Adoption Update

Hello to all our adoption partners.
I wanted to give everyone a quick update. It seems that one should never lay out a time line for an international adoption. These things are not static and seem to be subject to the whim of whatever politician or governmental office is premiere that day. Originally we thought that we would have our referral (finding out which children we will adopt) around June and travel sometime at the end of July. Here we are in the last week of July and we still await the referral. The email that we received last Friday put waits for a referral at 5+ months for boys and 8+ months for girls. Our paperwork was sent in May so we are at the 3 month mark. We are also requesting sibling boys, so it may take even longer than the projected 5 months to receive the referral. Also do to some governmental changes to the adoption process in Ethiopia the wait for the paperwork to be complete and the court hearings to be final has also increased. It looks right now that we will be waiting another 6 months after we receive our referral before we are able to go pick up our kids. Regardless of the wait times, we are still hopeful that God will give just the right boys to complete our family. In the meantime, we are taking the time to reorganize our house and get it ready for a possibly very exciting first year or two once they arrive. Please keep our family in your prayers as we continue on this journey. Remember me as I will have all 4 children in school for the first time and will then have the responsibility of all the house projects. Please pray for the safety and care of the new boys and that the system will keep chugging along.
Thank you so much,
Maia

Those things you say...

We have recently listened to a sermon series by Mark Driskoll of Mars Hill Community Church in Seattle called the Peasant Princess. It goes through the Song of Solomon. These sermons have been great to listen to and Dave and I have learned much about marriage. One thing that is stressed in a certain sermon is how the man compliments the woman on her appearance. Mark states that it is like a running commentary on how good she looks. He compliments her hair, he compliments her neck, her dress, her shoes, etc... Dave has always been great in this area and the children often times follow suit. Tonight after I had dressed to go out to dinner, Bryce came up to me and stated, "Mom I like your dress, it is very pretty. You look very beautiful. I like your shoes...I just passed gas...should I say excuse me?...I just passed gas again." I think he's got the running commentary part, but I'm not sure we are quite clear on the content yet.