees and ambassadors. 

I'm running in a race this weekend---the Bourbon Chase. I'm praying that I determine to finish my three legs with endurance and to run it well.

The Bourbon Chase is just a race and hopefully fun. 

This Adoption race is of great eternal significance and I want to run it with endurance and I want to run it well.

So we continue to wait and hopefully glorify God in the process.

I know and trust that His timing is the absolute best.

Thank you so much for your prayers and I look forward to sharing the great news that Melaku has received the test and we've been assigned a court date!

God bless friends

Sometimes It's About the Journey More than the Destination

What a cliche my title is! Today my life has really been about the journey and all that has happened along the way more than where I was going.
We began with a visit from our social worker. She came by to update our home study because it's getting ready to expire. She's very laid back and makes things like home visits and home study updates very easy. She keeps the main thing the main thing which is getting children into good homes.
I would like to say that I didn't stress about the home visit.
I would like to say that I didn't spend time making sure the house was extra clean and that it didn't look like a three year lived in it or that I spend more time writing and sewing than decorating.
But, alas, I can't say that at all. But through my rushing to clean and straighten the Lord reminded me that He had called us to this adoption and I could rest in that, even if John Owen dragged out every toy and all 100 million books he has right before she showed up.

We received part of Melaku's second medicals today which is exciting news in some ways. We are still waiting for one test which isn't in country yet.
Please continue to pray that the test would get there soon and that he would be given the test and we would receive the results before court opens on October 5th.
What God has taught me today is that this adoption is about the journey---all the little steps that we take along the way to get our son home.
Today we have to ask ourselves are we adopting because we want a perfectly healthy child or because we're being obedient to what God has asked of us?
Do we want to answer the call to take care of orphans or do we want to create the perfect family and live an easy life?
Our answer is a resounding: We want to be obedient to God and are joyful to do it, even if it means life is difficult.

Every step of this adoption journey has taught me something, but most importantly it is not about me, but about God and His plan and what He's doing in this world.
I can rest in that.

Thank you for your continued prayers for Melaku and for us.

Photos, Second Medicals and Happy Days

First a very Happy Day to John Owen Thurman.

He's three today and it's been an incredible three year journey with him.

My life has never been the same.

There have been hair-pulling days and days full of joy, but I love being his mom and being a part of his life. He calls birthdays Happy Days! So let's all be happy today in celebration of his day!

We received fifteen new photos of Melaku yesterday. This is almost unheard of and was a sweet blessing from the Lord. We feel very blessed to be receiving all the information that we have.

Today we received word that he has been taken for his second medicals!! Woo-hoo! There is still one test that is not in country, but they feel that in two weeks he'll have that test and his second medicals will be complete.

And then...our case can be submitted to court.

Speaking of court---they reopen OCTOBER 5TH! Yay!

That's very soon (at least when I think about waiting and waiting for months, one more month doesn't seem so long.)

Thank you all for praying for us. I know God is hearing and working and answering and we pray He is glorified through all of this. May you truly see something of how the Father works in our own lives through the adoption of Melaku.

We are beginning a new fundraising phase for travel expenses and Melaku's medical expenses. We're praying through the right thing to do, so join us.

If you would like to help us you can still donate to our Lifesong for Orphans account and you'll receive a tax credit for it.

You can email me for the info if you're interested.

We love you all and praise God for you in our lives.

What a joy it is to walk this journey with you!!

God Sets the Lonely into Families

We. Got. A. Referral!

Last Wednesday I received a call from our case manager asking if I had a few minutes to talk. My first thought was is this more bad news or is this a referral. She then said, "I want to talk to you about a little boy." I said, "I want you to! Talk to me!"

And now our journey has taken a new turn---a wonderful new turn!
He is precious! His eyes are really big and BROWN! I've seen those eyes a thousand times before and now I can look at them and the face that goes with them.

He's little and young---much younger than we thought he'd be. We were sure we'd get a toddler, but NOPE he's a baby.

So we're digging out our cloth diapers and all the baby clothes we packed away! Yay!

The process now is to wait for his second medicals which have been ordered by our agency. We are told that this can take a few weeks to a few months, so PRAY, PRAY, PRAY that it happens quickly.
Our case CANNOT be submitted to court until we receive these second medicals.
After we receive his second medicals our case is submitted to court and then we wait for a court date which is when we'll travel the first time.
We think this might be sometime in October.

He's a precious boy and we feel so blessed to have this opportunity. We know God is in control and we pray that His will is done.
There are a lot of things going on in Ethiopia now that could or could not affect international adoption in a negative way.
Please pray that God would keep Ethiopia open and protect international adoption.
Adoption is war!
Also, we are not allowed to email or post any pictures of our boy. We are happy to show a picture of him in person, so don't hesitate to ask us!

We've also decided that how he became an orphan is his story and we've committed to not share it. I know we always wonder about people's situations, but we feel that it's his to tell and if at some point in his life he chooses to share it, then he can and if not, then we'll have allowed him that.

Just rest in knowing that God is mindful of even the littlest people!

Thank you all for your support and prayers and for walking this journey with us!
We can't wait to bring him home and introduce him to you all!!

Slooooooow

Slow.
That's how I would describe our wait for a referral. Very slow. Every week we get an update from our agency and it seems that more things keep happening in Ethiopia to slow things down even more.
I won't list all the things that have happened, except for the most recent which is the sudden death of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
This is big (or so our agency is telling us).
We have been asked to pray for the stability of Ethiopia and to pray that policies concerning inter country adoption aren't negatively influenced.

Many people ask about our adoption and we feel so loved when they do. We are encouraged that people are praying for us and truly interested in our journey.

We are coming up on one year on the waiting list for a referral. This means that it's been one year since our paperwork (a.k.a. dossier) arrived in Ethiopia.

We know that God is faithful and He can work through all the issues and seeming turmoil.
If we're honest...(and I usually am honest) it feels like we may never get a referral. These are the feelings and thoughts we fight.
We know satan wants us to believe that it's pointless and that we should give up. Maybe he's convinced you of that too. Maybe he's trying to tell you that there's no point to adopt, that the wait is too long.
But he is a dirty liar.
We will continue to wait. We will continue to trust.
BUT... We are asking you to join us in praying for a referral.
Not because it makes us happy
Not because it's what we want
Because John Owen has a brother half way across the world
Because we have a son half way across the world
Because a little boy is waiting for his family to be able to come and get him.

Pray, pray, pray and then pray some more. (please)

Brown Eyes

John Owen has brown eyes--medium chocolate if you will. I believe our next son will have brown eyes too! I find myself looking at every dark-skinned, brown-eyed child wondering "Will my son look like that?" "Will his hair curl like that?" It's a nice feeling, not an agonizing one. It means we're close to a referral and by close I mean I really have no idea when we'll get one.
At the end of May we will have been waiting exactly nine months for a referral. How funny would it be if we got one then?
I hope we get one soon and believe that it could be. Things have picked up some in Ethiopia and it seems that referrals are trickling in more frequently.
 But...if we must wait another nine months, then we know that is what is best because God does what is best.
That will give me more time to imagine what he looks like, smells like, feels like.
We have toyed with a few names, but will hold off sharing until we've gotten that referral.
God has so graciously blessed us during this process. He has confirmed again and again that we are doing what He has called us to do.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
If you'd like to pray specifically, then pray that the hearts of the government officials and orphanage officials will be softened and that the many children who are waiting to be released for referral will be released.

In the meantime, if you're looking for a good book or two to read, I have some suggestions. (Imagine that!)
First, Kisses from Katie. It's excellent and will hopefully light a fire under you for the orphaned and hurting in the world.
Next is Generous Justice. It too is excellent and will hopefully do to you what it did to me--reveal some blind spots in my own life concerning the poor and underprivileged.

Sorry for not posting regularly...I really have no excuse except that I've been reading a lot and keeping up with my almost three year old son--John Owen.

We're Five Months

Waiting that is.
We've been on the referral list for five months now.
February 27th will be one year since we started our adoption process.
One year!
It honestly doesn't feel like a year.
These past five months since our adoption dossier was sent to Ethiopia have seemed longer.
I guess because ALL we have to do is WAIT.
What? (That's what I think sometimes...just wait.)
We get these little email updates from our agency that tell us every week that we are "on the cusp" of things really picking up in Ethiopia.
So, I guess we're waiting "on the cusp" to become "the real deal."

In the meantime...
I've written our D-Now curriculum, read a lot of books, bopped around with the one and only John Owen Thurman, picked up the nasty habit of running and now.... wait for it....
I'm making a quilt.
Hard to believe, I know, that I'd sew something to pass the time.
But I am and I'll post pictures so you can pass the time with me.

(In all honesty though, we're hoping to not just pass the time, but to really get what God is showing us.)

I attend Bible Study Fellowship on Wednesdays and my group leader commented to me that she appreciated my honesty and transparency.
This is not the first time that someone has said something like that to me. (Shocking, I know.)
But it made me think, "Is that unusual? Should I be different?"
Then I surmised that it's just a lot easier for me to be open and honest even if sometimes it's a little uncomfortable.

So, here's an open and honest truth...I really, really, really, really, really wish my sweet Ella Grace was still alive and here with me and we were waiting for a referral for little Thurman number three instead of two.

But God is Good and His Ways Are Best!!