And presenting ....

...... Nafkot. The newest memeber of our family. Added on May 24, 2007. I love our Lord!

I hope to travel with my mommy and a close friend mid-July.

Thank you all for your prayers!

3rd time is a charm, right?

So, in just about 8 hours we will have our 3rd court date. I thought it would be smooth sailing until tonight, yet tomorrow morning we got a call from our caseworker. It went something like this:

Is Sandra there?
This is she.
This is >>>> from AAI. I have some news for you.
OK. (at this point I thought either Nafkot died, was withdrawn from adoption, or we passed court)
The grandmother has decided to put Nafkot's brother up for adoption.
OK
We want to know if you would be interseted.

So the conversation continued as my heart beat faster and faster. After many phone calls, emails, prayer, and talks, it was decided we would not adopt him. It turns out that the Grandmother doesn't want them to be split up and since we are not going to adopt him, she will keep him and we will just sponsor him.

So, a crazy 36 hours I must say. I really hope court passes tonight. I am tired of waiting and so ready to go get her! I tentatively have tickets booked for July 18th.

So, please pray for us that this time it happens. I want a full nights sleep for once! :)

Blessings,
Sandra

Our friends the Qualls

Qualls family of 10

The Qualls girls

Mommy and Daddy and Kalkidan

A grand reunion for mommy!
Love.....simple.
Precious. E holding K's hand.
A bond.

1st sight of their girl!

1 more week ...

"The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17


"But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I trust in God's unfailing love, forever and ever. I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will wait for your mercies in the presence of your people." Psalm 52:8-9

We heard from our casework today. We have another NEW court date of May 24th. This time, the judge is requiring us to sponsor Nafkot's brother before he/she approves the adoption. The head of our agency is going to Ethiopia the end of May and hopes to resolve this issue before it affects other families. I am sad because I have to wait yet another week to find out if she is our daughter. Yet, I know in my heart she is. This adoption stuff is so hard on a person. I stayed up till 1 am last night and then woke around 5:30 am. It has been a midnight or later week! I would love to run away with my hubby for one night to sleep and reconnect, but life drags you back. But, soon all my children will be grown and gone and I will be sleeping TOO much! :)

So, prayer warriors, get your prayers ready again next week. Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. We need protection so desperately right now. I will be fasting this week and I challenge you all to. I have not decided yet what that will be, but I will let you know. (My hubby would love the computer!)

Here are some random pictures to cheer you up!


Did I ever mention we were TP'd? Nick's tennis team got us one night while we were all awake, inside and we have dogs! They also got all four cars. It was hilarious! Teenagers....











Grandpa and Little One 2 (I am Little One - the original)












She cracks me up! She loves to lick glass - especially at the hockey rink where it is cold (I know you think, gross, but seriously, have you been to Ethiopia to see what it is like in the bathrooms?)










She is too funny!













My mom actually went into the big tube thing and went down the circular vinyl enclosed slide. Did I tell you my mom ROCKS! She also went off the high dive diving board when I was a kid. She is afraid of heights!

As she sleeps

As she sleeps, I sit here dreaming of the day she comes home. As she sleeps, the world spins around her. As she sleeps she is unaware of the impact she has on this world. As she sleeps, I pray.

While Malcom is soon to load a plane bound for Germany (check my last post), I sit here working, the kids are cleaning up toys, my friends join in prayer, my soon-to-be daughter sleeps, God prepares us for this journey we are about to embark on. So many people ask if we can love biological and adoptive kids the same. Absolutely! I love this girl even though I have only met her once. She is ours.

So, please pray for our daughter, Nafkot. Pray for a positive outcome on the court proceedings to be held on May 17th (or May 16th stateside).

As I sleep, I may become a mom to 7.

A piece of my heart....

A piece of my heart left yesterday. My first adopted son is now about 8 hours away from Germany. He starts the beginning of his Air Force career. I never knew it would be that hard to say goodbye. To not hear his footsteps crash down the stairs, or him wrestling with the boys, or our talks. I miss him. He took a piece of my heart. I am so proud of him and who he has become. I remember years ago when asked by Kevin if he could move in, NO WAY! I could barely handle the other two boys. Malcom was my first adopted child. He is definitely a blessing from God and he prepared our hearts for the ministry of our adoption.

How does one describe Malcom? Here is my list:

Unselfish, smart, funny, good-looking, brave, gentle, patient, caring, loving, nurturing, intense, peaceful, sensitive, strong, my son, calm, reliable, kind, wonderful, a one-of-a-kind, trustworth, honest, integrity, and so many more.

We love him so much, and although we are so proud and happy for him, we are sad to see him go.

Take care Malcom until you return!

Kevin and Malcom at the airport.

Malcom and his friend Natasha.

Malcom in the airport parking lot.

Malcom and his good friend Kevin, posing!

Malcom and his two little brothers. They are so sad he is gone!

Malcom and Nick - goofballs

Malcom leaving through security.

We had lunch at an awesome Greek restaurant (garlic galore - 36 hours later I can still taste the garlic) yesterday before Malcom left. Here is the "group". We were missing our Kevin. :(

World AIDS Orphan Day

How can one describe the devastation one disease can do to a world. I have seen it, I have feared it. Today is World AIDS orphan day. Please remember those children who have lost their parents to this devastating disease. When you scroll through old posts, realize my boys are victims of AIDS. Know that our soon-to-be new doctor is a victim. Visit this website: http://www.worldorphansday.org/en/ to learn more about the effects it has. There is always something you can do to help these children. Support hospitals, orphanages, health organizations. Get involved!

There are so many misconceptions about HIV and AIDS. Visit this site to learn more about the disease http://brehane.blogspot.com/. She works with HIV everyday and is a great source of information.

Jeus loves all of us. The sick, the healthy, the adults, the children. HIV and AIDS is not something to look down upon, but to look to see what we can do. Jesus loves the weak and the faithful. "As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests."* And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God!" He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you." Luke 17:14-19

Who are we to judge people for who they are? Jesus spent time with tax collectors, lepers, woman, prostitutes, why shouldn't we.

How can I ever explain what I saw in the HIV orphanages, in the streets, in the country side. Read Melissa Fay Greene's book "There is no me without you". It is a great reference for what we try to ignore.

Please pray for these orphans and their parents today. Remember they are suffering and need our love and support.

A day in the life of me

So, here it is finally. The life of a working mom raising 2 young adult stepsons, a friend, a heart adopted airman, and three Ethiopian gems. This is a compilation of a few days. But, overall a typical day. :)


I normally wake up around 6 or 6:30 am. Most mornings Caleb is awake then, too. This morning he got a dollar from the tooth fairy.
















I am supposed to be to work by 7 am. Thankfully this clock is 7 min fast and I am only about 7 min from work.










Aw, there's the morning beast. I go to work early (I am supposed to be there at 6 am, but that never happens). George gets the kids off to school and SOphia to daycare.










Here's our neighborhood. The trees are finally fully leaved (no that is probably not a word) and beautiful! So, all you stalkers out there, you can probably figure where we live, oh well. :)











Here is my desk at my office. I work for a local civil engineering firm. I am a professional engineer and I design residential and commercial developments. (Can you see the moose animal on the shelf? For those of you in for Yellowstone 07, you can own one yourself!)









MMMMM, coffee.













Oh, did I tell you my hubby works with me! We have an awesome boss. He is so flexible with our work schedules! George works typically from 9 am to 7 pm.










At 11:20 am every day I leave to go pick up the boys from Kindergarten. My boss allows me to work from home in the afternoons.











Here's their school.














Here's their class. Time to go home!













Home!













While the boys unload their backpacks and get hands washed, I take our dogs out, Brutus the Great Dane and Reeses our spaz lab/shephard.











Today, I started some laundry. About 2 loads a day keeps the whole family up. Now I am down to 1 because I refuse to do the older boys laundry. I mean, come on, you are 17 and 20 and 19!









Mmmm, what a great lunch for them. Corn dogs, apple and egg. They get corn dogs, chicken strips, PB&J, left overs, etc. Whatever is easiest.












I get a salad with apple slices. :(















Then I check blogs I like to follow.














Check emails from my awesome friends.














Then, finally start back at work.












Around 5 pm, I go pick up Sophia from Daycare. Then I come home, make dinner and clean up while the kids play. Evenings are hit and miss. Mondays George goes to Youth Group, Tues is soccer, Wednesday George normally works late, Thursday is shopping or something and Friday is hanging out. This particular night we were shopping.






Here's Justin. He is Nick's friend who lives with us. He works at the car wash with Nick and all their friends. It is nice because we always get to use the services. Nick doesn't have his license so we get his free washes.










Grocery shopping with the fam.



















Nightly fit time.












Reading with the boys and time to relax.













Fianlly kids in bed, and catching up on tv, laundry, dishes, whatever.











Notice there are no older boys. They are an endangered species and only come out occasionally or in packs.

Well, there you have it. Life is crazy here and I don't know how we will be able to manage a new one, but with God, everything is possible!

Later I hope to post Giovanni's birthday pictures and other random fun ones.

Blessings!