Here we go again!!!

We've been so excited to share this news with everyone. When we got back from Ethiopia last year,with Gavin, we really thought our family was complete. We had no idea that God had other plans and by having Mike, Elli, Janika and Kael meet a young boy in Ethiopia last year, that our best laid plans were completely turned upside down. This young boy changed their lives and all of our hearts. We've been praying for several young children to find their forever families, since we returned. Around December, our kids started saying to us, "We have room for more." "We have this huge house for a reason." We found pictures of kids that they were praying for (and had personally met) on our refrigerator with the words PRAY around them. Oh, to have the faith of a child!!

In January, my heart started to open to the idea..about 2 weeks later, Mike's did too. We contacted our agency about initiating the process again and heard today that we've been officially accepted back into the Ethiopia program. This is an answered prayer for us, as the kids we want to bring home have been waiting a long time for a family..We hope to be that family. We won't know, until our home study is completed if we are the right family for them, but we really hope to be.

This time around, we have complete peace about the process even though it's a complete leap of faith for us. You see, last year, we splurged and took all of our kids with us to Ethiopia, thinking it would be a once in a lifetime trip. Little did we know at the time, that God wanted our kids to be there to be our encouragement to return. So, now we need to come up with the adoption expenses again and God is already meeting us there. International adoption is expensive, VERY expensive, but when we look at Gavin and count the cost, we know it is worth it. Our attitude about the costs has changed as our hearts have become open to more children. Last year, we didn't ask anyone for help with our expenses. This year, in order to bring these children home in a short amount of time, we have to humble ourselves and let everyone know our need. Let me assure you, we have the money to raise them, it's the upfront costs that are steep, especially since we made this trip less than one year ago. We are willing to work hard for the expenses, as a family.

If 300 people would donate $100 each, the adoption expenses would be covered. That sounds pretty simple, when it's broken down like that. Here's everyone's opportunity to be involved and help us bring our children home!! This money truly goes to give these children a hope and a future.