Paperwork is COMPLETE!!!!!

Micah's paperwork was completed today! We officially have his referral, again ;0) We should hear about a court date next week. Our wonderful, amazing representative, Duni, is going to have it in her hands tomorrow but will not be able to submit it on Monday as it is a national holiday.

So, TUESDAY IT IS!!!! Please be in prayer that the judge would be moved to give us a VERY favorable court date on Tuesday. As of now the court is hearing appeals and we are hopeful that our court date will be 2 weeks from application (around the middle of March). SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!

Also, our beloved Semlow's are still waiting for ONE STINKING PIECE of paperwork. Please pray HARD that that is completed by tomorrow so that Duni can petition for all of our children at one time.

Tut, tut, it looks like potato rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Micah is a CHUNKSTER- No News Yet

So, we received an update on Micah Moo yesterday but still have not heard regarding the LAST piece of paperwork needed to secure a court date. We are at COMPLETE peace, however, as the fact that Micah is coming him is enough.

The good news is that Micah is all Rollie-Pollie goodness! He's in the 10% for weight/height, which is AWESOME for a baby that was starving to death 6 months ago. He's got a belly that would rival any Buddha statue and is sitting up on his own, grasping toys, flapping his arms, and eating solid food. I can't even begin to tell you how sweet he looks now that he has two little teeth and his hair is even. We are SO IN LOVE with that little guy!

We're really hoping to have great news to share about our little miracle by the end of the week.

Open the Floodgates

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." Proverbs 25:25

Today has been a day of rejoicing, praising God, and excitement for our family. It's so nice to be EXCITED about Micah David again! What joy he brings to our hearts!

We are fervently praying that the floodgates of blessing and favor would stay open for our family and the Semlow family this week. Bring the walls down that hold our children captive.

Rain Potatoes, God! Bring the rain!

HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!!!

“Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1

“The Lord your God is with you, he is MIGHTY to save!” Zephaniah 2:17

Today the paperwork that was holding up Micah, Isaiah, Josiah, and Lydia was SIGNED!!! There are still a few loose ends to be tied up but........

OUR CHILDREN ARE COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

We continue to be in prayer this week for a favorable court date as our representative will possibly be petitioning very soon (i.e. this week!!!). We can ask this because of His great mercy to us! Pray for favor for our children.

We are SO blessed and grateful! Thank you for loving us and walking this with us. We can’t wait to show you our little Miracle Micah David.

With Love and Thanksgiving,

Chad, Kimberly, and Devon

Waiting

God has stretched my heart today and challenged me to share with you all what I have learned in the waiting BEFORE I learn the outcome. He opened my heart with Zephaniah 3:17-20.

Adoption = waiting! We've been waiting for over 2 years as have the Semlows. It's enough to drive you crazy.

All along I believed I was waiting for our blessing, our child and that, if I could just hold out, the blessing would come and erase all of the "pain" of the waiting. I have waited well and waited horribly at different times in this process, circumstances often dictating my
attitude. Lately, that hasn't been an option. NOTHING, that we can see, has gone well since our first court date. There's little, that we can see, to put our hope in.

We feel prisoners of this wait as our children are prisoners of a political battle in Ethiopia.

What has God stretched me to see- the WAITING IS THE BLESSING, the miracle is right here, not in ET. The miracle is HIS LOVE FOR ME.

If we walk away from this adoption empty handed, oh how devastated we will be. But we will NOT walk away empty-hearted.

My Father has gently rocked me throughout this entire journey. At times I kicked and screamed, others I softly wept and begged, and rarely, gently rested on his breast. But I was ALWAYS in His arms.

Are you waiting for blessing? For revelation? For peace? You are waiting IN HIS ARMS. There's nothing you will face, even losing your child, that He will not rock you through.

Our God is mighty to save, we say this often in reference to adoption. In the waiting I have realized our God is mighty to save US, you and I, in and during and through this waiting.

He is rejoicing over us with singing when we quietly sink into His chest, releasing our dreams and expectations and accepting His arms as what we TRULY NEED.

Can you feel your Jesus rocking you this morning? Can you hear him singing "I love you, this you know for my word tells you so?"

No matter what may come today, my Jesus is singing in my ear and gently rocking this broken child. What a miracle!

Kim

URGENT PRAYER NEEDED

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
"Let them know that it is YOUR HAND, that you, O Lord, have done it." Psalm 109:27

We have reached what we believe is the culmination of the journey of the four miracle children from Awa@@, Micah David Kulp, Isaiah, Josiah and Lydia Semlow. Indeed, Monday our children will be released or they will not. I cannot begin to tell you how heavy yet excited our hearts feel.

WE NEED 1 SIGNATURE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT SIGNATURE WILL BE OBTAINED OR DENIED ON MONDAY.

The story is long and the details are muddy but what we know is that there will be a meeting on Monday with the local officials in the town where Micah's orphanage is located who can deny or approve our adoption. If the paperwork is signed, our representative will petition on Tuesday for a court date.

If the paperwork is NOT SIGNED, our four along with ALL of the children in Infan*** orphanage will remain in Africa until a new federal license for Infan*** can be obtained. This is a process that can take years.

This is a political battle. Feathers are ruffled on the local end because of the federal denial of our recommendation letter.

PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!!

• Pray that the heart of this ONE MAN who must sign our papers will be BROKEN FOR OUR CHILDREN and that he will be led to release them into our hands.
• Pray that the right words would be given to those who must speak with him and change his mind.
  
• Pray for our hearts this weekend. It's going to be a long 3 days as we are tempted to worry and fear.
• Pray for justice for these children and for our CHILDREN TO COME HOME.

OUR GOD INDEED REIGNS and is in complete control of this meeting. We are confident that He has purposed this for our families and will be glorified no matter the outcome.


We love you and know you will be on your knees with us. Thank you so much for walking this with us.

Kim and Chad Kulp

Afraid of the dark

If I had to paint a picture of this wait, the canvas would be pitch black with tiny specks of gray peering through the darkness. Even those days that are not completely dark are clouded with gray sadness.

Why do we keep going?

"If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." Psalm 139

My FATHER sees in the dark.

Though I am afraid of what is happening to my life, my dreams, my son at this moment, my FATHER has provided a nightlight- His kind and loving word.

I would be lying if I said I always turn it on, I don't. I often sit alone in the dark, crying. But I know it's there, I know HE'S THERE, crying with me.

So, we press on in the dark, believing that one day the light will shine upon us as we gaze into the eyes of our Micah David.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galations 6:9

Our African Valentine

You have our heart, Micah David. Happy Valentine's Day little love.

Everyday is Groundhog's Day

My friend Sherry and I have been saying this for weeks. Everyday is Groundhog's day for us. She put it perfectly on her blog and, since we're feeling the same thing, I don't mind stealing one bit!

Everyday...

• I wake up realizing that only 1 of my 2 children will be home again today.


• I pray the same prayers asking/begging God to bring our Micah home.


• I read the same scriptures that I have been clinging to for months.


• I have the same conversations with friends - "No, no updates."


• I have the same conversations with acquaintances - "No he's not home yet."


• I have the same conversations with my family - "I don't know if we can plan that next month, because I don't know when we'll be traveling to Ethiopia."


• I have the same conversations with my friend SHERRY - "We can't do this anymore - we CAN do this; Maybe the judge will have favor - maybe we'll never get them home; we miss them so much, we miss them so much."


• I hear the same things from my adoption agency - "Things are looking good... we are hopeful for tomorrow... well maybe next week...."


• I read the same threads on our adoption Yahoo Group - people paper chasing; people waiting; people receiving referrals; people waiting; people passing court; people waiting; people traveling to bring their children home; people waiting.


• I have the same battles in mind struggling to take every thought captive and cling to what I know about WHO God is despite my wondering of WHAT God is doing.


• I feel the same pain in my heart when I look at Micah's pictures and wonder how in the world I can be SO in love with a child I have never met. Add in Sherry's three and my heart is really in the wrong place!
  


• I claim the same truths - God is good; God is faithful; God is loving.


• I cry the same tears that don't solve anything.


• I go to bed weary again hoping that tomorrow will be different


• I still choose to BELIEVE .


• I wake up and realize it's still Groundhog's Day.
  

  I am praying that one of these days I will get to celebrate the DAY AFTER GROUND HOGS DAY"

I would have to add...

• I wake up and realize I am in the wrong place because, if home is where the heart is, my home is in Ethiopia with the baby who should have been home in December, who should be in my arms, who has my heart.
  

The Way...

"When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you know know my way."

Our spirits are very faint but we are trusting that our Lord knows the way to Ethiopia, the way to Micah David and is making a way for us.


"They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued...I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will walk,"

He is leading, leading as we walk through the sea of trouble. Soon, very soon, He will subdue the sea of our trouble and lead us to our heart's desire.

He has strengthened us for this storm and in His name, for His cause, TO HIS CHILD, we walk on.

Heartbroken

Today is a really tough day. We sent our dossier to Ethiopia 1 year ago today and we are still waiting to bring Micah David home. In our wildest, worst case scenario dreams we couldn't have imagined how hard this journey would be, how many wrong turns and closed doors we would face.

Today, this is breaking our hearts.

We are heartbroken and heartsick because of more than just our burdens and Micah's absence.
We are heartbroken that adoption is so hard.
We are heartbroken that so many children that need loving families are alone.
We are heartbroken that there are families who WANT THESE CHILDREN but cannot get to them.
We are heartbroken that these children will always walk with a heart limp, trailing the dust of their loss and neglect.
We are heartbroken that OUR son has to say goodbye to all he knows and loves, someday.
We are heartbroken that this day has not come yet.
We are heartbroken that this day has to come at all.
We are heartbroken for the days we have lost.
We are heartbroken for the days yet to come for so many others who do not have love in their future.

God has led us down a heartbreaking path and must want our hearts to be broken. This realization is sinking into our hearts like lead, heavy and crushing. And we aren't sure why but we KNOW that He promises to work this for our good and that He does all things well. While this may seem like a heart-conflict to those that don't know our Lord and His son, it makes perfect sense to us.

While we don't understand why we do understand HOW.

Redeem, Oh Lord, Redeem

Behind This Door...

Somewhere, behind this door, is the child of our hearts, our Micah David. We miss him fiercely lately, a hole in our family that remains, grows, despite time and distance.

Borderline Blasphemy Becomes Blessing

[How do you like that for alliteration?? Yes, we're PCA and yes the stereotype fits.]


Sherry and I had an amazingly blessed time in New York City. God planned every moment and detail in such a wonderful way. He was with us and we felt His presence in so many situations from the GORGEOUS weather to the moments of unexpected joy. We were able to take a break from adoption land and talk about marriage, friendships, children, grace, mercy, love, and so much more. We didn't turn on the television or radio once as our chatter was all the noise and distraction we needed!

One "God" moment in particular is worth sharing as it is funny and surprising! On Saturday evening Sherry and I stood in line for 20$ tickets to the off Broadway show "Altar Boys." We (perhaps quite naively) believed it would be appropriate after reading its reviews and synopsis. Boy were we off! The play was pretty blasphemous in SO many ways. Nervous laughter mingled with warranted laughter in many places. Luke was in love with Matthew, God spoke His "word" as a DJ and said things like "peace out," and a machine, the "soul saver 5000"measured the darkness of our hearts.

Yeah, pretty much blasphemy.

But GOD chose this play, this night, this time to speak TRUTH and LOVE into our hearts. There were songs that told the story of God's chosen people, God's grace and love, and our need for a Savior. In each song, God used phrases that Sherry and I have repeated over and over to one another for weeks during our darkest days. One song spoke of 3 parables that were ALL recent sermon topics at our church, sermons that had ministered in amazing ways to our souls.

And then came the last song, God's ultimate word to His sad and broken daughters in row K. It's simple in its lyrics, perhaps even a bit kitschy. But it was rain in the desert of our souls.

I Believe

One beam of light, is enough to see where you're going
One wrong turn, is enough to loose your way
One choice, is all you have to make
One ounce of faith could save the day
I believe, that I came to know you for a reason
I believe, that the things that you say will come true
I believe that with you in my life I'll make it
I believe in you .

We DO LORD, WE BELIEVE.

Nothing New Under The Sun

Nothing has happened, nothing has changed. We are still stuck without the proper paperwork, without a court date, without an end in sight, without Micah David.

They "anticipate" that we'll hear something next week. BAH!

Please pray for our spirits; for endurance and peace and joy and all the other stuff we should have but feel completely void of right now. This is maddening...

Our Prayer from Psalm 12:

5"Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise," says the LORD;
"I will place him in the safety for which he longs."

ARISE LORD, ARISE AND BRING MICAH, ISAIAH, JOSIAH, AND LYDIA TO THE SAFETY FOR WHICH WE ALL LONG. BRING THEM HOME.

What We're Clinging To...

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

There will be a day...

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone


Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced,
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery

this is why, this is why I sing

We're holding on to the promise that there is beauty yet in store for this family...

How we FEEL about Court...Be Warned!

This is how we feel about our court appearances lately. Let's hope we're wrong this time.

CALLING YOU (YEAH YOU) TO ACTION

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO PRAY. YUP, YOU'RE A SAINT, WE'RE SAINTS, SO YOU'VE BEEN CALLED!!!

We are approaching the date when our agency will petition for a new court date. We could be fearful but KNOW that God gives peace to those who trust in Him. He is our Rock in the middle of this tempest.

Please keep praying for the following:

-That God would work in the hearts of the MOW@ officials to give favorable recognition to ours/Semlow's cases.

-That MOW@ would write our letter of recommendation BEFORE the judge is petitioned so that we are completely paperwork ready.

-That God would give Duni, our representative, the right words to speak to the government.

-That the Judge would seek to do justice and righteousness for these 4 orphans. That he would be so BURDENED that he would do all that he can to bring them home as quickly as possible.

-That Micah, Isaiah, Josiah, and Lydia would be filled with love enough to cover their longing for their parents for this time and that our hearts would be knit together even before we are forever families.

1 John 5:14-15
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he HEARS us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

You Know It's Bad When You're A Sermon Illustration

For weeks, actually. ;0)

When you're a sermon illustration for 10 straight weeks (and cried at EVERY one) you know that...

-You're going through something really hard and uncommon and EVERYONE knows it.

-People are praying for you. 

-There's no where to hide from the people who are praying for you.

-Your pastor needs new, better, less fragile material. 

-Your preacher loves you and knows you well.

-It might be time for a new preacher who doesn't know you so well. (Sorry Fodale ;0)

-God is trying to get your attention.

-You can't hide from God, even in church when you sit in the back row and try to hide from everyone who knows you and is praying for you.

-Hiding from people is impossible when you're sobbing in the back row. 

-Someone always has kleenex.

-People have begun to bring kleenex just for you.

-There's not enough kleenex in the world.

-That God is moving others through your journey and pain.

-That God is working IN your journey and pain.

-That you are not ALONE in your journey and pain.

-That God HIMSELF IS IN your journey and pain.

-That the God who passed by His prophets and HIS OWN SON will never pass you by because of that son.

-That THAT'S all you really need to know and remember.

So, Fodale, keep 'em comin'. We can take it and will be the better for it (but we'll need to buy stock in Kleenex and might not talk to you for a while ;0)