Beads

Look at this great photo Madeline took for her 4H project.

Madeline is selling the Uganda Bead necklaces which she got through the 147 Million Orphans site. The long strands of beads are $20 each. Half the money goes back to Uganda to help mothers earn a living to feed and care for their children. The other half, Madeline gets to keep towards her Ethiopia trip. She is working toward going with us on our second trip to pick up the boys.

There are a lot of ways they can be worn. Wrapped around the wrist as a bracelet is a favorite or as a single or double strand  necklace. Each one is unique as it is hand crafted in Uganda.

Go to the fundraising page if you are interested in purchasing one for yourself or as a gift. Each comes with a tag that tells the story of why and how they are made. This is a gift that truly gives to others.

If you have a Uganda Bead necklace, feel free to post a comment on how you like it.

WE got IT !!!

Hey Hey... the email came in this morning! Praise the Lord! (and just after I posted about it yesterday) We have our court date! It was assigned for after the rainy season which gives us a little time to plan. :o)

Jumping for joy on the inside and a bit on the outside too. We are planning to celebrate today....should it be chocolate? the pool? out to dinner?...maybe all 3.

Bless you today. We are very excited to get to share with you the news of our blessing.

First Puzzle Pieces!

At the begining of the summer I had a young man (9 years old) hand me an envelope because he wanted to help bring home our boys. Inside was $20 of his own money. I told him I was going to put it towards the first pieces of our puzzle. So here it is.

Thanks, Daniel, for getting us started! Thanks even more for allowing the Lord to create a desire in you to help two little boys get home to their family.

Go to the FUNDRAISING page if you want to contribute by doing the puzzle with us.

Let's do a Puzzle together!!!

Hey... while we wait, would you like to help us put a puzzle together?! We saw this on another family's blog that adopted from Ethiopia which helped them raise funds for adoption cost.

Here's the way it works:

   * We will put your name or family name on the back of the puzzle piece / pieces you purchase with a donation of $10 for each puzzle piece.

   *  We will post updates periodically with photos of how much is completed. It will be fun to see it grow!

The Puzzle has 504 pcs. and is 16 x 20 inches. When completed, we will have $5040 and a puzzle artwork to frame and hang in our home as a reminder of this adventure and those who joined us in the journey.

Ready to participate?! GO to FUNDRAISING to see how.

On the Edge...

I am on the edge of my seat. :o)
Whether checking my email first thing in the morning or when the phone rings before noon - I am inwardly leaning towards getting the NEWS that we have been assigned a court date.

Court cases were not being assigned for awhile and now they are moving again. Last week 9 families were assigned court case... Get this. They were notified on a Monday to be in Ethiopia the following Monday. CRAZY - but very exciting. I read one of the families' Blogs this morning. Amazing and Delightful! Since they passed court and the kiddos are officially their children now, she even posted photos.

I tell myself that my HOPE is in CHRIST.... and He alone is my portion and to wait patiently.

I so eagerly want to look into their eyes, touch and smell them and tell them that I love them. Wow... I don't feel very spiritual but very much human... wanting and waiting. I am thankful that the Lord knows me and is with me always. He has shared in the wanting and waiting and still does for His children to come to HIM. Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,...
Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

The expectation is that we could hear any day now about a court date which could be assigned for after the rainy season. (Remember, Ethiopia shuts down the court system sometime in Aug. - Sept.)
Leaning on Him as I wait and want.

June News

I haven't posted because we don't have much news on the boys or the adoption process.

The baby has gained 4-5 lbs since April. :o) 

The garage sale went well, bringing in over $1000. Thanks so much for your donations, support and help.

We hoped to get news in June about a court date for July as our 1st trip to Ethiopia. BUT the news we got was that there was NO news.WAITING is all a part of the process.  Hopefully we will have some more information in a few weeks on the status of our case. Please pray for God's perfect timing, the Judge/ adoption process and our boys.

I'll plan to post again soon.

Bless you. Hope you had a great 4th of July.

Shelly