camp + asher = the story.

I wish so badly I could show you pictures.

of the two sweet faces that have brightened my life, captured my heart, and rocked my world.

a little boy and a little girl.

currently 2 & 3 months old

yes, that's 1 month apart in age.

twins for all intents and purposes
{virtual or artificial twins they call it}

camp + asher

I can't wait to share their Ethiopian names with you.  

the names that we will keep as their middle names.

I longed for my babies to keep a part of their culture, heritage, home country with them.

we love ethiopia & want it to be a part of the fabric of our beings forever

and their names are beautiful and full of meaning.  

I've struggled writing this post, because there are so many details that I'm not allowed to share yet & some that we will keep close to our family forever - but I want to continue to be vulnerable and open with so many of you who have been such a huge part of this journey.

if I learned anything the past few weeks is we aren't in this alone.

I fully believe that it's the power of OUR collective prayers that has gotten us where we are.

it's nothing of our own flesh, nothing of our own merit, but solely the work of the holy spirit through us and through all of you.

{just for fun - what's a post without a picture?  us from the shower!}

my man is so excited about a little girl.  

he literally has been praying for one pretty hard core since this past fall (thank you Gibson family)

we've always been approved for 2 kids - 19 months ago when we started this we got approved for 2.  

we weren't "banking on" getting 2, but we wanted to be prepared "just in case" that was the Lords plan for us.  we always joked if there were 2, the poor girl would feel left out since everyone knows who Camp is!

Stephen has been telling family members & random people for months when they ask when we are bringing Camp home, that we're also bringing home a girl.

I kept telling him to hush because he was causing so much confusion, but it's like he knew.

in his words, "We have been praying for a little girl since October and now she is on the Elder Family docket for adoption.  We cannot believe this is really happening, but it is"

we are getting a girl.

a precious girl to go with our precious boy. 

my man sent out a pretty good email update to family and if it's ok with you, I wanted to let his words speak.

"We originally thought that baby H {not sure if I can say his name on the internet!} was our Camp but it turns out through a series of events his grandmother has taken custody and wants to love him and raise him, which is an amazing answered prayer that he is an orphan no longer.  We will forever consider him apart of our family and will continue to pray for him.  

In a twist of events in almost the same day we received an email with the pictures of 2 precious babies -- a boy and girl!! So as we always do we said yes and decided to step out in faith once again.  Yes, we are going to go from a family of 0 kids to 2 kids in a short time.  We are excited, nervous, ready, blown away by god.  This kind of thing does not usually happen in the adoption world since Camp and Asher are not related yet they are artificial twins, awesome stuff."

It's seriously because of your prayers that baby H is alive & well and with his grandmother and I seriously believe it's because of your prayers.  If that was the role we all had to play in his story, it was worth it.

I know that sounds so crazy, but it's the truth.  He's with a family member, in his home country - more than that, a family member who loves him & who fought for his custody.  Someone who WANTS him.  We want to continue to pray for him & his mom and his grandmother and ask that you do too.  Like Stephen said, we will forever consider him a part of our family.  

The Holy Spirit totally prepared me to respond the way I did to the heartbreaking news of losing our referral.  A way that is so not of my flesh.  I am being transformed through this process & while it's been painful at times - I consider it pure joy to face trials of many kinds.  because I know the testing of my faith produces perseverance.

I am reminded by the song often that says, "you give & take away - my heart will choose to say, blessed by your name".  Baby H (our first referral) has been taken away from us, but He's given us two new sweet ones to love.  We are CHOOSING to bless the name of the Lord.  It doesn't come natural sometimes, but we chose it.  He is good.  

so what's next?
They are currently in a foster care situation in Addis & we are so grateful that they will now be getting better care & attention.  They will have to double our paperwork (since there are 2!) and submit it to MOWA (ministry of youth & women's affairs) and then once that is approved we'll be submitted to court!  We'll have 3-4 weeks notice before we appear in court for them both!

We have no idea when that will be, but ask that you pray with us that it comes soon!
I promise I'll keep you all posted when we know - but until then, prayers are very much appreciated!  

I'm going to be a MOM!

of TWO!

double everything!

I'm working on their room & will show you pics as I go.  

so far we have 1 bed & bedding set up :)  now for round 2!

another cool god thing - the room (that they will share) is TOTALLY gender nuteral.  

and I got a crib from ikea!  so yeah for that since I have to buy 2 now! haha.

pics from the baby shower (where we made the announcement!!), their room, and yes still our California trip to come! 

I'll end with this...

in the words of Bob Goff in his book Love Does (which you SHOULD READ!!!) 

"Am I the right guy? I don't know, but I'm the guy being asked, and the last thing I want to do is miss an opportunity or make God mad, so I just keep saying yes."