On The Home Front

In chronological order:

Havilah got her cast off
Goat kid dies of unknown causes
Simonatti's visit, leave Tuesday
Huge bonfire
Snow on Wed
Case worker emails, adoption paperwork done and in the mail
Snow all day Thurs ground white
Ephraim chopping lots of wood, cleaning out goat barn for new stock
Potatoes and gospel study this Sunday
Baxter's are fattening up our Thanksgiving monster turkey
We love Hugh Ross

Link to a blog about Simeon and Patrick

http://www.jcfollowers.com/russ/2009/10/29/adoption-reflecting-the-grace-of-the-gospel/

News On Our African Children

For the last month things have been moving again on the adoption. We have been notified that the adoption paperwork is completed and in the mail to us. Once we receive it we can file it and the boys can come home. It has been 2 1/2 years since we completed our home study for this adoption.
For those of you who are new to our blog, I will tell you a little about our African boys.

Here is what we know about Simeon and Patrick:

Their father had died in the second Liberian Civil War before Simeon was born. Patrick's mother was pregnant when her husband was killed. Patrick was living with his Aunt when his mother moved in and had her baby. Shortly after Simeon's birth their mother died of an unknown illness.

The boy's aunt had 5 other children and her husband was gone. She was emotionally unstable and was not sure if she could take care of her own children. She decided to put Simeon and Patrick in an orphanage. Their grandparents were still alive at this time but, too ill to care for them.
Two years ago, in November, 2007, Leon and I signed papers agreeing to accept them into our family and adopt them. They were 6 and 8 years old. After this, they were moved into a group home where they still are.

We have changed a lot over the last two years. God has been teaching us to rely on Him and not our own strengths. He has shown us more about His grace. We believe that when the boys get to our home and we face the difficulties that we have worried over, His grace will be sufficient for us.

Happy Birthday To Me!

"I'm the happiest 38 year old in the world", I said to Leon before I got up this morning. I lay in bed and nurse my little tiny girl. Her feet tickle me. We are both warm under the flannel covers. I stare at her and wonder how I get to feel this pleasure in a world where women my age are hustling around getting their children ready to go somewhere this morning. I lay preparing to face my domestic duties and home school my favorite people in the world. What funny thing will Nehemiah say to me this morning? How many times will he change his clothes and leave the old ones wherever he took them off? How many hugs will I get before lunch?
It's my birthday so I made chocolate chip cookies and decided not to get stressed out about anything.
In 2 years I will be 40. Will I be snuggling a new tiny wonder that day and staring into innocent eyes? Maybe, maybe not. His mercies are new every morning.