God's Grace

In our flurry of trying to get everything ready for our trip I do not want to lose hold of what God has done and what He will continue to do for us. He has redeemed us and shown us what a true adopted family looks like and provided us with the most amazing calling of rescuing and adopting children. We have had our ups and downs in this journey, but not once have I felt forsaken by God. I pray our children will see that same model in us. That our love for them is unconditional and that they can trust that. In doing so that they will have an easier time understanding that God exist and loves them even more than we do.

We are preparing to meet our son and praying that God has supernaturally connected our hearts. We are so blessed to have this calling placed on our lives. There is no greater joy than seeing Micah and soon Isaac come to know the Lord. Jesus' greatest commandment is "go and make disciples...", well God has called me to be a stay at home mom with the responsibility of discipling two unbelievers that will by the grace of God be a part of His adopted family in His perfect timing.

5 1/2 more days til we leave, 4 1/2 suitcases packed, & so much more to get done.

It is all coming together...

A place to rest our heads for 13 days...CHECK! We are staying at the New Flower Guest House. We are thrilled to have gotten a room there. Check it out as a cheaper option for lodging. Or check out Miranda's blog, she has written about it.
WOW! This was an ordeal, but we had some fantastic help (; Flights were all full on the day we were to leave and no flight the day before or day after, so we are staying 2 additional days. It all worked out. Praise God!

Also, we told by Natalie that there will be no other families there while we are there...so sad! I guess that means added attention for us (:

Well we have suitcases to continue to pack and a frazzled brain that is going to get some more things accomplished...first things first, help my son build a train track.

Signing off!

Travel plans oh my...

Well the infamous dates we have been waiting for were given to us today.... we leave in roughly 

2 weeks! 

I don't even know where to begin.  I have been bugging my dear friend Miranda all day for the ins and outs of flights and am begging for some Q&A time soon, very soon. I am so excited.  I still don't know anyone out there who might be going with us(that is traveling at the same time).  If any of you blog stalkers know who might have had court soon or is leaving in two weeks I want to know.  We must become quick friends.  Yea!  I need to go make a few more list.... 

Be Mine...be my little baby!

Isaac Sentayehu ATWOOD,
that's right, he is NOW officially an Atwood. Praise God!

Happy Valentine's little man.

Sillyness abounds...

My two boys. They were having fun tonight making funny faces at the computer. It was one of those moments when I just stepped back and watched and relished in the fact that I am so blessed to have a husband that is 100% devoted to his family. We are his top priority. Even when as I type I am contaminating his computer with all my yucky sick germs.

We got an update on Isaac today. They say they he is the youngest amongst all the children in the foster home of only 18 children(can you believe how few there are), so he gets A LOT of attention. They continue to warn us that he does not warm to adult strangers quickly. They tell us this in every update, I think they are trying to prepare us for the possibility that he will cry a lot in our first meeting. BUT, I know that God will knit our hearts together and he will feel his mothers and fathers love. Oh how I long to hold him.

We have court on Thurs. We are praying that all goes well and we pass through with flying colors.

we shall perservere

" Consider it pure joy my bretheren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1:2-3

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will recieve the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

We did not make it through court today!

We have been postponed until Feb. 14th.

However, my prayers over the past few days have been that God would prepare my heart to rejoice no matter what happens. For I know that no matter what comes my way I have been given the power to overcome and perservere. As a believer I am called to persereve for it is the evidence of my faith. My reaction the the news this morning was hard. When I called my husband and heard his voice, I began crying and I was not able to speak, but I knew I had to pull it together. Micah was right there and I knew that I had to explain this to him and help him to understand it would be another week and half longer, but most importantly I had to show him that his mommy trust Jesus and that I believe that he will bring his baby brother home no matter how long we have to wait. So I pulled myself up with a prayer and we moved on. I praised God for His absolute providence. We will bring Isaac home, when God himself ordains it.

Okay, Okay...

I know you people are sick of my sad blue face, frankly so am I.  I have been tagged twice, Carrie & Emily, and now I know why, you desire for a new post, right?  Well, to leave no one out I am going to combine your two TAG request, brace yourself, your about to know me a little better...

6 things I am passionate about:

• Jesus
• Trevor, the husband
• Micah, the oldest son
• Isaac, the youngest not yet home from Ethiopia son
• adoption
• college kids (yeah I know, they are not kids, but hey thats what I call um)

6 things I would love to do before I die:

• go to culinary school
• own a quaint little bakery/coffee shop in a historic old town 
• live anywhere in the NE (well probably not anywhere)
• adopt at least twice more
• own an old house and have the time and money to fix it up myself
• plant a church in an urban city

6 things I say often: (remember I am home ALL day long with a four year old)

• Sweet Mercy!
• Stop whining.
• Hang on.
• I love you too.
• Yes Micah, I'm listening.
• No more TV, No more computer, now go to your room and pretend, use your imagination(yes, I really say that about 20x's a day).

6 shows I watch:

• Lost
• Amazing Race
• Survivor
• American Idol
• Brother's & Sister's
• October Road

6 movies I can watch over and over:

• Walk To Remember
• Sweet Home Alabama
• Pretty Woman
• The Notebook
• Top Gun
• My Best Friends Wedding

6 places I have been:(that are interesting)

• Moscow & Chuvashia Russia
• China & Hong Kong
• Cozumel, Mexico
  
• NYC
• Key West
• Appalachian Mountians (yes, that was very interesting and very sad)

Well, now you know me better and your don't have to look at my sad face anymore.

Please be praying on Sunday night(Monday in Ethiopia) that court goes smoothly and we make it through...NO WHAMMIES (that's for you old school game show watchers)!