Here is how our journey to Ethiopia began.... My great husband and I have been married for 16 years and have two wonderful children. God has brought us through many good times and some challenging times over the years. About 2 years ago we took a trip to the Philippines and had the priviledge of working in an orphanage for a few days. It really opened our eyes to the many children in the world who don't have forever families of their own. Even with this knowledge it has taken God some time to continue to heal losses, bring contentment, and then open our hearts to love again. So, here we are in the middle of paperwork, longing for another child to love, and living in obedience and faith that God will provide.

It is kinda funny to look back over your life and think how you thought it would go. I am so glad that God intervenes and takes us down different roads. Currently, I feel so out of my league of comfort and yet so excited about fully depending on God. Over the last few months God has challenged us that material things of this world do not bring contentment, but living a life sold out for Christ is where our peace lies. We can't take anything with us when it is our time to meet our Savior, except for the souls of people. Our desire is that all of our children will know God and love Him with all of their hearts.

So where are we now? We just received our completed homestudy. We mailed Jim's birth certificate to Indiana for the 3rd time to get the correct seal on it. :) We are waiting to hear back from the government so we can be fingerprinted. Waiting and working on the endless amounts of paperwork to be done. It feels good knowing that you are making progress in the bringing home of your beloved child. Our goal or desire is that everything can be completed and on its way to Ethiopia by the first of the year. Why Ethiopia? Because there are so many orphans and so many children that truly have no one to love them.

Please pray that God will provide, that He will protect our child and bring him or her home to us quickly. That He will prepare our family for the changes that lie ahead. But most of all that through this story His name will be glorified.