Here's to Hope

Here is a tulip for all of those families waiting for referral and to those who are waiting to pass court...Keep hope alive!

Keep the Faith

There were 7 referrals given out this week...1 set of infant twin boys. I am happy for all the families. most of the referrals were given out to families that were under me on the list. The family that got the twin referral waited 15 months...I know that they are over the moon with joy. My friend Ailida passed court this week after a delay the first time around. My friend Jenni just got news that her baby girl will be home sometime in mid March. I love good news! To those who are waiting to pass court keep your head up! To those who have been passed over for referrals and you're wondering when will it be my turn?...keep hope alive! It's coming, she's coming, he's coming!
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not YET seen. Keep the faith.

Passed the One Year Mark

Today makes one year and 3 days on the wait list. I feel like the moment is near, but I try not to get my hopes up on any given day. There have been no referrals reported in the past two weeks. I hope and pray that the next flood of referrals that come in is my baby girl. I feel a prayer coming on:
Father in the name of Jesus send (soon) the referral of my child. Arrest any hindrances that may come to try to hold up our family's adoption. Even now oh Lord, keep and protect her from all hurt harm or danger. Provide and meet her needs and the needs of her caregivers. Send hope to her birth-family, bless them for loving her enough to give her the opportunity to live the life that you intended for her. Lord I know this is your will and I know that you have a purpose for this adoption...order our steps, be a light unto our path. I send this prayer up, not only for me but for all the children and families waiting to be united...waiting for referral, court dates, travel, escort...I pray for all workers that are involved in the adoption process from agency workers to orphanage workers. Father let your grace be on each one of them. Let your grace be upon the judges in Ethiopia to do there jobs in excellence and let it be on the attorney's that they will work diligently to accomplish all that is needed to connect the children to forever families. Father-God grant traveling mercies to all who are going and returning with there little blessings. Holy Spirit intercede for the things that I don't see or understand.... In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray... Amen!

PS. Lord-God send now the resources,money...to complete this adoption. In Jesus' name. There is a song that we sing in church it goes:
My God is more than enough He will supply all my needs He is my Elshaddai He always looks out for me. Jehovah Jireh...He is my God!

My name is Toni and I'm and Etsy-O-Holic

There should be an Etsy-O-Holic Anonymous or something...I'm addicted to the creative handmade items that I find on Etsy...especially the baby things! I don't want to go broke before I get a referral:-( It won't happen I'm a pretty good steward. I usually don't spend money unless I feel like I just can't let it go and even with that I may sleep on it. Hey if it's meant for me it'll be there right? Well not always, with handmade OOAK's you may not get so lucky. I bought a great ring sling to carry my little one around semi hands free. I got the last one of it's kind...red and cream old world print. I can't wait to see it up close and personal, i'll give a review on it when it comes. I'm going to start my own Etsy site for my natural, handmade body products...so you'll see me under Konjo Beauty real soon. Check it out and support the other creatives that are out there.

On another note I ask you to stand in agreement with me for the restoration of Haiti both physically and spiritually. We all have seen the devestation the land and it's people have experienced. Whenever you feel sad or depressed by the news coverage just use that energy to cry out to God the Father for healing in Jesus' name.

PS. I gorged myself on Ethiopian food this weekend. We had a great turn out for our post Genna celebration. Coffee was wonderful! The owner choose my youngest son to pass around the popcorn but he and his buddies stuffed their mouths and finished the entire basket! Coffee was goood...did i say that already? I took it overboard when I had a slice of Tiramisu...a slice of heaven!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Mine was celebrated with family and friends. It's wonderful just to watch the young ones tear through gift after gift and to listen to the giddy squealing of joy when they have gotten just what they wanted. Although I've allowed my children to unwrap their gifts, they were only allowed to choose 3 to open. If they do right and take care of their things they will be allowed to open another. This year I'm teaching the kids to be good stewards. I tell them if they are faithful over little they could be faithful over much. With our family pursuing adoption It only make sense to me that I inform my children of the needs of others in our world and teach them to be grateful for what they have. I want them to understand that the people who blessed them with such great things work hard in order to do so and they must appreciate and thank God for His many blessings.
We spent New Years Eve in church. Although my husband and I spent most of the night helping to ensure the smooth running of things it was great to be in service to Gods people. We had an unexpected turn out...Can you say O for Overflow?! So many people showed that we had to set up a flat screened t.v outside with a live feed of the service and set up chairs in order to accommodate all the people. It just amazes me that there are still some people that would rather bring in the new year in the house of God instead of a night club. Not everyone was happy about not getting a seat inside but you can't please them all can you?
2010 is starting out wonderfully as far as the adoption world goes. Today we had at least 6 referrals...2 sets of twins too! I'm sooo happy for the families. I know that every referral gets me closer to my own. I thought it would take some time for the agency to get cranking after the long vacation but they jumped in with both feet! We must be getting close...my husband called me twice today to ask me what else we needed to do tho get this adoption accomplished. I guess that's his fomr of nesting. He's a man...a provider...a good husband and a great daddy! I can't wait to see him with his baby girl. I myself am in serious nesting mode. I ordered the bedding and almost rearranged the room at two in the morning. She'll be here sooner than I know. Bless the Lord Oh my soul!!! sooner than I think.