Enjoying the spring

Popsicles, playdates at the park, pony rides and tricycle rides... we are enjoying the beautiful weather these days.

Breakfast of champions

This morning as Belachew was waking up and we were talking about our day, I told him it was time to go downstairs and eat waffles for breakfast.  He looked at me and said, "No, I'll take a popsicle please."  He did not get a popsicle for breakfast, but you have to give him credit for trying.

 

 

 

My farm boy

Last weekend, we went to Missouri to visit my family. We celebrated my dad's retirement and birthday, as well as Mother's Day. We went to Purina Farms, where Belachew had fun with his cousins and got to milk a cow (he is still talking about squeezing the cow), and to my cousin's farm, where Belachew got to drive a tractor. He had so much fun on the farm and made a new friend. He was quite impressed with this little girl, who knew a lot about tractors and horses.

World AIDS Orphans Day

I tend to be a bit late on getting things on my blog, but yesterday, May 7, was World AIDS Orphans Day.

15 million children, orphaned by AIDS worldwide.

Rich Stearns, President of World Vision, US said,

"I believe that this could very well be looked back on as the sin of our generation. I look at my parents and ask, where were they during the civil rights movement? I look at my grandparents and ask, what were they doing when the holocaust in Europe was occurring with regard to the Jews, and why didn't they speak up? And when we think of our great, great, great-grandparents, we think how could they have sat by and allowed slavery to exist? And I believe that our children and their children, 40 or 50 years from now, are going to ask me, what did you do while 40 million children became orphans in Africa?"

Please take the time to go read this wonderful post here.

Picking up my paint brush

Since our adoption of our baby is not legal yet, I can not go into too many details here. But I do want to share that the last few days have been hard. We first learned last week of a delay in our adoption process, with no certainty of when the issue will be resolved. Then last night we got a message that our baby was sick. Thankfully, he has since been discharged from the hospital and is stable.

We've had friends and strangers praying for us, which we greatly appreciate. We also have felt a sense of confidence and strength, knowing that this baby is worth waiting for and worth fighting for. We are not giving up hope and are trusting that God has a plan for this baby's life.

The past couple nights, after I've shed some tears, I've picked up my paint brush and have been working on getting his nursery ready. Although it may not make sense, and I definitely have other things I should be doing around the house, this small act makes me feel better. I am painting in confidence, that one day this room with be filled with our sweet baby boy, who from the moment I heard his story, I knew in my heart that he was to be our son. I am painting in faith, praying as I do so, and knowing that God has a plan for us. I am painting in hope, that tomorrow is a new day and that good news will come. And next week, we are setting up a crib, another act of hope and faith. Little by little, we will continue to prepare our hearts and homes for this baby and someday, we will have an amazing story to share.

Don't mess with mama

So here I am with a group of women I had the privilege of meeting and spending time with at the Christian Alliance for Orphan's Conference. These women are all amazing and have such great stories to tell. They have all experienced the blessing of adoption, many from Africa, and they are passionate about caring for orphans. In the short time we had together, we laughed and cried together, and their stories inspired and encouraged me.

These women are passionate mamas, and I am blessed to now call them my friends.

Full

The conference was amazing. 

 

I am encouraged, inspired, and challenged.

 

I have met amazing people and heard incredible stories. 

 

I have spent two days with people who were strangers who I now consider friends. 

 

Some tears have been shed and many prayers have been made.

 

My mind and heart are full, and I am beginning to have some clarity with my next steps.

 

I am still processing, but hope to share more.