Great Day!!!!

We had a wonderful day with Rachel today!! She has been a lot of fun. She has played with everyone and had a great time. We gave her a bath tonight and she loved it! She didn't want to get out. We think she is going to be a little swimmer. She is just incredible.

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

~ Micah 6:8

She's Home

Rachel is home! Mike and Rachel got home tonight. She has been sleeping the entire time. I am ready for tomorrow so that I can see her eyes. She is absolutely beautiful!!!!

Happy Girl

Mike called this morning and I could hear Rachel in the background giggling and playing. He said she is very happy and well adjusted and he is just thrilled with her. He said they have bonded very well. When he walks into the room she leaves the nannies and comes to him. They should be at the airport now getting ready to get on the airplane and head him. We are so excited to see them tomorrow night!

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!

~ Psalms 98:4

Leaving Earlier

Mike will be able to leave Ethiopia earlier than he had planned. He will be able to get Rachel's VISA by noon on Thursday so he will be able to leave there on Thursday night. He will be getting back to Kansas City on Friday evening instead of Saturday evening. It is not likely that he will be able to find out anymore information about Leah while he is there. He is trying to find someone that he can stay in contact with over there that can possibly help with her case when we need someone.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 1:3

Embassy Appointment

Mike had his Embassy appointment today. He said that everything went well. We were told to send far more paperwork than was necessary but that is better than not having something. He should have her VISA by noon on Thursday.

He said Rachel is very happy and playing with all the toys in the room. She is very healthy and active. She is not staying in Mike's room but is staying in a toddler bed in the foster home part of the guest house. He said they are spending a lot of quality time together and having a great time. They are scheduled to fly out on Friday night.

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!

~ Psalms 98:4

Mike has Rachel

Mike e-mailed this morning that he was there and he has checked Rachel out of the orphanage. They have nannies at the guest house if he needs someone to take care of her while he needs to go somewhere. He said she is wonderful and is walking very well.

Someone has been sent to the rural area where Leah is from to figure out what the situation is. It is a 4 hour drive and a 5 hour walk to get there and the person does not have a cell phone so they do not know what is going on there but they said that her case is top priority for them. I was not able to talk to Mike on the phone but will hopefully be able to speak with him tomorrow.

Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6:13

Headed to Ethiopia

Mike left this morning for Ethiopia. He has to layover in Washington DC tonight and then will leave from there tomorrow morning. While he is in Ethiopia he will be meeting with the orphanage to work out what needs to be done to get Leah home. Please pray for him as he deals with the orphanage and also as he makes a 17 hour flight home with an 18 month old.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

~ James 1:3

More Issues with Leah

We found out today that there are more issues with getting Leah home. Something that we could not have foreseen at all. Mike will be meeting with the orphanage while he is over there to determine what we need to do next. We are not certain how long it may take to resolve this but it could take a while. Please pray that God will clear the path and work everything out so that she will be home soon.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you!

John 15:7

Going to Get Rachel

The embassy has given us an Embassy date of February 22nd to come and get Rachel! Mike will be flying over there to get her and bring her home. Apparently our orphanage did not have the death certificate for Leah's father that they told us they have. Our agency is investigating what is going on. We had hoped to be able to go and get both of them this month but it doesn't appear that this will be happening. We are very excited to be able to bring one of them home but are sad that we will not have them both now. Please continue to pray that this situation with the paperwork will get resolved and we can get Leah home where she belongs very soon.

"When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus"

— Corrie ten Boom

No News Yet

Our adoption agency let us know that they have put in a request for the three dates that we requested for an Embassy date today but did not find out what our Embassy date will be. They also did not find out if the death certificate that they brought back from the Orthodox Church will be acceptable. We hope to find all that out tomorrow.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

~ James 1:3

Back from the Remote Area

Our agency contacted us today and let us know that they have the death certificate from the remote area of the country where they had to go to get it. They will be able to take it to the Embassy on Monday (the Embassy doesn't accept anything on Fridays). We are hopeful that the Embassy will accept this and that everything will be good to go for Leah. The Embassy said that we could pick a time Monday through Thursday to come and get Rachel. We are going to wait until Monday to see if Leah's paperwork is good and then we will ask for a date to either get Rachel or to get both of them. We had thought they only had two dates a month for Embassy dates but apparently that is not the case. This is all very encouraging to me because we finally seem to be moving forward. We could possibly have both of them home by the end of February. Please keep praying. Everyone's prayers are truly making a difference.

I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer. ~ Psalm 120:1

Permission to Get Rachel

The embassy has given us permission to come and get Rachel as soon as our agency requests a date. Our agency told us on Tuesday that they were requesting a February 7th date so I am not sure where the disconnect is. We are going to see if they can set it up so that Mike can come on February 21st to get her. Please pray for Mike as he prepares to travel alone. Bringing home a baby by himself is a little scary but I know that he can handle it. Please also pray that the person who was gone to get Leah's documents will get back with them this week so we can start moving forward to get her. We know that God has everything in his hands and it will all work out according to His will even if it seems like a mess to us.

Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

~ John 14:1

Going for One

We spoke with our adoption agency today. Apparently the remote area where the death certificates are is a 3 - 4 hour drive and then a 3 - 4 hour walk to get to. Someone went to get them on Friday but they are not back with them yet. We decided to ask the Embassy for a February 7th date to go and get Rachel. If we do get this date Mike will likely go by himself to get her since Sandy is so swamped with work. Mike is a little stressed about traveling to a foreign country by himself but is ready to go if we can bring one of our girls home now. We, of course, want them both home but at this point we don't know how long it will take to get Leah's paperwork in order.

Also, please pray for Mike's dad. He started chemo yesterday and today his fever has gone up to 103. The doctor is extremely concerned and has sent an ambulance to get him to take him to the hospital. We are having a blizzard right now so getting him to the hospital will not be easy. Pray that they can get him the medical care that he needs.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

~ 1 Peter 5:7, NLT

Still Waiting

We e-mailed the Embassy yesterday and received back an e-mail that our agency still has not provided the documents that they requested. We are getting very frustrated by all of this and are not sure what it will take to get this completed. We are also checking to find out what it will take to have the girls escorted home to us. Possibly we can go ahead and have Rachel escorted home and then whenever they get Leah's paperwork straightened out we can have her escorted home or we can go get her depending on when that happens. Please pray that our agency will get the documents to the Embassy today.

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18