REFERRAL!!!!!!

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him"
1 Samuel 1:27

Yesterday at 1:48pm we received THE CALL!!!! I was at work and Brad was at a training for work.
Caitlin from AWAA called and said "Tara this is an exciting call, we have your referral!!!"
I said "Ahhhhhh, oh my goodness!!" She asked if I wanted her to call Brad on three way, I said yes, but he might not be able to answer. As I was waiting for Brad to answer, I just kept thinking "Thank you Jesus!!" That's about all I could get out!!
Luckily he did answer, because I think he would have been upset if I found out the information without him, but there was no way I was hanging up without knowing some details. Once she got Brad on the phone, she told us:

ITS A 7 week old BOY!!!!!!

I was crying on my end and I could hear Brad crying too. The whole phone call lasted 3 mins and 23 secs. After we hung up with Caitlin, I called Brad right back and asked him to hurry over here so we can look at the picture together. He rushed over to my school, but the email wasn't there yet. About 30 mins after we hung up and Brad hitting refresh 100 times :) , the email showed up!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I ran down and got a friend of mine to videotape us seeing his picture. I thought we'd try to keep it a secret for a few hours until we told our families, but she was jumping around and telling everyone we passed in the hallway.

So we sat down to open the email, and I opened the wrong attachment like 4 times, there are many attachments that come with a referral. The pictures were the last ones, haha. Finally, we saw his precious face!!!! He is so cute with beautiful brown eyes, perfect milk chocolate skin, chubby little cheeks, and a head full of hair. We are so overjoyed and can’t wait to get our hands on him and love on him!!!
After sitting and looking at his picture and Praising God, I went out into the hallway. I could hear people walking by saying, is it a boy or girl?? So my whole school knew within a few mins. But I was a proud mom ready to show off the pictures!!!

Brad took the medical file over to our pediatrician, our good friend is a nurse there and she helped us get the file reviewed in about 30 mins after we dropped it off!! Everything looks good and he is healthy!!!! Thanks Marie!!

Brads family lives close, so we got to show up at their house and surprise them with the news. We called my family, and NONE of them answered the first time I called. So much for them waiting by their phones this week. Once I called a second time they all answered. We are meeting them halfway tonight to show them the pictures!!

Everyone is asking us when we get to go meet him, but we won't know that for awhile still. We are really hoping for April. We are sending in the referral acceptance today and hoping to get our papers submitted for court soon!! We are so grateful that God choose us to be his parents!!!

Thank you to everyone that has helped us at some point during this process, this whole thing has been such a blessing and we can't wait until we can post pictures and share him with the world!!! Everyones excitement has been a blessing too!! Thank you!!!

"Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

I'm a MOMMA!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!

Wait Times

Yesterday we received an email from our family coordinator at AWAA. They let us know that the wait times have changed. Up until now the wait times for an infant boy was 4-6 months and infant girls was 7-11 months. They have changed to 5-8 months for an infant boy and stayed the same for infant girls. So its been 6 1/2 months now, so we are in the middle of this estimated wait time. We will be matched with our child soon!!!!

T-shirt Pre-Sale

We will be placing another T-shirt order on Friday, January 28th. Please let us know if you are interested in buying a shirt. It has been fun and such a blessing to see many family and friends in our shirts at different get togethers and fundraisers. THANK YOU!!!

If you are interested in buying a shirt, please go to the fundraiser tab to see more pictures and the link to order them. Short Sleeve shirts are only $15, Long Sleeve shirts are only $18.

Email me with any questions, tara_mowen@yahoo.com

Here is a picture of my good friend Angie's girls in their shirts!!

No, not yet...

Brad and I find ourselves answering that way a lot lately. We love that so many people care enough to ask us about our adoption and it seems that we have been getting asked if we got "the call" yet. I think its funny when people ask because its like they think we are keeping it a secret or something. Trust me you will know when we do!! Many friends and family are asking why we haven't heard anything yet, the only real reason we know is because God isn't ready for us to know yet. We also know that AWAA is waiting on some paper work to arrive, but we know that as soon as God is ready for it to appear, it will. That's the best part of having faith, knowing God will provide in HIS time.
So for now we get to keep answering, "No, not yet..." with a smile!!

I also really have been enjoying everyone answering their phones right away or calling back right away. My sister is terrible about answering her phone, but she sure has been better these last few months. Ever since we got the "on deck" email, people have been quick to answer phone calls from us. For the first two weeks my parents and a couple of my good friends would answer with "Do you have good news?" or "I hope you are calling as a mama!" After a couple weeks of disappointing them, I told them that I will be sure to start my conversation with the good news when we get it. For now, I will continue to enjoy the quick return calls!!

Stampin Retreat

On Jan 7th and 8th we had a total of 18 people come to stamp!!! Some stayed all day and all night and some came for 3-4 hours. I had so much fun!!! We had lots of stampin, talking, and laughing. Just some good old girl time. We also had a silent auction and my mom gave massages (thank you Mom). Thank you to everyone who donated something to make this day a success, it sure was!!! We made over $500 between everything (silent auction, massages, donations, yard sale table, and space rental) Thank you thank you thank you!!!
We used the fellowship hall at our church. Some people stopped in to see what we were up to, no one could believe all the stuff we had in there. For those of you who stamp or scrapbook, you will understand. Here are some pictures.

It was so much fun!! Thanks again to all those who helped, donated, and came to stamp!!

6 months DTE

So Sunday marked our 6 month being DTE. We have passed the suggested timeline of getting a referral in 4-6 months, but we know that AWAA is doing all they can to collect information about the children. There haven't been too many referrals lately, a couple infant girls were referred around Christmas. And unfortunately another family lost a referral. So we are #2 for a boy and #4 for a girl. I have really been praying for these families that have lost a referral. I can't imagine the heartache for the child and another delay in their journey. I am hoping AWAA gets the needed documentation SOON so these babies can be referred and these families will be one step closer to bringing their children home. We have been told by AWAA that there are several babies and children at the Transition Home waiting for documentation so their referral can be given out. I hate that these children are just sitting there waiting and families are sitting here waiting too. Please continue to pray for this situation and the Ethiopian government to give and collect all the needed information ASAP.
Tomorrow we will be getting our yellow fever and typhoid vaccinations in Peoria. We will be ready to travel as soon as they tell us we can go!

Our 1st Baby Shower

Brad's co-workers threw us an awesome shower on December 3rd. We were so overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness. We were definitely showered with love. Brad works with some very supportive and wonderful people!!!

Here is one of the games we played. We were terrible at guessing how much this stuff cost. The only good thing is that we guessed the actual price!


The yummy food!

So many goodies for our little one(s)!!!

Here are some of Brad's awesome coworkers....

THANK YOU CHURCHILL STAFF!!!

One year ago today

One year ago we finally had the courage to take a huge step of faith. Last year, right before Christmas, we applied to America World Adoption Agency and officially started our journey to our children. Our eyes have been opened and our faith has been stretched. At first we were afraid that we wouldn't be able to afford adopting. But with the gentle nudge of a friend who told us "God is faithful and He will provide" we filled out the application. God used these friends to help nudge us in the right direction. Have you been able to help or encourage someone to take a step of faith? I often tell my sister that I hope she can be an encouragement to others interested in adoption through our story. Our friend that encouraged us was a sister of an adoptive mama. I am so thankful that we were nudged (encouraged) in the direction that God wanted to lead us.

Once we filled out the application we tried to move things as fast as we had could. We filled out all the papers as soon as we got them. Brad and I like to get things done. I hate having to-do lists sitting around. But we have learned over and over that God is in control of this adoption, not us. Someone posted on our yahoo group last week "you act like you are just wanting to get any old baby instead of the child that has been prepared for you SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD." I needed that reminder!!! We aren't just waiting for a referral, we are waiting to get the call that our child, the one that God has picked out, is ready for us!!

This is hard...

All of this waiting is hard. I have been told a few times that we are taking the easy way to become parents. There hasn't been much that has been easy. No, I haven't had morning sickness nor will I be going through many hours of labor to birth my child. But I have woke up in the middle of the night sick to my stomach with worry for my children and felt such an urgency to pray for them right away. I have no idea, nor may I ever know what my child(ren) went through before they were at the transition home. Were they fed enough, were they loved on, did anyone hold them when they cried? I have also carried my phone around with me at all times waiting for the call for "my water to break" (haha, get our referral). I heard early on from another adoptive mom that there is a reason that pregnancy only lasts 9 months, thats all a mama's heart can handle before they are so ready to hold their child. It has been over a year since we decided to adopt. On December 22nd it will be one year since we applied to AWAA. We have been DTE (on the official waiting list) since July 9th, which is about 5 1/2 months. AWAA says that the timeline for infant boys is 4-6 months, with most referrals coming at the end of that time frame. (That means our referral does have to come soon, right????)
Unfortunately 2 families with our agency have lost their referrals. Both for good reasons, but such a heartache at the same time. And a different family got a referral for a baby girl yesterday. It was such a blessing for all of us in "the wait" because it has been almost 7 weeks since anyone on our unofficial list got a referral for a baby. So we are currently tied for 3rd for an infant boy and 5th for a infant girl. We won't know if we are blessed with a 2nd child until we get "the call". I really do want 2 children and I think God has been placing this on our hearts for sometime, but when I called our family coordinator she said if we request to only accept 2 children, our wait could be years. There is just no telling how long, so again we put it back in Gods hands and He will bless us with whatever children we are supposed to have. I pretty much have to give it back to God everyday, because I find myself wanting to control how many kids and when, etc. Brad has done a good job of being more relaxed about this for the past month. I don't know why but this past month has been hard. I am ready to get on a plane and go to Ethiopia. God continues to bless us along every part of this journey, sometimes through encouragement of others and sometimes with the gifts other people have given us. Brads co-workers threw us a wonderful shower (post coming soon on that). They are so generous and loving to us! Yesterday we received an anonymous gift and Brad emailed me and reminded me that God is in control. I am so thankful that my husband can remind me of that just when I need it!
We had a conference call with AWAA the other day, they let us know that there are many babies close to being referred but due to sickness and lack of proper documentation they aren't ready to be referred out. But soon!!! Please pray for these sick babies and the Ethiopian government. Some families are waiting close to 4 months for a court date after referral, that has to be hard.
Even though this has been hard, I would do it again. Brad actually emails me often some pictures or country he would like to start the paperwork for as soon as we are done with this adoption. So I know we will do it again. God has taught us both so much through this process and we know that we are following HIS will for our lives. People say you forget all the pain from the wait once you hold your child. I sure hope so and I can't wait for that day!!!

5 Months DTE-Slow Month

Today marks our 5th month being DTE. When we got on the waiting list we wer told our wait would be 4-6 months. So we are right in the middle, a great time for some referrals to start happening.
This past month has been very slow with AWAA. There were a couple weeks where there was NO news for anyone. Finally some families have gotten the long awaited phone call that they have been cleared by the US Embassy and they can come and pick up their children. Other families have gotten court dates too. But there have been zero infant referrals (with our unofficial list) and only a few older children referrals since the end of October. Everyone that is on the DTE Waiting list is soooo ready for referrals to come in!!!
I feel like I have done a good job handling the wait (most of the time patience is very hard for me), until the past week. I feel like the dream of going to Ethiopia to meet and bring home our child(ren) is fading away. I know our time will come and we will be matched with the perfect child that God has already picked out for our family, but right now the. wait. is. hard. I think it would be easier if there were some referrals going out to someone, anyone. It's so exciting to check my email with our yahoo group and see that another family has been matched with a child and there is one less orphan in the world!!! I am ready to be excited for someone soon!!! There are many families over in Ethiopia picking up their children this week, so hopefully referrals are coming soon!! What a wonderful Christmas present that would be!!!!!!

LONG SLEEVE T-shirts now available

We still have a few t-shirts left and we will be placing another order on Wednesday, December 15th!! Please let us know if you'd like to order one so we can have the correct sizes!!

This time around we also have LONG SLEEVE t-shirts for only $18 (plus $3 shipping).

It's been so fun to see people wearing our t-shirts and the conversations that have sparked about what "Break my heart for what breaks Yours" means has been awesome!!!

You can order on the sidebar or by mailing us a check.

THANK YOU!!!

Thanksgiving Weekend and Shirts Pictures

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend spent with family and some crazy shopping on Black Friday. I think I am still tired from missing sleep that Thursday night/Friday morning. We also got to hand deliver many t-shirts to friends and family. Here are some pitures of us and others in our adoption shirts.

Brad and Tara

Our niece Kaylee and Tara

My cousin Keely and I (with my new Ethiopian cross necklace she gave me, she has been saving it for several years since her last mission trip over in Africa)

Our niece Kylie and Keely's two boys Eli and Levi

Keely, Levi, Amy, Kylie, Tara, Eli, and Chelsea

At my dad's with Tony, Brad, Cathy, Grandma pat, Dad, Pete, Chelsea, Tara, Kylie, and Amy

We still have many t-shirts available if you would like to order one! Its so fun to see so many pictures of our friends and family supporting our adoption and spreading orphan awareness!!
THANK YOU!!