We got our Adoption decree! We are very thankful for this important step in the adoption process. This document is proof to our insurance company that we have 2 other children and will be able to add them to our policy, and it is the necessary document that is needed to get the ball rolling at the US Embassy. Next step, their birth certificates and passports need to be issued, and visa medicals need to take place. Thanks for praying!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
A Father's Tribute.
napping with Dad.
A Prayer of protection and blessing.
4.5.12 - Sealing Adoption Day. The Lion of Judah (formerly on the Ethiopian flag - but still guaranteed to win it all, Rev 5:5) - First Initial of our 7 children - Adoption Date - Psalm 126:3 in Amharic. Left arm complete for now. :)
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Good News
Huge prayer has been answered....WE PASSED COURT! Little Beti and Biniyam are officially our children.
Before they said goodbye, Biniyam came out of his shell and started giggling and smiling with Dad (before he was slightly serious). As excited as they are to come back home, its harder than they thought leaving their kids behind. They have no idea when their second trip will be.
Mom and Dad are now at the airport awaiting their journey home.
Please pray that they will have safe travels!
-C
Before they said goodbye, Biniyam came out of his shell and started giggling and smiling with Dad (before he was slightly serious). As excited as they are to come back home, its harder than they thought leaving their kids behind. They have no idea when their second trip will be.
Mom and Dad are now at the airport awaiting their journey home.
Please pray that they will have safe travels!
-C
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Day 2 In Africa
It hardly seems we have been here for only 2 days. Our hearts have grown fonder after such a short time with the twins. It was difficult to leave them today knowing that tomorrow will be the last time we will see them for weeks or maybe months. They love to be held and talked to and kissed. Beti really liked Patty Cake. They both are pretty quiet and don't make a lot of sounds, but are very interested in looking at us and hearing us talk to them and making silly sounds. They particularly liked chewing on their little toys that we brought for them. When we dropped them off in the nursery before we left, Beti smiled from her crib and gave a little wave. It is sad to think they spend most of their time in a crib, but they do get great care and we have seen first hand how their nannies love on them and are generous with their smiles and affection towards them all.
Some answered prayers: We are getting rest, we seem to wake up at 3:00 am, but we don't feel terribly sleepy. We have felt healthy, and we are enjoying getting to know the other families. Jay and I have laughed a lot and have found the fellowship very renewing. Our hearts are growing fonder, and the twins seem to be taking to us. And we believe our paperwork is in order.
Please pray for our court appt. to go smoothly and there wouldn't be any complications that arise and that we would have safe, restful, and UNEVENTFUL travels home. We head out tomorrow evening at 10:55 pm. Hard to imagine boarding another airplane so soon.
God is good.
Jay and Julie
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
First Full Day in Addis
We are thankful to have a night of sleep behind us as we entered into a full day
(night of sleep in the loosest sense). Our morning began with acquainting
ourselves with the two other couples and a single woman who are all hear
adopting at the same time. It was encouraging to hear their experiences and
struggles as we each share this same journey in many ways. After breakfast we
(Julie and Jay) decided to walk through a bit of the city in search of a sim
card for Jay's iphone. We successfully found a place to purchase one, but have
yet to find wi-fi in order to activate. Needless to say, our walk was
adventuresome in that we tend to stand out - perhaps Jay should lose the husky
purple and wear something a bit less conspicuous.
Following this adventure we headed off to the House of Hope where our children are staying as they wait to be adopted. To say this was surreal is an understatement. Driving there I tried to imagine the many trips to the hospital to deliver our girls, only in this case we avoided both the labor and epidural. The House of Hope brought us to an upper room set up for expecting parents to meet their children. We sat on large sofa chairs and waited anxiously for the nannies to bring the twins in. Hard to know how to introduce yourself to children you love but don't know just yet - perhaps there really isn't much that is different between having biological vs adopted children in this regard. Well, our twins are darling - sweet continence and very little crying. They seemed to take to us well. We loved their cocoa-butter smell and tufts of black curly hair. Their eyes are bright and as surreal a moment as it was, it just felt rather normal, if that is at all possible. Mom got some tears going - perhaps the culmination of so many answered prayers and hopes all stuffed into a split moment of saying "Hello" to our newest family members.
Jay of course gave Beniyam his first football - he took to it rather nicely I would say. He definitely needs to bulk up a bit and maybe work on his core strength if he is to have any hope at making it into the NFL. At this point, we think Beti has a better shot as she is the more sturdy of the twins.
We got about three hours with the twins today, and plan to spend more time with them tomorrow Lord willing. To wake up in Africa is enough of a shock, to wake up in Africa and think about meeting new family members puts this week long journey in a whole other category. We feel so very thankful for The Downtown Church family and all that are praying for us. We felt the calm even on our plane rides and continue to feel a great calm as we are experiencing so much in such a compressed manner. Please continue to pray for God's kindness as we try and listen and experience all that occurring around us in a right frame of mind. Please also pray for our court appointment this Thursday and then the journey home.
Thankful and full,
Jay and Julie
Following this adventure we headed off to the House of Hope where our children are staying as they wait to be adopted. To say this was surreal is an understatement. Driving there I tried to imagine the many trips to the hospital to deliver our girls, only in this case we avoided both the labor and epidural. The House of Hope brought us to an upper room set up for expecting parents to meet their children. We sat on large sofa chairs and waited anxiously for the nannies to bring the twins in. Hard to know how to introduce yourself to children you love but don't know just yet - perhaps there really isn't much that is different between having biological vs adopted children in this regard. Well, our twins are darling - sweet continence and very little crying. They seemed to take to us well. We loved their cocoa-butter smell and tufts of black curly hair. Their eyes are bright and as surreal a moment as it was, it just felt rather normal, if that is at all possible. Mom got some tears going - perhaps the culmination of so many answered prayers and hopes all stuffed into a split moment of saying "Hello" to our newest family members.
Jay of course gave Beniyam his first football - he took to it rather nicely I would say. He definitely needs to bulk up a bit and maybe work on his core strength if he is to have any hope at making it into the NFL. At this point, we think Beti has a better shot as she is the more sturdy of the twins.
We got about three hours with the twins today, and plan to spend more time with them tomorrow Lord willing. To wake up in Africa is enough of a shock, to wake up in Africa and think about meeting new family members puts this week long journey in a whole other category. We feel so very thankful for The Downtown Church family and all that are praying for us. We felt the calm even on our plane rides and continue to feel a great calm as we are experiencing so much in such a compressed manner. Please continue to pray for God's kindness as we try and listen and experience all that occurring around us in a right frame of mind. Please also pray for our court appointment this Thursday and then the journey home.
Thankful and full,
Jay and Julie
Monday, April 2, 2012
Message From Africa
Just got done skyping with my weary parents....They have arrived in Ethiopia in one piece!!! The plane ride was uneventful (praise the Lord!) to my parents great relief. Thank you all for your prayers. We are so thankful for having others join us in this exciting journey. Its 10:30pm right now, and they are resting in the TDS Guest House (their hotel).
Besides the plane ride being long...so terribly long.....they are safe and sound and tired =) Tomorrow they will meet little Beti and Biniyam!
Please pray that their jet lag will wear off, and that the twins will recieve them well.
Thank you once again. This is such an adventure!
"For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods." Psalm 96:4
- C
Besides the plane ride being long...so terribly long.....they are safe and sound and tired =) Tomorrow they will meet little Beti and Biniyam!
Please pray that their jet lag will wear off, and that the twins will recieve them well.
Thank you once again. This is such an adventure!
"For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods." Psalm 96:4
- C
Sunday, April 1, 2012
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