Thanks Jen!!!

I absolutely love the new blog design that Jen (at The Art Of Living) created for me! She was WONDERFUL to work with....super quick and very friendly. If you have given any thought to a new look for your blog, you should DEFINITELY contact her! Even if you have no need for that, you should go check out her VERY,VERY cute adoption stuff (mugs, t-shirts, etc)!!

Thanks, Jen!!!!!!!

"Bringing Derek Home"

Yesterday was our "2 month anniversary" of Derek's "Gotcha Day"!!!
I celebrated by finishing up the video that I have been working on for the last couple of weeks.
Hope you enjoy it....

TODAY, I CHOOSE...

EACH DAY
by Max Lucado

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose….


I CHOOSE LOVE…
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS…
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS…
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My spouse will not question my love.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF CONTROL…
I am a spiritual being… After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Cute boy!

I was scolded by my dear friend, Stacy, for not posting more photos/video of Derek....

Oh how I hate to be scolded! :)
Rather than go back through all our recent photos, I decided to just take a bunch of pictures this morning after his bath and make them into a short little video.

So, here is a one minute peek into Derek's morning.
We happen to think he is very cute, very smart, and OOOHHHH so entertaining! We know we are biased...but,

Speaking of videos...

Our church showed this video last week. Erica really likes it (and so do I)....so I am posting it here to share AND so we can watch it easily whenever we want without having to go to YouTube!! :)

HOPE FOR HIS CHILDREN, Inc.

More pictures and updates on our family soon....
But, for today, I wanted to share a "Hope For His Children" update with you!

Here is a "promotional" video that you can feel free to share with ANYONE you know! Hope For His Children is continuing to grow. We have had opportunities to share our mission in a couple of different churches and are praying for more doors to be opened. It was a blessing to be able to visit CFI...Compassion Family International.... (one of the ministries we are supporting in Ethiopia) and see what God is doing with the donations and money that have been given so far!!

Enjoy the video and please contact me if you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, inspiration, etc!!!

Almost 9 months ago, I read these words on a blog called "A Bushel and a Peck"...in response the question "Is everyone called to adopt?" Here's her response:

"I think the question is really "How is God wanting to use my life?"
I don't think God has called us all to have large families (adopt...do orphan ministry...etc.), but I think He HAS called us all to have a place where we get our hands dirty and out lives messy in meeting the needs of hurting people. It might be ministry to single moms, prisoners, the poor, the homeless, widows, inner city kids, immigrants, the sick...but SOMEWHERE God has a place for each of us to serve that will complicate our lives, and our homes, and our personal space and time...and THAT place will be a place where we know a special kind of fulfillment and satisfaction and where we are used to have eternal impact. For the lucky ones of us, it is the call to parent children who need families."

I can't tell you how many times I have re-read those words.

And over the past week, I feel like those words have come into living color in our home. When I think about the changes that have happened in our home in the last couple of weeks, we have certainly "complicated our lives, our home, our personal space and time!!" But, as a family, we are also realizing a very special kind of fulfillment and satisfaction as we see a child....A LIFE....change before our very eyes!! It is an absolute joy and miracle to watch Derek learn more and more each day how to love, cuddle, smile, laugh, kiss, and TRUST the very blessed family that God chose for him before the beginning of time!!

Our family is so privileged to have been called down this path...

Fresh Start...again

I had a haircut this morning.
"Cut and Color" to be exact.

I thought about re-scheduling. We've only been home 6 days. But then again, it's only for 2 hours. So I went.

When we got home (Micah, Derek and I) the boys both went down for naps....((2nd day in a row for dual naps!!!!)) and I was craving a quiet time. So, I got out my Bible, and my journal. I turned forward several pages in my journal to leave room for some thoughts that I still need to put on paper....then I folded back the page and wrote "A new chapter, a fresh start".

Fresh start.
I need one today. It has been a little busy. Quiet times with the Lord have been lacking.
But if there is one thing that I know the Lord is soooooo good at....it is the offering of FRESH STARTS! I know, because I have begged for them often from Him...and He is always faithful to follow through.
So I dug into the Old Testament. Read a little. Wrote a little. Then decided to see what Ann at "Holy Experience" blog had to offer.

IMAGINE MY GREAT SURPRISE AND UTTER DELIGHT when I read THIS.

I hope you will take time to read it. It's deep (usually is on her blog!) but very worth the read.

And I smiled that I had gotten my haircut!!!!!
A fresh start to a new year.
Now, where did I put my trumpet??? Oh wait, the boys are still napping!!!
:)

Pictures...

I am finding it to be an IMPOSSIBLE TASK....going through our Ethiopia photos and selecting ones to share.
For several reasons:

1) There were TWO photographers on this trip...me AND Erica. And let me tell you, that girl can shoot some good ones! So....double the photos to look through!
2) There is SO MUCH TO SHARE!! so many people....so many places...so many memories!
3) It is hard to see with tears in my eyes. I am not kidding....as I look back through the pictures, I am overwhelmed. Overwhelmed is an understatement.
4) I don't know what to share first. I want to talk about Derek. I want to tell you about what Hope For His Children has done and is doing. I can't wait to introduce you to the AMAZING FAMILIES we traveled with! ((See, more tears as I type that!!)) And I want to tell you about the children: the street children...the CFI children...the children of Hannah's Hope...the children who came home to new families...our children. I. LOVE. THEM.

But, for today, here are just a few photos....

OUR VERY FIRST GLIMPSE OF DEREK...HE WAS SOUND ASLEEP...AND OH SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!


DEREK'S FIRST BATH IN THE HOTEL IN ADDIS


BROCK PLAYING WITH HIS NEW LITTLE BROTHER


ERICA LOVING THE SMILES!


MICAH AND DEREK SPLASHING IN THE TUB


Things are going well. We are all adjusting to the new time zone, the new little one, our new roles...
Each day seems a little more "normal". Today Micah, Derek and I even managed an outing to the office, the bank, Walmart and Mexican food (to go)!! Big day!

That's all for now. I hope to post many more details (I know, my track record on that is not great!!) ....Hold me to it!

Thank you for all the prayers and sweet words!!

We're home!!!

Just had to share two "firsts" pictures with you....first FAMILY OF SIX photo and first SMILES photo!

There will be lots more photos and details to follow, but we wanted to let you all know that we are home....we are doing well....we are so in love with "little Derek" already....and we are thankful for all your prayers!

We're headed home!!!!!

Hi everyone!

We are headed home!  and we FINALLY have an internet connection! (at the Addis Abbaba airport)

We have Derek in arms and cannot wait for you to meet him.

There are so many wonderful details to share with you, but for now we just wanted to say "hi!" and let you know that all is well!

Derek is adjusting great...and we think he is SOOOOOOO cute (ok, maybe we are biased)

 

OK....that is it for now.  We will see you soon in the very blessed USA!

 

:)

 

p.s. Thanks for all your prayers....please keep it up, we have a VERY LONG trip ahead of us!

Timmons family update

Hello all!

My name is Jana and my husband is in Ethiopia with the Timmons family (he is picking up our little girl).  They do not have email at the hotel, but they wanted everyone to know that they are safe, they have Derek, and everyone is doing well!  It sounds like they are all having a wonderful time over there!  I am sure they would appreciate continued prayers for good health and safe travel.

Thank you!

Jana

Update from Ethiopia...

We are excited to give an update from Ethiopa!!
Yesterday (Friday) we spent the day with Peter from Compassion Family International.  We have continue to work with this ministry since our trip here in January!  It was absolutely wonderful to get to play and visit with the children who are benefiting from what we have done so far!  These children would likely have no access to education or substantial food if it weren't for the work of Peter's ministry here!!

Today (Saturday) we met up with Ephrim #1....he drove for us back and January...a wonderful Christian man with a great business mind who is trying to start up his own driving-sightseeing business here.  Not an easy task in Ethiopia.  He drove us to do a little shopping.  Unfortunately, Micah didn't care much for the ride and proceeded to vomit several times upon our arrival at the shops.  He seems MUCH better now and is playing without any complaints.  Hopefully it was just the drive. 

We also went to watch some soccer!  Ephrim #2 (a different Ephrim) has an amazing soccer ministry for street (homeless) kids.  We will definitely have to fill in the details and show pics of this later!!

We are getting anxious to see Derek.  Tomorrow we will move to the hotel next to Hannah's Hope....and then this family of 5 in Ethiopia will quickly become a family of 6!!!! 

Please pray for our health.  My biggest worry is still that we will all contract traveller's sickness at the same time!!

:)

We made it!!!

We are one tired family of  travelers, but we are emailing you from Ethiopia!!
Our trip here was smooth....and they only lost ONE piece of luggage (the 700 diapers for Hannah's Hope!) but they said it should be here by Saturday!?!?!

Tomorrow we will spend the day with the Compassion Family International children...seeing what has grown since we were here last!  It is amazing for Chad and I to back...and AMAZING to know we will be meeting Derek SOON!!!!

:)
Please keep us in your prayers.

Testing, testing.....1,2,3

The last time we were in Ethiopia, we did not have much of a chance to use the internet....so we weren't able to post on the blog.   We are not sure if things will be better this time or not, but if they ARE, we have to post via email....so that is what I am trying to do here!  Hopefully, we will even be able to send a picture or two...NO PROMISES!

Please be praying as we continue to prepare for the trip of a lifetime!!

Hannah's Hope, here we come!  We can't wait to walk through THIS gate!     :)

Planning, packing, patio and puppies!!

Wow!! It is CRAZY here!

We finally have tickets purchased to Ethiopia to bring Derek home! We leave in 6 short days....so it has been crazy here! We have been making lists, gathering & packing donations, talking about what to expect...and trying to maintain our sanity!

We did a couple of things 2 months ago that have added to the chaos (decisions we made back when we assumed the courts would close and we wouldn't have Derek home for a long time) ....

1) We started a remodeling project! It has become obvious that the project will NOT be finished...but Chad has been busy trying to get as much done as possible. This week it has been the patio. And I LOVE it!! I can't wait to sit out there and soak up some sun!

2) We thought it would be fun for Sugar to have a litter of puppies, so we found her a boxer-husband and she delivered her pups Sunday. Won't that be fun to come home to? HA! (It sounded fun when we thought they would have found them their OWN homes BEFORE Derek came home!!) :)

So, that's the scoop here! Crazy, but VERY blessed!!!
Stay tuned!

"He has the sweetest smile in the world...."

We received an update on little Derek (had I officially mentioned that will be his name??!!). This was our "Preparatory Update"....as in PREPARING TO COME HOME UPDATE!!!!

The update had some fun info about his daily schedule...like the "laying in the sun/massage" time from 9:00-11:40 a.m.! When we visited Hannah's Hope in January, we were there during this "sun" time, and it was such a JOY to see all the babies outside. In some orphanages, babies don't get outside much, if at all. But at Hannah's Hope, they are outside every day!!

The update also had the word that I was sooooooo waiting to hear: "SMILE"!!!!
In the ((few)) pictures that we have of Derek, we have yet to see him smile. He looks so sad in most of them. But listen to this description....straight from Ethiopia:

"Personality -- Dereje is content baby most of the time and has the sweetest smile in the world. He is an intellectual little guy; he takes it all in first before he warms up to you. He loves being outdoors and looking at anything that moves."

Music to my ears.
I guess he is waiting for us to see his smile for the first time IN PERSON.

He has also gained a little weight. He is up to a whopping 18 pounds at 15 months old (by the way, he is 15 months old TODAY!). That still puts him super low on the growth curve, but is great progress from when he came in to Hannah's Hope at 14 pounds!!

We are still waiting to get confirmation on our travel dates. If our appointment at the US Embassy in Ethiopia is confirmed, we are hoping to book flights for September 2nd.

Our family wants to thank you ALL for the kind words, BUT MOST OF ALL for all of your prayers!
Please continue to pray for our family as we prepare to BRING DEREK HOME!!!!

CELEBRATE!!!!!!

It is with very happy hearts that we are letting you all know WE PASSED COURT!!!
Praise God!!
Our little guy is now FOREVER a member of the Timmons family!
We are absolutely amazed at how God has put this adoption on the "fast track" to home!

All God's Children gave us tentative travel dates of September 6-10, but we are hoping to go a couple days early to see the amazing things that have been happening since we were there in January (more details on that to come!)

As of right now, we are planning on all FIVE of us traveling to Ethiopia....and all SIX of us traveling home! Please pray about that as we try to make the arrangements!

:)
Oh Happy Day!!!!!

PLEASE PRAY!!!!

In a few minutes it will be Wednesday, August 12, 2009 in Ethiopia.
August 12, 2009.
Our court date.

Sometime in the next 18 hours or so, a judge in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will review the file on the Timmons family... and review the circumstances of little 14 month old boy living at Hannah's Hope Orphange. And, IF GOD SO CHOOSES, the judge will declare that sweet little boy PERMANENTLY AND FOREVER A MEMBER OF THE TIMMONS FAMILY.

Oh how we pray.

There are several documents and people that must all be in place for us to "pass court"....and every T must be crossed...and every I must be dotted. But we certainly serve a God who is way bigger than I's and T's....so we will pray.

We will post as soon as we know anything (it sometimes can take a day or two to get info) and then we talk about all the fun stuff that comes next...

Blessed AGAIN

Our heads are spinning.
It is beyond belief, really.
For some reason (say God) the Ethiopian courts have continued to schedule court dates into August (they usually shut down at the end of July for the 2 month "rainy season").....and we are so blessed to be one of them!!!

That's right .... we have court date AUGUST 12!!!!
This is good news. GREAT news!!

What it means: On August 12, our adoption will presented to the Ethiopian court. There are several things that must happen for us to "pass court"....but once we pass court, the sweet boy (who I can't wait to tell you more about and show you FULL pictures of) will officially, legally, and PERMANENTLY be a Timmons!!!! And come home!!!

Please pray for the court preparation.
and Please pray for our travel preparations, too.

And, while you are busy praying....can you please also pray for the families who are waiting for similar news?....we have been very blessed to make "fast friends" with 3 other families who all received referrals around the same time we did (lots of emails and prayers already!) ...1 of the families is still waiting on their good news. Please pray for them! :)