Oh my goodness!

These are the words that I kept repeating this morning as Don and I stared at some new photos of our precious little daughter! Some friends were just at Hannah's Hope to bring their daughter home and they took photos for us!!! My heart was racing as I gazed at my sweet baby's face! How can I already love her so much? It is truly a miracle from God our Father! I dashed up the stairs to awaken our kids with the words that we have new photos of "B". They jumped right out of bed and crowded around the computer to see the pics! They are as excited as we are!

In other news, we recently were able to make a care package and send it to AGCI for "B". They received it today and it is on it's way to Ethiopia!!! The nannies at HH will read the photo album that Sis and I made of our family and "B", so that when we arrive to bring her home she'll already know us! I'm sure she will still be a bit shocked to find out that her parents have blue eyes and white skin, but the album should help with that! We're so thankful to God for bringing this little girl into our lives!

Waiting

We are patiently waiting for the time when we can travel to Ethiopia to get our little African princess. Just looking at her sweet photos makes me wish I could hold her! Another family from AGCI is in Ethiopia this very week to bring home their daughter from HH. They are keeping a daily blog which is thrilling to read! Plus, they promised to take pictures of "B" for us!!

We fed the homeless the other night in downtown. It was little buddy's first time...he was a bit hesitant about going with us, but he really got into once we were there. His title was "pudding boy" because he passed out the pudding cups. It was such a good experience for all of us! When Don and I were back home, he shared that "B" was probably homeless for a time in Addis Ababa. It made me sad to think of that for her. I'm so thankful to God that we are going to be able to bring her home in a few months!

A Jar of Change

Our children are all very excited about the whole adoption process, but it's been a bit hard for our youngest. One weekend recently, he and I were able to spend some time talking about it one on one. I was able to reassure him that he would still be able to have time alone with us and that we had enough love in our family to love this new little girl. The next night I was talking on the phone and something caught my eye on the floor. It was a quarter. As I rounded the corner I saw my little guy's "change" jar dumped on it's side, almost completely empty. Then, I opened the cabinet where we're collecting change for our adoption and it was filled to the top with his coins. It was such an unexpected surprise! He had just quietly given his approval to the idea of our family's adoption...what a gift from God. I'm so thankful to God for the ways that He works!

The Aroma

We are in the process of collecting little things for "B"s bag to send to her. I was happy tonight to find a cute, tiny black baby doll! We have a soft, pink blanket for her and are taking turns sleeping with it so that she can smell us and not be afraid when we come to take her home. Don was preaching on Sunday morning from II Corinthians 2:14-16...that God leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and that He spreads everywhere through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. We are to God the aroma of Jesus among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. I want to smell like Jesus to others! May God work in me to do that!

One month ago

One month ago...it was July 9th. This was the day that our little Ethiopian princess was brought to Hannah's Hope by her family. I can't imagine the pain and grief of that day for her mother. What led up to that day? What was she feeling? When did "B" realize what was going on? I'm so thankful to God for the love her mother showed by taking her to a safe place to be fed and cared for. I'm also thankful that God is allowing our family the privilege of being a part of this precious one's life. So today, I'm thinking of a mother half way around the world...praying for her as she grieves the separation with her daughter...feeling the connection that she and I have as we both love and treasure this small, sweet girl. God has great plans for "B"!

Shopping for an African-American baby doll

Sis and I have been to 4 or 5 different stores looking for a tiny, black babydoll to send to our princess in Ethiopia. Out of all the dolls we've seen in the past 2 days ONLY one was black and that baby was too big for the care package we are preparing to send. I'd never really noticed the discrepancy before. I know that adopting this sweet child is going to open our eyes to alot of things that we didn't notice before. Please, God, teach us! We wound up buying a cute little mama sheep holding her little lamb...it's soft and will be perfect for her small hands!

Beginning a blog

Okay, we've been convinced that we need to set up a blog after reading all the wonderful adoption blogs out there! We want to share our own journey to our little Ethiopian princess with our friends and family. Today was such a happy day. Sis and I spent the afternoon shopping for our little princess - what a thrill to be able to buy all of those cute 2T clothes again! Then, to top it off we were able to see more photos of our princess from Hannah's Hope! Wow...that was thrilling to see her sweet face in more photos than the four they sent us. We even got to see her on some video coverage. I just want to get there and bring her home!!! God is so good to give us this opportunity to bring her into our family. Everyone is excited! Well...it's very late...we've been on the computer way too long looking at all the blogs . I have three kids to get to bed along with two great girls spending the night, what am I doing writing on this blog. Got to go.. God is so good...