Planning for a trip

Travelling to Seattle, or LA, or even NYC is nothing compared to getting ready to travel across the big blue. Every night I work on a little on packing, getting rooms ready, cleaning, etc. There is so much to worry about, correct money to exchange, kids clothes for kids I don't know the size of, hot weather, cold weather, rain and dry times, kid medicines, lotions, soaps, diapers, bottles, toys, etc. Being a new mama and all I just don't know what to pack! I think we will be doing a lot of shopping before we get them.

We only have 7 days before we leave! I just can't believe it! I only have 1 day left of work for the next 2-3 months. Life is so good. I am just so excited to meet our new children. It is going to be a long trip over and back. We fly to Seattle to London to Addis. We get into Addis at 1 am! Then we wake up the next morning and meet our kids for the first time! After being with them for awhile we will go shopping for diapers, formula, snacks, etc. There will be two other families there by then, maybe three. That night, late, one of the families comes in late. The next day we go to the US Embassy to get our Visas for the children. This is a long and hot process. It sounds like there may be some tough questions, we hope we are prepared. Of course during this time Kev, Nick and Malchi will be lounging at the pool or playing a little tennis. After the Embassy appointment they are in our custody! We get them forever!

There is so much to do in Ethiopia. We are hoping to travel to the country and see villages, go to a hot spring, and meet families. There is a hike to a church carved into stone, museums, crafts, dancing, coffee, and Ethiopian food! We will have 6 full days to spend time in Ethiopia with our children. We are going to transfer from the Hilton to a guest house after getting the kids. I am really looking forward to it. It is a Baptist mission house and another family before us stayed there and loved it! Here is a link to the website http://addiskidan.blogspot.com/ We are really excited for this experience and to have someone help us understand our children! I talked with her today and I got even more excited about our trip!

Life is pretty hectic right now. Sorry if we haven't called. We aren't trying to ignore anyone, we just fall into bed every night exhausted! Our last journey of our trip will be interesting. We have to stay in Chicago overnight on the way back. That will be difficult! We then wake up and have to travel to Seattle and then on to Spokane. We have a 7 hour layover in Seattle but we are going to BEG to be on standby. As long as there is openings we should be ok.

I am excited to share this next step in our journey with everyone. You are all always in my prayers. Thank you to everyone for your support.

Birth Certificates and the meaning of names

Here is the birth certificate of Sophia (BeEmnet). BeEmnet means "thru faith". Thru our faith we received two perfect gifts - salvation from death thru Christ and our baby girl. Sophia means "wisdom". Throughout the adoption we definitely received wisdom daily from the Lord to His perfect timing and plan.







Here is Giovanni (Alemayhu). Giovanni means "God is gracious". Boy has He ever been gracious to us - 3 kids. Alemayhu means "I saw the world". He will definitely have seen the world by the time we get our children home.








We don't have a picture of Caleb (Mamegela). We don't know why. Caleb means "faithful". Throughout this process we have learned how to be faithful in the Lord. Mamegela means "you are a part of me". From the beginning of referrals, Caleb was with us. He has always been in our hearts.

There you have it! The new additions to the Raskells!

Travel, Compassion and Love

So, we are set. We leave July 8th for Ethiopia! We come back on July 19th to Spokane. I feel so blessed, our airline tickets worked out, our hotel is a split. We will stay at the Hilton at first and then a guest house the last half. The guest house will help translate, cook for us, etc. I am so excited for this new journey to begin!

I started filling out a Compassion sponsorship form today. We picked a little girl from Brazil. What a great program for so cheap. I think giving up latte's is well worth my $30 a month. More to come about our new Brazilian child. :)

Finally, I just read this verse and it reminded me why we are here. Ephesians 5:1-2 "Follow God's example in everything you do, becaue you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to him." This is so true. God loves us to follow Him. It is that simple. He has lead us on this journey and I know He will continue to care for us even at late night feedings, nightmares, temper tantrums, and "I don't want to's".

It is time

It is time to PACK! We leave NEXT WEDNESDAY!!!!!! Our embassy appointment is July 11th and the only flights (so far) are July 5th leave Seattle and fly out of Addis on July 20th! Oh my goodness, we are going to be there a long time!

We are going with 5 other families!

God is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Good!

Waiting

We wait our whole lives for great things. We wait to give birth. Then as a baby we wait for the bottle, the diaper change. As a child we wait for Kindergarten ("big school"), we wait for Junior High, for High School. While in high school we wait for the perfect boy/girl, our driver's license for Joey to ask us to the prom, for graduation, senior skip day, college. In college we wait for our first dorm experience, life without parents, late night studies, finals, and yet again graduation. Then we wait for the phone call to say "you got the job" or "better luck next time". Women wait for the perfect man to marry and have kids with. Men wait for the perfect women. We wait for the ring and the I wills and then the I do. We wait for the two pink lines to say "You're Pregnant".

And so it is with adoption. I waited for George to say "I will". This happened on January 15th, my 30th birthday. Then we waited for the "Your approved! The checks in the mail." This happened on Feb 8th. You wait for the homestudy meeting (February 13th) and the approved study (March 13th). And then on to waiting for UCIS and that oh so wanted 171H form (May 3rd). Or the phone call for the "we have a baby girl for you! she is gorgeus!" (May 1st). Then we waited to hear when the court date was. Our first court date was June 9th. Then waiting and waiting for the "You're Parents!" We didn't initially get that call, we got the "You have another court date - June 14th". So we waited for the "You're parents" again (June 16th). And now we wait for our travel date. This will be the last phone call we truly "wait" for. The next big wait is the day we sit in the hotel lobby and wait for our children to come meet us for the first time.

Our life is full of waits. In the end the only wait that really matters is waiting to get to heaven. All these other trials and waits, are only preparation for our eternal home with our Glorious Father. Pray for us today waiting for this phone call. And pray for our travel.

And so the circle of waits begin and transfer to the waits of our children in Ethiopia and here at home. The waits of school, the bottle, the girlfriend, christmas morning, birthday parties, graduations, weddings, and new children. So it is with the Lord as He too waits with us in each of these steps. He waits with us to say "Lord, I trust you. Come into my heart." or "Lord it is thru you that I am saved." or even "Lord, forgive me. I am a sinful man." Trust the Lord, He is our comforter thru all our waits.

Blind views and my changed thoughts

Who knew that 6 months ago I would be packing to fly half-way around the world to pick up 3 children that are MINE. My heart and thoughts has changed so much over the last months. God has opened up my heart to see the love, the tragedy and the wonders of this world. Most of us reading this live in America - plentiful America. A place where everything comes in sizes - s, m, l, xl, giant size that, biggie size this, twin, full, queen, king, single or double, endless hashbrowns, all you can eat buffets, on and on. Then you travel or see other countries. Italy doesn't have the giant size at McDonalds and they aren't that poor of a country. They don't gorge themselves at every meal or buy everything in bulk. Then you go further into 3rd world countries, Mexico, Ethiopia, Sudan, Cambodia, etc. How do these countries make it?

My mind is such a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts. I grieve for my children's birthcountry. A country so overrun with poverty, corruptness, disease, rituals we can't imagine, famine, etc. But as I look at the pictures of their people, they smile, they hug, they laugh, and they love. The Ethiopians love their children, their culture, their families, their lives. They only eat about once every two days, they carry water miles and miles, they don't have shoes or a closet of clothes, the have scars and burns from accidents and healers, they walk 2 miles to school (if they are lucky), and they watch as their parents die, or their siblings die. Yet, they actually ENJOY life. They do work for their lives, not just sit at a computer like I do. They sweat for food and build muscles to get drinking water (which is also bathing, cleaning, and cooking water) They have PURE courage we could never have in our comfort lives. They have courage I could never muster if I were in their shoes. They endure what we will most of us will ever only see in movies, pictures, books, and quick adoption or missionary journeys.

I watched a movie last night - Beyond Borders (Angelina Jolie). If you can put aside the swearing, the not needed love story, and the sex scene and really look at what is portrayed for 3 countries, you would be shocked - I was. I stayed up 2 hours after the movie was over - numb. How can we not do more for these children? How can I not pick up my cross daily and also carry their burden, too? Although I don't agree with a lot of the lifestyle choices of Angelina, she does have a heart for these countries. If you rent the movie watch her ambassador section on the bonus materials.

I am scared to travel to Ethiopia. How will I really handle this different culture? Will my older teenage kids be immune to it? Or will they be moved to change their perspectives. We all know what teenagers are like here. Very in their moment and in their needs. A 16 year old in Ethiopia is struggling to take care of his younger siblings, wishing to go to school, hurting from hunger pains. American teenagers complain because they get grounded, they can't leave until homework is done, they have homework, they are hungry, etc. And I complain because "there is NOTHING to eat!" How can we be so desensitized to this world?

So, what am I going to do? I feel God is starting the call on my heart, but to what? That I leave to God to tell me as time goes on. Everyday I am more and more amazed at God's power and His love for us. I just can't believe how blessed I am to be here and to have what I have. Even if God took it all away (see Job's story in the Old Testament), I would still have Him to take care of me. He loves us all so much and He doesn't want any of us to not be in relationship with Him. I don't know if we will adopt again, or become missionaries, or sponsor 1, 3, or 10 children from AHOPE, Compassion International, etc. I only know I trust God with my life and where He will lead us on our next journey.

Stayed tuned for my next entry where I discuss in more detail God's hand in my life. I have had a lot of time to reflect on His blessings, His love, His mercy and His care.

Adoption Suggestions

So, I have become and experienced blog reader. You don't even want to know how many blogs I have on my favorites. It is such a great way to get advice, encouragement and support. I was reading through a blog this morning and found these top ten helpful hints to support an adoptive family. What a great way to put it! Adoption is a hard process and somedays you just don't want to deal with it and others all you want to do is talk about it. My advice for anyone who knows someone who is adopted, has adopted or is adopting - support them, listen to them and be just as excited as if they are pregnant. I think people tend to think adoption is different from a pregnancy, it really isn't. I love my children and I feel them growing - in my heart.

Ten Ways To Support An Adoptive Family

1. If you're asked to write a reference letter for the homestudy, do it promptly. It will mean a lot to the family to know their adoption is a high priority for you too.

2. Especially if the wait drags on a long time, don't constantly ask if they've heard any news. Some moms adore giving you the blow by blow during the wait. But many moms find the wait difficult, and get tired of saying, "No, we still don't know when he/she is coming home." Ask instead how the nursery is coming along, or invite her out to lunch.

3. Don't ask the parents to share all the details of their child's past. Unless they choose to share it, assume this is private information for the family alone.

4. Do throw them a baby shower and/or bring baby gifts before the child comes home. Honor the adoptive mom with your faith that this will happen for her.

5.Do arrange with friends to bring meals for a week or two after the new child comes home. An adopted child deserves all the normal new-baby hoopla, after all.

6. Do allow the family a couple weeks to settle in together at home. Wait awhile before planning big welcome parties.

7. Don't expect to hold the new child much at first. Even if you're the grandparent, it's a good idea to let the child get used to mom and dad before branching out to extended family and friends.

8. Do offer to take other children in the family for fun outings now and then. They will enjoy the extra attention in the midst of adjusting to a new sibling.

9. Do offer to run errands for the family in the first weeks after homecoming: take siblings to sports practices, get groceries, or run to the dry cleaners. Anything you can do to free up mom's time will help with bonding in those first weeks.

10. Do notice signs that the child is beginning to bond with his/her new family. A mom will treasure an honest heart-felt comment such as, "Wow, look how your baby looks at you! You can tell he is really starting to fall in love with you!"

It's a hot day out there!

"I don't know Dad, what is that big bad hose gonna do?" Our poor Brutus, he is so afraid of water.












"Ahhh, isn't this the good life." Our Reeses Pieces loves his pool!














This is the extent that Brutis will actually get into the pool. He just stands in it and sticks his big ol' head in the water and actually sucks up the water!













Ahhh, 3 of my favorite boys! This was after a great night of min-golf, laser tag, the dancing game, and yet another photo opportunity. (The boys had already had portraits done on Sunday for Father's Day)

A Special Gift on Father's Day

Here is to our Dad/Husband!

Nick, Malcom, Kevin (left to right)















Malcom, Nick, Kevin (left to right)



So, what better Father's Day present than to say "Congratulations! You are a new dad!" Well that is what my hubby got for his father's day - 3 new kids (and a super soaker, and kid plastic golf set, and silly putty, and wheel of fortune, and studio portraits of his two older sons). We had a great day of church, shopping, mini-golf, laser tag, video games, dinner and more shopping. It really was a great day.

I just can't believe how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband. He loves us all so much and I couldn't imagine life without him. He is so good to the kids we have now and I just know he will love our 3 news just the same.




Ummmm, yeah. Geeks. This was what happened when two boys put me at my wits end and they were forced to sit at the table and do nothing. Well, I forgot to take away the plastic gloves. Thanks Dad for always showing us a way to laugh!






Here are a few of the "hockey sons" of ours. This was from our end of the year hockey bbq. What a great season we had and such great families. We were so blessed with a Godly
bunch of people!

I am a mom!

So, it is finally offical. Yep, I am a mom again. We heard last night from our case worker that our court date was successful. We are hoping to travel in the next few weeks. I am humbled at the opportunity to be a parent to these children. I just can't believe God chose me for the task. I know many say "3 kids? No way!" But as long as God calls me to this life, I have to be obedient and follow. He has given me strength when I didn't think I could go on and ge will continue to help me along the way.

I received an email from a friend who is in Ethiopia right now. She is humbled by their way of life. It is shocking how they live and how little they have. Some people only get one meal a day if they are lucky while others go days without. These children don't know to eat and they have to be trained to eat to keep healthy. Please pray for all the children and families in our children's birth country. I feel so blessed to go to this country and experience this journey with those that I love.

I leave you with our children.


Here is Giovanni. He is about 3 1/2 years old. I think he is going to be our energetic Nick-like child. What a great smile.










Here is Caleb's referral picture. He is 5 yrs old and the big brother to this Ethiopian siblings. His updated picture didn't want to work! We love to see him smile and he has got the coolest hair!











Finally, our little girl, Sophia. We think she is about 4 months old. We sent her the little dress she has on along with the shirt and socks. Look at those big eyes!

Preparations

Well all, still no news. I am ok with it. Just waiting for that call that says "HI MOM! Court was successful." In the meantime I almost have the nursery ready. I'll try to post pictures soon. I did forget to take pictures of the trashy study before the transformation. I still have the crib and wall hangings. Then we get to tackle the boys room. What a mess! I just don't know what to do with my clothes in the dressers in their. It used to be the guest room with two dressers. Hmmm, stuck on that one.

Brutus, the Great Dane, conquered the exersaucer last night. He sure made the cat sound fear him, or yet maybe it was the other way around. I'll get some pictures to post too.

Only about a month left! I just can't believe it is almost here! Wooohoooo!

A beautiful story

I just finished a book by Corrie ten Boom called "The Hiding Place". It is a a true story about a family who had extreme faith even while being placed in jail and concentration camps during World War 2. To see family so strong in their faith after all they endured and one woman's calling to spread this news to all. I highly suggest you read it. Her faith was a testimony to me to continue through the struggles, praise God for the trials, and accept His blessings always. The Graham ministry has the movie online for free at http://www.billygraham.org/WWP_Movies.asp It is such an inspiring story.

A new day...

Well, we heard about court. We have another court date! I was a little disappointed, but it wasn't all bad news. They weren't aware of a form they had to fill out since our soon-to-be daughter comes from a different orphanage. Our new court date is Wednesday. So keep those prayers up! We'll be travelling in God's time and soon enough!

So keep your eyes posted for pictures hopefully by friday!

Are you my mother?

Have any of you read that book? Are you my Mother? It was one of my favorites as a child and I already own our own to read to my own young children. That is a good question right now. Am I their mother? Is it legal? The children know, Dagne knows, God knows and soon we will know. I have kept myself busy this weekend visiting with other Ethiopian adoptive families. It is so wonderful to hear other families' stories. I am amazed more and more at God's blessings and where I am compared to a year ago, 6 months ago, and even a week ago. I have grown so much during this process. I have seen miracles in my life and others. I have seen God's mercy on me and I have been able to give mercy to others. I love the Lord so much and I know he loves me completely without conditions. We live in such a culture that places conditions on everything. God does not do that to use! Praise Him for that!

I am just so excited to be so much closer to my new children! Hopefully Monday or Tuesday I will be able to post pictures of all of them. It will be soon! Just think, it is the last month before we give birth. It is so hard to sleep because I am so uncomfortable!

"But God is so rich in mercy, andhe loved us so very much." Eph 2:4

Three children in court, a new mom to wait

So, the babies shoud be in court right now. It is 10 am their time in Addis, Ethiopia and 11 pm Washington State time. So much to think about and pray about and be humbled about. I am already a mother - to 3 wonderful boys. I did not give birth to them or raise them from infancy. I got them at 12 yrs old and 14 yrs old and 18 yrs old. But, they are my children in my heart. Stepchildren are a lot like adopted children. They are conceived in the heart. I love all my children and I would die for them all. I pray for them, cry for them, dream for them.

This is the first time I will be a "new" mom for little ones. I am scared, happy, nervous, excited, and mostly humbled. God is so awesome at what He has orchastrated in my life especially right now. I can't believe how quickly this process has been! I could be a mom right now! We started this process in mid-February and we should be back home with our children almost 6 months later. I look at the stresses of this process, dossier (morning sickness), fingerprinting (first ultrasound), referrals (2nd trimester tired, weird cravings, etc), court date (swollen ankles, tears, emotions), embassy date (birthday!). I have never had children naturally. I don't know what morning sickness feels like or being that tires or weird cravings, but I do know that I have had my stomach in knots, no sleep, emotional outbursts (this includes manic behavior), and weird cravings to tide over the stress.

What have I learned through all of this. I am so close with God. He is my Savior and He keeps His promises. When He created this earth He knew which children would be mine. I have learned to be patient with Him. I give it to Him. I have learned to release my burdens and make it hard on God and easy on me. I have fell in love with my husband again knowing we are going to be parents. I have fell in love with my stepchildren again, being reminded they are precious to God just as much as I am. I finally realized God's full love for me. I never fully understood the sacrifices God made for me until know. He is the ultimate Father and a perfect example for me to follow. I have learned to ask for help even when I don't want to. (Yes, I will let you all know shortly what we need done!).

There you have it! My ah-ha thoughts at 11:30 pm as my brain starts to shut down.

Please pray for us and our new children in this important time in our lives. Pray for the Ethiopian staff and judges as they hear our case. Pray for our hearts as we anxiously wait. Pray for travel opportunities on the miraculous side (that is entirely separate entry). Pray for our children's families as they lose a family member. Pray for the children as God prepares them for their journey to America and our house.

I am going to bed now. I just know God will give me rest tonight.

God is COOL!

We have a court date! It is this Friday, June 9th! By Friday night I could be another new mommy! We won't know until Mon or Tues what the outcome is but who cares!

This means we may travel by beginning to Mid-July! Got to start packing!

I am a blessed woman

So, I got the email I had been waiting for all week. Updates from Michelle (my case worker) on how my kids are doing. Sophia: she held for a 1/2 hour and said she was chubby, sweet and smiley. Caleb: she said was wonderful. Giovanni: she got to ride with (for 7 hours) from Soddo (where he is from) to Addis (where the foster orphanage is). She said he was scared and didn't know anyone and didn't say anything for almost all of the ride. But, she said he was brave and well-behaved. I was so excited to read these words! I just know I will get pictures soon!

On another happy note. I had my second baby shower. It just reiterates how blessed I am. We have almost everything we need almost just from gifts! Mom and Grandma absolutely spoiled these kids. I never knew it took so much to get started for a baby!

You all know by now, I try to include what I have learned over the days between posts. Like I said in the title, I am a blessed woman. Here is why:

*Jesus died on the cross for me and ALL my sins.
*My hubby was gone for 4 days and life fell apart without him. He is my special and wonderful blessing. He takes care of me and holds me together.
*My family spoils me and all my children. So do my friends. We have a whole bedroom full of gifts!
*I have a house, a car, a job, warmth, food, health insurance, and so much more.
*God has chosen ME to care for these innocent children of His. He really believes in us and our ability to care and nurture and lead these children in a Godly home. He knows we will raise our children to know who our Savior is and to see His love and protection for them.
*To live in a free country.
*To be alive.
*To have the right to pick up my cross and carry it every day.
*To have the right to say "Jesus is my Savior" out loud to anyone and witness to them.
*I could go on and on, but I have a few more points.

We learned today at church about a new step our church is taking and all the miracles we have gotten over 8 yrs since 2 families started God's calling to start a church - in their backyard. We talked about how the church went from 50 people to 6100 in 8 years and we are projected to be at 9000 next year. We had 500 baptisms last year and our middle school youth group is 400 (we know, we are there every wednesday with these kids :) I was once again reminded of God's power in ANYTHING He believes in. Our pastor shared with us why we have grown so quickly (OK, besides God's ability). Our church loves the unchurched. We love to reach out and see why people are they way they are and find out how to help them. He reminds us to pick up our cross, praise the Lord and preach the gospel to anyone. God will take care of opening their hearts.

He also talked about our recovery program. I have a family of recovering addicts. I have been really good about blaming them and honestly not giving them any credit and giving up on them. Even right now. Our pastor (a recovering addict) tolds us how we are ALL recovering addicts - addicts of sin. So, as christians we are to help pick up an addict and help them see the love of the Lord and the forgiveness they and we all deserve. God loves us all - whether drugs, sex, murder, lies, stealing, cheating, or just plain not believing in Him - He loves us. He loves us more than my father or mother love me, more than I will ever love my husband or children, more than Himself. He sent his only Son to the cross to save us from these sinful addictions. Remind someone struggling each day of this. I know He opened my heart to what I am to work on myself when dealing with my family and friends.

Finally, as our pastor said "Make it hard on God and easy on us." So, I pray for God to take my burdens from me. I pray He takes all the hard times and lets life be a little easy for awhile. He will do this. He already has. He is our Perfector. I can't believe what blessings I have in my life. Most importantly - God's almighty love.

1 Peter 4:8 "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." I need to remind myself of this daily. God loves the sinner and hates the sin, shouldn't I?

I pray the Lord speaks to your and my heart this week. I pray He helps us all see life and others through His eyes, not our own. I am going to try to keep track this week of the "bad" thoughts I have of others and then try to replace it with God's thoughts of that person. Let me know what you see and what you think.

Blessings.