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

Greetings!

 

I am so sorry it has taken so long to get this update out to you all!  I cannot believe that it has been 3 weeks since we have been home with Bedilu!!  Honestly I don't know where the time has gone!

 

Our first week home was filled with moments of "revelations" for both Bedilu and us!  Bedilu made himself right at home!  He was in awe of the house!  He loved his bed!  He loved eating!  Boy can he eat!  While he was getting comfortable we were trying to catch up on sleep and get back on schedule! It only took about 3 nights before Bedilu seemed to settle in ..... he would get up once or twice to go

potty and then would want to "play"?.... we spent a few nights getting back to sleep and pretty soon he was right on track!

 

The next week wasn't so good for me... I got sick...  some sort of bacterial infection in my throat. I was even without my voice for 3 days!  I think it was something I picked up on the plane....The boys and Roger enjoyed that! =)... it definately took it's toll on us!   But by the following Friday I could talk again and then by the end of the weekend I was almost 100%!   Then Roger went back to work!
 Praise God for that timing!!

 

This past week has gone by so fast!  Our days just seem to flow one into the next!  I remember that when Sam and Jacob were little...  I loved how the world just seemed to go on and on... but our world just went along on its own.  Each day Bedilu makes huge strides in learning the English language...he is putting words together for sentences now... instead of Mom... look.... He now says  "Mom look at me!"  It is really amazing!  Friends had told us that it wouldn't take long and he would catch on! They were so right! 

 

In so many ways it seems like Bedilu has been here all of his life... He is so much like Sam and Jacob! He has a smile that is big and bright.....he has the biggest eyes..... and he loves to wrestle and will play any sport with a ball! If I had to describe him in one word it would be JOY!  He has brought so much joy to our house and to our lives!  He loves his brothers and all of their "stuff" LOL!

 

Bedilu loves to play outside and he has learned to ride a skateboard and a scooter already!  He seemsto be fearless!  OH boy...mom has gotten a few more gray hairs watching him!  He loves to count..he counts everything!  He sings in his native language...Amharic!  He sings while playing with his carsand when he is riding his skateboard!  Love listening to that!!!  LOVE IT!!

 

We have stuck pretty close to home with Bedilu.  He is very comfortable here with us and likes to be at home!  We have limited visitors so that we don't overwhelm him.  When we are out...like taking the boys to football practice he makes it very clear that he wants to go home... As soon as the boysget out of the van.. he says.... "mom, Bedilu mom house!".... I have taken him to the grocery store with me a couple of times... but other than that and football games we have been sticking close to home.

We haven't been to church with him yet... it will be a while for that...  he doesn't get scared in a crowd but he defiantely pulls back a little. 

 

I wish I could give you more of a picture of how amazing this whole journey has been!  I wish it could be easier to put it into words...  God has planned and ordered this journey for us and for Bedilu from the start.  Only by His grace have we come this far!  Bedilu has brought my heart to bursting!  He loves Jesus!  He kisses the bible with Jesus on it!  OH my heart just bursts with love

for this boy....this boy who will change our lives forever!

 

 

Every Day is a Gift!
Roger & Laurie Hebbe

YES... I Believe it's time for us to fly!!!

AMERICAN EMBASSY

ENTOTO STREET

P.O. BOX 1014

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Dear  CWA                                                                                                                                                               07   Sep 2011

This office is ready to schedule an interview for the I-600 petition filed on behalf of the below applicants.

Family Name: HEBBE, BEDILU ROGER

Interview slots are available Monday and Wednesday at 9:00 am or Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 pm. Please select your 3 preference dates and send us an e-mail. We will send you a confirmed appointment date after checking our available slots. Make sure you get our confirmed appointment date for parents to come for their appointment.

The fee for the visa interview is USD 404.00 per applicant. If the family is adopting more than one child, who are not siblings, there will be an additional fee of USD 720.00 for the I-600 petition. You may pay in local currency at the current rate of exchange.

When communicating with this office, please provide agency name, child’s full name and case number exactly as shown in this letter.

US Embassy

Adoption Unit

 

Our answers...from the Embassy in Addis Abba
Good news and one step closer!

Dear Hebbe Family,

Thank you for your email regarding your adoption of Bedilu.

On August 16, 2011  we received additional documents regarding your case. We will contact you with the information how to proceed as soon as we review the documents.

Sincerely

//AF//
Adoption Unit

U.S. Embassy

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Privacy/PII

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

From: roger hebbe [mailto:acts16.31@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 1:33 PM
To: Addis, Adoption
Subject: Hebbe Family,

Good Morning,

We were wondering about the status of our adoption case.

Our information is

  Family, Child name: - Hebbe, Bedilu Roger

                Case number: - ADD2010676021

We last heard on Wednesday, August 10th that all of our

documents were submitted to the Embassy and that

all requests were satisfied.  

We want to be sure that we haven't

missed something on our end here in the states!  We do

appreciate your time and your work load.

Thank you for your help.

Precious friends!

This is what we know as of 10am Monday morning...

 

They have our letter in Addis...they are translating it now...

they hope to submit it to the Embassy tomorrow! 

I added the email from Sue to the bottom of this email...

 

Please join us in praying for the following! 

• Pray that the letter is acceptable to the Embassy, as there have been "issues" with how the letters have been written.
• Pray for the staff to be able to plead our case
• Pray for a quick turn around in the dates available for our Embassy appt.
• Pray for Bedilu as he waits for us!  I hope when they "know" they will tell him that we are coming!
• Pray for peace in our hearts if~........
• Pray for all of the other families caught in this place....and those who's hearts are longing for their child to come home! (several friends!)

Thanks so much for the prayers...we know the Father hears and He is faithful!

Deuteronomy 7:9

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

love
laurie

Yes, we talked with Addis today.  They said they had your letter, it was in translation and they hoped to submit it tomorrow to the Embassy and they hoped that the Embassy accepts what the police wrote.  I pray the clerk who reviews the letter accepts it.

There seems to be a disparity between what the new staff at the Embassy wants to see and what the police (in many regions) are writing.  The police don’t want to change the way they’ve always done the letter.  Some regions have now refused to rewrite documents for the orphanages (hence the Embassy).

Dear Friends and Family

I have been holding off on sending out an update on our adoption in hopes of some travel news….but as of today, June 2, 2011 we are still waiting.  I have talked with quite a few people over the past few months….most of them all in just disbelief about why…how….it could be taking so long to get this little guy home.  Trust me when I say that we have tried to come up with the answers that ease people’s hearts and answers that seem fair.  The truth is that it really all makes sense when you look at it with the right perspective! God’s perspective!  Isaiah 55:8-11

The Message (MSG)

 ^8-11"I don't think the way you think.
   The way you work isn't the way I work."
         God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
   so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
   and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
   and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
   producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
   not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
   they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

That is where we choose to rest!  In fact, it is the only place where things do make sense…..  I would like to try to share my heart with you all!

If you remember we went in November of 2010 to meet our little guy and attend court.  We fell in love from the start…way back in July but when we saw him our hearts were connected!  We became a larger family that week in Ethiopia!  Court went smoothly and we were set to come back for our Embassy approval.  While we were there we saw things happen so fast and seamlessly for so many other families that we set our minds and hearts on being back to Ethiopia in December 2010, if not then for sure in January of 2011.  Everything else went so quickly and we just believed that this wouldn’t be any different.  

The Ethiopian government is in the process of changing the adoption process.  This has slowed down the timelines for so many people.  We figured that since we passed court we wouldn’t be impaired by the changes taking place.  However, the US Embassy is requiring new changes as well. That is where we get stuck.  The Embassy has requested a more detailed letter from the local police in Soddo, where Bedilu (Levi) was found.  This is completely understandable as they want to avoid any chance of corruption and be sure that abandoned children are really just that.  This will be a requirement that in the future will be met before court.  As our agency attempts to get the letter the zonal government started inspections of all NGO’s (non government organizations) and they will not allow the release of any official documents until the inspections are complete and a letter of approval is issued.  That started in January.  They continue today!  That is what we are waiting for…..one letter…..one piece of paper…from our human perspective.  But God has a different way of seeing things….

Throughout the past 6 months the Father has been faithful, mighty, loving, comforting, healing and present in our lives!  My state of mind over these past months briefly summed up…

December~  Oh how amazing is this little boy…and God’s plan for all of us….waiting but walking on air! 

January~  Well for sure we should travel back this month!  Everything is in place!                                  

February~ Face to the floor….weeping daily…..why God why?!  I know you started this…why….God?  

 March~ OH Father!  You are the one with the plan!  NOT my will but yours be done!! Isaiah Chapter 46 

 April~ We trust in your promises oh God!  You are the sovereign God! We wait in eager anticipation ! Psalm 139!

May~  Walking in faith daily! God calling us to really look at what we do in response to his work in our lives…..what we Do says more about what we believe about God than what we Say does!                                        

June~ Here we are….Knowing that the God who began this journey will finish it and bring all things together when it is best…and when it is time!  We long for this boy to be in our home…but would not trade the deeper dependence and intimate understanding of God this waiting has brought us!

^{Isaiah 46:8-11 The Message}                                                                                                                                                                             "Think about this. Wrap your minds around it.
   This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart.
Remember your history,
   your long and rich history.
I am God, the only God you've had or ever will have—
   incomparable, irreplaceable—
From the very beginning
   telling you what the ending will be,
All along letting you in
   on what is going to happen,
Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long haul,
   I'll do exactly what I set out to do,'
Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east,
   from a far country the man I chose to help me.
I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it.
   I've planned it, so it's as good as done.

I know that it is all under control and I know that there are days that are harder than others.  I know that God loves all of us!  He is the Father…..He loves with a perfect love…He loves with comfort and He knows exactly what we need…and when we should have it!

We humbly ask for your continued prayers!  Prayers for Levi, prayers for movement in the Ethiopian government, prayers for all of the families caught in the “in-between” of the changes, prayers for our journey to honor the Father and glorify HIM…..all of this is for HIM, and prayers for all those who care for the orphans and widows in Ethiopia and the world!

Hey all of you coffee drinkers!! This is for you! We have started a new fundraiser to help with our ongoing adoption costs.  It is called Just Love Coffee.  I actually have recently started to drink coffee….and this is a great idea.  Click or paste  this link   http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheHebbes                                                                              you can order coffee~ different kinds, and part of the proceeds help to support our adoption and part go to ongoing efforts to support the orphans in Ethiopia!  I love it because you actually get something while helping the cause of the orphan as well, in more ways than one!  

We love you all and your prayers are the most precious gift to us.  I am continually touched and humbled by people telling me about Levi’s picture on their fridge and the prayers of the little ones on behalf of Levi!

With much love,

Laurie and Roger