It's a........

We are very excited to share with you all.....WE HAVE A CHILD!!!!!!

Introducing........drum roll............NOBODY.....Unfortunately we signed a paper legally binding us to what we are and are not allowed to share on the internet until our child is officially ours....which happens after the courts grant our actual adoption in Ethiopia......so we can't post a picture.

Here's what we can tell you.

1.  For everyone who have been praying we'd get a girl.....you can start crying.  It's a boy!!!!

2.  He's  2.  He's healthy.

3.  He was given an Ethiopian name by his caregivers.  Much like both our boys we will be keeping that name as a middle name.  We will be calling him Elias ( E-LIE-us).

4.  We don't know when we will be able to travel.  Rainy season is coming in Ethiopia.  The courts shut down for months.  Our agency is pushing and we're hoping to get in before courts close.  If that doesn't happen, we're waiting until October before our first trip and later before he can come home.

5.  What do the boys think?  Honestly.....they're really excited it's a boy....and that's about it.  It doesn't really impact their world of summer fun right now....so it's gonna take awhile for them to grasp the implications.



We're excited.  Lots to think about.  More blog posts coming.

Fundraising: Grey Area

Since we don't have anything immediately to update you on as far as a referral (picture and info about our child)...we thought we'd let you know some financial information.  Several people have been asking how we're doing.  So we'll tell you.

- God has been doing some awesome stuff.  Last year at this time we were freaking out when we looked at the "big number" that we had to raise.  We knew that we were called to this adoption and that He was going to figure out the money because (as we stated from the beginning) we didn't have it.

If we're really honest....we were also really worried as money really didn't start coming in for a good long time.  And then....slowly....bit by bit....people started donating.  It's been amazing.

So the question lately has been....how are you doing...or really....how much more do you need?

And the answer is....we don't know.  Here's the thing....we're in what I call the grey area.  I can tell you that we're close.  The problem is that we have two trips to Ethiopia that we have to make.  Some of the things associated with travel are flexible in cost.  For instance when I checked flight prices 3 months ago and then compared them to flight prices now....they've doubled.....but they'll go back down again in the fall.  So depending on when we have to travel, will depend on our total over all expense.

There are also some weird fees and expenses in country that can't ever be accounted for. 

So it's hard to say, "this is absolutely what the entire adoption will cost".  We do know that we're close though....but we're not definitely there yet.  But we have to say, "God is GOOD."  We have been blessed over and over and over again by so many people.  We say THANK YOU so very much.

So here's where we're at with fundraising:  We're not done yet.  We still have some more that we KNOW we have to raise.  The grey area is what we can't account for. 

We want to be completely transparent with money and finances.  We're not out to MAKE money on our adoption.  So this is our plan.  We're going to continue our fundraising for now.  If for some reason we complete our adoption and there is any money left over (at the present time that wouldn't happen), we will be donating any excess to Bring Love In.

You might remember that the Benkert's from Bring Love In, were scheduled to stop in Warren last summer when they were in America on leave.  They run this awesome program inside Ethiopia.  They match orphans with widows and make new FOREVER families.  They're fixing the orphan problem INSIDE of Ethiopia.  Adoption isn't always the answer.  There are other options.  We believe highly in what they're doing.  So if there is anything left at the end, we want to bless them for what they're doing.

Quick recap:
1. We're not there yet, but we're getting close.
2.  We're nearing this grey area of not knowing final cost.
3.  If for some reason there is any excess at the end of our adoption we will be donating it to Bring Love In.

Steps for You:

-As always we covet your continued prayer.  Pray not just for adoption, but for our family as we deal with the stress that comes from the adoption process.  Pray for patience and peace.

-Check out BRING LOVE IN and see why we're choosing to partner with them toward the end of our adoption process.

-We're still fundraising.  We're going to drop the price of T-shirts this week.  Remember we give you Permission to think outside the box in helping us out or talking about what we're doing.

The Desert

We've become quiet again.  We know.  I think it's because our hearts are crying out...and we don't want to be seen as whiners or complainers.  Because truly we're not.

Personally I feel that this is the hardest part of the process.  We are in a wasteland.  Parched.  Wanting refreshing and hope.

We have nothing we can do.  No more paperwork.  No more running around getting things signed or notarized.

But we also don't have anything to hold onto.  We have no picture.  We have no smile or eyes to look at.  We have no hope that someday THIS child will be in our arms...even if it's painful to wait for that day to come.  We are in no-man's land. 


Yesterday Marjorie wore one of our shirts (this isn't a plug, but you can still buy them, we have plenty)...and I was reminded of the verse we picked out.  This chunk of Isaiah 43 (check our the entire thing and some thoughts...it's crazy amazing)

¹⁸ “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
²⁰ The wild animals honor me,
    the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
²¹     the people I formed for myself
    that they may proclaim my praise. 

I've been forgetting that he's making a spring for us in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  He didn't bring us to the dessert to leave us here.  He brought us here to bring newness to us.  

There is a lot of heart ache in adoption.  When you're on your 3rd adoption, there are some feelings and hurts that become familiar.  You remember what it felt like before to LONG for that little one. To be impatient.  To cry.  But vs. 18 says DO NOT DWELL ON THE PAST.

God give us the drink that you promise.  Remind us of the cool waters and the newness you have for us.  I'm sorry for not seeing you in this time.  Help me to rest in your peace.

Morning Blessings

So after I told you that you should sign up because there were going to be lots of updates....there hasn't been much.  We're in a holding pattern.  We're just waiting.  Any time now we get a referral.  Any time now.  Any time now. 

BUT I didn't want to share some morning blessings with you.  This has still been a good week.  It seems that each morning this week little things have happened, that have been super encouraging.

Either Monday or Tuesday I got a text from a buddy near Pittsburgh.  His youth group has been raising money for us.  They have intentionally gone out of their way not to raise money for a fun trip, but for our adoption.  They pray for us at youth group.  How cool is that?

The next day I got a message from another friend who lives far away.  He does some private contract type work on the side.  He said he felt lead to give us a percentage of his private contact work money for our adoption.

Yesterday we had an e-mail asking about a big bill that needed paid.  We had the money.  I got an e-mail this morning that the bill was paid.  BOOM.

None of these things are as cool as getting a picture of a little boy or girl who will be part of our forever family.....but they were all super encouraging.  God continues to work and move and bless.

YOUR ACTION:
1.  Where have you seen God moving in your life this week?  Are you looking? or is that hard?

2.  Please continue to pray with us for our child...whoever he/she might be.  This is a really hard time in the waiting...the unknown...everything is out of our hands, yet we don't have a picture or any info to hold onto. 

Thanks friends!

Morning Frustration

This post is not sanctioned by my wife, our agency or the new Pope (though some of those might agree anyway)...it's just Aaron.


I'm ready.  I'm ready to know.  I'm ready for a picture.  I'm ready to see the eyes of our next child.  I'm ready to cry when I get that picture.  I'm ready to stare for hours at that picture and pour over every detail of their face.  I'm ready to speculate about how we're going to do their hair.  I'm ready to wonder what their daily routine is and how that's going to fit into our schedule.  I'm ready. 

Paperwork is officially done.  

Nothing is holding us back from knowing.....except time.  This is a hard wait.  This isn't the "your child is growing up on the other side of the world" wait.  With that one, at least I know who it is.  If I had to, I could get on a plane and get to them.  This one is, "who is it"...."when will we know".....and for Marjorie it's "when can I start decorating for them". 

I'm ready.  Any time now.

News Update 3/11

If you're not already following this blog via RSS feed or by putting your e-mail in for instant notification when we update, you better do it now.....because things are about to get interesting and you don't want to miss out.

There have been a series of things that have gone on in the last couple weeks that we need to update you on.  And here they are...

-OK to make a LONG story short....we've been working jointly with two adoption agencies to make this adoption work.  Within the last couple weeks, there have been some events that have shifted that a bit.  We will now be getting our referral (picture of our child) through CHI (Children's House International) only.  Because of this shift we have had some phone calls with them.  Because of these phone calls, we have clarified a number of things with them.  Most importantly we have clarified, what they need from us (just a couple documents faxed to them)....and once they get those....we get a referral!  That's awesome.  (as you read this documents are being faxed!)

-You will remember that we recently traveled to Buffalo to get fingerprinted for the I-600....which is the US government clearance to allow us to bring a child into the country to be part of our family.  Guess what was in the mail yesterday?  OUR I-600 CLEARANCE!!!  This means that we can move forward full tilt!!!!

-What does this all mean?  It means that we're waiting around for a picture to show up of our child.  We're not talking months.....we're talking days to weeks potentially.  To clarify in case you missed it, a referral means we know age, gender, cuteness, etc. 

-So what does THAT mean?  Once we get our referral, the ball starts rolling with lawyers and paper-working being translated, and courts in Ethiopia.  We were given a rough time line, but I hesitate to share that....because we've been burnt by such timelines in the past.  Suffice it to say that a couple weeks ago I felt like we weren't moving much and now we're clicking along nicely.


Action for You:

1.  We need your prayers as always.  Obviously pray that the next few steps go smoothly.  Also pray that we are patient and don't jump the gun on what God wants for us in this time of waiting....that we would be reminded of who's timeline we're on.

2.  As I said above, if you're not getting notifications of this blogs update, you'll want to do that over in the right hand column.  I can't guarantee that I'll remember to put notifications up on Facebook all the time when a new blog post appears.  We don't want you to miss something awesome.

3.  From day one, we've felt that we are suppose to connect people with this adoption and with what God's doing in our lives in this time.  Please continue to share with others where we're at...particularly those who are a little less tech savvy. 

The Beard Conclusion

I should've probably posted this two months ago. Better late than never I suppose.

So you will remember that for November and December I put my beard up for auction. There were some pretty specific instructions...which confused a lot of people. Many people believed, that which ever fund had the most in it at the end would win...which was not the case. They were excited because the "Cut It Off" fund was winning by about 2000 dollars for most of the two months.

So here's what happened....with only a few weeks to spare a close friend of ours donated a size-able chunk of money to the "Save It" fund. Not only was this a huge blessing, it also saved a lot of confusion. As you can see as of he end of December when the contest ended, the "Save It" fund had just a slight edge on the "Cut It Off" fund. So for all those confused by the rules and hoping to see my chin....I'm not shaving!!!!!!

Someone jokingly suggested that I personally put in the money to save my facial hairs. Let me put that to rest right now...I didn't....and couldn't have, even if I had wanted to. Did I want to shave? No. But I was prepared to if it had gone that way. I wouldn't have offered it up if I wasn't prepared for that eventuality.

So was it a failure?  Far from it.  We raised more than 4000 dollars!!!!  That is awesome.  That is a nice step toward our goal of funding this adoption.  I would personally like to thank all those who donated.....to BOTH funds.  Thank you for supporting us and walking with us in this journey.  We still have a ways to go, but this really helped us along on our journey.

I hold no grudges to those who wanted to see me clean shaven.  I did feel bad for you though since I won't be bald chinned.  I know this isn't what you were hoping for, but the other day I cut 3 or 4 inches off the bottom.  It's much shorter now.  (actually no one has said one word to me about it....including Marjorie)  So it's not what you wanted, but it's something....


EDIT:  Since I wrote this last week, my youth pastor buddy J, noticed that I had cut my beard.  He's still the only one.