Wednesday, December 9, 2009

We'll be home for Christmas

We found out yesterday that we for sure will not be able to travel in December. This week has been an emotional roller coaster. We were very hopeful that we might leave on Christmas, so it was heartbreaking to discover that we'll have to keep waiting some more. However, today's a new day, and I'm tired of being sad about it. To that measure, I've decided to post the top ten reasons that we're happy to be going to Ethiopia in January. (If you happen to be in that Dec. travel group, please ignore any negative statements, of course we'd love to be on that plane with you!!)

10) My birthday is in January...what better way to celebrate!
9) The Ethiopian Christmas is in January, so it's possible that we'll get the rare opportunity to join in that celebration (credit to Audrey for thinking of this one).
8) I've heard that airports are crazy this time of year.
7) We can celebrate Christmas with the other members of our family.
6) We have more time to get organized and prepared for our trip.
5) We have time to collect more donations for the orphanage (credit to Shannon for this one). We are collecting diapers and formula, especially soy formula, to take to Hannah's Hope. Let us know if you want to contribute!
4) We get to travel with awesome families like the Pell family and the Titus family, who have also already passed court and are just waiting to travel.
3) Isaiah gets a couple more weeks to soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of Ethiopia and to be loved on by his special caregivers.
2) Since we won't be traveling during the busy holiday season, more people will be able to celebrate his homecoming with us (we'd love to see you at the airport!)

And the number 1 reason we are happy to be traveling in January to Ethiopia....

1) We serve a completely sovereign, always loving Creator, who does not make mistakes and whose plan is always perfect. Do you think Joseph was happy when his brothers sold him into slavery? Of course not, but what they meant for evil, God meant for good.
But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." Genesis 50:19-20
We trust that God has a plan, and even though we don't understand, there is a reason that we will travel when we do, and we're thankful that the One who can see the entire picture orchestrates everything accordingly.

Now come on guys, you know you want to chime in. Remind us, along with the other families waiting with us, why it will be great to travel in January!

7 comments:

  1. i'm sorry :( but you're right! the Lord's plan is THE plan! the wait won't be as long as it has been! and it will be oh, so sweet!

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  2. So you can take get to see the new HH.
    So you can tell us all about it.
    So you can get a few more weeks of sleep.
    So you can get your holiday stuff put away and organized so you can focus on your new little one.

    Good job for choosing the count it all joy.

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  3. It is my birthday in January as well...the 8th. Hopefully we can celebrate our birthdays either on our way or with our baby boys in our arms!!

    I am so relieved that we passed that I am so glad that we are going to travel soon! I don't care what month it is :)

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  4. Much cheaper airfare!!

    I respect your choice to look at this positively. I know how hard it is. Praying you are blessed abundantly during this last leg of the wait.

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  5. Love your list....and praying you hear about travel soon!!! Positive is the only way to go!

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  6. Well I completly would be disappointed and it's ok to feel that way! But it is much nicer to look at the positives! Another reason...kinda selfish on my part...maybe you'll be able to love on our baby, by the time you go, SURELY we will know who our babe is and you can check on him for us! Hang in there, your process seems bumpy but God is making it perfect!!

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  7. hi! new to your blog (love it!). I can only imagine the wait - we just signed our contracts with AGCI today and are starting the crazy piles of paperwork. But - traveling in January might give you the opportunity to see a little one that could be ours in the future - and you might have pics to share! Will be praying for you all!

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