7 MONTHS!

Wow, I can hardly believe it! It has been seven months since we sent our big stack of official papers (our dossier) to Ethiopia. To be honest I never thought I would be posting the big 7 on our blog. At the most 6 but not 7!
But God is doing way more than we had bargained for! As I type Duni is In Ethiopia. She has been working hard on behalf of many families. Weather our situation is in the fore front of her mind I'm not sure. But I have been compelled to pray that God would lead Duni to our little girl while she is in Ethiopia. I have hope that God is moving in that situation. So if you would please join us in that prayer. Thank you, we are so great full for your prayers!


PS. Happy Birthday, Mandi!

Tonight was a fun night! Joel had a baseball game. Baseball games are usually a family event. This year his coach is none other than his Uncle Tom and assisting is Dad (Rob), Aunt Brenda and big cousin, Nicholas. And when you don't think it could get any better Joel's best friend and cousin, Jonathan is on his team! It was really hot tonight so getting ice cream after the game was already on the schedule weather we won or lost. But the team won- I think ice cream tastes better when you win!
But I'll have to admit the real reason you get to see pictures of the night is that I got a new camera today. I'm having a lot of fun trying to figure it out!

Camping!

The Sparr family went camping for the first time ever! I know you are probably getting a good chuckle especially if you know us well. Don't worry we didn't go by ourselves. Four other families from our church that are seasoned campers showed us the ropes! Thanks guys! We played,fished and swam in the river. We ate great food. Joel and Belle had Mountain pies for the first time and keep coming up with new combinations to fill them with. Saturday night it rained! Belle and I were sleeping on one side of our friends camper but Joel and Rob, well they were in a tent. I was worried all night. But the rain (and maybe exhaustion!)put Joel to sleep and there were no leeks in the tent! We had such a great time! We would love to go with our friends again but we aren't quite ready to venture it on our own.

Last week we were able to spend the day at the Zoo with my parents and my sister's two youngest children! We had a blast! Joel was practicing being a big brother to more than one little sister. He was so helpful. He held my niece's hand the whole time. Isabelle named herself "Tour Guide" and made sure we all kept moving.
I think we tired Grandma and Papa out.

I was able to speak with Duni this week and get some clarification on exactly what age range we are eligible for and exactly where that puts us in line. Having said that I hesitate to write it down...because if I have learned anything in this process it is that things can change quickly or slowly. There is no formula! So, we are close. But close is a relative word in the adoption world!
God is continually showing us how much He is in control of the whole thing! This week I was at my wits end and very sad. I said to God "I'm done with this. You are on your own. There is nothing I can do any more. I don't even know how to talk to you about this!" How arrogant of a human being I was. I'm not quite sure exactly what I thought I was in control of? But now I know I was in control of holding the situation in my hand with white knuckles! The last couple of days I have felt a release. My hand is starting not to hurt as much from the grip I had. As my hand is loosening up, my eyes are seeing more clearly God in the details.

I just wanted to let the one person (you know who you are, Mandi!)who checks my blog everyday that we have no news on the adoption front. We are trying not to have expectations of any until August or September. And even then it will just be hoping. A very wise mom of 3 adopted children and 3 bio. children keeps reminding me not to put a time frame on it! So I'm trying not to-I'm just not having much luck with it!

On Thursday we received an email from Terra, one of the Ethiopia family coordinators. It was pictures and a little history on each child in the Waiting Child program for Ethiopia. The Waiting Child program is children that haven't been able to be placed. The reason can be because of a medical condition or age,etc.
Rob and I both received the email, Me at home and him at work. As I looked over the email God kept bringing to my mind Abraham and Sarah. God had promised them that they would have a child and in fact their descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky! But as it was taking a lot longer than their time frame would allow they decided to take the matter in their own hands. While they were controlling the situation it blew up and not in a good way.(don't you love my paraphrasing!?) Although there were consequences to their poor choices, God still chose to bless them like He promised!
So with all of that in the back of my mind I got a call from Rob. "Did you see the email?" "You should call the pediatrician and see what she thinks." I knew right away which child he was talking about. So I called our pediatrician's office... She was off. She could call us back tomorrow."Ok, good" I thought,"This will give me a chance to talk with Rob a little more and let him know about the whole Abraham,Sarah thing!" Not too long after I hung up the phone Rob called me back. "Heather, That isn't our child!" "I know". I said We talked a little more and agreed. Despite it being her day off our wonderful pediatrician did some research and called me back. She confirmed our thoughts and was such a blessing to talk with.
I can tell you that already God has done much more than we expected. In the beginning we were being obedient to what God wanted us to do,we knew there was a person in our family missing. We never anticipated the changes He would do in us as a family and as individuals! Daily He is revealing Himself(I love this time in life!). It isn't always a love like "This is so much Fun!" at times ,yes. But more often it is softer, more humble adoration and unbelievable thankfulness.