One Year Today (Or Is It Nearly 1.5 Years?)

One year ago today I submitted my dossier. But, it was one year, five months, and three weeks ago that I officially began the adoption process. Hopefully, the process will be finished soon, and baby girl will be home in her forever family.

Twice Down, Third Time's a Charm?

I received the phone call from Anna from America World shortly after 11:30am today. Once again, I did not pass court for the second time. She did say that the judge has been very open throughout the case, so that did my heart good to hear (Proverbs 21:1). She has been favorable about the investigative reports, but requested that the investigator close the file and open a new one (whatever that means) in the search for the birth parent(s) and/or other relatives. I should find out next week about a new court date, which Anna thinks will happen middle to the end of June (which is when I thought my first court date might have happened originally). It is nice to have had this process started early enough, in hopes now that I pass prior to court closure in August.

Thanks everyone for your prayers, love, and support.

An Update from Family in ET

A family posted this today. I wanted to share it with everyone. Definitely makes a mommy smile. :)

Shala...your little girl is a doll! We gave her the card with your voice recording and she just sat and stared at the pics of you. I would close it and she would open it again. She is such a sweetheart. When we left her, she still had the card in her hands...and even when the nannies were trying to give her a bath, she would not let go of it.

Brief Thoughts & Updates

1. Baby girl turned 15 months old yesterday.
2. Quilt fundraiser is complete today. Both quilts sold.
3. Got call today that I received another adoption grant.
4. Court is tonight while we sleep. I am anticipating the "you passed court" phone call tomorrow.
5. I am trying out some new recipes today - just for the fun of it.
6. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!

REMINDERS

Just a quick shout out to everyone to remind you that tomorrow, May 28, is the last day to bid on the fundraising quilts via eBay. To find out how, scroll down to the Tuesday, May 19, blog posting.

Also, tomorrow night while we are sleeping, court will be happening in Ethiopia. Please pray for favor with the judge. (I will post the outcome on Friday, so be watching.)

Thanks so much for your prayers, love, and support.

Power of Attorney Updated...Check

Today, was another not-so-nice, emotional day. Only one out of nine families who went to court in ET last night passed. The ET government decided to change the rules again and not tell anyone. Imagine that. :)

With that said, I received a call from Anna with America World and she let me know of this dilemma, plus updated me on the issues pertaining to my adoption case...basically, they are working to make sure everything is in place - doing all they can do. The main hold up in court last night was that the Power of Attorney documents that had been being used for the past ten months, were no longer current and the judge wanted them brought up to date. With that said, she called to let me know that affected me, and she wanted me to be able to get the new paperwork submitted so that it doesn't hold up my court date - next week, May 29. Of course, that meant that it had to be to the Virginia office no later than 9am this Friday, May 22. So, I printed the paperwork, took it to the notary (at my church/work), then on down to the Secretary of State I went for authentication, and it is now on its way via FedEx. So, check, one more thing done. Plus, an additional $40+ in fees and postage, but that seems like such a small drop in the bucket compared to everything else.

UPDATE: How to Bid on Silent Auction Fundraiser

If you have or are going to bid on the quilts in the SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER, I've decided that the easiest way to make that happen is through eBay. If you'll just pop over there and click on the link(s) below to make your bid, I would greatly appreciate. (If you are local, in Oklahoma City, the shipping and handling charges can be refunded to you.)

Tulip Quilt (Item #300315970956) - now bidding up from $300
Mary Engelbreit Quilt (Item #300315972454) - now bidding up from $250

Thanks so much. Once again, all proceeds go to help bring baby girl home from Ethiopia.

Bid on Engelbreit Quilt

There is now a bid of $250 on the Engelbreit quilt. Anyone for $300? It's for a great cause.

The tulip quilt bid is at $300. Do I hear someone increasing this to $350?

Please let me know. Details are in May 16 post.

Bid on Tulip Quilt Increased

There is now a bid on the table for $300 on the tulip quilt. Do I hear anyone increasing this bid to $350? It's for a very worthy cause. :)

What about beginning the bid on the Mary Engelbreit pattern. Do I hear $250?

Please let me know. Details are in post below.

Still Raising Funds...Can You Help?

I just wanted to give you an update on the SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER. Yesterday was the original ending of the auction for the two quilts; however, we have decided to extend it another two weeks - until about 6:45pm Central Time on Thursday, May 28 (which, prayerfully, will be the night before I pass court!!!).

With that in mind, I am reposting the quilt photos below. Also, the beginning bid on each is $250, and there is already a $250 bid on the tulip pattern, so please bid up from there. These can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States. Please bear in mind that just the material in these quilts cost about $400 each, plus they are hand made by a precious lady in my church. So, regularly these quilts would sell for anywhere from $500-$1,000 each. With the tulip pattern, you also get four pillow shams (she found more that she had made) and two throw pillows. Please specify if you are bidding on the tulip pattern (queen size) or the Mary Engelbreit nine block teacup pattern (full/queen size).

Please, please, please help me finalize the raising of funds for bringing my daughter home from Ethiopia. The overall process has cost about $25,000, but what is the price on the life of a child who needs a loving, Godly home? Priceless! (Sounds like a commercial.) :) I am still a little bit short, therefore, all proceeds from this auction will go toward the travel expenses of me going over and what it takes to bring her home, as well. [And, even if you can't bid on these quilts, would you please pass this information along to anyone else who might be able to help?]

To bid, please see my post dated May 19 on how to bid on eBay. Thanks.

You Know You're Doing Something Right When...

...you receive the following post from "Anonymous."
(Side note: Those adopting and having blogs about their adoptions have their names out there for the world to see, but Anonymous here didn't leave his/hers):

Question from Anonymous:
I don't understand why a white family wants to adopt an Ethiopian child. Can't you find children in the US to adopt?

Here is my initial thought about Anonymous' comment (and trust me my heart is thrilled and overjoyed because Anonymous asked this), according to Matthew 5:1-12:
1Now when he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Here are my other thoughts for Anonymous:
1. Every child, every orphan, needs a home - regardless of race, religion, color, background, etc.
2. If a black family wants to adopt a white child go for it. If an Asian family wants to adopt a Ukranian child, go for it. Each child needs a loving family. According to James 1:27 we are called "to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
3. My two questions to Anonymous are: What are you doing to help an orphan? With over 143 million orphans in the world today, what part are you playing or are you willing to play?

Didn't Pass...

...new court date is May 29.

Now, that the tears have dried up a bit, here is additional information. The judge requested them to try again to locate her birth mom. They don't have a lead so they did additional police investigations and reporting, but it wasn't enough. The judge requested that my agency try again to locate the birth mom, so we need to pray for a lead (that would be simplest way to complete this process). If they can't locate her, then there will have to be quite a bit more police investigations and a police officer will have to show up in court. However, where the police for this is located is in southern Ethiopia and they typically won't travel to Addis Ababa without a court order, which could then delay things even more. So, please continue to pray, and thanks to all for your encouragement today.

Please Remember

While we are sleeping tonight, court will be taking place in ET for my daughter. Please pray for all documents to be in place, all parties to show up in court that need to, favor with the judge...!

Also, please remember to bid on the Silent Auction Fundraiser below. Materials in the quilts are worth at least $400, plus being hand made. Would normally sell for $500-$1,000+. All proceeds go for travel to ET.

Update on SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER!!!

There is one bid of $250 on the tulip quilt with shams & throw pillows. Please continue to bid. Also, need someone to begin the bid on the 9 block quilt. Thanks. (All proceeds go for travel to bring my daughter home from Ethiopia on June 9.)

SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER!!!

Okay, my peeps. A wonderful lady at Victory Church donated two quilts to help raise funds for travel to Ethiopia - the final leg of my adoption journey. Pics are below. The 9 block pattern is full/queen size. The tulip pattern is queen size w/ 2 shams & 2 throw pillows. Starting bid on each begins at $250. Please bid via comment or email me at shala.bartley@victorychurch.tv and let others know of this, and when bidding, please notate which quilt you are bidding on. All monies go toward finalizing the adoption process. Bids will be received through Friday, May 15. (Payment will be able to be made via Paypal, money order, or cash. Shipping & handling charges will be extra and can be arranged once sale is final.)