February 2009

Closer Still

Submitted by admin on Wed, 02/25/2009 - 8:51pm

We are quite happy to hear that there have been a couple more referrals this week, which means that we're right up there in line. About five couples turned in paperwork the same day we did, which means that there's kind of a tie for first place now. So, keep us and our baby(ies) in your prayers. We still don't know who they are, but are closer to finding out than we ever have been (which sounds exciting to say).

Lessons In Waiting

Submitted by admin on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 6:01pm

Recently I've discovered T.S. Eliot, who speaks of the idea of death and birth and much, much more in his "Four Quartets." The following passage convicted me one evening last week, when I was tempted to throw a temper tantrum and demand a baby from God NOW! Lessons in waiting.

"I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love
For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith
But the faith and love and the hope are all in the waiting.

Birth and Death

Submitted by admin on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 5:58pm

As the time to get our referral comes closer, we are incredibly excited to meet our baby, find out how old they are, and see their picture. Sometimes just the thought of this is enough to make my heart race, my hands shake, and my eyes get teary. But, about that time, my tears turn to sadness rather than joy; Sadness because mixed with our joy of adopting a baby, is a mother's sorrow at giving up her child.

A Walk to Beautiful

Submitted by admin on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 8:58pm

A few weeks ago I watched a documentary titled "A Walk to Beautiful." It tells the stories of a number of Ethiopian women who have fistulas (a hole in the bladder or rectum due to prolonged labor) and their journey to a hospital in Addis where it can be treated.

When I first heard about the documentary, I was somewhat interested, but thought 'Well, there are health problems everywhere. Why should this get special attention? What's the big deal?' So, with that attitude I put it in and was immediately broken.

Blogging

Submitted by admin on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 8:54pm

I must admit my blog entries have been rather pathetic recently and I wanted to give at least some excuse. We no longer have the internet at home, so I can't sit down and post something when inspiration comes. Rather, I just try to hold it in and then post when I have my laptop and internet access in the same place. However, this is usually at the public library, where there are a bit more, um, distractions than at home.

Waiting some more

Submitted by admin on Mon, 02/16/2009 - 7:55pm

Joseph and I are still in our crash course on 'lessons in waiting.' Keep us in your prayers. Our agency is currently giving out referrals to people who turned in paperwork in April 2008. Ours was turned in with about 5 other couples in the first week of May 2008. So, February may or may not be our month for a referral. It just depends on how many babies are born and make it to our agency's orphanage.