Tim and Jeni's Adoption: October 2009

Amazing News!

>> Friday, October 23, 2009

"Amazing News for the Saltzman Family!" This was the subject of the email we received last night. When we opened the email it said, "Your adoption was heard by the court and it was approved TODAY." We were shocked and SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! Apparently it all happened last minute and they didn't have time to notify us.

You can see a picture of the courts below. This is where an Ethiopian judge looked at our paperwork and Faith's paperwork and stamped his approval. She was given our name. She is officially OUR DAUGHTER!!!!!

Joseph is officially Faith's big brother!!! His grandma made this shirt for him and now he can finally wear it! :)

You might be asking what's next, everybody is asking us this. Now we wait to hear about when we can go pick her up. We have to wait until we can get a U.S. Embassy appointment. They say that we can get in within 3 or 4 weeks. At the U.S. Embassy we will get a visa for Faith so that she can travel to the States and become a U.S. citizen!!!

Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement through all of this! We can't wait to go get our little girl. Please continue to pray for us during this last time of waiting and then as we transition into a family of four.

On top of this big transition we just heard that the owner of the house we're living in wants to sell the house so we are moving. Yesterday we put a deposit down on a great apartment close to a park!! We're excited about our new place. We'll be busy moving the next couple of weeks. We're hoping to be completely settled into our new place before we travel to go get Faith Bethlehem.

We will wait upon the Lord.

>> Thursday, October 22, 2009

We continue to wait to hear about a court date. It's so frustrating, really, but God has been so good to remind me that He is in control here. I know that He will bring our family together

There's a praise song that says, "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait." This song has been significant to both Tim and me during this time.

He's reminding me about the promises that He's given me and that He is faithful to fulfill His promises. Here's a couple of verses that He's reminding me of:

Psalm 33:11 "The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations."

Isaiah 43:5 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west."

There are others like Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28 and, of course, Phil 4:6-7.

When we were visiting Faith in Ethiopia we saw this bib. It's funny the things that God uses to tug at our hearts. When I saw it, I realized that He was reminding me that He brought Joseph into our family and He will do it again with Faith.

The reason this bib is so significant is that when we visited Joseph and had to leave him all we had was pictures and video to enjoy. Our favorite picture of him was when he was wearing this bib. Everyone around us saw THIS picture.

Some of our friends teased us about the bib saying, "who are the wildcats???" We didn't know. And then Paula said, "That's MY alma mater...University of Kentucky!!" She thinks he will end up going to her school when he goes to college. You never know.

Not that this is on topic, but my little wildcat is blowing kisses at me from across the room as I write this. I love that boy! I wonder, will I love this little girl as much as I love him?

Adoption is greater than the Universe!

>> Saturday, October 17, 2009

I came across this video recently and I love what Piper has to say about adoption! It's awesome to think about how God has adopted us!!

Grandma's Little Doll

>> Thursday, October 15, 2009

Faith's Grandma sent this really cute little onesie. My mom and grandma tell a story of when I was a baby and they treated me like I was a little doll. They were dressing me up in all sorts of cute clothes. Apparently I didn't appreciate it...I don't remember.

Now she sent Faith a shirt claiming that she's her little doll!! How fun! I look forward to dressing Grandma's little doll up in all sorts of cute clothes! :)

Here's a picture of Faith & Joseph's Grandma playing with Jojo on the slide...Obviously she adores her grandkids! :)

Here's Faith's Grandma and Nana. Watch out...they're going to want to play dolls with our cute little girl!

Here I am with my Grandma. She loves her grandchildren as well as her great-grandchildren! :)

We also have some great friends who are willing to help us make Faith really cute! Raylee's mom sent these great headbands for Faith to wear!! I can't wait to put them on her. Raylee always looks so cute in her headbands!

Raylee also welcomed Faith into the princess club with that cute card!! Funny, we bought Faith a stuffed Princess Camel just like the one on the card that Paula sent us! :)

Here's a picture of me with Auntie Liz, and Paula (Raylee's mom)

This is a picture of cute little Raylee last time we saw her. She and Faith are almost the same age.

This is a picture of Joseph and Raylee shaking hands. Aww!!

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!!!!!!

>> Monday, October 5, 2009

Today is one of our dear friends' birthday!! She's such a special person to so many people. Everywhere we go, people know her and love her! She is the definition of a servant. She's been such a blessing to us in so many ways!! Joseph knows her as "Auntie Liz" and so will Faith. She's already given Faith a cute little gift and I can't wait to see her wear it:

Last time we were with her, she drove us around. She's a great driver!!! She always knows where she's going and doesn't let the awful traffic get to her!! :) :)

Joseph loves and admires her. He misses her now that we don't live close enough to see her regularly. Here's a few pictures of the two of them together:

I count her as a treasured friend!! I've enjoyed going to weddings with her and just sitting and talking with her. I love to hear what's on her heart!

We even got to meet some of her family. When her parents came out for a visit, all three of them watched Joseph so Tim and I could go on a date!

Here's a picture of Elizabeth and her dad:

more delay :(

>> Sunday, October 4, 2009

We were bummed to find out a few days ago that the Ethiopian Courts will be closed for two more weeks. That means that we won't even know what our court date is until at least October 19th...maybe later. UGH! We're frustrated. We so badly want to go get our little girl. It seems like we've already had so many delays. :(

It's so hard to be separated from our little girl. We know that the best place for her to be is with us, her family. Please pray for her. Pray for her health and protection. Pray that somehow this process can speed up and we can go get our little girl.

I can't wait to hear her say, "ma ma!"

>> Thursday, October 1, 2009

Sometimes when I think about Faith, I can almost imagine her saying, "ma ma!" We heard her babbling a little bit...she has a sweet voice.

I remember when I was looking forward to hearing Joseph say, "ma ma!" It took him a while to say it. Here is a video of Joseph being taught how to say, "MA MA!" by his Aunt Karla and Aunt Tonya: