The Steward's Adoption Story

I made a difference to that one

2010-12-13T17:43:00.004-05:00

Early one morning a boy was walking along a beach. Hundreds of starfish lay stranded on the shore, having been washed onto the sands the night before by a storm. As he walked, the little boy would pick up a starfish at random and throw it back into the sea. An old man came down the beach, walking in the other direction. He asked the little boy what he was doing. "I'm saving starfish," he answered. "Young man, don't waste your time. There's no way that you can make a difference for all these starfish," the man said. The little boy leaned down, picked up one more, and threw it back into the sea. He looked the man in the eye and said, "I made a difference to that one."-adapted from the story by Loren Eiseley

Today is the one year anniversary of our first meeting with my daughter Adanech Alaro Steward. You may think I am talking about her being a starfish and us throwing her a lifeline. I can tell you this that having her in my life has every day increased my joy. Every day I start fresh with the wonderful family God has entrusted to me. They throw me back into the ocean each day. Thank you God for making a difference to this one!

We cannot pretend we do not know.

2010-10-24T22:43:00.003-04:00

It has been months since our last post. We are busy being a family. God is amazing.

I learned this week that a student in my class was going to bed hungry. This child was abandoned by his mother, who has a drug addiction, and left with his grandmother. Before his mom left she took all the money and food stamps. She is now in jail. Being a mother who has adopted from a forgien country I sometimes forget that children in my immediate reach are living lives of tragedy. God had been speaking to me about this child for several weeks. I assumed it was because of his obvious behavior issues. Little did I know that his world was crumbling. Just when I start to notice the "stuff" in my life that I want (ie. new carpet, shoes, ect..) God breaks my heart for a child who just needs love. He reminds me that he has given me blessings, not because I have earned them but because he expects me to give them away. "Touch the life of other people," he says to me. He knows I am not perfect. He knows the most disgusting thoughts that I have. He is not shocked and he does not turn away. He says look here and shows me that the glory is his. My life was not created to be perfect but to point to the only one who is.

God forgive me for my pity parties. Let my life not be about my material possessions but let it be about the people you love. Help me to spend the money you give to our family to touch the hearts of others. Point me in the direction you would have me go. In Jesus name Amen.

...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act.....

Prov. 24:12

-Sarah

THE TRUTH IS

2010-04-16T01:08:00.004-04:00

The truth is that adoption--international or domestic is amazing.
The truth is that this sweet baby girl has captured the hearts of our family members.
The truth is she is our daughter!
The truth is that she is unconditionally loved
by her earthly family and her heavenly Father!

We Are The Truth
A Campaign and Call to Action

The outrageous treatment of Artyem by his adoptive family has rightfully resulted in outrage by the Governments of Russia and the United States and all who care about children. The tragedy has cast a light on intercountry adoption that says it is not safe, the system failed and adopted children cause insurmountable problems. The heartbreak of Artyem Saviliev’s abandonment has once again elevated a singular incident to a level which may result in the suspension of intercountry adoption. Suspending adoption, even temporarily, will only cause thousands of children to suffer the debilitating effects of life in an orphanage.
Please Click Here to find out how you can help!!

Saturday Christian

2010-04-02T09:39:00.001-04:00

Saturday Christian

I have been taught about the Last Supper and what it means. Jesus gathered his twelve disciples and revealed to them that He was the Messiah that was foretold by the prophets. He said that all the scriptures were to be fulfilled with Him for the glory of His Father. He gave the first communion in history by breaking the bread and drinking the wine, symbolic of his body and blood that would be shed the next day. He revealed that he knew Judas would betray Him and hand Him over to the Pharisees. He knew that He was to die a painful death on the cross.

I have been taught about Good Friday. I have read, seen movies, and looked at pictures depicting the horrible beating that Jesus took before he hung on the cross. I know that the weight of the cross caused Jesus to stumble and fall on his path to his death. That he received help in getting up the mount to his destination. I have heard the conversation between Jesus and the two thieves being hung with him. I know of the agonizing cry he gave out proclaiming that it is finished. The Bible says he was pierced in the side to see if He in fact was dead. This once again fulfilled scripture from the prophets of old, proving that He is the Messiah. I know that at the 9th hour he gave up his body to death.

I have been taught about Easter Sunday. They went to the grave to mourn and saw the rock covering the entrance had been moved. How they found no signs of Jesus other than His burial clothes laying in the spot His body should have been. I know that He revealed Himself too many people at the time and then ascended into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of His Father. I know that He sent the Holy Spirit down to help us thru our journey in life. I know that one day He will return to judge the living and the dead. I know that one day all knees will bow and proclaim He is the Lord.

That covers Thursday, Friday, and Sunday for Easter week. But what happened on Saturday?

After much prayer and seeking Gods face, I feel He is telling me that I am a Saturday Christian. I accept the Thursday, Friday and Sunday events as fact. I believe that what the Bible says is true about these events. I believe it so much that I have turned my life over to Jesus. I proclaim to those who will listen and those who won’t listen about what God has done in my life. I am not who I should be but I am not what I used to be. I am a new creature in Christ.

When Jesus gave His last breath on the cross, the Bible says he was separated from the Father. To be separated from the Father is to be in Hell. I weep when I see the movie “Passion of the Christ.” I feel ashamed as I see the scars and flesh coming off Jesus body for my sins that I have committed. These are horrible things to have to watch whether you believe them or not. How much more did He suffer in Hell? What type of horror did He battle thru? What type of torment and demons came after Him? His body was destroyed on Earth but his soul was taking a much worse hit on the Saturday after his crucifixion. Do I really want to think about this part of His journey? If I weep at His body dying, what should I do at His soul being ripped apart in Hell for my sake? For my families sake? For my friends sake? For the worlds sake? Was it called Good Friday because Saturday was that much worse for Jesus?

I have come to realize that I have to accept the Saturday as fact. That Jesus not only died on the cross for my sins but that He also went to Hell for me. I need to have no fear of death in my life. Hell has no part of my future. Hell has no part of my family’s future. Hell has no part in my friend’s future. When He rose from the grave, I rose from the grave. When He rose to the Father, I rose to the Father. When He comes again, I will be taken into Heaven with those who have accepted Jesus into there hearts. I will live in eternity with Him because the devil has been defeated and IT IS FINISHED.

This Sunday I will be coming with a fire to Easter service. This Sunday I will be coming to sing songs of joy and praise to my God. This Sunday I will no longer be a Saturday Christian. I will gain a new freedom, I will gain a new boldness, and I will see the hand of God move in my entire household. He will move in my workplace, my community, and in my church. Lives will change around me and I will proclaim the victory. Not for my glory but for the glory of the only true Savior, Jesus Christ.

Chris Steward

What a day

2010-03-01T17:56:00.003-05:00

Today Addi read the paper and built a train with her big brother. She is amazed at being outside now and just stares and stares at things. God is our healer!

Is it worth it?

2010-02-25T17:34:00.005-05:00

I think you can see the answer to that question. This is a new day for Addi. The world just got brighter and her destiny lies ahead. All praise to God.

Let the thaw begin

2010-02-21T16:32:00.002-05:00

Just an updated kid photo. Addi has her second surgery this coming Wendsday, we will post after that is completed. On a side note, we had her fitted for glasses and she is sooo stinking cute in them.

You won't like me when I'm angry!

2010-02-09T14:38:00.002-05:00

Actually I love it when she is angry, sad, happy, laughing, or not wanting me but wanting her Mom! Addi is still waiting for her second surgery and then she will be fitted with glasses. We can't wait to see the expression on her face when her vision is clear! We are learning lots of words and using them in the correct context now. This girl is not the baby doll type that is for sure. And when she gets MAD look out!

One down and one to go

2010-01-29T09:45:00.002-05:00

Addi had her first surgery to remove the cataracts in her eyes. She is doing very well at leaving her patch on and as you can see her smile is working. God is working in this house! THANK YOU JESUS!

We made the news

2010-01-20T23:26:00.002-05:00

We made the news! What a blessing to have this video for Addi! What an opportunity to share our joy! Check it out!
http://www.wave3.com/global/category.asp?c=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=5728&topVideoCatNoB=76863&topVideoCatNoC=97701&topVideoCatNoD=97702&topVideoCatNoE=101703&clipId=4468223&autostart=true

One month ago

2010-01-14T10:38:00.002-05:00

One month ago yesterday to be exact this little girl came into our lives. I can't imagine life without her. The void that we felt has been filled and our joy is overwhelming. We have her baby dedication coming up this Sunday at church. So excited for that day to be here! To return to the Lord what he has given us. For her to go further then we go! To know that someday we will have eternity together!

Snow Day

2010-01-08T22:39:00.003-05:00

25 minutes of getting ready for 5 minutes of play time. I wish I knew what was going on in her head at the sight of the snow and the cold temperatures. So cool to have all these first experiences with her. She is looking very stylish I must say.

How is the baby doing?

2010-01-04T21:06:00.003-05:00

The most asked question that we hear? How is the baby doing? I think the baby is just fine and not only is she fine, she ROCKS in the band! Sweet!

My cookies

2010-01-03T16:26:00.001-05:00

We will be doing a baby dedication at our church in the next few weeks! AWESOME! In the meantime don't dare take my girls cookies! She will get angry!

2009-12-29T19:56:00.003-05:00

We are experiencing some cabin fever but doing very well despite that. This staying at home part is hard to do. Addi is adjusting very well and starting to eat some "normal" foods. She really likes to play with the boys and they still adore her. Noah and Sean always want to know when Addi is going to wake up from her naps. She does get frustrated because she can't communicate what she wants but she is attempting to repeat sounds and words. She wakes up very sad at times and that makes me wonder what she is dreaming or expecting when she wakes up. Her temper tantrums have slowed down though and she still sleeps all night. What a blessing God has given to us!

Bet you were not expecting this

2009-12-25T15:52:00.003-05:00

Princess Addi has been captured by storm troopers in pajama pants! HELP! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Our first dress

2009-12-24T08:48:00.002-05:00

Here she is the Princess! We made a quick stop to our Christmas service at church. It was nice to see everyone after being gone for a few weeks. We are trying to go slowly and not overwhelm her but as you can see in the picture she was a little unsure of her clothing.

The New Hair

2009-12-22T21:56:00.003-05:00

Today our friend Margaret came over and gave us some tips on doing Addis' hair. Though she looks a little upset in the picture, it did come out cute. We also have her first doctor appointment set for January. She has been a doll for us so far. Our 3 year old, Noah, is showing some signs of jealousy, so we are keeping an eye on that. We must make sure to spend separate and together time with all three children. I'm sure there will be some difficult moments ahead but I have faith that all will be well. Looking forward to a great Christmas.

Back to normal

2009-12-21T08:08:00.003-05:00

I think we are back on our feet. Sarah is off work until Feb 2010 and I still have a week of vacation. Christmas is going to be great this year. We are just staying home and people are coming to us. Addi is doing great. She is eating more and sleeps all thru the night. The boys follow her around and just love being with her. She already copies every move they make. I pray that never changes as my children learn to live for the Lord!

We are home and tired

2009-12-19T14:12:00.005-05:00

What a week! Lots to say but very worn out. More info to follow but Addie is home!

And we are off

2009-12-09T22:27:00.002-05:00

Busy couple of weeks we had but I think we are ready. We leave tomorrow and get to Ethiopia on Saturday. We will have our girl in our arms on Sunday about 2:00 PM Eastern time. WE ARE COMING BABY GIRL!!!

2009-11-19T18:43:00.001-05:00

Here is another seek peek at our beautiful daughter. Enjoy!

Home for Christmas!!!!!!

2009-11-19T18:10:00.006-05:00

No one even complained about the group picture.

This week has been an amazing week. On Tuesday we were finally able to celebrate passing court. We celebrated by inviting some of our family and friends to a local Ethiopian restaurant. We were so honored and blessed to have this group of people with us. They are some of our dearest friends and have been supportive throughout the entire process.

This is a picture of the kids table. We had 9 altogether. The next time we go we will have 10! The servers at the resturant were so understanding and helpful.

After an amazing evening on Tuesday we got a phone call on Wednesday from Christy our caseworker. Baby A does not have TB and we will be traveling to meet her on December 10. She will be home before Christmas. She is truely a mircle and a gift from our God. I cried on the way to work this morning because I am amazed once again that God knew of her before she was born and He created her for our family.

Here are some interesting facts about Baby A we learned in the latest update:

1. Her birthday is not listed as November 8, 2007 but rather December 8, 2007

2. She weights about 24lbs

3. She is still drinking out of a bottle every 3 hours (I guess we will need bottles).

4. She is saying some words: yes, no, and saying some words for foods.

5. Her personality was described as "Big" and friendly but she will throw a tantrum when she does not get what she wants (this does not sound any different than the kids who already live at my house).

What a roller coaster

2009-11-13T09:26:00.002-05:00

This week has been so emotional. We have had our own good news coming in and we see other families praise reports coming in. Each one of the children has such a story behind them that will be powerful when used for the Glory of Our God. God is so good. At the same time we see reports of delays, missing paperwork and frustration with other families journey. We know and understand how frustrating this can be. Our hearts break for those at this stage. For those that may be traveling with us, we already feel a special bond by following your blogs and we can't wait to meet in person! For those still waiting I want to leave this verse Exodus 14:13
Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.

The Newest Steward

2009-11-11T22:54:00.004-05:00

So today at 12:00 PM Christy our case manager called to tell us that we are officially Baby A's Mom and Dad! I started crying like a crazy person and said a few incoherent things but I think I asked a few good questions. We will call tomorrow with a list of questions. Tonight we will just soak in the feeling of gaining a daughter who upon first sight we knew was ours in the first place. Full pictures are not suggested to be posted until we get her home but I think from this view you can see we have the most beautiful Ethiopian princess ever! We are thankful to God and all who have been praying for us. We continue to lift up the other families waiting on court dates and results. I want to ask for a special prayer for the Hernandez family as they are now going through the same delay that we experienced. Lord give them peace and comfort knowing that there child is safe and being loved at Hannah's Hope.

Chris and Sarah Steward

This weeks focus

2009-11-03T07:46:00.002-05:00

I discovered this song over the weekend at the Youth Fall Retreat. Our focus should not be on the blessings but only on Jesus. I have been singing this song all week and am praying that Jesus shows up on Friday for His glory. The song is Open Up The Sky by Deluge. It should be playing right now as you are reading. "Open up the sky fall down like rain. We don't want blessings we want You!" The Fall Retreat was a great sucess. Eddie James came and rocked the place silly. I know that lives got changed. I know that God showed up. We are humbled to be used by the Only Living God.

The Wait Continues

2009-10-22T21:06:00.002-04:00

Today was our second attempt at a court date. The birth mother didn't show up and the case is moved to Nov. 6th. I know that God has great plans for our daughter. This will move our travel time to December if all goes well that court date. I read today about how you should not focus on the event but focus on Jesus. I will stand on this and do my best to follow this advice. Tonight I am frustrated and disappointed. My God is BIG and his plan is BIG. I have trusted Him this far and I will continue to do so. WE ARE COMING BABY GIRL!
Love Dad

Court Date moved

2009-10-15T11:29:00.002-04:00

OK so here is the update. Our court date was on Oct 12th but the courts didn't open until the day after. This pushed us back to Oct 22nd. We are still hoping to have her home before her birthday in early November. This has been the hardest part of the process by far. We are trying hard to stay focused on God and His plan. WE ARE COMING BABY GIRL!
Love Dad

What our sister can do

2009-09-30T13:18:00.005-04:00

Today Noah and I got to go to the pumpkin patch with his preschool class. We had a great time with beautiful weather. As he picked his pumpkin out he yelled, " We HAVE to take our sister here!" That is where we are right now. Waiting on the court date and then travel dates to follow. We look forward to seeing what our sister can do in the coming months. Thank you God for the safety and care she is getting. Thank you for entrusting us to give her the same when she arrives.

Ethiopia

2009-09-08T21:35:00.003-04:00

Here are some stats about Ethiopia. Everytime I read them my eyes get watery. Our daughter WAS part of the 5-million. I say 5-million minus 1. What a gift to raise this baby. We are blessed. -Sarah

*There are approximately 5 million orphans in a country less than twice the size of the state of Texas.

*Between 60-150 million kids live on the streets

*One in six children die before their fifth birthday.

*One in ten children die before their first birthday.

*Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school; 88% will never attend secondary school

*In the 1980's one million Ethiopians died of starvation

*Some areas still practice female circumcision

*82% of the population survives on less than 1 dollar a day

*Only 24% of households have access to safe drinking water

*Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000

*Children and family are honored above all else

*1 in 3 people are HIV+, the average life expectancy is 37

Our first LOST tooth!

2009-09-06T20:56:00.005-04:00

A couple of weeks ago Sean came crying to me because he had bumped his mouth and now his tooth was loose. I calmly replied, "That's okay baby. Soon all of them will fall out." That may not have been the best thing to say to my sensitive Sean. He was not very enthusiastic about this news. I am thankful to say that after living with a wiggly tooth for awhile he became very proud about this new stage in life. The big event occurred on the way to church on Wednesday. From the back of the car I hear, "Mom! My tooth is gone." I said, "Cool! Do you have it in your hand?" Sean says, "No, it's gone." I assume the first lost tooth is swallowed. Then the conversation turned to talking about what actually happens to a swallowed tooth. I will spare the whole blogging world the details. Tonight it hit me that my oldest baby is OLD. I'm all of a sudden mourning his tiny years. He is already a little boy. He does so much independently and of these things I am extremely proud. God has blessed me to be a part of two boys lives and I pray that he will give me the wisdom, patience, love, and strength to raise mighty men who love the Lord. Thank you God. Let me take time to enjoy each small moment. -Sarah

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

Psalm 103:14-16

Court Date

2009-08-21T09:04:00.002-04:00

We have a date with the Ethiopian Government! Oct.12th we have our scheduled court date. This is when we will officially become parents of Baby A. How cool is that!!! When we pass court on that date ( note the positive attitude I have towards the outcome) we will get our travel dates. The end of October or early November is looking like the time frame. We just had our travel conference call with the agency and got a rundown of how things happen when we arrive in country. They gave a lot of information but all I listened for was the part of getting my daughter. This is going to be so exciting for Sarah and I to go together. Our mission trips in the past have been apart from each other but this mission trip is a together deal! Thank you God for a wife of a like mind and heart! Thank you God for a supportive family to surround us! Thank you God for a church that raises us up to reach our full potential for Your glory! Thank you above all for your sacrifice on the cross! Without your death, we could not have life.
Chris Steward

The Video

2009-08-15T01:25:00.002-04:00

Today we received a video of our baby girl in Ethiopia. I can't tell you what it means to me to see her move around and play. She is beautiful and has this sneaky kind of playful thing going on that just makes we want to get on a plane and bring her home. Oh wait I get to do that soon. In Gods timing of course. After 21 years of this little girl being on my heart, I see now the light at the end of the tunnel. God in spite of myself and my mistakes you love me enough to answer my hearts desire. Thank you God for your daily mercy and grace. Thank you for having a plan and purpose for the Steward family. Living for your Glory!
Chris Steward

God is so Real Right Now

2009-08-06T22:52:00.002-04:00

OK so now we have the picture of our baby girl. We can't post them or her name on the blog until she is officially ours. I can tell you this though, God knew she was ours from the beginning of time. Every little detail that we have needed has and is still being met. The spoken questions we have. The unspoken questions we have, are all being answered. Baby A had very little documented medical history when we first saw her. This of course caused me to have some unease. Those of you that know me would say I am a very deep thinker. I'm inquisitive to say the least. My wife is such a woman of faith. She just goes after what God wants and trust Him, where I will follow Him but usually I have to ask questions and fight it out first. I love her more and more each day. We balance each other out.
Today we received over 20 new documents on Baby A's medical records. Another adoption agency had her for a period and did a great job with getting things in order. These records, by Gods grace,are now in our hands and being reviewed by our doctor. Thank you God for letting me be good old stubborn me. Thank you God for knowing exactly how I'm wired and what I need. You are the King of Kings, My Lord of Lords!
God is so real right now!
Chris Steward

She looks like our sister!

2009-07-30T23:33:00.003-04:00

Yesterday while I was fixing my hair my cell phone rang. When I looked at the number I knew that it was our adoption agency. I thought that it was a strange time to be getting a call from them because it wasn't time for our monthly update. Christy our case worker started the conversation the same way she always does by asking how I am doing. We continued on through the usual small talk and then Christy said, "I have a little girl I want to talk to you about." Of course my heart started racing. She told me that the little girl was 20 months old and that she had some medical issues. She wanted to know if I was interested in seeing this child's "complete" medical and history report. I use the term complete loosely because there is nothing complete about the report but it is all the information they have about baby A. We cannot publish pictures or her name because she is not legally ours. I agreed to look at her information and called Chris to tell him the news. We have decided to proceed with the adoption. She is beautiful and I believe that God made her for us. The title of my post today comes from a comment made by Noah. My friend showed Noah a picture of baby A. and asked him who she looked like. He pointed to her and said, "She looks like our sister, brown! Not like us!" For me it was a great moment because in his innocence Noah explained our newest member perfectly. SHE IS OURS even though she is unique. The process from here will probably take 2-4 months. Keep us in your prayers. -Sarah

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18

July's Number

2009-07-10T18:08:00.005-04:00

I was sitting in an extremely boring training session today when my phone vibrated. I saw that the number was from Oregon and hopped out of my seat. It was our agency with our new numbers. Christy, the woman in charge of our case, asked if she should call back when she found out I was working. I almost screamed "NO! Don't hang up." She didn't hang up. She told me our new number. We are officially number 12 on the waiting list. We moved 9 spots in one month. After last month it's so excited to move so much. Keep the prayers coming!

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18

-Sarah

Getting excited

2009-07-07T18:22:00.004-04:00

We should be hearing this week our latest number. I have a strong feeling about this one. God is preparing the way and our hearts our ready. We got to eat at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant for our anniversary last week. They brought our plate of food out and I wanted to cry right then and there. We are SOOO ready for this. But God we trust in you and your will.
All things are possible with Christ.

I asked the boys what they would do when we bring our sister home. Sean will read to her and Noah will sing for her. That sounds like a great welcoming home party. We love you daughter! See you soon!!

Chris Steward

Do I have to think of a title?

2009-06-23T07:42:00.002-04:00

This morning I've been reading adoption blogs and thinking long and hard about our own adoption. I have stumbled across several new blogs. Some of them are from families waiting just like us and some are from families who have their children home. They all have the same thing in common: Parents who are above all thankful and humbled by the experience. People who understand that it's not about the gift that you are giving a child but about the endless gifts that God gives you through a new son or daughter. The idea that you are being given a miracle. An amazing experience. A person born across the world belongs to you and your family. God thought about your life and knew that you would be just the right parents for this child. To be honest I haven't been praying or reading my bible the way I should or would like to be. However, the great thing about God is that he will touch your heart even in those moments and times when you are at your weakest. The picture above is our orphanage in Ethiopia. Someday our newest family member will spend nights waiting for us in this home. Friday the number eight family on the list received their referral for a child. I am in high hopes that next month our number will be much smaller. Feeling loved despite myself. -Sarah

God Moves

2009-06-14T21:07:00.003-04:00

Today I opened up the newspaper. I know that sounds weird because who does that anymore with the Internet? Anyway on the front page was an article about the University of Louisville opening up an international pediatrician unit. This is a huge answer to prayer for me because I was a little concerned about having to drive with our newly arrived daughter to another city for her checkups upon arrival. He has answered my prayers all through this process and it has been in so many different ways that He has confirmed our mission. We attended a Louisville Bats minor league game on Tuesday and the couple in front of us is also adopting from Ethiopia. I found that I may have a contact about how to cook Ethiopian foods and answers to culture questions I may have. Every small detail God has answered my prayers. We only moved up one spot this month but that is the spot God wants us at for now. God I look forward to your next move. You know our hearts and I trust in your perfect will.

Chris Steward

Not Thrilled!

2009-06-09T17:36:00.002-04:00

Ok, so you know how a few post ago I said that I would keep my sanity if our number kept going down? Well it has gone down. One whole spot in a month. Needless to say I was not happy. What a let down. You wait a whole month for some news and you only move one place. Oh well, There is always next month. How about this dirty dude.

In Gods Hands -Sarah

No News...Just some thoughts

2009-05-27T22:02:00.003-04:00

I'm not really sure why I'm posting but I just felt the need to update our blog. We don't really have any news. In a week or so we will be getting a new number and hopefully it will be smaller than 22. At the start of this month Ethiopia decided to investigate all of the abandoned children cases. So in order to do this they have halted all adoptions in cases where the children had been abandoned. Our orphanage does handle abandoned children cases but most of the children are legally relinquished into the custody of Hannah's Hope. I was telling a parent at school about this situation and he said to me, "Don't give up hope." I thought it was a strange thing to say. Of course a little delay will not cause me to give up hope. I know the ONE who gives me hope. God has already given me a daughter. She is mine and I will continue to have faith until she is home with my boys. Okay, there was my little ramble for the day. I feel better now.

-Sarah

2009-05-05T20:13:00.002-04:00

We just got an email from our agency. We are #22! As long as that number keeps getting smaller I will keep my sanity. We are still in for a long wait but happy to just be waiting and not running around trying to get paper work together. I guess my picture is going to be bigger than my message tonight. God Bless! There is no God like my Jehovah!!! I wish everyone realized that truth. -Sarah

2009-04-27T17:56:00.006-04:00

The girls list is really moving fast. This is starting to get exciting. September and August the adoption process in Ethiopia stops for the rainy season. What time frame God has, we are good with. He knows our hearts and hears our prayers. I pray a peace over us as the time gets near.

We Finally Made The List!!!!

2009-04-20T19:37:00.006-04:00

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
---1 Samuel 1:27

Chris called me at work today around 2:00. He had recieved a call from Christy at ACGI. We officially made the list at number 26. We are so excited and a little unbelieving. It's an odd feeling to know that you have been waiting for your spot on "the list" and that you finally have one. Each month we will get an update and hopefully our number will go down until we our number 1. The wait for a girl is taking about 6-8 months at this point. When Chris called at his usual time to tell me he was coming home he also said something that made my stomach flutter. He said, "We're pregenant!" Of course this time around it is nothing like being pregenant except that in the end we will have a new child to love. The wait will be about as long. Well I don't feel really wordy tonight just thankful and again in amazment of God's love for me.

Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land.

--- Proverbs 25:25

Random thoughts from Dad

2009-04-07T21:25:00.002-04:00

It is beyond my belief that there is a daughter out there for me. It is beyond my belief that she is across the world on the other side away from me. We are getting closer. Nothing will come up to distract us. Nothing will stop us from doing what we are called to do. We are coming. We are coming. I can't wait.
I love you,
Dad

Another day of waiting

2009-03-26T09:45:00.004-04:00

It's official. Our homestudy has been approved! Sounds like an awesome thing but it really means a few more days of waiting for the final papers to be distributed. Every step takes a few days and all of those days are adding up to months of time. We are just ready to start the real waiting. Ha! Ha! That sounds so silly but it's true. Some days I don't think much about the adoption and other days I obssess over it. Today was a little more obssessive than others. I was reading a blog and couldn't stop staring at the gate of our orphanage. The gates are painted red and distinquish Hannah's Hope from the other buildings on the dirt roads of Eithiopia. One day God will lead us to those gates to get our daughter! Here is a link to the blog. It was a great look into HH and Eithiopia in general. http://growingupgollotte.blogspot.com/

Some of you that know Noah very well understand how much he likes to drum. He is on his second set of drums and always loosing sticks. This particular day he felt no need for pants but insisted on wearing his cowboy boots. Sounds like a true rocker. A few days later I was cleaning out my car in the garage when I hear him say, "I'm doing it!" In typical mom fashion I said, "Good job!" but had no idea what it was he was doing. When I finally pulled my head out of the car I realized that he had learned to peddle his tricycle. This is a big deal!! A new stage in life. This summer we are planning on taking Sean's training wheels off. As always Sean resist change. Like his daddy he has to think long and hard about things. He will come around to the idea after some pushing from his parents. Seems we are always pushing him to do new things. However, we are not usually literally pushing. I wonder if we are in good enough shape to run beside a bicycle. We shall see.

Busy Week

2009-03-13T18:54:00.003-04:00

I was reading another blog today and found this comment. I couldn't have described my feelings about adopting better than this way. My standard answer to the question "why are you adopting?" is the same as the one given here and I too felt that adoption was something people with better qualifications did but that I wasn't enough to be one of those people.

"Why are you adopting?"
Taken from ausbrooksfamily.blogspot.com

This is a common question for us. We were told when we first started this process we should be ready with an answer, one that was positive towards our adopted child. My answer is usually, “That’s just what God called us to do.” Seems pretty vague, but it’s true.But how do we know that? Josh and I both clearly felt God’s voice on this. We were recently looking at high school pictures of us, and Josh asked if I ever would have thought back then that we would be adopting our third child from Ethiopia, and I said its more than I could have hoped. I always thought adoption was so special, but I thought it was something other people did, people with more resources, more faith, more…something. This thinking prevents many parents from pursuing adoption, but believe me, if we can do it, so can you!

Now for an update on the adoption. We got the review of our home study back. Most of the changes were minor with just a few wording problems. The biggest annoyance was that we needed to have Ohio and Kentucky child abuse checks. We had one of these checks done for Indiana but because we have been here more than five years they did not think that we would have need one for the other states. They were wrong! Anyway this means that we will be waiting for another week or so for the Kentucky check to come back. Luckily the Ohio one was faxed and came back the same day. Just another lesson in patience.

We have had an exciting week at our house. Some friends of ours from church had their third child this week. While they were in the hospital we kept the other two kids. Brianna is four and Alex is two. So, I was a mother of four children under 6 years old. It wasn't as crazy as it sounds and of course without Chris and Mom watching them during the day we couldn't have done it. Really our children were very well entertained. -Sarah

Homestudy Review

2009-03-08T08:22:00.002-04:00

I don't have a whole lot to say today but I wanted to give a short update on our progress. We are waiting for the review of our home study to be complete. That involves the approval of several people so it is taking a few weeks to finish. The home study agency sent us a copy to approve. Everything sounded great except about half-way through they referred to us as "Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell." I guess the Mitchells were in line before us to have their home study written up. It kind of makes you wonder how well these things are read. I guess after four people read them all of the mistakes will be caught. After this stage we send in another set of paperwork which will hopefully get us on the official list. I keep hearing about this list but have begun to wonder if it actually exist. Ha! Ha! Nothing too exciting but the weather has been beautiful. The boys and I played outside yesterday and went to the park for the first time. It was so nice to go outside without freezing. Nothing like that first day when you can get outside and soak up some sunshine. God Bless you.

Trip to Guatamala

2009-03-04T09:55:00.005-05:00

Hey guys! This is my first post on the site and I'm a little nervous. I just got back from the mission trip in Guatamala. We saw over 1000 patients in four days and had the hand of God over us the entire time. I took a journal and documented each days events, so at our next get together I can share with you. I have included a few pictures from the trip for you to see. The country is beautiful and so are the people. The kids are amazing!! For those waiting for the adoption process to open in Guatamala, the time is well worth it. There is such a need to help these people. They lack a lot of things that we take for granted but I learned so much about love from them. When love is all you have, it tends to grow very strong. I'm now more than ever ready to get my daughter. God has called us to this task and He will see us thru in His perfect time. We are in the review stage now and soon will officialy be on "THE LIST."

Love you all

Chris, Sarah, Sean and Noah Steward

Blogs Make Me Cry!

2009-02-24T21:39:00.003-05:00

I was just fiddling around and reading some blogs from other people who are adopting through our agency. Our agency is All God's Children International (AGCI) by the way. A great agency if you are considering adoption. While I was reading these blogs I realized how many wonderful passages from the bible people include in their blogs. Many of these I have heard over and over again but now they take on a whole new meaning. God's word is truly alive and teaches us new things each time we read it. Today one that made me cry a few tears was this from Romans. "...but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." The Stewards' hope is alive and well during this time of waiting. We believe in our new daughter who is unseen.

Just a few new things in the lives of the boys. Aren't they pretty. Shh...don't tell them I called them pretty but seriously they are gorgeous. Today I believe Noah turned a corner in potty training. He has begun to run to the potty and claim "I HAVE TO PEE!" Praise God. He also threw a huge fit tonight when I had to put him in a pull-up. Sean potty trained in less than a month. We have been working with Noah for a year and a half. It's so true that each child is different. Sean is learning to read. He has begun to sound out new words and actually lets his mom teach him a few things. Until recently he did not enjoy when I tried to be his teacher. Now that he goes to school with me, and has first hand knowledge of what I do, I think he realizes I might have a few skills.

Day 4 in Guatemala for Chris. He has sent one email saying that he is doing well. He was able to give his testimony to around 200 people. I'm a little sorry that I missed it. His testimony always touches me. God gave me a Godly man when I didn't even know it.

We Made Good Time

2009-02-21T16:45:00.004-05:00

Let me start by saying that God is good. Last night I drove with Chris up to Indianapolis. We started at about 6:45 and made it there at about 10:45. If you've ever driven from Jeffersonville to Indy you know that it only takes about 2 hrs. More than half way through the trip we ran over something very large in the middle of the road. Our tire went flat and the rim was bent. Our dear friend Jeff Strange along with the fifteen passenger van that was taking the rest of the mission team to Indy stopped along the side of I65 with us. Jeff and Chris got the emergency tire on while a state trouper looked on. We preceeded to the next exit just to check and make sure nothing else was wrong with the car. As soon as we got off the exit guess what we saw. An open tire place. No kidding the place was open at 9:45 at night. Wow! If that wasn't God taking care of us. The nice men at the tire place banged out our rim with a couple of hammers and had us back on the road in thirty minutes. God knows what we need and he knows what the enemy has planned for us. I know that the Lord has big things planned for Chris on this mission trip. I'm just glad that "No weapon formed against him will stand."

After a short nights sleep the whole team got on the road to the airport at about 4:00. They should be at their destination by this time. I can't wait to hear all the reports.

Sleeping Babies

2009-02-18T22:57:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist sharing this picture with everyone. Aren't they sweet. Chris leaves in two days for Guatemala. Remember to keep praying.

We are still waiting for paper work to arrive at our homestudy agency. This agency is in Louisville and after four days in the mail I am wishing that I would have found the time to drive over the paper work. I guess I'm getting more and more impatient.

All my tech literate friends should be proud that I learned how to embed a music player on our blog. I'm Trying to learn now so that when the baby is here I can quickly keep everyone updated with pictures and video and such.

Let me leave you with this verse. No one says it better than our Lord.

"Lift up your eyes and look about you.; All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy..."

Isaiah 60:4-5

Chris Goes to Guatamala

2009-02-16T20:53:00.002-05:00

Chris leaves for Guatamala on Friday. He is excited and ready to go. I of course am praying for his safety and that God will use him in a mighty way.

We have finished all of our paperwork and are now waiting for the homestudy to be reviewed. After being reviewed we will send it along with our other paper work to the adoption agency. Then we go on a waiting list. From that point we wait and wait and wait. The wait is six to eight months at this point. Ha! Ha! Almost as long as a real pregnency. I'm trying not to eat like it's a regular pregnency. I don't think that the baby weight excuse will work this time. I found some baby toys in the garage today. I couldn't help bringing them into the house and washing them off. I don't have a clue what to do with them now but some how it made me feel like I was doing something to get ready. Who knows if our daughter will be the right age to use them.

Please continue to pray for our family. Pray for our sons and daughter that the transition will be smooth. Pray that while she is in Ethiopia she is being well cared for and kept safe.

Final Home Study Interview

2009-02-10T18:30:00.004-05:00

Last Thursday we had our final home study visit. Everything went very well and we are now just waiting on one more document before our homestudy will be reviewed. Our social worker told us that it could be up to a month for the review process to be completed. We are praying that the time will be shorter. It's strange to have everything for the homestudy completed and just be waiting. I guess I'm not good at waiting but better when I can do something. I already know that the Lord is using this process to help me learn that I cannot always do something to speed things up. The bible tells us that we must wait on the Lord and his timing. Chris and I both know that we are called to adopt. Now we just have to wait on God's timing and let him change us along the way.
Chris will be leaving for Guatemala on Feb. 20. He will be working on a medical mission trip. Please send up prayers for his safety and that he will be used by God in a mighty way.

January 24, 2009

2009-01-24T18:27:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I decided to start this blog about our adoption so that I would have an outlet for all my emotions and so that I wouldn't drive my friends crazy talking about it constantly. Well, to get started I'll just let everyone know that we are adopting a girl from Ethiopia. We are still preparing our dossier so we have a long road ahead of us.