Happy New Year! Can you believe it's already the middle of January!!! We spent the holidays in Chicago which was good and crazy! (Yes, another exclamation point!) Peter and I are both from Chicago = many people to see in a short amount of time. The weather was "interesting". The day we arrived it was -28 with the wind chill. Over the next few days... It snowed. It rained. It was in the mid 50's. There were flash flood warnings. There were tornado warnings. There was ice. It made California weather look quite boring. One of the girls ended up catching something yucky for a few days- New places, new people, new germs. Saying all of that, we were so greatful for the opportunity to catch up with family and friends. Thank you for all your hospitality! We love you!
We met with our "Buddy Family" last Friday. Our local agency, that's doing our homestudy, had us meet with a family that had adopted from Ethiopia. In all honesty, I was thinking, "not another meeting..." What an amazing blessing it was! This couple adopted a boy and girl over 10+ years ago. They are both in highschool now. What a beautiful family! God knew it was just what we needed. The mom is from Elmhurst- Peter and I bought our first home there and her sister still lives there. The dad is from Mishawaka, IN- Our oldest daughter was born there. That evening, they so graciously shared their story and lives with us. We will be forever greatful to them for sharing in and being a part of "our" adoption. Their children, on a Friday night, stayed home to talk with us about their family. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! There was another couple there, also in the process of adopting from Ethiopia, that we met at one of our first meetings back in August? It was so good to see them again! We look forward to getting to know both of these couples more in the future.
Something exciting happening- We've decided to sell Ethiopian adoption t-shirts. We first found information about this from another couple that adopted from our agency, America World. This couple has a company called, Mission Threads, that specializes in t-shirts that raise money for adoptions, mission trips, church groups, etc. We're so excited to have something that will help our family and friends share in, and be a part of, our adoption journey. (Hopefully, while also raising some funds to offset some of our adoption costs) We'll let you know more when they come in. We picked a design & verse that spoke to our hearts. I know you won't be able to sleep with the anticipation of it all...we'll have them soon, we hope.
Lastly, I feel the need to confess, I've been crabby! Crabby about paperwork. Crabby about things I have no control over. Crabby about paperwork I still have to do. (Did I mention there was alot of paperwork? Did I mention I was crabby?) Anyhow, I was SO blessed tonight by a story Elizabeth, our youngest daughter, wrote in school last week. I saw her teacher, whom I love, after she wrote it. She warned me of the story and to be prepared when it came home in her "Wednesday" folder today.
Here it is:
I am getting a baby boy from Ethiopia. We are adopting him. He is going to be two or less. I am going to push him on the swing. I am going to play with him. I am going to love him because his mom can't take care of him. I don't love him because his mom can't take care of him. I love him because he is going to be my brother.
The tears are still flowing as I read it again. Thank you Jesus, for not only touching Peter's heart and my heart for this adoption, but our entire family. He knew just what I needed to hear today.
