tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53523428890684666022024-02-18T21:23:39.585-08:00Love. Half way around the world...The Coombs Family Adoption JourneyLaurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-43667429170522934782016-08-22T13:24:00.001-07:002016-08-22T13:24:22.742-07:00Bringing Joy HOME!!!For those of you who haven't seen this yet, I pray it blesses you and helps you to know and see that our God is FAITHFUL!!!! Thank you all for the YEARS of love and prayers and support.<br />
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What a crazy long, wonderfully messy, immensely beautiful and difficult journey it was!! We are super blessed to finally have our baby girl HOME!<br />
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Having trouble viewing the video? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUbHqmySoAo">Watch it on YouTube instead</a>!Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-64964257198727483412015-10-21T12:22:00.000-07:002015-10-21T12:22:27.044-07:00An Unexpected TwistThe Coombs family adoption has taken a bit of a twist.<br />
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It's been a while since we posted on here. Both Travis and I couldn't get ourselves to write about what was happening with our adoption. We were disheartened and confused, to be quite honest. Bringing our questions to God and not to the world was just about all we could do. I'm sure most of you already know that we lost our referral for our Ethiopian kids. It was very much bitter sweet when we learned they had been returned to their biological father, which of course, meant they would not be coming to us. We've spent the summer and early fall wrestling with this loss, praying for answers.<br /><br />
Just under a month ago, my husband Travis said, “If God wants us to adopt, He’s gonna have to drop something in our lap.” Famous last words, it seems. Not more than a few days later, it happened. A wonderful little bundle of joy was dropped in our lap. A baby girl, only a few weeks old, in Uganda. As most of you know, we’ve been pursuing an adoption in Ethiopia for the past five years, not Uganda. Hence, the twist of this incredibly wonderful, yet immensely difficult, faith-testing journey.<br /><br />
The last several weeks have been ones marked by wrestling and seeking Jesus with all we have. At the beginning of September, both Travis and I had the distinct impression that God was saying, "Wait on Me." <i>But for what?</i> We wondered. The door in Ethiopia had shut altogether after having lost the two children we were once given. And we found ourselves at a crossroads, not knowing what to do, praying and fasting and wondering if we were to pursue another country or give up or simply wait.<br /><br />
The Uganda door opened a few weeks later. And despite our fears, we prayerfully walked through it. We’re pursuing this baby girl and hope to have her home in the coming months!!! (We’d love to share pictures and other details, but we can’t yet! Rules, you know <i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_7f72ac" style="background-image: url(https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -442px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">wink emoticon</u></i>).<br /><br />
Our story is not yet over. Far from it, in fact. Only God knows how it will end, but regardless of what happens, we know Jesus is faithful and good.<br />
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We have an adoption fundraiser scheduled for December 4th from 6-9pm at Reno Provisions!! Stay tuned for more information!<br />
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Thank you to all of you who have prayed and given us support along this long crazy messy joy-filled path!<br />
Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-70890849160731521382015-04-14T13:46:00.000-07:002015-04-14T13:48:01.102-07:00Would You Consider Helping Us Bring Our Children Home?<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
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Dear friends and family,</div>
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In September 2010, Laurie and I set our hearts on completing our family through adoption. God made it abundantly clear to us that He had one or maybe two children for us half a world away in Ethiopia. We set off on this journey that we thought would take no more than two years with full hearts. Nothing could hamper our spirits or get in our way.</div>
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Shortly after we committed to our adoption agency (<a href="http://www.allgodschildren.org/" style="color: #333333;">www.allgodschildren.org</a>), however, governmental procedures in Ethiopia were revamped in an effort to curb corruption that was evident in the international adoption community. Tragically, child trafficking was and still is a serious problem in Ethiopia. Children who were not legitimate orphans were being plucked off the streets and pawned off as orphaned children. The new procedures were intended to provide additional oversight and validation of the legitimate orphan status of the children. Our family understood the positive intentions of this delay, and we did our best to settle in and wait for God's perfect timing.</div>
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Four and a half years after we started our journey, our hearts were running on empty, our spirits were hampered, and we wondered if our adoption journey was destined for a desolate dead end. We wondered if we had misunderstood God's call for us.</div>
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Somewhere toward the end of January, I (Travis) was on the verge of writing our adoption off as a failure. I was ready to quit and be content with the wonderful family God has blessed me with in my wife and two beautiful daughters. But then God started speaking to Laurie. He impressed upon her the incredible truth that there is absolutely nothing that is too difficult for Him. "All it takes is one word from God, and it is so," she said. We prayed and fasted every Monday for three weeks. And then God did the IMPOSSIBLE!</div>
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On Monday, February 16th, we received the call we had been waiting YEARS for. We had received a referral for TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN! Big sister Abeng turned 5 on March 28th and little brother Judiber who is 3!</div>
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Colossians 1:11-12 says, "May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."</div>
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Just when our endurance and patience diminished, God once again proved to us that He was and is with us. Our faith tank was immediately filled to the brim, overflowing with evidence of His glory, grace, and power. We were reaffirmed that we did indeed hear God calling us to this adoption, and we are moving full steam ahead!</div>
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We are now on the home stretch of our journey of bringing these children into their forever home, and we're asking for help. Laurie and I need to raise over $25,000 for expenses including costs for our agency to care for our children before we bring them home, agency fee's, immigration fee's, travel expenses, etc. Our pastor recently told me, "$25,000 isn't a lot of money to God." We know without a shadow of a doubt that God will provide for his children, and we are seeking every possible source for that provision. With much prayer and consideration, we feel led to reach out to our friends and family. If you have a heart for orphans and feel called to <a href="http://org.grouprev.com/coombs" target="_blank">donate to our adoption fund</a>, we would be truly and forever grateful. Any contribution, large or small will go a long way.</div>
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Thank you in advance from my family and me for your thoughtful consideration. We wouldn't be here without the incredible support of our friends and family, a blessing we are humbled by and immensely thankfuul for.</div>
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With love and thanks,</div>
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The Coombs Family</div>
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All donations are made via Ordinary Hero which is a 501c3 (<a href="http://org.grouprev.com/coombs" target="_blank">click here</a> to view fundraising site). This makes the donations tax deductible to you. Funds donated will be sent directly to our agency to cover adoption expenses only and you can donate anonymously if you would like.</div>
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In addition, contributions can be made via check to "Coombs Family Adoption" that will be routed through our church (<a href="http://www.lifechurchreno.com/" style="color: #333333;">www.lifechurchreno.com</a>) as a tax deductible donation.</div>
Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-69122660331093905912015-02-18T21:04:00.003-08:002015-02-18T21:04:54.057-08:00All It Took Was One Word!<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<img alt="One Word" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4103" data-mce-src="http://lauriecoombs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/One-Word-266x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://lauriecoombs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/One-Word-266x300.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" />This post is going to be extremely informal. Quite honestly, my plate this week and next is incredibly full (for good reason!), but I just had to get on here briefly to share some amazing news––news I hope will strengthen you in your faith as it has me in mine. If you have yet to read last week's post, <a data-mce-href="http://lauriecoombs.org/2015/02/13/fully-convinced/" href="http://lauriecoombs.org/2015/02/13/fully-convinced/" title="Fully Convinced">Fully Convinced</a>, I'd encourage you to do so. God's timing of that post is just beyond words. In that post, I wrote briefly of the challenges my family and I have faced in our Ethiopian adoption. Our adoption had gotten to the point where it did not just <em>seem</em> impossible, but by all accounts, it <em>was</em>.</div>
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But once again, we have seen God do the impossible!</div>
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I received a call Monday, a call we have been waiting for for four and a half years, telling us of two amazing little people who live half a world away. Two little ones who will be ours. A little girl, four years old. And a little boy, three. It's almost too wonderful to believe, and quite honestly, I think my husband and girls and I are all still a bit shell shocked by what the Lord has done.</div>
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I mean, He did it! All it took was one word. And He has spoken that word, and fulfilled the promise.</div>
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When we set out on this journey to adopt, we fully expected to have our child(ren) home in one to two years. That was back in 2010. Roadblock after roadblock was placed in our way, which converted this one to two year journey into a four and a half year journey of faith. It seemed, many times along the way, that it wasn't going to happen, but each time, I prayed and distinctly heard God tell me, "Do not give up!" Over and over again, "Do not give up!" And so we didn't. We chose to believe.</div>
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Last week, I wrote about Abraham's faith. That He believed God would fulfill His promise despite what He saw––despite the impossible challenges before him. Scripture says His faith was counted to Him as righteousness. Now, I wish I could say that I had great faith all along, but I can't. Doubt crept in about one year ago, and I began to wonder whether or not God was going to pull through. I wondered if I had heard right. I wondered if we were on the right path. But each time, I felt deep in my heart that we needed to press on. We needed to believe despite what we saw. I mean after all, that's the definition of faith. Faith is the assurance of things not seen, before they happen. Faith is not an "I'll believe it when I see it" ideology. It's an "I'll believe it despite what I see" kind of thing.</div>
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I'll be writing more about this in the coming weeks, and I can't wait to share it with you, but I'm going to have to take next week off to complete a ridiculous amount of paperwork! Until then, I'll leave you with these thoughts:</div>
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<li>We must always seek godly wisdom to assure we're pursing God's will and are not chasing after our own desires.</li>
<li>The path God sets before us <em>will</em> have obstacles.</li>
<li>If you believe (after prayer and counsel) that you are on God's chosen path, do not give up. Far too many people quite before they see God's promise come to fruition.</li>
<li>Always remain teachable, humble, and open to the Spirit's leading. He may direct you in ways you do not anticipate.</li>
<li>And always, always REMEMBER that we serve a God who does the impossible. Do not base your belief on your circumstances, but rather, base your belief on who God is.</li>
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Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-72561314295391168582015-02-13T11:07:00.004-08:002015-02-13T11:07:46.180-08:00Fully Convinced<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<img alt="Fully Convinced" class="aligncenter wp-image-4098 size-medium" data-mce-src="http://lauriecoombs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Fully-Convinced-300x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://lauriecoombs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Fully-Convinced-300x300.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" />I held my Bible as I sat with one of my girls on each side of me in bed. "Do you see a pattern?" I asked.</div>
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They looked at the passage and said, "What pattern?"</div>
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"Look at what I've circled and highlighted."</div>
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Almost in unison, they read, "'And God said...'" Pause. "'And it was so.'"</div>
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Fingers ran down the page, "'And God said,'" they read. "'And it was so.'"</div>
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Over and over, their little fingers stopped on each of my markings. "'And God said... And it was so.'"</div>
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<span data-mce-style="line-height: 1.5;" style="line-height: 1.5;">"Do you see it?"</span></div>
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"I think so," Avery said.</div>
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"What do you think it means?"</div>
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"It's like God says something, and then it happens."</div>
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"Yes!" I said, with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm. "Nothing is too difficult for our God. He speaks, and it is so! Just like He did in the beginning here in Genesis. Isn't that amazing?"</div>
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Both girls nodded.</div>
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"The book of Romans tells us that God calls into existence things that do not exist," I continued. "He creates out of nothing, simply by speaking it forth. All it takes is a word from God, and it is so."</div>
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My family and I have been on a long journey together, a journey we believe God set us on. We have been waiting four and a half years for God to say the word, for Him to bring us our child(ren) from Ethiopia, and at this point, it'll take a miracle. But in Isaiah 55:11, we read, "so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." God does what He says. He is just as active today as ever. His Word does not return void, but does what it is purposed to do.</div>
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What an incredible truth that is!!!</div>
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Like many of you, I have some things I believe God has promised to me. Some things that I cannot yet see. In the natural, these things do not look possible, but we press on in faith. Hebrews 11:1 says "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." The rest of the chapter goes on to chronicalize the faith of those who have gone before us. The faith of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and many more.</div>
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<span data-mce-style="line-height: 1.5;" style="line-height: 1.5;">Romans 4:18-21 tells us that Abraham believed God's promise despite what he saw with his eyes. It says, "</span> In hope he believed <em>against hope</em>, that he should become the father of many nations, <em>as he had been told</em>... He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. <em>No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God</em>, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, <strong><em>fully convinced</em> that God was able to do what he had promised</strong>."</div>
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<em>This</em> is faith––great faith. The kind of faith that I want. The kind of faith that tells us to <em>believe</em> despite what we see. Faith that tells us to trust despite what we're told. Faith in a loving all knowing, doting Father despite our temptation to doubt.</div>
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We serve a God who knows. A God who loves. A God who takes delight in every one of us. A Father who wants to give.</div>
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But we must believe.</div>
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We must believe in who God is and our position before Him. We must believe that He is in fact the God who calls all things into existence to the extent that we come before Him, praise His name, and whisper, "Only say a word..."</div>
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All it takes is a word. And it is so.</div>
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When God speaks, things happen.</div>
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That hope that seems dead will come alive the moment He speaks.</div>
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That promise will be fulfilled.</div>
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And we will give glory when, yet again, we see the impossible materialize before our eyes.</div>
Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-16236560967527745022014-03-05T12:34:00.002-08:002014-03-05T12:34:21.543-08:00Do NOT Give Up<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i>The following was written for my ministry blog, <a href="http://lauriecoombs.org/">LaurieCoombs.org</a>.</i></div>
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<img alt="do not give up, when to quit, do not quit, quitting, not what we expected, when things don't go your way, when to call it quits, waiting, wait, trust, trusting God, trials, grace, God's will, god's plan, faith, figuring out God's will, hope, perseverance, calling, when God doesn't move, stand on Rock, shifting sand, adopt, adoption, christian, christian adoption, why adopt, orphan, orphans, fatherless, taking care of the fatherless, true religion, James 1:27, John 14:18, why adopt, orphan stats, orphan statistics, ethiopia, ethiopia adoption, ethiopian adoption, adopt from ethiopia, God, Jesus, Christ, Christian, adoption testimony, be the hands and feet, we are jesus hands and feet, " class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3172 pin-it" height="300" src="http://i1.wp.com/lauriecoombs.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Stand-on-the-Rock.jpg?resize=300%2C300" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1.5rem; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Do NOT Give Up" width="300" /></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Have you ever had a moment (or many) when you wonder whether or not God will deliver what you believe He’s promised?</strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I sure have.</strong></div>
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For the last three and a half years, I have heard God tell me,<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Do not give up!”</strong> Over and over, “Do not give up! Keep moving forward. Keep moving toward your adoption.”</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But nothing has happened. We’re still waiting.</strong></div>
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Travis and I began our adoption with nothing but faith, a desire for more children, and confidence in God’s call to adopt. With no money saved and little to devote to such an endeavor, we took the leap, believing God would provide for what He was calling us to do. And He has. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time and time again, provision has come in one form or another usually at the very hour we needed it.</strong> This may be too much information to share, but we’re over $20,000 in, yet we carry no debt as a result of our adoption.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One thing I can never call into question––God is good.</strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our adoption has been quite a process. It’s been three and a half years since we first took that leap and followed God’s call to Ethiopia, and at this point, it doesn’t seem like our wait will ever end.</strong> It’s a struggle––one that my entire family is going through. Each of us, in turn, have had our moments of great faith and our moments of despair, including our children. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are times I am able to rest completely in trust that God will bring us our baby(ies), and there are times of doubt––times that I cry out to our God and ask if we’re just fooling ourselves, if we’ve somehow misread His will.</strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our adoption was supposed to take one to two years.</strong> <em style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This</em> is what we signed up for––not this epic wait that never seems to end. About six months into our adoption, the adoption climate in Ethiopia took a drastic turn as Ethiopian officials began to crack down on the corrupt practices at work within their adoption system. This was a good thing, in our estimation. Travis and I were glad to see the country step up to see to the welfare of its children and birth families. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Neither one of us is interested in receiving our child(ren) through corruption, but instead, we seek to adopt one (or two) of the over 4 million legitimate orphans within the country.</strong></div>
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When the government announced its plan to crack down on corruption, no one knew the impact it would have on adoption. Some thought the country might close international adoption altogether, while others predicted these changes would simply result in the processing of fewer adoptions. But in any case, <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the news was not good for our family. </strong>Hundreds of families would need to bring their children home before we would (as we had really just begun), and so we began to question whether or not we were on the right path.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We felt God lead us to Ethiopia, we felt Him tell us <em style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">this is where your children are</em>, but now, we appeared to have hit a significant roadblock.</strong></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Is it all over?</em> We thought. <em style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What do we do?</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em><strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps we heard God wrong.</strong></div>
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Both Travis and I were extremely discouraged. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To me, it felt as if I were having a miscarriage, and I began to mourn the loss of these children I had yet to see, or hold, or know. But they were mine. In my heart, they were mine. Created for me to love and raise as my own.</strong></div>
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I sat down and began to fold laundry, while my two girls took a nap. We had just heard the news, and my heart ached with loss. Wanting desperately to hear a word from God, I listened to the next sermon in a long series I had been listening to as I folded. The pastor began by shouting, “Do not give up!” Tears stung my eyes, and I sat motionless. The pastor continued, “Just because something’s hard. Just because you’ve come to an obstacle on your path does not mean you’re on the wrong path. Everything God calls us to is difficult. Keep going.”</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a not-so-subtle way, God told us to press on.</strong></div>
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Two and a half years followed. Two and a half years of waiting patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) for God to bring our baby(ies) home. Each night, we prayed for them. Each night between then and now, Travis and I listened as our little girls begged God to, “Bring our babies home soon!” I prayed, not unlike Hannah, for God to grant us our petition. To bring us our children.</div>
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But adoption in Ethiopia remained slow. After this initial setback, the reforms seemed to have curbed the corruption, and for a long time everything seemed to be going well (though very slowly). <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We certainly had not reached our destination when we had intended, but we figured God had a plan, so we settled in.</strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But recently, we’ve hit yet another significant roadblock.</strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Two days after this last Christmas, we received an email from our adoption agency telling us that certain high-ranking Ethiopian politicians were urging the government to close down adoption altogether.</strong> On Christmas, however––only two days before––I sat next to our tree Christmas morning, after the girls had torn through all the wrapping paper and wept as Travis revealed to me that he had received an unexpected bonus. A bonus large enough to pay for our next homestudy ($1200!) with enough left over for Travis to buy a couple unexpected Christmas gifts. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Once again, God had provided for our adoption.</strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But two days later, our adoption once again seemed to be slipping through our fingers like sand, while Travis and I desperately tried to hold on to it.</strong></div>
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We questioned what we were to do. Should we move forward in trust, paying the $1,200 to keep us in the game, or should we quit? Nothing inside of us wanted to quit, but $1200 is quite a bit of money––money that would simply go down the drain if Ethiopia closed, and at this point, it’s closure could happen any day.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But as I listened to yet another sermon on podcast, the pastor preached the same message I had heard three years prior, “Do not quit!”</strong> I’m not kidding you. I heard the same exact words as I had the first time we hit that roadblock through a different pastor within days of hearing this news. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to conventional wisdom,<em style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> now</em> would be a good time to quit. To simply cut our losses and say we gave it our best try.</strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But neither Travis nor I can quit. God is clearly telling us to press on. And so we are. We wrote that check, met with our social worker, and committed to seeing this road to the end.</strong></div>
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I don’t know what’s in store for us. Other families adopting from Ethiopia are jumping ship in droves, and I don’t blame them. It doesn’t look good. Currently, it seems the country might not close, but adoption in Ethiopia has all but stopped. There are still some children coming to their forever families, but not many. Because of this, it would be so easy to abandon this endeavor, but we can’t. This is not what God is calling us to.</div>
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Our journey to bring our children home has been anything but smooth sailing. It seems we’re more like a ship at sea during a storm, fighting the waves toward our final destination than a ship sailing calm waters. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But I believe God will bring us to the shore.</strong> I’m not going to lie to you. I have moments of doubt. I question whether or not we’ll ever get there, but here’s the thing––I know God is telling us, “Do not give up!” And so, Travis and I are choosing to press on. To fight through this storm until one of two things happen. Either we come to see our endeavor come to fruition and are finally able to bring our children home. Or we come, not to a mere roadblock, but a dead end. To us, a dead end is closure. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ethiopia is going to have to close for us to stop fighting.</strong></div>
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And so, this is where we stand. At times, it feels like we’re standing on shifting sand. But in all actuality, it’s not sand we stand on, but a rock. The Rock. <strong style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And when we stand on the Rock, though the world and our circumstances rage around us in the troughs of a storm, we remain secure. </strong></div>
<br />Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-49644540330032825482013-10-09T13:50:00.004-07:002013-10-09T13:50:45.314-07:00A Much Delayed Adoption UpdateIt's been a long time, I realize. A <i>really</i> long time.<br />
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Travis and I began this blog in an attempt to try to keep you all up-to-date on where we are in our adoption journey, and while that still remains the goal, we're finding we don't have as many updates as we once did––especially since our agency decided to do away with waitlist numbers.<br />
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But it's more than that. Honestly, sometimes it's simply difficult to have to say the same thing time after time, yearning to be able to give a different answer. "Still waiting," we say over and over. "Still waiting."<br />
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We are happy and so blessed to have so many people care about our adoption, and honestly we love when you ask for an update. So, keep asking! In your questions, we hear your heart and are unbelievable blessed to know our journey has impacted many of you so deeply. Many have become vested in what we're doing, and honestly, if this were an easy road for us, I'm not sure that would have happened to the same extent. God sure does beautiful things through difficulty and trials.<br />
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Still, giving updates can become tiresome.<br />
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We see people at the grocery store–– "Still waiting."<br />
At our girls' school–– "Still waiting."<br />
At family gatherings–– "Still waiting."<br />
Children's birthday parties–– "Still waiting."<br />
Around town–– "Still waiting."<br />
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Oh, how we wish we could have a different response for you all––for us, for our babies––but the fact of the matter is, we're still waiting. And honestly, we don't have any idea when our wait will stop.<br />
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Waiting can be very difficult, and in a wait like ours––a wait that seems to last for eternity––it's easy to fall into moments of frustration. Still, our faith tells us to hold on. We know our babies are coming. We know the One who promised is faithful. During each and every dark moment we face in this thing––each time we begin to question <i>Is this ever going to happen?––</i>God faithfully shows up, spurring us on toward His goal for us. Honestly, I believe this journey is just as much about our spiritual growth as it is about having more children to love and call our own.<br />
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But it has been tough––let me tell you––this has been a very difficult, long journey, one that is far from over. Still, we are thankful for all its fruit. The compassion we've seen take root and grow in our girls. The patience grown in us all. The faith God is carefully cultivating and growing. It's a beautiful thing, this process of sanctification. Blessing upon blessing has been poured out upon us, and for this we're beyond thankful to a God who knows what we need, even more than we do.<br />
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So please, still ask. Ask us where we're at. Ask us if there's any news. We really do appreciate talking to you about it. Honestly, I think it does drive us forward by way of having a constant reminder of what we have to look forward to. And until the day we bring our children home––the day that has been ordained since the beginning of time by our amazing God––we will be "still waiting..."<br />
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Here's what we've been up to the last FIVE months (Can you believe it's been so long!):<br />
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Avery was in the talent show!</div>
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Camping</div>
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The Reno Rodeo</div>
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Horseback Riding Lessons!</div>
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Beach Day! Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe</div>
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The kids first backpacking trip (Overnight!) with the Owens</div>
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The First Day of School!</div>
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(Ella––second grade, Avery––first grade)</div>
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Avery's Birthday! She's 6!</div>
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"Sisters Necklace"</div>
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Look at that amazing daddy!</div>
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Fall Soccer</div>
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Ella's Birthday Party! She's 8! (How did that happen?!?)</div>
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And that about does it. Until next time...Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-57464504349242560092013-06-10T13:22:00.002-07:002013-06-10T13:22:39.511-07:00May Update<br />
Alright, so we're going to have to do our monthly update a little different from here on out. Toward the end of May, we received word from All God's Children International (AGCI), our adoption agency, that there will be a change to how our progress will be reported to us, and the way we update our progress on our blog will reflect this change.<br />
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Here's an exert from the email we received from AGCI recently:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"We are still uncertain of how long any one family will wait as it depends on so many factors, age and gender of a child, a family’s openness to special needs, etc. When AGCI receives a referral for a child, we begin by looking at the date a family’s dossier was registered and then by looking at a family’s desired parameters. This has always been AGCI’s process so it will remain consistent and unchanged. Please remember, AGCI is a child centered agency and is looking for the most appropriate family for a particular child, which has many considerations. In the past, we have also provided families with a waitlist number. These numbers are actually fairly inaccurate as families are actually placed by the date the dossier was registered and their desired parameters. A family could be on multiple lists, further skewing the reality of the waitlist number. For example, some families are simultaneously on the boy list, the girl list and the sibling list. While we know that it can be exciting to have a “number” and watch for progress, these numbers do not reflect the actual total number of waiting families. <b>For this reason, effectively immediately, AGCI will discontinue the use of this current number system.</b> Instead, we will continue to provide monthly program updates based on dates that a family’s dossier was registered, which will provide a more accurate timeframe of movement toward referral. Now, in the program update, <b>AGCI will provide information such as that a placement occurred for a family with a registered dossier date of November 2011</b> (for example)."</span></blockquote>
While we began our adoption journey in September 2010, we spent the first six months preparing our homestudy, our dossier, and getting US CIS approval (immigration approval for our children), so we were not officially put on the wait list until April 2011, which means our registered dossier approval date is April 2011. So, we'll be using this date to gauge our progress from now on.<br />
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We received our May update on Friday, and there were four referrals (for AGCI only) during the month of May:<br />
1. Infant girl (dossier approved July 2010)<br />
2. Infant girl (dossier approved September 2010)<br />
3. Infant girl (dossier approved October 2010)<br />
4. Older boy (dossier approved May 2011)<br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">AGCI has 4 families traveling to Ethiopia this week and 3 families came home with their children in the month of May! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">All of this indicates that we could have up to a 7 month wait to receive our referral, but it could be shorter or longer. Our expanded referral parameters could possibly shorten this wait, but ultimately, it's all in God's hands who will faithfully complete that which He called us to, so once again we rest on His perfect timing!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">So that's it. The change is a bit confusing at first, but it does ultimately make sense. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">Here's what we've been up to since our last update:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">One more picture from our Napa trip! It's so cute, I just had to share!</span></div>
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Mother's Day</div>
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Intermission During the Play "Oliver"</div>
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Mother's Day at Church</div>
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Ella's First Grade Music Performance</div>
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Bed Head </div>
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Ella's Field Trip</div>
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Date Day!</div>
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Our Girls</div>
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Avery's "Nerd" Glasses</div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">Until next month...</span></div>
Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-61696473464990786312013-05-11T14:57:00.001-07:002013-05-11T14:57:30.410-07:00March and April Waitlist Numbers and UpdateIt's been a while! Quite a while, in fact, but we're back with our updates and with some news as well. And no. We don't have a referral yet (boo!).<br />
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But first, the numbers...<br />
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<b>Girl:</b><br />
November - 26<br />
December - 26<br />
January - 22<br />
February - 21<br />
March - 19<br />
<b>April - 18</b><br />
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<b>Boy:</b><br />
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November - 19<br />
December - 16<br />
January - 15<br />
February - 15<br />
March - 14<br />
<b>April - 13</b><br />
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<b>Siblings:</b><br />
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November - 7<br />
December - 4<br />
January - 4<br />
February - 4<br />
March - 4<br />
<b>April - 4</b><br />
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We've been slow going for a while now, as you can see. I suppose that's why I haven't been motivated to post an update lately. But honestly, though both Travis and I have gone through our moments of doubt and moments of great faith throughout our adoption journey (which we've been pursuing for close to three years now), I know we are where we're intended to be. </div>
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God's timing is alway perfect. And while we can only guess at the reasons our adoption is taking so long, we can rest assured that our family (including our new little ones) are in God's capable and loving hands. </div>
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Now for the news: Each year, we need to update and renew our homestudy. We usually begin the process each November, and each time we renew, we revisit our referral parameters. </div>
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Last November, we went through the usual process, but for the first time, Travis mentioned that he thought we should expand our referral parameters to 36 months for all lists, which would mean that we would be open to being referred a girl or boy 0-36 months old at the time of referral or a set of two siblings up to 36 months old. </div>
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My response? No.</div>
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I wasn't for it. I had always imagined bringing a baby home, and there was just so much more to think about with older children (It sounds so calloused when I say it out loud!). </div>
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So, we kept our parameters as they were: 0-12 months for a girl or boy and 0-24 months for siblings. </div>
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Recently, however, Travis began a new job (which is a huge blessing from God), which requires us to do an addendum to our homestudy. I contacted our social worker, got the ball rolling, and passed it along to Travis who would have to discuss his new job with our social worker. </div>
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Once the draft of the addendum was complete, our agency emailed it to me for review. I read through the document, and it all looked fine. But as I read the words, "There are no changes to the referral parameters," something inside of me happened.</div>
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Still, I tried to respond to our agency, telling them to proceed, but I couldn't send the email. <i>Travis and I need to talk</i>, I thought. What's interesting, however, is that I still didn't want to change our parameters. I was still fighting it.</div>
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Travis came home, we discussed our parameters, but still, I told him I didn't want to change them. <i>Why, then, </i>Travis asked, <i>was I bringing it up again?</i> I knew his position. He wanted to expand them, and I didn't. Yet, I couldn't send this email keeping them as they were.</div>
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As I'm sure you can imagine, it's been a long road for us, and we really would like our children to be home with us, but I didn't want this to be motivation to expend our parameters. I didn't want impatience to motivate our decision. But after talking with Travis, he assured me this had no baring on his desire to make this change.</div>
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Travis and I continued to talk. We prayed. I sought counsel from close friends. And at the end of it all, it became so clear. </div>
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We were being called to change our parameters.</div>
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And so this is where we currently find ourselves. It's quite a change, but both Travis and I believe we may be called to adopt an older child. </div>
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This means we may be bringing home a three year old (or two for that matter)! </div>
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And here's what we've been up to since our last update in February:</div>
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"Toothless" - Ella lost two teeth in two days!</div>
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Easter!</div>
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Things that make a mommy's heart melt: </div>
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"I'm happy that you are my mom." - Avery</div>
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I am so blessed!</div>
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I have a dream... "that I can teach people about Jesus to help make the world better." - Ella</div>
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My prayer and dream as well! </div>
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Mommy and Ella "special time"</div>
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Last Ski Day of the Year</div>
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Avery and "Wolfie"</div>
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Spring has sprung.</div>
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Exploring and Park Days with Friends </div>
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Our Tulip Bed</div>
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The Sacramento Zoo</div>
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Our Trip to the Wine Country</div>
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Okay. We're going to try to be better at posting each month! Until next month...</div>
Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-47902757297031039092013-03-01T09:07:00.002-08:002013-03-01T09:07:28.256-08:00February Waitlist Numbers<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Hello Blogosphere! This is Travis again with your monthly Coombs family adoption status update. Part of me enjoys writing these posts because I get to use cool terms like “blogosphere” while the other part of me feels bad for you readers, because I am no where near as eloquent and “good” (how’s that for eloquent?) at this as my wonderful bride Laurie is.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am stepping out on a limb here and introducing a term that has been foreign to this blog thus far... </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Transition </i>- Noun. Defined as “movement, passage, or change from one position, state, subject, concept, etc., to another.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Over the past 8 - 12 months I have settled into a state of numbness with our adoption where I became emotionally indifferent to the process, our status on the wait list, and even the concept of welcoming another child into our family. The high points of being so excited to bring our little one home contrasted with the low points of thinking that it was never going to happen started to take a toll on my psyche. As such, I built a cozy little cocoon (Remember that movie with Steve Guttenberg? 80’s movies are rad!) around myself to insulate my heart from excessive amounts of disappointment. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Well... this is the first time that I have felt as though we are </span><span style="color: #371a94; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><i>transitioning</i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> from the monotonous waiting period into a time when the reality of our adoption IS going to come to fruition! The closest thing I can liken it to is the “nesting period” that pregnant women experience shortly before their delivery. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Most of you probably can’t understand what I mean here, but... earlier in this post, I said “I am stepping out on a limb...”. What I mean by that is that I truly feel as though I am exposing my heart to the possibility of another let down. If I could, I’d ask you all to pray that this is indeed the home stretch for Laurie, Ella, Avery and I; and that we will indeed bring our child home soon. I pray that Ella and Avery can stop starting their bedtime prayers with “Dear God, please bring our baby home soon”, and they can start with “Dear God, thank you for bringing our baby brother/sister into our family.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Lastly before we get to our current wait list numbers, I want to express a sincere THANK YOU! from Laurie, the girls, and I for everyone’s support, prayers and encouragement. Believe it or not, we will have been on the waiting list for two years this coming April. We wouldn’t have made it this far without the wonderful support network we have around us.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So.... drum roll please... February wait list numbers are:</span></div>
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<b>Girl:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">September - 29</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">October - 28</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">November - 26</span></div>
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December - 26</div>
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January - 22</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>February - 21</b></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Boy:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">September - 22</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">October - 22</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">November - 19</span></div>
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December - 16</div>
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January - 15</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>February - 15</b></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Siblings:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">September - 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">October - 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">November - 7</span></div>
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December - 4</div>
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January - 4</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>February - 4</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I know... a little anti-climactic eh? Still a ways to go, but we’re getting there. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here’s what we’ve been up to the past couple months (since we skipped last month's update):</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New Year's</span></span></div>
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Avery began Kindergarten! (Apparently we don't do things the "normal" way)</div>
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Sledding with friends...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The "Condo"</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Special Daddy, Ella Day</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Our Family</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Girl</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The Girls</div>
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Ella's Assignment From School</div>
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Seaweed!</div>
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Ella, Mommy Time</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Until next time...</span></div>
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Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-26841362406120712772013-01-01T16:19:00.002-08:002013-01-01T16:20:33.422-08:00December Waitlist Numbers<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We just got our waitlist numbers, and I'm too excited to write anything before I share them with you, so here they are: </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Girl:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 33</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 30</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">September - 29</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">October - 28</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">November - 26</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">December - 26</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Boy:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 24</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 22</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">September - 22</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">October - 22</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">November - 19</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">December - 16</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Siblings:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">September - 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">October - 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">November - 7</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">December - 4</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We're getting so close! Please keep us in your prayers. I pray for God's perfect timing, but as I'm sure you all know by now, I sure do hope His timing is soon!! Though I know I must, I just cannot wait to hold our new little one(s) in my arms for the first time and to FINALLY bring them home! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Still, we continue to wait with patience (as much as we still have on reserve) and trust that the providence of God will prevail.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">...</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A little story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week, our girls watched an old Christmas cartoon. In it, orphan children opened Christmas gifts, but the quality of the gifts were poor, and after a short time of play, all were broken. The children cried as their hopes dashed just as quickly as they rose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After watching the show, I noticed a dramatic change in our five year old daughter's countenance. She was close to tears as I asked her why she was so sad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Mommy, why did God make orphans?" she asked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Honey, God didn't make orphans," I said, as I began to explain why bad things are in the world, "There are orphans because sin is in the world," I concluded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Well, then, why doesn't God tell everyone to help the orphans?" She asked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"He does. He tells each of us to care for both the widow and the orphan. Not everyone is called to adopt, but all are called to participate in one way or another to help orphans," I said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"What can we do to help?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Well, we're adopting. When we bring our babies home, they won't be orphans anymore. They'll be ours. They'll have a mommy and a daddy. They'll have two amazing sisters. And there will be two less orphans in the world!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"But what else can we do?" she asked with a tear streaming down her cheek. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Watching my five year old wrestle with the question we're all intended to ask ourselves has been a beautiful experience. <span style="background-color: white;">The question tough to face, but we all must.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What <i>can</i> we do? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How do we solve the worldwide orphan tragedy? How can we share the love of Christ with these beautiful children? How can we show them (not just tell them) that they matter, that their life was not a mistake, that they are loved by not only the one and only true God, but by us? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't claim to have all the answers, but I do know this. When looking at the sheer number of orphans throughout the world, the problem can seem daunting. So much so, in fact, that we simply give up before we even begin, erroneously thinking, any effort we take won't make a dent in the problem. But let's take a moment to look at the issue at hand.<br /><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">UNICEF estimates there are 143-210 MILLION orphans worldwide. This number doesn't include trafficked or enslaved children or those in countries who don't report to UNICEF, so in my mind, this is a low number. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Still, there are an estimated 7 billion people living in the world today, 4.2 billion of which claim to be Christians. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">So, if each Christian played their part and answered God's call to care for the orphan, the problem would, theoretically, be solved. As we've mentioned before, not all people are called to adopt, but I know several people who would adopt if it weren't for the high cost. They simply cannot afford to adopt. So, perhaps, if you're not called to adopt, you are called to supply financial assistance to a family who has the desire to supply the love and care to an orphaned child by becoming their "forever family." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Honestly, I cannot tell you what role you're intended to play, but I do know each of us are called to act in one way or another. </span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Alone, we do make a difference. Together, we can achieve the unimaginable. If each of us do something, no matter how small, there will be change. Change we can see! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All I ask is that you begin to pray about what role God would have you play in orphan care. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's what we've been up to since our last update:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Avery's Christmas Program</span></span></div>
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Christmas!</div>
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Pearler Beads</div>
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Skiing!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Thank you, once again, for the continued support and prayers!!! We hope and pray you had a very merry Christmas and had fun bringing in the new year!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Happy 2013!</span></span></div>
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Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-66590624457554349762012-12-17T19:46:00.006-08:002012-12-17T19:46:49.783-08:00Merry Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;">
Merry Christmas!! We pray for blessings and joy this Christmas season for all of you!</div>
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Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-84471711639906062572012-12-08T09:59:00.000-08:002012-12-08T09:59:16.852-08:00November Waitlist Numbers<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Happy October AND November people! Travis here writing this month’s update for our</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">(belated)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> October and current November waitlist numbers. Without further a due, here they are…</span><br />
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<b>Girl:</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">June - 41</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">July - 33</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">August - 30</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">September - 29</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">October - 28</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>November - 26</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Boy:</b></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">June - 31</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">July - 24</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">August - 22</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">September - 22</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">October - 22</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>November - 19</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Siblings:</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">June - 12</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">July - 8</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">August - 8</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">September - 8</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">October - 8</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>November - 7</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_19_1354495103604_165" style="font-size: 12pt;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">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, “<i>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.</i>” </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">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:</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Become a Foster parent.</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Volunteer at a local children's home (usually a transitional home children are taken to before placement in a Foster home).</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Help get a chapter of The Mentoring Project started in your community. To find out more about this amazing organization visit <a href="http://thementoringproject.org/about/">thementoringproject.org</a>.</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">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.</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Go to an orphanage and serve the fatherless.</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Donate your lightly used clothing or toys to a domestic children's home or an international orphanage.</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Take your children to serve disadvantaged children in your community to foster a heart for the fatherless in the next generation.</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Most importantly, don’t turn a blind eye or a hard hear</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">t toward orphan care when the opportunity presents itself to you. Take action and observe the blessings that flow from your selflessness and generosity!</span></li>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_19_1354495103604_164" style="font-size: 12pt;">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!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It's been a while since our last update. Here's what we've been up to:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our annual trip to Apple Hill...</span></div>
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Avery's field trip to the Pumpkin Patch...</div>
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The Nevada Day Parade</div>
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The much anticipated and always talked about "Daddy Daughter Ball"</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Halloween</span></div>
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Laurie's Birthday</div>
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Avery reading our church newspaper...</div>
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We've discovered crimping.</div>
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Christmas Tree Cutting!</div>
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Dinner with friends...</div>
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Until next month...</div>
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Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-34594623711685409502012-10-01T13:43:00.002-07:002012-10-01T13:43:55.391-07:00September Waitlist Numbers<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">I can't believe yet another month has passed! The Ethiopian c</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">ourts 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.... </span><br />
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><br /></span>
<span class="515204720-12052011">Here are our new numbers:</span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Girl:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May - 44</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">June - 41</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 33</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 30</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>September - 29</b></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Boy:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May - 34</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">June - 31</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 24</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 22</span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>September - 22</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Siblings:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May - 14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">June - 12</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 8</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>September - 8 </b></span></div>
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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!</div>
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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:</div>
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Our beautiful Ella turns 7!!! Oh, how time flies!</div>
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Avery's "experiment"</div>
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Ham...</div>
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Her "glasses"</div>
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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!</div>
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Until next month...</div>
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Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-77083891718540258052012-09-04T16:54:00.001-07:002012-09-04T16:54:54.280-07:00August Waitlist Numbers<br />
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's that time again! Here are the numbers...</span></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Girl:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May - 44</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">June - 41</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 33</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 30</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Boy:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May - 34</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">June - 31</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 24</span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 22</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Siblings:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May - 14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">June - 12</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">July - 8</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">August - 8 </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our update this month, we were told:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We shared recently that the courts in Ethio<span style="color: #454545;">pia 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!</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #454545;">During the closure, referrals are still made, so that's good news for us! Continued prayers in this area would be much appreciated!! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">In the meantime, here's what we've been up to during the last month:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">Ella's First Day of First Grade!!! (Our BIG Kid!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">Avery's 5th Birthday Party!</span></div>
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The ride home...</div>
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Avery's birthday present!</div>
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Avery's First Day of Preschool!! </div>
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Travis' Birthday!!</div>
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The Rib Cookoff!</div>
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Trip to San Francisco!</div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">It's been a busy month! Lots of fun!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">Until next month...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">Prayers and blessings!</span></div>
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Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-57546641545946565922012-08-30T04:00:00.000-07:002012-08-30T04:00:04.144-07:00Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
It's Travis' Birthday!!! </div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8YXQACjIcE&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8YXQACjIcE&feature=youtu.be</a></div>
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A very, very happy birthday to the love of my life!! </div>
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We love you TONS!!!</div>
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Love, </div>
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Your Girls</div>
Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-72423990712105188262012-08-24T16:01:00.000-07:002012-08-24T16:01:24.463-07:00Both Hands Video<div>
I noticed in the email I received of my last post that the video didn't show up. Here's the link in case you weren't able to access it:</div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/31441061">http://vimeo.com/31441061</a><br />
Blessings!Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-19419387333292406732012-08-23T17:05:00.000-07:002012-08-23T17:05:17.608-07:00Both Hands Project!<div style="text-align: left;">
We're excited to share with you all that we've been approved through Lifesong for Orphans to do a Both Hands project! Watch the video below to get a comprehensive overview of what this is and what it entails:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31441061" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe><br />
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So, we're really early in this process, as we just received word of our approval.<br />
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What we need right now is to find a widow that we can serve. That said, if you know of a widow in the Reno area who...<br />
1. owns her home<br />
2. does not have financial means<br />
3. does not have a big support system<br />
4. is in need of home improvement<br />
...please let us know!<br />
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If you're interested in joining our "core team" or participating in any way, please leave a comment below! We'd love to have you!!<br />
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God is good, and we look forward to how He will use this project in our lives, in the lives of those involved, as well as that of a widow!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>{Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. ~ James 1:27}</b></span></div>
Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-81639235758837717942012-08-02T16:27:00.003-07:002012-08-02T19:26:17.880-07:00July Waitlist Numbers<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Some exciting news! There have been A LOT of referrals this last month in the Ethiopia program as a result of the new relationship AGCI (our agency) has begun with an additional orphanage! Most importantly, this means that there are many children who have been referred to their "forever families" and will soon be brought home into loving arms! But, it also means that there's been a lot of movement in our waitlists, which brings us that much closer to bringing our little one(s) home!!!!! </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Here are our new numbers:</span></span></span></div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>July - 33</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Boy:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 37</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b>July - 24</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Siblings:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 15</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">April - 14</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">May - 14</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">June - 12</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b>July - 8 SINGLE DIGITS!!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Looking at our new numbers, our girls said, "We're DEFINITELY going to have twins!!" And this is, certainly, what they're hoping for. Each night before going to bed, they pray, "Dear Jesus, bring our baby home soon. I hope we have twins..." Gotta love little hearts!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Here's what we've been up to...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">New family pictures compliments of Erin Holland of </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">I Spy {Photography}! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Erin's so talented!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">On the shuttle to Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Just a cute girl.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkbnsXLnzN2sCjkHClwNtBaqmF_G7uhawBbWYSoUwee5zaLkOeyc8BQ6pJVLe61V5XiLo1dD7e8gOw030Hw2FW_hbI5VZtoyJLyGXJMifCpzEENbNE2Wdu_xAa2uLwwoRsovji92cgDB2/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkbnsXLnzN2sCjkHClwNtBaqmF_G7uhawBbWYSoUwee5zaLkOeyc8BQ6pJVLe61V5XiLo1dD7e8gOw030Hw2FW_hbI5VZtoyJLyGXJMifCpzEENbNE2Wdu_xAa2uLwwoRsovji92cgDB2/s320/IMG_1006.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Another cute girl. This one with a new haircut! 9 inches!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6EJH9mw5pilj3emBp5Ojj3KcSXjJkgdKE0E-pq4LjKy7uGQ0r-4m3XYXjhmn3ju1eY0VnyU5Kmz3gsyunwJ1pmRsFmz8eUjGdKZ37DikSuTcIuB9mkzy08rKWidOqP5ASobB6mN00c1G/s1600/IMG_1014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6EJH9mw5pilj3emBp5Ojj3KcSXjJkgdKE0E-pq4LjKy7uGQ0r-4m3XYXjhmn3ju1eY0VnyU5Kmz3gsyunwJ1pmRsFmz8eUjGdKZ37DikSuTcIuB9mkzy08rKWidOqP5ASobB6mN00c1G/s320/IMG_1014.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKZmUkzKp2wF2Csdk7sK-Y_110RuFFdjmEdDLHjWGWnVozUTQyhJwz4hKObfOcXfgjBgG3zNlpReKc59lPTJFzkhud5_p35pw9Flf6mRAH6AEBAV9kKhwOSJRvGSDUhPZcybU2uWBe1Oc/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKZmUkzKp2wF2Csdk7sK-Y_110RuFFdjmEdDLHjWGWnVozUTQyhJwz4hKObfOcXfgjBgG3zNlpReKc59lPTJFzkhud5_p35pw9Flf6mRAH6AEBAV9kKhwOSJRvGSDUhPZcybU2uWBe1Oc/s320/IMG_1016.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Art project.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV4xNkT-enSmVKVgs84kyM706S3m1n80yuIyXHIKe4tWIidFFDy_b4d_XePtUZd1GcnGexxBpSegz8m0_U6u4SyPSVwlNGsm-FRpkNIcqKICt2ASR9g2PI3NRX8Juj_ZJAbu4eF_2bTca/s1600/IMG_1022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV4xNkT-enSmVKVgs84kyM706S3m1n80yuIyXHIKe4tWIidFFDy_b4d_XePtUZd1GcnGexxBpSegz8m0_U6u4SyPSVwlNGsm-FRpkNIcqKICt2ASR9g2PI3NRX8Juj_ZJAbu4eF_2bTca/s320/IMG_1022.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">I pray God continues to put these orphans into families in His perfect timing.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Until next month...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">
</span></span></div>Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-89181817397612464492012-07-09T13:16:00.000-07:002012-07-09T13:16:02.996-07:00June Waitlist Numbers<br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">There's been a lot going on in the Ethiopia program this past month, which is the reason for the delayed numbers! Our agency, AGCI, has just contracted with an additional orphanage, which means that we may possibly see more referrals coming down the line. This could mean that the waitlist may move faster. But this is just speculation! We'll have to wait and see what happens!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Also, last month, AGCI made 5 referrals! This compares to the usual 2-3 we've seen in a given month recently. Some exciting stuff! </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Here are the new numbers:</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Girl:</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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March - 45</div>
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April - 44</div>
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May - 44</div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>June - 41</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Boy:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 37</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">April - 35</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">May - 34</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b>June - 31</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Siblings:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 15</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">April - 14</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">May - 14</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b>June - 12</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Here's what we've been up to lately...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Backpacking with friends!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Park Play.</div>
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Outdoor Exploration.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It's just like Avery to keep up with her big sister! Riding her bike with NO TRAINING WHEELS!! </div>
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Good job, big girl!</div>
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Sisters doing each other's hair–so cute!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Our Ham.</div>
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New haircut! </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Cute!</span></div>
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The Rodeo!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF-fib034iQtA_L3CnoLM08FvC7tfHd9iuRHL_TpscOCqIa11qUYd57RxoJQe4Z9bi7L_JYhieBVMSRNyqlWiHSxqwWWehqb30nntdhpPa0MDafW6z6AxTofYw5xnVXXNKDu2YZXz_MvO/s1600/IMG_0981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF-fib034iQtA_L3CnoLM08FvC7tfHd9iuRHL_TpscOCqIa11qUYd57RxoJQe4Z9bi7L_JYhieBVMSRNyqlWiHSxqwWWehqb30nntdhpPa0MDafW6z6AxTofYw5xnVXXNKDu2YZXz_MvO/s320/IMG_0981.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">That's about it. Until next month... </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Thank you for your continued prayers!</span></div>
</div>
</span></span></div>Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-52015318799398818562012-06-05T08:22:00.000-07:002012-06-05T08:22:22.403-07:00May Waitlist Numbers<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Okie dokie, we're here again! Yet another month has passed, and we have new numbers. Though Travis and I were hoping for more movement, we're still content in where God has us. What an amazing God we serve who allows us the grace to be content in our wait! All in His perfect timing...</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Here are the new numbers:</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Girl:</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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February - 50</div>
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March - 45</div>
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April - 44</div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>May - 44</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Boy:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">February - 40</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 37</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">April - 35</span></span></div>
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<div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b>May - 34</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Siblings:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">February - 18</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 15</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">April - 14</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b>May - 14</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Here's what we've been up to...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">The end of homeschool co-op:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Avery and Ella had a little ballet performance...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlJfL6t53dFTFR5KLbT7KC4GEvxno0dy6uqj2jklKzcGEAm4B3r3BCsIpDPhQujNW5qXqVhuJoybV3EA6A5J6pem-8c5RMZAwC43RJ75rJ_PHu-jXhFtmbztCwk5XVe3P9PKngBiQO0d_/s1600/IMGP3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlJfL6t53dFTFR5KLbT7KC4GEvxno0dy6uqj2jklKzcGEAm4B3r3BCsIpDPhQujNW5qXqVhuJoybV3EA6A5J6pem-8c5RMZAwC43RJ75rJ_PHu-jXhFtmbztCwk5XVe3P9PKngBiQO0d_/s320/IMGP3159.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery and Darby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery and Memie (grandma)</td></tr>
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...and Ella had a violin performance!</div>
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No more training wheels!!</div>
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Our annual trip to the wine country for the century bike ride...</div>
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A Saturday morning tea party...</div>
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That's all for now! See you all next month...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
</span></span></div>Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-838217240753245452012-04-30T20:03:00.000-07:002012-04-30T20:03:49.574-07:00April Waitlist Numbers<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">It's that time again! Waitlist numbers! </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Here they are:</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Girl:</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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January - 53 </div>
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February - 50</div>
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March - 45</div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>April - 44</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Boy:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">January - 44</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">February - 40</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 37</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><b>April - 35</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="515204720-12052011" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Siblings:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">January - 18</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">February - 18</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">March - 15</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><b>April - 14</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A funny thing happens when you're forced to wait for so long. At some point, if you allow Him full reign, God's grace allows you to be at peace with how long it takes for the blessings He's promised. You realize after a while that many unanticipated blessings are showered upon you in your times of wait. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oftentimes, when we're faced with a season of wait, we feel this tension between reaching the endpoint and being satisfied with where we're at. Once we're certain that God is calling us to embark on a certain journey, it's difficult to wait for what's to come, but it's during these times that God is working. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Our waiting rooms are NOT a waste. It's a time of preparation. It's a time of growth. It's a time to sit back and simply watch God work all things according to His purpose. And that's a beautiful place to be. I love seeing Jesus work! It blows my mind. Time and time again. And work He does. He is faithful to bring forth that which He promises. Even though I now find myself to be at peace in our wait, I still look forward with joy to the time when we get to see the fruit of our journey. To the time when we get to gaze, once and for all, into the eyes of our new little one(s)! Oh, what a day that will be.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As mentioned in our last post, we broke our camera, BUT we've been able to get some pics even though we hadn't had a camera for a while. My mom took some and then Travis' parents gave us one of their old cameras! Thanks Mom, John, and Sue!! Here's what we've been up to:</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Skiing with Grandma, Grandpa Gary, and cousins...</span></span></div>
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Easter!</div>
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Cute pic...</div>
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OK. This deserves a bit of attention. The girls built a marshmallow/frosting castle and then used a homemade catapult armed with Trix to knock it down. Good times...</div>
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Avery's picture of her holding our twin babies from Ethiopia...</div>
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And finally, I don't have a picture of this BUT my braces are OFF! Thanks again to Travis' dad, John! Pictures will follow...</div>
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We pray that this finds you well and that you are immersed in the grace and blessings of God! Until next time...</div>
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</div>Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-53854568948641686462012-04-30T16:32:00.000-07:002012-04-30T16:53:05.277-07:00A Post from Travis - New Fundraising Shirts!<br />
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Howdy friends! An other-than-normal post from the Mr. of the house here as opposed to the Mrs…</div>
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Let me start off by saying “Thank You” to everyone who has been following and supporting our family during this journey of adoption that we decided to pursue a not so recent 17 MONTHS AGO! It’s been a journey filled with excitement, frustration, patient moments and not so patient moments, and LOTS of growth for our family as a unit and individually.</div>
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I’m writing this post to let everyone know that we are offering some sweet new threads for anyone who needs to add to their (or your kids) wardrobe. We’re doing so as part of a small fundraising effort to help offset some of our adoption costs which will total about $30,000 at the end of the day. We also feel led to do our small part to raise awareness for the orphans of Africa - <span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1335824152310574"> </span>4 MILLION of which are currently living without families in the country of Ethiopia ALONE! Laurie & I have committed to donating 10% of the funds we raise to a grass roots charity created by a gal named Katie Davis who lives in Uganda and is living out her calling from God in the Ugandan culture (she has adopted 13 orphan children and raises funds for education, food, and community outreach projects). See here for more info: <a href="http://www.amazima.org/" id="yui_3_2_0_9_1335824152310434" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1335824150_0">http://www.amazima.org/</span></a></div>
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Laurie has been honing her sewing skills, and has made some ladies and kids shirts with an Africa logo. You can check out our adoption Etsy shop by clicking <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JourneyToLove">here</a>. </div>
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I had the following T-shirts made up for the fellas out there or for you ladies who enjoy rocking a T-shirt. “Ajayibe-Tsega” is Amharic (one of several native languages of Ethiopia ) for “Amazing Grace”. Psalm 68 says “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…”.</div>
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Our God is kind and just. He will guide and hold us so long as we surrender ourselves to him and find our identity in him alone. If you feel led to purchase a shirt, you can do so by clicking the PayPal link on the upper right of this blog. Shirts are $20 each. Thank you again for your support<span class="yiv2022858741762465821-30042012">!</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2022858741762465821-30042012">Travis</span></div>Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-2393999487880805712012-04-05T17:05:00.000-07:002012-04-05T17:05:44.905-07:00March Waitlist Numbers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, there's been a lot going on around here! But it's one of those times that's so busy that it's hard to break it all down. Additionally, our camera broke when it was dropped on it's lens (opps!). My fault, really. I allowed Avery to take some pics. So, unfortunately, we're camera-less for a while, which will make these updates a bit shorter. Bummer!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I do, however, need to share one last cute picture we captured before the camera mishap.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQVfRpSoyiRr5Ge3mJ1w38LparVuqP2tkoq9W6rBeI29c90XeIYJ6XtguCJTXMaEDBrhNX4X4Q8Fj1cnSq6frX-ZSM-YAuMTGmS8FSkEgXA_ncPxxz0eZFsjC4WHFB7rrW_Gnet0Vu09o/s1600/IMG_0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQVfRpSoyiRr5Ge3mJ1w38LparVuqP2tkoq9W6rBeI29c90XeIYJ6XtguCJTXMaEDBrhNX4X4Q8Fj1cnSq6frX-ZSM-YAuMTGmS8FSkEgXA_ncPxxz0eZFsjC4WHFB7rrW_Gnet0Vu09o/s320/IMG_0775.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> Gotta love little girls!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">So, without further fanfare, here are our new numbers:</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Girl:</span></span></b></span></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">November - 59</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">December - 56</span></div></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">January - 53 </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">February - 50</span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>March - 45</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Boy:</b></span></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011">November - 47</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December - 44</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January - 44</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">February - 40</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>March - 37</b></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Siblings:</b></span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">November - 22</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">December - 19</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">January - 18</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">February - 18</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; line-height: 20px;"><b>March - 15</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">There's movement!! Super excited, as that makes us that much closer to our baby(ies)! Oh, how we look forward to that day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Until next time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352342889068466602.post-84074629968079135862012-02-29T21:43:00.000-08:002012-02-29T21:43:42.857-08:00February Waitlist Numbers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's that time again... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not too much to report on the adoption front other than the fact that there has been movement this month, which is always encouraging and exciting!! Here are our updated numbers:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Girl:</span></span></b></span></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">November - 59</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">December - 56</span></div></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">January - 53</span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">February- 50</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Boy:</b></span></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011">November - 47</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December - 44</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January - 44</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>February - 40</b></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="515204720-12052011"><b>Siblings:</b></span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">November - 22</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">December - 19</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">January - 18</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; line-height: 20px;"><b>February - 18 </b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's always interesting to try to predict which child(ren) God has chosen for us. Several months ago, we thought it very unlikely that we would be referred one baby girl due to the fact that we were so much higher on that list than the others, yet now, as we look at the recent movement, anything's a possibility! </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We began this process about 1 year 5 months ago, and we've been on the waitlist for almost 1 year, now. While we remain confident that it is God's will for us to be on this journey, we still need to be graced with the patience, perseverance, encouragement, and comfort that only He can supply, so if you wouldn't mind, please keep us in your prayers. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thus far, we've been on an amazing journey! And while it's proven difficult, we wouldn't trade it for the world! By God's grace, our entire family has been growing through this trying process. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As a mother, not knowing, but sensing, that our baby(ies) have already been born is hard to bear. Wondering what they're experiencing - whether they are being loved, touched, and cared for - whether their bellies are full or if they're crying out in hunger with no response. It's difficult knowing that during the first part of their lives, Travis and I are not the ones taking care of them - meeting their every need. These are our children! The love we have for them has already been written on our hearts! Still, the only comfort in these thoughts comes with faith in our Heavenly Father. Knowing that He is in control. That He loves them, even more than we do, and that He is providing for them and taking care of them! </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ethiopia is 11 hours ahead of where we are located. Recently, we explained to the girls that when we are going to sleep, our baby is waking up, and vise versa. Consequently, oftentimes we hear their sweet little voices saying, "good morning baby," as they are going to bed, and "nigh, night baby, sleep well," when they wake in the morning. It's a beautiful thing to see the love our girls already have for their new brother/sister!</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So, yes, it is difficult on all of us, yet we are waiting in faith. The girls often ask, "Mommy, Daddy, when are we going to get our baby?" And to this we respond, "When God says it's time. And He knows best." I know this can be hard for our girls (as it is for Travis and I!), but I have seen amazing things as a result of this trial in their little lives. Compassion has blossomed in their little hearts over the last year and a half that may not have been there had we not listened to God's call for us to adopt. One such example of this is when our four year old sat and wept as she was watching a Christmas cartoon that happened to have orphans in it. As she sat in my arms and watched this clip over and over at her request, she asked me, "Mommy, the orphans have nothing - no Mommy, no Daddy, no toys... Is there anything we can do?" <i style="font-weight: bold;">Yes, baby. There is... </i>Compassion in a four year old.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Adoption is a beautiful thing!</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This is what we've been up to in the last month...</div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Homeschool...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjH07e6KjRIBgEXQJBUcHx4BbvdPO_CfWyfeVxItKj3p3jW8VEAMsPGDi60VA5pBKk6_rF1hhGN-DcDzJZzZgWSF7G9vbFBXAGSt8_9obsTjNXAD4cwaVgxJcg3j2y1PgtqYVZhT6y1ay/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjH07e6KjRIBgEXQJBUcHx4BbvdPO_CfWyfeVxItKj3p3jW8VEAMsPGDi60VA5pBKk6_rF1hhGN-DcDzJZzZgWSF7G9vbFBXAGSt8_9obsTjNXAD4cwaVgxJcg3j2y1PgtqYVZhT6y1ay/s320/IMG_0714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtEOXVOgDIZpwCV3_I0el-AUjxRUkCLvaZRDhwReRSL49zhzVGxxJ1Vunr4hU9EZz3Eyz8u6wHacJFzRxQAXp2rBN8z9AE5LgBWr9-VdC0E_mCvjLzPof6idFIb0cqDCK-4U9HVPETl4d/s1600/IMG_0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtEOXVOgDIZpwCV3_I0el-AUjxRUkCLvaZRDhwReRSL49zhzVGxxJ1Vunr4hU9EZz3Eyz8u6wHacJFzRxQAXp2rBN8z9AE5LgBWr9-VdC0E_mCvjLzPof6idFIb0cqDCK-4U9HVPETl4d/s320/IMG_0715.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqW8PwBlI8O5IXCZjku6628vj3NyVttt8Z8vkAjGv5Q_9xet2SMKKu2_EKvnjuXSwL0IjQYdqk8ggjpGd_DKZzFgMjOlBzHZfKjYmcKCGz_bfmLJjlOLWArKm0DjDEc-tu0HXORxCxK2h/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqW8PwBlI8O5IXCZjku6628vj3NyVttt8Z8vkAjGv5Q_9xet2SMKKu2_EKvnjuXSwL0IjQYdqk8ggjpGd_DKZzFgMjOlBzHZfKjYmcKCGz_bfmLJjlOLWArKm0DjDEc-tu0HXORxCxK2h/s320/IMG_0718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lunch in the lodge after skiing...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmnaP03uDgSMfbqjj_TXKvokkem6ulH4dQdyByJ5L2VWQN7S7ssFTFWtPFm4Lq45aX3tOqtBZxWVmkAa9tP34FKhrLcOsf5pmmHvdLPjOZV8etCM8mcuaFH9SDPvUkqVZOh4-LTSYOAPl/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmnaP03uDgSMfbqjj_TXKvokkem6ulH4dQdyByJ5L2VWQN7S7ssFTFWtPFm4Lq45aX3tOqtBZxWVmkAa9tP34FKhrLcOsf5pmmHvdLPjOZV8etCM8mcuaFH9SDPvUkqVZOh4-LTSYOAPl/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> My little bavarian girl wearing my dad's hat...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZb0iwJXKx4h4VA7DloJO0j9KZYbEmvA8yVlVWg3AZlTsf5Cy-twLMfx64_rPllj1yMffEd1AqjaOEb_XyYjPamGqGJzhukf0_ddmX45eDoDjNzRD4svD3Js_NdU6ebjc9b3euacLAtRX/s1600/IMG_0743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZb0iwJXKx4h4VA7DloJO0j9KZYbEmvA8yVlVWg3AZlTsf5Cy-twLMfx64_rPllj1yMffEd1AqjaOEb_XyYjPamGqGJzhukf0_ddmX45eDoDjNzRD4svD3Js_NdU6ebjc9b3euacLAtRX/s320/IMG_0743.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Our ballerinas...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzfHdhMHWJlotY_1fBSA2RPlfEGq1xbkqCZQKf1IKulv9dzjI3B2QkjYy1fpy8epDjzv3uPHKLdDtYMQiM8fdXRc8nsZue90iNmp6TLv2wR8g-knDwiMmArn00BIOMd3ibN-3IB8N_sYL/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzfHdhMHWJlotY_1fBSA2RPlfEGq1xbkqCZQKf1IKulv9dzjI3B2QkjYy1fpy8epDjzv3uPHKLdDtYMQiM8fdXRc8nsZue90iNmp6TLv2wR8g-knDwiMmArn00BIOMd3ibN-3IB8N_sYL/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0M-W0jog1w9odKkBsdZUImJgLyCClUCUOwRw7FYRhQ-R5YXqBTXTQio0a8kXXqhHBlvq_bhkJYB9Y5LXsMf-EjD2URoSi4Y8AiHXsDGASSb7RCxQOs1CrylCt2vI3BBuYVtmTEkyEYqt/s1600/IMG_0748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0M-W0jog1w9odKkBsdZUImJgLyCClUCUOwRw7FYRhQ-R5YXqBTXTQio0a8kXXqhHBlvq_bhkJYB9Y5LXsMf-EjD2URoSi4Y8AiHXsDGASSb7RCxQOs1CrylCt2vI3BBuYVtmTEkyEYqt/s320/IMG_0748.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Ella lost her first tooth!!!!! The whole family was excited!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYCImx8NkQvDL72TW-bYICBNAB1JRCz7_SMbfDDKZ6i_PZdLeDied0UC_BAjCfAm0qyv-doqnu80X3oFSDF0NmsuYT3KQvZSad-OTliuFzL9AWz2HjBtSv5EeU7KG5FYPHRZqp0BFMQ7z/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYCImx8NkQvDL72TW-bYICBNAB1JRCz7_SMbfDDKZ6i_PZdLeDied0UC_BAjCfAm0qyv-doqnu80X3oFSDF0NmsuYT3KQvZSad-OTliuFzL9AWz2HjBtSv5EeU7KG5FYPHRZqp0BFMQ7z/s320/IMG_2413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Valentines day celebration with our homeschool Lions group...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruUJ7_7AAsY6L_kJTa-3NT3Rr5WTA3MLlJLCle1hDN3rNHEOVgr3-4jCyWyC0QyhU_T4DglO2TFhvERuq96D8RWv_BWiCiizkUQ0jrR5buvl8XssK3uddzWVT4JlpTrDwIa7WiHoe3hzx/s1600/IMG_2439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruUJ7_7AAsY6L_kJTa-3NT3Rr5WTA3MLlJLCle1hDN3rNHEOVgr3-4jCyWyC0QyhU_T4DglO2TFhvERuq96D8RWv_BWiCiizkUQ0jrR5buvl8XssK3uddzWVT4JlpTrDwIa7WiHoe3hzx/s320/IMG_2439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0DO_OmdTVDGkVCfSubcRqXcOQxoyl_m5_ifDKRvdounB_92OmAMZV3a2XUnkEUZnZ1ieLSHBLyGkDisC7i_nEmA0mdQaTLTIMoIf2ibsc_uwAhXNmYTs0O2rboNpRygzCNWCcyST-sZA/s1600/IMG_2454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0DO_OmdTVDGkVCfSubcRqXcOQxoyl_m5_ifDKRvdounB_92OmAMZV3a2XUnkEUZnZ1ieLSHBLyGkDisC7i_nEmA0mdQaTLTIMoIf2ibsc_uwAhXNmYTs0O2rboNpRygzCNWCcyST-sZA/s320/IMG_2454.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Finally!!! A snow day!!!!! Not too much snow, but certainly enough for a little snowman...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVTuAUcXrEXwXZVzPf3M8kYx6ylrv0-CF0nTZVlkUaPrjoQ8osdG733xLFC295kopC5_vuXIYXmGJbeT2-jRVi7osltTHEZwmVUsuxc65sM4_B61Co-7NKmku8EgTFFRMffEPHcTj7ipd/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVTuAUcXrEXwXZVzPf3M8kYx6ylrv0-CF0nTZVlkUaPrjoQ8osdG733xLFC295kopC5_vuXIYXmGJbeT2-jRVi7osltTHEZwmVUsuxc65sM4_B61Co-7NKmku8EgTFFRMffEPHcTj7ipd/s320/IMG_2456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We'll be back next month... Thank you again for your support and prayers!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many blessings!</div>Laurie Coombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905610439836225577noreply@blogger.com3