Red Letters Campaign- Tears

Just got a phone call. We didn't pass court. We will be issued new court dates and a new Tentative travel date. We knew this was a possibility.

Must call travel agent. Lots of tears. I am crying but not crushed.

Will update stupid ticker later.

Red Letters Campaign- Whispers on the Wind

I am a teary mess again today as I have been following the blogs of our friends in Ethiopia. God has done amazing things this trip. Many miracles have occurred. Seeing these parents finally united with their children brings forth a well spring of tears and praises. It's as though all their emotions have traveled on the wind over the distance making their way back to the network of "family" all across the US. That "family" is our Yahoo Group. Filled with people in every stage of the process all rooting on the same team. All in this together. Through the YG I have hoped along side the folks, prayed along side them, agonized during that wait along side them, and now via the wonders of the internet I am rejoicing along side them. I am eager to see their long awaited posts from HOME. Back home with their children. Beginning the rest of the journey as a family. For truly, much is made about the wait but REAL life begins when the families arrive home.

A few lines here and there hint at the idea that some of our friends have seen Jonas. Susan even mentioned that kiddos have been moved to the AWAA's transition home. I have to assume that included Jonas. Say a prayer for our son and the other kids. Such transitions can be overwhelming for them. This move could be potentially as traumatic for Jonas as the day he came into care for he has been at Kids Care Orphanage for half his life now. Pray for peace to rule the children's hearts during this difficult transitional time. They will hardly be settled at the TH before all their crazy American parents come rushing in scooping them up while trembling with tears, full of excited energy.


....With that said I've put up a new ticker. I am praying I won't have to change it and that we will pass court..... you know the drill.

Fw: Test

This is a test. I am trying to figure out how to post via email for when we travel to Ethiopia. I am attaching a photo to see if it works.   25 more days 'till Dustin and I leave for Ethiopia to get our Jonas boy. Provided we actually pass courts that is!   *** Okay so it worked but how do I keep the adds from my email from showing up as well?? Anyone know?******

Check

For many months, on my list of things to do was watch Ben Stein's documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed but like happens from time to time I forgot about it and got busy living life. Tonight Dustin and I finally sat down and watched it. I HIGHLY recommend it. He made many intriguing arguments in the film. Fascinating. Really. But, please, don't take my word for it.

So that's one check mark off my to-do list that was a long time coming.

Friends Abroad.

Hi everyone! I've got a busy day planned for today but before the craziness hits I wanted to hop on and post. I am going to a party given for adoptive families hosted by an Ethiopian woman who attends Surafel's church. I am looking forward to it.

Five families from our agency are traveling to Ethiopia this week. Here's a list with links to their blogs if you want to follow along on their adventures.

Susan of the Schmidts wins an award for bringing MOST luggage. She and her hubby are brave to travel internationally with all those donations in tow. It means a lot more effort on their part. What loving hearts they have! God bless 'em

Amy of the Lusses wrote me an email a while back telling me she felt connected to me. I had to giggle because I felt the same about her. I appreciate this lady so much. She is going to take some photos of our Jonas for us. We are SO thankful! Her video of their son Azana made me cry. You can see it on her blog.

The Van Wettens and the Redferns are a part of the famous YG I am forever talking about. We are praying for them. There is one other family which doesn't have a blog who is travelling with this group.

I will be stalking these blogs eager to see our dear friends with their kids. SO exciting!!!

Red Letters Campaign - Air Travel by Numbers

• Airfare to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Nov 23rd through Dec 6th - $1867.85 times 2.
• Room rate Sheraton Reston Hotel Washington D.C. for one night- $209.00
• Total number of Connecting flights- 5
• Total hours estimated "plane time" (not including time between connections)- 42 HOURS! I am so afraid for Dustin!
• Lap fare for Jonas' return home- $315.00
• Number of flights available to Addis on Wed 26th (the day we had originally planned to leave)- ZERO
• Number of days until we hear whether or not we've passed court and can actually travel on the dates we have purchased tickets for- best guess is two weeks ????
• Fees associated with not passing courts thus requiring the purchase of new tickets- $150 plus any increase in ticket prices
• Unknowns related to the rest of our travel plans- 1,000,000
• The opportunity to experience the joy of welcoming our beloved Jonas home- Worth every ounce of blood, sweat, tears and coin!

Introduction to World Orphans

Jenna left me a comment introducing herself and the organization she works for World Orphans.

Dustin and I spent time at the World Orphans site and really liked their vision for reaching orphans. Please go visit and take a look around. Don't forget to stop by Jenna's blog. It's really lovely.

Red Letters Campaign- Getting Excited

Dustin and I are leaning toward the longer stay in Ethiopia. We know there will be some challenges with being gone for 14 days. Not the least of which is leaving our girls at home for such a long period of time. We will miss them. The other thing which occurs to me is that we will have a lot to process after meeting all the orphans at Hope for the Hopeless and right after the one life changing experience we will head into another, the emotional experience of meeting our son for the first time and caring for him in our new role as his parents. WOW! That's two major life events packed into one trip. PLEASE PRAY FOR US. We will need supernatural strength to carry us through.

We are getting really excited about the idea of having the extra time to spend with the children in Hope for the Hopeless's care. We are excited that the extra time will afford us the opportunity to see both the intake center and the orphange and possibly even visit some of the foster homes in person. We are going to plan out Bible lessons to teach and songs to sing with the kids, games to play and hopefully I can squeeze in some craft type things for them too. I am SO THANKFUL to the Lord for the experience He blessed us with by teaching us to serve the children of Palm Valley Church in the preschool ministry. I know now why He led us to serve together in that capacity. I feel as if we've been prepared for such a time as this. My heart leaps for joy to try to imagine all God has in store for us as we venture across the globe just for the chance to love beyond ourselves in Christ's name.

There is a lot going on in our hearts and our heads as we prepare for this trip. I've already asked if you would please join with us in prayer. Here is a list of specific things we are praying about.

• For Jonas (as always) while he waits for us to come for him. For his health spiritually, emotionally and physically
• For the girls while we are away
• For us to be able to focus on serving during the portion of the trip dedicated to Hope and not be consumed with longing for Jonas
• That we would be filled with the Spirit of Boldness and that we would reach out in love to all God's people, that we would have servant's hearts and be filled with humility
• That we would be given grace and strength in light of facing loss and suffering
• That God would grant us favor among strangers and bless us with the ability to relate across cultural lines and language barriers
• That God would be glorified and that He might open our eyes to see His glory.

PS- we have a hunch that our court date is the first week on November. If that's the case, and IF we pass successfully you can expect to see Jonas' precious face plastered all over this blog :)

I've been tagged

Sweet Kristen one of the best Photographers I know tagged me. So here it goes guys. Seven things.

1) I have a tendency to make sighing noises when something is weighing heavily on my mind. I am completely unaware of it but it's a dead giveaway for hubby that something is up with me.

2) It's physically impossible for me to talk without making facial expressions. Crazy ones. Hence the tendency for me to have wildly crazy photos taken of me. Never the same face twice :)

3) I cannot eat salads from restaurants. I get extremely ill nearly instantaneously.

4) I have really stiff cartilage in my ears that makes it pretty painful for them to bend. Dustin thinks it's the weirdest thing ever.

5) I use my toes to pick up small items off the floor instead of bending over. Convenient, I think. Dustin says freaky. hahahaha

6) I am a rule follower by nature.

7) I am unable to read just a chapter of a book. I try my best to complete it in one sitting if at all possible.

I'm tagging:
My two new travel buddies:
Anna
Nikki

and good friends:
Brooke F
Julie
Kim
Stacey

Finally, with the highest esteem I want introduce you all to Sassy Granny. She rocked the women's retreat last summer and gave me so much to chew on after her exhortation at the women's retreat. I enjoy her blog so very much. I promise you'll enjoy it too!!

NKOTB Part Two

2 in the mornin'

I still heart Donnie
So much fun!!

The girls
Me and B!
getting down :))

The boys from beantown
After the show.