Josiah Abraham Adnew Baber is officially our son!!! He is just over two years old, and so so precious! We think he is going to be a smaller guy for a while, but hopefully he'll gain some ground once he's home.
We have been asked to not post pictures yet, so even though it is hard, we want to be respectful and adhere to the recommendations.
Thank you all for your prayers and your thoughts! It should be relatively soon when we travel. He will need a new birth certificate, passport, and medical exam before our embassy appointment. The embassy appointment is what we will travel for.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Up until now...
...I have been telling myself that there will be no problem waiting until Tuesday to hear about Court. It's what we are expecting. Now, I'm really starting to feel that tomorrow is going to be the "LOOOOOOOOOOOOONGest day ever in the world !!!!" (as Elizabeth would say)
I promise I won't call SW tomorrow. I promise I won't call SW tomorrow. I promise I won't call SW tomorrow....:-) Off to see if maybe I can sleep. Maybe Elizabeth will let me sleep the morning away and tomorrow will be shorter. Hey, a girl can dream!
Lord, this sweet boy and the adoption are in Your hands! Please help me to remember.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Still don't know...
...what is wrong with the car. :-p Elizabeth and I will be homebodies for a while...with a few days of getting up at some insane time in the morning if we need the car. Maybe I'll be encouraged to work on my Ethiopia miles.
How are you praying?
We thank all of you who are praying for us and thinking of us while we wait. I just want to ask, if you are praying for "distractions" or for us to "keep busy"--or something of the kind--during this time, would you please STOP!!! :-) I think we're pretty good in the distraction department for the week.
David's car broke down (maybe a transmission or clutch problem) on the way to work this morning. PRAISE GOD he is safe, and we have awesome tow insurance! We don't know if it's going to be worth fixing or not. The car isn't worth a whole lot to start with. We're not in a position right now to just go out a buy a new car, though...particularly with the hopefully very soon travel arrangements that need to be made. I'll let you know more later. Right now I need to go up and get my husband.
David's car broke down (maybe a transmission or clutch problem) on the way to work this morning. PRAISE GOD he is safe, and we have awesome tow insurance! We don't know if it's going to be worth fixing or not. The car isn't worth a whole lot to start with. We're not in a position right now to just go out a buy a new car, though...particularly with the hopefully very soon travel arrangements that need to be made. I'll let you know more later. Right now I need to go up and get my husband.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Last night...
...we saw so many beautiful things!!!
First, we had the closing program for VBS. We watched beautiful children singing about the love of the Savior! BEAUTIFUL!
Then, we had the awesome experience of watching the newest member of the Jenkins family come home! There was a large group of family and friends gathered to meet and love Liam...and his mami and papi :-) It was so beautiful to be see and hear the reactions of Alex and Callum to their brother. Of course, I was crying with joy for how good God is!
In the midst of all the celebration, I had a sudden thought, and the tears came more intensely. Friends who saw me thought I was thinking about our son coming home soon from Ethiopia, but I feel ashamed to admit I wasn't really thinking about Josiah at all. My thoughts were on Jose, and the words, "My little boy will never come home," repeated in my mind.
It kind of makes me wonder if that's what it is like when a new soul enters Heaven. The angels and saints who have gone before gather around in eager antipation, and applaud and cheer as the newest family member comes home, saying, "You're finally here! Welcome home!" Will they also cry, like I did, hurting for those who will never be part of the family..not lessening the celebration in any way, but feeling all of the emotions at the same time?
First, we had the closing program for VBS. We watched beautiful children singing about the love of the Savior! BEAUTIFUL!
Then, we had the awesome experience of watching the newest member of the Jenkins family come home! There was a large group of family and friends gathered to meet and love Liam...and his mami and papi :-) It was so beautiful to be see and hear the reactions of Alex and Callum to their brother. Of course, I was crying with joy for how good God is!
In the midst of all the celebration, I had a sudden thought, and the tears came more intensely. Friends who saw me thought I was thinking about our son coming home soon from Ethiopia, but I feel ashamed to admit I wasn't really thinking about Josiah at all. My thoughts were on Jose, and the words, "My little boy will never come home," repeated in my mind.
It kind of makes me wonder if that's what it is like when a new soul enters Heaven. The angels and saints who have gone before gather around in eager antipation, and applaud and cheer as the newest family member comes home, saying, "You're finally here! Welcome home!" Will they also cry, like I did, hurting for those who will never be part of the family..not lessening the celebration in any way, but feeling all of the emotions at the same time?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wednesday Blahs...
The day didn't start out the best...and it's just been one of those days since then. There have been some highs and low, all kind of balancing out to a blah day.
Low: Hard time getting up this morning. Running late (though neither is anything new)
High: Elizabeth was pretty cooperative about getting up and getting ready this morning (she is not much of a morning person either!)
Low: Sore arms and upset stomach since yesterday's immunizations. (It's another step in going to get our son...(repeat 10x)
High: Iron-ons turned out really cute on the t-shirts
Low: Had a rough time teaching a new song to VBS kids.
High: The kids are SO cute dancing around, and they REALLY know the other two songs we have learned. (They even like them for the most part! ;-))
Low: Forgot the throat drops again...it's hard to keep singing by the fourth class.
High: Going to see a cute movie with friends. Elizabeth and my nephew A.J. did pretty well!
BIG HIGH: SPA PEDICURE with my good friend while Elizabeth played at a friend's house
VERY LOW: If I hadn't just had my relaxing pedicure, I might have left my daughter on the side of the road on the drive home. She had one of the worst meltdowns I have seen her have...all the way home.
BIGGEST HIGH!!!: Reading about a great embassy appt. for Jenkins, and special bonding time for them
Low: Can't fall asleep, even though I'm exhausted and haven't slept much for over a week.
All I can say is...Saturday, I'm sleeping! ;-)
Low: Hard time getting up this morning. Running late (though neither is anything new)
High: Elizabeth was pretty cooperative about getting up and getting ready this morning (she is not much of a morning person either!)
Low: Sore arms and upset stomach since yesterday's immunizations. (It's another step in going to get our son...(repeat 10x)
High: Iron-ons turned out really cute on the t-shirts
Low: Had a rough time teaching a new song to VBS kids.
High: The kids are SO cute dancing around, and they REALLY know the other two songs we have learned. (They even like them for the most part! ;-))
Low: Forgot the throat drops again...it's hard to keep singing by the fourth class.
High: Going to see a cute movie with friends. Elizabeth and my nephew A.J. did pretty well!
BIG HIGH: SPA PEDICURE with my good friend while Elizabeth played at a friend's house
VERY LOW: If I hadn't just had my relaxing pedicure, I might have left my daughter on the side of the road on the drive home. She had one of the worst meltdowns I have seen her have...all the way home.
BIGGEST HIGH!!!: Reading about a great embassy appt. for Jenkins, and special bonding time for them
Low: Can't fall asleep, even though I'm exhausted and haven't slept much for over a week.
All I can say is...Saturday, I'm sleeping! ;-)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Forever Families!!!!
This afternoon our dear friends met their son!!! He is now FOREVER with his family!
We keep praying that everything will go smoothly for the rest of their trip, especially the embassy appointment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great news just keeps coming!!!!
Three families with our agency had succesful court hearings Friday...they are officially Forever Families now, too!!!!
Praise God!!!
We keep praying that everything will go smoothly for the rest of their trip, especially the embassy appointment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great news just keeps coming!!!!
Three families with our agency had succesful court hearings Friday...they are officially Forever Families now, too!!!!
God is SO Good!!!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Shopping for my boy!
I've been feeling like I need to do something to get ready for Josiah, so yesterday I went online to Children's Place and scoped out the outlet section. It was actually pretty fun, and I actually had David sitting here looking at everything with me. (Note to self: I get more input from hubby while shopping online rather than in a store ;-)) I bought three shirts, two pairs of pants, sneakers, and even sunglasses. I probably would have bought more, but since I could actually see the total going up as I was shopping, I was good.
I know that most people say girls' clothes are so much cuter, but I actually really liked shopping for little boys' clothes! It's almost a relief to not have to worry about how revealing or provacative the clothes are. Yes, unfortunately, even in toddler and pre-school sizes, I have to worry about that with girls' clothing! And I have fun imagining the colors on his beautiful skin.
I've already started to decide what he's going to wear to the embassy appointment...heehee
I know that most people say girls' clothes are so much cuter, but I actually really liked shopping for little boys' clothes! It's almost a relief to not have to worry about how revealing or provacative the clothes are. Yes, unfortunately, even in toddler and pre-school sizes, I have to worry about that with girls' clothing! And I have fun imagining the colors on his beautiful skin.
I've already started to decide what he's going to wear to the embassy appointment...heehee
Still a long way to go...
...16 days to be exact. But today, I've already started getting some butterflies thinking about our court date. Before, the reason would have been because I was thinking it is so soon and we're not ready (There will still probably be MANY of those days!) However, today it was more because I'm anxious for Josiah to be home! I absolutely know that it's in God's timing, and it will be okay if we don't make it through court the first time. But still... :-)
I'm praying for you ladies waiting on the news from today! I'm amazed at your peace! After today, though, I have been thinking I'm really glad our court date is a Monday instead of a Friday! I'm keeping you in my prayers!
I'm praying for you ladies waiting on the news from today! I'm amazed at your peace! After today, though, I have been thinking I'm really glad our court date is a Monday instead of a Friday! I'm keeping you in my prayers!
Friday, July 11, 2008
What do you do...
...when you are so excited and anxious about all the amazing things happening in adoption all around you that you can think of nothing else? Pray, pray, pray...and blog. (I'm not sure how Biblical the second part is, but sometimes a girl just has to talk to "someone", and all of the other someones in my house are sleeping right now :-))
PRAISE GOD!!!! Our dear friends have bought their plane tickets to Guatemala and will be holding their precious son on MONDAY!!!! Oh, I am so excited for them!!! Please pray for their safe travels and for their children at home. Pray for this dear little boy whose world is about to turn upside down....in an incredible way...but still very scary for a little guy. Also, pray that no person, paperwork, or anything else will stand in the way of them meeting and enjoying this time they have to get to know their son.
On the other side of the WORLD, in a matter of hours, the cases of three families will go before the judge in Ethiopia. Please pray for continued peace for these families as they wait to hear if the court approves their adoptions. Pray for God's perfect timing in bringing these children home to their forever families.
It is just so amazing to imagine what God has in store for His beautiful children and their families!
PRAISE GOD!!!! Our dear friends have bought their plane tickets to Guatemala and will be holding their precious son on MONDAY!!!! Oh, I am so excited for them!!! Please pray for their safe travels and for their children at home. Pray for this dear little boy whose world is about to turn upside down....in an incredible way...but still very scary for a little guy. Also, pray that no person, paperwork, or anything else will stand in the way of them meeting and enjoying this time they have to get to know their son.
On the other side of the WORLD, in a matter of hours, the cases of three families will go before the judge in Ethiopia. Please pray for continued peace for these families as they wait to hear if the court approves their adoptions. Pray for God's perfect timing in bringing these children home to their forever families.
It is just so amazing to imagine what God has in store for His beautiful children and their families!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Overwhelmed
That's the only way I can describe my feelings tonight. There is so much to do and so many decisions to make. Yet, I feel like I don't know how to begin even half of it
Then I read this good news...
Then I read this good news...
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men tumble and fall; Isaiah 40:28-30 NIV
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Court Date!
We have our first court date scheduled for July 28 already! That means, very optimistically, that we could be travelling in about a month and a half (if we get through court successfully and then get an embassy appt. a couple weeks later). Realistically, I don't think that is going to happen. It is very possible that our case could be delayed, and then it would need to be rescheduled. I think if that happens, another court date will probably not be until after the court shut-down, but I could be wrong.
Right now I'm trying to find the balance between "expecting" it to take longer and "hoping" it will happen as fast as possible. I want to be mentally prepared if court dates are delayed and such. But I need to use the possibility that he could be here VERY soon to get my rear in gear to get ready for Josiah! Our house is SOOO not ready for a new toddler! Right now, I just kind of feel like I'm going to be freaking out and getting NOTHING accomplished...at least for tonight :-)
Right now I'm trying to find the balance between "expecting" it to take longer and "hoping" it will happen as fast as possible. I want to be mentally prepared if court dates are delayed and such. But I need to use the possibility that he could be here VERY soon to get my rear in gear to get ready for Josiah! Our house is SOOO not ready for a new toddler! Right now, I just kind of feel like I'm going to be freaking out and getting NOTHING accomplished...at least for tonight :-)
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