Best News Ever....

I am sitting at the doctors office with an upper respiratory infection that slammed me yesterday afternoon. I have a nebulizer in my mouth. I was feeling just aweful, but suddenly everything's sounding so much better! Our agency just emailed and said that they may have our referral for us in a few weeks - as soon as the paperwork is complete and they can assure us that the orphan status is not in doubt. I cannot wait! I'm so excited - I better call Gigs! I can't until the nebulizer is out of my mouth!

Woohoohoooooooooooo!

Long Breaks....

I haven't posted in a while. There really hasn't been much to post about. To be quite honest, just haven't been that into communicating lately. I still check the blogs that I follow, but haven't felt very motivated on my end. Time has been flying by since I took on a full-time project during my hiatus period. I've been feeling very grumpy and I wish I could just snap out of it. I'm hoping my new exercise and health focus will help with that.

On the adoption front, I've been pretty peaceful and patient, with minor episodes of anxiety. I would diagnose that as normal under the circumstances. I am so praying that we have a referral by March 31 - that's kind of MY pre-established peaceful waiting period. Our dossier has now been in E-Country since November 10, so that means we are at 11 weeks tomorrow - almost 3 months without a word - other than the general email that comes from the agency each week. I'm still hopeful that we could get through this process this year - the referral, slow courtdates, do-overs, and that pesky rainy season must cooperate for that to happen. Say a daily prayer for us!

Friends with our agency have a court date in March and we are anxiously watching these Agency pioneers. Right now, I'm living somewhat vicariously through them and saying prayers for a smooth process to get their baby girl home and into their loving arms as soon as possible. And, I'm still overwhelmed with joy when I get to spend time with friends who waited nearly 3 years to bring their beautiful twins home from Haiti. These experiences encourage me, give me hope, and remind me to be patient, faithful, and persistent - Thanks Kim and Juli, et al!

God's Timing and Third World Snafus (?)

Click here to get an update on Baby Bear - he's still in Haiti, but God willing will be here soon! It's a frustrating, but uplifting tale. The organization has selected another host family in the Austin area (not Connie and me), but Connie may still provide some respite care for the host family there. I donated the money to the organization sponsoring him that I otherwise would have paid to fly down to Austin. They requested and received help with expenses to get Baby Bear and another little girl to the States and I'm continuing to pray, pray, pray for Baby Bear and his family in Haiti and for the host family in Austin. Please do the same.

A New Year......More waiting

Gigs and I had a lovely holiday season. Gigs' and my birthdays are both in December, so we register another year older this January 2 - yet another reminder of how time flies. Waiting for a referral makes time seem to stand still. The birthdays, however, generate the opposite sensation.

We're planning a trip to celebrate Gigs' 50th; he's always wanted to visit Puerto Rico. The plans are underway for late January or February, hopefully. Our other big gift was a new gas cooktop for the kitchen - a present that benefits the whole extended family (including friends) - who we entertain regularly.

I'm feeling very blessed with regard to work. I put out the word that I wanted to pick up some additional project work during my hiatus period and several opportuntiies arose. A friend passed my resume on to a client and it looks like I'll have as much work as I want starting next week right through to my big project kicking off in April - that should help with passing the wait time and also with the costs of the adoption and travel.

Waiting (mostly) patiently,
TJ

Sounds fascinating...

HISTORY CHANNEL - Monday, Dec 22nd @ 9:00 pm ET

Cities Of The Underworld : Secret Holy Land
Airs on Monday December 22 09:00 PM

E Country is home to some of the oldest settlements in the world. This cradle of mankind is a country born from legend and shrouded in mystery. An ancient home to both Jews and Muslims, E Country is also the world's second oldest Christian nation. But if you were a Christian during ancient times, and if you wanted to stay alive, the only place to practice your faith was underground. From underground engineering marvels to remote, cliff-hanging caves, E Country's isolated churches allowed Christianity to evolve in ways found nowhere else in the world. From tombs of banished emperors and subterranean cathedrals where orthodox priests have been worshipping for thousands of years, to the buried Palace of the Queen of Sheba
and the possible resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, clues to E Country's lost legends and tribes are littered right here...in the African underground.

Prayer Need

Hello all,
Still not a lot to report in adoption news - we await our referral/match. Our paperwork hit E Country 5 weeks ago. What a wonderful Christmas present that would be.....I'm not quite THAT optimistic, but trust in God's timing.

I am on hiatus now from my big project and have one quick project to work on this week and part of next, then of course, we have the holidays.


An amazing opportunity has come up and there's a tiny two-week old baby, Baby "Bear", in Haiti, who needs surgery as soon as possible - he's very fragile and his spinal cord is exposed because of spina bifida and he's not likely to survive without surgery fast! There's a group, Medical Advocacy Team, that has arranged for his surgery in Austin, TX, and they are seeking a host family to care for him while in the States. A friend of mine, from Peace Corps and I have volunteered. We haven't been selected as of yet, there are possibly some other host options, but it may work out that our situation fits best. I would travel to Austin and stay with her and share the responsibility and the work associated with taking care of such a sick and tiny baby for this indefinite period.

Please pray for Baby Bear to hang on in Haiti until his paperwork can be completed and he can be transported to Austin. Pray also for the proper involvement for two crazy women looking for their annual project (TJ and Connie). Pray for the finances to come through for this baby and a bit older girl who will also receive the surgery. Praise and Pray for the doctors who've volunteered to perform these surgeries. Praise for such organizations as this, that go the extra mile to save children. Pray, too, for our referral for our E Country adoption that we would be matched with the children that will fit our family like only God can manage and in his perfect timing.

Loved this one