Ethiopian Necklaces

In 3 days we will be on our way back to Ethiopia. My heart skips a beat just thinking about it! I am obviously thrilled to finally be meeting our sweet Mary-A, to hold her, squeeze her, and kiss those adorable cheeks. But, there is also a thrill in my heart to be returning to Ethiopia. This country did something to my heart and I can't forget the beauty and graciousness of the people. I am so grateful that God allowed us to experience our child's birth country prior to meeting her, because I truly believe it gave me a deep desire to keep her connected to her amazing birth country.

Many of our friends and family have purchased a magazine bead necklace from me as a way to support our adoption. We were able to get some of these necklaces in Ethiopia. After being there, I appreciate the colors captured in each of these necklaces because they remind me of the vibrant colors that were all around us in Ethiopia. Each of these beads is hand rolled from a strip of magazine paper and the end result is truly gorgeous. We have decided to sell these ETHIOPIAN magazine bead necklaces as a way to support our adoption and ask our friends and family to continue praying for our family and Mary-A over the next several weeks as we travel to meet her, go to court to finalize our adoption and then return to Ethiopia with our other 4 children to finally be reunited as a family!! 1 necklace is $25 or 3 for $70. I will be happy to deliver them or ship them - just let me know! Thank you for all of the amazing support, prayers and encouragement as we travel this journey God has chosen for our family!

High Highs and Low Lows

We will be on the plane bound for our daughter in Ethiopia in less than 4 days! I am SO filled with emotion there are no words to adequately express what is in my heart.
However, the enemy is hard at work trying to distract and discourage here in the Porter family. We refuse to let him!! We have experienced some unexpected circumstances this past week, but I was reminded of the first verse we learned last year:

Gen 50:20 "You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

We are also holding steadfast to:

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Satan may have thought he pulled the rug out from under us, but we will land on our feet through the power of Christ Jesus!
We rejoice in all the unknowns that this weeks holds because we know that God is going before us. And we look forward, with sweet anticipation, to all the firsts that next week has in store because we know that Christ Jesus and ordained them from the beginning of time.

Thank you for continuing to pray for our family!

17 Days - but who's counting

We are so grateful that we have already been to Ethiopia because that helps us know what to expect from the air travel, country, and accomodation side of things. There are many other details to be sorted out and put in place!
We will be leaving DFW on November 5th. We are planning to worship at Beza International Church on Sunday and meet with new friends we made on our last trip. Monday morning, we will drive 12 hours on very bumpy roads to meet Mary-A. It will be 3 days round trip as we have to have her back in Addis two days before court. Our court 'hearing' is on November 12th, and Lord willing, we will officially be her parents when we board the plane that night to return home (we will arrive back at DFW on Nov 13th). You better believe that if we pass court there will be the most beautiful picture of our daughter for you to see!!
I can hardly wait to hold her, love on her and kiss her!! I can't really believe it's happening and so fast!! The holidays are going to be so amazing this year - THANK YOU LORD!! We are still praying to have her home with her forever family by Christmas and for my sister-in-law's wedding. What a time of celebration it will be!!

Specific Prayer Requests:
- safe and healthy travel
- God's guidance and words when meeting her birth mother
- court to go smoothly & that we'll pass
- peace as our family prepares for this transition
- Hannah, Luke, Katy & Emily will be blessed and changed by this journey
- we will be gracious, patient and kind
- God will continue to prepare us to be adoptive parents (for the 1st time) and parents again (for the 5th time)
- speedy Embassy appointment after court (to bring her home)

COURT DATE!!!

We got the phone call yesterday afternoon.
We have a NOVEMBER 12TH court date!
We are SO SO SO excited!!

Thank you for praying so faithfully for our family.

God is Good and His timing is perfect!!

Days 1 & 2 (actually it's only 1/2)

Mission Trip - Day 1
We spent our first day at Kingdom Vision International orphanage. This is the orphanage our dear friends, the Alexanders, got their first little boy from. As our vans drove in, the kids were so excited and swarmed around. They ran up and hugged and kissed us - so so beautiful. There are 85 children at this orphanage from infant to teenager and they were all amazing. After handing out Dum-Dums and bracelets and hugs and kisses, it was time to get down to business. Three dentist examined teeth and I got to work with a sweet friend in what we affectionately refer to as the 'hygiene hut'. I got to learn (and try to say) each child's name and then we gave them each a toothbrush, toothpaste and taught them how to brusha-brusha-brusha. IF they brush their teeth it is done on Weds, but since most of them didn't even know how to hold their toothbrush I doubt it happens too often. Their eyes lit up as if we had handed them a treasure! Some of them even walked around the orphanage brushing their teeth they were so excited. Some of the team painted the hallway and toddler room -- other played games of soccer and chase and others did crafts with the older kids and still others held and rocked babies. There was lots of holding and rocking and yes, I shed a few tears too. My heart hurts for these precious children that are so beautiful and so in need of and deserving of love. And my heart hurts because I know our little girl is so close but so far and I want to be holding her. I want her to know that we are coming for her, I want someone to love on her and hold her until we can get there !! It is a heartache that I can't explain --- I hurt for these children with no one to call mommy and daddy and I hurt for our little girl that doesn't know she has a mommy and daddy!! I hope someone with a child waiting at KVI knows that we loved on them until they can get there just as I pray someone is doing for our baby!!
Well, I got half-way through the first day and I haven't even explained the sheep slaughter on this day or touched on Day 2. We'll pick up at the sheep part tomorrow.

Out the door ...

We are walking out the door to catch our flight to Ethiopia. The emotions have never been higher and I just received an email that our paperwork is officially filed with the courts. We continue to pray for God's favor in a speedy court date!!
I will update from Ethiopia as much as possible.
Thank you friends and family for your prayers --- we are off to the country that will bring us our children!
Praising God for this opportunity and praying that HE is glorified in all we do and say.

9 Days and the emotional roller coaster starts!

We (Craig and I) leave for our first trip to Ethiopia, a mission trip, in 9 days. We are blessed to be part of Ethiopia Smile - a group of 66 dentists and non-dentists going to Ethiopia to be the hands and feet of Jesus (more about the trip www.teamalexander.blogspot.com). My heart can't even begin to grasp what we are going to experience - and I am so excited, anxious, grateful and yes, a little unsure.
I have spent a majority of tonight crying at the thought of saying 'bye' to my 4 precious children here in Texas - I can't even get a handle on the tears. I know this is an ordained trip - God has been at work from the beginning and I know that He is a good God. But I have a mama's heart that loves deep and is going to miss my little crew here at home SO MUCH!!!
In the back of my mind I also can't quit thinking about courts opening in ONE week (yes, I'm counting) and what that means for our court date. We will be turning around to travel again once we receive our court date for sweet A - will that be in a couple of weeks, 6 weeks, a couple of months?? Only God knows!!
This is a time of transition, stepping out in faith, and trusting the One and Only True God. I know He is teaching me that I am NOT in control -- the adoption process has been and continues be a refining experience like no other.
The easiest thing for me to do in the next couple of weeks would be to run, turn and avoid the emotion that awaits, but I know that Christ gives me the strength to face all of the emotions head-on, to go directly through the hard stuff - the fun stuff - the joyful stuff and the sad stuff - and know for certain I will be better on the other side.
So, if you think of us, we ask that you pray for the following:
- travel safety
- timely (quick) court date
- my emotional stability
- God's glory to shine at all times during this trip

We will do our best to post updates during the trip.