Small World!

Lacey's brother (Matt) and sister-in-law (Lauren) had a mini Ethiopian reunion last night with three other families at the Bigfork basketball game....all of the kids are from the same care center in Ethiopia and are now living in NW Montana! Matt was able to visit with our M's buddy, and when Matt explained that he was M's uncle and that M would be coming home soon the response was priceless.....with a big smile on his face he says, "Today?"......Matt says, "No, not today but soon."........he responds, "Tomorrow?" Can't wait to let those boys have some play time together this summer. They spent a lot of time together in the care center and were together in many of the pictures we have seen. Hopefully they will share friendship and a strong connection for life.

Updated Measurements for M.

We recently received some updated measurements for our sweet son M.
Measurement = Weight - 16.7kg
                        Height - 117cm

Of course those don't mean much to us until we do some conversions to our weird American system.

Weight = 36.8 Pounds
Height = 46 Inches

To put that into perspective our little Daniel (3 years old) weighs around 36 pounds, and Averi (6 years old) is around 46 inches. That is one tall and skinny little boy!!

The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard stearns

The Hole In Our Gospel by Rich Stearns (President of Worldvision) is a must read for all who proclaim Jesus as their Savior. I read and re-read this book and share it with anyone who is willing to listen.
This book boils the Gospel down to three main points:

• We are to Love God
• We are to Love our neighbors
• We are to go and make disciples of others who will do the same

Yet we have 3.6 billion people living on less than $2 a day. A child dies every five seconds from hunger related causes. About 25,000 people die each day of hunger or its related causes. AIDS has now left 15 million children behind as orphans.

Indeed their is a hole in our Gospel. Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)

This is a strong call to the American church to raise our awareness of the suffering in the world....and then to move and do something to help. As Rich Stearns explains:

"For most of the poorest people in the world, their hard work doesn't matter. They are trapped within social, cultural, political, and economic systems that do not reward their labor. The result of this entrenched futility is devastating to the human spirit. A person, no matter how gifted or determined, cannot escape the trap in which he finds himself. he has lost the one thing that every person needs to thrive: hope - hope that he will someday overcome his circumstances, that tomorrow can be better than today, and that his children might someday have a better life than his. Such people discover that they are in an economic and social prison from which there is no escape - unless something happens to change their circumstances and to restore the link between their effort and their reward."

Throughout the book this powerful prayer is repeated. This has become my prayer and I hope it finds a resting place in your heart as well.

"Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."





Mikeschair.....Keep Changing The World....Great Song!

Sweet Miss Averi

What a sweetheart....Averi saw the change jar on the counter that now has a picture of M. on it (adoption funds) and asked if it would be OK if she put her whole piggy bank in the jar. Love You Averi!

A troubling reality that might just "Dare You To Move"

Dads and Adoption

I found this video on a blog the other day. This dad offers great encouragement and biblical founded advice for Dads wrestling with the thought of adopting a child.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

This is just the right book at just the right time! It challenged me, humbled me, renewed my walk and focus on living out the Gospel in a hurting world. This adoption process has brought forth many positive comments from friends and family. Facebook, the blog, at work, at church....we are truly blessed to have so many offering encouragement and support. This book was a powerful reminder that this isn't a Casey and Lacey thing....this is a God thing. The natural and human thing is to let those positive comments fill the ego, rather than reflect and give the glory to the real mastermind behind the plan. As the author puts it, "We think we are shaking up the world when actually we're just along for the ride."

But When you give to the needy, do not let you left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4 NIV)

The other powerful point in this book is the realization that the American Dream, which is still full of promise, opportunity, and hope is only possible through an "accident of latitude." Children in other areas of the world start with the same  hopes and dreams just to have them shattered by extreme poverty, disease, injustice, and war. I am a baseball fan and always find the greatest truths usually come about through a great baseball analogy or metaphor....this book didn't disappoint. "In the game of life, many of us who cross home plate do so because we were born on third base. Other's aren't even on a team." The realization that our son, M. , is one of those who could have been without a team tears me up, to know there are millions more just like him is incomprehensible.



Fingerprints Appointment Moved Up!

Lacey and I will travel to Helena on Friday for our fingerprinting appointment.

Yahooo....It's a Date....USCIS Fingerprinting in Helena

Today we received our date from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Office for fingerprinting in Helena, MT. Lacey and I will travel to Helena on 2/28/11! That is much needed news as the waiting game was getting very difficult. The next exciting date we are waiting on is my court date in Ethiopia. Thanks to all for their continued prayers and support.

"Love is Patient" 1 Corinthians 13:4

"One Less" by Matthew West

"We are called
To the widows and the orphans
But it's easy to ignore their silent crys
Oh but every single time
Somebody reaches into the darkness
Makes a choice to help the helpless
They let mercy save a life"