Home Study complete

Victory!
Our homestudy is complete and we are having it sent on to our partner agency, CHSFS. We are thrilled! It did not come without a few more tears but atleast it is done. We found out today that our previous SW did not turn in valuable paper work to our partner agency a month ago. I was shocked to hear our new SW say, "they do not have this part of your application ..." WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Again, this has revealed just more items that were left very undone before our SW passed away. These were items that we were told had already been done. Our new SW called today with very sincere words of comfort as she completely understood and encouraged me to express my frustration. As we have been trying to tred lightly where our previous SW is concerned due to her untimely demise, we have not really been able to express how all of this uncompleted work and delays have affected us. Our new SW expressed that it is normal to feel frustration and even guilt during this time that we are trying to celebrate her life and continue moving forward doing jobs that she had neglected. She too expressed frustration and guilt and encouraged me to please feel free to express myself, that I would not offend her. She did say that she and her supervisor felt this case was the most important item on their docket and they are doing their best to pick up the pieces and complete it in a timely and yet excellent manner.
I appreciated her grace and words of encouragement. I cannot imagine being in her place and I pray that we continue to grow grace during this process.
As I was walking down my beautiful long driveway to get the mail with tears in my eyes, the Lord reminded me that He is in control and He has a plan. My response, "Yes, Lord." And that is exactly what I needed to hear Him whisper to me. Yes...just trust. So easy to get caught up in the moment and feel like everything you are doing is falling apart or not going 'as planned'...but truly, we are called to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight". In my bible notes, it states that "He will remove the obstacles from your pathway and bring you to your appointed goal". YAY!! Unbenownced to me, there are tons of obstacles he has already removed from this adoption path. I am grateful. I am humbled. I am loved. I am blessed. I am His child and He loves me!So, in other words...Relax! It's all under control!

Baby Steps

The great thing about baby steps is that even though they are small, they are still moving forward! In our case, even though it has seemingly been a few steps back, it has just been baby steps. Due to the circumstances surrounding our social worker and her recent death, our homestudy was on serious delay. However, it has now gone into full gear. Our new social worker has picked up the pieces and found some missing parts. After supplying her with those elements, we are nearing completion of that phase. Today, our homestudy is under review by the supervisor and hopefully in the next few business days, we can get this thing sent off to all the right places.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, our God." Ps 20:7

Room Service Please

My 6 year old daughter woke up early this morning as I was just sitting down for some quiet time in my favorite chair. Now, I need to set this up just a little more. She had already gotten up once, and I encouraged her to go back to bed and sleep in because it was too early to get up. Within a few minutes, she came in and saw my face of shock, both of us knowing that she had now disobeyed. She said, "Mom, I have a question." My slow and controlled response, 'yes, Lacy?"
In her sweet little voice with concern and slight frustration on her face, she said, "Mom, when am I going to get room service?" (me) "WHAT?!!!"
(Lacy) "Well, I never get it! I havent gotten room service in a long time (never) and I want to know when I am going to get it. It's just not fair. Other people get room service all the time and I never get it."
(me) "What are you talking about sweetie? Are you talking about breakfast in bed?!"
(Lacy) "Yes, Mom. I never get that. When am I going to get that, like eggs and toast and stuff when I am in bed? It's just not fair"
(me) "Okay, well kids dont get room service. I dont get it except when it is Mothers day! So, when you grow up, maybe you can get it then! We will continue to eat breakfast like normal, in our wonderful kitchen!"
(Lacy) sigh...
(me) "Now, go back to bed...." and I added a few more words about disobedience.
Am I missing something? Is the new trend to feed your children room service in bed? Hmmmm....I have totally missed the memo on that one!

Bring The Rain: A Letter to My Daughter

Bring The Rain: A Letter to My Daughter

A beautiful story. These past few days of rain have not been anything to the richness of soil that has been growing through the raindrops that have been falling for this family. I have been a sobbing mess trying to describe to Chris what I am reading. I have been barely able to read the pages as my eyes well up with water. Angie's beautiful message of hope and love for their child is so touching. Her trials and lessons learned, her messages from the Lord are so tangible. Read Angie's story. Her husband is one of the talented singers from the group, Selah. Read, learn, love, pray, grow.

Oprah-the truth

This video explains so much. It is so sad...and yet so predictable that the enemy would use and confuse such an influential figure. Yes, one day her eyes will be opened. In the meantime, I pray for all those who believe in her, who believe that she is doing good. What a deception! What an ingenious way of trapping those. They believe that just because she does 'good' that it is in the name of Goodness, the one who created good, the one who gave us life, the one who makes it very clear about the way, the only way to Him. In the end, Oprah will be held accountable for those that are led astray because of her teachings. Wow! The video is amazing.

Tragic Loss of our Social Worker

We are without words. Our social worker passed away a few days ago. Read below.


Kathy Elaine Herrod Robison

On Friday, April 4, 2008, Kathy delivered a healthy boy, John Micah Robison, but sadly lost her life after suffering an amniotic-fluid embolism.

Kathy loved her job and working with families. She believed in the work she did here and was integrally involved in almost every aspect of the work at the agency - writing the newsletters, coordinating volunteers, organizing special events, and overseeing education classes. Kathy was kind-hearted, full of life, and dedicated to her family and friends. All who knew Kathy are mourning this great loss.

Family visitation will be on Monday, April 7, 2008 from 4-8 pm at Woodfin Funeral Home, 1488 Lascassas Pike, Murfreesboro, TN.

The funeral will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at First Baptist Church, 200 E. Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN.

Please keep Kathy's husband, Nathan, new son, Micah, as well as her whole family in your prayers.

Goodnight Moon

Liam has been enjoying story time lately. I have to say that I enjoy it too. His little warm body still against my chest as his tiny fingers hold the edges of the book in anticipation of the next page. By far he has two favorites, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See by Eric Carle and the second which is my favorite as well, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. I have been reading that book for over ten years now. When Evan was born, it became our favorite quickly. We read it so much, that I could recite the whole book without turning a page. But the best part about the book is the intricate drawings. While they seem simple and nondescript, there are slight differences in each page that make you search for the characters. For example, throughout the entire book, the little mouse is moving about the room eating the mush in the bowl, watching the moon rise, etc. Or you might find the kitties playing and then snoozing later in the rocking chair. The moon rises ever so slowly from one page to the next creating this great image of time passing by while this little man says his goodnights to everything in the room. It is by far my favorite kids book and has given me thoughts of an adorable nursery with the same theme. It would be a sweet mural to adorn a nursery...(my artistic side never leaves me). I dont think that book will ever get old..or the preciousness of Liam in my lap or the memories of reading it to Evan and Lacy.

Yahoo Groups

We belong to two great blog groups that have been super informative about the Ethiopian adoption process. If you are in the process and have not joined in, please consider it. They are CAFEKids@yahoogroups.com and EthiopiaAdopt@yahoogroups.com. Both groups have some fabulous attendees that share the best information. Interestingly, the hot topic this week has been over the financial weight of adoptions on families and the choice of whether or not to have a fundraiser of some sorts. The responses have been all across the board ranging from the polite encouragers to the downright firm opposers. I have enjoyed reading the responses and it has caused me to consider perhaps a fundraiser of our own. I have found two on Etsy.com that have caught my attention. I am particularly drawn to the beautiful artwork of JunkPosse who has created these beautiful silver pendants of Africa to help raise support.
From the beginning, Chris and I have planned to send out support letters to our friends and family. This is a great way to share our heart and gather support from all over the states. This support can include emotional, spiritual, and financial elements. All to create a circle of warmth around us as we prepare to bring home our daughter from Ethiopia. We hope to get those out soon. In the meantime, I am praying for some ideas of fundraising if we are called to take that route. I have no doubt that God will provide if we ask.