ETHIOPIAN COURTS OPENED TODAY!!!!!!!!

The Ethiopian Courts opened today a week early! Praise God! So there will be many adoptive parents and agencies trying to get a court date for their referrals they received before or during the court closure, so the back log may be there for a little while, but they are open and can process orphans, so this means the referrals of children are in the near future and we are just a little bit closer to baby Marley!

Because of the age range we selected we know our baby is on this earth right now. We have been praying for her to be here by December 31, 2008, which means we would have to receive a referral like right now for that to happen. It's possible. Please continue praying for our baby. Right now the only thing I can think of is how hard it must be for her family to give her up. We, as adoptive parents, don't go into this wanting a child so much that we forget that someone is loosing thiers. Our daughter will probably be about a year old and that is a whole year she has gotten to be with her family. I truly hope that we are able to meet her family.
In the midst of waiting, we are settled into our new town and love it! I'm involved in multiple play groups, a prayer group, I volunteer at the church and I'm working on updating our family scrap book, I'm about a year behind. Brandon loves his new command and is active with Miles' soccer team. Miles really enjoys his new school and church. He goes to pre-school two times a week for the whole day and when we pick him up, he doesn't want to leave. He really enjoys learning and playing with a bunch a kids all day. I swear sometimes I think we should be brining two home for him, instead of just one. He needs siblings bad! It was 49 degrees this morning...brrrr! You guys know me, I got my heating blanket out!

2 Months Waiting Today!!!

So today marks the day our dossier arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia two months ago! AND, the Ethiopian courts open in three weeks! Yeah!

Preparing for Marley!

So last week our agency had 6 referrals! They are starting to come quickly and as soon as the courts open they will be coming faster! Our agency also added a 6th orphanage from which they pick children up from to refer to waiting parents like us. This 6th orphanage is only working with our agency, and they work towards trying to help mothers keep their children. Being PAP, prospective adoptive parents, it's so easy to just want this child. But we have to remember that in our anxiety, there is a family that is struggling with their live or struggling just to feed their family. We encourage you, our blog friends and family, to get involved in helping with humanitarian aid in Ethiopia. We have contributed, even in the midst of trying to pay for our adoption. So the referrals that our agency had last week didn't move our place on "the list." They were mainly infants and boys.
I went to a consignment sale for Mother's of Multiples at a local church this weekend, looking for jeans for Miles, he's growing so fast. I didn't find any jeans, but I did find Marley's crib set! And what a steal! This is a Pottery Barn set and is in Imaculate condition. I got this set for $20! Yeah! We won't be painting for putting up her crib until we recieve the referral, and because her room is currently my scrapbook room...lol!

Ethiopian Courts Open in ONE Month

The Ethiopian Courts open on October 9, 2008! That's one month from today. After the courts open, they can start the process of processing orphans and declaring abandoned or children as orphans and put them up for adoption. Many of the children in Ethiopia are not abandoned, but given up by their family for a better life, or because they can no longer care for them. These babies in Ethiopia are very loved.
So when the courts open, we should start seeing some more referrals of children. We are still praying for our daughter to be home by December 31, 2008. We have been praying for this date for about 6 months now and we have faith that it will happen. Honestly, it's beginning to look like it might take a miracle, but hey, we are always welcoming miracles! So for our prayerful friends out there, please keep us in mind and be praying that our daughter will be home with us by the end of this year.

Our Agency had Two Referrals Today!

Great news! Our Agency had two referrals today, one for an infant boy and one for a 9 month old boy! Our agency had not had any referrals of children for the last two months most likely due to the court closings in Ethiopia. So, as soon as it reopens, around Oct. 6, the referrals should be pouring in! So yeah for those two families. I can't imagine that day when our phone rings and it finally us that is assigned a child. Wow, what a happy day that will be!
I added a new feature to my blog. It's in the upper right hand corner. You can click on the "Follow Me" link and receive updates when I post a new post. This can be really cool to see how many people actually read my stuff I post, or it can be really sad, to see that I have no following and am just blogging to myself...lol! Anyways, check it out.

Miles and his Trumpet

Miles and Daddy have been having jam sessions with their horns. It's so funny actually. So we named Miles after Miles Davis, because we both LOVE jazz and we thought it was a really cool name. We never want to force an instrument on our children, but honestly, it's in our family. My dad, as many of you know, was a professional musician for 22 years and played the saxophone. So anyways, last Christmas, Miles asked for a trumpet. We couldn't believe it. A three year old wanted a real trumpet for Christmas. So we bought him one on Ebay for a penny...and $65 shipping...lol! Well he's toyed around with it a little, he has built up his chops and can play. He doesn't really hit notes yet, but him and daddy listen to a kids jazz cd and he matches the beats. It's really becoming an amazing thing to watch and I'll try to get video up soon. But here are few pictures. I know he makes Daddy and Papaw proud!

Is My Baby Ready for Soccer or What?

So Miles starts his first sport in a few weeks and we are busy trying to get his attire ready! Or gear, whatever! LOL! He is so excited, we count down the days on his calendar. We found him some shin guards, they are so tiny! So here is my baby posing for Sports Illustrated!

Can you tell who he gets his smile from? Lol, he's overly excited, just like his Mama!

Our Family is Back Together!

So daddy made it to Missouri last Monday afternoon and Miles was ecstatic! So our family is back together, not yet complete, but the current family is happy here in southwest Missouri and especially love our little town of Willard. We believe we have found a church, North Point Church.We plan to attend a newcomers dinner and an expo night for the different ministries to get involved in. Elisa is interested in the teens and high schoolers, and Brandon is thinking about ushering. We can't wait to get involved in this church and become a family with them.
Elisa and Miles have met some great friends in our weekly prayer group. We alternate houses for lunch every week and eat delicious food prepared by all the mommies! Most of the children are going to be Marley's age, so she already has a playgroup! Yeah!
Miles started preschool at Christian Schools of Springfield for two days a week. They teach the ABEKA homeschool curiculum, which I love and am delighted that he will have school time AND play time. I'm finding that having an only child preschooler is hard. I feel like he needs brothers and sisters bad! Yes, I said brothers and sisters...lol! We are starting out with little Marley, but who knows where God will lead us after her!
Brandon doesn't have to be at work for a few weeks so we are going to be building an AWESOME organic vegetable garden and doing some landscaping and painting.
There are so many things to do here in Springfield and Willard. Miles will start soccer in a few weeks and we try to bike daily on the wonderful trails throughout our new town. We want to eventually build up our endurance to bike one of the many 25-35 mile bike ride events they have all the time. I promise to take pictures of the farmers market that I frequent every week that has TWO organic farmers and one that sells meat!
During our move and the unbelievable things God has done in our lives over the last few months, we have learned, unlike our last move, that we are responsible for our own spiritual growth. Which is something we are both working on right now. We have felt the amazing favor of God in our lives with our move, renting a house, buying a second house, living in a beautiful family friendly town, finding a new church so soon, finding some of the BEST friends so soon and His hand in our adoption. We, as believers tend to rely on our church building or pastors to grow us and I am SOOO guilty of this. But part of growing in your faith means understanding how to grow and accepting responsibility. So today I was brought to:

1 Timothy 4: 7b-8 "train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

So in this transition time in our lives, we are working on training ourselves to grow, of course with the help of attending a church and fellowshipping with other believers. But this time is different. We want to make ourselves more accountable for moving to the next step. We want to be examples of great Christians. We want people to see the difference God has had on our lives and help them get there.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Brandon and I aren't perfect and just like Steve Harvey stays "He ain't through with me yet!" But we are trying to live by the above verse and not conform to the traditions, patterns, worldliness and selfishness of our world, but we want to be transformed and renew our mind all for His glory.
I'll be reading Beth Moores new bible study, "Stepping Up" for anyone that wants to join me! We've also commited to 30 minutes of "God Time" daily.

As for the Adoption:
I know many of you are wondering what's going on. Well as we have mentioned before. Their are only 15 families ahead of use asking for the same age and sex. In June, there were about 12 referrals of children and none really since. It's probably due to the court closure in Ethiopia for the rainy season. We are trusting God and knowing that our daughter is there already and that He and the many people that love her are caring for her. For those of you familiar with our prayer list, many have been answered, we thank you for your prayers. We are still praying for a referral of our daughter, a court date and travel before December 31st of 2008. It's actually VERY possible, we just need to rain referrals really soon! There are many many other adoptive parents that have been waiting much longer than us and I pray that these children get matched really soon and get to be with their forever families as soon as possible. Our adoption is almost funded. Brandon sold his mustang and we were able to put 90% of that money away and give the rest to our agency for humanitarian aid. Ethiopia is going through a very tough famine right now and if you can help, like Christ calls us to, your help could save a life! Please consider sponsoring a child.

Look What Came to my House This Morning!!!

WHAT AN AMAZING HUSBAND I HAVE!

Have I Mentioned that I LOVE my New Town?

Today was the YMCA Dream Big in the Park. Baisically, they had several booths set up for the kids and parents to see all that the Y and the programs they have and opportunities in the community. Miles had a blast with the instruments set up and here are a few pictures.

Adoption Update: This is not one...lol! Just waiting. There have not been referrals for our agency in about 6 weeks, and I'm sure it's because they are trying to get the families that are traveling before and during the court closure taken care of. Hopefully soon!