Ode to 2 fathers

Happy Father's Day to 2 men who I love very much.

To my husband: I knew it when we met. You were going to be the kind of daddy that every child longs for. I was right! You are that dad. Thank you for showing them God's love in very real, tangible ways. Thank you for the kind of discipline you show our children. Thank you for the joy you bring into their lives. Thank you for being the strong daddy they need. Thank you for the love you show so freely to our children. Thank you for the big and little sacrifices you make to pave a road of success for them. Thank you for the hours and hours you put in to provide a home for them. Thank you for spending countless hours pondering how you can become an even better dad (is that possible???). I'm sure they are already aware on some level how lucky they are to have you as their daddy, but one day, they will fully understand your worth. Your leadership and love will reach many generations. Thank you for striving to be "a father to the fatherless." YOU ARE MY HERO, and you are a hero to many. You are a wonderful man, and I could not ask for a better daddy for our kids.

To my dad: Thank you for all the little and big things you have done to enrich my life. You have been a dad I can trust and a dad I can look up to and admire. I know plenty of girls who can't say the same thing about their father. Thank you for being that dad. I love you.

Everyone should hear the newest song by Sanctus Real called "Lead Me." It is one that has the power to change lives by redirecting a man's heart. Calling all dads-----listen to this:

http://sanctusreal.com/

Amen

On our way

Dear FedEx,

Thank you for carrying the paperwork to Washington DC to the kind courier who will carefully take it to the Dept. of State and the Ethiopian Embassy. You are holding the very ransom that will allow our children to come home to their forever family. Please handle with care.

Love,

Wendy

Reality Check

Okay, I have a heavy heart today. My heart is aching for the people in this world whose reality is so very different than mine. God continues to allow my heart to break for others, and I'm thankful. I believe I'd have less willingness to take the time and consider others' needs if not for my broken heart.

I ask that you watch this 19 minute clip of our friend, Erica, and her team in Sierra Leone, Africa. This is footage from her trip to the charity she founded and runs, called The Raining Season. The home in Africa is called The Covering. The staff there feeds, clothes, and ministers to 80 fatherless children. Many of the children who live in her home are very recent orphans from a ferry accident, where many many working fathers died.

Jason and I have committed our time and energy to help Erica and we look forward to many opportunities in the future. Take some time and look at these beautiful people and say a prayer that in the midst of their hopelessness that they find Jesus. I see Jesus when I look at them. Evan watched it with me yesterday and told me he thinks these people are beautiful. We had a fruitful conversation about how God doesn't make ugly people. All God's people are beautiful. We are longing to go and serve these people in person, and we look forward to doing just that as soon as we can bring our kids home from Ethiopia.

http://www.vimeo.com/12292225

Here's the blog she keeps updated with information and stories from her home in Africa.

http://savetheorphan.blogspot.com/

Amen

Love this boy

Proverbs 4:20-22

My son, pay attention to what I say; Listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, Hide them in your heart; For they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

Evan made us proud by memorizing all the books of the Bible. He's been working on this for months now. It all started as a challenge in his Awana's class. Jason has been working alongside him to memorize all the books, and I'm actually not sure who beat whom.

Please excuse the shaggy hair-do and the Dale Jr. t-shirt. It was a hot summer night, and we ended up shaving his head that night~~~new buzz-cut pictures coming soon.

First step in the adoption immigration process COMPLETE!

Today, when I opened our mailbox, I was thrilled to find our I-171H from US citizenship and immigration services. This is our petition for advance processing of an orphan (I-600A was the application and the I-171H is the approval letter!). Jason had to be finger-printed twice for this petition. I'm not sure if it's due to his wild past or the fact that he doesn't have very defined fingerprints. I'll let you make that judgement call. :)

Dear Rust children in Ethiopia,

We are getting much closer to bringing you home! We were approved by the kind people at the immigration office today. God continues to open doors and lead us to you. May He continue to shine down His blessings on our road to you.

Love,
Mommy

3rd time's a charm!

After 3 tries, our dossier is finally approved! We are ready to get it authenticated at the state and federal levels. When we've done that, it can be off to Ethiopia and we can W-A-I-T.