Nothing without Him

Ryan and I were again feeling stressed and anxious about finances surrounding the travel and logistics of Africa next week (!!!). Until the travel costs were here, we had been blessed to pay each cost with our fundraisers, extra shifts or umpiring. Although I can say we did the fundraising, you donated money, I shopped on a budget, Ryan worked later, the truth is God did it. He has orchestrated Etienne and Zeke's creation, their life as orphans and their place in our families.

Almost home

Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land. - Proverbs 25:25 We are over the freaking out of purchasing our plane tickets and now filled with joy that we see Etienne and Zeke in less than 2 weeks!!! Our flight leaves KC on Sept 5 and arrive in Kigali on the 7th. Ryan, Molly, Blake and I are going through hand-me-downs, assembling a bunkbed (for Blake and Etienne), trying to remember how to put the crib back together again, and counting our blessings. It is a very surreal, happy time. One of my good friends told me that I was acting like I was 9 months pregnant. I took that as a compliment! Yesterday I realized that neither Etienne or Zeke have probably worn shoes much, if ever. And I have no idea how big they really are, so I thought I'd search for crocs because they'd have more flexibilty with guessing a good fit.: We came to the realization that God has something HUGE going on for two little boys in Africa and for our family! The truck being broke and the lacking funds for travel were Satan trying one last ditch effort to throw a wrench into the miracle of Etienne and Zeke's homecoming.

Ugh.

To you who broke into our vehicle, in our driveway of our home, take heart. It is only stuff. We don't need stuff. We only need our God who created us and provides use with what we need, when we need it. "May you put your unfailing love rest on us, oh Lord, even as we put our hope in You" -Psalm 33:22

Travel Date and Prayers

Good news! Two weeks from today- Sept 3-we will depart to Rwanda to bring Etienne and Ezekiel home for good. We have felt God's hand in this entire journey-from the moment we received an application from the adoption agency (that we never even requested!?!) to all the success of pizza sales, BBQ parties, and Mission Threads. We're seeking your prayers now because at this moment we don't have all the funds to pay the air fare to Rwanda and I am swallowing my pride-I know that is the devil trying to seperate me from my creator and His plans- and seeking prayer support this morning. As my friend Lisa reminded me in prayer today, God can provide water in the desert. Ryan and I know that God has a plan for Etienne and Ezekiel and we can't lose sight of those little boys that are our children, and most importantly, His children.s

Tees

This is the last week to buy a t-shirt. We are hoping to sell the rest of the tees this week with plans to (tentatively) travel the last week of August. Tees arrived and I plan to ship them out in the next few days. If you live in KC or Omaha we would prefer to deliver them to you. THanks for the continued prayers. We bought diapers for the boys. This involved me surrveying other parents in the store to guess the size that would possibly fit them both. 4? Maybe. I really hope I am right because no ones wants a leaky diaper on an 8hr flight!

Officially Ours

WE PASSED COURT!! Etienne and Daniel are now Higgins kids. Etienne is now Etienne Samual Higgins and Daniel is now Ezekiel Daniel Higgins!!!!

Yellow fever and such

With the happy news that travel is only a few weeks away, we are again getting that "butterfly" feeling. Our family will soon be united for real! Molly and Blake are planning (Molly working on where everyone will sit in the car, Blake planning on "getting my brothers to chase you Molly!") Last week our church family and Basehor friends gave us a family shower and now we are equited with lots of supplies to take to the orphanage. I found out that Etienne is not yet potty trained, so we'll be getting doing diapers for both boys! Tee sales are still going, and we are working toward a goal of 10K. Yellow fever vaccines aren't cheap!We will probably need to close sales next week. Please forward this to your friends and their friends too. People are asking so here is the answer: Etienne will be Etienne Samual Higgins and Daniel will be Ezekiel Daniel Higgins. Hoping today we'll receive the final court ruling and travel times coming soon!

Surprise!!

Today we received news that our court appointment happened this morning! This was the next step we were waiting for-but we were waiting for simply a court date. This was a surprise to our agency too that it happened so fast. Yippee! How often does anything go fast in this journey?! The court date meant that a lawyer presented our family to a Rwandan judge, demonstrating that the Ministry, the agency and the orphanage believe that Etienne and Daniel should be Higgins kids. We should receive word by next week of a (favorable) ruling. Then travel is 2-3 weeks after. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18