Fingerprinting!

One of the things we are required to do for this adoption is have a FBI criminal background check done...  that means we have to have our fingerprints taken and then send them to the FBI for clearance.

We called all of our local law enforcement agencies to see if they would do this service for us... we found the closest was in Green Bay!  We were able to go right away.  The process was seemless and fairly cheap!  It only costs $5 per set per person.   Because I am an "overacheiver" I always get 2 copies of important documents!  So we each got 2 copies. 

I am happy to say the finger prints on their way to the FBI for the check!  Easy!
thankful for Easy!

Finally.....Home Study

It has been a long few weeks... in that time the Lord has brought me to my knees more than a few times, both in praise and in desparation.

  

We have been praying for the "right" home study agency and social worker.  That God would put this person in our path.  Through a few random prompting from the Lord and a few emails later, we had an agency that came up more than once!   Special Children in Elm Grove near Milwaukee.  Today we spoke on the phone with the director and felt confident that they will be a good match for us and our adoption.  It was such a blessing to hear the positive reviews from others who are currently with this agency.  She was positive and really made an effort to show us they would be willing to work with us!  They want this adoption to take place as much as we do!  She also asked what international placing agency we were with and who we were working with.  They actually know eachother! Thank you Jesus!  He answered our prayers for just the right social worker!

One thing that God has shown me in all of this is that we really are in a spiritual battle for these boys.  I cannot ever remember having my faith tested like this before... even the Long wait to bring Levi home didn't test me like this has... But God in His mercy and grace reveals all to us in His word.  The past 2 days I have been really studying and reading Matthew 10:16-20... (thank you Susanna) that when we are doing the work of the Lord, we will face oppostition!  The enemy will try much to derail and delay the work of the Lord and cause doubt.  But God is with us in and through it all! 

Matthew 10:16-20
¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves. ¹⁷ But look out for men. They will take you up to their courts and they will hurt you in their places of worship. ¹⁸ They will take you in front of the leaders of the people and of the kings because of Me. You will tell them and the people who do not know God about Me. ¹⁹ When you are put into their hands, do not worry what you will say or how you will say it. The words will be given you when the time comes. ²⁰ It will not be you who will speak the words. The Spirit of your Father will speak through you.

Another thing God has shown me is that this is not about me..... Ok..I don't mean to imply that I am conceited or that the whole world revolves around me and is in place for me.... but what I mean is that there is so much more going on with this adoption than just us.  Yes the boys are the most important piece of the puzzle...but there are so many more "witnessing opportunities" attached to this journey.  Like finding resources for others just beginning the adoption process, like networking with others to help the cause of the orphan, like giving others information on caring for their adopted children already home, and being a witness to the gospel.... the gospel is all about adoption....our story is really all about giving the glory to God!  I know that...but I guess before I didn't see myself as "those sent out" more like just someone ordinary answering God's call for our family to do kingdom work.
I hope that makes sense... I just want to share all that God has done in this journey..... 

Thank you all for praying for us and for the boys! 
We ask for your continued prayer support as we move to the next step!  Gathering documents, fingerprinting and the homestudy!  Please pray for Gods hand to guide us to the right people to help with this as well as a timely process.  Our hearts ache to bring the boys home!  Please also pray for those children still waiting for a family! They all need a family!  Please please pray for them and their families!

peace
laurie

Seeking ......Waiting...

A great post for those in a place of waiting....

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2012/06/25/trusting-god-is-not-easy/

OH How I Need Jesus

John 11:40

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?

 Today my devotions brought me to a place of conviction and then to a place of rest...in His mercy and grace.

I was reading in John 11 about Martha, Mary and the death of their brother, Lazarus.  The above verse just flew off the page and I was so glad to "grab on" to it.  Selfishly, because I WANT TO SEE GOD DO THE IMPOSSIBLE TO BLESS ME!  Ok I am being honest here.. with all of the stuff going on in our house....2 teenage boys, opps...MEN, Levi, 2 beautiful grand daughers, the twins in EE, canning season upon us/me, winter on the way and meals laundry..etc. I want to see the end results~yesterday!  I am so like Martha! I want to get right to it!  I don't want to wait and mess around...lets just be direct.  Why take our time as there is always so much to do! 

As I read the story it occurred to me that not only was I like Martha in that I am impatient, I also have the tendancy to forget what I said 2 minutes ago.  In verses 20 - 27 Martha hears the Jesus is coming!  She can't wait for Jesus to come to her and Mary....she has to get things moving! So she runs out to meet him. She greets Jesus with an attitude that seems to say "seriously?! you're here now"  why did you wait?  You and I both know that if you would have come asap this wouldn't be happening! 

I know you are thinking.....OH laurie, I would never utter such disrespect and contemptable words to Jesus!  I would say, you are right...none of us would actually speak those words out loud. But in our hearts we can have that same attitude and I will be the first to admit it.  Come on Lord Jesus! why can't we just get going! If you're going to do it anyway.... why wait!  Can anyone relate?....

Then in the next breath she tells Jesus how much she believes in Him, always has, and after He tells her that her brother will rise again, quickly she answers "yes Lord i know he will rise on the last day and resurrection ('cause she knows and because she is smart and has it all figured out) And that yes yes Lord I know all of that..but what are you going to do about this now?

Even one more time...she questions what Jesus is doing when He asks for the stone to be removed from the tomb.  Sortof saying..."Ah.....Jesus....don't you know that he has been in there for 4 days.... it is NOT going to smell good!?"  And I love this.... then comes the response that put my heart before a mirror... scripture that cut do deep that it separates the bone and marrow, (Hebrews 4:12 see below)as Gods Word so powerfully does. 

   

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?  The Message

then before He performs the miracle, He gives the Father the glory...by speaking out loud to him in front of all that had gathered... and thanking God for hearing him!  For the benefit of all there...He tried to be very clear...and spoke very simply.... for those who just couldn't "get it"  that He was sent by the Father.

Ok...so today I am reminded that in spite of what I think needs to happen and WHEN, I need to do more than just believe the words Jesus spoke...I need to rely on HIM.  Not myself.  I have a tendancy to pray and pray and then take over when things are not going according to my timeline.  Like I really have any say in it at all.  Waiting on God....trusting God....and giving it all up to God...... Oh my... We can miss so much while we wait if we are so consumed with "not waiting".   I don't want to miss anything that God has for me..ever!

I am again, thankful for the mercy the Lord has on me....and my "issues"....and I am thankful for the "grace" that He affords me every single day...sometimes every 5 minutes.... I am thankful that in God's Word there are real life examples of myself.  Examples of those who fall short...and those "sheep" who need to be corralled back into the pen by the great Shepherd!  The one who loves us/me with all He has in spite of me!

Be a believer in God, Jesus, His Word and rely on Him in the wait!  He promises to show you the Glory of God!  Nothing can compare to that!

In His Embrace,

laurie

Hebrews 4:12  Amplified
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Going In a Different Direction

Well...who knew?

Today we have had our "plans" turnned upside down....
A picture came across our lives a few weeks ago.... On August 28th we saw a blog post with pictures of some of the most precious children on this earth.  Amongst them...what would become the object of much prayer and time on our knees seeking God for answers!

It was totally out of the blue... it was completely NOT where we thought we were heading with this next adoption! BUT it was from God!  He put the pics. in our hearts....and He confirmed it for both of us... We thought we would be returning to Ethiopia...even started the process with our old agency....and we thought it would be one more boy....God seriously changed things up for us!  While it was completely Not what we thought would happen...it has been completely confirmed over and over from the Father.  Roger has never wavered in his committment to adopt these little boys with special needs.... I just keep thinking.."really?"... almost like I was waiting for him to tell me differently.. That never happened!

Your twins are officially matched with you!
Then today we received official notice from EE on our children!  YES.... children!
We are adopting twin boys from a country in Eastern Europe! They are 3 years old and have special needs.  We understand that they were born prematurly and will need lots of love, attention and care...familialy and medically!  The boys are officailly on hold for us as we get our homestudy and dossier completed..we have been "pre-approved" to adopt them... WE will need lots of prayers as this journey continues! 

Here We Go Again!

It is official... Roger and I are going to begin the adoption process again!
We have spent the last 2 weeks in prayer together and separately to seek the Father for His plans for our family.  Honestly, I have felt for months that we would be adding to our family through adoption again.  Roger was not so sure...it took a longer time, God's timing, for him.  We both want to be completely on track with God's plan for our lives and our family!  God has clearly spoken to each of us in different ways to confirm His call for our family!

We are excited to see what this will look like.... who He has already chosen to be our child(ren).  We are thinking we will adopt again from Ethiopia...

As it is with God, we find that when we truly seek Him we gain so much more than we even first thought and/or dreamed about.  He has revealed so much already to both Roger and I.  Most of it is stuff we already knew.....but alot of it is hard heart issues.  We are being refined, sanctified and made more into the likeness of Jesus!

Zechariah 13:9
This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

It is hard...it is somewhat painful and it is scary! BUT...there is a joy in this that is beyond what we would think of.  God in His mercy and grace is loving us through this..( I know that you all know what that is like)  We are seeing that even though we "think" we know what the absolutes are when it comes to what we should do ~and we both think differently~ God is showing each of us where our selfishness and self centeredness lie.  We are not without sin. Not without pride and  certainly not without the tendency to be self focused.  We truly want to only focus on what God wants for our family...and the enemy is all too eager to disrupt that. 

All that to say, it is exciting!  It is joy, hope, love, peace and so much more.  To be in a place where you know God is working and you know He is speaking to you...is really a gift.  The refining isn't the most fun we have ever had but we know that on the other end of this growth it will be wonderful!

  

  *  As is Jeremiah 32...  we ask for a singleheartedness as a couple with God as we make a decision about adding to our family

³⁸ They will be my people, and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. ⁴⁰ I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. ⁴¹ I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.  

    *We ask for our desires to be those of God! That the desires of our hearts would be the desires that God himself has placed there not those of our flesh.

1 Peter 4:1-2 Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. ² As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

In all of it... we are trusting God for the direction, provision and timing of  how He will build our family!  He is Good!

Happy Birthday!

Hi dear friends and family!

 

It is hard to beleive that it has been 6 months since we landed in the US with Bedilu! I have wanted to send out an update for a few months but cannot honestly tell you where the time has gone!  Today is a special day! Not only is it the 6month marker of bringing this special little boy home today is his 5th birthday! 

 

Bedilu was so excited when he openned his presents this morning...we got him a scooter! His very own..as he has been "using" Sam and Jacobs.  He is actually out riding it as I write this!  I am hoping the rain holds off for a little bit so he can ride up and down the long driveway!

 

There have been many changes to the Hebbe house since we brought Bedilu home!  Not only do we have this high energy go go go litlle boy living here now, but we have a grandbaby here too.  In December Jessie and baby (Melinda Jade) moved in! So we have  a house full.  Jessi went back to work in February and gramma laurie is babysitting.  It is just part time and she is so precious! 

 

The days just seem to melt one to the next. I don't know where the time goes... I knew that having a four yr. old would change things up but it is unbelievable! In some ways it feels like those days when I had Sam and Jacob.  2 kids!  not just 1.  We do breakfast and have started doing some "informal" school and then its lunch time and then outside and before you know it we are getting ready for bed!  I wouldn't have it any other way!  It is an awesome life that we get to have!  We have our moments like anyone else with a house full but that just comes with the territory!

 

Bedilu is learning and growing!  We have a hard time keeping up with clothing size changes for him.  He has gain 10 lbs. since he came...and grew taller too.  He speaks English seemlessly...but I try to have him use Amharic too.... I so don't want him to forget it!  His little accent is almost gone...only once in a while do we hear it in certain words...oh I miss that!  But it is so cool to watch him grow! In every way.

 

For the most part Bedilu is adjusting very well.  Some days it seems like he has always been here.  Then there are times when we just cannot imagine where he is coming from with things!  We stuck close to home after he first came home...then we started to venture out.  Christmas was great for Bedilu...he spent the day with eyes wide open. We soon started taking him to church and out to more friends houses.  It didn't take long before we realized that we were missing something.  I found out that he wasn't as "adjusted" as I thought.  We think he has bonded with us but he is not attached to us....exclusively.  We have made some changes to our world to help him bond with us!  Basically we found out that he was fully expecting that we would be sending him to another family....  heartbreaking but not really surprising when you consider his history.  He fully expects that he will be leaving.  We have told him that we are his family forever!  That we will always love him and not ever leave him!  SO.... we have pulled in the reins on our social activities. We are keeping him with us.  Kindof starting the bonding process over again!  One thing that has been amazing is our bedtime routine.  I have started to rock him to sleep at night...after the usual rituals of bath, reading praying and singing..... I rock him to sleep.  It is an awesome time of bonding and precious time for him and me!  We don't know how long it will take to have Bedilu completely trust that he is with us forever..but there is progress.  In the mean time we ask for your help in deepening our family bond.  Ways that you can help him are first and foremost keep praying for this little boy!  For healing from the past for understanding the present and peace for the future!  Also, when you see us out together we would love to have you greet him with a "high five" or handshake saving the hugs and kisses for mom and dad!  We are blessed with so many things that you have generously given us to help care for him...we are humbled at your generousity. We just ask that if you have something you thing he could use or would need, please ask us first before you present it.   He can be easily overwhelmed by gifts...and it can create confusion in his little heart with regards to attachment.   These are things that will help Bedilu see what a family really is!  He doesn't understand the emotional connections that come with a family. 

 

I know that God is using this time to build a bridge of trust and love that runs deep into our veins.  God's plan is so precise and He is in the details.  He brought this vision of adoption to our hearts years ago...and he continues to work out this plan for His Glory!

 

Isaiah 46:9-11

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Remember the former things, those of long ago;
   I am God, and there is no other;
   I am God, and there is none like me.
¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning,
   from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
   and I will do all that I please.’
¹¹ From the east I summon a bird of prey;
   from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
   what I have planned, that I will do.

In all of this God has blessed us with little nuggets of his promises fulfilled.
Since we have tightened our reins, we have experienced random unprompted hugs and kisses from our little boy.
And he has told me 2 times unprompted and during quiet times that he loves me... I will never forget the first time he said it!  Just so simple and sweet... Mom, I love you!  OH boy...yep... I was melting...trying to get out an "I love you too Bedilu"...without choking!

We have been blessed in so many ways by all of you!  Your prayers for our little one are coveted!  Keep 'em coming!  We appreciate all that God has done in so many people's lives through this journey of Bedilu's life!  

 

Every Day is a Gift!
Roger & Laurie Hebbe