He turns our Saddness to Gladness

This week has been a week of sad news and the constant reminder that God is in control.
First we have been working hard the past two weeks to get all of our paperwork ready to be turned in the beginning of Feb. Of course, things don't always go the way we plan. Changes needed to be made, mail has gotten lost, among other things-point being-we won't be able to make this deadline. I was so sad at first! I mean REALLY disappointed!!! But as the realization sunk in, I was comforted by the TRUTH- that God does work everything out and in His timing! So the rest of the day, even though I was disappointed, I had a joyful heart.
Then today we heard some sad news about a little girl at our daughters orphanage. She was most likely a good friend of our oldest daughter there, "M". And our hearts just ache for her, and everyone else there who are mourning this little sweetie.
Even thought this week has been sad and stressful, I am ending it on a good note. Tomorrow I am traveling with a friend, who is also adopting from Haiti, to Alexandria for a Haitian adoption gathering. It's been year since a group of kiddos came home and they want to get together as well as families currently in the process. Needless to say, I am so excited to meet new adoptive families and visit with Amy and Lindsey with our agency, and of course, Rhyan who spends time in Haiti. I love learning new things about Haiti and maybe she will teach me the correct way to say some phrases I have been learning. I will miss my WONDERFUL husband who will be a single parent for the next two days, and my children. But getting a way will be a nice break from the ordinary.
And today we got to see a family off at the airport, on their way to Ethiopia to meet their daughter and have court. After praying and hugging, we said goodbye. I am so excited to hear all about their trip and their first meeting with little miss 'M'. God is so good all the time-All the time God is good! When things are going good, I will praise Him. When things aren't going the way "I" want them to and my heart aches-I will praise HIM!

One year Ago!

One year ago tomorrow, we left for Ethiopia. We said "goodbye" to our beautiful children here in America to say "Hello" to our beautiful daughter in Ethiopia. Nothing could prepare us for the emotions, good and bad we would experience through the next week. We couldn't wait to get there and see Africa and especially our daughter. The day we had been dreaming about for a year was actually happening!!!

I love packing so I was in Heaven trying to get all our necessities to fit with all the donations we wanted to take. I think I packed and repacked a dozen times.

And now a year later, we are going to see another family off at the airport, as they go meet their little girl in Ethiopia. Hopefully when they return we will be celebrating the official new member of their family as they pass court. Of course, she is already a member of the family-we just like to celebrate anyway!

GOOD LUCK HUSONS!!!

CFA

(You have now tuned in to Control Freaks Anonymous. Names have NOT been changed to protect identity.)

"HI, My Name Is Ashlie, And I Am A Control Freak. It Has been 9 minutes since I Last Freaked Out Because I Am Not In Control. I First Realized I Had A Problem A Couple Years Ago. "

Update on our girls

We received an update on our girls in Haiti. It couldn't have come at a better time...yes, That's Just the Way God works!
We got 4 pics of the girls, I wish I could post their sweet faces.
But the coolest news we received was that they got the photo album of us we sent. They love looking at it and "M"(who will be 4 soon) already has learned our names. She is fascinated by Addis's picture, of course. I hope they will be great friends and sisters.
I couldn't stop smiling even as I went to bed, knowing they are learning more about us and they are happy about it.
It was just what I needed to keep the momentum going.
It is going to be a long process but I am so thankful for our agency and the updates we get on our kids every couple weeks. God is so faithful, even in the little things.

Please keep us in prayer as we are nearing our deadline for turning in our dossier and the money needed. (Obviously, if we don't get the money needed it can be turned in at a later date, but the sooner it's turned in the sooner it can be approved=the girls come home sooner)
All in God's timing and we pray His will be done above ALL else.

Dossier!!!

We have sent our dossier for review. Once it is reviewed and approved, we need to get it authenticated, translated and legalized. We also are waiting to have our homestudy approved so we can apply to USCIS for our FDL.
Our prayer is we can get all this done(not FDL) by the end of January so it can be taken down to Haiti in Feb. This will only happen by the GRACE of GOD. We need around $13,000 to turn in with it. It sounds so unattainable and we often feel overwhelmed when we think about it. But we also know how GREAT our God is! If HE wants this to happen NOW- He will make this happen. He loves our girls more than we do and has a plan for our family to unite, so we take comfort in that.
It is exciting to get the paperwork done and down there, I will feel like a weight is lifted.
"M's" bday is this month and I can't help but want to be with her. I want to help her celebrate her life, even though I know very little about it. I can't wait to get to know her- and of course "A". I pray we can have them home by her bday in September, call me a dreamer-I know.
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We have a fundraiser coming up-----January 24
All you have to do is eat at the PIZZA RANCH from 5pm-8pm.
Our family will receive 10% of the proceeds and TIPS!!
Come eat some yummy pizza!

Josh Wilson - I Refuse - SPIRIT 105.3 FM

**** Turn down my blog music on bottom of page to hear the video******

A New Year

I can't believe it's been a whole year since going to Ethiopia and bringing Addis home. She has come a long way and our family has too this past year.
I can't wait to see what this year will bring....hopefully we will be visiting Haiti....going to pick up our daughters from Haiti.....doors opening.....spiritual growth...children growing in Christ....friendships strengthened...opportunities to serve as a family and individually...house projects finished....budget cut using my mad shopping skills...healthy eating and activities....just to name a few.
I don't like to use the word "resolutions" because I know if we rely on our own strengths we will fail, but if we lift up our requests to God, and pray His will be done, we can't lose, no matter the outcome.

I pray your 2011 is full of love, growth, and peace in Christ.