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.......she captured our trip on film

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Last 2 slideshows from Ethiopia Email me for link to others-alexander@integrity.com

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Monday, December 31, 2007

...my peace I give to you

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
John 14:27

I am clinging to this promise as we begin a new year. I am thankful that He is the Prince of Peace and I do not need to fear. He is sovereign, and in control of every aspect of the adoption. We are thankful, and by His grace, peaceful.

Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007


We had a wonderful Christmas at the Alexander house. We enjoyed time with friends and family- and we ate too much!

On Christmas Eve our little Charlie broke his leg and had to have emergency surgery! A gift that keeps on giving, that Charlie:) We are happy he is o.k and back home now. It will make for an interesting 4 weeks as we are suppose to keep him quiet and still. If anyone has any suggestions for how to keep a 7 month old puppy from running and jumping with four kids and two other dogs in the house-- please let me know.


Avery worked hard to make me a replica of Horizon House for Christmas. (the transistion home our kids will be in) I love it. It even had two little cardboard cutout kids inside the house waiting for me to discover. I'm amazed at her attention to details- she certainly didn't get that from me!



My friend, Bethany, received her referral. I am so excited for her!


I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are gearing up for a great New Year. 2008 is going to be the year we bring our kiddos home! That is exciting.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

do they know it's Christmas time?



I was driving with the kids the other day and this song came on the radio. It was my first time to hear it this Christmas season. As I was trying to explain the significance of the song, I was overcome with emotion. My Seth and my Addison are there, Do THEY know it is Christmas? Are THEY hungry?

Tears were streaming down my face as I told the kids that this was a song recorded because of the Ethiopian famine.

It was recorded in 1984 by the organizers of Band Aid. It is funny to watch and see the big hair of the 80's, but it is also heartbreaking to think about all of the kids that still suffer from starvation and disease this Christmas season.

Lord, please let Seth and Addie know of you, of your birth, and of your redemptive love for them. Keep watch over them, protect them, and comfort them until we can go get them!
Monday, December 17, 2007

God is in the details


Because a few have asked for a few more details on the D.C trip, here you go. We were blessed to attend a Christmas Brunch at the White House because my parents are friends with the President and the First Lady. My dad has been friends with the President since college. Our family had a fabulous weekend and hopefully the kids will remember the experience forever!


My mindset was pretty simple- I was looking forward to seeing the White House and having my children meet the President for the first time. I don't know why it would surprise me that the Lord had so much more for our trip.


Our sermon yesterday was on the Light of Preparation. I love celebrating Christmas and the anticipation of the coming of our King. Our Pastor said that we tend to look for the next BIG thing, though it is often in the journey where He is working, working through the ordinary things. He said that we still get surprised by the Light and what God can do! We still get surprised by the details. I know that I do. He used Luke Chapter 1 and the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth to illustrate his point.


Here are a few DETAILS that the Lord in His providence and sovereignty ordained for our trip:

1. My parents were at a dinner on Friday (brunch was on Saturday) and my mom said it is always fun to see who you will sit next to, as they don't seat you with your spouse. My precious mom always prays for these opportunities, that she would see why the Lord placed so-and-so next to her for a dinner!
She was talking to the lady seated next to her, and about half-way through dinner she mentioned something about her job.

Mom- "oh, what do you do?"


Lady- "I am the CEO for a company, I'm not sure you have heard of it"


Mom- "what is it called?"


Lady- "Product RED"


Can you believe that- sitting next to the CEO of Product RED! Mom proceeds to tell her about our adoption, and she says that she loves that and would love to talk!


God is in the details.


2. When we were at the brunch the President graciously asked Moody and I how things were going with the adoption. He said to please contact him if we get into any trouble over there:) I thought that was sweet, but we have no intention of seeing the inside of an Ethiopian jail. I think he probably meant more along the lines of embassy appointment, secretly I was hoping help with a referral!! I'm just kidding- he is the President of the United States, not a baby-placer.


He did mention that "Condie" (I knew he meant Condoleezza Rice) had just gotten back from Ethiopia!! I thought that was cool, but unfortunately she wasn't at the brunch.


I got a message from mom on Sunday afternoon that she was going with the First Lady and a few friends to dinner with Condoleezza Rice!! Are you kidding me?? I called her back to tell her that she had just gone to Ethiopia, and she answered her phone in Ms. Rice's apartment. My mom was great and told me she would get right on it!! She called early the next day to say they had a wonderful talk about Ethiopia!


God is in the details.


3. The first morning at our hotel we just knew that our cute waiter was Ethiopian. We asked him, he said yes and was immediately our new best friend:) Did you know that D.C has the largest population of Ethiopians outside of Ethiopia? We found that to be true very quickly.

Most of the staff at our hotel were Ethiopian. They were incredibly gracious and kind. They spent each morning teaching us Amharic and telling us all about Ethiopia.


I have to tell you about our new friend Fifi. She is a precious Ethiopian woman that also worked at the hotel restaurant. She has been in the states for 10 years. She has a 5 month old son and a 2 year old daughter that live with her mom in Addis. They were both born in the States, but she doesn't have anyone to care for her children, so she took them to Addis last month. Her eyes would well up with tears at the mention of them. I just can't imagine! The job opportunity for her is here, her caregiver is there. She is making an incredible sacrifice for her family.


We told her that we would love to take gifts to her children when we travel. I promised to love and kiss on them for her. I can't wait to meet Fifi's children. They are precious, she just sent us a picture yesterday.


This is our last morning and the kids are sadly saying good-bye to dear Fifi.




God is in the details.


We thought this was a trip to attend a swanky brunch at the White House, a chance for the kids to meet the President and First Lady and God had so much more!


As we wait for our referral, a.k.a- next big thing, I don't want to miss the blessings the Lord has for us along the way. Pray each of you see God in the details as we anticipate the coming of His birth.


My boys talking to the President with their Nanny and Uncle Joey.
Thursday, December 13, 2007

another happy story

Please read this post on Journey to Baby Baker! (titled Leap of Faith) It is amazing to read these stories of the Lord bringing families together.

Trusting in His perfect timing when we will be able to share our happy referral story:)

Tomorrow marks 18 weeks.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

erica's referral

Another blog friend received their referral yesterday! Reading referral posts make me so happy. See her sweet family looking at pictures here.
Monday, December 10, 2007

photo tour

The weekend was amazing. We were very blessed to see Washington D.C in such a unique way. We are tired, and I have several specifics that I want to share. Until then, enjoy these photos.



All 11 grandkids on Nanny and Bunty's bed in their White House bedroom!


Moody, The First Lady and myself :)


The boys with one of their heroes, Nolan Ryan


The whole crew


In the buffet line- that is my sister, Kelley, Issy, and yes- The President


The family by the official White House Christmas tree

Thursday, December 6, 2007

p's and q's

I will be checking out of the cyberspace/bloggy world for a few days. I won't be obsessively checking blogs (which I'm sure will mean referrals-like Keva got one last week when I was away from the computer for 1 day)! I think it will be a good exercise for me, though the reason isn't one of trying to learn self-control.

We are headed out of town. I will let my sister-in-law over at A Long Way From the Theta House give you a glimpse as to what we will be doing. I will share the other side of the story when we return. I sure hope it is a good story and not a oh-so-funny, I'm sure glad that didn't happen to me funny. :)

Pray that the kids mind their p's and q's!! Praying for referrals, court dates and safe travels.
Sunday, December 2, 2007

atwood clan

My sweet friend Keva got THE CALL! I am so happy for her precious family. Isaac couldn't be any cuter:)

GO MEET ISAAC

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"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from becoming polluted by the world." James 1:27
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