well

Hello all who read. I am so happy and sad now. I found out people do read my blog, but I also realized I put out some info without thinking.
I first would like to apologize to my church family. I did not mean to make this sound like we are angry in any way. We are not it is just time. And to the readers that I didn't know I had...Thank you. I am very happy to know we have people praying for us during this time.
Thank you all who read and all who are praying. I have to admit my heart hurts a bit but I am under the leadership of my husband. I will miss and look forward to visiting the church with our children. You all have prayed with us during this process and we are VERY thankful.
I enjoy being able to write to you all, but I do not ever mean to offend anyone.
B~

Prayer

Hello
It is the night before the final day of school for the year 2010. We started this new curriculum and I really love it. I almost felt bad leaving the BJU Press but it is accountability I needed, and my children LOVE IT! It is called Classical conversations, and it is biblical based and very cool. I do owe a big thank you to my friend who introduced it to me and well...Thank you!!!!
I know you have read about the adoption and yes I am going to home school ALL four children. I am ready for the new children to come to school and get to know the kids and feel comfortable with the changes. I am not starting them in a class until we do some English work at home first.
I am really seeing God work in all we do. He is most definitely in complete control over here.
I do want to say this weekend coming up is going to be a very big and busy one. Sunday is Christmas at GG's house and the Christmas Program at Church. I know that we will be sleeping in on Monday!
Oh by the way, the reason why I named this one prayer is because I have a prayer request. Besides the adoption, travel, and family changing. We are now in the process of finding a new church. We loved the church we have attended for the last five years but Rich and I feel it is time to move on. I do not now about you but when changing churches it is a happy sad experience. We new the time was coming due to things happening in the body. We also felt we need to do this before the kids come home so they do not have any big changes when they first come home. We will be out and visiting some old friends at their churches and seeing family and friends that we have been missing so much. I am asking for prayer because as you know I am not good with conflict or change in these ways. Pray for the peace and clarity in all we do, pray God gets all glory in our obedience to His call, and that our adoption is also honoring and glorifying to Him.
Once again Thank you all who read
Bridget :)

The Family of SIX!!!!!

Well, were do I start. We, Rich and I, set out on November 19th to Ethiopia to meet the two children our WONDERFUL agency matched to our family. We arrived on Saturday night at like 11:45pm so they had a driver pick us up and bring us to the guest house were we stayed for the week. Sunday morning we woke up and Gail, the women who is in charge of the home were our children are staying, picked us up and brought us to the children's house. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW ...and many more. We arrived on Sunday early afternoon and could not leave for all the coffee (BUNNA) in Ethiopia.

There is not one child there that we didn't want to bring home. So many had parents and showed us their photo books and we laughed and loved on each and everyone of them. We met children getting ready to move to all different areas of the US and they are happy to say the least.

Our two children...well we were introduced by about 20 kids running through the courtyard screaming, "Mebrate Roba Family, Mebrate Roba Family....!!!!!!!!" It was so cool to see that the books of photos are looked at by everyone. They approached us with hugs and saying Hi mom and dad. That was it, It finally was real. For the longest time I had a photo of them but now a piece of me is in another country waiting for us to come back and bring them home. That sounds so cool...HOME!

I know I can not speak for everybody but if in you heart you feel God calling you to adopt or do something for an orphan...come talk to me. This place was open, friendly, and most of all LOVING! I would not say this will be our only adoption we go through but it will always be our first.

The way I thought Ethiopia would be was dirty and unfriendly. I apologize to Ethiopia. They are all very friendly, caring, and hardworking people. I enjoyed my time there and will be returning soon...many times!

Our adoption is not over. we have to now return for our Embassy date were we will receive their paperwork, passports, and release information from Ethiopia. That is the time we bring them home. So please continue prayer on provision of GODS WILL.

Thank you all so much for all your prayers. I also want to thank the agency we used!!!! they are the best.

So the moment you have all been waiting for....

The time is SO close

Each night I lay in bed thinking...Soon I will hear FOUR voices calling MOM. I can not wait til I can share all my hearts crys with you, whoever you all are. We are getting ready to head out to our destination and appear in court to say "YES! We would love to be there parents" Please pray the judge says "You are accepted!!!" Oh what a joy this hole journey has been, and to think it is not over. I want to say thank you all for your prayers and support during all of these ups and downs.
If ever you think of adopting...DO IT!!!! I believe there are a hole lot of loving and deserving children out there who need a family. And if you are not thinking of adopting then I would say help out someone who is looking to adopt. Raising your children is not easy but you make the money, time, and effort to accomplish it all. But when it comes to adopting raising and extra income to get there is not so easy, and sometimes very scary. It takes a whole body working together to complete any task, so that includes supporting each other when we step out to do something.
Please, I am not asking for me but think in your heart and see if there is something you can do for an orphan, a widow, or a neighbor.
Thanks for reading, have a great week!
Bridget

Simply amazing

As I had told you all our court day was not completed on the day we were assigned. But it was finalized on Wednesday!!!!! WE PASSED!!! It is a go we are defiantly in for the mid November court date that we have to appear in. Rich was so calm on the outside the whole two days of waiting I on the other hand not so much.
Things that crossed my mind were... WHY?, ...Who was more important than I?... and the only thing I could come up with was...God knows. We as a family did complete our fast as planned and felt that someone was in need and we could wait.
Now the wait is over and we are in packing mode. The girls are getting a little sad but happy and so am I. As for Rich well you know he will show his feelings soon, I think?
To night we are off to see my niece in the play "BYE BYE BIRDIE" @ Oak Lawn HS
How fun. I am looking forward to everything that is to come with this adoption and the new children coming home to us. I would like to ask if you may all pray for a smooth transaction for all of us. I think, after watching a few friends bring home children to their families, that it takes allot of Gods will and discernment to get though it all.
Please note those of you who are reading, I thank you. It has been my pleasure (a very dear friends line) to walk you through our life calling. And from the bottom to the top of our hearts we thank you for your prayers.
:) Bridget

What a morning

Dear friends,
Well today was the day of our first court date in the country we are adopting from. They had to close court early and our case was not heard. I do know they will hear our case tomorrow and we will get the news then.
I am pleasantly at peace. I am in complete submission to Gods will for this adoption. Our Pastor gave a sermon an the difference between satans attacks and God tests. I know that God wants all children to have a home so I am in His will. I also know satan wants us to doubt God and His power. I trust that God has this one and I am reallying on His sovereignty.
Thank you all who read, feel free to respond anytime. I do need others to encourage me at times. I am pressing on and moving forward.
We still have our court date that we go to the chosen country. And that is when we meet our children!
Praise Gos for all He has done and is doing.

what a great day!

Well my friends it has been a long time and I have some great news. Today I spent the day with three families. I know it does not sound fun but there was 33 people, 16 of which were adopted. I felt so close to my children yet so far!
I am preparing to leave soon, but first and for most, October 25th is a court date for our children. I am going to ask that you please pray Gods will on that day and that we hear good news soon after.
Also, we are in need of prayer for the upcoming travel dates that we have. I do not want to post any of it due to the fact I am not sure of the guidelines of that form of posting. I am very grateful to all of you who have been standing by us in prayer and support. We are looking forward to sharing more when we are able.
But as for the exciting day. Thank you Shane and Dianna for allowing us to be a part of such a beautiful moment!!!!! Love the girls, oh yea and Alexi too! Good luck with the play...Break a Leg!!!

Good night all
Bridget :)