Table of Nations

My posts have a tendency to be feast or famine.  So here goes my second one for the day:
A while ago my sweet friend Amy( Treasures in Jars of Clay) was over and I mentioned my fascination with race.  What I really meant is fascination with physical characteristic differences since I do believe that we are all descendants of Adam then Noah.  She shared a must listen sermon with me by Voddie Baucham.  I wrote it down on my to do list, but just got to it today in part by her recent encouragement on her "Challenged" post.  So, while I was busy stuffing fall party craft bags, I listened to this awesome sermon that really is a MUST LISTEN.  I challenge you to click here Table of Nations and listen.  (By the way, Table of Nations; what's that about?....one race)

Meeting Gabe

This past Saturday, Doria and I headed up to Chicago to meet Gebre (Gabe), the man who along with his wife started the orphanage where our children are.  It was great to actually meet him and hear of all God is doing for the people of Mekelle through him. You can actually see pictures of the orphanage and learn more about his work by going to www.hope4ethiopia.org.

Thanks Sasha for sharing your home.  It was a joy to meet you.  What a neat family you have!!!

Waiting

Waiting !!!  This is where we are right now in our adoption process.  We are waiting to hear of our court date which will determine our first travel dates.  The courts are reopen now and I was hopeful that we would have already heard by now.  Our social worker told me it would take awhile, so be patient.  I'm trying, but it's hard.  I just want to know when.  I can't wait to meet them, hold them and get to know them.  God, pour down your Spirit upon them.  Give them strength, peace and hope.

Surprise Gift from GG

My grandma, Doria's great grandma (GG), surprised us with these beautiful handmade scarves two days ago.  The colors are my favorite!!  Thanks GG!!!  You inspire me!   I hope to be able to bless my grandkids with handmade goodies someday when I am about 90.  I better get learning!  And yes, my girl has me matched in height.  My oldest has me beat!  Where does the time go? 

Night With the Chapmans

 We enjoyed a great evening with dear friends Matt and Courtney listening to and being inspired by the Chapman family.  Steven Curtis Chapman was the first Christian concert I ever saw and I have loved his music ever since.  They have an amazing adoption story that played no small role in encouraging us to pursue the same.  You can find out more about this awesome family at www.showhope.org  

Donaldson Doings

Cross Country

Colts

God Touches Another Heart

One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.


Will be praying for you Matthew West Family...God's a Stirrin'

Rainy Season Coming to an End

The Ethiopian courts are scheduled to re-open September 27th.  Hopefully we will be among the first to receive our first travel date.  Stay tuned.

Sweet 16

Hers

His

Doesn't this say it all?
The differences that can just drive each other crazy!
Sing with me..."Opposites attract..and you know"
I am so thankful that although we do have our differences, on the things that really matter, we are so together!!


Thank you honey for delighting in God's word, His world and the life He has blessed us with.  You are a fabulous husband and father, and I couldn't be more blessed than to have spent the last 16 years as your wife.  Praying we have many , many more!
Happy Anniversary!!!

ADOPTED

On Sunday, August 22 we had the great blessing of witnessing our children's baptism.
Although they each had at different times come to the knowledge of their individual need for Jesus as savior,  the timing worked out that they were all ready to make the public profession of their faith together.  Our church had a special baptism service with great music and the personal touch of reading each participants written testimony as they were being baptized.
So "Adopted"...why the title?  I love the comment by J.I. Packer in Knowing God: "Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption."  We as christians are adopted into the family of God by grace through our faith in Jesus.  None of us are natural-born children of God.  Ephesians 1:3-8.  Romans 8:23 also speaks of the doctrine of adoption.  Adopted for Life by Russell D. Moore shares the beautiful story of adoption: intertwining doctrinal adoption with what we may call "real" adoption.  How cool that God had a plan for adoption all along...Moses, Jesus, us, and the fatherless/orphan.

 D, D and D,
You are so precious
to us!  Daddy and I have prayed for you to make this decision since you were in my womb.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

We Are Paper Pregnant...With Siblings!!!!

Yup, next summer, this pic will have two more precious kids in it...OUR kids, and my are they beautiful!   I can't wait to show their pictures and tell you more about them.  Come on court date(that's when I officially "deliver")and we hope it will be in Oct. or Nov.  We have been praying for these two specifically since April and are THRILLED that we get to be their family.

It is through this wonderful agency that God has connected us with our "soon to be delivered" son and daughter.
We were blessed to be able to meet the Ethiopian team in person on our way through St. Louis several weeks ago.  

Officially Waiting!!!

 We received news yesterday that our dossier cleared D.C. and we are now officially a waiting family!!!  That means we are able to be given a referral now.  There are many waiting families ahead of us, but not many requesting siblings.  I have no idea how long the wait will be, but our prayer continues to be that God would orchestrate all details and that His perfect will, will be done and that His peace would guide us and cover us.   Whoever they are God, protect them and prepare them for us and us for them.

A Week of Mini Graduations

This week was Doria's 5th grade parent breakfast/awards ceremony.  She's off to join her brother in Middle School.  She has a great group of friends and I pray that God draws them to himself in these years.

At church today Devin graduated from Kid City.  He will be joining Doria in Take 56.  Not so sure how excited Doria is about that, but Devin is delighted that he no longer has to wait on us to check him out of class.

Donaldson's Delighting in Done Dossier (yeah, we like D's)

We mailed our completed dossier today.

We celebrated with a dinner at Biaggi's.
Then we braved the storm warning and went to the Fort4TheFatherless (www.fort4thefatherless.org) kick-off event with Stephanie Fast.  Oh my!!!!  I wish everyone I know could have been there to hear her story...a "half-breed" left to die in Korea after the war...and her rescue by the Lord via the hands of his servants...Totally motivating, humbling, inspiring...  Side note:  Coincidentally, Drake had just watched a film in school today about North and South Korea...I love God's timing!
Thank you God for this journey you have put us on, thank you for opening our eyes to your heartbeat...we're diving in.
A couple links to blogs of families who have also recently been moved by God to act:
www.ourunveiledfaces.blogspot.com
www.weloveourlucy.blogspot.com
www.treasuresinjarsofclay.blogspot.com
Enjoy

Fort 4 the Fatherless

I'm so excited about what our community churches are doing for the 147 million + orphans out there...ok, so maybe we in the fort can't touch them all, but even one life loved is worth it!!  The kick off event is this Friday may 21st.  Go to www.fort4thefatherless.org to find out more about the Stephanie Fast event.

lIIiIIIIIiiiiiiiiI