Can I just take a moment to say how NICE it is to be one week into our adoption and already be where we were two months into our last adoption.  Oh happy day!

We're adopting again!

  You read it right!  We have just started our second adoption from Ethiopia!  We are excited to see what God has in store for our family next.  Why Ethiopia again?  Our answer is kind of the same as last time.  We just feel like this is how God wants us to grow our family.  It's that simple.  However, this time God has moved in our hearts in a way we would have never dreamed possible 3 years ago when we started our first adoption.  We are opening our parameters to include two siblings up to three years old.  We're expecting this adoption to take three or four years at least to complete so...you've guessed it right.  I could have three children under 5 years old.  YIKES!!!  

  It is a bit scary knowing that God is going to prepare us to parent that bunch of kiddos.  However, we are thrilled and humbled to see God move in our lives, yet again.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support as we walk down another road to Ethiopian adoption.  God is good!

-Bryan and Amory

STAY TUNED......

Today

Today is a very special day. There's no great name for it and no big celebration. It will only happen one time so there will be no anniversary of it, but today is a very special day. As of about nine or 10 this morning, our daughter has been in our care longer than not. As of today our daughter has been in our arms, felt our love for her expressed through hugs and kisses and cleaning diapers, longer than not. Today our daughter has been in our home longer than any other home she lived in. It seems like such a short time to have known her, and it is, but today our daughter has known us as Mom and Dad longer than anybody else. Today my heart soars and is humbled by God's goodness. Today I have pondered on and been thankful for God's perfect, sovereign plan for our lives. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.

-amory

Taking A into my arms permanently

Leaving Hannah's Hope

My wild child now!

Dear birth mother

Dear birth mother,
I wish I could write this letter and know that it would get to you. I wish that I could find some way to tell you about our daughter's first year of life. Instead I will just have to write what I have to say and pray that God writes it on your heart all the way across the world. Our daughter is resilient and amazing. She has now been in our home for six months. It has been the most beautiful, sweet, happy six months. She has gone through more change in her first year of life than some people go through in their entire lives and has handled it like a champ. Not having heard much English before she was seven months old, she said her first words the week before she turned nine months old. She started walking at ten months old and by a year old she was practically running. At 13 months old she has over 30 words, about 40 if you include animal sounds. She can point out the color yellow and tell you that it is yellow. She has a sweet, obedient spirit, but is also passionate with a temper at times. She says please and thank you and likes to know that she has done something good. Our daughter LOVES books and would sit in your lap and let you read to her for hours if she could. Every now and then she'll read the book to you, which just might be the cutest thing ever, though completely unintelligible. She loves to dance to music and will randomly break out singing "lalalala". She is above the growth curve and according to the pediatrician is very muscular. Our daughter is thriving. Our daughter is a survivor and has fight in her. God has used our daughter to break down walls and heal hurts. Our daughter is loved.

I like to go back and read my old blog posts to see what God has done in our lives. Every time I finish reading I am humbled and thankful. We have such a merciful God! A year ago I was tired of waiting and frustrated. I was about to be very frustrated as our waitlist numbers actually went up one month. Embassy requirements were changing and things looked very, very uncertain. But, a year ago a little girl had just been born and was being loved and nurtured by a wonderful woman that had a very hard decision to make. While I was complaining about my waitlist numbers not moving, a woman on the other side of the world was handing her daughter over to an orphanage. I thank God for that woman, her courage and love. Now that little girl is my daughter. A year later, I try and carry on the torch that was started by a woman on the other side of the world, to love and parent a sweet, sassy, silly little girl. I pray I do her sacrifice justice. I pray I have the same courage and wisdom in raising A.F.T. Thank you God for using a woman on the other side of the world to give me such a beautiful gift. Whoever is reading this...please take a moment to pray for all of the birth mothers/fathers and families that have had, or are going to have to make this difficult decision.

-amory

Somebody is one!

Happy Birthday sweet girl. One year ago today, as I sat waiting for the big reveal of your nursery to be set up, I had no idea that you had just been born. God's timing is funny that way. One year ago today I had no idea that the very neutral nursery taking shape would soon be filled with hot pink. God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams with your sweet, silly spirit. I love seeing your personality finally coming out. I love that you LOVE to read books. I love your sweet giggles and perfect smile. Happy Birthday Aerin Faith Tarikua. I can't believe you're already a year old, but I have LOVED every second of it.