WE ARE OFFICIALLY ON THE WAITING LIST

Ethiopia is one step closer! We received our Notice of Favorable Determination from the US Department of Homeland Security on Friday, January, 22, 2010. Now we wait. They say it could be anywhere from 1- 18 months. I pray that we will wait on God for his timing instead of waiting on the situation. Once we receive our referral we would travel within 2 to 6 months.

Love from China and Thailand

Lets just say that life for the Zoellers is never boring. We were approached recently about an opportunity to help some girls who were in need. Our babysitter, Kelsey, said that she knew two international exchange students who were staying in a bad host home and needed to be removed immediately. After a nice date night we arrived back at the house and she asked us point blank if we would be willing to help these girls out. She asked if she could give the coordinator our phone number. Chris responded "No, why don't you give us her number and if we are interested we will call her." Well we went to sleep that night and did not talk about it at all. We woke up on Saturday and talked about it first thing. Chris and I could not think of a single reason to say no, other than inconvenience. So, we called the coordinator. She was at our home by that evening to talk to us and look at our home. By Tuesday she had run background checks and called references. The situation continued to get worse for the girls and to make a long story short, they showed up at our home on Thursday night. Only 6 days after we were first approached about this. WOW! What a whirlwind.
The girls are amazing. One is from China and one is from Thailand. They have already settled in and unpacked their things. We have seen so many smiles from them over the past 3 days. They are so sweet. I know this is going to be an amazing adventure. I am already dreading them leaving in June. I think our family is forever going to be changed by these two sweet girls. Hopefully we will be a blessing to them.

I am saddened by the current situation in Haiti. I keep thinking how many more orphans there are going to be because of this tradgedy. Which in turn makes me think of my two children that are out there waiting. They could be going through something horrible right now. I know that this must happen in order for them to be a part of our family. However, as a mother, you want to protect your children from harm. This is such a helpless feeling. I have had to turn this over to the Lord and know that HE is in control and I am not. I continue my prayer that God will protect their hearts, minds and bodies until they make it home.

Until we make it home safely with our children from Africa I pray that someone will love on them and nurture them for me. We are coming! We are anxious! But, we are trusting and waiting on God.

In light of all of this, I found this song that seems express my thoughts.


Another photograph to wrestle in my head
Another sleepless night on concrete featherbed
These thoughts of you like bullets to my soul
We’ve got to find a way to get you home

I’ll find a way to get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here

I will get you here

Throw the clocks away and run out to the street

Food, Inc. buy
We’ll fly to distant clouds where it’s just you and me
A day will come when all of this is gone

The Battle of Midway buy

You’ve got to find a way to believe

I’ll find a way to get you here
If it takes my fleeting breath
Another sunrise hits the ground
And it’s a dark lonely sight
Lightyears away I hope you know
There is somebody searching
For the way to get you here
I will get you here

Close your eyes and dream of a better day with me
As angels hold you tight, may you sleep in peace tonight

So dream, dream, dream my child
Hear the whisperings of hope

305 release
It’s a song that you can sing, as you sleep in peace tonight

Christmas

Well as some of you know we came to town for a few days this year for the Christmas holiday. We came early in anticipation to be in our own home on Christmas day. Our trip was very eventful and we enjoyed seeing friends and family. Our trip started out on Friday, Dec. 18th at 2:45. The kids got out of school and the van was packed and ready to head south. We enjoyed staying at Chris's grandmothers house. On Saturday, we started out early and went to visit some friends we had not seen in a while. We enjoyed sharing Krispy Kreme doughnuts with the Birds. Especially since the only one in Fort Wayne closed last year. Of course, this was the beginning of the packing on of the pounds for our trip. Once the children played and we caught up with the Birds we headed off to our next adventure. We visited with the Hayworths and headed to Flame Run to make a glass blown ornament with the kids. Madie and Max thought this was a neat experience even though it only lasted about 5 minutes. From there we went to the Saturday night performance of the Nutcracker. We thoroughly enjoyed the new performance and the changes that were made. Thank you Angie and Jason for the tickets! Madie and Max thought the Nutcracker was great and Madie has randomly been acting like a ballerina since. Sunday we went Christmas caroling with the Zoeller family. Chris headed back to Fort Wayne that night. When Chris left the kids and I headed to my sisters to spend the rest of our time. Monday we went to Grammy Fayes to bake our traditional Christmas cookies. As always the kids enjoyed making a mess and eating cookies. That night I met up with my old Bible study girls for a nice dinner. The next couple of days were filled with shopping and running. I visited with my dad and took him to breakfast and enjoyed visiting with him. Chris came back on Wednesday night. We had Christmas his family at his sisters house. We had a very nice dinner and opened presents. Then on Christmas eve we celebrated Christmas with my family. We headed home that evening with many tears being shed in the car. It was very hard to leave but good to be home sleeping in our own beds. What a whirlwind trip it was packed with many great memories.