Ethiopia is the number 2 most adopted from country in the world (China is #1). Over the last several years, Kim and I have known several families that have adopted from Ethiopia, including the couple who led worship at our wedding who just returned from Ethiopia with their son, Matthias, last week. Amazing. But intercountry adoptions from Ethiopia are in danger (read the article here).

So what does that have to do with our adoption from Zambia? Here’s your answer…

I am a Jesus loving stay-at-home mom of 3 so far. I’m married to my godly, wonderful husband Luke for over 10 years now. We are waiting on our daughter Zoe to get here from Zambia.

Those words, written by a good friend, Kelley, is our gamechanger. Luke and Kelley, good friends from Covenant Life Church, were pursuing an adoption from Ethiopia. In light of the uncertainty, Luke and Kelley, after weeks of praying and asking questions, are now going to Zambia with us!!! We are thrilled. What an amazing work of God that we will be able to share this journey with one another.

Not only that, but they are bringing their three kids. So, with that news, we are bringing Big J and MomMom with us!

Told you that was a big gamechanger for us! Instead of Kim and I traveling just the two of us, we will now have a group of 9 traveling to Zambia! The good news is our paperwork is in Zambia and in the hands of the social worker. Kim has spoken to her briefly a couple of times. We are waiting for final clearance that we are all set to travel over there. But when we go, it will not just be us. We will have a group going as our two families rescue those two precious children and unite them with us, their forever families.

Sept 2010 – March 201186 pictures

So, we’ve been a little busy the past several months, but here are finally some pictures!  Enjoy them as we wait patiently for our documents to arrive at the Department of Social Welfare in Zambia.  Thanks for your prayers for our family as we begin to make preparations for this big transition!

The adoption process is full of twists and turns. Because there often appears to be two steps back for every step forward, we’re learned to be grateful for every step that seems to move us closer to being united with our child.

Yesterday was not one of those small, minor steps forward. It was a milestone. It was a major leap forward. It was the day we sent our paperwork off to the Department of Social Welfare in Zambia! By late next week, our paperwork should be in the hands of a social worker for the government of Zambia! Like I said, a milestone.

We had been waiting for one last piece of paperwork to arrive. We received it Thursday and FedEx’d it out on Friday. These pictures show us at the shipping store. To our child: we are on our way soon. We pray God’s grace watch over you and protect you until we get there.