Sleeping Smiles!

A few weeks ago, we met the Schmidt family (through email!). The Schmidt family recently picked up their precious son, Solomon, from Ethiopia. While in Ethiopia, they were kind enough to meet Marek and take some pictures for us. Unfortunately when they arrived, Marek was sleeping! However, here are a couple of pics they took, along with a video of him sleeping. Not much to see, but it sure did put a BIG smile on our faces!

Marek Update - 5.18.10

Each month until we travel, we will be receiving an update sent from Gladney updating us on Marek. These updates will include stuff like weight, measurements, motor skill development, etc... and will also include an updated picture! We received our first update today! "Little" Marek is now 4 1/2 months old and has gained a pound...up to 13 lbs now! He is doing wonderfully and developing right on track. (He rolled over for the first time this month!)

Here is the updated picture of our sweet baby!

Marvelous Miracle!

As you may recall, the Ethiopian federal courts have implemented a new policy for all international adoptions that would require adopting families to travel twice to Ethiopia before the adoption was finalized (Once for court, Once for US Visa appointment). Under the old policy, we signed a 'Power of Attorney' over to the in-country Gladney reps who would go to court for us and once the adoption was approved, we would then travel once to pick up Marek when the US Embassy scheduled his Visa appointment. The date for the new policy going into effect is May 8, 2010. Therefore, any paperwork submitted and approved by the Ethiopian courts before this date would fall under the old policy.

Upon receiving our referral last week for Marek, we asked what the possibilities were for us to fall under the old policy and only having to travel one time. The caseworker from Gladney responded, "Well, I don't want to say it is impossible, but I will tell you it is extremely unlikely." (This statement followed earlier emails telling us that we would definitely be traveling twice.) So, knowing all of this, we began praying specifically (and asking everyone we came in contact with!) that if this lined up with God's will concerning Marek, would He please work a miracle and get us approved by the Ethiopian federal courts?! We have had literally hundreds of YOU precious saints praying this specific prayer all week long on our behalf.

Fast forward to this morning...

At approximately 12:02p.m., April received a phone call from Mary, our Gladney Ethiopia caseworker. Here is how the beginning of the conversation went:

April: Hello

Mary: Hi, April...this is Mary from Gladney. Are you sitting down?

A: What's wrong?

M: I just received notification that your paperwork has been submitted and approved by the Ethiopian federal courts which means you will only be traveling to Ethiopia ONE TIME!

Your specific prayers were heard and we are SO much closer to bringing our sweet baby home! (To spare you all of the details/timeline, it is starting to look like we will be traveling sometime in mid-late July.) Thank you for your faithfulness in praying.

Father, you indeed are worthy of every ounce of praise we can offer. You just worked a miracle. Forever in awe of You...