Imagine two adults who are fairly well traveled flying internationally. Then imagine the same scenario, but each of those adults has to hold a baby the whole time. It definitely changes things!
We tried our best to pack light, but we were also brand new parents and wanted to be sure that we had everything on hand that the babies might need for the 18 hour international flight, a combined 7 hours of layovers and 5 hours of domestic flights. We checked our largest bag. But on the long trip from Ethiopia back home we still had one carry on item, one personal item and one baby each. We both agree that the airport was a much more difficult experience than the plane ride!
My favorite memory is of my dear, patient husband in a security check line with me. He was carrying our brand new son in a Baby Bjorn carrier on his chest. Unfortunately our son wasn't happy. And he let everyone know it. Poor baby boy screamed at the top of his lungs for about 20 minutes straight! Now that I'm a parent I know that this is much easier to take when you're not the one holding the baby. But when the baby is attached to you and screaming, you feel a strong desire to calm that baby down.
To make matters worse, hubby realized that he had a jacket on under the Baby Bjorn carrier which he would have to somehow remove before going through security.
We're totally new at all this!
He started working his way forward in the line, asking people if they minded if he got in front of them. Nobody minded. Not when he had a screaming baby attached to him. Baby girl and I stayed where we were in line.
When I finally caught up to him on the other side of the security check, he'd discovered the reason that baby boy wasn't happy. Poor thing had wet his diaper and it had soaked completely through his outfit.
And the Baby Bjorn carrier.
And daddy's outfit.
And we realized we had no baby wipes left.
Again, we're totally new at all this.
We didn't even have a change of clothes for either child. Who knew you'd need a change of clothes? I mean, why would a baby possibly need a change of clothes when you're looking ahead at a 30 hour trip? I had picked out a cute coming home outfit for each of them to meet friends and family in at the airport. So much for those!
Thankfully, we had the outfits with us that they had been wearing when we first met them in a carry on bag. I'm planning to save those outfits. So...they put them on again.
Yup, they.
Baby girl had wet through her outfit too. She was just less vocal about it. We're much more attentive to how often we change diapers now.
But, let me say that the plane ride itself wasn't all that bad. We had a number of people praying that the babies would do well on it, and I know the Lord heard and honored those prayers. Our international flight had other adopting families on it, so the tone of the flight was baby friendly. And our babies weren't the only ones who were fussy now and then. It was long. But we got through it just fine.
We are so glad to be home and settled!
March 30, 2010
March 28, 2010
The Day We Met Our Children
On March 9, 2010 we met our son and daughter for the first time. It was a day we had long anticipated. We were tired from a long flight, but we couldn't wait to see their faces and hold them in our arms, these precious babies the Lord had given to us.
The man who ran our Guest House drove us to the Transition Home where our children had been staying for the last 20 days. Driving in Ethiopia is a lot different than it is here in America. Most of the time we were in a car in Addis Ababa we were fearing for our lives. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it was pretty scary. There are usually horns honking at all times. They don't seem to have any stop lights or signs that we noticed. I'm not sure whether they have a "right of way" there. So as you can imagine, our hearts were beating quickly for a number of reasons.
We drove up to the house where our son and daughter were, a place that is etched in my mind now. We were led through a short tour of the older kids' rooms, kitchen, etc...most of that is a blur in my mind. We were in the same building as our children!! We were about to meet them!
Finally they took us into a baby room upstairs. They pointed out a sweet, small baby in a crib by the door. Then they pointed to another crib against the far wall. "This is your baby," they said.
How can words do justice to that moment? Our baby girl, whose face we'd studied in pictures for hours on end, was lying there in front of us. In person. Sleeping, just like she was in the first pictures we'd ever seen of her.
I couldn't let her lay there! I picked her up and held her, my daughter. She smiled at us and I thought my heart would burst.
We enjoyed her for a few moments, then hubby asked about our little boy. They walked us to a common area, and there was our son. The same boy that we'd loved from a distance, here before us. We'd recognize him anywhere. He was being held by a nanny, and there were a number of other nannies there waiting to enjoy our first moments together as a family. Looking back, we think they were being strategic about the way they introduced us to our baby boy. He's happiest when he's just eaten...and we could see traces of formula around his mouth. He was also wearing a bib that said "Feed Me." He's a boy, through and through.
We held our son and daughter. And we were happy.
Psalm 72:18-19 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be His glorious name forever!
The man who ran our Guest House drove us to the Transition Home where our children had been staying for the last 20 days. Driving in Ethiopia is a lot different than it is here in America. Most of the time we were in a car in Addis Ababa we were fearing for our lives. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it was pretty scary. There are usually horns honking at all times. They don't seem to have any stop lights or signs that we noticed. I'm not sure whether they have a "right of way" there. So as you can imagine, our hearts were beating quickly for a number of reasons.
We drove up to the house where our son and daughter were, a place that is etched in my mind now. We were led through a short tour of the older kids' rooms, kitchen, etc...most of that is a blur in my mind. We were in the same building as our children!! We were about to meet them!
Finally they took us into a baby room upstairs. They pointed out a sweet, small baby in a crib by the door. Then they pointed to another crib against the far wall. "This is your baby," they said.
How can words do justice to that moment? Our baby girl, whose face we'd studied in pictures for hours on end, was lying there in front of us. In person. Sleeping, just like she was in the first pictures we'd ever seen of her.
I couldn't let her lay there! I picked her up and held her, my daughter. She smiled at us and I thought my heart would burst.
We enjoyed her for a few moments, then hubby asked about our little boy. They walked us to a common area, and there was our son. The same boy that we'd loved from a distance, here before us. We'd recognize him anywhere. He was being held by a nanny, and there were a number of other nannies there waiting to enjoy our first moments together as a family. Looking back, we think they were being strategic about the way they introduced us to our baby boy. He's happiest when he's just eaten...and we could see traces of formula around his mouth. He was also wearing a bib that said "Feed Me." He's a boy, through and through.
We held our son and daughter. And we were happy.
Psalm 72:18-19 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be His glorious name forever!
March 25, 2010
March 24, 2010
Redeemed
Our pastor closed his sermon on Revelation 21:9-27 two weeks ago with a moving illustration...
Imagine that you were born into a miserable situation: no family, no future, no hope. A father you did not know and never would have met sets his love on you. He makes elaborate plans to redeem you for himself, make you part of his family, and give you hope and a future. The price for your redemption is shocking, and this father who has decided to adopt you doesn’t even flinch.
At a cost to himself that you cannot fathom, a price that you will not understand until your own faculties have matured, he ransoms your life. The redemption entails a journey whose distance we have no categories for comprehending, a sacrifice that risks everything, suffers, dies, and rises from the dead, and in the triumphant resurrection your life is secured. He has bought you back and he will fetch you home.
He puts his name on you, and he has promised to bring you into his home where you will live in his presence. While you await the finalization of the adoption process, he gives you a down payment that can never be revoked, sealing you with his own Spirit. Brothers and sisters, what the Philpots have just done in adopting their baby son and daughter parallels so beautifully what our Father has done. We have been adopted. The Father who has redeemed us and made us part of his family shows us in this passage what we will inherit, the place we will live. If we believe this, let us live like the children of such a Father.
March 23, 2010
Adopted for Life Audio
All of the audio (main sessions as well as breakout sessions) for the recent Adopted for Life conference are available here. Enjoy! I plan to...as soon as I have a little more free time.
Excuses
From the blog of a friend who has four biological children and five adopted children...
I've had my share of excuses in the past.
Not enough time
Too young
Too old
Can't afford it
Already have four children
Not sure if it's God's will
What will others say?
What will others think?
Can't afford it
What if it's hard on our other kids?
It's not the right time
Not sure I would be good at it
House is too small
Can't afford it
Not sure if I want to start all over again
What would we drive?
What if it's too much work?
What if it's too hard?
Can't afford it
Yet for every excuse God has the answer - Him. It's all about Him, period.
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.
We limit God with our excuses.We limit God with our fears.We limit God by putting Him inside a box - a box we have designed on our own.
But by doing this we are actually robbing ourselves -- robbing ourselves of the blessings.Robbing ourselves of true joy.
Robbing ourselves of truly living.
Because you see, when we take us out of the picture,our fears,
our excuses,and we put God as the center of our lives,
the possibilities are endless.
He has the way.He IS the way.
And all we have to do is stop making excuses and take that first step.and listen to the One who knows.
Stop listening to the world.
Stop being afraid of the what ifs
The One who has the answers.
The One who really matters.
The truth is, we don't have to be perfect, because He is.
We don't have to have all the answers because He already does.
We don't have to know how because He will show us.
Each day we wait is a day they wait too...
The cost of our excuses is a lot higher than the cost of an adoption
because look at what it's costing them.
Stop making excuses.
They are waiting
and so is He...
To show you the way.
(part two)
What is really behind the our excuses... I am ashamed to say, for me anyway, it's basically boils down to selfishness.
I guess though, in part, that is due to our strong protective nature that goes into effect the second we leave the womb. Out we come- into the big bad world- where immediately we demand our needs are met. These feelings of having our needs met are so strong that being able to think of others' needs has to be taught...
and taught...
and taught some more.
I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have said to my children "How do you think that would make someone else feel?"
And, I remember my mother saying the same thing to me.
So because we are so in tuned to meet 'our own' needs, I think that often times we use excuses to protect what we do have -just in case we might need it later.
And, the truth is- if we open our home and our hearts to a child- it IS going to cost us something...
our time,
our money,
our attention,
and probably a whole lot more.
Therefore, in our minds, our excuses become legitimate.
After all, we have to be able to protect 'our own' and give 'our own' what they need and want-so much so, that unfortunately, we have a nation full of (sorry) spoiled brats that no longer know how to think of anyone or anything else- but 'our own' needs and wants.
Ouch.
But the truth is, this life is not 'our own'. It's not about us making it through safe. It's not about us making it to the end with the greatest amount of comfort and ease.
I think somewhere along the way we have told ourselves it is okay to come up with these excuses in effort to cling to our securities. We seem to need some guarantee that before we take that first step of reaching out to someone else that our own needs will still be met, that things will go smoothly and that things will be easy.
Can I just be honest with you? They won't. Things won't always be easy.
You will give until it hurts.
You will give of yourself.
You will make sacrifices.
And it will be work.
You will suffer and you will hurt.
Sound familiar?
Like maybe what Jesus did for you and I on the cross?
I am so thankful that God chose to not only care about 'His own'. His one and only son.
I am so thankful for the sacrifices He made.
He gave.
He gave it all.
And we are to follow His example.
He who did not spare His own son, but gave Him up for us all-how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
March 22, 2010
Africa
We met a sweet friend in Ethiopia who was there adopting a six month old girl that had been in the orphanage with our babies. I'm sharing this from her blog because I feel the same way...
Ever since coming home from Ethiopia it feels I cannot get myself grounded.
I have heard it said before that Africa changes you.
I totally understand that now.
I feel like I still have so much to process. So much that I need God to reveal.
I do wish though that somehow I could share more... the beauty, the smells in the air, the sound of voices singing, and the sweet touch of the orphan reaching for your hand. Because it's going to take more. More of us caring, more of us willing, and more of us working to make a difference.
I pray that I never forget.
I pray that I never look away again.
I pray that I am big enough to do more...
Because I have to.
They need us.
We need each other.
March 21, 2010
Normal and Miraculous
Life has changed for us. Of course, life is bound to change when you have two newborns in your home. Our walls are full of laughter and joy, cuddling and kisses, diapers and bottles. I can't wait to share more in the coming weeks about the first time we met our children and how wonderful life has been since then.
But the change in our lives involves more than that. We would be heartless if we weren't dramatically affected by the poverty and desperation that we encountered in Ethiopia. Just our childrens' stories alone are enough to break our hearts.
In the face of this kind of pain, I'm clinging to the promises in God's Word that He will make all things new someday. Revelation 21:3-5 keeps running through my mind -- "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
It seems normal and right that these two beautiful, happy babies are part of our family. We love being parents, and the babies are doing so well with us. God has been very good. But as normal and right as it all seems, I don't want to forget that God sent us halfway around the world to get them. He saw them while they were in tragic and desperate situations, and He intervened to rescue them. He placed them on our hearts and provided the means for us to adopt them into our family. It's a miracle that these two little ones are in our home, that they will grow up as Philpots.
But the change in our lives involves more than that. We would be heartless if we weren't dramatically affected by the poverty and desperation that we encountered in Ethiopia. Just our childrens' stories alone are enough to break our hearts.
In the face of this kind of pain, I'm clinging to the promises in God's Word that He will make all things new someday. Revelation 21:3-5 keeps running through my mind -- "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
It seems normal and right that these two beautiful, happy babies are part of our family. We love being parents, and the babies are doing so well with us. God has been very good. But as normal and right as it all seems, I don't want to forget that God sent us halfway around the world to get them. He saw them while they were in tragic and desperate situations, and He intervened to rescue them. He placed them on our hearts and provided the means for us to adopt them into our family. It's a miracle that these two little ones are in our home, that they will grow up as Philpots.
March 17, 2010
March 15, 2010
Airport Welcome Party
Many dear friends welcomed us home from Ethiopia at the airport on Saturday night. Denny Burk was kind enough to put together a video of our homecoming. It was a special time we'll never forget!
March 14, 2010
March 13, 2010
Arrival Time!
Hello all! This is Brandy, and I have a quick update on the Philpots' flight schedule. Apparently their flight out of Ethiopia was delayed yesterday which threw off their arrival time by quite a bit. They are now expected to return tonight at 8:30. We don't know their flight number, but they will be flying Delta out of Detroit. Feel free to come welcome them home by meeting us at the airport at that time!! Thanks!
March 11, 2010
Great News
Everything was smooth and easy at the embassy today, so all four of us will be boarding a plane to come home this weekend!
We meet baby girl's birth mom tomorrow. I have a Bible for her in her language. Please pray we can share the gospel clearly and that we find out a lot from her.
Sorry to be short, I have a screaming girl on my lap...
We meet baby girl's birth mom tomorrow. I have a Bible for her in her language. Please pray we can share the gospel clearly and that we find out a lot from her.
Sorry to be short, I have a screaming girl on my lap...
March 10, 2010
Happy
I have an unexpected opportunity to post today while the Grace Guest House is checking on whether we can meet our little girl's birth mom on Friday morning. Daddy and the babies are all sleeping. :)
We are so happy. I can't explain how natural and right it feels to be the parents of these two absolutely precious children. Any doubts or fears I've ever had about whether I would love them as much as I wanted to...they all seem silly now. I love them more every hour.
Our sweet girl is full of smiles and our handsome boy is chatty with us. They've taken to us immediately. I can't wait for you all to meet them!
We are so happy. I can't explain how natural and right it feels to be the parents of these two absolutely precious children. Any doubts or fears I've ever had about whether I would love them as much as I wanted to...they all seem silly now. I love them more every hour.
Our sweet girl is full of smiles and our handsome boy is chatty with us. They've taken to us immediately. I can't wait for you all to meet them!
March 9, 2010
Family of Four
The Lord has been so good to us. We arrived, with all of our luggage, safely in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning. This afternoon we met for the first time our baby son and daughter. They are even more precious in person than they are in pictures.
The internet is slow and unpredictable here, so I won't be able to post pictures yet...but wait until you see them. They're small and they're sweet. Our dear girl has a cold and a bad diaper rash, and I think she was a little sad tonight too. She had a wonderful nanny who loved her. But overall they're both doing great.
I'm sad to say that they were being fed 7 times a day and 3-4 times during the night. So it'll be interesting as we try to cut that back.
We'll plan to post on Thursday to let you know how the embassy appt goes. Other adopting families don't seem too worried about it, so we're hopeful!
We're full of thanksgiving to our great God!! He has been more than generous to us.
The internet is slow and unpredictable here, so I won't be able to post pictures yet...but wait until you see them. They're small and they're sweet. Our dear girl has a cold and a bad diaper rash, and I think she was a little sad tonight too. She had a wonderful nanny who loved her. But overall they're both doing great.
I'm sad to say that they were being fed 7 times a day and 3-4 times during the night. So it'll be interesting as we try to cut that back.
We'll plan to post on Thursday to let you know how the embassy appt goes. Other adopting families don't seem too worried about it, so we're hopeful!
We're full of thanksgiving to our great God!! He has been more than generous to us.
March 7, 2010
We're off!
On August 28 we set our affections on two orphans whom we had never met. We didn't know their names, their ages or even their genders at the time. Over the next few months, our great God revealed His plan to bless us with a baby son and daughter, both still in their birth mothers' wombs when He first placed them on our hearts.
We're just two ordinary people. And God is doing an extraordinary thing in our lives. Praise His holy name!
We're just two ordinary people. And God is doing an extraordinary thing in our lives. Praise His holy name!
March 5, 2010
Please Pray!
We just received some hard news. The US Embassy in Ethiopia announced today that they are changing the adoption processing time line. They will be taking several weeks or even a few months after each embassy appointment to make a thorough investigation of a case before they issue a child a visa to travel. Of course, they have the right to do this and we want them to have time to be sure that adoptions are legit and legal. But this may change things for our upcoming trip.
Our US Embassy appointment is on Thursday at 3 pm. Under the old time line, we were supposed to get the visas for our children on Friday afternoon. Our flight leaves Ethiopia on Friday night. Now, depending on how things go at the embassy appointment Thursday, we might need to fly home without our son and daughter, and come back to get them a few weeks/months later.
I spoke with our adoption director on the phone a few minutes ago and she seemed hopeful. She said that since we already have an embassy appointment she doesn't think they would hold us to this new rule. But there's no way to know until we get there.
Please pray with us that God would give us favor with the US Embassy! He is greater than the rulers of this world. He has placed them in their positions of power. Proverbs 21:1 says "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will." We trust our kind Father to do what is right, and we hope you'll join with us in asking Him to allow us to bring our babies home on Friday, March 12!
Psalm 42:1-3, 10 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
Our US Embassy appointment is on Thursday at 3 pm. Under the old time line, we were supposed to get the visas for our children on Friday afternoon. Our flight leaves Ethiopia on Friday night. Now, depending on how things go at the embassy appointment Thursday, we might need to fly home without our son and daughter, and come back to get them a few weeks/months later.
I spoke with our adoption director on the phone a few minutes ago and she seemed hopeful. She said that since we already have an embassy appointment she doesn't think they would hold us to this new rule. But there's no way to know until we get there.
Please pray with us that God would give us favor with the US Embassy! He is greater than the rulers of this world. He has placed them in their positions of power. Proverbs 21:1 says "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will." We trust our kind Father to do what is right, and we hope you'll join with us in asking Him to allow us to bring our babies home on Friday, March 12!
Psalm 42:1-3, 10 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
March 4, 2010
Birth Parents
We found out today that our little boy was "from the police" and so he has no living relatives that are known of. When we go, we hope to find out more about what this means.
We also found out that our little girl has a 17 year old birth mom that we will be able to meet. Please pray for our conversation with her!
We also found out that our little girl has a 17 year old birth mom that we will be able to meet. Please pray for our conversation with her!
March 3, 2010
Our Own Children
A friend recently asked me if we had talked about how we would approach a conversation with our children years from now to let them know that they "aren't our real children." It was an eye opening question! Because the truth of it is, they are our real children. I know she meant to ask me about talking with the kids about adoption. And I guess it's just not all that dramatic to us. We're not planning to sit them down at some point for a somber conversation about it. We couldn't be more thrilled and excited about all that God has done, and we expect that conversations with our children about how God brought them into our family will be full of joy and praise to Him.
My friend also asked me if we plan to try to have children "of our own." This was another surprising question. We have two children of our own! God has given them to us and we love them already, before we've even seen them face to face. I understand that she meant biological children. But I really want to be careful about the way we phrase things. Our children don't have to question whether they're our real, our own son and daughter. They are.
All of this has such spiritual parallels. You see, I'm an adopted daughter of God. I was a rebel against Him. The Bible tells us that all of us are born that way. Ephesians 2:3 says "we once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." But God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for my sin and purchase me as His own. His daughter. Adopted daughter. And true daughter. Romans 8:14 says "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him."
Dr. Moore asks a telling question in his book Adopted for Life. Do we want most of all to be parents, or do we want most of all to be conservators of our genetic material? I highly recommend the chapter in his book called Don't You Want Your Own Kids?
Thank the Lord for His goodness to our family!! Psalm 113:9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
My friend also asked me if we plan to try to have children "of our own." This was another surprising question. We have two children of our own! God has given them to us and we love them already, before we've even seen them face to face. I understand that she meant biological children. But I really want to be careful about the way we phrase things. Our children don't have to question whether they're our real, our own son and daughter. They are.
All of this has such spiritual parallels. You see, I'm an adopted daughter of God. I was a rebel against Him. The Bible tells us that all of us are born that way. Ephesians 2:3 says "we once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." But God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for my sin and purchase me as His own. His daughter. Adopted daughter. And true daughter. Romans 8:14 says "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him."
Dr. Moore asks a telling question in his book Adopted for Life. Do we want most of all to be parents, or do we want most of all to be conservators of our genetic material? I highly recommend the chapter in his book called Don't You Want Your Own Kids?
Thank the Lord for His goodness to our family!! Psalm 113:9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
March 2, 2010
Formula
We found out today that our babies have been moved from the orphanage to a transition home. Most children adopted through our agency go to the transition home just before their parents come to get them.
The director of our adoption agency also sent out an email today saying that the transition home is in desperate need of formula. We're bringing donations of formula when we go, but we'd love for you to pray that our babies and many others at the transition home will have enough to eat!
It's also on my mind that our sweet little ones have recently been taken from the only nannies they've ever known. I wonder if they are sad. And I'm praying that the Lord will help them adjust to us -- it's so many changes in a short amount of time. Oh God, please help us to be a good mommy and daddy to these precious children that you have given to us.
The director of our adoption agency also sent out an email today saying that the transition home is in desperate need of formula. We're bringing donations of formula when we go, but we'd love for you to pray that our babies and many others at the transition home will have enough to eat!
It's also on my mind that our sweet little ones have recently been taken from the only nannies they've ever known. I wonder if they are sad. And I'm praying that the Lord will help them adjust to us -- it's so many changes in a short amount of time. Oh God, please help us to be a good mommy and daddy to these precious children that you have given to us.
March 1, 2010
Ethnic Adoption Prepares Us For Heavenly Worship
Revelation 7:9-10 And after this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
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