The Day After

I don't want to be writing this post. There are no words for our pain. It is beyond our understanding. God knows it and will help us through it.

Here's the breakdown of the situation.

We don’t have much information beyond the fact that E***, the orphanage, sent the wrong representative with the wrong info to court. Micah David, Isaiah, Josiah, and Lydia Semlow were the first kids to go to court from this orphanage. They never told us this could happen. We were blindsided.

The good- Duni, our program director, SWORE to Sherry and I that THESE WERE OUR KIDS and that no referrals would be rescinded. They are going to fight for our babies like they have never fought before. I truly believe this. Duni is THERE as of Friday to do this, not a coincidence.

MOWA, the government agency that is in charge of adoptions and orphanages, wrote our letter and approved all kids from this orphanage. This means that E*** has been checked out and is legit so they won’t need to be reaccredited.

The bad- the court refused to give us a make-up court date until Enfancia can prove that they can get it together. So, we are looking at January 20^th as the EARLIEST date we could go back to court and Duni doesn’t have much hope for this date. This is the REALLY DISHEARTENING part of this, we have no concrete end in sight. This is SO painful. God chose this for us. I don’t like it, but I can see how he has set some things up to give us hope.

However, Duni did say that this was one of the biggest challenges that our program has ever faced. THIS IS AN UPHILL CLIMB but our children need us.

SO, what can you do? PRAY FOR A MIRACLE! Duni said it would take a miracle to make this paperwork issue go away quickly.

WE NEED GOD TRUSTING, OPTIMISTIC, HOPEFUL CHRIST FOLLOWERS PRAYING FOR MICAH, ISAIAH, JOSIAH, AND LYDIA. Pray for them by name (their future Forever Family names, not ET names). Ask for release, intercession, patience, ENDURANCE for our families.

Beyond that, LOVE US from afar as best you can. This hurt is like nothing I have felt before. Sherry and I are heartbroken for our children. Please pray for us as best you can, as often as you can. We are going to try and capture our thoughts and live faithfully with a hope.

Last night Chad and I read the following:

John 16:33

“I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!"

Our Saviour has overcome this battle. We are trying to be courageous and trusting.

Explanation

So, here's what happened. Micah David is from an orphanage in Awassa, 4 hours South of Addis. They didn't have their end of the paperwork together. So, we didn't pass court. The judge wouldn't even give us a new court date. The earliest we could go is February.

We are heartbroken for us and for our son who is being held in a paper prison with no release in sight.

At this point, we are at the mercy of our social worker, Duni, who will be moving to Africa this week to work on our cases from Addis. She has promised me to work tirelessly with the orphanage Micah David is from to help us to pass in January. We are looking towards January 20th as our court date but no promises.

I need to go to bed. I am emotionally and physicall exhausted. I am trying to remember that I have another little boy to care for right here in my house right now. That needs to be my focus.

Please pray for us. We need healing and grace this day and in the days to come.

Kim

We Failed

January...

Nothing Yet...

We've put in Wall-E, popped popcorn, and are trying to forget about it all...wish there was more to say!
Kim

What's done is done~ So why can't I stop crying?

No one in our house slept well last night.

I should have known yesterday wasn't the day when we all slept so wonderfully Sunday night! We're exhausted in more ways than one. We so want to keep learning what God has for us in this end stage of the journey but our hearts and minds are too tired and wrapped up in the baby.

Chad has gone hunting for the last 2 days and managed to successfully find and (you know) a deer. I can't decide if this is him taking advantage of our last few days without 2 kids or an excuse to get him out of the house (both, perhaps!).

His wife cries at the drop of a hat lately (yes, I am crying right now!) which I am sure is not much fun to be around. This morning sweet Devon asked for a smoothie, which I made for him. When he wouldn't drink it, I immediately started crying, over a strawberry (which should have been orange) smoothie! Poor boys, I am trying!!!

Have I mentioned how ready we are to be AFRICA?

We are pretty sure today is the day. As I type this I am bawling out of fear, joy, apprehension, hope, etc. This is by far the hardest, most life changing, spiritually gut wrenching choice we have ever made.

I wish I already had news for you...trust me!

No News Yet- TOMORROW IT IS!

So, today was NOT the day (bah humbug!). TOMORROW IT IS! I am not sure how I feel about this. I wish it was over, either way.

Part of us is really disappointed, the other part relieved that we can postpone it one more day. I can't explain how it feels to have your hopes and dreams relying on those you have never met, don't know, and cannot understand. We just want it to be over and done with, regardless of the outcome. We so want to bring him home, but we are ready to hear the news and move on if that isn't the case.

Chad and I both are ready to just be EXCITED about Micah David, not concerned, apprehensive, worried, maneuvering, etc. as you are through the process of adoption. It will be so nice just to be EXCITED to travel. Packing might become my favorite new hobby!

We KNOW tomorrow is the day and, well, we are both very apprehensive. There is an air of anxiety and excitement in the house that is palpable.

Please continue to pray. Hopefully you'll see a video of our precious Micah David tomorrow and can enjoy the photos we have been staring at, obsessing over, loving for so long!

Kim

Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not let them be afraid.

—John 14:27

I woke up this morning with a profound sense of peace and praise. We have so much to praise our Father for God has moved MOUNTAINS in Micah David's life thus far, indeed in ours as well! This child was SO malnourished, he was given up, he thrived when others did not. Who are we to doubt the wonderful hand of God?

We were listening to the following song while driving home from the mountains last night. It really spoke to my heart and challenged me to ask myself "do I believe God does all things well?" If so, HIS plan for Micah, for our court date, for everything on this earth has been done well. Who am I to doubt this amazing God who WILL bring me to my son when it is right?

You Do All Things Well"

Mountain maker
Ocean tamer
Glimpses of You
Burn in my eyes
The worship of heaven
Fills up the skies

You made it all
Said, "let there be"
And there was
All that we see
The sound of Your voice
The works of Your hands
You do all things well
You do all things well
You do all things well

Star creator
Wind breather
The strokes of Your beauty
Brushed through the clouds
Light from the heavens
Touching the ground

Imagination runs wild
And breathes the breath of life
Across the fields
Across the miles

Across the miles our God is binding our hearts to our son. He WILL come home as God does ALL things well.