Court Date Received

I received notification yesterday of my Ethiopian court date which is set for May 12, only two days after Mother's Day. And, and as one of my friends yesterday so nicely pointed out, it was only 13 days away, less than two weeks, at that point. Wow! God is certainly expediting the process now and I believe that He is going to redeem the first year plus that I haven't been able to spend with my daughter. I truly am standing in faith that He is going to make up for what may appear as "lost time." It is never lost to Him. He holds time in His hand. And, according to Jeremiah 29:11, "He knows the plans that He has for [baby girl]. Plans to prosper her and not to harm her. Plans to give her a hope and a future." And, that goes for me, as well, as a parent. Incredible!

Thoughts about Adoption...

...based on a message I shared on Monday, April 13 (the day before I got the referral call). So, to commemorate one week of knowing who my daughter is, I thought I would share it with you here:

Was thinking in praise and worship a few weeks ago about adoption and so thankful that it doesn’t take long to be adopted by God into His family.

That’s what Easter is all about. Jesus making a way for us to come back to God the Father. To be adopted into His family. Simple for us – all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Why is Easter so special? Because it is the day that the Lord finalized our adoption. We just have to call out to him to accept it.

Romans 8:22-24 (New International Version)
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

Ephesians 1:5-7 (Amplified)
5For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [[a]because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]--
6[So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,


Adjectives about being A.D.O.P.T.E.D.:

A.ccepted – a place to belong – to receive willingly
D.esired – wished for, to long or hope for
O.pen-hearted - the hearts of the parents are open and ready and willing to love
P.aid in full (bought with a price) – but not to be thought of as a slave (Galatians 5:1 NIV - 1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.)
T.reasured – of great value
E.xpected – to look forward to, to anticipate the coming of, hope - faith
D.estined for LOVE – destined to be part of family, destined with gifts/talents/abilities, destined for greatness

So thankful it is done as we call on His name, and we don’t have to wait one day, 10 1/2 months, 3 years trying to complete the adoption. It is done. It is finished!!!

For All the Wonderful Women in My Life (past, present, & to come)

I picked up a book last week at a place called The Painted Door here in Oklahoma City. The title reminded me of a group of girlfriends that I have here in the city that get together on a monthly basis (or at least used to) to cook for each other, share awesome stories, and just have fun girlfriend time. Then, I flipped it over and read the back and it talked a bit about the author's adopted son. I was hooked! So, I wanted to share it with you.

The book, entitled The Sacred Sisterhood of Wonderful Wacky Women by Suzy Toronto, is uplifting and inspirational. And, it has caused me to laugh out loud - yep, it's true. It talks about mothers (of all kinds - birth, adoptive, foster), sisters, and friends. Here is a poem that I would like to share with all the adoptive moms out there today (and I hope you go and purchase your own copy of the book and enjoy it with your circle of girlfriends):

She Who Is an Adoptive Mother

A miracle occurred when the infant
Was first laid in her arms.
She was transformed from a woman
Into a goddess known as "mother."

For so many years,
She had stifled the pain of empty arms,
Believing this moment would never come.
So she focused elsewhere on making a
Difference in the world,
Seeking fulfillment as best she could.

But now a newborn baby lay in her arms.

She thought she'd known the depths of love...
She thought she'd seen the heights of success...
She thought she'd experienced true joy...
But nothing compared to this.
All else faded when she gazed into
The face of the miracle
She thought could never be hers...
A child to call her own.

Real Mothers

Here is a a copy of an email that I received. I don't know who to credit, though. Enjoy!

---

Subject: Mommy to Mom to Mother

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother......

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Mom doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She's clueless.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman?!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom thinks about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Decorated Office & Care Package

Once I got the call on Tuesday, I was in the office on my phone nearly all afternoon with my door closed making phone calls. While I was in there, some little mouse snuck in and decorated my office door without me knowing it. Here is the look:





And, now, today (Friday), my first care package is being mailed to a family who will take it next week to "baby girl" in Ethiopia. The only item I forgot to commemorate is the blanket, but here are the other items that are going, along with my prayers and love:

Referral Call!!!!!

Got the call. One year old beautiful girl! Will post more later.

A Poem for Today

Once there were two women
who never knew each other.
One you do not remember
the other you call Mother.

One became your guiding star,
the other became your sun.
The first gave you life
and the second taught you to live in it.
The first gave you a need for love
and the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality,
the other gave you a name,
One gave you the seed of a talent
the other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions,
the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile,
the other dried your tears.

One gave you up--
it was all that she could do,
The other prayed for a child
and God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,
the age old questions through the years,
Heredity or Environment--
which are you the product of?
Neither my darling-neither
just two different kinds of love.

Anonymous

No One Knows...

"...about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36 NIV).

Are you familiar with that passage in the Bible about the return of Jesus? Not to take it out of context, but just to draw a parallel to my life and the adoption process - that is what it is like waiting for the adoption referral phone call. I keep being asked when it is coming. I keep wondering when it is coming. I could contact my family coordinator, and she probably doesn't know yet. So, really, no one knows, but I take comfort in knowing that God knows.

Also, to take it one step further...as we wait for Jesus' return, we are to be ready at all times. So, it is with adopting. You must be ready when the phone call comes. You must have things in order, or at least be armed with a plan.

So, I don't know when it will take place, but I can rest and take assurance in the knowing that it will come in God's perfect timing. (Trust me, I am working to truly believe this deep down inside.)