Court Today

We had court today. Everything went well, however our MOWA letter was not submitted yet, so we have to wait. The judge did say that once that is in they will approve the adoption. YAY! I guess that is the best we can hope for right now and it shouldn't take more than a week from the sounds of it.

So… unfortunately that means we cannot post pictures yet. But believe me, Silas is a sweetheart with a shy smile and a wonderful spirit.

We were blessed to be able to have Silas with us yesterday and this morning. His favorite “game” was us sitting on the floor and him running to Joel with open arms and a big smile, giving a hug and then turning around and running to me with the same big smile and hug. Then repeating this for about 20 minutes. So awesome.

We will miss him. We hope to be able to see him again on Friday before we leave to come home. Tomorrow we head to Harar to visit Silas’ care center and tour this area in Eastern Ethiopia. It should be a great trip.

I hope to be able to post more details and pictures soon.

Blessings,

Joel and Mandy

We are Here!

We arrived late last night around 10:30 Ethiopia time. We got checked in and had power for a few minutes to unpack ... then it was black, so we went to sleep.

It is now 5:30am and we are awake ... waiting ... We get to meet Silas today in about 4 hours.
No wonder I cannot sleep

Praise God this day has come!

Now if only the power would come back on so we can have hot water to shower.

...

Thinking back to two years ago when we were here for Kiera, that time was pure joy ... Our family was complete here.
But this time is different ... We are missing Kiera terribly

Please Lord watch over her. Give her peace when she is scared and when she is worried about us. Help Oma and Opa be able to distract and comfort her. Let her always remember our love and your love.
Amen!

Saying Goodbye to Kiera at the airport on Saturday morning was so hard. We had picked Joel up on Friday night from his conference in Arizona from the same airport. Kiera now new what it meant to go back there. She tried to talk her way onto the plane with us (this was cute). And when that didn't work, she was so brave ... blew us kisses, signed I love you and gave great big hugs. We love you little one and cannot wait to get home to you.



...

God has truly blessed our family by bringing Joel and I together, then adding Kiera and He is blessing us again through Silas. I could not have asked for a better family. Thank you Lord!

Packed and ready

We leave tomorrow at 10:30am. We are packed abs ready to go. The hardest park tomorrow will be saying goodbye to our sweet Kiera.

When we picked day up from the airport tonight (he has been at a difference since Tuesday), she said"daddy I was just so worried about you... Don't get on any more airplanes ... Stay with me."

That just about broke our hearts. We have been taking about this and trying to prepare, but no matter what we do it us going too be hard. We love our Kiera so much.

But still ... Tomorrow we leave to meet our son.

We will try to keep you posted as we go, so check back our click to follow our block on the right (I don't know if I will be able to link to Facebook easily).

Blessings
Joel and Mandy

P.S. Thank you all ... We passed our goal of 25% of the puzzle ... We are at 30%... We are so blessed!

ONE WEEK ...

We leave for Ethiopia in 1 week.
Cannot wait to meet our son, Silas.

We are getting things ready ... packing for us ... packing for Kiera who will be staying with Oma and Opa for the week ... rechecking or flights and itinerary ... collecting donations for the care centers ... trying to guess what size cloths to bring Silas ... paying bills ... and making sure we have enough cash along for anything that might come up while we are gone (had to order new bills from the bank so they can be exchanged in Ethiopia).


I also wanted to share an update on our puzzle fundraiser. So far we have 48 pieces sponsored. That is nearly 10%! Pretty good for the first week I think. If you wish to donate please see Pieces of the Puzzle post for details.



Our goal is to get to 25% by the time we leave next week.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!
Joel and Mandy

10 Days

Ten days from now we will be flying over the ocean on our way to Ethiopia.

Guess what?

I can't sleep.

I keep rolling stupid in bed thinking about things I need to get done.

Then I think "what is Silas doing right now?"
Let's see...it is 4 in the morning here...so 8 hours later would be 12:00pm ... Lunch time.

I wonder when he will be moved to Addis fort us to meet him. Will he be traveling at the same time we are? How will this drastic change affect him? Will he be scared with nannies he doesn't know and then a mom and dad her doesn't know and that talk funny? How will it be for him when we have to leave? Will he remember us when we come back to get him? Silas is a year older than Kiera was when we meet get at court. Adopting a toddler add many new questions.

So many questions...and right now just one answer ... PRAY

Lord protect the body, soul and mind of our little Silas. Help him to take comfort in the loving arms of his temporary nannies and to accept and bond to us when that time comes for us to be with him and later bring him home. Give our family peace as we pack and plan and help me rest.
Amen

Silas ... The lord bless you and keep you. Lord make his face to shine on you and give you his peace... Amen

In him,
Mandy

Pieces of the Puzzle

Thoses of you who have donated, prayed for, and emotionally supported us are already a part of the bigger picture; coming together to bring our son into his forever family; to complete this part of our family's story; to change an orphan’s status to son; to unite a family.

For that reason it just seems fitting to begin our travel fund raising with a puzzle that will be put together with love by our family and friends. Of course, this will help with the financial side of bringing Silas home but the symbolism is even better.

God sees the puzzle of your life,
Not as pieces, but as whole.

His mind is not confused or bent
By the turmoil in your soul.
For each piece is carefully fitted
Flawlessly filling every space.
A breathtakingly magnificent portrait
Of His glory, love and grace!

We have purchased this African themed puzzle.

This is a 500 piece puzzle. We are inviting you to "sponsor" a piece (or more if you choose) of this puzzle for $10 and take part in bringing our precious boy home. With each piece sponsored we'll write your name on the back and put that piece of the puzzle in place.

...A permanent reminder of the part you played in bringing our son home....Something for him to look at and see just how loved he is... But more importantly to see God's perfect plan for his precious life.

ALL of these funds raised will be used for our travel expenses.We are so excited about the visual of putting each piece in place as we get closer and closer to bringing Silas home.

Once the puzzle is complete we plan to have it framed in double sided glass so we can always see both sides of the puzzle and each of your names. 

Sharing that with Silas someday warms my heart. 

Your partnership in helping to bring him home blesses us more than words could ever say.

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We have opened an adoption bank account with Associated Bank in Wausau named the Brandt Adoption Fund, and any checks can be made out accordingly.  

Please send checks to us at 312 N 14^th Street, Wausau, WI 54403, along with names you would like written on your puzzle piece(s). (the pieces are small and can only fit 2 names or first and last name)

We are going to Ethiopia

We got o our court date today ....
October 30, 2012

We were very surprised and excites that it is so soon. We cannot wait to meet our Silas.
Now for the rush of planning flights, tours and time if work. We leave in 16 days.

Wow!
Thank you Jesus!

Please pray for Kiera. We will be leaving her with Oma and Opa. She will have a great time with them, but we will miss her so much.

Blessings everyone!
Joel and Mandy

Kiera 2.5 years, Silas 17 months

Our little Kiera is 2 1/2. How time flies. I can't believe how much she has grown and learned this year. She is so smart, sweet, funny and beautiful. We love you Kiera.

Silas is almost 1 1/2. We just got n new pictures and it looks like he is walking. He got our package and so now has pictures of our family, his new family, and a blanket just for him. Silas we love you and can't wait to meet you.

We cannot wait to have our family all together.
Lord, please make it soon!

Kisses in the Wind - for Silas

So, we were able to send Silas a care package. It should be arriving in Ethiopia tomorrow with another family, but we don't know how long it will take to get to Harar where Silas is. 

In it is a blanket, a baby photo book of our family, and a drawing from Kiera. It is hard because we don't know how much he will be told about when he gets is or if he will understand. 

I want Silas to know that he has a family praying for him, loving him and waiting for him to come home.

I saw this poem recently and it just fits for what I want to say to Silas.

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KISSES IN THE WIND (The Waiting Child's Lullabye)

I hold you in my heart 

and touch you in my dreams. 

You are here each day with me,

at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... 

what's taking us so long. 

But remember child, I love you so 

and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze 

and let it touch your skin... 

Because tonight, just as always, 

I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand 

until I can be with you. 

I promise you, my darling,

I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family 

for real, not just pretend. 

But for tonight, just as always,

I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms 

and hold you very tight. 

And let the angels bring the kisses 

that I send to you each night.

--- © Pamela Durkota,written for Josh