And Then God Laughed

Have you ever had this experience before?  You tell your kids, "we're going to do an art project!"  The kids are thrilled!  They LOVE art projects.  You start to get everything out and they gather at the table.  Then something happens to distract you, maybe you run to the bathroom or answer the phone.  Before you know it you're back and the kids have "done their art projects."  Which would be great if they had done it correctly.  I mean they got the general jist but since they didn't have the hot glue gun they used tape.  First you laugh quietly to yourself at their attempts.  You know their projects won't last so you have to say, "Give me your projects.  We need to take them apart.  You had the right idea but the way you did it just won't work for our purposes.  We need to change some things."  Typically this is the time where there is much crying and gnashing of teeth.  No one wants to give up something they believe is good on the off chance that the person in charge's way is better!  However, once they finally give it up and you rework it with them, it's even better than before.  In fact it's beautiful!!!!!

This happens to me with God ALL THE TIME.  He gives me a little bit of information and before you know it I have a mass of feathers, glitter, and beads all held together by tape.  I hold it up to God and say, "Look!  I did what you told me!  Isn't it lovely?  We make a great team!"  AND THEN GOD LAUGHS!  He says, "That's not really what I had in mind.  Give it back to me and we'll try again, together."  This happened with our family planning and specifically our adoption.  I took it, ran with it, and came up with a great plan that I loved.  Then God asked me to give it back to Him.  Trust me when I say there was MUCH crying and gnashing of teeth!  I liked my plan!  It was good, great even!  Why would God want it back?!?!?!?  I thought I knew exactly what He wanted!  Finally I conceded.  With tears running down my face I handed Him back our adoption to do with as He chose.  Even if it wasn't what I planned.  Even if it meant losing everything.

Fast forward a few months and God has reveled a little more of the plan.  And guess what?  IT"S AWESOME! AND CRAZY!  Not only are we adopting our beautiful brown eyed Ezekiel from Ethiopia but God has blessed us again. . . .

EZEKIEL IS GOING TO BE A 

BIG BROTHER!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't have planned that!  God's plan is soooo much better!  This April we will be welcoming another baby into our home!  Please pray that first we could get Ezekiel home quickly and begin bonding.  Secondly that this pregnancy is smooth and the baby safe.  And thirdly that this baby would not have any of the problems that our sweet Jack did and will be a healthy full term baby who lives a full life!

Later, I will post all the details of finding out about this new little one and the process of fighting to keep Ezekiel.   

*If you're having trouble commenting under a google account just choose "anonymous" and sign your name at the end of your comment:)  

Pray for this week!

We have a lot of things coming together this week: starting home-schooling back up, getting ready for pre-school and co-op and than adoption stuff. 

We really covet your prayers that we would get our court date THIS WEEK!!!!!  The reason being that Ethiopian airlines is having a BOGO sale!!!!  If we can get a date and approved travel with AWAA we can book tickets at buy one get one free (which for curious minds is $1199 for the first ticket and $500 in taxes for the second). 

Please pray!!!!!

Comments Fixed?!?!?!

I have to admit.  My self-esteem was plummeting.  I mean I announce our baby's name and get NO COMMENT?!?!?!  I was ready to throw in the blogging towel.  Then my  mom informed me that my comments weren't working.  After many days of frustration I THINK I may have fixed the problem!  So comment away.  And if it doesn't work please send me a quick email @ shandevol@yahoo.com to let me know!

Thanks and God Bless!!!

What's In a Name?

So many of you have asked, "what's his name?!?!?!"  that I think it's time to answer.  First let me explain why we haven't answered yet:  I have decision making issues.  Seriously, sometimes I contemplate what I should eat for breakfast so long that by the time I decide it's lunch time.  I have issues people.  That being said, I didn't commit 100% with our other kids names until they were born.  I was "pretty sure" but I never wanted to give up the name until the baby was born.  What if I changed my mind?!?!?!? (which of course I never did)

So I'm taking a big risk, going out on a ledge and telling our little dudes name!  Daddy picked his first name.  In fact Daddy picked his first name 18 months ago when we applied to adopt:)  His middle name is where we hit a bump.  On one hand we wanted to keep his Ethiopian name.  It's part of who he is.  When we finally get to bring him home we aren't leaving behind Ethiopia.  Ethiopia is the beginning for our little dude.  On the other hand our other children all have family names as their middle names and we never wanted him to feel left out!  He is 100% a part of our immediate and extended family even before we have held him in our arms.

Well, here's the great thing about making decisions.  Sometimes it's hard.  Sometimes you have to decide between brownies or ice-cream.  BUT sometimes you can just say, "what the heck!  I'll take em both!!!  And while you're at it throw some whip cream and a cherry on top"  So that's what we decided to do!  That's right little dude will have 2 middle names.  So here it is. . . . ..

our little dudes name. . . ..   

Ezekiel A**** Sterling DeVol

(in case you are worried about our sanity the **** are just to represent his ET name which we can't share until we pass court)