I wrote THIS to a sweet little girl I halfway around the world. I didn't know her face yet. I didn't know her story yet. But I knew then that I loved her more than anything.
And I still know that today.
I Do Now
5 days ago
Monday, August 29, 2011
Three Weeks.
Today marks three weeks.
Three weeks since we first saw our beautiful daughter's face.
Three weeks since we were able to start praying specifically over her destiny, her heart, her transition.
Three weeks since our lives began revolving around a little girl halfway around the world who doesn't even know we exist yet.
It has been an intense three weeks.
I wanted to share the "what's next" of all of this because I know it can be so confusing when you are on the outside looking in.
It probably looks like the adoption process is nothing more than as series of hurry ups and waits.
That would be an accurate assumption.
But inside of all those hurry ups and waits, we are able to learn a few things about ourselves.
How much we can really handle and still live.
How to walk in patience and gratitude even when you don't feel like it.
And most of all, how blessed we really are that God would entrust this amazing child to us.
People often say what a great thing we're doing or how blessed she is to have us as parents someday...but the truth is? They have it totally backwards...She is saving us. We are the ones being blessed by God. When I look at her face, I feel completely inadequate to raise someone this special to God. I feel totally undeserving to get to watch her grow into a a strong woman of God..I feel entirely incapable to guide her....
And then? I am once again filled with gratitude that He will be right there with us, all the way. He will be teaching us, raising us, and watching us grow everyday...Because of her.
No...we've done nothing unusual except say Yes to God. The rest? He's done for us.
So what's next?
Next, we pray fervently for a court hearing. Both The Husband and I have to travel to Ethiopia for the court hearing, which will finalize the adoption of Cupcake as a member of our family IN Ethiopia.
But that's not the end of it...
Once we pass court, we must wait for the adoption decree to be issued by the MOWCYA (the governing body in Ethiopia). This is where the bulk of the slowdown is being seen and while we are in favor of due diligence, we will once again, be contending for supernatural favor that the necessary paperwork be signed as soon as possible.
Because?
That's not the end of it.
Once we get the adoption decree, we can be issued a U.S. Embassy appointment. Now, there have been some additional hold-ups at Embassy because of investigations and missing paperwork. We are confident that the the 8 months of no referrals within our agency (where they were going back and collecting any missing- illegible- or difficult to understand paperwork and creating more complete files) will expedite this process and we won't see any delays here. The average wait time between court and embassy is 8-12 weeks, currently.
Once we are issued an Embassy appt., we will have to travel back to Ethiopia a second time to appear before the Embassy and declare that it IS our intention to adopt this child. The words "This Adoption Is Final" will be precious music to our ears!
That is when we will be able to bring Cupcake to America =)
It can be difficult for people when they ask "when will you get to bring her home?" to hear "we don't know".
But we just. don't.
We are fervent in our prayers that we are given supernatural favor.
We are confident in our faith that God has gone before us and He will make a clear path ahead of us.
And we are peaceful in our hearts that God is protecting and comforting our sweet girl while we wait to finally be able to bring her into our family!
Thank you for your prayers and support in these final "Waits"
Three weeks since we first saw our beautiful daughter's face.
Three weeks since we were able to start praying specifically over her destiny, her heart, her transition.
Three weeks since our lives began revolving around a little girl halfway around the world who doesn't even know we exist yet.
It has been an intense three weeks.
I wanted to share the "what's next" of all of this because I know it can be so confusing when you are on the outside looking in.
It probably looks like the adoption process is nothing more than as series of hurry ups and waits.
That would be an accurate assumption.
But inside of all those hurry ups and waits, we are able to learn a few things about ourselves.
How much we can really handle and still live.
How to walk in patience and gratitude even when you don't feel like it.
And most of all, how blessed we really are that God would entrust this amazing child to us.
People often say what a great thing we're doing or how blessed she is to have us as parents someday...but the truth is? They have it totally backwards...She is saving us. We are the ones being blessed by God. When I look at her face, I feel completely inadequate to raise someone this special to God. I feel totally undeserving to get to watch her grow into a a strong woman of God..I feel entirely incapable to guide her....
And then? I am once again filled with gratitude that He will be right there with us, all the way. He will be teaching us, raising us, and watching us grow everyday...Because of her.
No...we've done nothing unusual except say Yes to God. The rest? He's done for us.
So what's next?
Next, we pray fervently for a court hearing. Both The Husband and I have to travel to Ethiopia for the court hearing, which will finalize the adoption of Cupcake as a member of our family IN Ethiopia.
But that's not the end of it...
Once we pass court, we must wait for the adoption decree to be issued by the MOWCYA (the governing body in Ethiopia). This is where the bulk of the slowdown is being seen and while we are in favor of due diligence, we will once again, be contending for supernatural favor that the necessary paperwork be signed as soon as possible.
Because?
That's not the end of it.
Once we get the adoption decree, we can be issued a U.S. Embassy appointment. Now, there have been some additional hold-ups at Embassy because of investigations and missing paperwork. We are confident that the the 8 months of no referrals within our agency (where they were going back and collecting any missing- illegible- or difficult to understand paperwork and creating more complete files) will expedite this process and we won't see any delays here. The average wait time between court and embassy is 8-12 weeks, currently.
Once we are issued an Embassy appt., we will have to travel back to Ethiopia a second time to appear before the Embassy and declare that it IS our intention to adopt this child. The words "This Adoption Is Final" will be precious music to our ears!
That is when we will be able to bring Cupcake to America =)
It can be difficult for people when they ask "when will you get to bring her home?" to hear "we don't know".
But we just. don't.
We are fervent in our prayers that we are given supernatural favor.
We are confident in our faith that God has gone before us and He will make a clear path ahead of us.
And we are peaceful in our hearts that God is protecting and comforting our sweet girl while we wait to finally be able to bring her into our family!
Thank you for your prayers and support in these final "Waits"
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Today
Shopping for fabric for Cupcake's room today, a nice woman asked me what I was making:
Me: "Oh, I'm using this fabric (shows sample) as the main theme in my daughter's room...and looking for these designs (points to fabric) to coordinate"
Woman: "Well, the fabric is beautiful. How old is your daughter"
Me: "She's three"
Woman: "Perfect! She's gonna love it!"
Things I didn't mention:
1. I have never actually met my daughter.
2. She's halfway around the world in an orphanage right now.
3. Her room will probably be ready for her months before she sets foot on U.S. soil.
Monday, August 22, 2011
My Beef with Barbie (Part 1)
I know this comes as no surprise. Most people take issue with Barbie.
Her completely disproportionate body.
Her plastic (haha) smile.
And don't even get me started on the mansion that she can afford in Malibu. On What Income, exactly??
But, after seeing Cupcake's face and immediately needing to buy her. something. anything!
I discovered that, what I really take issue with Barbie on?
Is her hair.
Yep, her long, flowing, straight hair.
Did you hear me? Her Long. Flowing. STRAIGHT. Hair.
How am I supposed to teach my daughter that God created her perfectly the way she is..perfectly with curly, natural, thick, hair...when she is surrounded by our "display" of beauty and it doesn't represent her at all??
I don't like to fail. But I saw no winning in that scenario.
There are virtually NO examples of beautiful naturally-curly haired dolls. Trust me, I have looked.
And looked.
And LOOKED.
And then? I found This.
What's that? You can make Barbie go Natural?
And I did. It took a couple of hours...but I helped transform Barbie into a doll that at least has similar hair to Cupcake (Don't worry, you'll soon learn about my Other Beef With Barbie soon enough)
Here's the Before and After picture. (P.S. I bought a cheapo Generic-Barbie in case this totally flopped)
Her completely disproportionate body.
Her plastic (haha) smile.
And don't even get me started on the mansion that she can afford in Malibu. On What Income, exactly??
But, after seeing Cupcake's face and immediately needing to buy her. something. anything!
I discovered that, what I really take issue with Barbie on?
Is her hair.
Yep, her long, flowing, straight hair.
Did you hear me? Her Long. Flowing. STRAIGHT. Hair.
How am I supposed to teach my daughter that God created her perfectly the way she is..perfectly with curly, natural, thick, hair...when she is surrounded by our "display" of beauty and it doesn't represent her at all??
I don't like to fail. But I saw no winning in that scenario.
There are virtually NO examples of beautiful naturally-curly haired dolls. Trust me, I have looked.
And looked.
And LOOKED.
And then? I found This.
What's that? You can make Barbie go Natural?
And I did. It took a couple of hours...but I helped transform Barbie into a doll that at least has similar hair to Cupcake (Don't worry, you'll soon learn about my Other Beef With Barbie soon enough)
Here's the Before and After picture. (P.S. I bought a cheapo Generic-Barbie in case this totally flopped)
 |
| Barbie's natural 'do is somewhere between Type 3 and Type 4 curls |
And chronicling our journey...See, the evolution of Barbie's transformation..
 |
| Pay no attention to Naked Barbie. That dress is as difficult to maneuver with as it is ugly. |
I can't believe how much fun I had doing a doll's hair!!!
Looking forward to a lot more fun playing with dolls over the next few years! =)
Coming Up...
We are busy BUSY collecting any donations people are willing to give for prizes in our upcoming puzzle piece raffle!
As many of you know, the final pieces (two trips to Ethiopia) are the most expensive chunks of money needed in adoption.
Please consider if you can donate anything towards our raffle to raise travel expenses AND be on the lookout for your opportunity to add your name to our "village" helping to bring our Cupcake home!!
For as my Pastor always said (and, okay, I suppse the Apostle Luke also said it) "When you give, it is given back to you...pressed down, shaken together, and running over...through the hands of men, so you can give again" (The Pastor D paraphrase)
Thank you so much for your generosity!
You can email me at smithfamilyjourney@gmail.com with donations!
As many of you know, the final pieces (two trips to Ethiopia) are the most expensive chunks of money needed in adoption.
Please consider if you can donate anything towards our raffle to raise travel expenses AND be on the lookout for your opportunity to add your name to our "village" helping to bring our Cupcake home!!
For as my Pastor always said (and, okay, I suppse the Apostle Luke also said it) "When you give, it is given back to you...pressed down, shaken together, and running over...through the hands of men, so you can give again" (The Pastor D paraphrase)
Thank you so much for your generosity!
You can email me at smithfamilyjourney@gmail.com with donations!
Click here to order directly from our store!
