Ethiopia - a Report by Cassidy

As a homeschool family, our children are learning about Africa this year. Our newly turned 11 year old son, wrote this report on Ethiopia. I am very pleased with how he covered so many important points. Please feel free to leave comments, as I am sure Cassidy would love to read them. Thank you!

ETHIOPIA

I’m writing this report about Ethiopia because we are adopting from that country. We have decided to adopt from Ethiopia because GOD led us there. I think that the Ethiopians are beautiful.

Ethiopia is on the continent of Africa. Africa takes up one-fifth of the Earth's land area. That makes it the second largest continent in the world. Lake Victoria, in Africa, is the largest lake in the whole world, and the Nile is the longest river.

Ethiopia is on the Eastern side of Africa. There are a lot of mountains in Ethiopia that are over 6000 ft high. Ethiopia is made up of desert, forest, hills, and mountains and barren land. The capital city is Addis Ababa. There are about 100 languages in Ethiopia, and the official language is Amharic. Ethiopia’s population is 77 million. It is the only country in Africa that has not been colonized. This means that it is the only country that has not been conquered by another country. Canada is ten times the size of Ethiopia, but Ethiopia has double the population as our country. The average lifetime of a Canadian is 79 years, but the average lifetime of an Ethiopian is 39 years old.

Telling time in Ethiopia is done differently than anywhere else in the world. The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months. Each month has 30 days, except one, which has 5 days.

There are eleven churches that were carved from rock. They are from north Ethiopia, in the town of Lalibela, and the churches are named after the town.

Ethiopia was the founder of coffee. They sell the beans to Star Bucks and other companies. When they make coffee to drink they have a Coffee Ceremony. This is how they have the ceremony. First, they light incense, then wash the beans, next roast them. The Ethiopians enjoy the smell of the roasting beans; they use their hands to pull in the smell. After this, they crush the beans, and make the coffee, and they drink it out of small cups.

The main way of life is farming, but the drought is making it hard. Drought is when there is no water. They grow coffee beans, corn, teff, barley, and yams.

In Ethiopia, they grind their grain, called Teff, into flour. They make their flour into injera. Injera is like pancakes. Injera is used for scooping up stews because they don’t have any spoons, forks or knives. They cook their injera on a fire in a dugout. Women make a type of porridge called genfo that is made from honey. Men in Ethiopia make a type of beer called tej; it is also made from honey. In Ethiopia, people don’t eat on tables with legs, but instead, they use tall baskets shaped like hourglasses, with flat tops.

Children in Ethiopia don’t have a lot of toys, but they make do. Ethiopia’s children make their footballs round. Instead of using all the famous material like we do, Ethiopians use plastic bags all crunched up in a ball. Another simple toy that the Ethiopians use is a hoop and stick. Since Ethiopians don’t have hoops they use bike tires instead.

Ethiopia's children go to school barefoot, not like Canadians. There is no electricity in many parts of Ethiopia and the night temperatures can drop to very cool. Ethiopia's temperature is very cold so the people have to huddle close to each other. There are two main kinds of houses Ethiopian’s use. The first one is a round house with walls made of sticks and mud, and the roof is made from grass. The second house is a rectangle row house made from mud. Most houses have dirt floors.

People in Ethiopia are suffering. Million of adults and children are dying from AIDS. When their parents die, the children are often left to fend for themselves. There are about 4,000,000 orphans in Ethiopia. Some are left with relatives, other go to orphanages, and many end up on the streets. There are about 50,000 orphans on the streets of Addis Ababa.

We can stop this tragedy!!! If all people gave a little bit of money and the government gave some, there would be enough money to buy medicine. HIV is like a seed that will grow into AIDS, but this medicine will stop it. If we give and this happens, there won’t be any more deaths, and there won’t be as many children in orphanages.

AHOPE and Antiretroviral Medication

This is a video showing the children from AHOPE children's orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AHOPE is a home for children with HIV. These children are blessed to receive the antiretroviral (ARV) medication that they need to stay healthy! You can see by watching this video how their lives are so full because of the opportunities they now have ahead of them. These were children that once would have been condemned to die, but now with this medication, they can plan for their adulthood and make decisions as to what they want to be when they grow up. Because now they *can* grow up!

The video starts immediately after a short commercial. Don't forget to go to the bottom of my screen to turn off the music before trying to watch the video. The story is about 12 minutes long and very moving. You will see some of these children brought to America to make people aware of the results of giving this life saving drug to the children.

And the Ethiopian Food Goes On and On...

After two days of having the Ethiopian food for dinner, we still have some left!! I found a way to not have it for another way OR throw it out!! I turned it into SOUP!! *grin*

I simply took the leftover lentils, vegetables (including fluid), and meat dish and put it all into a nice big soup pan. I then added two cans of tomato soup and one can of beef broth. I heated it up and voila - a wonderful beef and vegetable soup! And we all loved it!! Ethiopian Soup!! *smile*

As for the fall out from those Ethiopian dinners - my newly turned 3 year old son does not know whether to eat with his hands or his fork anymore! So most meals he looks at me as he stuffs his meatballs or chunks of chicken breast into his mouth! I think he feels he shouldn't be doing it, but HEY! Mum *insisted* I use my hands for those other two nights, so maybe I can get away with it now! *grin*

Berbere Recipe

1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cardamon
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground fennel seeds
2 tlbs salt
1 tlbs pepper
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp cinamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 cup cayanne pepper
1 1/2 cup paprika

Mix all together.

Going Private? - Update

UPDATE: If you are wanting to be added to my private list IF I go private (still sitting on the fence) then you MUST give me your email or I can't invite you. Some have already asked but not sent their email. I don't want to lose readers that want to stay. My email can be found under My Profile.

I have been thinking and debating about this post for a couple days. The adoption world is reeling this week after an adoptive family lost their precious twins referral!

This happened because they had posted their children's personal information, including photos on their blog. This family, as anyone can imagine, was greatly excited and wanted to share their joy with their friends.

They also had a 'donate' button on their blog. In the world of adoption many people step out in faith when they adopt. They go forth knowing they will raise the money, or maybe they are so fortunate to have every penny as they begin. I personally, don't know anyone that started *that* way!

Often times, friends *ask* them to put the button on their site to make donating easier because the friends want to be part of the joy of bringing a child in to a forever family. It doesn't mean the adoptive parents can't 'afford' to adopt. It simply means they are allowing others the opportunity to be part of their adoption process!!

Apparently, this was not something that should have been put on their blog, and tragically, they lost their children because of this! Devastating!

I entered the blog world with quite an open heart and trusted that the rest of the world would be as kind. Maybe I was naive. I like to think that the majority of people are goodhearted and kind. But it only took one person calling in on this family to destroy their dreams! Wow!

Because of this, I am pretty sure we are going private. I LOVE to share my adoption journey and the adventures of our children, so it is going to be a hard decision. If you want to continue to be a reader of our blog, please leave your email in the comment section, so that I can send you an invite. I will be leaving my blog open for a few days as I work through this. You can also email me through the 'profile' section, if you prefer to send your email privately. For those of you who don't know what a private blog is, it is simply that it is not open to the general public. You send me an email and I send you an invite. This gives you access to the link - you sign in once and then you should be fine about continuing to visit. It is actually quite simple.

Blessings to you all!

Justine

The Most Amazing "Coincidences"

A few months ago, I met a new girl at Church. We quickly connected when we found out we were both entering International Adoption. You have to know where we live to know this was not a normal thing. We live in a small town of a few thousand people. Our church has about 200 people(max). I don't know anyone locally that has adopted.

In the last few months we have gotten to know each other and have discovered that we both really value and believe the same things: that Motherhood IS the hghest calling!

In this last month, things have been moving forward for Erin, with regard to her adoption. Namely, she was to make a big decision and asked for opinions and advice from friends. I called her last night and told her what I thought and was interested to see that she felt it was confirmation. She had heard the opinions of two friends who she values greatly and felt that my word just confirmed what they had already told her.

But what has been so radical over this last two days is seeing how God has given me a word that has so encouraged her, or I have been given a word that she already got! It is like God has interwoven our adoptions to cause us to support each other!

For instance: yesterday, before I called and gave her my thoughts on her decision (the one she was asking opinions on) I prayed and asked God if He had a word for Erin, as I didn't know if I could advise her from an objective point of view. I read a devotion and thought it sounded relavent to her situation. I then took my next book and prayed over it before opening it. In my mind's eye, I saw JUNE 8. So I opened to it. Now dates don't come to me. This was a first! There was nothing relavent that I could see on June 8 - or the page beside it. Figuring it had been 'nothing' I let it go.

I then called Erin and talked to her and she told me her decision was made. At this point, I gave Erin the verse I had received that morning that I thought related to her situation. Before I could open my mouth I was stunned. I saw the date on the page of the devotion. JUNE 8. It was like when I went looking for another devotion for her, God gave me the word that he had already given me the word in the first devotion!! That was bizarre! And when she heard the devotion: At every turn in the road one can find something that will rob him of his victory and peace of mind, if he permits it.

It was about the problems she was having in her adoption. She could give in and let the enemy win, or she could stand and fight. She had chosen to stand and fight that very night - before I gave her the confirmation.

Then this morning when we spoke I had another word (this is wierd - I have *never* given words to a friend in the last nine years!!!) that I wanted to share with her: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:8

I had told her that the verse so spoke to me - as being one who felt God's call to 'go' when He called to adopt. She then told me she had received this very word last night in her Bible reading!

This happened 8 or 9 years ago, with a very close friend, who was on a journey that we were on. Our two families were both moving from the city to the country - giving up jobs, homes, secure lifestyles, to make a radical change. People didn't really understand what we were doing.

We had met 2 months before the beginning of those journeys. We held each other up for the next two years as we sold our houses and headed out. We would both receive the identical verse on the same day - more than once. It was like God knew we needed someone else along on these amazing adventures. He wanted us to have someone to share the ups and downs and faith journeys with, and He used His word to encourage us.

Tonight, when we spoke again, as she has now got an amazing situation in her lap of a possible four child adoption, I asked her if she wanted me to see if there was a devotion that spoke to her. Sounds weird. But if you had seen what I have seen, with regard to getting 'leading' verses, over the last three weeks (and in previous journeys) you would understand why I thought it could happen. She is in a place right now where she has not got any meaty devotionals and she is looking for guidance on these major choices. God has so blessed me with amazing words from these books.

She said she would pray and I then opened one of my devotionals. It was called "After Obedience - What?" - as soon as I opened my mouth and told her the title she was floored. It confirmed for her that when she and her husband chose to *stay* here in our province versus take the possible easy route (last nights decision), and let God work out her adoption here, that they did the right thing. They were obedient. The devotion then continued to speak to her about How are you handling the NOW - not the end. Not the dream. How are you while you are on the journey? That is what God wants to see. His end is your now! Meaning: If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God.

She is in a very exciting place right now where anyone would /could get very caught up in the emotions of it. It is thrilling to see how God has allowed the two of us to walk each other through our adoptions. Who better to understand and encourage another Christian adoptive family than one that is going through the same process!!

At the end of our chat we discovered that after all the hoops and social workers she has been through to get to where she is now, she is now going to be working with our very own social worker! The social worker that lives 2 1/2 hours away from us!!!! What *I* see this as meaning is when the social worker talks to her about 'support' teams and people and friends, Erin will be able to mention us and that can hopefully help because our social worker (her worker) gave us rave reviews! And given the enormity of the situation (4 kids into a new family) and their young ages it will help to have friends who are supportive.

I LOVE how God has brought the two of us together to walk through this adoption holding each other up. It is so encouraging when you can share a 'word' that *you* like and then find out it truly 'feeds' the other persons situation / spirit at that particular time!! This is truly a gift to each of us!

Ethiopian Dinner Update and Recipes

Well, last nights dinner was a success. Since I hadn't done these recipes before, I had no idea how much it would make! Suffice it to say, we had it for dinner again tonight! Plus, I *still* have leftovers!! I did have to make more injera this time, though!

I was asked for the recipes, so I will post them down below.

First though, I thought it would be fun to see the change in how we did, from last nights first encounter!

This time I decided to make tiny little injeras for the little boys. This way they were not overwhelmed with their great big plateful of food! They loved it!

We had a little giggle when I told my 14 year old, "This time I'll give you more forks." Meaning, more injera, so he could eat his dinner. Last night, we all ran out of injera (forks) and had to eat the plates before we should have! *grin*

Little Servings For Little Boys

It took a little while (and the offer of icecream) for the two littlest to get their hands mucky. You teach your little ones not to eat with their fingers, and then you go ahead and insist that they use them when they eat Ethiopian food. It will take a bit of time, but they are getting it!

I Can Do This!

Briton became a pro at it. But by the end of the meal it was "Mummy - yucky!" When his hands got too mucky!

Clean My Hands!

Lentil Dish

1 1/2 cups red lentils, soaked for 30 minutes

1 large onion

3 Tbsp tomato paste

3 tsp minced garlic

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp berbere spice

3 cups water

I fried the onion until it was well done. Then I added the onion, tomato paste, garlic, pepper, berbere spice and water to a pan. I brought it to a boil and then I added the presoaked lentils (after I drained them).

I then brought them back to a boil, and after that I turned them down and let them simmer a long time until they were done and the water was all absorbed.

Vegetable Dish

1 small cabbage, chopped

5 medium sized potatoes, chopped fine

4 large carrots, sliced

1 medium onion, sliced

2 cans chicken stock

1 cup water

1 tsp berbere spice

Fry the onion til golden, then add the chopped vegetables, chicken stock, water, and berbere spice. Then I bring it to a boil and then turn down to simmer, until it is as I like it.

Meat Dish

2 lb chopped stewing meat

1 onion, chopped

butter

3 tsp garlic, minced

red wine, however much you feel

1/2 tsp berbere spice (to taste)

water, lots of it

cardomon

fengreek

bishops weed

Brown the meat in a pan. When it is browned, put it aside and then fry the onions in the pan. Then add the garlic, berbere and other spices, red wine and butter to the onions. Put the meat back in and top over with water. Let simmer for hours. When I did this I kept having to add more water and as I did this I woudl break the meat up as it became tender.

Injera

3 1/2 cups white flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp yeast

3 1/2 cups warm water

Okay, so I know this is not the 'real' injera, but since I don't regularly buy Teff flour, this is the variation I have. I put all the ingredients in a large bowl, whisked it very well, covered it with saran wrap and left it for a number of hours.

When it was time to make the injera I put about 4 cups of the (now) stretchy dough into the blender and added about 1/2 cup of water. I blenderized it til it was nice and runny.

I heated a non-stick fryingpan to a nice temperature (just hot enough to cook it quite quickly, but not fast enough to burn). I poured some of the batter into the frying pan, quickly swirling it around to make the 'pancake' very thin. I let it sit on the heat for about a minute. I did not turn it over and it was done when the bubbles all appeared all over the top.

I then put it on a plate. When the next one was done I put a clean cloth between the layers and added another injera to the stack. And on and on until I had made them all. I also made little ones for the little boys.

Our Ethiopian Dinner Experiment

I figured it was time to try experimenting with Ethiopian food! Many years ago, I found a recipe for Injera in a cookbook. I had no ties with Ethiopia at the time but was interested in trying different recipes. So we did. I had no idea that one day we would be eating it as a regular part of our diet!

I had a few other recipes I also wanted to try and they included Doro Wat, a vegetable dish -whose name I do not know, and the spice Berbere.

I began with making the spice. There were twelve spices that I needed to put in the mixture. I even had a chance to use the pestle and mortar, which is a tool that Ethiopian women will use. I needed to use this since my fennel was in seed form and I needed to grind it to powder. Once all these spices are mixed together this is a common spice to add to many Ethiopian dishes.

Berbere Spice

This is a bowl of my new spice! It is a mixture of cardemon, coriander, fennel spice, cloves, paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper, nutmeg, allspice, nutmeg (and two more I have forgotten).

After I made the spice, I began making the vegetable dish. It was made with cabbage, onion, carrots, potatoes, garlic, berbere, and chicken broth. Once it was made I couldn't resist having a bowl of it for lunch (though it was for dinner). It was delicious!

Below is the doro wat! It was delicious!!! It is made with stewing beef, onions, berbere, red wine, a few other spices, and then it just simmered for about four hours!

Following this I made a lentil recipe and it was another tasty one. It was not a favourite at dinner time, but they will learn to enjoy it. *smile* We have to acquire new tastes!

The last recipe I made was the injera. These were easy to make and since I didn't have the traditional Ethiopian grain, Teff, I had to make do with whole wheat and white flour. They did turn out very well, though!

Injera

When I brought the food to the table the children were enchanted with the idea of eating with their fingers.

He "Started" With A Gusto...

With Ethiopian food, you serve the injera as a 'plate'. The other dishes are served onto the injera and then some additional injera is served in rolled pieces on the side. These rolled pieces are used in place of forks and spoons. I quickly realized that I had not made enough injera!! Soon we were all using our fingers to finish the rest of our meal without much injera to scoop up the toppings!

Getting Rather Messy

One boy's response to running out of his rolls of injera? "I've eaten all my forks." He was told to start eating his plate! *smile*

When Ray ran out of injera he went and got himself a roll. When he arrived back in the dining room he said in surfer boy speech, "Dude. African hot dog." *grin*

Ray's African Hot Dog

Later .... Not Impressed

It's going to take a little time getting the young ones accustomed to the new flavours and eating with their fingers! The big boys did well and enjoyed the challenge. Believe me the comments were flying!!

I'm Not Messing Up MY Hands

Overall, I was very impressed. It didn't take me too long to make the recipes, they tasted quite good. Actually, they are very good, but we have to get used to certain things like lentils! I will be making other recipes, so that when the girls come home we won't look like totally alien to them! *smile*

Adoption Changes Everyone

It is interesting how adoption can change things. Our oldest son is getting top marks in his Aviation class in school, is a Royal Canadian Cadet, and wants to be a pilot in the Canadian Air Force.

Actually, those were his plans when he began Aviation in September. But then as our adoption, Africa, and the awareness of the needs of children around the world came to his attention, he realized that his focus was changing.

He recently told me that he wants to do something with the orphans in Africa. He read a story of the Kolfe Boy's Home, in Africa and it really touched his heart. This home is about 30 years old and not maintained by the government. (Many, if not most, orphanages are not maintained by the government - most people don't seem to realize this fact.)

This is a home of 180 boys from 12-18. The more we read about these "Forgotten Boys", through this blog's article, the more we were all in awe of the amazing, inspiring, loving, respectful young men living in this home.

Their home is totally derelict, like an old prison camp, with broken windows, holes in blankets, 1" mattresses, medieval kitchen, no chairs in their diningroom, rocks all over their football field, but yet these boys have the most outstanding 'up' attitude. They look at their home with great pride and what they do have is neat and tidy and organized! These boys want an education. They study 5-6 days a week and have great aspirations for what they want to become: doctors, teachers, carpenters, electricians - they study hard and they study in English!!

Thankfully, a wonderful family was so touched by what they saw that they came back from getting their children in Ethiopia, determined to do something for the Forgotten Boys of Kolfe. Through friends, a benefit concert, and caring people who have believed in what they are doing, they have raised about $50,000 for the Boy's Home!! This home, as well as needing all of the things I have already mentioned, needs their septic system and plumbing restored.

Can you see what ONE PERSON can do?!! One heart was touched - and that one heart reached out to others to help her. Those others reached back and now these 180 amazing young men will have their lives changed. These boys who were content with the little they had, because they knew there was no possibility of life changing for them! Won't they be surprised! I will post photos when I can.

We were so amazed at what we read about these boys. My son, who is 16, was so touched by these boys. I know from talking to him that the thing that so inspired him was these boys attitude! To quote him:

"I think it would amazing to give these wonderful boys a decent home to live in while they are young, hoping for adoption. The ones that are older than 16 (which are unadoptable) can have a home until they are ready to move out and get settled with their own family. There 4 million orphans in Ethiopia and only so many will be adopted. I want to give a home to these sort of boys because they are pretty much forgotten. People want to adopt babies and little girls, and after the age of 5, a child's chances of being adopted drop hugely.

I am afraid that since these kids are mostly not going to be adopted that they will be given the shaft and be out on the streets again.

I want to do the same sort of thing (as the family that raised the money to fix Kolfe Boy's Home), but instead, build a house for another 180 boys. I know the number could be bigger or less but God has really put something on my heart for this."

His concern was that these boys, at the ages of 12-16, were unlikely to be adopted. Therefore, this place that they live, is most likely their home until they are adults. When he saw the love these boys felt for each other, the pride they showed for what little they had, and their aspirations for a good future, he was moved to thinking that these boys have the important stuff already - they have a solid foundation. Now what they need is a good, clean, comfortable, well-maintained home where they can thrive until they become men.

When he was a small boy of two, I said he would do great things for God one day. There was something special about this child. He just seemed to 'get God'. His heart of compassion was/is huge. When he was five years old, he saved money to buy socks for the homeless. He has now seen a need that he can do something about.

Ever since he was a little boy, he has been 'a man in a little boy's body'. He just had amazing work ethics, enjoyment of men's work, and capabilities beyond his years. For the last number of years, he has had the opportunity to work side by side with his dad building houses. Because of this, at the age of 16, he is nearly capable of building a house all by himself. But he has decided that he does not want to be a framer/contractor for a livelyhood, even though he has had numerous job offers from other contractors who have seen him work.

But now he has been inspired to do something else with his abilities. He is contemplating the logistics and possibilities of going to Africa and building another "Boys Home" for other Forgotten Boys. We don't know what this will entail or when he could do this. Obviously if this was to happen there is a good chance it would end up being a family endeavor. We do know that he will be going to Africa with us when we get the children, and at that time we will look into the logistics of what this could mean to him in years to come.

He is probably going to continue with getting his private pilot's license and maybe even enter the Air Force, but for now he is looking at the Air Force as something he doesn't think he would want because it would cause him to be away from his family so much of the time.

We don't know if anything will come of this, but knowing my son, the boy who makes goals and attacks them with determination, it is quite possible he will do something about this new dream of his.

It is interesting how this adoption can change a whole family's outlook for the future!!

Finding My Daughter's Roots - Melissa Fay Greene

Published January 13, 2008

With thousands of foreign adoptions taking place in the U.S. each year, many parents want to give their children a connection to their pasts. Writer Melissa Fay Greene recently took her daughter Helen, 10, to visit her native Ethiopia.

It's been five years since my daughter left an orphanage in Addis Ababa and joined our family in Atlanta. Today Helen is a top soccer player, a flutist and the student president of her school. She has gained much, but much is in danger of being lost: her fluency in Amharic, her Ethiopian manners, her sense of her own history and culture.

As we pack for our 10-day trip to Ethiopia, I realize that I have no idea what my daughter is expecting to find there.

“I want to do lots of shopping!” Helen says.

“Addis Ababa is not exactly a shopping mecca,” I warn. “There’s no Target.” I want to ask if she remembers the orphanage or the beggars who line the streets. “I’m packing my iPod!” Helen calls.

Arriving at the airport in Ethiopia’s capital a few days later, we descend by creaky rental van into the city, where cars compete for right-of-way with herds of livestock. Unemployed, sick and handicapped people limp or lie on the sidewalks and median strips. Homeless children dash alongside the heavy traffic.

“This scares me,” Helen murmurs. “I don’t feel like I came from here.” Suddenly, a tall boy leans close to the window and moans in English, “Stomach zero.”

“Give! Mommy, give!” Helen cries.

She ransacks her backpack and finds a bag of bite-size Milky Ways. At the next stoplight, she serves a gold-wrapped candy to another barefoot boy who approaches. He examines it, smiles and requests another “for brother.” The van begins to accelerate. “He needs a candy for his brother!” Helen yells. “Please stop! Let me out!” But there is no stopping. My daughter falls against me, weeping.

UNICEF estimates that 4.6 million Ethiopian children have lost one or both parents, many to HIV/AIDS. Tens of thousands of street children forage in the capital; hundreds more live underground in sewers and tunnels. Some find shelter at orphanages like the one we visit on Helen’s first day back in Ethiopia.

When we arrive, the orphan girls surround Helen. They want to examine her watch and purse, peer through her camera and try her headphones. Then they all sit down for a chat despite Helen’s protests that she can’t really understand what the girls are saying. She does discern that they all need shoes: pink Crocs just like hers. With my permission, she leads an expedition beyond the orphanage gates to a kiosk, where she purchases 30 pairs of fake Crocs for 11 birr (about $1.50) each.

Over the course of our visit, Helen falls in love. Each morning, 3-year-old Binyam runs to her, squats and makes a fierce smile. She lifts and carries him for hours.

“We have to adopt him,” Helen whispers one day as he naps. “He needs me.”

“I know, sweetheart,” I say, “but we can’t. Maybe when you’re a grown-up, you’ll come back to Ethiopia to adopt.”

She shakes her head. Tears start to roll. “Binyam will be too old then.”

In happier moments, Helen soaks up Ethiopia. She understands more Amharic every day. She claps at dance performances and races up the field in soccer games at the orphanage. She sits at attention beside the van window, holding birr in one hand, candy in the other. If beggars don’t approach the car when we stop, Helen taps on the glass to catch their attention.

Before our trip, Helen’s dreams of adult life included Olympic competition, a modeling career and the practice of medicine. Now she says, “I’m coming back when I’m older to build a beautiful shelter for the beggars, with teachers and doctors and pretty bedrooms.”

Helen did enjoy shopping in Addis Ababa, but not for herself. When she looks to the future, it’s with thoughts of how she will make life better for others. And when she sobs inconsolably on our last day, it is for the orphanage girls and for Binyam—sweet children with histories like her own, but with futures that look far less promising.

Sara Groves, I Saw What I Saw

And *I* Can't Forget It. It has forever changed my soul.

An Interesting Detour

I have had such a dry spell this last few weeks, with nothing to write about. There has been nothing happening on the adoption front and I just wasn't getting any encouraging 'words' or anything that I felt led to post about. I don't just write for the sake of it; when I write it is because something gets me excited and I just can't keep it in. I have to share it because it is so amazing. Sometimes, it is just me having a hard time and then something encourages me, or maybe it is something I read that leads me forward on the path I am already on. So, since I have not had anything inspire me on our 'girls' adoption this last few weeks, I haven't written.

Now, that is not to say I have not been journaling. I have been writing up a ton. On my Word document. I just haven't been posting it. I have debated long and hard as to whether I should write an entry about what has been transpiring in my heart/home this last few weeks.

Finally, tonight, I talked to Ray about it and he said I should write my blog. Who knows where my thoughts/ observations will lead. Perhaps they will simply be a pleasant detour that leads directly back to our daughters, but perhaps there is more in store for our family. As I said to Ray, I want to share what is happening, so that if something changes in our adoption, you will all see the hand of God and know from where this came! To God be the glory!

So off I go. And all of you who know us: don't panic!! *laugh* I am simply going to paste my journal here so that you can read it through from the beginning.

But first, let me show you how God does the most AMAZING and AWE-INSPIRING works in our lives when we are least expecting it!!!! A friend of mine, Tammy, was given the most incredible news this week. God has blessed them with an adoption miracle!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 4, 2008

I woke up this morning, thinking about Morgan. Who is Morgan? Let me go back and tell you the story. I think I am caught up again in another Godwind – you know, like a ‘whirlwind’. But these are more exciting than ‘whirlwinds’ cause you know you are going to end up in a wonderful place that you might not have gone, if you hadn’t trusted God with all you are and have.

I have to do this in stages cause that is how is all came together.

On January 3rd, at about 2:00 am I was awoken. Actually, I was suddenly aware that I was tossing and turning in my bed and had probably been doing so for a while. When that happens I know there is no falling back to sleep unless I get up. So I did. As I walked out of our bedroom I immediately prayed as I closed the door, “Lord, who do you want me to pray for?” Whenever I am awoken, I think to see if anyone crosses my mind. It usually doesn’t happen that way though. I usually end up going downstairs and reading my devotions and my Bible. Often times, I get a devotion or verse that really speaks to me. As I was telling my husband this story yesterday, it suddenly occurred to me why this happens. It is likely because God knows the best way to get my attention is to wake me in the middle of the night; the rest of the time there are so many people and so much action that my mind is not quiet!!!

But, this time, as I was leaving my room, a name passed through my mind. “Ada”. As I went and sat down I thought to myself, “Who do I know named Ada?” A few days earlier, I was reading a book about a crime that took place in a town called, Ada. But that didn’t seem likely, as I had only read a few pages of the book. Then I recalled that there was a little girl being adopted from Haiti and her name was Ada. Again, her adoptive family are not personal friends or ones I have any contact with. Therefore, that didn’t seem likely, either.

I carried on downstairs to the couch, turned on the low livingroom wall lights and curled up on the couch with my devotionals and Bible. I picked up my three favourites and opened to January 2 or 3rd. I hadn’t the foggiest what day it was! I have been on Christmas mental break now since December 26th and who knew what day it was!!! My eyes were so bleary eyed but I could make out the words.

My first devotional said, “For with God, nothing is impossible.” Matthew 17:20

Your days are filled with happiness, thrilling excitement, and youthful enthusiasm if you will learn to think possibilities. Most unhappiness and despair comes from problem thinking. When you focus on problems, you are defeated. But, when your attention is on the possibilities that accompany any problem, you’re on the road to success! How do you handle possibilities? Begin by deciding upon some big beautiful dream that seems impossible….

Because you are not aware what was crossing my mind as I read this, you will not be aware of the significance. I will try to keep this making sense as I go. I just don’t want to tell the punch line, until I have put the story in order.

Therefore, I read this devotion as being there is a little seed planted in my heart. I will backtrack soon and show you how this seed was planted, but first I need to tell this story in the order it was revealed to me. I see this as a little seed planted, but at times the thought of following through on this seed is too big and just too inconvenient, so why bother? Thus, this verse rebukes those thoughts! The little seed is the impossibility…

My second devotion read: We ought not to rest content in the mists of the valley when the summit of Tabor awaits us. How pure are the dews of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the fare of the dwellers aloft, whose windows look into the New Jerusalem.

Not many of us are living at our best. We linger in the lowlands because we are afraid to climb the mountains. The steepness and ruggedness dismay us, and so we stay in the misty valleys and do not learn the mystery of the hills. We do not know what we lose in our self-indulgence, what glory awaits us if only we had courage for the mountain climb, what blessing we should find if only we would move to the uplands of God. J.R.M.

Now in the devotion I read that here I am in the beautiful valley: we have two little girls out there waiting for us to be matched to them. We know not where or who they are, yet, God does. He knows at exactly what time they will be referred to us. Now, to look up at the looming mountain ahead of us would be to open our mind to new possibilities. Why bother? We are content here in our valley; we are set, all is well. However, are we aware of the blessings that might await us if we are to attempt to climb that mountain? As many know, the mountain signifies something hard – work – maybe something that seems impossible.

After reading this and seeing a link to the previous devotion, I went on to read my third devotional book. Again, this devotion was not a random one; it was January 2 or 3, as that was the date we were at. So if God *does* have a message for me, the message came when He wanted me to get it.

“Will you go out without knowing? He went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 9:8

One of the difficulties in Christian work is this question – “What do you expect to do?” You do not know what you are going to do; the only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually revise your attitude towards God and see if it is a going out of everything, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in perpetual wonder – you do not know what God is going to do next. Each morning you wake it is to be a “going out,” building in confidence on God. “Take no thought for your life, nor yet for your body” – take no thought for the things for which you did take thought before you “went out.”

How you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you not go out in surrender to Him until you are not surprised an atom at anything He does?

You have to learn to go out of convictions, out of creeds, out of experiences, until so far as your faith is concerned, there is nothing between yourself and God.

Years ago, when we made the move up here we left a good career, a nice home, friends and family – we headed into the unknown just because things were lining up and we knew it was what was supposed to happen.

Circumstances had happened and we had made a decision to move to the country – as we looked back we were able to see a trail leading to where we were standing. Suddenly we realized that we had ‘gone out’. We had stepped out and were no longer in control. God was orchestrating our lives, and we were just walking through doors, or climbing through windows as they appeared. It was an exhilarating experience.

People think the ultimate is being in control and planning their future and executing those plans. They have *no idea*!!! The ultimate is when God is in control and you allow Him to lead you where He wants – cause He only wants the best for you!!! Ultimately, you will get the ride of your life.

I can see that this little seed that is planted in my head is a ‘going out’ experience. I am able to look back from this night of reading devotions and see the ‘coincidence trail’ leading up to this very night. There is something bigger going on. Soon, I will go back to the beginning and add the rest of the story.

After reading these three devotions, I am seeing the correlation between the three of them: Believe the impossible; Go out and allow God to work; Get out of the beautiful valley because at the top of the mountain there is amazing beauty.

These all connected with my little seed, so now I needed something straight from God’s word. I picked up my Bible and asked God to direct me. “If you are leading me, please give me a word.” I opened to the story of Asa. “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 14:2

Beside this story, there was a devotion about Good and Right, based on the chapter. An important part that spoke to me was:

In later days, when people reminisce about your life, what will they remember? Will they remember a woman who did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord despite the cost? Will they remember a woman who continued to do God’s work until her last days? As long as you draw breath, your mark on this world is still being made. It doesn’t become indelible until after you’re gone. There is still time to be remembered as someone who sought God and did her best to do what was “good and right”.

If my little seed comes to full blossom, no matter what the cost to me (or those in my life), no matter the ‘impossibilities’ that seem to be around the idea, then I will know that I (we) did what was good and right.

Do you notice the name of the man? Asa. Hmmm.. Did I ‘hear’ Ada or Asa earlier as I asked who to pray for? I don’t know. Mighty suspicious, though!

The next morning, a mere 5 hours later, when I woke up again, I read my devotions. Today’s devotion:

“Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” John 4:50

Why ye pray, believe.” Mark 11:24

After reading this I knew I needed *more*. Oh, me of little faith!!! I opened my Bible and it fell open to:

1 Kings 3:11 – the story of King Solomon and the two ladies with the baby boy they were fighting over.

I read the story through and though, “Hhmm… not sure.” So I read the next chapter. Well, this one was full of geneology. It was all about Solomon’s chief officials names:

Azariah son of Zadok – the priest
Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha – secretaries
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud – recorder;
Benaiah son of Jehoiada – commander in chief; ….

And on it went – through a long list of sons.

Okay, so now I will let the cat out of the bag. If you haven’t already figured it out yet, it seems that God *might be* leading us to being open to adopting a little boy, as well as the girls. He would be the brother of the girls.

Let me take you back to where I can, in hindsight, “see” where it all began.

When my parents were over on Christmas, we had a conversation and I told them about a dream I had that morning. I will cut and paste the dream here from my blog:

At one point, I was telling of a dream I had had on Christmas morning. It was kind of interesting because I don't usually remember dreams, but this one I remembered vividly. In the dream I got a call from our agency asking, 'Am I right in thinking that the reason you don't take three children is because of logistics, like the seating in your van?'

(Strange question since we are already over the number of seats with just two children!)

I responded (probably with a little hesitation and thinking), "Pretty much, but I will have to ask my husband."

To which the caseworker replied, "Oh, this is getting exciting!" I was getting the message that she was just the mediator and there was some information that was coming to her from Ethiopia and our reply (whether it be a yeah or nay) could alter the course of our history. It was something she said that I can't remember how to say.

Therefore, I go to Ray to ask him what his thoughts are.

Now at this moment, as I am telling my story I had everyone's attention, cause they all wanted to know what Ray would say!! *laugh* Ray is the most calm person and a way I have always used to describe him is the following analogy I shared with them all, "Ray's reaction was funny cause he is usually the most unshakeable person. I could tell him I was pregnant with sextuplets and he would just say, "Well, we better buy a bigger stroller."

To this comment, you can imagine the laughter and the comments from the guys as to what Ray might have said/done instead. *grin*

They bust a gut when they found out Ray's reaction.

"As I told him what the caseworker had said, Ray kind seemed to physically look like he was wobbling. He went all queasy looking and turned a sort of creamy/light green colour. *grin*"

And that was the end of my dream.

So at this point my brother said, "Well, then I guess you know the answer then." (Meaning -Ray was clearly a No.)

To which I then explained. "I am very happy with having two. Actually three is more than I am hoping for. I feel complete with two... But then, when recently two families received referrals of 3 kids - one got a 2,3,4 year old and the other got 2 - 4 year olds and a 1 year old baby, I thought to myself: "Oh!!!! How wonderful!!! I wish that were me!!!!" And I now think that if the girls had a brother it would be awesome - a real connection for our boys! All I know is I just love raising my kids and having lots of little ones is great!

The order of events:

1) I see myself excited about others getting three kids and ‘kind of’ wish it were me.
2) I have a dream that we are asked about taking three kids.
3) I start to ‘think’ about the possibility of talking to Ray about this.
4) I am awoken and given a ton of words that lead me to feel God is directing us to a son.
5) The next day I am given a devotion and Bible verses referring to a son.

Now we are almost up to speed.

In hindsight, I noticed something. Maybe nothing. Maybe something. On December 31, I rearranged my furniture. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. But after this all came to light I suddenly realized something. If I had had this ‘extra boy’ thought before I had rearranged the bedrooms, I would probably have thought we had no ‘comfortable’ room to add a son. You see, we had four boys planned to be in that end bedroom (12 x 20) and Dane had never had a roommate and I just wasn’t planning on giving him one.

But then I did a room move and put Cassidy in Dane’s room and I can look back at the last week and see that it was the best thing I could have done!!! They are so enjoying being together. Dane says it is like being in college *grin*. And now we will only have three in the end bedroom – one vacant bed!!! Hmm..

Yesterday morning, I called a friend and asked her her opinion. Should I pray and see if God moves Ray or should I talk to Ray and tell him what is crossing my mind? Her advice was to talk to Ray otherwise he wouldn’t know what I was thinking. She also felt that I was absolutely right and that adding one more child, especially a son, would make no difference in my schoolroom, bedroom layouts, clothing and toy issues! We have six sons – we have it all! And God has certainly *always* met our financial needs. It seems whenever we add a child, God increases our income! *smile*

During the day, I was doing my typical form of praying – as I walk around working I am ‘chatting’ with God. I said, “God if we are going to adopt a son, you are going to have to give me his name.”

You see, whenever we have been pregnant in the past we could not settle on a name until the 11th hour!! But, when it came to adopting the girls, I got the name for our oldest daughter within days of our decision. The middle name came first and the first name came shortly after. Ray was in agreement with both. That is also rare for us!!! This was before we had decided to have two girls.

When the thoughts of a second daughter started to cross my mind, again I said to God, “If we are going to adopt a second girl you will have to give us a name. Then I will know it is for real.” Again, within days the name came to me. The second name came to me from reading “There Is No Me Without You. The two names are beautiful, poetic, symbolic and sound so good together. I know they were ordained names.

Therefore, I fully trust God to give us the next name also.

So, that night when Ray came home from work I sat down and told him everything. I read him the verses and devotions. Most importantly, I let him know that whatever he felt peace at was where we were to go. God would either tell him ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I felt that we were in the middle of that devotion of “Will you go out without knowing? He went out, not knowing where he went.” Hebrews 9:8

Imagine standing on a 12” x 12” piece of garden tile in the middle of space. All around you the world is spinning but you are stationary. The spinning is what is happening in your life. You are aware that the action was happening already before you arrived and then ‘pooff’ – you appeared on the tile, like in a magic trick. Now you are on the piece of tile, and as you turn your head, you see all the things that have been playing out around you for the last 2 weeks, and you can see that something big is going on. You are now part of this play!

That is what it feels like when you become aware that God has been working in your life and you are made aware of it ‘after the fact’!!

Continually revise your attitude towards God and see if it is a going out of everything, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in perpetual wonder – you do not know what God is going to do next. Each morning you wake it is to be a “going out,” building in confidence on God.

Ray listened to all I had to say and then said he would think on it. That is what he is like. He will ponder quietly for a while and then he will come to me. He is not a big talker.

Shortly after, I was checking out the tv guide to see if my favourite show was on that night. I don’t often check the guide, as I don’t watch a lot of tv. I have favourite few shows and I know when they are on. As I was flicking through the guide, I came across a show called, “Their Brothers’ Keeper: Orphaned by Aids” I read the information on the show and it was about children in Africa who are raising their brothers and sisters, due to their parents dying from Aids.

I went to Ray and said, “Guess what tv show is on tonight?” His reply, “My three sons?” *laugh* Mr. Funny! He knew what I was leading towards. What chance was there of a show about Aids, Africa, orphans, children raising brothers and sisters on the very night that I discussed adopting a third child – a brother?

We watched the show and it was heartbreaking. Aids has created a new kind of family. It has even been coined a new name: Sibling Families – because of the number of children who are raising their brothers and sisters. They ‘become orphans while their parents are dying’ and then when they die they immediately become parents themselves. These children do not even have time to grieve.

As we watched the two families, there was one little guy that really struck me. Ray would chuckle as he would see this little one, about age 3, sitting on the front porch of his little hut. He would be sitting with his brothers, but he was falling asleep. His big brother (12) and sister (14) were at work and their little brothers were watching him. They were only 9 and 6. They obviously didn’t know to put him to bed for sleep or perhaps it was the hunger that made him drowsy.

Another point, when the big brother and sister were away, the nine year old was sitting with his brothers, all huddled in their blankets. He was telling them a bedtime story. This was something that their big brother did every night, but this time he wasn’t there. It was dark and scary outside, but they were taking care of each other. The little boy told told his story as much like his big brother as he could. It was very cute as they laughed at his funny story. As the camera turned to the littlest guy, he was again falling asleep as he sat in the group listening to the story! He was adorable, just falling asleep sitting up.

His name was Morgan. He stole my heart. As I watched him, I thought that again that name came up. Nearly nine years ago, as I gave birth to Austin, I had wanted to name him Morgan, but Ray had decided he preferred Austin. I have always loved the name Morgan. Once when I was watching a Morgan Freeman movie, I remember thinking: Morgan – nice strong guy’s name. Morgan Freeman is a black man. Kind of coincidental perhaps that the name I love happens to be the name of two black people.

I feel it is the name we will use if we end up adopting a son. We shall see what Ray says. *smile*

This morning I emailed our social worker and asked her her thoughts on us adding one more. I told her the reasons for it and her response was simply:

“I think you all would be ok with three and your rational is sound.” The rational are the reasons I gave her for wanting to add a son. So that was positive. A thumbs up from the social worker. Now I am waiting to see what Kidslink has to say about three child families – are there many. What are our chances?

Obviously, all this is irrelevant if Ray is not interested – but I am the one that does the legwork for things. So I might as well do the research before approaching Ray.

I tell you, when I woke up this morning, I immediately began thinking about “Morgan”. It was the same anticipating, exciting feeling I had when we began the girls’ adoption. What does God have in store for us? Or have I heard wrong? Now I wait for Ray and see what he says and that will show me.

January 6, 2008

I called the Intercountry worker at our BC agency today. She listened to my reasons for thinking about doing a change and she agreed they made sense. She said it sounded like we (I) had put a lot of thought into it. She then listened to me when I asked her if we could still get a referral for the two girls, while they were doing the paperwork to switch us to a group of two girls and a boy OR two girls. She was confused at first. Then when she realized what I was saying, she was so impressed! She said most people look at it from the point of view of: We are switching – end of discussion. I had told her that while we were waiting for our paperwork, perhaps God would show us that He wanted the girls for us and not the girls and brother, so He would send the girls while we were waiting for the referral request to be changed.

So, she was like: “You mean leaving it to God to decide if it was girls or girls and boy. WOW!! I like that!! I really like that!!”

I think we scored some adoption points because of that. I guess most people don’t go with God leading? Or maybe they are not open and saying it. Our agency is Christian.

I have updated Ray on all the info I have gathered and now I wait…. Rather (im)patiently, but I did get a devotion the other night about not just going with a ‘feeling’ – go with leading. So I wait… (But it is hard when you feel that it feels *right*!) *smile*

January 7, 2007 – in the morning

Well, it seems Ray has given me his answer. Last night when we were going to bed I asked him when the jury would be in. *grin* He said that he looked at two cheques on the dining room table today and they both had 8's in them. *smile* When he was coming home from work the other day he said as he was driving he saw an 80 sign. LOL! I told him maybe he needed to get into God's word or pray to get an answer. Well, he had said "Give me a sign" when he was driving and that was when he saw the 80 sign. My friend told him that 8 is not 80, and that 9 is less work than 80!!! *laugh*

I have a feeling he is apprehensive of the amount. He said he thinks it would be too much work bringing in three. He also said he always wanted an even number. That was right before we went to sleep. He knows I am trusting him for this answer. Usually I will bug him for an answer. If I don't bug him it will say volumes.

But I would love to say to him that he never went for an even number. *smile* We were stopped at four - but we decided on 5. Six wasn’t our decision. Seven was his choice - Even number 8 was initiated by me (as easier to bring in two girls rather than one to a foreign white household). *grin* So then when he said that, I joked, "Well then, make it ten." LOL!! He laughed out loud. I said, "Remember my Job's Daughter verse? Three daughters and seven sons." *laugh*

So I am leaving it. But I am waiting to see what my email from Levina says and I will pass that on to Ray, but it is essential that he do what he is comfortable with.

January 7, 08

Today, I opened the calendar that Ray bought me for Christmas. He bought a calendar with a little black girl in it; the rest appeared to be white (from the back of the calendar). Actually, when I opened it today, for January, it had a little boy who looked like a little biracial boy. Very sweet. *Grin* I asked each of the kids if he was black or white. I got mixed answers. When Ray came home I pointed out my new calendar – I didn’t have to say anything - just pointed out that I had hung it. He looked over at it and then immediately turned to me and grinned. Like he saw it was a little black boy – it shows you where his mind is!! He may be a guy but he is obviously in tune to my thinking right now!! So you never know where it might go.

We joked around after that. I noticed the level the element was on the stove and said, “Oh look! It says eight! Must be eight.” And then I noticed the clock, “That says eight too!! Got to be a sign!” We were laughing out loud. Then Ray noticed the clock had a nine and we were just cracking up. The older kids had no idea what we were going on about!! They get a kick out of how Ray and I bug each other.

January 8, 2008 - 12:45 am

God got me up again! That, or I just have a bad habit of being woken in the middle of the night lately!!!!! I went downstairs and got out my devotionals - figuring this would be a great time to get some bible reading in since everyone was asleep! I grabbed all my devotionals and as I read through the books, I noticed that the last one I had pulled out (by accident) was The Power of a Praying Parent. After I read through all my devotionals I saw it lying there and for a moment I thought, "Hmmm.. Was that an accident or was I supposed to read that tonight?" Me and my ever analytical mind. It fell open to the section about Releasing My Child Into God's Hands. As I looked down, I read a section and it said, "... Hannah, who prayed to God for a son. The Lord answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel. Afterward she said, "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.... 1st Samuel 1:27

Then this morning I got an email from my blog. My friend, Tammy, had a dream that I got a referral for three kids. The ages were wrong, but it was three kids, including a son!

January 10, 2008

Tonight, when Ray came home from work I shared with him the most miraculous story in my adoption world. A story of God personally orchestrating a sudden adoption for a friend. When it can be shared, I will send a link. It is truly the most awe-inspiring tear-jerking story!

As we were talking, we began talking about the little boy on our calendar. Ray said, “Is he really black?” as he turned the pages to compare with the other black and whites photos. It was clearly obvious this child was not white.

As he ate his dinner we talked about the boy and I told him there was another little ‘thing’ that happened that I discounted. I said it was probably so very small that it was nothing – just a coincidence. But perhaps not, so I might as well share it with him. The night before, he and I had been reading someone’s blog. We don’t read blogs together, usually. I was trying to find a video of the Gotcha Day to show him. Through the course of my reading, I came across a link to a blog and I followed it. On the right hand side of this blog there were a list of other blogs. Right before my eyes, among all the neat and clever names of blogs, there was one plain name. Morgan. I noticed this and thought – how neat! So I clicked on it – quickly saw it was a blog of some lady’s adoption and left again. At this point, I had not told Ray my thoughts of this name being something I liked for a boy, as I was not pressuring him about adding a child to our adoption. I was simply noticing things myself.

So tonight, I was telling Ray and it probably *was* no big deal – but what if it was another ‘link’ in my story?

As we are talking I decided to tell Ray about the little boy in the documentary and I say, “I already know the little boy’s name (the brother *grin*). Morgan.” I reminded him how we had considered that name for Austin and put it aside in favour of Austin. I tell him how over the years all the names that we have liked at one point for one of our children – all the girls names that never got used *smile* - no longer appeal to me. However, Morgan has stuck through all these children and all these years.

I am about to say something and Ray says the *very same thing*, and we say over top of each other - “Morgan Freeman” And we burst out laughing. I pointed out that months ago, I had seen Morgan Freeman in a movie and it crossed my mind that Morgan *was* a strong man’s name. I have no idea why it crossed my mind at that time! Ray smiles and with a full French accent says, “Morgan Lafreniere.”

Now, we were just chatting. There is no seriousness as we were talking because we both know that Ray is at a point where he thinks we are done . I am *totally* at peace with that. But, me, being the analytical one, always have my eyes open to what God might be doing. And I *have* been right in the past. So I continue to notice the little signs. Maybe they are nothing, but if they do turn out to be something, I will have documented the journey!

After Ray took the boys to cadets, drama rehearsal and cubs tonight I read my devotions. This is what I got:

Beloved, whenever you are doubtful as to your course, submit your judgement absolutely to the Spirit of God, and ask Him to shut against you every door but the right one.

In the meanwhile, continue along the path which you have been already treading. Abide in the calling in which you are called, unless you are clearly told to do something else.

And this is what I (we) do. We continue to wait for our girls’ referral! And it has now begun to get exciting as we have passed the 1 month mark and anytime the phone rings and it says ‘blocked call’ or ‘private caller’ there is a moment of trepidation as I answer the phone – will it be the agency?

But my other bible reading led me to these two passages – might be coincidence – but I still write them down – cause who really knows? Nehemiah 11:7 – the complete page was on who was who’s son – son after son after son.

The next reading was:

Mark 9:36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

As I said before, this might simply be a detour and soon our girls will be referred to us and this will have been nothing more than a sojourn into the realms of possibilities...

One Down...

Today marks one month of waiting for our referral for our little girls. We hope that it is sooner rather than later!! But truly, the last month has flown by, with two birthdays and Christmas and plenty of friends and company to visit!

Casting Crowns - Who am I