HOME!!!

There is so much more to share about the trip, all that we saw there, the incredible needs and ministry opportunities to be apart of but for now I need to skip forward because…

OUR FAMILY IS TOGETHER!!!!

We are home and it feels so good!!! Any anxiety of the much talked about dreaded flight home was unwarranted. The children did great. Again it was so nice to have Bereket and Daniel, our friends from the orphanage who spoke the Walayta language, to be able to interpret for us as we explained to them exactly what to expect.

The arrival at the Minneapolis airport was incredible.

To have our family waiting for us with signs, balloons and all the love possible to welcome us home was something I will never forget. We had practiced with the kids identifying each of the other older children and their names over and over on the trip so when they finally saw them in person I really think it all clicked for them.

Mike and I have prayed so much for an extra-ordinary type of bonding between all members of our family. The 6 of us have always been so close and it is something that we prayed would continue with our 2 new members. I heard and read of so many attachment difficulties so we were prepared for this too. While I know we are only at the beginning of this journey I have to say that we really could not of asked for a better beginning. We feel so blessed.

THE LORD IS GOOD!!! OH SO GOOD!!!! TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY!!!

7/30/10

7/30/10 Friday - Meeting the children

The sun is coming up, the dogs barking, the roosters are crowing and the chanting has begun. Mike and I are sitting here right now trying to wrap our minds around the fact that we are going to meet our 2 new children in just a few hours. We really do not know how old they actually are, how big they will be, what will they actually look like. We have studied the pictures over and over again, even the video that I took at our first brief encounter but still we just do not know what to expect. How will they react to us? What will we feel when we see them? OH LORD, Please Calm our anxious hearts !!!!!

We have them! They are with us and to quote Mike, “Could this of gone any better!” They are beautiful and extremely affectionate children. We start walking from the gate to the house, they see us and come running. All four of them, our 2 children and the other 2 twin girls they have been with and grown so close to at the orphanage. I am almost worried that they are too affectionate and the bonding is going too well for just the first day. Although, they have seen pictures of us and have been told all about us for sometime, you read about attachment disorders where the children will go and are affectionate with just about anyone never making that proper real attachment to their adoptive parents. I really am not sure if that is the case or not.

From the care center in Addis we right away drove to Soddo. We were so concerned for the children regarding the ride down there for we heard they were not use to driving in cars and would often get car sick. We had grabbed two vomit bags from the plane just for this very reason. However, they were not the ones we needed to be concerned about. Both Mike and I, pretty much the entire trip had to be looking forward out the open window, trying not to make any movement of our heads, with the good ole’ vomit bags in hand to be used at any second. Not sure it is due to the extreme rain they have had this season but all the roads especially the ones trying to get out of Addis (which took a good hour itself) were under extreme construction or needed to be. The huge bumps, that I was sure we were going to get stuck in any second, and the constant swirving, stopping and going, combined with the constant smell of exhaust could make anyone who was not use to this lose their breakfast.

7/29/10

7/29/10 Thursday Arrive in Ethiopia 10 p,m.

The flight - was completely uneventful but you forget how horribly long it is. We left Mpls. a little late.. Probably around6pm and flew to Amsterdam where we had a about an hour and a half layover.

The Amsterdam airport - was ginormous. Talk about having fun people watching. It was incredible for me to see so many different people from different cultures all together. I could not help and think again about God’s love for all of us. It also struck me how important I think it is that every Christian experiences some type of international Missions trip at some point in their lives if possible. I know you do not have to necessarily even travel to far from home to go beyond your own culture and bubble we live in. But international travel, especially to a third world country really opens your eyes to just how big and diverse our world is. It is so easy to narrow our views and perspective of life to all the things that REVOLVE AROUND US… but instead we are just a portion of something so much bigger that REVOLVES AROUND THE CREATOR OF IT ALL!!!!!

From Amsterdam we stopped for an hour in Kartoon, Sudan to refuel, not leaving the airplane and then onto Ethiopia. As we were standing in the Immigration Line in the Airport I was flooded with emotions; So many things going through my mind. It really hit home. We are really here. This is really happening. Some of the gush of emotions was remembering the experiences of the last trip here. Most of which I want to block out but yet amazed to be able to look back and now see What God’s Big Plan was that I was unaware of at the time and in the midst of all the turmoil. So glad Mike is with me right now and we were experiencing this together. I could not imagine traveling here again with out him.

The GUESTHOUSE- is very nice. We were greeted at the airport by 2 BFAS staff, loaded our stuff in a van and drove just a few miles to the guest house. The electricity was off right when we arrived so they had candels lite and a table set for us to have dinner. We did the all the paperwork necessary for the Embassy appointment right away including giving them our Embassy fees, then sat and had a bite to eat just the 2 of us and headed to bed. I was not sure if I would be able to sleep but I slept solidly for a good 4 – 4.5 hours, waking at about 4:30am.

7/28/10

Hey everyone! It's Noelle here, Amy's oldest daughter. Just posting some journal entries for my mom while they are in ethiopia. Blogger does not work there so she emailed them to me.

7/28/10 Wednesday FLIGHT LEAVES FOR ETHIOPIA – 5:05 pm

As much as I have been packing and repacking for weeks you would think that I would have been so organized and had the luggage on the side of the curb just waiting to be loaded in the car when it was time to go. Unfortunately that is just NOT how it worked. Not sure why it is always like that for me. Such a bummer.

The night before we left our Pastor, Youth Pastor and their wives came over to pray for us. I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to feel so much love and support from these people. I really believe it is not just because they happen to be our pastors but they are truly our friends. It was great being able to pray together, Giving Him all the Glory and Praises for what is has and is going to do and also praying that the He goes before us and paves the way and makes our paths straight!

When they were there I felt like I was pretty set. The bins were closed, not sealed but closed. We were bringing our 2 carryons with our personal stuff, 1 suitcase for the kids we were shipping and 5 larger plastic bins of donations, including the 2 computers we were able to purchase from the donations from the shower we had. Something happened between then and the time we were to leave for the airport. I really have no idea what it was but it was NOT PRETTY. For some reason I felt the need to reorganize all the bins. LUKE was the official wiegher of the bins (Although I will give credit to CHASE, one of seragent sons from Rockpoint, who did step in when Luke was not available – YOU MADE THE BLOG CHASE!!!;-). I think we weighed and reweighed, reorganized and weighed again a hundred times.

At first I wanted to reorganize so I only had to open certain bins while in Addis and certain ones in Soddo, But as soon as we were into that and almost done we concluded that we knew of someone that was actually leaving a week after we got back and could bring the extra bins for us. We were allowed 2 check in bags each and were going to pay $200 for each of the extra bins we were bringing. This realization made me panic and scramble to again reorganize everything so anything that I needed for specific individuals were packed in the bins I was bringing and not the ones I sent later.

Seriously MY PLAN was to have all the bags on the curb when Mike got home from the half day of work he put in. I really thought I could do it. I was fully aware that with any trip/vacation we go on there is always a bit of tension and anxiety in the house until everything is packed and in the car or even checked in at the airport. Then you add the little facts like this was a trip to AFRICA, all the extra luggage and ministry things we wanted to take advantage of, ABOVE ALL THAT THE FACT THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS WHOLE TRIP IS TO ADOPT AND BRING HOME TWO PRECIOUS LITTLE CHILDREN. I really wanted to be able to minimize that tension as much as possible. It really was my intent. Instead when Mike got home he arrived to a little tornado to say the least. I had my girlfriend, Lynette over – Organizer extraordinaire- One of my Favorite cousins of all times who has experience with the adoption process multiply times and been by our side through all of this from day one– and my mother all running around like crazy. We tried to act like we had it all under control but there was no fooling Mike. It did not help that Luke runs up to him says “its just out of control here!”

Oh, I am so sorry Honey! I really did try. All that said, we were at the airport, checked in and even at the gate 2 hours before our flight

WE ARE HEADED TO ETHIOPIA!!!!

WE GOT THE CALL!!! This last Friday we were told we got the okay from the US EMBASSY in Ethiopia to travel there and BRING OUR CHILDREN HOME!!! WE are leaving THIS WEDNESDAY!!!!

I wanted to write some incredible entry but you know what …. I just do not have the skill or the time right now!!! I thought better to update a little than not to update at all but then I heard this quote by Elizabeth Elliot, and realized even if I did have the time there is no way I could say it any better...

"I've told the Lord I want to be an obedient servant, and He shot back…. 'And are you willing to face grief and pain or whatever it takes for Me to make you that?' …. Even though I felt unable, I said, 'What choice do I have? I know too much to drop the ball now. There's no turning back.' I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid. But He has brought me this far and already my joy is unspeakable."

Oh to be as eloquent as Elizabeth Elliot! I think I could write days about that single quote. It is so much of what is going on in my mind right now.

“What choice do I have?... I know to much to drop the ball now.”

This journey has really been an amazing one for me. When I think about sharing the journey with others I wonder, HOW DO I EVEN BEGIN? To really be able to tell this story I have to start with the revelations that has occurred in my life. It has been in ongoing one yet one that continues to grow all the time.

This revelation is the realization of …WHO GOD REALLY IS… WHAT HE DID FOR ME and JUST HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME.

I think once this really sinks in and takes grip of your heart it is then that you sit there and say… What choice do I have? I know too much to drop the ball… to turn away… to not want to bring Him glory in everything I do. This most amazing, incredible, powerfully GOD of the UNIVERSE LOVES ME, even to the point of dying for me. He chose me, to give me eternal life. He has blessed us so much, how could I say NO, Especially to something or someone HE treasures so much!!!!!

“I’ll be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid.”

Understatement !! Now I am No Elizabeth Elliot.. Not even close. I am not going out to live in the jungle with people who may take my life or who have already taken my husbands life. I have fear nonetheless!!!

BUT WHAT INCREDIBLE PEACE TOO!!!

“But He has brought me this far and already my joy is unspeakable."

So excited about all that God has done already throughout this journey. And excited about all that He is going to do as we continue to walk the journey He has chosen for us!!!!!

So there it is…

Please be praying!!!! I hope to update the blog while there but I know I had trouble last time so maybe I might be handing the updating off to Noelle.

We return Wednesday the 4^th.

But for now.. Please continue to pray.

Pray for safety and good health throughout the trip both for us and for the children.

Pray for an extra ordinary attachment and bonding for our entire family.

Pray that throughout the entire trip that God opens our eyes and hearts to the needs of those around us and will show us how to pray for others and meet those needs as we are able, whether that be in the airport, on the plane, at the orphanage or in the village.

THE LORD IS GOOD!!! OH SO GOOD!!!!!

MAY ALL PRAISE AND GLORY GO TO HIM ALWAYS!!

One step Closer!!!

PAPERS ARE IN THE US EMBASSY's HANDS!!!

Now what, you may ask .....

Well.... WE WAIT!!!

YES, WAIT, Once again!!!

The Lord really is teaching us things like patience, perseverance and submission. Word is that the US EMBASSY in Ethiopia is completely backed up. Many families that have already received their invite to go and get their children have gotten called at the last minute that their appointment times have been pushed back. Not really sure what this means for us or if this affects our agency in anyway at this time.

At this point it is solely up to US EMBASSY as to when we get to travel to Ethiopia and finally bring our children home. We are trying to trust that God's timing is perfect in all of this even though there has been so many times throughout this process I have caught myself thinking that my timing and my way would of been so much better. BUT... HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST... not I !!! AGAIN... PEACE!!!

Meanwhile - It has really been amazing around here watching God prepare our hearts in such little but oh so significant ways. I think we as Americans look for those big instant life changing things. We want to see the instant miracles.. RIGHT NOW!!! And if we don't we get frustrated and begin to doubt... not realizing that God really is doing incredible things.. in His timing and His way. Again it is about PERSEVERANCE and FAITH!

Thank you GOD for the journey you have us on. Thank you for all you have done and all you are doing - even the things we are not even aware of right now. YOU ARE SO AMAZING!!!!

SO SO SORRY!

Can you tell that school is out? Just a bit busier around here now that they are all home! Well not all of them …..YET!!!!

Thank you all for your phone calls and emails wanting to know what is happening and how you can be praying. The roller coaster of emotions and ups and downs with international adoption continues but at the same time I find it amazing how God continues to sustain us and we continue to lean on him and grow in our faith.

Writing all that has gone on in the last few weeks is not an easy task so bare with me.....

Hearing court was delayed on the 10^th was a big blow. But then the day after that someone close to us who also was told they were postponed to the 29^th found out that they had passed court. This gave us a little hope that something could happen sooner.

Monday, June 14^th was an incredible day. Girlfriends of mine had been asking about throwing a shower for us but instead we turned it into a big SHOWER for the orphanage. It was an incredible night being able to share with others all about what God has laid on our hearts.

My house was packed full.... Packed! It was hard to get an overall feeling of what was going on because there were so many to talk to and so much to share and so many wanted to know - I wish I had more time to share everything - but I am still trying to figure out how to even start to explain the journey that we have been on – taking a look at the last few months it really is almost unbelievable... but not even the journey of the past but how can I explain what an incredible opportunity we have before us to really make a difference - the connections - the people- the places - the need -

I just don't know if I did or even can do it justice - I don't know how to put it into words all that God has done or the opportunities He has given us that lie ahead.

Just a few of the highlights from the SHOWER…

A classmate of our youngest daughter is from Ethiopia. She came with her younger sister, aunt, mother and grandmother. The grandmother brought coffee beans and roasted them over the oven .. ground them and boiled them and then did an entire coffee ceremony for us.. we were so surprised that the fire alarms did not go off due to the smoke from the incense - a bit over powering but yet so cool.

A special blessing of the night was that adoptive parents that I have been communicating so much with for the last few months came.. they recently adopted a 12 year old girl from Operation Rescue Ethiopia that we met when we were there last summer. Hailyn was beautiful. What a joy! I just hugged her and cried. She represented so much of what this whole journey is about.

Probably the highlight of the night was when everyone gathered around our family and our pastor led a time of prayer and blessing for us We could physically feel the love and support from everyone not to mention the presence of the LORD at that very moment.

It really was an amazing night. And the Lord new I needed it. That morning I had woken up really expecting to hear that we had passed court and that the shower would be a time of celebration. After all of it was over.. I realized that that it really was a time of celebration even though we were not celebrating the passing of court. We were celebrating how incredible our GOD is and the entire journey He has brought us on… The entire thing.

Now I know this might sound a little freaky to some of you. BUT, it was obvious that Satan was not happy with all that had happened that night. When God starts working … beware.. Satan will try and destroy it. There was a sense of tension in the house. Coming from all direction.. and we really had to battle through it.

JULY 17^th - We actually found out that we PASSED COURT. They were officially LINDAHLS! OUR CHILDREN! But even then I could tell something was not right about the way that I was feeling. The heaviness and oppression was so obvious. Here is something I wrote in my journal at the time..

I have not shared this with anyone ... not sure why... even hard for me to pinpoint right now... not sure that I want to be this vulnerable or open on the blog or with anyone else at this point...

I am not feeling right... not sure what to even say about it... I can't even think right .. I have really not slept for a week... I really should be so excited .. last night.. this morning at 3:33am we got the message .. we passed court.. they are OURS!!! Officially LINDAHLS!!!

It is weird.. I don't know what to say... I don't know how I am supposed to feel. what I think I HAVE been feeling lately is... Scared to death!!!! What the heck am I doing? Am I going to be able to handle this? I can hardly handle all that God has already given me... I am really a pretty lazy person... unorganized ... and selfish. Life is going to MAJORLY CHANGE --- Am I ready? CaN I do this ? Do I even really want it to? My life is full right now.. really full.. this is going to take sacrifice, hard work, probably a bit of pain.. emotional pain... WHAT AM I BRINGING ON... ?

I am a loving, affectionate, touch-ie feel-ie type of person.. and I fear I will not be able to love them like I should. I fear about the lack of attachment there may be... not even from them .. but from me... Am I all talk? Am I capable of loving like GOD commands us too? What if I don't like them?????? What if I don't even like MY CHILDREN?

Even now I am nervous to post the feelings that I was having at that time. But as I have shared them with other adoptive parents it has been so reassuring that a lot of these feeling are pretty normal. I know it sounds crazy especially after all we had gone thru to get to that spot and yes most of it is probably due to lack of sleep but I really feel like there was a spiritual battle going on at that time.

June 26^th – the next Saturday Mike and I along with our two oldest children were suppose to load a bus and head to OHIO to a national youth convention. We were supposed to be leaders and were previously so excited about this trip but at the time we seriously considered backing out. But God knew this was exactly what we needed. Even then I feel like Satan was not going to give up.

The first night, just before the first session we got a call from our adoption agency that the MOWA had lost our files. LOST OUR FILES! Now I am no one to point fingers at anyone for losing things because I do it all the time. But as I had said to them.. IF I lose something… I LOOK UNTIL IT IS FOUND… SO FIND IT!!! We wanted to file for Embassy by July 1^st and this was not going to be able to happen now.

Again though …. Victory was OURS! Not that they found our files but I really believe God knew what we were going to need to sustain us through this new BUMP! An incredible night/week of worship and focusing on HIM and His WORD! Wow!!! Really, it was incredible. And to be able to be there with my husband and two of my children, watching them have so much fun and worshipping was such a blessing and something I am so very THANKFUL FOR! (I WILL ADD PICS HERE SOON)

Just TODAY we have it confirmed that they have found the files. It would be our prayer to be able to file for Embassy as soon as possible but it may not be until the 15^th. After that we then wait for the Embassy to do their thing /research and then tell us when we are able to bring our children home. While I know we are nearing the end of this portion of the journey I also feel like this has been NO SPRINT.. But more like a MARATHON.. and if anyone ever tells you that last few miles of the marathon are the easiest…. THEY ARE LIEING!

Please continue to pray for us. Pray for our family as we prepare for our new little members. Pray for health and safety of those precious 2 children. They have been through so much already in their short little lives. Pray the Lord provides the proper healing that will need to take place. AND PLEASE PRAY.. for an extra-ordinary attachment and bonding between all members of our family and that God will equip us with the right wisdom and tools to accomplish this.