We're Gettin Ready!!!

One week! One week is all we have left to get ready! One week to get everything done!

It's been a challenging week, my brother Brian returned to the States expectantly from his trip in China for his second adoption. We've spent time at the hospital with him, he's had two surgeries for an infection in his hip. We've spent so much time praying and worrying about Amy being in China alone, that I've not been able to get my head around leaving the country. But, her sister arrived in China today to help her with Rhett, Brian seems to be doing better after his surgery this morning, Amy sounded so much more at peace on the phone this evening, so I'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO PREPARING FOR BEKEH AND CALEB!

Today we finished getting the beds put together. We've got a triple bed in the boys room, and a bunk bed in the girls room now. It seems surreal. They opted for Camo Swankie Blankie's in the boys room, and Zebra Swankie Blankie's for the girls over any other bedding we looked at. My kids demand luxury let me tell you! They've all got new mattresses and Tempurpedic pillows for Christmas, so I think we're set.

Brooklyn and I also finished going through the boxes of donated clothes, and the bags of clothes I've purchased the last few months and hanging things up in their closets and putting tiny shoes and underwear away. I've spoken to the lady the hair salon and purchased the products I believe I need for their hair, we've packed up their toys for our journey, along with the diapers I almost had a heart attack purchasing. Me! Buying diapers again! Who'd of thunk it.

So they have warm beds to snuggle into at night, clean clothes that match and fit to wear, and a God who's preparing their transition into our family to be beautiful and wonderful. We're almost set, now if I can just finish packing all of our clothes and things for the trip!

One week! I have a whole week, piece of cake!

Thank you Alldrin Family!

The Alldrin Family just returned from Ethiopia where they were united with their three newest children, and they also brought back new images of our kiddos!!!
Your kids are darling! Your little guy was very funny. They brought him over and I read the book to him. After I handed him the book, he decided that our appointment was over and took off down the step (which was bigger than he was) and across the alley to his nanny. Your little girl is oh, SO cute! She loved the pony. She was pretty serious until I started tickling her. That is when I got the big smiles. She is sweet! They are very small. I would put them at 18 months and 3 years old in size if I had to guess. I can't wait for you to go get them! -KristinIt's so wonderful to see them growing and their sweet curly hair growing in! We are so thankful for these peeks at them from our traveling friends so we don't feel like we're missing out on quite as much until we can go get them! 13 days and we leave! 21 days and they'll be in our arms!!!! Thank you Jesus!

God is perfect and all His ways are Perfect!

I've been so busy the last couple of days, but still in the back of my mind just a bit upset that we weren't on the other side of the world right now preparing to pick up Bekeh and Dereje. But, God in His amazing wonderful ways sent me an email through a travel buddy this morning that clarified so much. I understand a portion of His timing, I understand that it's not always all about me, shock!, and I understand that our Heavenly Daddy loves us so much He doesn't leave anything open. He completes and provides closure and healing to every part of our life when we let Him. Thank You Lord for your perfection. Thank you for YOUR WILL and your timing winning out over my short sided desires. I can't wait for all the blessings you have planned for this trip, and I can't wait to hold Bekelech and Dereje and love on them, and pray over them, and put lotion on their sweet hands, and moisturizer in their hair!!! AAHHHWWWW!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!

Travel Dates Confirmed

Our dates have been changed and set for January 9th - January 22nd. It will be a much greater challenge to find care for the boys, Brooklyn will miss finals, and two weeks of school instead of one, but God is sovereign, knows better than I, and His ways and timing are perfect. Bekeh and Caleb will not be affected any differently, I will have two extra weeks to prepare for their arrival, and I'm sure whatever God's reason for having us change and pay the fine for changing our tickets, is serious and important enough to not be questioned by me. We look forward to all the families we will travel with on the 15th, and simply can not wait to go bring home our children.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 Thank you Lord for allowing your Will to win over my earthly vision and desires.

They are CRAZY ROOTS!!!!!!!

AWAA has called, and we're thrilled to announce that Bekelech and Dereje are legally, officially, formally, and forever more. . . CRAZY ROOTS!!!!!!!!!


PRAISE THE LORD!! HE HAS BLESSED US SO ABUNDANTLY!!!!
Welcome to our family Bekelech Eva Root

and we will call you Bekeh - pronounced "Becca" . . . and Welcome Caleb Wesley Dereje Root

you're going to love it here!!! It's always a blast!!

We Did Not Pass

The guy who was signing off on our MOWA letter went out of town and took his keys to the files with him so no one else could access them. Hopefully the judge can squeeze us in on the 8th and we'll pass then.

BUT ON OTHER NEWS!!!!! AWAA CHINA called my brother and sister in law with their TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are rejoicing that the Lord answered our prayers and brought them this news today!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited to bring Rhett home finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We serve an awesome God who is in control of everything. Our adoption timing is perfect according to the Lord's will and this delay neither surprised Him or changed the timeline we've been on all along. We are heartbroken that it delays our travel though. We were hopeful Brooklyn wouldn't have to miss as much school if we could have traveled in the Jan 2 group, but again, God's timing, not ours, thankfully.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. . . .

Waiting for the phone to ring, everytime it does my heart goes crazy. Waiting for the time when it's AWAA. Waiting to honor God with my praises, waiting to see what the next leg of our journey looks like, and waiting for my nephew, just happily, anxiously, joyfully waiting. . .
"Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful." Romans 12:12 LB

PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!

I've just felt the need to worship God all day. I feel like He's answered our prayers for success already, that MOWA has gotten our letter to the court, that their father is in Addis, and that it's going to be a day of great rejoicing tomorrow. Nonetheless, I will be continuing to fast until I receive word, and praying throughout the night for God to hold back any forces that stand against our victory and bringing home our children asap.
Here's the timeline as best I can tell.

Assuming court is in session between 8am and 4pm, and it's 1:00 in the morning now, then from 11:00pm tonight until 7:00am in the morning Central Standard time, we could be before the court with our proxy.

Our agency will call as soon as they can to let us know. I will then post as quickly as possible here on the blog to let you know the results. When we pass court, my post will include all the pictures we have of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're ready to watch you move God! Show your glory in Ethiopia!!!!

So Exciting!

My sweet friend in Ethiopia who is taking pics of the kids and showing them ours wrote on her blog today that she got pics and VIDEO of all the kids she was taking care packages for!! Can you believe we're going to get to see them moving?

We also got new updated photos today, and I made our slideshow montage with them included, all ready and waiting to post on Tuesday when we get word that we've passed court!

You won't believe the smiles!!!!!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving! The Roots most certainly are!!!!

Tonight they see our faces!!!

Tonight while we're sleeping, our sweet YG friends the Hutcheson's will be showng B and D our photos! I hope they see the love in our eyes, and feel our desire to come get them and bring them home into our family! I can't wait for Karen to send me photos, maybe even some video, and the tracings of their feet so I can get them some cute shoes!!!!!

Exactly one week from tonight, we go to court. We've been fasting and praying, and several friends have been fasting with us, in preparation for this night. It's bathed in prayer and I have no anxiety about it what so ever. God knows the outcome, and it's all in His perfect timing. I carry no burden for it! Pray with us that God's will be done, and we believe His will is for our children to be with us QUICKLY!!!

Lord prepare their eyes and their spirits for our photos tonight. No one can communicate with them but you Lord. You speak their language, you speak into their hearts and into their minds the truth. Give them a deep and trusting understanding of who we are the moment they see our pictures. Have them fall instantly in love with us, the same way you allowed us to fall in love with them the moment we first laid eyes on them. Praise you Father! Thank you for being with them, holding them, comforting them and encouraging them while they're so far away from us.

These three can't wait to show you their new brother and sister! If we pass court we'll show them to you Tuesday Dec 1st!!!!!!!