Sneak Peek

Court Trip, Addis Ababa, Part 2

Anyone that knows us knows that we are not picky eaters at all. This is the traditional meal served in Ethiopia. The spongy sour rolled-up pancake is called injera. They tear off a piece of injera and use it to pick up the food. It was good. The first time we ate it. ;)

These ladies carry 100 lbs. of eucalyptus branches from the top of the mountain, about 10,000 feet, all the way down to the bottom and sell if for 20 birr. About $1.25.

The view from our room. Jon woke up the first morning and just had to take a picture of it. We were officially in Africa.

This is the cup of coffee we had in celebration after court. Lots of coffee in that little cup.

This is the coffee ceremony we had at the guest house. Traditional Ethiopian families have this ceremony 3 times a day.

This is Abel, the family services coordinator, for the Bethany office over there. He is AMAZING! And his brother is in school at UT.

Birtukan and her husband Nesibu. They owned the guest house where we stayed. They are INCREDIBLE people. They own and operate this guest house as well as an orphanage and foster care system for children in Ehtiopia. Their organization is called Yezelalem Minch. They have 1,000 children in their care.

And guess what? You can help. We are. Just $30 a month will give a child food, clothing, and schooling for an entire month. From the money raised at the guest house, 35% goes to helping orphans, 10% to widows, and only 55% operating budget. Amazing, amazing people.

Court Trip, Addis Ababa, Part 1

I can't even begin to tell you what an incredible trip we had. I know it was because we had 57,893 people praying for us while we were gone. Not really, but close. We met our children, did some pretty amazing sight-seeing, met lots of great people, ate some interesting food, went to court, drank lots of coffee, and flew on an airplane for what seemed like 4 days. I think it actually was almost 4 days.

But the boys. Oh the boys! We can't wait to bring them home. One thing we learned, language barrier or not: boys are the same in Knoxville, TN as they are in Ethiopia, Africa. They run, play soccer, do cartwheels, play chase, fight, laugh, color, cry, watch cartoons, stick stickers on their noses, blow bubbles, hug...

Big Z is definitely the leader of the two. He's strong and bold, serious and hilarious. Little Z is his shadow. He's climbing on things way too big for him, running to keep up, and just sweet. Until this point, we've only seen pictures, so when we saw them, we recognized them right away. They were a little smaller than they looked in the pictures. I forget they're only 3 and 4. We had so much playtime with just them. And now they're legally and officially forever ours.

We cannot wait to go back. And I'm not sure if it's because our boys are there or because we just really loved it. I wish we could post more pictures and videos especially of the boys. Soon.

So many sights and experiences made a deep impression. I'll never forget the orphanage. The way it looked, the way it smelled, the sweet ladies that work there. They genuinely love those kids. I'll never forget all the kids that had their faces pressed up to the glass of the windows while we played in the baby room with the boys. I'll always remember Big Z giving his half-eaten sucker to his friend out the window, and the happy dance his friend did after receiving such a treasure. We passed out hundreds of stickers to the kids and watched as they stuck them on their hands, noses, shirts, and ears. We saw them fight over the plastic that the sticker sheet was packaged in and shove it in their pocket just to have something to call their own. They had one TV in the corner of the playroom. Now this playroom was not fully enclosed probably to let in the outside air, but it also doubled as a dining room, school room, and whatever else they needed it for. And the TV was only working because someone stripped and twisted the wires. The kids cheered for coloring time, when they color on already-colored-on coloring sheets with broken crayons and dried-up markers.

They have nothing.

Just like us. Until God adopted us as His children.

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.

Instead, you received God's spirit when he adopted you

as His own children.

Now we call Him, 'Abba, Father.'"

Romans 8:14-15

More to come...

And We're Off

It's amazing how God orchestrates everything. Who would have thought 6 1/2 years ago that we'd be where we are today. We're leaving this afternoon for our court date over in Addis Ababa. The purpose of this trip is to see the boys (without them knowing who we are) and sign the papers saying that we'll love them forever. Pray for us as we see these babies, love on them, and then leave them there until our embassy appointment, which hopefully won't be too long after this court trip. I've got my tissues in my purse for the trip home. Lots of them.

Of course, you can pray for the obvious, like we'll be wrapped in bubble wrap until we make it there safely and that everything will go smoothly. And pray for Jack, even though he's a little excited about us leaving so he can have Nana all to himself. :) But also pray for opportunities to share Jesus with the lost. Not everyone who is adopting is a believer, but it does pave a way for us to share the amazing love of Christ and how He's adopted us.

Excited and nervous all at the same time. It seems like just last week that we were looking at their pictures for the first time. Look at the excitement on that sweet boy's face. :) We can't wait to show him the pictures we take and the stories we'll be able to tell about his new brothers.

Thank you Lord for choosing us.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

Photo of the Day #WHO KNOWS

I stink at photo of the day!

Photo of the Day #35

Jack and his favorite playmate, Travis.

Photo of the Day #34

Mardi Gras King Cake :)

Strong and Courageous

"Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:7-8

The Lord is the One who goes before me and He will be with me. And not just when something big and out-of-the-ordinary is happening, like traveling to the other side of the world to meet your two new children. :) He tells us to be strong and courageous because He is with us ALL the time. It's easy to forget that God is in all the small details of life, not just the major events such as marriage, moving, children, etc. He's called me to live with boldness and courage even on days when my routines become monotonous and my faith is not being stretched. And even when our faith is stretched and our courage is shaken, I pray that we don't forget how we've clung to Him so tightly this past year. That even the remembrance of His faithfulness, promise and purpose will sustain us in the future.

Photo of the Day #33

Today's photo of the day is of my favorite person ever. Wednesday is our lunch date day. Every single week. I love him. :)

Photo of the Day #32

This photo of the day is one of my favorite nieces modeling her new shirt. This is the year of babies in the Tyner family. We're so, so, so excited for them!