Orphan Sunday

Have you EVER found an interest in adoption? ...even one teensy little question in your mind as to whether you could adopt? Have you ever found yourself wondering how another child could enter into your home? If you've even for a moment ever considered adoption, please do not just walk away from this thought. At least pray about it and ask God if this MAY be His calling for you and your family. It can be scary, but what if this is HIS request of you?

If you have considered this for even a moment or know someone else who has, please take 3 minutes to read this blog http://weloveourlucy.blogspot.com/ and meet a boy who needs a home. If you're not called to adopt, but you know someone who has been, please pass this along. If you haven't been called to adopt and you don't know anyone else who may be either, please at least pray for this boy to find his forever family.

Today is Orphan Sunday. http://www.orphansunday.org/

Adoption Update

Can you believe it? I finally have an update. No, it's not "the news", but it is an update on when we may expect to hear the news, which is great! The adoption referrals have finally started to pick up at our adoption agency, which is so exciting since very few referrals have occurred since we have been on "the list" for the past 3 1/2 months.

As of last week there were approximately ten families ahead of us who were requesting a child in a similar age/gender range as we are requesting. I know that three of those families, who have been waiting for approximately 6-7 months, each received a referral this past week. This means there are approximately seven families ahead of us now. So we're making it our way up the list! I was really hoping we would receive a referral before the end of the year, but after speaking with our Case Manager this week, she estimates that we will likely not receive our referral until after the first of the year. That is OK though. I would rather know it will be longer than I was hoping, than sit around waiting and being disappointed.

I will leave you with some recent photos of the girls I took before our walk the other day.

Isn't this typical sister stuff?

Nice Smiles!!!

Buddy Artists?

Here are some pictures which were colored by our budding artists!

Can you believe this was colored by a two year old? This is NOT a joke. Emma colors every day, and if we would let her, would color ALL day every day. She loves it! Every evening when I get home from work she says, "Mommy, you color with me?" Nice work Emma! You're a pro!

This is a picture she colored at day care today. That might be a better job of staying within the lines than I can do. Although I have been practicing my coloring every day too lately!

This is likely more typical coloring for a two year old -by Abigail. Happy Halloween!

This was colored by Abigail also.

Grandpa Wilson

Today, once again I had the conversation with the girls regarding what baby sister's name should be. Abigail responded first with "Adey" (which is the name of our great friend's daughter whom they recently adopted from Ethiopia). After explaining that we should probably chose a different name, she responded with "Grandpa Wilson". Without missing a beat Emma responded, "We can do THAT!" It was cute. Sorry Dad, the name Grandpa Wilson is for sure not on the list of possible names!

Yesterday we celebrated our 9 month anniversary of us being officially called to adopt, and we completed all our paperwork and have been officially waiting for our referral for just over 3 months. We still don't have any news to share. The Ethiopian courts have reopened after closing for their rainy season, but the referrals are still pretty slow, so we haven't noticed any movement in our placing on "the list".

Will keep you posted.

Nice Reminder

Tonight the girls and I were driving home from my sister's house, as she watched the girls today while I worked and Sean is out of town hunting. We left around 8pm and it had just gotten dark. My sister lives out in the country, so it was extra dark on our drive. We were chatting away when suddenly we heard a huge bang on the van which frightened us all. We didn't see anything, but I was sure someone had thrown a very large rock at the van. The girls asked what the sound was. I told them I didn't know, but that it scared me. Since the windshield wasn't broken, we didn't seem to have any flat tires and the van was still running, we continued on.

A moment later Emma said, "Mommy, Jesus keep us safe." It was the perfect reminder to me! I was so impressed that at two, she knew exactly what to say. I responded telling her, "Yes Emma, Jesus does keep us safe. You're right. 'Thank you Jesus for keeping us safe'."

Not more than a mile later, I caught a glimpse of something in the road and slammed on the brakes ---just avoiding a large deer which scurried to the side of the road just as we were passing. Whew! We missed it fortunately. The girls were pretty excited to see a deer and discussed it the rest of the way home.

When we got into the light later I was able to check the van over, but couldn't find anything wrong with it from the big BANG we had heard earlier. Not sure what that was other than God reminding us that he'll keep us safe. "Thank you Jesus for keeping us safe!"

Still no news...

We have been on the waiting list for two months now, and we still don't have any news -which isn't at all surprising.

So here are some photos to entertain you.

Mommy reading books at bedtime.

Abigail looking SUPER cute while playing in her new sleeping bag.

Emma pointing out her bite wound from her sister. The mark lasted over a day and the bruising lasted several days. Ouch!

Abigail showing off her clown look after she applied multiple layers of her cherry chapstick. Notice her beads as well. She is surely a GIRLIE GIRL!

Yep! You're right. This is a photo of Emma picking her nose. Well, she wasn't really digging, but did have her finger up TO her nose.

Adey! This is the daughter of some of great friends. She came home from Ethiopia in July.

This is AUNTIE and Abigail!

This is AUNTIE and Emma!

Tonight

What was I thinking when I gave them each 2 bites of cookie before bed? .... Silly Mommy!