We Passed Court!

"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27

God made himself known today. I know he orchestrates and directs our path each and every day. Some days we see his hand and on others, he remains hidden. Today, he did not hold back! His handprints are all over this day. What an incredible day of blessings! Let me share a few details.

Court was held around 10 am. We left unaware of the outcome. On our way to Kid's Care Orphanage, T received the phone call. We passed court. WE PASSED COURT! I am so thankful to God and feel so unworthy of this blessing. Most families receive news 24-28 hours later. 50% of families do not pass the first time. Their court is rescheduled, often a few days to several weeks later.

Tomorrow is my last day to visit with Abenezer before I leave Addis Ababa. It will be a hard good bye. The next step is for the US Embassy to review our case once again. Once we have been cleared, our embassy date is set and we'll travel again. This time we will bring Abenezer home. We expect ot travel in 8-12 weeks.

Giving God the Glory,
Danielle

Update from Ethiopia

It's 9:14 at night in Ethiopia, 8 hours later than Central Time in Texas. I am wrapping up my day and for thanking God for answered prayers.
Here's a snapshot of my day:
4:00 am ish- dogs barking, music playing from some unknown source down the street, found ipod with praise music and my beloved U2
7:30 am- alarm woke me up
9:00 am- leisurely breakfast at the Guest House, switched rooms
10:30 am- National Museum of Ethiopia with our guide, T, and the Johnsons
12:30 pm- lunch at Lucy's, no fossilized remains served, very nice restaurant, ate Doro Wot and injera
2:00 pm- Transition Home, able to give three care packages and take photos for 3 families, spent 2 hours with Ben
4:30 pm- returned to the Guest House
6:00 pm- Chatted with my hubby on Skype
6:45 pm- Dinner at Guest House- delicious chicken & rice in a tomato sauce
8:00 pm- Chatted with both of my boys on Skype- I miss them!
This is the bare bones of the day. And I saw a lot of bones today!! Ethiopia is an archeological gold mine.
The highlights of the day occurred at 4 am and 2 pm. God was speaking to me in my restless hours of the morning. He seems to do that often these days. I was concerned about Ben's reaction yesterday. He cried and wailed when I met him. It is actually a good sign to see his emotion and connection to the nannies, but it was a tough first meeting. I thought about Doug Martine sharing about how his daughter cried and cried when he first held her. She only wanted Cristie. I was wishing that Keith was here to test the other parent theory.
After lots of prayer and new expectations, I was relieved that Ben let me pick him up immediately today. He had just begun his bottle and was content to move outside and rest in my lap. In fact, he just pretended to eat for about 20 minutes. I didn't care. I was so glad that he was settled in to my arms. After snack, we played on the patio with some toys that I brought him, a musical mini "guitar" and a bumblebee on wheels. He tried to share his new toy with another little boy through the window, and I caught a glimpse of his little personality. We walked into the toddler room, sat and played. Later I asked his nannies who was his friend in the room. She looked around, smiled and said, "Everyone." I could see that.
Another treasured moment of the day was giving care packages to some of the kids on behalf of their families. I loved on them, showered them with gifts, took photos, and prayed over them. What could be better?? I know how much it meant to me for the Sullivans to deliver our care package and take photos of our little guy. I hope to bring a few families that much joy. I just wish that I could have brought more!
Please join me in prayer that each meeting with Ben will be better and better. Our court date is Monday, sometime in the morning.
Blessings from Ethiopia,
Danielle

Danielle made is safely to Ethiopia. She hopes to meet our little boy tomorrow. Hopefully she will have better internet access tomorrow and she can send more information. Thank you to all who are praying!
Keith

Airport

Well, I have made it through security which means that I had favor at the scales! Both my checked bags weighed in without removing a thing, an answered prayer. Most of the contents of my bags are donations and care packages including baby wipes, formula, clothes, deodorant & candy. I will be a lot lighter upon my return.
So now I am north bound for Washington Dulles. My flight to Ethiopia leaves tonight at 8:30 and arrives in Addis Ababa at 7 pm on Thursday. It will be 8 hours earlier CT, 11 am. I'll get to meet our baby boy sometime on Friday. I can hardly believe it! It has been a long journey to this point, but God has provided over and over again in ways I didn't even ask for.
I am blessed to have an incredible husband, mother-in-law, and dear friends to watch Joshua while I'm gone.
I'll post again from Dulles when I've gathered my thoughts.

Danielle

Court Date Set

It's high time that I shared our news about court. We have an official court date on May 31st, Memorial Day in the U.S. Please join us in prayer that God will move a mountain named MOWA. This is the Mothers of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia. They are responsible to review our file and submit a letter of approval to the Ethiopian judge for our family to adopt. 50% of families do not pass court the first time. Often families are missing the letter from MOWA due to a lack of electricity, etc. Sometimes the electricity shortage is the sole reason for the court delay. New court dates are rescheduled 1-6 weeks after the original date. Please cover us in prayer. We are ready to bring our baby boy home. After we pass court, we'll travel 2-3 months later to bring him home. Adoption is not for the impatient. I am learning that my strength rises as I wait on the Lord, not the referral, not the court date, not the final travel.
Praying for renewed strength,
Danielle