Referral-versary

This past weekend we celebrated referral day. I can't believe it has been a year since we first saw their picture...and 6 months since we held them for the first time!! The Lord has been so gracious to us through each step of the journey. We are loving these days with our boys.

I am telling this story now because at the time I was too sick to want to write this long story :)


A year ago...

We were sitting in Thailand waiting to receive an email/call from our case manager. She had actually emailed us the day before, but because of the time difference and our limited Internet we didn't get her email until she was sleeping. We actually called her when she was sleeping because we were so excited that it might be our referral call . Obviously, we were not thinking too clearly.

During those 12 hours of waiting for it to be morning in America, Chris and I shared a wonderful day of vacation, praying, staring at the ocean and dreaming that in hours we would see our children's faces. That day I had sensed from the Lord that He said this is the day, rejoice! I had been sick for about a month and this night I was feeling pretty horrible. Just a little bit before our case manager would arrive in her office we purchased a card so we could get on the Internet. The Internet cafe was closing but they told us that if we sat close by, it would continue to work. We HOPED this was true. We called our case worker and she said, "this is your REFERRAL"!!!!

As she was telling us about our boys, the call kept getting disconnected-it was just a little frustrating. Finally, we decided to go and call from our hotel room. This was difficult decision because we would be disconnected from email so we would not be able to see their picture that night. After we finishedthe call, we were so full of emotions: excited, overwhelmed and joyful. I wanted to jump for joy and cry but my body just wouldn't allow it :( Of course we hugged and praised Father for His goodness. I was shocked by the feelings of deep sadness and pain as we learned of the circumstances that our boys had already been through in their short lives. It hurt our heart's so badly, but we trusted that the Lord was holding them close and rested in the promise that HE had amazing plans for thier life.

As we sat their disappointed that we couldn't see their faces, the Lord brought to mind that across the street at the other hotel we might be able to get online, so we immediately called. They said they had Internet for 24 hours!! We picked our computer and ran over there and tried to get back on. The only place that we could get the pictures to download was on the restaurant counter. The staff weren't too happy with us. Thinking that if they knew that we were seeing our children for the first time, they would be a little more understanding...we told them the fantastic news. They didn't seem too impressed, maybe it was the language barrier :) Finally the pictures came up and we saw their faces! We couldn't believe how beautiful and sweet they were...we were beyond thrilled.

For years we had longed to know who they were, where they were and then in a moment...their they were. As we went to bed that night praising the Lord and thinking about how faithful He had been...I laid awake practically all night just staring at their faces from the screen saver. These two little one's had already changed our lives!!

Our referral pictures

Ezekiel about 7 months

Nehemiah about 2 weeks old

The boys looking so adorable (in their Ethiopian outfits) exactly one year later

Life never seems to go as planned...but the Father truly directs our step to be even sweeter than we could have planned. We were headed to eat Ethiopian food on Saturday to celebrate but instead we shared an afternoon with some old friends and some new friends, a precious woman and her 4 children from Eritrea (the country to the east of Ethiopia. Up until around 30 years ago, they were one country so their cultures are very similar).

This woman was so generous and hospitable as she performed a coffee ceremony for us and gave us all kinds of treats, including injera! This family has walked through so many trials these past few years but still God's grace was so evident on their lives. My heart was so challenged by her faith and generous nature.

Our baby boys with friends from Eritrea
We finished our referral day by taking the boys to chik-fila (as it was too late to travel to the Ethiopian restaurant). Our boys can put down some chicken strips! As we were eating, we met two families that are in the process of adoption-such a neat treat. After eating the boys enjoyed play area.

I was making breakfast the morning of our referral-anniversary and as I tore off the outside of the turkey, this is what appeared-AFRICA (even with Madagascar to the east) I of course had to take a picture :)


The boys were in their room the other day and we walked in and found them both sitting on their tonka truck. It is such a joy to these parents to see them having a blast playing together.

We were able to go to the Rodeo with our family (thanks to Grampy and Grammy). The boys really seemed to enjoy seeing the Cows and horses.