This is blog was created to share some tidbits of our daily lives

and advocate on behalf of the 143 million orphans around the world!

Friday, May 22, 2009

SHE'S OURS!!!!!!! WE PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Introducing...
our daughter....
Lola Joy Kalkidan Stanley!!!!!!!
The name Kalkidan means "God's Promise"!!
Here she is in an orphanage with her nanny.
Our favorite picture!

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.
He has made me glad!
By the grace of God, our daughter is now officially ours.
It has been a stressful day awaiting news from our Director. We thought we would hear by noon, but didn't hear until 3:00 this afternoon that we PASSED court today!
In @ two weeks we should hear when our Embassy Appointment in Ethiopia will be. We are hoping for June, but it may be July. We are just thankful it's going to be this summer!!
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
Our God reigns!

"God is gracious!
It is He who makes things right,
our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless."
Psalm 116:5-6

Thanks for sharing our JOY!!!!!!!!
Julie




Thursday, May 21, 2009

Wow

All I can say is...

We are on our knees.

Thank you for your support, love, and prayers. We couldn't make it without you guys!!!!

Love to you ALL!
Julie

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Child like faith

I can't believe we only have 3 days until court! Oh my. Can't begin to tell you how we're feeling. The boys just keep saying, "When we pass court...we are going to pass court!" Child like faith! They know how big our God is and they believe with all their hearts we are going to pass. I must admit, Satan is trying to get the best of me. I think it's a self defense mode our bodies kicks in to protect itself sometimes, too. I just don't wanna "get my hopes up"...HA!! That's an understatement. As if I can talk myself into believing that one.

My Hope is in THE ONE and ONLY God who REIGNS!

Hoping in HIM!
Julie

Thursday, May 14, 2009

PRAISE JESUS! PRAISE JESUS!!!

Lola is a HEALTHY girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUCH an answered PRAYER!!! We FINALLY got her medical reports!!!!

Thank you sooo much to all of you who are praying for our case. I am praying that the Lord will form a hedge around our case and allow us to pass!!!

We should hear on May 22nd by noonish if we passed. If so, we may have an embassy appt. of June 30th or July 13th. (That is better than DECEMBER to travel, so PRAY PRAY PRAY!!)

JOY JOY JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

9 days and counting!!!!!

Wow, I cannot believe I just typed in the number NINE!

Just wanted to ask for more prayers. It's getting close and we are getting very excited, but we're uneasy as well. We know God is in control. We just selfishly want our sweet Lola Joy to come home to us.

Count down with us in prayer. I have been waking up in the middle of the night. I immediately start to pray, and fall asleep. Then I wake up again later, pray, and fall back asleep.

Prayer changes things!!!! Thank you for your support and love~

Prayers for Popaw!

Would like to ask for special prayers for my Popaw Bob.
He is in the hospital with pneumonia.
Here is Bryson with him at our local Derby Day Festival.
He walked Bryson around the car show.

Popaw was enjoying some chocolate ice-cream when

I visited him last night.

Get well soon, Popaw!

We love you!!!


Our little Graduate

Bryson graduated from Kindergarten last night! He and his big bro are so close!!!

Cameron, Bryson, and Cole
Buds!

Some of the family members that were there to support our baby.


Bryson, we are so proud of all of the little man you're becoming!
We know we are so blessed!
Follow your dreams.
Reach for the stars!!
We love you baby!



Monday, May 4, 2009

OVER THE MOON!!!!!!!!!!

We surprisingly already received information about our daughter from the sweet woman who took her care package to her and who acted as a stork bringing her from the orphanage to her new home, the transition home!!! This morning I checked my email and was SHOCKED to see Lisa's name and to see the sweet words and PICTURES of Lola Joy. Here's what Lisa had to say about her;
"Hi your baby is beautiful!! I am going to try to attach a picture!!! She's a good baby we have enjoyed being the delivery stork!! We will send more pictures later. She loves her pacifier that you sent her. We took a picture of her in two of her outfits. I will mail you the shirt she was wearing when we picked her up from W."

As I read this my heart was so full of JOY!!! I was shaking and so excited to open the pics to see how much our daughter had grown and changed. I was completely AMAZED at her beauty. I sense that she has a sweet, quiet spirit about her, (but only time will tell if I am right or not). I just stared at her in awe. She is a DOLL!!! Her eyebrows, her eye lashes, her lips, her hair, I cannot tell you with words from my lips that does her justice. My heart aches so much to go and whisk her home! To hold her tiny body up against my chest. To kiss her little feet. To smell her from head to toe. To wipe away her every tear. To pray away her every fear. Everything that this little one deserves.

Join us in prayer for the following things;

1) Pray that Lola gets the love and nourishment she needs, desires, and deserves
2.) Pray that she is taken to the Dr. to get her blood work and it's all normal
3) Pray for our court date May 22nd. That we pass on the first time with no flaws with the paperwork or anything else. That we can find favor with the judge and he/she will have mercy on our case.
4.) Pray that once we pass court that we get a QUICK embassy appointment.

Pray for Lola as she has transitioned into ANOTHER new environment. One that is unfamiliar to her. I cannot imagine how she is feeling once again. Pray that God heals her heart. That he comforts her during this time. That she knows that we are her Mommy and Daddy the moment we are united.

Doug and I are so thankful for thesupport and love we've been shown. Lola will be so blessed to meet you and to be raised in such a loving family. One that knows no color, no race, but simply LOVES, because that's what we're called to do! He created us ALL!!

Blessings!!!!