Well, we are resurrecting our adoption blog. During the last three years, God continued to say "Not yet, just wait, not yet" to our many prayers. Then finally in January 2014, He said, "Now!" and gave us a referral for a beautiful three year old girl!
Side note:
Since we began the adoption process in April 2010, we wanted a little boy. Then God did a big shift in our hearts and we were requesting two children a little boy AND a little girl! For three years we prayed for our "Isaac and Callie." But then in October 2013, our agency made it clear that younger sibling groups were not being referred for whatever reason. We sought the Lord. He made it very clear to Daniel that we should open up our request range to: one OR two children. Then we received our "Callie" referral! She is a doll! But we continue to pray for our "Isaac" and believe God will provide. So now back to the story......
We leave soon for our first trip! We will meet our daughter, go to court, and then return home all in weeks time. Then after a few weeks, we will go back to bring her home!
We will post pictures as soon as we can!
Second Side note:
During the long wait, even though we knew God was working, it was not always easy to trust. We had moments of frustration and doubt. We definitely have a stronger "trust muscle" now and so do our current three kids. Lesson learned for us: God knows what He is doing, even when we don't understand, He is love, He is wise, trust Him, He has your best interest at heart.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Please pray today! (Sunday)
Will you please pray tonight? As you know there have been some recent announcements regarding new delays in the Ethiopia adoption program. Well there is an event happening on Monday in Ethiopia (Sunday night in the US) that we are asking everyone to pray for - the US Embassy in Ethiopia has a meeting with MOWA (Ethiopian Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs). We're not sure the exact nature of the meeting but we are asking everyone to pray that the Holy Spirit is present in this meeting. Below are some prayer ideas from Tom Davis, the president of Children's Hopechest (a ministry we support). I've also listed he link to his post at the bottom of mine. Thank You SO MUCH!
1. For God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God is in control. For those of you who are facing being stuck, remember that God is in control.
2. For God to breakdown strongholds of the enemy.
Every child deserves the right to grow up in a health family, and adoptive families provide that for thousands of children each year. Pray that God would demolish the strongholds that are set up against adoption.
3. For God to fulfill His promises.
God defines Himself as the Father to the Fatherless. He declares He will set the lonely in families. He warns those who would interfere with His plan to bring justice and mercy that is due to them. Find the orphan scriptures, pray them to God, and ask Him to fulfill those promises to the children of Ethiopia now.
4. For the courts and judges and government officials making this decision.
Ask the Holy Spirit to permeate the courtroom and convict the hearts of the judges and other government officials. Bring the power of the Holy Spirit into these discussions and proceedings--not that we would get our way--but that God's perfect will would be fulfilled in these decisions.
5. For the children and families
That God would shorten their wait times. Fortunately, God is bigger than these obstacles. Pray that waiting children would receive comfort. And pray that waiting families would experience peace, grace, and love from those around them.
Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/
1. For God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God is in control. For those of you who are facing being stuck, remember that God is in control.
2. For God to breakdown strongholds of the enemy.
Every child deserves the right to grow up in a health family, and adoptive families provide that for thousands of children each year. Pray that God would demolish the strongholds that are set up against adoption.
3. For God to fulfill His promises.
God defines Himself as the Father to the Fatherless. He declares He will set the lonely in families. He warns those who would interfere with His plan to bring justice and mercy that is due to them. Find the orphan scriptures, pray them to God, and ask Him to fulfill those promises to the children of Ethiopia now.
4. For the courts and judges and government officials making this decision.
Ask the Holy Spirit to permeate the courtroom and convict the hearts of the judges and other government officials. Bring the power of the Holy Spirit into these discussions and proceedings--not that we would get our way--but that God's perfect will would be fulfilled in these decisions.
5. For the children and families
That God would shorten their wait times. Fortunately, God is bigger than these obstacles. Pray that waiting children would receive comfort. And pray that waiting families would experience peace, grace, and love from those around them.
Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Prayer & Fasting Tomorrow (Friday) - Can You Join Us?
We just got word that there have been some changes that could significantly slow down the adoption process for some families. Please pray with us tomorrow (and fast with us too if the Lord leads) as we petition God to intervene in the hearts and minds involved so that Sara and I and so many others can bring home the children who are waiting for their forever families. Please post if you are praying! Thanks so much!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Snow and Gratitude!
Well as the song says - "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" We actually had some snow flurries here in Georgia today. Pretty cool for us southerners. We are headed to both KY and OH for Christmas this year. We are excited to be able to see family!
Thanks so much to those who have given so far towards our adoption! We have received 36% of the funds it will require to adopt our 2 new kids! You all have been so generous towards God's rescue plan. It has been especially neat to hear your letters about how God has prompted and prepared your hearts to give.
All our paperwork is in Ethiopia. Please continue to pray for us and especially our 2 waiting children.
I can't let today pass without mentioning our excitement and congratulations to our friends Chris and Tanya on their recent adoption. They just returned from China on Friday night with Ian, their 5th child from China. You can read some remarkable stories from their trip at http://www.withsongsofjoy.blogspot.com/.
Thanks so much to those who have given so far towards our adoption! We have received 36% of the funds it will require to adopt our 2 new kids! You all have been so generous towards God's rescue plan. It has been especially neat to hear your letters about how God has prompted and prepared your hearts to give.
All our paperwork is in Ethiopia. Please continue to pray for us and especially our 2 waiting children.
I can't let today pass without mentioning our excitement and congratulations to our friends Chris and Tanya on their recent adoption. They just returned from China on Friday night with Ian, their 5th child from China. You can read some remarkable stories from their trip at http://www.withsongsofjoy.blogspot.com/.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
On the Wait List!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Latest News
Sorry it has been a while since we updated everyone! Sara has been working so hard for the last couple months bringing together all the paperwork necessary to send over to Ethiopia. Monday, August 2nd, we have our CIS fingerprint appointment in Atlanta. This is one of our last steps prior to sending over our "dossier". The dossier includes all our paperwork, home study, etc. Once the fingerprints are done we have to wait a few weeks for approval and then we can send everything over and our major paperwork phase is done. Then we will be on a waiting list for the Gladney workers in Ethiopia to match us with a child.
This is a picture of me and the kids at Queen of Sheba Ethiopian restaurant in Atlanta. The people there were so nice and the food was incredible. We visited there with our friends the Dales, who also adopting from Ethiopia!
In other news, we feel the Lord has confirmed in our hearts the fact that we are supposed to adopt 2 children! So that means Isaac will have a little brother or sister! Our kids are so excited and so are we!
One final note - God has been so faithful to provide financially so far, but we are almost out of funds. When our referral comes (that's when we get the picture of the children we have been matched with) we will need several thousand dollars at once. Also since the second child increases the cost (additional airfare, additional agency fees, etc...) we are asking for financial assistance with Isaac's little sister. The approximate cost to add a sibling to the adoption process is just $3500. Would any of you be willing to cover the cost of adopting her? Ask the Lord and if you think He wants you to help - you can send a check to us at our home or just click the map above to give online. Thank you SO MUCH for your willingness to be a part of God's rescue plan for these 2 children!
-Daniel
In other news, we feel the Lord has confirmed in our hearts the fact that we are supposed to adopt 2 children! So that means Isaac will have a little brother or sister! Our kids are so excited and so are we!
One final note - God has been so faithful to provide financially so far, but we are almost out of funds. When our referral comes (that's when we get the picture of the children we have been matched with) we will need several thousand dollars at once. Also since the second child increases the cost (additional airfare, additional agency fees, etc...) we are asking for financial assistance with Isaac's little sister. The approximate cost to add a sibling to the adoption process is just $3500. Would any of you be willing to cover the cost of adopting her? Ask the Lord and if you think He wants you to help - you can send a check to us at our home or just click the map above to give online. Thank you SO MUCH for your willingness to be a part of God's rescue plan for these 2 children!
-Daniel
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Prophecy and the Pizza Man!
OK this is one you're not gonna believe but it's true! Sadie had some friends over for her 8th birthday Friday night and we ordered pizza from Papa Johns. I was out by the pool watching the kids and noticed Sara talking (or listening) to the pizza guy for an unusual amount of time. I didn't think much of it at the time - I just figured she knew him from somewhere. Later that night after most of the guest had left we were sitting around the table with some friends and she proceeds to tell me that the pizza delivery man had given her a word from the Lord! Seriously!
She had recognized him from a local restaurant where he used to work and they had a bit of small talk. Then he reluctantly told her he had a vision from God on his way to our house that he felt like he was supposed to share. He said he saw a fish in a fish bowl and that God was telling the fish that He wanted him to get out of his comfort zone. WOW! He started to walk away and Sara actually asked him to come back and repeat it just to make sure :) We've not had too many experiences like that in our lives where we had a word given to us from God like that. Obviously we are the fish but what is the area where God wants to stretch us? We have a pretty good idea but we're not 100% sure. We feel like God may be challenging us to adopt not 1 but 2 children from Ethiopia. I told Sara we should just keep ordering pizza from Papa Johns until He tells us for sure :) Anyway - keep us in your prayers!
She had recognized him from a local restaurant where he used to work and they had a bit of small talk. Then he reluctantly told her he had a vision from God on his way to our house that he felt like he was supposed to share. He said he saw a fish in a fish bowl and that God was telling the fish that He wanted him to get out of his comfort zone. WOW! He started to walk away and Sara actually asked him to come back and repeat it just to make sure :) We've not had too many experiences like that in our lives where we had a word given to us from God like that. Obviously we are the fish but what is the area where God wants to stretch us? We have a pretty good idea but we're not 100% sure. We feel like God may be challenging us to adopt not 1 but 2 children from Ethiopia. I told Sara we should just keep ordering pizza from Papa Johns until He tells us for sure :) Anyway - keep us in your prayers!
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