Long, long ago God decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. ~the Message
Verses we LOVE
For all who are being led by the Spirit of Godthese are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoptionas sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:14-17 NASB
So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4: 3-7 NASB
Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. PS 27:10 NLT
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Ps 10: 14
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. John 14: 18-19
Esther was adopted!
The Journey Timeline
Jan 3, 2011 - ReAdoption Court in IL
Jan 2, 2011 - Zain is dedicated at church
Dec 22, 2010 - We arrive at O'hare - tired, dizzy, no bags, but full of joy!
Dec 21, 2010 - We head home to America
Dec 18, 2010 - Zain pulls himself up to a stand for the first time on his own
Dec 17, 2010 - Zain gets his visa in his Ethiopian passport
Dec 15, 2010 - Visa Interview at the US embassy
Dec 8, 2010 - We name him Zain Sato Olson.
Nov 25, 2010 - Passed court! Moosh is OURS!
Nov 19, 2010 - Moosh crawls for the first time!
Nov 14, 2010 - Moved into our homestay with Ethiopian family.
Nov 12, 2010 - Court and Birthmother meeting. We did not pass court. Emotional day to say the least.
Nov 11, 2010 - Met Sato for the first time. We are in love.
Nov 9, 2010 - Got on a plane headed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
October 14, 2010 - Booked tickets to go to Ethiopia Nov 9- Dec 26
October 12, 2010 - COURT DATE moved to Nov 12!
October 11, 2010 - Received a COURT DATE of Dec. 14
August 23, 2010 - REFERRAL!!! It's a BOY. 3.5 months old
July 22, 2010 - Back on the waiting list. Healthy baby 0-8 months. This time, we are at the top of the list.
July 22, 2010 - We cannot adopt Beans.
April 13, 2010 - Beans' orphanage has its license revoked
March 23, 2010 - Accepted referral and sent in $7000. Whoa, that was tough.
March 22, 2010 - REFERRAL! Our baby boy is 2 months old and adorable
March 18, 2010 - Got a Grant from Lifesong! They give 100% to all adoption expenses!
March 18, 2010 - Went to get refingerprinted today. Do they change? Really?
Applying for grants...
Still waiting. It should be next June or so before we get a picture
June 2, 2009 - Dossier back from DC - we are a WAITING FAMILY!!!
May 19, 2009 - CHI receivd our Dossier
May 15, 2009 - Got all our documents state certified downtown. It rained all day.
May 11, 2009 - Our I-171 arrived today
April 14, 2009 - IL approved our homestudy!!!
March 18, 2009 - Our homestudy is done!
Waiting for our homestudy to get done...
February 18, 2009 - Homestudy fee sent - $1800 to LCFS
February 11, 2009 - Dr. Appts for both of us - we're in good health - whfew
February 9, 2009 - Parenting Class at Good Shepherd - now we swaddle :)
January 28 & 31, 2009 - The parenting/adoption class we have been waiting for!
January 28, 2009 - Drove to Naperville to get US Citizenship and Immigration fingerprints
January 21, 2009 - Medical appts done by Dr. Sirois
January 7, 2009 - Applied for our I-600A
November 20, 2008 - Bet's Homestudy Interview
November 12, 2008 - Erik's Homestudy Interview
November 12, 2008 - CPR training at the YMCA (sing it...)
October 28, 2008 - First Interview at LCFS
September 23, 2008 - Applied for LCFS and Bet turned 27
September 20, 2008 - Found out that we needed to switch homestudy agencies. Decided on Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (LCFS)
September 8, 2008 - Fingerprinted by Accurate Biometrics in Palatine
September 5, 2008 - Fingerprinted for FBI by Elgin City Police
August 22, 2008 - Sent Check for Homestudy and agreement papers to CHI
July 31, 2008 - Applications to Children's Hope International Accepted!
July 8, 2008 - Applied to Children's Hope International
June 28, 2008 - Info meeting with Children's Hope International
June 2008 - Told our parents that they would be grandparents!!! And our sisters and brothers that they are going to be aunts and uncles.
June 2008 - Got the "green light" from God to start exploring adoption
1 comment:
It's always so exciting to get those little updates and pictures. You will be cuddling your little gal before you know it! Praying for you guys!
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