Sehin wanted to know...

We are blessed to have some contact with the orphanage director in Ethiopia. He lets us know how Sehin is doing. He gives her pictures that we send and she is able to ask some questions about our family.

One of the pictures that we sent was a family Christmas picture. There was snow in the background. Sehin wondered if it was cold here all the time. Oh honey, it can get cold here in Spokane. We wear warmer clothes when it gets cold. It can be so much fun to play in the snow though. Zac, Kayla, Jacob and Jenna like to take the snow and make a ball out of it. You can throw the snowballs at each other.

Sehin asked what we do for a job. She wanted to know how much time she would have to be alone. Oh love, we are both teachers. We work while the children are at school but we get to spend the rest of the time together. You won't have to be alone.

Sehin said, "Mam and Dad, hurry hurry, please come and take me home to America." Oh, sweet daughter, we are coming as fast as we can. We can't wait to take you home and to care for you. We want you to feel safe and loved. We don't want you to have to worry any more. You can trust us. God sent us to be your forever family.

Another way to help...

I got a call from a new friend, Maliaka Hefling, who offered to help us raise money for our adoption fund. She's donating her commission on Scentsy orders to our adoption fund!

I was floored! Not only did she take the time to read about our situation, she felt like she wanted to help and be a part of bringing Sehin home!

If you are looking for some Christmas gifts for family or friends, check out the Scentsy products on her website... it will do MORE good than you know! *Look for Sehin's fundraiser link

https://fragrantoffering.scentsy.us/home

We're touched by your responses!

We've gotten many offers of prayer and

we've raised over $900 towards our adoption fund! Praise God!

Here are some of the responses we've received:

"Good luck with the adoption!"

"God bless you in welcoming Sehin into your wonderful home and family...she looks like a sweet and beautiful young woman. We are so anxious to meet her in person!"

"Congratulations on your upcoming adoption. God bless your family!"

"We're so excited for your family...we'll be praying for and supporting you 100%"

We're so touched by the thoughtful responses and contributions that we have received. We're thrilled to see how God is working through us and around us during this time!

Soddo, Ethiopia

I think of our daughter often. I wonder what she is doing this very minute. I pray that God will put a covering over her and protect her until we can come.

"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them and you listen to their cry."
Psalm 10:17

The Work Behind the Scenes...

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence." Jeremiah 17:7

Kayla, Jacob and I spent hours addressing, stamping, folding, and sealing our fundraising letters.

We're trusting God that He will provide all of the money that is needed for this adoption.

We're keeping track of our fundraising totals on this blog, so everyone can see the work that He is doing in our lives.

Song that speaks to me...

Jumping head first!

One of the adventures that we are embarking on in this process is getting to learn more about the Ethiopian culture. I had the opportunity to visit a local restaurant, Queen of Sheba, to have lunch with a gal who adopted 2 Ethiopian girls last year. We spent 2.5 hours talking and eating. I learned a lot about her experience, asked a lot of questions, and dished up some unique cuisine.

"Be the change that you want to see in this world." -Ghandi

This is a picture of Sehin, her mother, and her sister. This picture strikes a nerve deep inside of me. It is a mother, who is too sick and too poor to care for her own children. She prays to God that He might find someone who could love her daughter....He picks us. I do not know why.

The orphanage director sent me a message from her mother,

"Hope is a great thing for my daughter, who needs a long life and better future."

The Process

I feel like I have been up to my eyeballs in paperwork. I had no idea how much an adoption entailed. There are copies of birth records, marriage records, vet records, doctor reports, reference letters....the list goes on and on.

We're taking one item at a time and trusting that, if this is God's will, He will help us get through it all. One day, when I was feeling discouraged about the mountain of paperwork piling up, I got a great devotional by e-mail. This is what it said:

DO THE WORK!

"Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all of the work related to the temple of the Lord is finished correctly." 1 Chronicles 28:20

I love how God can speak to us through music, other people, and through His word. He is constantly encouraging us through this process and we're stepping out on faith!