Friday, February 22, 2013

The Burn...

As we share our joy and excitement over the timely court hearing for our daughter in Ethiopia I do not want anyone to miss the extreme pain that her "house mom" or "Mommy" is facing. I imagine that Truth's current mommy has such mixed emotions about her adoption! She has know this day would come and she had thought that she had a month to say goodbye...then in our joy filled moment her world was crushed, the 37 days that she had to say goodbye just flew out the window. She now only has a day or two until she has to say goodbye for what may be forever! Mommy who has loved this child as her own for over 3 years is having to release her into someone else's care, to be adopted by someone she has never met and will never truly know. I imagine that her joy and grief are so mixed together that she honestly could not pull them apart if she tried. I have to admit that my joy is so mixed with the burn of pain for her that I am overwhelmed. I have been near tears for the last two days I just feel for this Mommy!

I ask that my friends and family join together with me to be praying and praying for every part of Truth's adoption BUT right now PLEASE PRAY for her "Mommy" pray for peace, love, understanding, pray that she knows Jesus and can place her trust in Him pray that her void is filled with the knowledge that Truth will be cared for and loved! Pray that she is able to hug, cuddle, love on Truth as much as possible until she is to move to the transition home.

Remember that no matter how long a "Mommy" cares for a child their love will last their lifetime...please just pray!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

In a nut shell...

Our Journey to Truth (in a nut shell)...

In August of 2010 Ryan threw me a curve ball. He tole me one day after church that God told him to go to Ethiopia and bring his daughter home. Knowing my Husband this is HUGE Ryan BELIEVING that GOD SPOKE TO HIM!!! I had thought that we were "taking a break" and maybe would parent more children in the future. We started to research agencies and found that WACAP was the only agency that lined up with what we were looking for. One of our key questions had been "what would happen if we were matched and then became pregnant?" WACAPs response was that it would be up to us if we continued with the match (we were sold). Everything went SO FAST!!!...

November 2010...sent in application to WACAP and started Homestudy

Ryan drops another bomb that he believes that it is to be TWO girls!!!!!!!!

December 2010..."approval" of application to WACAP
February 2011...Homestudy is completed and sent to WACAP (for 2 girls)
Early March 2011..WACAP decides they will only allow 1 girl
March 29 2011...Introduction phone call from WACAP...during this phone call we expressed our desires for the age and situation of our daughter.
April 1 2011...WE ARE MATCHED!!!
June 1 2011...WE ARE PREGNANT...

LOL so there will be 2 girls ;)

August 2011...WACAP stopped our adoption due to our pregnancy
January 2012...Selah is Born!!!
February 2012...I e-mail WACAP about Truth ;)...they respond that we need to wait 6 months from Selah's birth (which would be July)
June 2012...I e-mailed again ;) asking if I could at least start the paperwork that would be needed to BRING TRUTH HOME
June 2012...WACAP said YES!!

PAPERWORK...$$$...Homestudy...$$$...

October 2012... Re-matched with TRUTH
January 23 2013...SUBMITTED TO COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Upcoming...
March 29 2013...Truth's court date

To clarify in Ethiopia there are multiple things that need to happen before a child can be adopted. First there is a whole gathering of documents and getting things ready. There then has to be a court date (March 29, 2012) on this date it has to be proven that Truth is an orphan and "needs" to be adopted. On the day of that court date or soon after the court will assign a date for Ryan and I to attend to adopt Truth!...

I hope that this catches anyone up to speed that may just to joining us :) We are open to questions!!!



Thursday, February 7, 2013

Beauty in the waiting...

I am finding, through this journey to Truth that there is true beauty in the waiting. We first laid eyes on our daughter April 1 2010 it has been almost 2 years that I have been over the top in love with this child I have yet to meet. God has been able to show me many things in this period of waiting such as a new appreciation for my friends and family who are waiting with me coming along side us through monetary donations to ensure that we can BRING TRUTH HOME. I have learned better how to parent my 5 children, how to truly believe that time with others is so much more important then a tide house, that cereal is an acceptable dinner, to relax. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is absolutely necessary for Truth to remain in Ethiopia as long as she safely can. She is with very loving and caring house mothers and a bunch of amazing children she has grown to love and trust. Taking her from that is going to cause pain beyond our understanding! I feel blessed to be waiting...because now that Truth is "marked" as ours her wait has ended. Though she may not know it yet it is our time to wait she HAS a family no matter how long it takes for her to be here physically with us!! I carry the burden of waiting with great joy knowing that my DAUGHTER is at the other end!!!

We received news today that the court system has once again changed and that our travel will now most likely not happen until late April or Early May. I was first hit with sadness and a slight feeling of loss BUT then I looked to where my strength comes from and was reminded that Truth NEEDS every minute, hour, day, week, month that she can get in Ethiopia before she becomes a Fasnacht and I NEED to want that for her! It is beyond selfish of me to rush her time with everyone that she knows and trusts. So I am boldly saying that I am MORE THEN WILLING to wait for my daughter!

During this extra time I will enjoy crafting more items to help BRING TRUTH HOME. We will complete the basement, decorate Truths room, enjoy the time, and not wish a day away :)

We ask for continued prayers for everyone who comes into contact with any part of this adoption!!! WACAP already knows us ;) and we pray that others will know us to for being that family WILLING TO WAIT on God's perfect timing!!! Truth is an amazing little lady we are sure of that!