ALMOST HOME!!!

Can you believe it?  In less than a week, Lord willing, Crew and I will be stepping off a plane onto American soil.  CREW WILL BE HOME!!!  Yep, that is right....CREW WILL BE HOME!!!  HE WILL HAVE A HOME!!  HA!  I can't even believe it myself!!  After all the ups and downs of our adoption journey, it's almost over and Crew will finally be a part of our family forever!  It has been a year, exactly!  In fact, a sweet friend of mine reminded me that on December 28, 2010 was my first blog, "Be a part of our Crew; So our journey begins!".  To the day, December 28, 2011, Crew will be in Oklahoma!!  Pretty cool!!  Pretty GOD!

This whole experience has brought my entire family closer to God.  It has truly given us new eyes to see.....we look for opportunity to help those in need and to look less at ourselves!  It has truly given us new ears to hear.....so many are crying out, yet so many just listen to themselves and never really listen to others!  It has truly given us new lips.....to always try to encourage and lift up others, because you never know what someone is going through!  It has truly given us new hearts......so many people just want to be loved, so we, the body of Christ, are the ones to do that!!!  When I started seeing these changes in my kids, I was amazed!  I never knew we would be the ones changed by this adoption!  I knew we were bringing a homeless child into a world he would never have otherwise, but I didn't expect it to actually make US different!  But God has molded us through this; and I see more of Him in my home.  I am thankful!!  I am grateful!!  To be more like Christ is the ultimate goal.  That is who I want to be like!  That is who I want my kids to be like!  "For I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in the Truth!" 3 John 1:4 

So, on Christmas day, I will get on a plane.  When I land in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia I will go get my little son!   Then, we will get on a plane together and fly HOME. We will be home SOON!  I don't know if Crew Dawit Coder is ready for us, but we are ready for him!!!!  WELCOME HOME, CREW!!!!  And THANK YOU, LITTLE BUDDY!!  Because of YOU, we are better!!!

No matter what happens.....it's all good!

Truly....I mean that!!  No matter what happens this week....no matter what their reply is to our plea for Crew to be cleared for a visa.....I KNOW GOD WILL MAKE GOOD COME FROM THIS!!  He already has!!

Already, we have fallen in love with a little boy that had no one.  NO ONE!  That is one less orphan in the world!  Now he has us, no matter what!!  That is good!!

Already, 2 other families that we know have chosen to adopt...not one, but TWO boys each!!  That is 4 less orphans in the world.  Both of those families have already passed court in Ethiopia and will bring those boys home to forever families soon!!  That is good!!

Already, both my girls, college age, have decided to go on not just one....not just two....but THREE mission trips to show the love of Christ to children that do not have anything!  My girls have seen how important it is to truly demonstrate the love of God to others; not by merely saying they do, but by showing they do!  They have both said they do not want a penny from us for these trips.  They know we have had many expenses with the adoption fees and the travel, etc.  They are using their own money that they have saved, they are both working jobs to raise money, and they both are sending out support letters asking if anyone wants to partner with them in financial support and prayer.  They want to share God's love in a tangible way!  They know God will provide! That is good!!

Already, my 5 year old wants to teach Crew how to build legos, play ball and jump on the trampoline!!  He already talks about "When Crew is here....".  He already sees that color doesn't matter.  It's the heart!!  That is good!!

Already, all of my kids have said, "Mom, we do not need a big Christmas!  We are fine!  We have plenty!"  Enough said!  That is good!!

Already, we have made some lifetime friendships through the adoption community!  Friends that we would have never met had we not taken this step of faith!  Friends that I just cannot imagine not having in my life now.  And even some of the friendships I had before have grown stronger through this bond we now share in our hearts!!   That is good!!

Already, my faith is stronger!!  Even when things have not gone the way I would want them to go....I trust God!!  I believe satan is trying to stop adoption!  It is the very picture of how Christ adopted us, so satan hates it!  But God promises good will come!  And it has!!  And it will continue!!  That is good!!

PLEASE PRAY!!  We were given an RFE a few weeks ago.  This means REQUEST FOR FURTHER EVIDENCE.  We have to PROVE that Crew is an orphan!  I know...seems ridiculous....but it is what it is and we just had to take more steps!!  We have submitted our response to the USCIS.  It should arrive in the morning (Rome time), which is about anytime now!  We are asking for PRAYER for FAVOR..... For SOFTENED HEARTS....  That satan will NOT have his way.... That Crew will be allowed to get a visa from the US Government and COME HOME!!!

Did I ever think I would have to FIGHT for this orphan?  Not in a million years!!  Would I do it all over again?  YES!!!!  He is worth it to me!!  Just like any one of my other 4 kids, I would do anything to save them!!  Crew deserves a family!!  I love that kid!!  The shepherd left the 99 to go get the one....Crew is that one!!!   We will not stop until he is home!!!

PLEASE, LORD!!  LET IT BE NOW!!!!

It's all good!!!  God sees us!  God hears us!! God holds us!!!

xoxo!!

Debbi

A day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Well, to get you caught up.....I came to Addis Ababa HOPING to be able to take Crew home!!  That isn't the way this trip is going to turn out.  I am very sad about that!!  I don't think I have ever cried this much before!!  I really couldn't even function very well the day I found out they were furthering the investigation of his "orphan status".  More evidence is needed!!  BUT, I have realized (after a full day of sulking!!) that it is still a blessing for me to be here with this precious little boy!!!  I do not understand what our government is doing and why they are making this so hard, and honestly....I am mad about it!!!  But I still know that God will make it all good!!  He will take care of Crew and every one of the little orphans until they are HOME!!!

So, here I am in Ethiopia.... and today was a great day!!  Driving outside the city was amazing!!  I saw PURE BEAUTY.....and PURE POVERTY!!  I am simply dumbfounded at how poor it is here!!  We went to the store before we left the city and bought crackers and cheese and we passed them out to the kids on the side of the road (most of them carrying large loads).  To see their smiles like it was Christmas morning....OH MY!!!  I cannot describe how I felt.  Crew had a blast!!  He LOVES to be in the "peepee" (car).   I wish I had a van full of crackers to pass out!!  I could do this everyday!!  We passed a very old man carrying a HUGE load and I asked the driver to stop.  We backed up and I reached out the window to give him my full bottle of water.  His smile about killed me!!  PRECIOUS!!  His eyes said thank you and his smile said I love you!!  I love him, too!!  A bond was made right there!!  I said "I care" and he said "I know!"  AMAZING beyond words!!!

We went to dinner tonight so I could treat Yonatan and Solomon to a nice meal since they drove me all around while I've been here. We went to a nice buffet.  It was delicious!!  Crew loves both these guys very much and enjoys being with them!  I call Yonaton my other son!  If only he were not 25...I would adopt him, too!!  He told Solomon I am like his second mother!!  Dang!  I wanted him to say big sister!! haha!!  Anyway, Crew fell asleep on the way home so he is now in the hotel bed out for the night!! We will have breakfast and take our time in the morning getting ready....then I will take him back to the transition house.  I fly out tomorrow night!!

Something else we did today was go to FashionABLE.  This is the place where they make the scarves (by woman who have decided to make a living and be discipled, rather than make money in other ways such as prostitution).  I got each of the nannies at the transition house/orphanage a scarf from FashionABLE, so I will give those to them tomorrow. They are all so sweet and just LOVE the kids! I will be sad to leave Crew, but I am okay again....disappointed, but okay, because they truly do love him and take very good care of the children there!  They are like a family!!

OH!! We passed a wreck on the way home from the countryside, where a person died (so sad!!), and then within minutes we came upon an accident where a truck hit a woman walking on the side of the road. Solomon thought she was dead. We stopped and they asked if we could take her to the hospital. I couldn't look from the minute Solomon said DEAD. But when they put her in the van, she groaned, and he said she wasn't nearly as bad as he thought. I turned around to look and she was a teenager with blood on her and seemed to be in and out of conscieneness. The man that hit her held her and we drove her to Addis. I am sure she will be fine, and praying she did not have any internal injuries. It was just wild. I couldn't believe what was happening!!  All I could do was say JESUS and pray!!

For those of you who have never been to a Third World Country...GO!!  Look at your neighbor and see what you can do for them!!   They need you!!

For those of you who have been to a Third World Country....REMEMBER!!!  Remember what you saw and never think you need MORE!  We do not need more!!  We do not need bigger houses, or better cars, or more jeans, or more shoes or more purses!!  These people live in MUD HUTS if they are lucky! They work harder than anyone I've ever seen (from young children to very old), yet have very little to nothing!!  The Bible says to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS!!  Are we doing that?  Or do we just say a little prayer for them before we fall asleep on our tempurpedics and then forget about them the next day?  What is wrong with us?  Why do we think so highly of ourselves that we continue to drown in material things, yet people are starving?  Why do we have the "right" to MUCH....even extravagance....when these people struggle to feed their families each day? If we are Christians, how do we live so selfishly?  Do we really care?

Jesus was not treated as a king on this earth....so should we live as if we are?

"Whatever you do for the least of these.....you did for ME!!" ~ Jesus

Something for all of us to think about!!!

I will post ALL the pictures when I get home!!  UN.BE.LIEV.ABLE!!!  Just wait til you see!!

xoxo!

Debbi

Could this be THE WEEK?

A lot has been happening lately!!  It's been busy!!  Each thing, each activity, each day...makes me think of Crew!!  Even little things!  For instance, when Kyler is playing he will often say, "When Crew gets here, we can do this together!  I can teach him how!"  Okay!!  Precious!!  Kyler is 5 and already has such a heart for Crew!!  Then this past weekend we went to OU to visit Cassidi and Makenzi at college.  Our family went to watch Makenzi's University Sing performance and during the show I looked over at Kason and Kyler smiling and enjoying the acts and I thought, "Aww, Crew would have liked this, too!"  Even something as simple as the Christmas lights being put on the house this past week, I thought, "Wow!  What will Crew think when he finally gets here and sees all this!!"  He is already a part of us....our family!!

This week could be a week of GOOD NEWS for us and many other families!!  A team from the USCIS (immigration) in Kenya arrived in Ethiopia to review the cases at the US Embassy that have not been cleared yet!  These cases are the ones that are wayyyy overdue to be cleared!!  Our "case" (Crew) is in that group.  There is a very good chance that we will hear this week that they have finally cleared him!!  Today was their first day working there.  I woke up and the first thing I did was check my email.  It's something I've done each day for the past few months....about 50 times a day!  "Just MAYBE today they will clear us!!  Miracles do happen!!" has been my mindset for the past few months!!  FINALLY, this week could really be the miracle week!  They are there...right now!  They are going over the cases...right now!!   This has to be the week of hearing "COME GET HIM!"   Please, Lord!! PLEASE!!!

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday!  I wore one of my adoption t-shirts (I love them and wear them all the time!!).  I prayed for all the orphans that need a home...and food....and a family!  I prayed for eyes to be opened!  For hearts to melt when they see the faces of these precious little children who have nothing!!  For people to be blessed by being a part of adoption and to see it for what it really is!!!  If you haven't ever or in a while watched the video that inspired our family to adopt, watch it.  It's on my blog!  It's called "Depraved Indifference" by Eric Ludy!  It is life changing!

For those thinking and praying about adoption.....don't let anything stop you!!  If you wonder if you are called to adopt....you are!!  It's biblical!!  Really!!  If it's money?  You have enough to feed and clothe another child.  You do!  Yes, you do!!  If paying for the adoption fees is stopping you....I'll help you with a fundraiser!!  We did that!  Adoption is expensive, especially when you have kids in college and driving!  But it's possible!!  Trust me...that's where we are!!  Does the process scare you?  The paperwork?  Well, there is a lot of paperwork, but it's one piece of paper at a time!  Is it hard?  Yes, it can be!  But so is pregnancy and labor!  That's part of it!!  It just makes it sweeter when it's all done and you have that new child to bless and be blessed!!!

Please join me today and each day and PRAY that this is the week these cases (children) are cleared and can finally be HOME with their new FOREVER FAMILY!!  Please also pray for the many orphans around the world that need someone to say, "I pick YOU!"  Change a life forever!!!  What is stopping you?

xoxo!

Debbi

I want to see the big picture!

I'm trying to see the big picture.  I'll be honest here.....I've gone back and forth with feeling sad, mad, both at the same time....frustrated!!  I am angry!!  I think it is righteous anger.  I'm mad at "them".  But then I am reminded to love my enemies and to pray for them!  Okay, I can do that!!  "God, please let them be struck by lightning!"  OOPS!!  Not what God intended when he said to pray for them. Okay, I'll try again later!!

Right now I am really trying to understand why we can't bring home this little orphan boy, who has lived his entire life in an orphanage, without a family, without a name, without a momma!  Why isn't this easy?  It should be easy!!  He should be here now!!!  We filled out the papers, we paid the fees, we even made the t-shirts!!!  Why do we have these road blocks?  Is there a lesson here for me?  For my family?  For the people around us?  What does God want me to see?

Just a little bit ago when I was driving home from taking Kyler to preschool this came to me!  I see this:  Crew is an orphan that I want to bring here and give a home!  A new life!  A family!  A bed!  Clothing and food and shelter!!  LOVE!!  All these good things!!  But there is a "distraction" that is stopping Crew from getting here, even though this would be better!!  This would be so much better for him!!  I see this.....God sent His Son to die for me.  For you.  Each one of us.  Even if you were the only one....He still would do it!  He wants to give us a home!  New life!  LOVE!  I see that we get distracted by things of this world, sometimes by people, or influences that turn our hearts and minds away from God, or the love of stuff or fame, or sometimes just so we can have "fun"......and by choosing to set our hearts on those things, those "distractions", there is a chance of missing God and his abundant plan for us, and for some, it may mean missing out on eternal LIFE with God, even though that is BETTER!!  I see the big picture.  I see how Christ adopted me......how could I not respond to that?  Why would I not want what is better?  How can you not respond to that?  Is it better to remain an orphan?  You decide!!

Don't stay in the orphanage, people!!!  Go to the One who LOVES you and will give you ETERNAL LIFE and a FOREVER FAMILY!!!  You have a choice!!  Crew doesn't!!  Please pray with us that God will remove the road blocks and bring our son home!!  He is our son!!  We are gonna fight for him!!  Afterall,  his name is CREW DAWIT CODER.  

xoxo!

Debbi

It feels like I'm wayyy past my water breaking....

I really do relate this whole process to being pregnant.  Many of the stages are the same.....without the weight gain!  The decision to go for it!!  The morning sickness (or all that paperwork, which can really make you feel sick!!!).  Seeing the pictures for the first time, kinda like a sonogram!!  (It's a boy!!!!)  The "getting ready for baby" part, by getting the room ready and all the new little clothes hung up!!  And then that point where you know you are just so ready....you'll do anything and go through anything to just get him here (with or without an epidural....or fly across the world to bring him home!  Whatever it takes!).  We are going on month 10.  We thought it would be 7...maybe 8 months.  It's time!!!  Now waiting is getting really hard!  Especially after spending the week with our little guy in July.  He should be here.  We will continue to trust God and His timing.  We have to!!  We know He has a plan.  He's working out the details now.  We wait.  Thank you for all the prayers during this time.  We are sure gonna celebrate when Crew gets home!!  Are you ready to PAR-TAY?  It's gonna be soon!  It has to be!!

xoxo!!

Debbi

It's just a matter of time!

Well,  I keep coming back to my computer to check my emails.....about 20 times per day.  Okay....probably more!!  We are waiting for that last email from our agency saying, "IT'S TIME!!!  GO GET CREW AND BRING HIM HOME!!!"  Now that we've met him, it seems a bit harder waiting.  I just want him home now!

A lady who was in Ethiopia while we were there for our court date (and she and her husband were there for their court date on the same day) is now in Ethiopia for her Embassy date and picking up their daughter. While at the transition house/orphanage, she took the time to take this picture of Crew for us.

Seeing that cute face and that big smile.....oh my!!!  He is just so precious to us!! And THANK YOU, Amy, for thinking of us and sending that!!  It made my day!!!

So, this short blog is really mainly to ask for prayers for the process to speed up!!  I know that God's timing is by far better than mine...I do know that....but we are soo close to having him home.  I think we are in the "pushing" stages of labor.  Not the most fun part, but so close to the grand finale.....and I know it's worth it!!!  PUSH!!!!!!  ALMOST HERE!!!!  LOL!!  Pray for me to be patient!!  :)

ALSO, this is the last order for the red CREW shirts, so if anyone wants to "be a part of our Crew" by ordering one, let me know before morning!!!   They are $20 and you can pay on this blog and I can mail to you! THANKS SO MUCH!!  It means a lot to us!

This journey has been like nothing else!! Thanks for being a part of our Crew!!

xoxo!!

Debbi