Quick, Quick, Bunny, Bunny!!!!

I cannot believe it, we received our "golden ticket" today-our 171-H arrived!!!!! Shout it out, Praise Jesus! It really is amazing how He works. We are busy getting ready for our huge benefit garage sale on August 22nd. We are so grateful to all of our friends and family who have donated to our cause. We are truly blessed to have all of your support. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Boys have started school and football has begun, so it is crazy in the Truman house. We are hoping all this craziness helps make the time go by quickly while enjoying all the moments and waiting for our baby girl to come home.
On another note, last Sunday we attended FAITH DAY at the Rockies with our awesome church and after the game (the Rockies lost) we were graced by the presence of a concert by Steven Curtis Chapman. WOW, since losing his little girl on May 21st, this was emotional to say the least. I cried like a baby the entire time; and even saw tears rolling down my husbands cheeks. We both agreed after hearing his story, we are just that more convicted regarding adoption! It definitely is our heart and the heart of God for our family. Thank you SCC for that amazing, touching concert and letting the world into the depths of your suffering and pain, just to give us the story of what Jesus' redemption is all about. You rock! And this adoption journey we are on ROCKS!!!

Another Step Closer!

Just a quick update; our dossier has been authenticated in Washington DC, sent back to our agency, and then was sent to Ethiopia. Today we heard, our dossier has left Germany!!!! Wow-this feels amazing. I know once it hits Ethiopia it takes awhile to translate and then is sent to MOWA for approval. Hopefully a little time after that we will get our referral. I keep trying to remind myself though that it is all in God's time, not ours! Isn't it amazing though? This past week has been wonderful as both of my sisters were in town as well as my mom. We had sort of a "mini" reunion and getting to share these steps with them was also very special. Being "paper pregnant" is kinda funny but similar to being "biologically" pregnant because each little step or accomplishment is one step closer to "THE DAY!" Smiling from ear to ear while enjoying every moment!

Today is the day, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Today marks another check mark. Our dossier hit Washington D.C. at 8:58 a.m. to be authenticated.....Yeah!!!!!!!! This means then it will come back to Colorado and hopefully head to Ethiopia at the end of the week. Just one step closer to our daughter. Praise the Lord; isn't He amazing? This past Sunday at church our pastor spoke about suffering and why people get angry at God for "letting" bad things happen. It was an eye opener as to the suffering we entail in our lives, yet look at all our blessings in our lives. Things are hard, life is hard, but we live in an incredible country and have lots of opportunity to serve others. As we are embarking on the most amazing journey of our lives, I try to remember the suffering of those in Ethiopia, the mothers who are making a better life for their children by wanting more for them. I know this is a rambling of words and thoughts, but I just am hoping to inspire someone with hope, faith and love. "Wherever you go,go with all your heart." Mat and I have tried to live this motto since we became a family-I guess you could say it's our family motto!!!!
Goodnight and God Bless!
Stacey

It was a beautiful day!

We are sooooo excited to say that our homestudy is 100% complete and approved and our dossier was turned in today!!!!! Unbelievable!!! Now, the next steps are: Dossier is reviewed by agency, agency sends it to Washington, DC then on to Ethiopia! Meanwhile, we will take our USCIS I600A to the local office in Denver and wait to get our fingerprinting dates!!! Next we should get our referral for our beautiful baby girl. Isn't God's grace amazing? We kept anticipating so much more work, but for us it has gone fairly smoothly. Praise the Lord. For those of you who know me, I like the control, but this is good for me....let HIM have the wheel.

Where is the time going?

It has been quite awhile since we have posted what is happening in our lives. Our homestudy is done and the dossier is getting "certified" at the Secretary of State as we speak. It will be ready tomorrow to pick up, then off to our agency. They will review it, send it to DC and then off to Ethiopia!!!!! Yeah, I can hardly believe it. The courts in Ethiopia are soon closing which will make it slow as molasses, but I just keep telling myself, "It is all in God's time." Around our homefront we are busy with the last baseball tournament this weekend and an outing to Cheyenne, Wyoming for Frontier Days and the Rascal Flatts concert. It should be lots of fun. I have started my job at the local S-------s and am enjoying it immensely. I LOVE coffee and what can be better than making it and drinking it the entire time I am working? I am still only in the training part, but still have tons of fun. I work with a great group of people who are very patient with me! Other than that, school starts in a month (UGH!!! ) and football season is quickly approaching. I don't know about anyone else out there, but the summer sure seems a lot shorter than it used to??? To all of you, enjoy what is left of summer, take time to smell those beautiful flowers and listen for God's whispers.

"This is who I am, this is how I'm made!"

Wow, tonight I heard these words from our 8 year old, darling boy, Cameron! Whoever thought an 8 year old could be so wise. We should all live our lives with this in mind. God created each one of us differently. Special and unique. What more do we need to describe ourselves. This will be good advice when we bring home our precious one...to remind ourselves, family is not created by blood, it is created in HIS image and each one of us shine in His eyes.

I do need to share the previous part of this conversation.
Cameron: "Mom, this is who I am, this is how I'm made. After my 2 hour nap, I'm not that tired. I would like to watch TV to help me fall asleep. Can I? I don't know why this helps me, it is just who I am, how I'm made!"

What more could a mom say? I hope this leaves you smiling from ear to ear!
God bless.

Blowing Kisses in the Wind

Tonight as I get ready for bed, I talk to God, knowing he hears. I ask for safety for my husband who is at work, blessings for all of our friends and family, and the protection of my sweet boys tucked safely into bed (all but one, who is safely in Wyoming with Grammy and Grandpa.)Then I "blow kisses" to our little girl who is thousands of miles away from us. When we began this process, a friend gave us the advice, to ask God to place your faces in your baby's dreams, so she will know you when you go to get her. Aren't dreams wonderful? Dreams really do come true.Below is the poem. Enjoy and sleep tight!

Kisses in the Wind

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.
--- Author Unknown