Have you ever just sent a random card or email to someone just to say, "thanks for being you". Well, today I was reading a news article about a person who was using his resources to help out others in need. I don't know this individual personally but I just felt the need to say, "thanks for being you". So I sent this individual an email. It felt GREAT! I was having a hard day and stressing over finances, adoption papers, etc. and after I sent the email I just felt good.

My challenge to you is to send a random email or card to someone just to say, "thanks for being you". After you do, sit down, take a deep breath and say a prayer of thanks for that person. I promise it will make a world of difference in your day.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME

I briefly mentioned in a previous post a roadblock we are dealing with when it comes time to complete Elshadaye's US immigration physical. The US is now requiring internationally adopted children to be tested for TB prior to receiving a US Visa. The ridiculous part is that they are imposing a completely different testing policy strictly for children that are HIV+.

The following link is a letter written by an adoptive father explaining the ridiculousness of this policy and it's affect on our children.

Journey to My Ethiopian Child

I ♥ Faces

Week 19 - Blurb Photo Book Contest Entries (Amateurs/Beginners)
Blurb Photo Book Contest
"Favorite Photo Ever!"

The challenge this week is your favorite close up shot. Of course I have so many favorites because they are of my beautiful children but here is the one I chose. I love this picture of Faith. It was take just 6 months after she joined our family. She is such a joy and you can see the little twinkle in her eyes.

"I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites."

I am working on our site so it may appear in disarray at times. On the right sidebar I am adding links to the other sites I am setting up. We want to be able to give more information about topics our family is passionate about. PLEASE check them out!

Our American Idol

Today is World AIDS Orphans Day! Please take time today to pray for the many orphans that have been affects by AIDS/HIV. As you know our daughter is HIV+ so the cause is very dear to our hearts. Here are some wonderful links where you can find out more about AIDS/HIV and its affects on orphans worldwide. These sites are written by adoptive moms who have adopted children that are HIV+ or are an advocate for HIV+ adoption. Wonderful families truly following the mission to care for the widows & orphans.

http://www.positivelyorphaned.com/
http://www.positivelyadopted.com/
http://www.twietconfetti.blogspot.com/
www.fullhousehandshearts.typepad.com/my_weblog/

The Joy of Jacob

Package for Elshadaye

It a been a little bit since I updated everyone on the adoption so here is the rundown.

Our dossier is in Ethiopia and we are waiting for a court date. Just a reminder about the process from here. We receive a court date hopefully for June or July. If our case passes court the first time we move on to the next step, Immigration stuff After court she will need to go in for a physical exam at the US Embassy. Normally this would not be a big deal but they have added a new test requirement. All children are now required to have a TB test before a visa will be issued. The catch is that any child that is HIV+ is required to have a more intensive TB test which could take up to 2 months to get the test results. This is a completely unfair bias against children that are HIV+. After the test results are received we can plan to travel to pick her up.

My "to do" list is getting shorter:
1. Complete Dossier (DONE)
2. Buy a 12 passenger van
3. Buy a sets of bunk beds (DONE)
4. Try to re-arrange bedrooms again (DONE)

We are still raising money for the $10,000 in travel cost. If you would like to help with these cost follow these links to Gotcha Gift Registry or Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministry