Another step closer

I got my I-171H immigration approval today! Yeah! Another step closer. So that means I should know within the next few weeks when my court date will be. I am so excited ... and scared and nervous and a hundred emotions I can't even name!

Please say prayers that the rest of the process goes smoothly. Thanks!

Melkam Yelidet Beaal (Happy Christmas)

GENNA

Christmas in Ethiopia, called Lidet or Genna, is not the primary religious and secular festival that it has become in Western countries. Falling on January 7th, it is celebrated seriously by a church service that goes on throughout the night in ancient churches carved from solid volcanic rock and also in modern churches that are designed in three concentric circles. Men and boys sit separately from girls and women. The choir sings from the outside circle.

The day before Genna, people fast all day. On Christmas Eve the city is crowded with pilgrims from all parts of the country. They remain outdoors all night, praying and chanting. The next morning at dawn, everyone dresses in white. Most Ethiopians wear a traditional shamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. The shamma is worn somewhat like a toga. Urban Ethiopians might put on white Western garb. A colorful procession makes its way to a nearby hilltop where a service is held. Three young men march at the head of the crowd, lashing whips from left to right to keep the people in line. People receive candles as they enter the church. After lighting the candles everyone walks around the church three times, then stands throughout the mass, which may last up to three hours.

After the service is over the rest of the day is spent dancing, playing sport and feasting. Traditionally, young men played a game somewhat like hockey, called genna, played with a curved stick and a round wooden ball, and so Christmas has also come to be known by that name. Food served at Christmas usually includes injera, a sourdough pancake like bread. Injera serves as both plate and fork. Doro wat, a spicy chicken stew might be the main meal. A piece of the injera is used to scoop up the wat. Baskets decorated beautifully are used to serve the wat.

Genna and Timkat are not occasions for giving gifts in Ethiopia. If a child receives any gift at all, it is usually a small gift of clothing. Religious observances, feasting, and games are the focus of the season.

TIMKET

Timket, the feast of Epiphany is the greatest festival of the year, falling on January 19th, just two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is actually a three-day affair beginning on the eve of Timket with dramatic and colourful processions. The children walk to church services in a procession, wearing the crowns and robes of the church youth groups they belong to. The grown-ups wear the shamma. The priests will now wear their red and white robes and carry embroidered fringed umbrellas.

The following morning, the great day itself, Christ's baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated. Ethiopian men play another sport called yeferas guks. They ride on horseback and throw ceremonial lances at each other. Since October and the end of the rains, the country has been drying up steadily. The sun blazes down from a clear blue sky and the festival of Timket always takes place in glorious weather.

Melkam Yelidet Beaal (Happy Christmas)

With Love,
Nancy

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy

The latest news (received 12/20/07) ...

AMEN!
The [caretaker] of [the children] are bringing them tomorrow - they are saying their farewells in their village. They also live far away from Soddo. All is well!
Blessings,
S.

The only surprise there is that I had thought my kids were from Soddo and now it seems they are from "far away from Soddo." Crazy!!! But I'm thankful and feel blessed for any tidbit of information I can glean. For some of the children nothing at all is known.

Plop plop, fizz fizz

Oh what a relief it is!
(In case you're wondering what the heck I am talking about, that jingle is part of an old Alka-Seltzer commercial) ... anyway ... I received this email today ...

Subject: Merry Christmas News!

Nancy,
I have just received an email from Soddo that our social worker was able to make contact with the family and the children are going to come to the orphanage as soon as possible this week. Our volunteer says to put your heart at ease and she will let us know as soon as they have arrived.

Big sigh of relief! Thank you Jesus! Now "cautiously" bouncing off the ceiling.

Kinda nervous

Last week I was told that my children had been moved into the CWA foster home in Soddo. This was rather bittersweet, as to me that meant leaving what is familiar to them, but also meant they were safe and well cared for. Today I was apologetically informed that there had been a miscommunication and the woman providing the information was caught in the midst of multiple tasks (sound familiar?) and momentarily confused my kids with another sibling group in the same phase of the process.

As far as my kids' status, they have been sent two messages "inviting" them to the orphanage /foster home. I'm not sure if they didn't respond or just haven't come. Nonetheless, a case worker is being sent to their town this week to speak with them. This makes me really nervous, as it is a very tenuous situation ...

Until they are in the adoption agencies care, anything can happen: Communication in third world countries is difficult and the people can be sometimes transient. The agencies don't "lose" the children, per se, but sometimes after initial contact it becomes difficult or even impossible to regain it. Or, guardians may change their minds or other relatives may step forward that wish to care for the kids.

The CWA motto is "We Believe That God is in Control of Our Agency and Your Adoption." I know this is true and I have complete faith that God has mighty plans to bring my perfect children to me. I have also worked very hard at guarding my heart ... "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." ~ Proverbs 4:23. With an international adoption from a third world country you really have no guarantees until you actually have the children in your arms. I'm sure everything will be fine, but I am praying for God's grace and covering.

Dossier in Ethiopia

I just found out that my dossier was sent to Ethiopia on 11/27/07. Yippee! Another step closer.

... next ...recieve I-171H (mid January 2008?)
... then ... court date (mid to late February 2008?)
... then ... pick up my kids! (late March to early April 2008?)

And ... I sent out a second email tonight for my fundraising efforts, and have already received a new gift. Praise God! He is Jehovah Jireh, the God Who Provides. "So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided.' " ~ Genesis 22:14

It's a small world

A few weekends ago I went to a Ethiopian Older Child Adoption Training put on by Kingdom Kids Ministries in Spokane, Washington. It was wonderful and informative and I would highly recommend it. Part of the program consisted of other adoptive parents (mostly the moms) coming in to speak to us about their experiences. What a blessing to have that first hand knowledge!

About a week after my return I was talking to one of the women from my church who said she had a friend in Washington (I thought she said Seattle) who had adopted 10 children, loves Jesus, and would be a great resource for me. So I got the email address and sent a note. We shared a bit of information and one of the things I mentioned was my trip to Spokane and how helpful I had found it. She wrote back in amazement! She had been one of the speakers!! Once we knew each other was there, we both knew exactly who the other was. What a small world! Or as I prefer to say ... isn't God amazing!!!! What an encouragement!

So what happens now, you may ask? ...

Well ... I filed my I-600A immigration form and was fingerprinted on 11/14/07. They are saying in Colorado it is taking around two months to get the I-171H approval back. So that should happen around mid-January 2008.

In the meantime, with my home study complete and approved, my dossier is now complete as well! Yeah!!! The dossier - a bundle of paperwork more precious than gold due to the hours of labor it takes to compile all the many forms, official copies, and endless details - then needs to be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. and after that by the Ethiopian Embassy. One can mail their bundle and hope for the best, or use a courier service, who will hand carry your paperwork to the U.S. Department of State, wait for it, and then trot it over to the Ethiopian Embassy, wait for it (or return on an assigned day), and then use your prepaid envelope to return the completed package to your agency. I chose to do the later. I used The Assistant Stork, and was pleased with their service. I sent my package via FedEx on Friday, and it was authenticated and in my agencies hands by Wednesday. It will then be sent off to Ethioipia to await the arrival of the I-171H immigration approval.

Based on the experience of other adopting parents, I estimate having a court date around six weeks after both the dossier and immigration form have been received in Ethiopia. So maybe late February or early March. We hear that it is another 4-6 weeks after that to travel (though some web postings say as little as three weeks!) making my trip to the ancient and fascinating land of Ethiopia to pick up my angels in late March or early April of 2008. Just over eight months from the day I sent in my application!!! WOW!

Josiah & Naomi

Update 3/6/08: This post was temporarily suspended pending court approval in compliance with Ethiopian law and adoption agency policies. See Faux Pas dated 1/23/08.

There is a lot of discussion in the international adoption circles about keeping the child's given name versus giving them an "American" name. I love names and name meanings and have given this much thought. In the Bible (my go-to guide for life) name changes represent a change in character, relationship or covenant with God, a new position, or an introduction to a new life and new purpose. Wow! That last one hits the mark! So my children will have new names and will also keep their Ethiopian given names. In addition, since I am single and my current last name is from a marriage I am no longer in - though I am good friends with my ex and really like my last name - I will legally change my last name to my children's last name!

So we will all be Sintayehu, which is pronounced Sin-TIE-u and is Amharic (the national language of Ethiopia) in origin. The literal meaning is “how much have I seen” or “I have seen a lot in my life.” It is a poetic and beautiful name; a kind of expressive name that leaves new mothers wondering when they see their newborn baby.

(See follow-up Thinking about names posted on 1/14/08)

When the blessing of adoption was first laid upon my heart, my son's name was revealed as Josiah. I love his Biblical story found in 2 Kings 22 & 23 (and also in 1 Chronicles 34 & 35) -- "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." When the lost Book of the Law that had been given to Moses was rediscovered, King Josiah instructed his people to obey the commandments and brought the people of Judah back to God. At the time I had never heard of anyone having that name and now I meet Josiah's every time I turn around!

So my new son is Josiah John Naol.

Josiah is pronounced jo-SYE-ah, and is Hebrew for "God Will Save, Jehovah Helps, The Lord Saves." He was the 16th king of Judah at age eight after his father was assassinated, and Josiah ruled well for 31 years. My middle name is Jo, so he is also named after me in a loose kind of way. The name Josiah was rated #117 on the 2006 SSA List (Social Security Administration list ranking the popularity of names in the U.S.)

His second name John, is in honor of my dear friend, John W. May who is entwined in my heart and soul, and whom I will love forever and always. The origin is Hebrew and the meaning is "God Is Gracious." Biblically, it is the name of the longest-lived of the 12 apostles, who was especially loved by Christ, as well as the name of John the Baptist, who baptized Christ in the Jordan river. The name John was #20 on the 2006 SSA List.

Naol is pronounced Nah-ol, and is the Ethiopian form of the Biblical name Noah. The origin of Noah is Hebrew, meaning "Peaceful, Rest, Long-lived, Comforter, Wanderer." And of course in the Bible, Noah was the patriarch survivor of the Great Flood who drifted in the ark for 40 days. All the world's nations are descended from Noah's three sons - Ham, Shem and Japheth.

My new daughter is Naomi Grace Firaol.

I picked Naomi just because I love the sound of it! It is pronounced nay-OH-mee, and is of Hebrew origin, meaning "Beautiful, Gentle, Pleasant, Delightful." Naomi was an ancestress of Jesus and mother-in-law to Ruth. The name came into English-speaking use in the 18th century and it was #129 on the 2006 SSA List

My name, Nancy is Hebrew for "Grace," so my daughter gets her second name from me. The name Grace is of Latin origin meaning "Grace of God, Favor, Blessings, Good Will." While not a name used as such in the Bible, it is a virtue name referring to God's grace. Grace was #17 on the 2006 SSA List.

Firaol is pronounced Frah-ol (the "r" is rolled like in Spanish). The origin is Orominya -- Oromo is the ethnic group in Ethiopia that my children belong to. The literal meaning is "to make nice for friends and family." It is a lovely name to have.

Peace and Blessings ...
Your family In Christ

It's official!!! Meet my new children ...

Update 3/6/08: This post was temporarily suspended pending court approval in compliance with Ethiopian law and adoption agency policies. See Faux Pas dated 1/23/08.

I've been bitting my tongue and sitting on my hands to resist posting until things were definite. After receiving their sweet photos, I just wanted to say "yes! yes! yes!," but my practical side made me wait until I received the actual referral paperwork. There is a slight medical issue, but I was able to speak with our local International Adoption Clinic doctor (I am so blessed to have that resource nearby) and most importantly to lift it up in prayer. God is so awesome and has given me a real peace about everything. Praise the Lord!!! So ..... I've officially accepted the referral for my beautiful twins, Naol & Firaol Sintayehu. They are amazing and I love and adore them already. I can hardly wait to bring them home!

I'm Sooooo Excited!!!

I was offered photos last Tuesday of two beautiful twins, a boy and a girl around 8-9 years old and both completely adorable!! Praise God! Just seeing their faces is an answer to prayer! The agency had just met them so they have not been through any medical testing as of yet. Please pray that they are healthy!!!! I am resisting saying more or posting photos until I know more and am more certain they will truly be available. But I am very, very excited!

A Referral on the Horizon?

A team from my adoption agency has just returned from Ethiopia where they visited the orphanage they support, interviewed new families & children in need, and took photographs and film for potential adoptive parents. I just know the children God has chosen for me are among these kids, and I can hardly stand my excitement. I know the agency has a lot of work to do to get everything organized, but it will be all I can do to not continually pester them to show me everything they have. Please continue your prayers that God reveals my referral to me soon! Thank you so much ... stay tuned!

Making New Friends

Titi & Abeba
One of the most fun parts of this journey is all the new friends I am making! When I found out one of my friends has a neighbor from Ethiopia, I said, "Have her call me!!!!!" I met Abeba at a local Ethiopian restaurant owned by her cousin, Titi. We had a lovely (and delicious) dinner and Abeba patiently answered my unending river of questions about Ethiopia. She is kind and gracious and offered all kinds of help, from teaching me some basic Amharic, to translating captions for photos when I get them ready to send to my new children, to being my friend and "auntie" to my kids. I love her already. I also met her sweet, beautiful 14-year old daughter Illen (who also has a twin brother, Amanuel who I didn't get to meet) who charmed Titi's 11-month old daughter, Maya. Aren't they lovely!!!

Maya & Illen
I've been blessed to have met other new parents of Ethiopian children through training offered by my home study agency. It will be so cool to raise our kids together. In fact, I'm getting ready to head over to one couple's house for dinner this afternoon.

I also joined a local Ethiopian Adoption Support Group and really appreciate the support of the other parents I've met there. Taking this journey as a single mom, I am especially thankful to have the shared experiences and others to bounce ideas off of. And hopefully my new kids will also have some "built in" friends! God is so good!

Adoption Fundraising

Update 4/29/08: Raised ........ $ 10,545!!!

Update 3/6/08: This post was temporarily suspended pending court approval in compliance with Ethiopian protocol.
_____________________________________________________

"Giving is the best way of living."

I'm officially kicking off my fundraising campaign, and I have to say it is an uncomfortable endeavor. I truly love to give, but when it comes to asking for help ... not so much. But in the words of one of the social workers I spoke with early in this process "If you think you are going to do this by yourself, you are being very selfish."

So I'm taking a breath, humbling myself and stepping out in yet another leap of faith ... that others will be blessed by the opportunity to give, as I would be if it were someone else asking. Many families embark on this journey with nothing at all and trust God to provide for all of it! I admire their courage and faith. My personal goal is through grants and donations to raise around half of the $25-30K (See my blog sidebar for a breakdown of costs) required to bring my two children home from Ethiopia.

Can you help?

If it is on your heart to help me build a family and give these kids a better life or you have a heart for children and orphans or you would like to give to an organization where you know where your money goes or you just need an end of the year tax break ... here are three ways to do it:

1). Founding Family Charitable Foundation:
I have partnered with Founding Family Charitable Foundation to make your donation tax-deductible.

To donate:
Click on the link above and select "How to Give" on the left-hand side of the page, or just look for the "Donate Now" heart. You may donate by American Express (see option #2), Paypal, or mail a check directly to:

Founding Family Charitable Foundation
1004 Rodney Drive
Nashville, TN 37205-1018

Please put my full name in the comment field on your check -- if you need my full name, just leave a comment on this post and I will email it to you. For credit card or online donations, identify my account by sending an email including both my full name and your name to Nina Ottinger, Grant Administrator at ninaottinger@comcast.net.

Please call 615.620.4348 if you would like further information. A general acknowledgment letter of thanks will be sent, unless you specify otherwise.

2). GivingExpress Program from American Express:
* Donate Membership Rewards Points - or -
* Your dollar donations are tax-deductible.

To donate:
Click on the link above and select "Contribute Now" on the left-hand side of the page.

Step 1: In the Non-profit Name or Keywords field, enter "founding family charitable"
Step 2: Select "Founding Family Charitable Foundation" from the list
Step 3: Click "Donate Now" to Donate Dollars or scroll down to Redeem Membership Rewards Points. Please note that there will be an administrative fee of 2.25% taken from your donation to cover processing costs.

Send an email to Nina Ottinger, Grant Administrator at ninaottinger@comcast.net, stating you made an American Express donation and include both my full name and your name.

3). PRAY! Your prayers are the best gift I could ask for ...
Pray that the adoption process itself goes smoothly. Pray that God brings me children who are healthy, kind and loving, with a willingness to learn and a heart to love Jesus. Pray that I am a good parent, and have patience and wisdom. I know that He has the perfect child(ren) picked out for me, but it is driving me crazy not knowing! I am requesting two siblings between the ages of five and nine. Please pray that He reveals them to me soon. But most of all pray that every decision and step of this process is in perfect keeping with His Divine will.

My sincere and gracious thanks to each and every one of you. I know that you will be mightily blessed, as am I.

In Christ,
Nancy

Under African Skies

I keep bumping into Africa ... or perhaps Africa keeps bumping into me.

The 60's: When I was young, my mother had an RCA recording of the amazing Miriam Makeba's "Click Song." (See my blog sidebar under "Other Resources ..." to listen to a clip) It was my favorite song! I listened to it over and over, probably hundreds of times and never got tired of the lively rhythms or the hypnotic sound of her native South African Xhosa language. Ms. Makeba was one of the first to bring the songs of South Africa to the rest of the world, and only just recently retired from a career that spanned more than half a century. A few weeks ago, while helping clean out my mom's basement I came across the paper jacket for that little record and those pleasant memories came rushing back. I only wish I still had that 45 rpm to slip inside to make a real keepsake for me.

The 70's: In college I studied art history and my favorite class was ... you guessed it! ... African & Oceanic Art. I was drawn to it's pure and primitive nature, from the delicate chi wara headdresses of the Bambara (Bamana) people in Mali, to the striking akua mma dolls of the Ashanti in Ghana, to the endless variety of masks from every tribe on the continent.

The 80's: Paul Simon's "Graceland" CD and "Graceland: The Africa Concert" recorded live in Harare, Zimbabwe brought Miriam Makeba, the Empress of African Song to pop audiences everywhere, and introduced me to the jazz trumpet sounds of another great South African legend Hugh Masekela. The songs cover a variety of musical flavor, including "Under African Skies" and the beautiful "N'Kosi Sikeleli Africa" (God Bless Africa), and the video captures the delight of the people watching this landmark concert.

The 90's: The Disney movie "The Lion King" and subsequent Broadway show kept African rhythms alive with the help of South African song writer Lebo M. Mark Mancina and others. I also discovered the forest music of Baka Beyond, a unique combination of Celtic influence and the primitive percussion of the Baka Pygmies near the Cameroon/Congo border.

From the Baka Beyond website:

The album "Spirit of the Forest" helped define the term “world music” and pushed Baka Beyond into worldwide recognition. From these beginnings, recorded in a bedroom studio and based on live jams recorded while living with the Baka Pygmies in the rainforests of South-East Cameroon, Baka Beyond has evolved into a multicultural, dynamic live stage show. “It was the amazing bird-like singing or yelli that first attracted me,” says Su Hart, Baka Beyond’s lead singer. “The women get together before the dawn to sing, enchant the animals of the forest and ensure that the men’s hunting will be successful. Song and dance are used by the Baka for healing, for rituals, for keeping the community together and also for pure fun! We try to do the same in Baka Beyond.”

The year 2007: It's no wonder that when the call to adopt was laid on my heart that I felt drawn to Africa. I feel thankful that she has called me through the gentle whispers of art and music, and not the angry shouts of slavery, apartheid, discrimination, and human rights. My nature is not one of politics and philosophy, so you won't find such discourses here. But one cannot keep a blind eye to these issues either. To quote: "Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable." As I do life with my new family, I'm looking forward to learning more about their culture and people, language and customs, issues and challenges. Recent celebrity adoptions from Africa has called attention to this region, and caused an sharp escalation in African adoptions. But for me this had no bearing whatsoever on my choice, and did not even cross my mind until reading about the phenomena afterwards. But I'm glad they did and that it is moving more people to consider these children.

And to Sherri Shepherd from the "View" who recently stated: "Oh, those poor babies. People used to get Chinese babies, now everyone gets African babies. It's a Louis Vuitton bag." A member of one of the web boards said it best when she responded in a letter to the network, "As the mother of a child born in Guatemala and of two more waiting in Ethiopia, I am highly offended that you would compare my children to a handbag. Children are not accessories, and anyone who thinks so would not survive the adoption process. Parents do not have their lives laid bare and go through the emotional roller coaster of adoption to be trendy. They do it because they want to be parents." Thank you! You can click here to tell ABC what you think about Ms. Shepherd's comment!

Paper Chase

Once the adoption agency was selected, since the one I chose is not in my state of residence, the next step was to find a local home study agency. I was blessed to find another great agency to handle that part of the process ... the digging into who I am and what made me, and how and why I will be a good parent. The well of one's soul is laid bare.

And I'm so glad I'm organized by nature and actually like paperwork! The beginning of the adoption process, as those of you who done or are doing it, is a mountain of paperwork and gathering of records. Some documents are required for the home study, some by the adoption agency, some by both, and copies of almost all everything for the international dossier -- a huge package of everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know and more about the PAP (prospective adoptive parent). And for the dossier it is not just copies mind you, but certified originals, with each and every last one notarized -- by a notary whose commission doesn't expire for at least a year! With a few documents they even go one step beyond, and need the notary signature authenticated by the Secretary of State. I had no idea!

I've been busy as a little bee gathering up tax returns, police clearance letters, birth certificates, bank statements, medical reports, proof of insurance coverage, marriage licenses and divorce decrees, employment verification, getting fingerprinted, background checked, passport photos, family photos, a statement of Christian faith and personal testimony (required for the Ethiopia program director my adoption agency works with) and somehow convincing my friends to find time in their busy lives to write the all important reference letters! I so much appreciate each one. You're a blessing to me!

But I am done! I have survived all of my social worker visits and just need to attend one more required training class for my home study to be complete. Yippee! That is coming up in a couple of weeks, so I am hoping that the home study will be all approved and complete by late October. It is the last item to add to my dossier and then off to Ethiopia. I am so excited!

My Journey Begins

Once the seed of adoption was planted, it began to rapidly grow. I began my research and found I was not too old, but really just squeaking under the wire for the age requirements for many programs. I decide to proceed carefully, but quickly in determining an agency and program. My heart has always been drawn to Africa so choosing a continent was easy, and after being led to Ethiopia and learning about this proud and ancient culture, it became crystal clear that was the country I needed to focus on. God truly has planted a passion for that area of the world in my heart. (See my blog sidebar "Why Ethiopia").

After considering various agencies I settled upon Christian World Adoption, for their experience in my country of choice, professional credentials, and Christian based philosophies. A mishap or two in their past had led to some bad press, but I spoke with many references, past clients, and staff and am comfortable with the circumstances surrounding those situations. I am happy with my choice thus far. Everyone is kind, helpful, responsive, and most of all interested in God's will for both the adoptive parents and especially the children.

Somewhere along the line in those early days of walking in obedience, the vision of one child became two. For a new, older, single mom that idea still often terrifies me. And there are pros & cons of both adopting one child or a sibling group of two, but I feel so lead to pursue two children. It has been the topic of much prayer! As with the entire process (and my life) I am ultimately leaving the size of my family up to God and will be thrilled with however He decides to unfold this "adventure for a lifetime."

The Prayer of Jabez

I had been praying the prayer of Jabez every day for about two months:

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,

'Oh, that you would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!'

So God granted him what he requested."

~ 1 Chronicles 4:10
I wanted to be blessed - who doesn't? - but more than that I wanted God to enlarge my territory, my work for Him, my purpose in Christ. I wondered what it would be ... would He have me witness more, serve my church in a greater capacity ...

As I went about my days I realized that in my mind's eye, I was seeing a child at my side. He was with me as I went about the house, watched a movie, shopped for groceries, and especially worshipping and singing praises to God in church. I was amused. It was a pleasant thought. Then the words formed in my consciousness, "you need to adopt this child." What? That can't be. I've given up on motherhood. I'm too old, don't have enough money, too selfish and far too set in my ways! And single for goodness sakes! But the thoughts persisted.

So, I thought I'd run this "idea" by a few friends; they'd set me straight. But they didn't! "What a wonderful thing! I'm 100% behind you." WOW! Could I really adopt a child? Could I really fulfill my almost forgotten desire to be a mother? But where did this "crazy" thought come from? Suddenly it dawned upon me ... the Jabez prayer! God in His mysterious ways was asking me to enlarge my territory in a way I would never have dreamed! I thought about other prayers I had been praying and the far different answers I had imagined. But this one leap of faith ... this bringing a child into my life provides an unexpected and delightful answer to so many requests I had held up to our wise & wonderful Lord.

The journey begins ...

(taken from my back yard on August 17, 2007)