Family Pictures

The Violetts have been matched!!!!!!!

If you read March 14th post you read about our friends Jason and Patty who had just submitted an application with AWAA for the Ethiopia program. Well, they really felt the Lord was speaking to them about an older child and the age range they gave was 3-15 years. Early this week they got a call from the Ethiopia director and she said they had an 11 year old daughter for them!!!! They are so excited to see how fast the Lord is working this all out. This is an email they sent to their friends. To see their blog click here.

Jason and I are tentatively approved to adopt an 11 year old girl in Ethiopia. The wait is usually around a year but we could go get her home tomorrow if we had everything done. If everything goes right she could be with our family this summer. We have to move Amy's room to the basement, do our home study, dossier and background check. This little girl has been waiting a long time for a family. Please pray that God will prepare her heart to join our family as Ethiopia is the only home she has ever known. Please pray for protection for her until we can bring her home. Please also pray that we can get our paperwork and home study done quickly. Also, we do not have all of the money yet for this adoption, but we know that God will provide. Some of my family are very opposed to this adoption, please pray that God will show His power and might and that this be for His glory. Lastly, give glory to Him for always answering our prayers and for blessing our family with this opportunity.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

My Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.
...Almighty God

My last post for today...I'm loving this software!

Here's one more page I made this afternoon. I love this software!

These pictures are of the girls just hanging around. Robin dressed Noelle up and pushed her around the house in her car. Noelle loved it!

Later while doing laundry Noelle decided she wanted to crawl in the basket with the warm clothes....cute!

Robin was working on her homework and Noelle wanted to sit at the table with her and read her Noah book.

Practice 2

Trying to make the picture bigger.

Practice

I just got the creative memories storybook plus for my birthday! Thank you honey! I'm trying to figure out how to post picture pages to my blog.

This is sooooo cute!

Story time with Dada in the morning.

Take a moment to watch and let me know what you think.

Look Who's Walking!

Noelle around the house

Here are a few cute pictures of Noelle today. Excuse her clothes (printed tee shirt under her dress). I didn't plan on taking and posting pictures today.

Trying to get her hands on Rainbow

Patty & Jason Violette's Website is up and running!

Congratulations on the start of your adoption journey to Mimi!

Love this!

Nicole, I took this from your blog :)

This is on so many others blogs right now, but I thought I would post it here too!

You know you're an adoptive parent (or should be) if:

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!

13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life

OK, I need to post one thing before I go to bed. I got the best email today from a sweet friend from church! I won't go into the whole story right now....I'll leave that to them :) But she sent me an email letting me know that she and her husband are going to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia!!!! They have already submitted an application with America World Adoption Association and should hear back from them next week. So please keep Jason, Patty and their two beautiful girls in your prayers. This is an amazing journey they are about to embark on! I'm so excited to see how the Lord is going to work in and through this family! I talked with Patty today and she said they are starting a blog, so as soon as she gives me the address I'll add them to my side bar under families waiting. Yeah!!!! I'm so happy for you guys!!!!

Gospel of Adoption

I read this and was blown away with these statistics. How sad that there are so many children without a dad and mom, brothers and sisters, grandma's and grandpa's, aunts and uncles.

4 yrs - the average time a child spends in American foster care before being adopted

1.5 million children live in public care in Central and Eastern Europe

12.4 million orphans live in Latin America and the Carribean

43.4 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa

87.6 million orphans live in Asia

16 million children were orphaned in 2003

Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned as a result of AIDS

800,000 children in the American Foster Care system each year

143 Million orphans in the world

Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…

Every YEAR 14,050,000 children still grow up as orphans and AGE OUT4 of the system

Every DAY 38,493 children AGE OUT

Every 2.2 SECONDS, another orphan child AGES OUT with no family to belong to and no place to call home

In Ukraine and Russia 10% -15% of children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide before age 18.

60% of the girls are lured into prostitution. 70% of the boys become hardened criminals.

Many of these children accept job offers that ultimately result in their being sold as slaves.

Millions of girls are sex slaves today, simply because they were unfortunate enough to grow up as orphans.

497,636 children orphaned since the beginning of 2008

The good news that orphan children need to hear is not only the fact that they will be adopted by a loving family, but also the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross to make it possible for them to become adopted children of God. Our adoption by God is the ultimate expression of His love, and was the ultimate purpose of Jesus’ life on earth and death on the cross. This is truly the Gospel of Adoption, and it is written in Galatians 4:4-5 and John 1:12

If orphan children never experience a family’s love, how can we expect them to comprehend God’s love? Adoption by a Christian family is the best way for orphan children to become adopted children of God. Not all are called to adopt, but anyone can love and minister to orphan children by helping other families adopt.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry "Abby Father." Romans 8:15

Thank you Lord that you didn't turn your head and leave us as orphans but gave your life so we could be adopted as your children! I pray that families that have a heart for adoption will listen to your voice and not be distracted by this world. Help us to be obedient and bring these children into Christ loving homes.


Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:26-27

Clarification of the recognition of foreign adoption

So Angie (travel buddy) brought to my attention that because we both traveled we aren't doing a "re-adopt". We are just going to court to let the judge see our paperwork and say "yep, it's legal, an adoption did occur...now go get a birth certificate." Sorry I used the wrong terminology...thanks Angie : ) This however was still going to cost us 500.00 for the lawyer to fill out and file that paperwork. I believe that they will hand us her new birth certificate in court but I'm not hundred percent sure. I know we are paying the filing fee and the birth certificate fee so we'll see when we get there.

Recognition of Foreign Adoption

Noelle just got her citizenship papers so it's now time for us to get her social security card, passport and a new birth certificate. We were told to contact an adoption lawyer and they would help us with all the legal ins and outs of doing a re-adoption. We don't need to do this because she is legally our daughter in both China and the United States eyes. This is something we planned on doing so that she would be issued at new birth certificate. It will have her new name and our names on it as her parents.

When I called the lawyer and asked what was involved with doing a re-adopt she was very friendly and answered all my questions. She told me her cost for filling out the necessary paperwork would be $500.00 plus we needed to pay 65.00 for the filing fee and 15.00 for the new birth certificate.

I asked her if it was possible for me to fill out the paper work and file it with the court myself or if it needed to be done by a lawyer. I wasn't sure how complicated it would be. She told me that most families find it easier to just use a lawyer, but if I wanted to try I could. I got the impression from her that it was time consuming and that I would have to sort through many papers. Well, I did my dossier myself and really enjoyed hunting down the documents and putting it together. There were times I had to do some digging, or had to make numerous phone calls, but I enjoyed doing it and I felt up to the challenge.

On Friday I made my way to the probate court and ask them for the papers needed to file for a recognition of foreign adoption. She quickly pulled out two pieces of paper that looked like a very simple application and told me it would cost 1.00. She said when I filed the fee would be 65.00 and 15.00 for the birth certificate.

My point to this whole story is if I hadn't asked if I could do it myself we would have paid 500.00 for this lady to fill out 2 SIMPLE forms that anyone could do! I saved 499.00 dollars!!!!! If you have or are adopting go to your probate court in your county and ask for the forms to do a recognition of foreign adoption and save yourself LOTS of money! The cost range for a lawyer to do this varies from state to state the range is 500.00 to 1500.00!

Happy filing!

Noelle and her baby

Lighthouse Everything Skit

Robin went to our church for a "lock in" last night. They had three Bible studies and played games and had the kids watch this video. It paints a good picture of what Satan and this world are trying to do to our children which is get their eyes off Jesus. I love it and want to share it with you.

"umm ahh, umm nahh"

OK, mom that's enough pictures!

Daddy, Noelle and her piggy bank

So Daddy do I put these in my mouth?

Oh, I understand! Thanks Daddy!

In Defense of Home Schooling

This taken from Focus on the Family today.

If you're interested listen online and sign petition!

www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/Default.asp (listen to today's message)

www.hslda.org (sign petition)

In Defense of Home Schooling

Friday, March 07, 2008 A California state appellate court ruled last week that it is illegal for parents in the Golden State to home school their children without the appropriate state teaching credentials. If this ruling stands, home-schooling parents could, in effect, become guilty of a criminal offense. Find out how you can oppose this chilling decision, which Dr. Dobson calls "an unprecedented assault" on parental rights - one that could have nationwide consequences. Joining Dr. Dobson are public policy expert Carrie Gordon Earll, Michael Farris of the Home School Legal Defense Association and Roy Hanson of Family Protection Ministries. You'll also hear from a California home-schooling mom whose right to make educational decisions for her children is now under attack.
"At the heart of this case is a distrust of parents." - Michael Farris

Bringing Home Levi

This is an awesome video made by an AWAA family. It documents their experience in Ethiopia. They just got home with their precious son the end of January.

Citizenship Papers!

I have a prayer request for all my fellow adopters.
I have a very close friend, Angel and her family, who wants to adopt and knows the Lord is leading them to China to their daughter Hope. They have known this is what the Lord has for their family for a couple of years now, and had actually started the process about a year ago when her husband gave her the "go ahead" but it's like they'll do a little and then run into sometimes a big, sometimes little obstacles or they start to worry about finances or should they persue a healthy or SN child or they'll just get side tracked with life. Anyway these types of things will get them discouraged and will look at that as the Lord telling them to wait longer. The Lord has put that burning desire in her again and once again has been given the go ahead from her husband to proceed with getting their dossier together. But it's like as soon as she starts she and her husband seem to find something that they don't see eye to eye on. For example she feels drawn to the waiting child program....he's unsure because the way their agency does things they present the children and you petition for a child. And Ken doesn't know how they'll know their Hope when they see her. I explained that if it were me I would look at the list and if a child fell into the right age range and the right "special needs" I would petition and pray and know that the Lord would only match us with our daughter. If that meant petitioning for 1 or 7 months or longer. He's not going to let you be matched with a child other than yours. I think it's a trust thing.

Anyway I could ramble on and on but I know that we have a group that has a heart for adoption and knows and seeks the Lord and also knows the ups and downs and struggles that adoption brings. I'm just asking that you guys would keep Ken and Angel in your prayers and that the Lord would give them wisdom, clear direction and that they would just trust the Lord that He has this all worked out and they just need to be faithful and take each step in faith.

I've put a link to their new blog on the side bar under families waiting....Richards Family. It would be awesome if you ladies/moms could encourage her as well. Whatever the Lord puts on your heart.

PATIENT ENDURANCE IS WHAT YOU NEED NOW, SO YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO GOD'S WILL. THEN YOU WILL RECEIVE ALL THAT HE HAS PROMISED. HEBREWS 10:36

The secret to endurance is trusting and obeying God.

Noelle's first play date.

Noelle had her first play date this afternoon which was so much fun! Another little girl from church came over to play. The girls were really cute together and played good with each other. Noelle didn't really know what to think at first but after about half and hour she warmed up to her. The funny thing is "Nay Nay" is 9 months old and Noelle is 17.5 months and Nay Nay is bigger, but what a cutie! Nay Nay's like 30" long and weighs something like 24lbs. give or take a pound or two. Noelle is not even 29" and weighs around 16-17lbs. She is a peanut :)

Daddy help me this baby is chasing me! Quick pick me up!!!

Noelle sharing her favorite toy : )

Here you go Nay Nay you dropped your paci.

You don't mind if I ride with you.....do you?

(Noelle just climbed right onto her toy even though Nay Nay was already on it)

Our neighbors came over last night and brought Noelle a present.
Thanks guys!