Homestudy ready to go to Ministry

It feels like forever but our "change of country" package is ready to go to the Ministry. It was worse the second time around trying to get everything together. Maybe it's because the wait has been so long and we've gone through so much. Some days it's hard to get motivated to jump through all these hoops AGAIN. Now I know that this is only our second update. Some people are on their third update and no child. UGH.!! People are definitely getting very restless again. I don't blame them. It's been almost 2 months without a referal. and this is because of new paperwork requirements from Ethiopia. It will take a while to get all that straightened out and for referals to start again. BUT the wait is torture. We are still considerably far down the list but are asking for an older child so that might make it quicker for us. Well for now we are done jumping through these crazy hoops and all we have to do is WAIT. So I guess that's not so bad.
People are finally returning from picking up their kids in Ethiopia. A few had tours of the orphanage where some of our kids would come from and their's lots of kids in the orphanages waiting for their forever families. So here we sit waiting and there they sit waiting.  

GRADE 8 GRAD

On a happier note. My amazingly beautiful 14 yr old daughter Rachel had her grade 8 graduation ceremonies last night. Here is a few pics of her. Her older cousin did her hair.

In Search of Contentment

I know what some people might be thinking at a title like that - "What! She's a christian. She's supposed to be content in all circumstances". Believe me, I know that this is how it should be. And that is why I am in search of this. I am a person who likes to be "in control" of things around me. Struggled with it most of my life and have won many battles BUT lately this adoption thing has brought me down. I want to control whats happening but it is totally out of my hands. So time to dig deep in the bible and study books and be reminded that GOD is in control.

Read an interesting prescription for contentment from a missionary who worked in the most primitive conditions for more than 50 years:

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything - not even the weather
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
• Never compare your lot with another's.
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise
• Never dwell on tomorrow - remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours.

Psalm 16:5 says "Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.

God has already  'assigned me my portion' and God is good and therefore what He gives me is good.

Yes it has been hard waiting for this precious child to be chosen for us but I have to remember 2 truths:

1. God cares for this child that is already born and waiting for a family
2. God cares for my family who is anxious to have this child home.

I Timothy 6;15 reminds me that God is the controller of all things.

The adoption news has not been that great lately. There is still the band on of relinquished kids in certain areas of Ethiopia ( this is affecting some of the orphanages that Imagine works with). They are also requiring more documentation before kids can be referred. This is great for the safety of the kids, but has caused much anxiety in the parents waiting for referals. There was one referal in all of May for the Imagine parents. There is hints that this will be resolved soon. Pray for us as we continue to "hurry and wait".

Precious Lives

Each Child :

-has a story

-feels the pain of loss

-longs for comfort

-hopes for a future

-cries out for relief

NEEDS YOU

http://www.breadfromheavenoutreachint.shutterfly.com/

Link for Ghana orphanage

some people are having a hard time finding the link I referred to in my previous post so here it is:

http://www.breadfromheavenoutreachint.shutterfly.com/