Time for a monthly update... no, we haven't travelled overseas or bought another house. Although, there are plenty of places still on our list to go to!
I can't say the month of May has been bad to us so far. Jeff did his first ceremony thing at a military retirement. I wish I had pictures of him all dressed up in his uniform! He leaves soon for more chaplain training this summer. I'm just glad it is only one month and not three this year. The poor boy has to spend a month in Panama City, FL. Rough, I'm sure...
The adoption process is still trudging along... it really is a long and frustrating process. You basically submit a payment with some paperwork, wait, get more paperwork to do, wait, then have another fee to pay. We aren't even on the waiting list for a referral yet and that is about an 18 month wait right now. We are currently waiting for an appointment from the US Immigration offices to get another set of fingerprints from us. This is the FINAL piece of paperwork we need before we submit our packet to the Ethiopian government for approval! Why do I feel like every lesson that I learn is about patience? Can't we move on to something new because I'm going to be learning that lesson until the day I die! We are so excited and can't wait to be able to provide a loving home to an orphan, but I feel like we have to hamper that excitement or else we will get burnt out before this whole process is over.
Although I don't particularly want to live in Colorado the rest of my life, even if I did, I don't think I could get used to its beauty. God's beautiful handiwork is all around proclaiming his greatness and majesty and I am so thankful to just have eyes to see it.
In light of our previous post about throwing down your books and getting out and exploring (though I have the utmost respect for those paper teachers), some words from William Wordsworth to brighten your day (as it surely brightened mine):
I can't say the month of May has been bad to us so far. Jeff did his first ceremony thing at a military retirement. I wish I had pictures of him all dressed up in his uniform! He leaves soon for more chaplain training this summer. I'm just glad it is only one month and not three this year. The poor boy has to spend a month in Panama City, FL. Rough, I'm sure...
We finally got a chance to put our new camping gear to use! We spent five days near Salida, CO. The days were beautiful, but the nights were freezing! Good thing we got some nice sleeping bags to keep us warm. We brought the pups, too. That was interesting. Of course our husky, Nanook, was just fine sleeping in the tent at night, but we didn't think that our boxer, Maggie, would freeze her tail off. I guess we just didn't think it would be that cold. So... she slept in Jeff's sleeping bag with him. Spoiled.
I have to say, if you ever need to figure out if you and another person are compatible, go on a camping trip and put up a brand new tent together. I always brag about what a great team Jeff and I make, and the fun we had together camping that week only proved my point. Even if there were a few frustrations here and there, we really had a great time. We went hiking, fishing, zip-lining, and made some delicious meals over the campfire together. I'm so thankful for my husband and the fun times we have together. Check out our pictures! :)
The adoption process is still trudging along... it really is a long and frustrating process. You basically submit a payment with some paperwork, wait, get more paperwork to do, wait, then have another fee to pay. We aren't even on the waiting list for a referral yet and that is about an 18 month wait right now. We are currently waiting for an appointment from the US Immigration offices to get another set of fingerprints from us. This is the FINAL piece of paperwork we need before we submit our packet to the Ethiopian government for approval! Why do I feel like every lesson that I learn is about patience? Can't we move on to something new because I'm going to be learning that lesson until the day I die! We are so excited and can't wait to be able to provide a loving home to an orphan, but I feel like we have to hamper that excitement or else we will get burnt out before this whole process is over.
Although I don't particularly want to live in Colorado the rest of my life, even if I did, I don't think I could get used to its beauty. God's beautiful handiwork is all around proclaiming his greatness and majesty and I am so thankful to just have eyes to see it.
In light of our previous post about throwing down your books and getting out and exploring (though I have the utmost respect for those paper teachers), some words from William Wordsworth to brighten your day (as it surely brightened mine):
The Tables Turned
(An Evening Scene on the Same Subject)
(An Evening Scene on the Same Subject)
Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;
Or surely you'll grow double:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Why all this toil and trouble?
The sun, above the mountain's head,
A freshening lustre mellow
Through all the long green fields has spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.
Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:
Come, hear the woodland linnet,
How sweet his music! on my life,
There's more of wisdom in it.
And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your Teacher.
She has a world of ready wealth,
Our minds and hearts to bless
Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,
Truth breathed by cheerfulness.
One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:
We murder to dissect.
Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.
Or surely you'll grow double:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Why all this toil and trouble?
The sun, above the mountain's head,
A freshening lustre mellow
Through all the long green fields has spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.
Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:
Come, hear the woodland linnet,
How sweet his music! on my life,
There's more of wisdom in it.
And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your Teacher.
She has a world of ready wealth,
Our minds and hearts to bless
Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,
Truth breathed by cheerfulness.
One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:
We murder to dissect.
Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.
