Adoption Updates......and a few other things

Whoa - what a week and 1/2 it's been. I've been too busy to post anything about anything, but had to take a few minutes out today to do it.



So last Wednesday, we found out that Zuri had been hospitalized for pnumonia. She seemed to be doing better than Zinea did, but still, in the hospital and on an IV for medication. Can you believe it? So, while not panicked about it like we were during Zinea's hospitalization, it was not good news. We did however, find out during the same call that Zinea is "doing wonderful." Praise God.


The next day, Thursday, Julie called to tell us that Zuri was out of the hospital and eating well. Praise God again! Thank you Lord her stay was so short. In the same call, however, we learned that due to a small mix-up, our file had been missed in the group of court date assignments that came through that day. So, while a large group of families all had court dates for late October and early-to-mid November, we would probably have to wait another 1-2 weeks for our court date, almost for sure pushing our travel into the start of 2010. That news was TOTALLY deflating and a little tough to swallow. Ultimately though, we knew that all of these things are completely in God's hands and who are we to say the circumstances He allows to happen are not the best for us.


Last weekend was a great weekend, after a week of roller coaster emotions. We spent much of the weekend with last minute preparations for WORSHIP for ORPHANS, but also got to enjoy another of Emma's soccer games, my first 5K race (the McDonald Forest Run, for those that want to know) and Mikey's birthday party by seeing the African Children's Choir. The race was tons of fun, once I got ahold of my nerves. It was a fast, trail/forest run, with almost a 1500 ft. elevation climb for the entire first mile and 1/2. Super hard. And what can you say about the African Children's Choir? So endearing and wonderful to experience.

Yesterday we had WORSHIP for ORPHANS, which was a good night. A number of children got sponsored thru World Vision, a lot of rice bowls (a money fundraiser for orphan feeding ministries) were taken home by people, donations were made to Maria's Big House of Hope (Show Hope) and adoption/fostering stories were shared and information provided for those wanting to do one or both of those. A blessed night with others.


And then today, first thing in the morning, we got a phone call from Julie letting us know that WE HAVE A COURT DATE for our girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the date is --------November 25th-------- the day before Thanksgiving. We are honestly shocked we still got a November court date as we were anticipating 1-2 weeks for a date, surely putting us into December. This does make it still extremely likely that we will travel to get the girls in January, which Michael and I are totally at peace with. It's hard to think about waiting past Christmas to have them home, but wonder if this may be God allowing us to not leave Emma & Jake during Christmas, which was shaping to be a good possibility before, and something we were growing increasingly anxious about.  Whatever the case, it's such a good feeling to have a date SET and one we can be looking forward to and start praying about.

What a wild week it's been. In the background of all this, we've been working on the care packages to send the girls, a photo book and letter to give the girls' birth father and have started working with our amazing friends Marc & Jen to host the live Orphan Sunday concert event at Dayspring on Nov. 8th. I'll post more on that soon.
 
And before I wrap up, I had to share a few pics:
 

I've had many people ask me about the orphanage where the girls are at now, so here's a picture of it. Hannah's Hope.

Chelsey & me at the start of the race (blowing kisses to the kids)

This is what greeted me at the finish line - how could I not have the biggest smile?  :-)

The three ladies on the right are the gals I run with on Saturday and we just happened to bump into three other friends (on the left) who came together.  Some of them are holding the leaf bouquets that Emma & Jake made for all of us during the race.  I think the kids had just as much fun as all of us.