Dear Saraia Joy,
It has officially been eight months since I've submitted my dossier and been on the wait list to receive you home, but you have been growing in my heart even longer than that, and you are already "my princess" (as your name means). The past two nights I've had dreams about who you might be right now. But, that gets me to thinking and praying about all the potential, possibilities, and gifts that God has already placed inside of you. I pray for you. I pray for your destiny. I pray that you will become everything that God (not me) has called you to be. Not to be on the performance treadmill, but fully obedient to the will of God.
I pray you come home soon, yet I know that God's timing is perfect. Whoever you are, wherever you are, I want you to know that I already love you. Through this journey of you coming into my life it has given me a greater understanding of God adopting each one of us as His children. What an incredible story!
I love you and look forward to meeting you face-to-face very soon.
With all my heart,
Your Mother
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Look what Mum made
Mum just finished making this gorgeous twin size quilt for the spare/child room bed. She is also going to make a matching baby quilt (with smaller squares). I'm so excited about that, too. I'll post that when it's done. I am blessed with an incredibly talented Mother.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Another Referral
Yep, that's right. Another infant girl referral was given out today. If my calculations are correct, there have been a total of 18 referrals given out so far during this month of January. Yeah! Which means, here again, if everything that I know is accurate, I am number six on the waiting list for an infant girl. Oh my...the time is drawing closer. I am thrilled to bring her home soon and give her a loving home.
On a different note, I found out last week that my Dad will be traveling with me to pick her up. How exciting for her Grandpa to be the second family member to meet her. Plus, he loves missions work, and hasn't been out of the country in many years. This will be a wonderful experience.
On a different note, I found out last week that my Dad will be traveling with me to pick her up. How exciting for her Grandpa to be the second family member to meet her. Plus, he loves missions work, and hasn't been out of the country in many years. This will be a wonderful experience.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
An Update from the AWAA Blog
January 20, 2009
More January Referrals
January continues to be a busy month with more exciting news for families in our Ethiopia program! Please find below the list of these children and the DTE dates of the families.
Age and Gender of Child
DTE Date
4 Male Infants
04/11/2008
04/18/2008
2 Female Toddlers
04/18/2008
07/25/2008
1 Seven year old boy
07/25/2008
Currently the wait time for a single female infant is 9-11 months. The wait time for a single male infant is closer to 9 months. This trend is based on recent history, but is subject to change.
In the year 2008 America World placed approximately 60-70 Ethiopian children with their forever families. We are hopeful for what the Lord has to bring to this program in the year 2009! We appreciate your prayers for the families in this program waiting to be united with their child(ren).
More January Referrals
January continues to be a busy month with more exciting news for families in our Ethiopia program! Please find below the list of these children and the DTE dates of the families.
Age and Gender of Child
DTE Date
4 Male Infants
04/11/2008
04/18/2008
2 Female Toddlers
04/18/2008
07/25/2008
1 Seven year old boy
07/25/2008
Currently the wait time for a single female infant is 9-11 months. The wait time for a single male infant is closer to 9 months. This trend is based on recent history, but is subject to change.
In the year 2008 America World placed approximately 60-70 Ethiopian children with their forever families. We are hopeful for what the Lord has to bring to this program in the year 2009! We appreciate your prayers for the families in this program waiting to be united with their child(ren).
Monday, January 19, 2009
Super Cute...
...twin size fleece blankets that fold up into pillows (made for my nephew & niece for Valentine's Day). One day, I'll get to do projects like this for my daughter. :) And, cutsie throw pillows to match.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Need Help Staying Warm this Winter?
Then, I have a deal for you. For those of you who are coffee drinkers, I have an offer for you that in turn will help me raise funds for the adoption process. I have partnered with Elemental Coffee Roasters, here in Oklahoma City, to offer you some incredible coffee. I sampled it for my wake-up-time this morning, and it was truly incredible. I have 12 oz. bags of freshly roasted, when you order it, Yippe I A Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee for only $10 per bag (which is a discount to you even from their website). If needing to be shipped, please add $5 shipping/handling to your order. Please let me know your quantity and we'll work out payment arrangements via cash or check. (Also, please specify whole bean, drip, or french press grind.)
I look forward to sharing this wonderful coffee with you. Blessings and continue to make it a great year!
---
Here is Elemental's description of the coffee bean:
A departure, yes. Yippee I A, you might say, is our wild child. It’s the one you can expect to be completely unexpected. In our desire to keep you guessin’ (and, okay, to keep you coming back for more…), we present this little element of Elemental surprise. Specific characteristics will vary from bean to bean, but know this: it will always be a truly interesting coffee. So do us a favor and find someone interesting to share it with, okay?
I look forward to sharing this wonderful coffee with you. Blessings and continue to make it a great year!
---
Here is Elemental's description of the coffee bean:
A departure, yes. Yippee I A, you might say, is our wild child. It’s the one you can expect to be completely unexpected. In our desire to keep you guessin’ (and, okay, to keep you coming back for more…), we present this little element of Elemental surprise. Specific characteristics will vary from bean to bean, but know this: it will always be a truly interesting coffee. So do us a favor and find someone interesting to share it with, okay?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Crazy, Busy Week but Updates Are Finally Here for You
I want to say "hey" to all of you my fans and followers out there. 2009 is off to a great start. Lots of transitions happening around here.
First, the Single Experience at Victory Church, of which I am the Associate Pastor over, is taking on a new look this year. We are taking Mondays off in January 2009 to get ready for our first Monday night Single Experience Rally on February 9, 2009, but we're still have Friday SEvents. Our next one is bowling, which is a week away. I am so excited and thrilled. I love to bowl. I just have to keep a reign on my competitive nature, when it comes to that. :) Yes, keep reminding me to love on people - I'm the pastor and need to set the appropriate example. Of course, I am human, too. So, we'll see which side wins. (I'm somewhat kidding, of course.)
On the adoption front, which is probably the real reason you are reading this, there have been 10 referrals given out this week. Which equates, from what I can tell, to me moving up to the #8 spot waiting for an Ethiopian infant girl. One of my good friends from upstate New York moved into the #4 slot waiting for a baby girl - I am so excited for her. We are hoping that since it is so early in January maybe more referrals will be given out this month. That would be incredibly awesome! Please keep praying. I know God's timing is perfect.
There are other things in my life, too, that I wish God would hurry up in making happen. I just have to keep trusting God and keep hiding my heart in Him. He's God and I'm not. I've got to stop trying to act like God, and just rest in and follow Him completely.
My love to all you. Happy and Prosperous New Year! May it be your best year yet.
First, the Single Experience at Victory Church, of which I am the Associate Pastor over, is taking on a new look this year. We are taking Mondays off in January 2009 to get ready for our first Monday night Single Experience Rally on February 9, 2009, but we're still have Friday SEvents. Our next one is bowling, which is a week away. I am so excited and thrilled. I love to bowl. I just have to keep a reign on my competitive nature, when it comes to that. :) Yes, keep reminding me to love on people - I'm the pastor and need to set the appropriate example. Of course, I am human, too. So, we'll see which side wins. (I'm somewhat kidding, of course.)
On the adoption front, which is probably the real reason you are reading this, there have been 10 referrals given out this week. Which equates, from what I can tell, to me moving up to the #8 spot waiting for an Ethiopian infant girl. One of my good friends from upstate New York moved into the #4 slot waiting for a baby girl - I am so excited for her. We are hoping that since it is so early in January maybe more referrals will be given out this month. That would be incredibly awesome! Please keep praying. I know God's timing is perfect.
There are other things in my life, too, that I wish God would hurry up in making happen. I just have to keep trusting God and keep hiding my heart in Him. He's God and I'm not. I've got to stop trying to act like God, and just rest in and follow Him completely.
My love to all you. Happy and Prosperous New Year! May it be your best year yet.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
A Few Postings Wrapped into One
7 Months & the 4 Letter Word
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Time to update all of you again. It has officially been 7 months since I submitted my paperwork to AWAA. And, in times past, it has only taken 7-9 months for a referral of a baby girl to come. However, when I entered the Ethiopia program, there was a large influx of families doing the same. Therefore, the wait (that lovely, 4 letter word that describes a lot of life, yet no one really likes) will be longer than originally expected. I am still around 13 or 14 on the list for a baby girl, and about 1-2 referrals of baby girls have been being given out each month.
On a different note, thanks to all of you who supported the Fall & Christmas Fundraisers that I put together. The response was incredible. Here's a brief account of what people purchased. I was able to handmake around 100 pies, plus around twelve dozen cinnamon rolls or dinner rolls.
Here's an example of the way one of my days went. The Saturday before Christmas, I got up and made 4 pies. I went to my church and with the Single Experience baked over 1,000 cookies for 8 police precincts (our Adopt-a-Cop on Christmas Eve outreach). While at the church I got several more orders for pies - totally was not anticipated, but yeah! I came home to my parents being in town. With their help, I was able to make up another 18 pies (that is 22 in all for the day), plus we made three homemade pizzas. Yep, that was all in one day. I was so tired, and yet exhilarated that we had made it all happen.
Closing Out 2008
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Well, 2008 is coming to a close, and what a better way than to mail off a large adoption payment that is due mid-January. God is so good. On the payment, very little had to be charged to a credit card. That is thanks to God, good planning and budgeting, and people supporting the Adoption Fundraiser above.
It's Really 2009 - WOW!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
At 34 minutes past Midnight, I had the most startling discovery. This is the year that Saraia, my daughter, will come home from Ethiopia. Oh my goodness. How wild to say. I've been telling people that it will happen in 2009. Well, 2009 is now here. This is the year!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Time to update all of you again. It has officially been 7 months since I submitted my paperwork to AWAA. And, in times past, it has only taken 7-9 months for a referral of a baby girl to come. However, when I entered the Ethiopia program, there was a large influx of families doing the same. Therefore, the wait (that lovely, 4 letter word that describes a lot of life, yet no one really likes) will be longer than originally expected. I am still around 13 or 14 on the list for a baby girl, and about 1-2 referrals of baby girls have been being given out each month.
On a different note, thanks to all of you who supported the Fall & Christmas Fundraisers that I put together. The response was incredible. Here's a brief account of what people purchased. I was able to handmake around 100 pies, plus around twelve dozen cinnamon rolls or dinner rolls.
Here's an example of the way one of my days went. The Saturday before Christmas, I got up and made 4 pies. I went to my church and with the Single Experience baked over 1,000 cookies for 8 police precincts (our Adopt-a-Cop on Christmas Eve outreach). While at the church I got several more orders for pies - totally was not anticipated, but yeah! I came home to my parents being in town. With their help, I was able to make up another 18 pies (that is 22 in all for the day), plus we made three homemade pizzas. Yep, that was all in one day. I was so tired, and yet exhilarated that we had made it all happen.
Closing Out 2008
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Well, 2008 is coming to a close, and what a better way than to mail off a large adoption payment that is due mid-January. God is so good. On the payment, very little had to be charged to a credit card. That is thanks to God, good planning and budgeting, and people supporting the Adoption Fundraiser above.
It's Really 2009 - WOW!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
At 34 minutes past Midnight, I had the most startling discovery. This is the year that Saraia, my daughter, will come home from Ethiopia. Oh my goodness. How wild to say. I've been telling people that it will happen in 2009. Well, 2009 is now here. This is the year!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
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