May Numbers

134 - Girl

113 - Boy

55 - Siblings

A Celebratory Gift

We are overjoyed as we see many around us excited about getting involved in caring for orphans.  We  observe friends and family sponsoring puzzle pieces to assist in our journey , others have begun to look for opportunities to get their families more involved in caring for orphans around the world, and we know of a few that are making their own steps toward bringing an orphan(s) into their own families.  Together we are serving God’s scriptural call to care for the abandoned, orphan and widow. 


             "Learn to do good.  Seek justice.  Help the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the orphans.  Fight for the rights of widows."  Isaiah 1:17


As you share with us in this journey to love and care for orphans – via your enthusiasm, love, prayers and puzzle sponsorship – we feel led to share this piece our journey with you – the story of an amazing gift.

It is our 10 year wedding anniversary this week!  In acknowledgement and celebration of 10 years of marriage, someone gifted us with an opportunity to celebrate this accomplishment.  The gift was presented for one purpose –the sole intent to get away and celebrate us.  And get away, we did!

Because of this amazing gift, we celebrate in Hawaii.  With airlines miles to cover flights and rental car, and an amazing discount on hotel pricing, the gift has provided us the opportunity to celebrate each other in Hawaii without affecting our personal and adoption finances in any way.

We desire to openly communicate this with those of you who share in our adoption journey.  It is important to us that you know that our family remains committed to the financial adjustments to bring baby home.  That has not changed – if anything – our personal financial cutback has become greater over time.  We do not take your sponsorships lightly, and we do not take them for granted.  We want you to be assured that we have not accepted your puzzle piece sponsorships in order to free up our finances for adventures to Hawaii.  This is far from the case!  Our finances remain just as scaled back and committed toward our ministry and heart for our precious Ethiopian treasure!    

We are extremely grateful for this gift and the opportunity to have focused time together, enjoying one another’s company and the time to recharge as a couple.  Ten years of marriage has already brought us on an incredible adventure – I believe God has so much more in store in the years ahead!  We are blessed.

“Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not promote itself, is not puffed up, does not behave badly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” 1Corinthians 13:4-8

Thank you all for your continued love, support and prayers!  We are grateful for you!

MOTHERHOOD

Mothering.  It is the one thing that I have ALWAYS known I desired for my life - that I feel created to do.  Since I was a little girl, I dreamt about becoming a mom - I played house the very most.  As I dreamt about what I wanted to do with my life, becoming a mom was #1. 

And now I'm here.  Mothering.  I could have never imagined that it would be the most challenging job of my life.  Sleepless nights, heartaches, tears, tantrums, challenging choices, and daily sending them out into a world that is not always kind.  I know that many of these things will only become more challenging as the years go on.  No one told me that parenting was the most challenging job I would ever have!

A challenging job - in which I feel honored.  Knowing that God has entrusted me to love, nurture, and teach my children is an honor - a humbling honor.  Each day, I am amazed with their hearts, their love, their desire to grow and know more.  They care for others and the greater world, they are passionate and make me laugh!!!  Each day I watch them learn about the world around them, and grow to understand the One who Created it in a deeper way.  I am amazed, in awe, blessed.  God has gifted me with this role, and it is not to be taken lightly.  He has entrusted me with His precious children to love, nurture and teach.  I ADORE THEM!!! 

One day all too soon, I will send them off on their own - and I pray that my time with them will have prepared and equiped them with the tools to navigate the world as God would direct.  There is much so them to know, to learn, the be cautious of.  Though often so challenging to process through, I know I don't go it alone.  God does not ask me to navigate this challenge on my own - He is the ultimate Father, parent, and giver of life.  I am thankful for His leadership as the ultimate parent - truly, I don't know where I'd be without it.

Yesterday, on Mother's day, as we were celebrating me as a mom, I was the one celebrating - that I get to BE ME!  I was struck with an overwhelming sense of one thing - I am SO BLESSED by the gift of mothering!

Risen. Alive. Glorious Day!!!

"Death has lost, and He has won!"

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he
said. Come and see the place where he lay.

-Matthew 28:5-6

Awe Inspiring Facts

What do all of the following awe inspiring facts have in common???

• The average number of sodas an American drinks in a year
• The number of pain sensors in one inch of human skin
• The number of millions of breaths we take in our lifetime
• The number of home runs Babe Ruth hit by age 36
• The number name of the home run baseball club
• The number of languages spoken in Indonesia

• THE NUMBER OF PUZZLE PIECES SPONSORED as of April 5, 2012

Drum roll please.............................

600!!!!

As of the most recent sponsorship report we received today - there have been 600 pieces sponsored. Absolutely amazing! We remain humbled and THANKFUL for the outpouring of support and sponsorship. The sponsorship of 400 pieces remain - and then puzzle assembly will be underway.

Here is a visual of the puzzle progress today - so very close to fully sponsored:

What Do the Numbers Mean????

Yesterday, I posted this exciting news....

After seven long months of grueling paperwork, today we received the call we have anxiously awaited - "CONGRATULATIONS - you paperwork is complete! You are officially on the waiting list!" Though the wait numbers are a bit overwhelming - we are pumped to announce that our official "wait" has begun. Wait numbers are: Girl-#139, Boy-#121, Siblings-#54.

I bet you may be wondering - what does this all mean????

Yesterday, we found great joy in the monumental progress: the completion of one segment of this marathon journey toward baby. Completing the paperwork is a big deal - it feels AMAZING. Getting "on the list" feels even better. On the list we will have a visual of our progress (or lack of) to the end goal - meeting and bringing home baby to become a Kahl!

I know many of you are wondering a few things:

1. Now that you are "on the list" does that mean you will bring baby home soon? Unfortunately - no. As I wrote in a previous entry, the international adoption world has slowed quite significantly. We are anticipating an additional wait of 18+ months.

2. What do those numbers mean? The numbers indicate all the people that are ahead of us - also waiting. There are 138 people ahead of us waiting for a girl, 120 people ahead of us waiting for a boy, and 53 people ahead of us waiting for siblings.

3. Siblings???? I received many inquiries about the word "siblings", yesterday. Truth be told - we did indicate to our agency, that we would be excited to bring twins into our family, if that opportunity came about. Thus, we have been placed on the sibling list.

4. How often do the numbers adjust? Every month, we will receive a number update from our agency. This update will show us where we fall on the list at that point in time. At times there will be significant movement, meaning several people at the top of the list received referrals that month, and some months will be very slow with only a couple referrals (which was the case in the fall of 2011).

I have heard that this leg of the journey will be very challenging. Though the paperwork is daunting, it keeps you busy, focused, and feeling as though you are able to accomplish something. But in this phase, we will wait......dream.....long for.....anticipate......

We continue ahead, in full trust of God's perfect timing and provision. We are blessed by the ways He has, and will continue to, grow and stretch us in this journey. Each challenge, struggle and joy are opportunities to draw closer to God in His perfect love for us - we are so blessed.

An Exciting Day - With An Exciting Update....

After seven long months of grueling paperwork, today we received the call we have anxiously awaited - "CONGRATULATIONS - you paperwork is complete! You are officially on the waiting list!" Though the wait numbers are a bit overwhelming - we are pumped to announce that our official "wait" has begun. Wait numbers are: Girl-#139, Boy-#121, Siblings-#54.