My children have been trying to convince me to start a blog for weeks – maybe months – but I have resisted pleading a complete lack of spare time – and I don’t mean a spare hour, I mean spare minutes. However, we are in the midst of one of the most exciting adventures of our lives and in order to keep all of our family and friends abreast of our progress, I’ve decided to join the world of bloggers.
Several months ago I was praying and thinking about my life and how it seemed to be in a place of relative calm, relative because I am a homeschooling mother of seven, but things seemed to be ticking along quite nicely and it felt good. I began to ask God, “What more do you want me to do for you. What more do you have for my life?” I didn’t intend to give up what I was doing, namely loving my husband, homeschooling our children, and managing my home, but my youngest had just turned three I was about to graduate my second daughter from our homeschool and it just seemed that there might be more to consider.
Then on February 14th, my dear friend Emily called to tell me that they were in the process of adopting two children from Ethiopia. Little did I know that this conversation was the beginning of the Lord’s answer to my prayer. I could not get the conversation out of my mind. I began to read about Ethiopia and the incredible AIDS orphan crisis and my heart broke for the millions of orphaned children. Then Russ went on a trip to Mexico to visit his parents and while he was flying home he read two of the articles I had printed for him. You can find them here: What Will Become of Africa’s AIDS Orphans and Hope Lives Here.
We read more and researched more and shortly after Easter we made the life changing decision to pursue adopting our own little ones from Ethiopia. Although I was ready to jump right in on paperwork, I knew that once I started I would not be able to stop. So I set it aside, finished my school year, and planned a wonderful graduation ceremony for our daughter and her friend.
Once those events were over I dove into paperwork and for two weeks worked like crazy to accomplish as much as possible. God’s kindess has been evident every step of the way. It has been a help to live in a small community where people are easy to reach and glad to help. I’ve read of people who have waited two months for letters from their doctors, ours took one week. Others have waited a month for their criminal history check, again, ours took one week.
Thank you for reading. More to come.
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June 19, 2006
nice blogging! 🙂 Now we can follow your story…
June 19, 2006
I am so glad that you are doing this. We are praying for your family and for the future little ones that will be added to your family.
June 19, 2006
Michael…be forewarned…the articles will rip your heart out.
Be prepared to start begging your parents to adopt from Ethiopia.
*grin*
June 20, 2006
Thanks for starting this, Mrs. Q! I’m looking forward to keeping up with the story over the summer from here and can’t wait to meet the little ones that God is going to add to your family.
June 20, 2006
Wow. I think it’s so wonderful that God has put it in your heart to adopt a few of these children. Im extremely exited for you!
June 20, 2006
That sounds wonderful. God has been good in working all this out so quickly for y’all. 🙂
June 20, 2006
that’s wonderful, Mrs Q! Thanks for sharing. I’m so happy for your family =)
June 20, 2006
Dear Qies,
God bless you all! I am so proud of your family for what you are doing. I know the children you adopt will be so overwhelmed by your love, and I am excited for them to come!
Love,
Jessa
June 20, 2006
Thank you to everyone who commented. It is so encouraging to me! The articles about AIDS orphans are long, but well worth reading.
June 23, 2006
Wow, those articles were very powerful! I admire you guys for taking action in helping these children! May God bless you guys in this adventure! Thank you for the articles!