the post you waited for // the adoption story

You might have heard about our adoption if you've been following my blog for a long time.  I don't write about it often, simply because there hasn't been much to tell until now.  But, now there is something.  And only a few of you know about it.  This girl and this girl were the ones who encouraged me to post this.  So, here it is.  Our adoption story.

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It started in January of 2010.  My little sister announced that "Mom says we're gonna adopt".  On the spur of the moment, my mom had come across a blog - an adoption blog, from Ethiopia.  In other words - this place:

The beginning of the journey was encouraging (and maybe convincing) my dad to agree.  When he did, the real excitement began.  At first, we were going to adopt a baby, then is was two children under four.

If you don't know anything about adoption, there is a lot of paperwork to fill out and compile.  A lot.  And when it came to the adoption, time passed slowly.  Children came along that were waiting for a family, and we looked at their faces, wondering when our children would get home.  We didn't know that at the same time the next year, a huge change of plans would be made.

You also might not have known that I have six siblings.  To some people, that's a lot of kids.  I've gotten used to it now.

Well, this July, a sibling group was placed on the "list".  A sibling group of four beautiful, innocent children.  I came downstairs and their photos had been printed and were laying across the counter.  I looked.  And I sighed.  Because the first thought that came to my head was "Oh no."  Seven plus four equals a lot of children.   And that scared me.

Time went on of course, and everyone in the family warmed up to the idea.  Prayers were said, meetings held.   Until July 21, 2011.  That was the day we accepted the referral for four beautiful Ethiopian orphans.

It's crazy.
I can't show you their picture.
I can't tell you their names.
But I really want to.

Now that we know these children are waiting for us, it's difficult not to just jump on a plane and fly to see them.  They could be here soon; maybe within the year.

All we can do now is wait for more pictures and more updates.  And pray.
The question on all of our minds now is "Will it work?"  Is it possible to go from a family of nine to a family of thirteen over night?  Probably not.  But with God, it is possible.  It is an exciting journey to be on, and it is still continuing.

the adoption blog

Posters

Using my Ethiopia pictures, I created these "posters", as you could call them...

Except the last one, all these pictures were taken during my trip to Ethiopia last November.  I simply thought that these "posters" would be a good way to show you what Ethiopia was like.  I also wanted to put emotion into these photos.  Show what it was like to be there, to experience these things.  Let me know what you think about them!

Also blogged here.

Happy Monday!

I am entering Allie's Happy Monday contest again!  I really enjoy doing them, even if I don't win.  It's so fun to see all the diferent entries, and it really is a good way to introduce you to different blogs.

Here is my "shoe" picture.  I took this in Ethiopia.  These are the shoes the kids wear.  They're somewhat similar to Crocs.  These are the only shoes these kids have.  For some, it's the only pair they will have for many years.  For me, this is the best interpretation of shoes I can find!

Ethiopia: Part 1

For the rest of this week, I am going to do several posts about my trip to Ethiopia November 2010.  I wrote in a journal while I was there, so there will be some of that.  Don't forget pictures, because there are a lot!  I took so many when I was there, and as I go back and look over them, it makes me miss being there.  I can remeber being in the rooms I took pictures of, holding the hand of the little girl who smiles up at me from the computer screen.  I remember living with the team, we grew to be a family.  There are so many memories, which is part of the reason why I want to do these posts.  I hope you enjoy it, and if you would like, head over to my mom's blog, Olive Shoots and Muddy Boots, to learn more about the trip and our adoption.

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November 17, 2010

Today we went to Trees of Glory, a school that is about two hours out of the city.  There were only twenty-four of the one hundred kids enrolled there today.  The reason: The parents of the kids learned that we were coming, and that we were Christians.  Because most of them are pagan, they believe that we are coming to convert their children.  When we first arrived we got a tour around the grounds.  They own about twenty-seven acres, and have thirteen buildins on it.  This place was once used by the Japanese, who were building the roads.  When they left, the buildings were vandalized.  Windows are broken and the only well is filled with rocks.  The men on our team are going to work there almost the entire week.  During the tour, we were taken to a small river, where there were cows and goats grazing.  Farther down, there was a bridge that we had passed on our way in.  On the side of the bridge, just over the railing, was a truck that had tipped over. 

 We prayed over this bridge because the people who live near it believe it is cursed.  They offer sacrifices on it, and throw spices into the water, all because there has been so many crashes there. 

We went into the school after the walk, and saw the kids practicing their English letters.  They were very shy, and did not come up to us like the kids at the other school did, but they were smiling and peeking at us.

We brought balloons, jump ropes, beads, crayons.  These kids had never seen markers or crayons before.  They did not know how to color.  It was humbling and so sad all at once.  I could picture my brothers at home with their bucket of markers, saying that they didn't want those ones, they wanted different ones.  Yet, these kids did not even know what a marker was.  They did not even know what a simple joy it is to color, something we take for granted here.

These kids were actually on our way to the school.  They were shepherding with their grandfather, who made us pay him for passing over his land!  We gave them suckers, and some attention they may not normally have gotten.

Because we are not allowed to eat the food they cook, we ate our own lunches.  In Ethiopia, they have a coffee ceremony.  They roast, grind, and brew the coffee right there in front of you.  They also serve popcorn on the side!

We left Trees of Glory with heavy, but happy, hearts.  We saw hope and joy, but poverty and depression as well.  We were not gone for good.  In just a few days we would return to meet more of the children, and for my family, our sponser child.  To be continued...

On the Adoption of Her Siblings - A Poem

A few months ago, I wrote a poem for school.  My family is adopting from Ethiopia next year.  That's what this poem is about.  It's called "On the Adoption of Her Siblings".  The pictures here are not my siblings, just pictures from my trip to Ethiopia.  (It may sound a little weird.  I had to write it in old English!)
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Thou who has no proof at all

Your slanderings make you seem so small.

How canst thou hold his tiny hand,

Yet never see nor understand?

He was not born of your fine race,
But still you say without any grace
“Why, O why, is this child here?
Why have they taken him with no fear?”

He comes from a place where they are poor,

But this family, for him, has opened the door.
So, please, thou skeptic, turn away,
Or thank God for your every day.
For the time may come when you are lost
And someone might step in to carry your cross