Home Again

Our bus with the majestic mountains behind.
Uncle Ken and Aunt Karen took us to the Grand Coulee Dam.
These beautiful children with their mother at the training in Spokane.

Eleven days away from home and here we are. We traveled to Spokane for the Older Children Adoption training. It was a good trip with no major problems. It took us three days drive there and back. We were planning on it taking two but our little bus doesn't like to go faster than 30 up any incline whatsoever and since we went through the Rocky Mountains and several other mountain ranges it was slow going. But oh so beautiful. We enjoyed God's beautiful creation and since we are from the flat part of North Dakota the mountains were especially enjoyable.

The training was wonderful. We met so many people. Most of them will be adopting from Ethiopia. The trainers Steve and Michelle Gardner are truly inspirational. They have adopted 9 children and their story makes you cry with what God has done. We heard the beauty of adoption and the difficulties and we are more determined than ever to bring our children home to be a part of our family. I know they have a lot to show us about life and God's love. When you watch a 19 year old biological son with 9 adopted siblings get choked up over how his life has been touched by these children you know you are in the right place. We were treated to an Ethiopian meal the second day and it was great. We met a family that in their retirement have adopted 6 girls from different countries. They are a most beautiful family. I am including their picture hoping they wouldn't mind. Another family has 9 mostly grown children and will soon have 6 adopted children. She is a grandma already and God has shown them this direction for their life!! I will sign off with several witticisms we heard over the two day training.

"Life is short. Eternity is long. Live like it!" John Piper

He who dies with the most joys WINS!

Why do we spend so much money and effort to decorate something that burns?

When we get to heaven what do you want God to say to you? "Well done." or "Well,... you're done."

Please continue to pray for God to meet our needs for this process. We have the second half of our home study to complete then we should see things really move. Thank you all.