"I will not leave you as orphans..." - John 14:18
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Monday, December 17, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!! We pray for blessings and joy this Christmas season for all of you!
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Saturday, December 8, 2012

November Waitlist Numbers

Happy October AND November people! Travis here writing this month’s update for our (belated) October and current November waitlist numbers. Without further a due, here they are…

Girl:
June - 41
July - 33
August - 30
September - 29
October - 28
November - 26

Boy:
June - 31
July - 24
August - 22
September - 22
October - 22
November - 19

Siblings:
June - 12
July - 8
August - 8
September - 8
October - 8
November - 7
  
You may be asking, “Why do you guys always copy & paste last month’s numbers into this month?” Well… there’s still not too much movement in the Ethiopian courts so we’ve been caught in a bit of a holding pattern. I liken this journey we are on to a sailboat in the middle of the Atlantic (or maybe the Pacific… nicer waters there) that’s cruising along at a nice clip only to unexpectedly have the sails fall still one day with not a breath of wind. Our ship is stagnant in calm waters– for the moment. Sometimes we are able to relax on the deck of the ship to enjoy the sunshine and crisp air. Other times, we feel like jumping ship & making a swim for it under our own efforts. In the end, Laurie, the girls & I continue to wait with confident and expectant hearts that God will fill our ship’s sail full when the time is right.

This month, I would like to level a challenge to all of you. I’m asking you to explore your heart & soul, to pray, to talk with your spouse (if you’ve got one) about how you can impact and serve the 210+ million orphans of this world. God speaks to us about the importance of orphan care. As John Piper put it, “The deepest and strongest foundation for adoption is located not in the act of humans adopting humans, but in God adopting humans. And this act is not part of his ordinary providence in the world; it is at the heart of the Gospel.” 

Laurie & I have been called to serve these orphans by adopting one or two of them into our family, but that doesn’t mean that adoption is the only way to serve orphans. There are countless ways to engage in these little lives that are in need of someone to love them:
  • Become a Foster parent.
  • Volunteer at a local children's home (usually a transitional home children are taken to before placement in a Foster home).
  • Help get a chapter of The Mentoring Project started in your community. To find out more about this amazing organization visit thementoringproject.org.
  • Volunteer your time as a "Big Brother" or "Big Sister" for a local child who may not be an orphan, but who is in need of a positive role model.
  • Go to an orphanage and serve the fatherless.
  • Donate your lightly used clothing or toys to a domestic children's home or an international orphanage.
  • Take your children to serve disadvantaged children in your community to foster a heart for the fatherless in the next generation.
  • Most importantly, don’t turn a blind eye or a hard heart toward orphan care when the opportunity presents itself to you. Take action and observe the blessings that flow from your selflessness and generosity!
In our society, it is easy to be complacent and forget about these children who are innocent, defenseless, and vulnerable. All I ask is that you merely consider stepping outside of your comfort zone to see if your heart is calling you to share your love with a child who is in dire need of it. Every small step that one person can take can have an unimaginable impact on just a single child. Just think about what we can do as a community!

It's been a while since our last update. Here's what we've been up to:


Our annual trip to Apple Hill...







Avery's field trip to the Pumpkin Patch...


The Nevada Day Parade


The much anticipated and always talked about "Daddy Daughter Ball"



Halloween


Laurie's Birthday


Avery reading our church newspaper...


We've discovered crimping.

Christmas Tree Cutting!



Dinner with friends...







Until next month...

Monday, October 1, 2012

September Waitlist Numbers

I can't believe yet another month has passed! The Ethiopian courts are still in recess and will be until around the middle of October. While referrals can still be made during this time, not much has been happening.... 

Here are our new numbers:
Girl:
May - 44
June - 41
July - 33
August - 30
September - 29

Boy:
May - 34
June - 31
July - 24
August - 22
September - 22

Siblings:
May - 14
June - 12
July - 8
August - 8
September - 8 

This seems to be the ebb and flow of how adoption works. We have times of great movement and then times when we don't move at all. In the midst of it all, however, we are certain of God's hand in our family's journey, and we know that He will lead us to our children that He ordained to be ours at the beginning of time. All we need to do is continue to wait on His perfect timing and His plan to come to fruition!

In the meantime, we continue to live life, laugh often, and celebrate the joys He brings our way. Here's what we've been up to in the last month:

Our beautiful Ella turns 7!!! Oh, how time flies!









Avery's "experiment"

Ham...

Her "glasses"


Many blessings to you all!! And continued thanks for investing your heart and prayers in the little miracles we experience each day along this crazy road to bring our little ones home!

Until next month...

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

August Waitlist Numbers


It's that time again! Here are the numbers...
Girl:
May - 44
June - 41
July - 33
August - 30

Boy:
May - 34
June - 31
July - 24
August - 22

Siblings:
May - 14
June - 12
July - 8
August - 8   

The Ethiopian Court system closes each year around this time. From my understanding the exact date it closes, how long they are closed for, and how they operate during the closure varies from year to year. 

In our update this month, we were told:
We shared recently that the courts in Ethiopia have officially closed for their recess period, though the date of their reopening is unknown at this time.  We have heard that the courts will not issue court dates during this closure period; however, we have been surprised to see that it has happened anyway.  We are not expecting to receive any more court dates for adoptive families during the closure but of course, we always welcome such surprises!
During the closure, referrals are still made, so that's good news for us! Continued prayers in this area would be much appreciated!! 

In the meantime, here's what we've been up to during the last month:

Ella's First Day of First Grade!!! (Our BIG Kid!)





Avery's 5th Birthday Party!








The ride home...



 Avery's birthday present!




Avery's First Day of Preschool!! 



Travis' Birthday!!



The Rib Cookoff!

Trip to San Francisco!





It's been a busy month! Lots of fun!!

Until next month...

Prayers and blessings!