I'm here

I arrived in Albania today, while all of you at home were still sleeping. It was 11:30 here (there is a 7 hour time difference). All of the luggage made it, the only flight that I had problems with was the one from Milan to Tirana, there was some really rough turbulance. I'm running on about 1 hour of sleep over the past 31 hours! I don't think I've ever done that before although I'm sure I came close in my college days when we would go to Waffle House really late!

Albania is so different! I have seen shepherds out tending their herd. People have their cow tied up in their yard, there are no fences! And you guys think I drive bad, these people about give me a heart attack so you know it's bad!! But everyone has been so sweet and friendly. This afternoon we went to Vlashi Village, which is the nicest of the 3 that planters organization works in. I sat in on a class with middle/high school age children learning english. It was really neat, they were all working so hard. The Albanian teacher who taught the english class was talking with me on the way back to Tirana and she asked me, "Have you ever seen the movie Sweet Home Alabama?" I told her it was one of my favorite movies. She said, "You talk like the characters in that movie." I thought it was funny, she picked up on my southern accent quickly.

They just got power here at 7:00 pm and it is very cold! I have taken a few pics but I will take some more tomorrow and post them sometime tomorrow night.

Albanians are beautiful people! The girls are gorgeous and the little boys are so cute! I'm very glad I'm here. What stories I'll have to tell our son!

Treasure 2 Farmers ROCK!!

Wow, I just want to take a moment to brag on all of you from Treasure 2 Farm. You guys have went above and beyond the challenge of bringing gifts for the villages in Albania. You have brought so much that I am having to take extra luggage, and thanks to Donna Wilson that was taken care of (thanks so much, Donna)! Just to give a summary I will be taking 142 pairs of socks, 69 pairs of gloves, 51 stocking caps, over 200 small toys, 54 toothbrushes, 38 tubes of toothpaste, well over 150 hair ties (that are very cute), hairbrushes, washrags, 70 handmade wooden cross necklaces, and I could go on and on. You have brought enough to provide one of the poorest villages in Albania, Christmas. I will take lots of pictures for all of you.

While I'm in Albania I will get to meet Agim, who works for our agency, he plays a huge part in placing the children with Bethany families. He has also said that because of mine and Jason's age we may have to wait a little longer. So I'm very excited to get to meet him but very nervous at the same time. I want for him to see us for us, not a stereotype of a young couple. So Jason and I spent a while studying Thursday night 1 Timothy 4:12. Paul is telling Timothy, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." God's word is awesome and it was great for us to look deep into this passage.

I'm flying out this coming Thursday morning, woohoo!

Getting Ready

Not this Thursday, but next I'll be flying out for Albania. I'm really getting excited! I've already started packing and have 100 lists for the horses, Jason, well, anybody!! I am overwhelmed with the gifts the Treasure 2 Farmers have been bringing for me to take to the villages in Albania. At the end of the week I will have a final count and post it all along with some pics!

No News

There were no referrals given after the meeting the last week in October. So we wait some more, until the last Thursday in November, maybe we'll hear something then! We do know that Agim, who works for Bethany(our agency) in Albania will be here next week. He is going to be in Michigan and will be available for families to meet. However, with me going on the mission trip in December it was not in our finances for us to fly to Michigan on a short notice. But hopefully we will hear after he meets in Michigan if they aren't giving anymore referrals for the rest of 07.

Albania Bound

Guess what! I'm going to go to Albania for a mission trip on Dec. 13 and come home on Dec. 23. I will be staying and working with Cydil Waggoner's parents, you can go to www.planters.org and check out where I will be. I am so excited. I will not be visiting any orphanage while I am there, but I will be able to learn so much about our child's heritage and help to spread God's word! I will use this blog to let all of you know what's going on while I'm there. Pray about this with me, God is good!

Adoption news: We have heard that they are probably not giving out any other referrals for the rest of this year. But the committee should be meeting this Thursday since it's the last Thurs. of the month-Oct. has flown by! Hopefully we will hear some news soon as to if they are for sure not giving out any other referrals, but we hope that's not the case. I'll post something when I know.

Still Waiting

This morning I found out that the meeting the AAC had on Oct. 4, they did not assign any referrals. So they will meet again next Thursday! Keep praying!

Update

I received an e-mail from our social worker today telling us that the AAC will not meet until next week on Thursday, October 4th. That will be around 2-3 am our time early on Thursday morning. Please pray for the committee, that they will find favor with us and match us with our child. I talked with the lady who is at the head of the Albanian adoptions for our agency and she said we are one of the top families on the list, but we are young. I know my God is bigger than this bump in the road with our age! We really appreciate all of your prayers and we give God all of the glory with our adoption and our lives, He is great, isn't He?!?!

Okay, I think I am finally figuring the blog thing out (thanks Cydil!), I deleted the old pics of Hudson's room. Here are some updated ones. The only thing left is to hang the letters of his name and the stars above his bed.

Remember to pray that the committee matches us with our child in their meeting at the end of this month. Pray that we will hear about our son the first week of October. God is good! Thanks so much!

Prayer Request

Please pray that the committee matches us with our child at the end of this month. They should be meeting in a few weeks, the last week of September. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS!