Dossier is Done!!

We completed the dossier paperwork and it is off to Ethiopia. Praise God!! He moved mountains for us. We were thinking of a middle name and with Christmas right around the corner, how does "Faith Noel Tarikua Rodriguez" sound?? I just wish she was home for Christmas. She is home in our hearts though!

Updating the Dossier again in 5 days

Well we have run into a bit of a snag. Since we have waited so long for the referral our dossier is too old and we need to update it. I only have 5 days to do it in too. It is very stressful especially when our lives are completely full right now with School, Christmas, visitors, Musicals....Please pray that we are able to get it done and still be able to see Faith in January. God is good and we have to remember that He is in control of all things including paperwork.

Measles Outbreak in Addis Ababa

Well today we got a notice that there is an outbreak of measles in Addis Ababa. Please continue to pray that Faith and all of the other babies in her orphanage will remain healthy and safe. I guess they don't vaccinate them for measles there!

Court Date January 12th

Well we got our 1st court date which is January 12th. We will go to Addis Ababa for a 4-5 day trip. We will travel south 3 hours by bus to meet Faith at Hosanna Orphanage. We will get to spend about 3 hours with her. Then we might possibly meet some of her family members in Hosanna. The next day we will go to court and go before the judge in order to make Faith ours forever. She will legally become ours after the court hearing. We will then leave to go home without her. This will be the hardest part of our whole journey. Just knowing she is there waiting for us and wondering why we left her?????? We will be home for 4-6 weeks and then go and get her sometime in March. Yeah!! I can't wait only 10 more weeks until I can hold her in my arms.

October 4th - Referral Day!

Today we got our referral for a sweet 3 month old little girl named Tarikua. Her name means "Her Story" It should mean His story because God has a plan for this little girls life and we get to be part of it. I praise our Almighty God and Savior for bringing her into our family. We are so very excited and now the wait becomes unbearable knowing that she is waiting for us at the orphanage to come and get her. Hang on sweet baby, Mommy and Daddy will be there soon.

My first Contraction!

Well today I recieved the news that there is only 1 family in front of ours in order to recieve our referral!! It will be soon, within a week or 2. It has been such a long wait and a long journey it seems so surreal!! It is like having my 1st contraction and the labor begins. Unfortunately, it will be about 4 months before I get to hold our sweet Faith and then another 6 weeks to bring her home where she belongs! Thanks for all of your prayers!!!

"For you are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth. By You, I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother's womb; my praise is continually of You. I have become a marvel to many, for You are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long." Psalms 71:5-8

Giving Birth to God's Dream.....

6/2010

I just finished "Completely His" by Shannon Ethridge. I was reading about giving birth to God's Dreams. I prayed that His dream of bringing Faith home would come to be soon. That He would give me patience and a peaceful heart while I wait anxiously for her to come home. When will it be? It has been 2 years now since I had the vision. This message encouraged me to know that it will happen soon.

We are ready!

" Oh, what you are about to see! I have been working my plan throughout all the ages. And now in this generation I will very soon manifest my heart for the world, the whole world. Do you know how the latitudinal and longitudinal lines are laid out across and around the entire earth? Have you seen this on your maps and world globes? But how do you fit in? Have you been gestating for some time now. There were some truths conceived in your spirit long before this time in your life. I caused that conception. There has been a time of waiting. At times you have grown weary and wondered if there was a false conception or perhaps even a miscarriage. But I say unto you that which was conceived is going to arrive on time. That time is very near and even now if you can receive it...The conception was real in your spirit and what is about to happen to and with you is in concert with my will worldwide. What you have considered is so much smaller than what I have in mind. You have dared to reveal my dreams and visions that I have given you concerning this very thing you will now see. I say unto you it is real... Get ready."*

*This is a page from "Completely His" by Shannon Ethridge.

The Plans I have for You...

3/1/2010

Today I was asking the Lord when and if it was still to happen. Then he spoke to me:

"You will be in Babylon for 70 years , then I will come and do for you all the things I have promised. I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to you own land." Jeremiah 29:10-14

Waiting....

3/9/2009

The wait to bring home Faith is piercing my heart. It seems as though she will never make it home. I prayed to our Lord to speak to me regarding her arrival and this is what He said:

"The Lord Answers, then the Lord replied; write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

I thanked God for reassuring me of His plan for Faith. I will wait for His appointed time and praise God for His faithfulness.

Sunrise....sunset

11/14/2008

Today we got the news that our home study and application was accepted. This morning I awoke to a spectacular sunrise. The sky was glowing with such vibrant colors. My heart stirred so I got out of bed. As I looked outside to see God's glory He told me that He loved me and had something special planned for today. Well He did. We got the approval from Children's Home Society. That evening the Lord blessed me with an awesome sunset. He began my day in awe and ended it in awe as well. Today was a great day.

Losing Faith

This journey can be scary and frightening at times. How can I be the best Mom to all of my children. Will I be able to do it all, Lord? The Lord reminded me:

"For this commandment which I command you this day is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off" Deut 30:11

The reason our Lords commands are not too difficult for us is because He gives us His Spirit to work in us powerfully and to help us in all He has asked of us. If you know God has asked you to do something, don't back down just because it gets hard. When things get hard, spend more time with Him, lean more on Him and receive more grace from Him.

"Let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint." Galatians 6:9

Postage Paid

6/2008

When we mailed in the application, we prayed over it with the children. We prayed for God to provide the funds for the adoption. Bianca got up immediately and emptied her piggy bank, then Josh and Isaac did the same things. The total came to $2.77. That would cover the postage. We prayed that God would show us the way and that we would see His faithfulness. We were looking for God to speak to us! The total on the postage was $3.02. We were short! Josh looked down and found a quarter on the ground right next to the postage meter. God provided. There were $.03 left over, one for each child. God is so faithful!

3 Magazines

While we were praying for confirmation about the country of Ethiopia, the Lord once again confirmed our doubts. There came in the mail 3 separate magazines, each with a picture of a little Ethiopian girls face on it. The 1st one was a baby, the 2nd one was about 10 years old and the 3rd was about 14 years old.

Mark's Confirmation

A few weeks past and Mark was still unsure of the timing. He wanted a confirmation. That next day, he received this message through another devotion:

"Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds...his name is the Lord...and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:4-5

I can't help but think of what James, Jesus's brothers said: "Pure religion, undefiled before God the Father is this: keep oneself undefiled and care for orphans and widows in their distress." Jesus showed clearly this was the Father's heart in his ministry. Now it is up to us to continue it!

Prayer: Father, may my life, my compassion, and my ministry reflect your heart for those who need care and protection and love. Give me eyes to see this need more clearly and a heart to respond more certainly so that your love may be demonstrated through me. Through Jesus I pray. Amen."

The next day we mailed in the application for the adoption. The ball was in motion. We officially started our journey to adopting Faith on June 1, 2008.

There are no Orphans of God

5/18/2008

I asked Mark to pray for a leading from God as to the timing of the adoption. At this point he wasn't positive that we had been called to this. He was talking to his sister, Sara, who just got travel papers to go get their 2nd adopted child from China. She said that she felt so strong about God's command to take care of the orphans and widows. That verse resonated in Mark's head.

Then on May 18th, we had a building celebration at our church for an expansion project. Our pastor spoke about enlarging our territory and reaching out to other people outside of our community. He spoke of bringing them into our family. He spoke about using God's gifts as resources to do that. Then we sang a song that resonated in Mark and my ears.

"There are no orphans of God" We looked at each other knowing this was His calling for our family.

Her purpose....

6/1/2008

One morning I was praying for Faith and asking the Lord to watch over her. I was asking Him what His purpose was for her life. Why was it so important for her to join our family. Here is what He said in yet another devotion that I was reading about a baby girl who was to be offered as a sacrifice in India and the Lord spared her life:

"She will be a testimony of my love and will be a joy to others. She will be My voice to her people group to tell them of my love for them."

Which Agency????

I started looking at agencies. With over 100 different ones, I quickly became overwhelmed. Thinking if I choose the wrong agency or country, we would not find our little girl. Then I asked the Lord for guidance to help me to choose an agency. This is what he said:

"We know that is all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

It was in a devotion that I read for the day, this is what it said: "God is in our lives. He is at work right now, undoing Satan's' destructive messes and leading us to places he wants us to go. This is true in everything we do and everywhere we go. The key is for us to seek his purpose, to live his will. If that is our goal, then we can be sure our God is with us every step of our way.

Prayer:
Thank you, God, for being at work in my life. Thanks you for not leaving me alone to my best effort, insight, and choice. Thank you for having a plan for me and being the assurance that I can't mess that plan up if I seek your will. Thank you for being my God, my Father, and my Partner through all of life. In Jesus ' name I pray. Amen"

The lord reassured me that He would be with me if I sought His will. He also reassured me that I could not mess up His plan. The Lord is so awesome!

The Lord Speaks.....

I proceeded to look on the websites and I began to question if this could really be what the Lord desires. Then I received this message from the Lord:

"See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks". Hebrews 12:25

"Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken...If you do not listen, I will weep in secret". Jeremiah 13:15

It became clear to me at that moment that the Lord was definitely calling us to adopt this little girl.

A few days later, the doubt began to creep in once again and I asked the Lord for a message and confirmation. He spoke to me in a devotional calendar for the day. This is what He said:

"God places dreams and visions in the hearts of His people; they begin as little seeds. So we become "pregnant" with the things God speaks and promises. Satan works hard to try and get us to abort our dreams. One of the tools he uses is doubt; another is unbelief. Both of these work against the mind.

"Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him". Mark 11:23

Where will she come from?

In the Dream, the little girl's name was Ruby. My favorite gem is the ruby. It is in my wedding ring as well. Finally I told Mark that we needed to seek God's will regarding adoption. I had to find the little girl. We started praying and seeking God's will for our family. It was very frightening. As I looked on the web about adoption, my heart would sink in fear. Then the Lord began to put people in my life that had adopted children of their own. Karen adopted from the states, Carol adopted from China, Gina adopted from Guatemala and Jan had adopted from Columbia. My long time friend and mentor had adopted 4 children.

Then one day at co-op a friend came to help. Her name was Heather. She was a social worker for an adoption agency. She had adopted 2 children from Guatemala. We talked and she told me about Ethiopia. It resonated in my soul. She told me to get ready because if God was calling me, I should accept the calling and receive a huge blessing.

That day I opened my heart completely to my little darling baby girl. I began to research it on the web. My heart and soul felt comfortable and at peace about adopting from Ethiopia. I requested information and when the packet came, I saw her little face on the cover. It was the same little girl in the dream. I fell in love! At that moment, I knew we would find you in Ethiopia!

The Dream

Mark and I were traveling in another city. It was really run down with houses that were falling apart. There was trash all over the road and the road was a dirt road. The city was very busy with many cars shinning their headlights at us. Things were really dark and dirty. It looked like a slum neighborhood. Then, I felt extremely fearful. I heard a baby crying in distress. I looked for you and I couldn't find you. Finally the crying grew louder and louder. I finally pulled you from a heap of trash. You couldn't walk yet. You were about 1 years old. Your tears were running down your face unto my shoulder. You clung to me tightly and put your head on my shoulder.

Oh Lord

Lord, you have worked in a mighty way regarding our adoption of Faith! Every day you give me encouragement and confirmation of you will that Faith is meant to be a part of our family. This is our journey......

When I was younger, I always wanted to adopt a child. I felt that I couldn't get pregnant because the desire was so strong. I even asked Mark if he would be open to it when we were discussing marriage. He was open to it then. As time went on, I forgot about adoption because I was able to get pregnant. After 3 children and 4 pregnancies, I felt we were done having children. We did however say, "We could always adopt if we wanted another child." Mark went ahead and got a vasectomy and we were certain about our decision.

As time passed by, my heart longed to hold another baby girl in my arms. The longing grew stronger with each passing year. Then the Lord began to speak to me about Faith....

The Watoto children's choir came to our church to sing in 2007. They are an African Children's Choir. As I sat there watching, I envisioned that the little African girl in the front was my little "Faith". I began to cry as the Lord touched my soul that day.

Time went on and I chose to ignore God's voice. A year later, while we were vacationing in Corpus Christi, the passion began to burn again. I told Mark and my passion and desire to adopt a little girl. This was the first time I let my desires be known. I also talked to the kids about it that night. The kids were open and excited!

Time went on and little things would make me think of "Faith". If a friend was over and I set the table for 4 children, I thought how perfect that felt. The following summer, the desire and urge began to grow so large that I couldn't sleep at night. Then one night, I had a vision in a dream. The dream was so real and so emotional that I woke up crying.