Isaac Tamerat Lehman

We are proud to announce that we have given our beautiful son the name Isaac. (Over the past couple of months we've really been able to relate to the story of Abraham and Sarah.) His middle name, Tamerat (pronounced "Tom-mer-aht"), is the name his birth mother gave him. We wanted to honor her and her love for him by keeping Tamerat in his name. Isaac's birth mother endured a lot of rejection as a result of her pregnancy, yet she still chose to call him "miracle". Hopefully this will be some comfort to him later in life when he begins to ask questions about his birth mother and her decision to take him to the orphanage.

Unfortunately, we can not post photos of our son on the Internet until we bring him home. This is a request of the Ethiopian Government. If you wish to see him you will have to come take a look at our refrigerator door.

His proud grandparents also have interesting refrigerators.

It's a BOY!!!

We have been “matched” with a beautiful baby boy! He has adorable chubby cheeks and a cute little smile. He was born on October 7, 2009 and will be 3 months old on Thursday. His name in Amharic (the language in Ethiopia) means miracle. We hope to hold him in the next 4 to 5 months!

No more “waiting” in our virtual line. Now we are on the lookout for a court date, which will should be given in the next month or so. . . . . We are one GIANT step forward today! And the journey continues with the excitement level bumped up a few notches!

Hallelujah, the Line is moving again!!

After a month and a half of no movement at all, the waiting list just took one giant step forward!!! The number of families in front of us is now only seven families. And one of those seven families is currently "on hold". So technically we are only waiting on six families to be matched with a child. We hope and pray that it doesn't take another month and a half before it moves again.

New Nephew

Baby Cole Dean arrived on Nov. 11th at 8:48 a.m. He is very small (5lb 12 oz) and very precious. These are pictures from Thanksgiving Day at Dean and Brenda's house.

All 4 Sisters Married! Amelia and Neil Mukergie's Wedding

Amelia and Neil had one of the classiest weddings I've ever attended. Eric and I ranked the reception as one of the best we've ever attended. What made everything so enjoyable? Well, it wasn't the rainy, dreary weather, that's for sure. But we were impressed with the elegant restaurant chosen for the reception. It was Greek, and had great architectual designs. They also had lovely LIVE wedding music with stringed instruments and a singer. It was just the right volume too. I hate going to a reception and having to yell at the person next to me. Great food, great conversation, great planning, and a great setting all equaled a wonderful wedding. Congratulations Amelia and Neil!!

As I am typing, Mom, Dad, Anya, Ryan, Neil and Amelia are flying to India for their traditional wedding in Mumbai and Kolkata. Should be quite an experience for them! I am praying that they have safe travels and a positive experience while in Neil's home country.

The newlyweds will be returning to their new home in New York City (well, the suburbs) the beginning of Dec. with the rest of the family.

Yawn. . . I'm bored of this waiting!

Sorry to bore everyone with the lack of up-dates. But you can't up-date what isn't being up-dated. Know what I mean? Nothing has changed. We sit and we wait. . . and wait. . . and wait. . . and wait. And soon we become NUMB to waiting. We don't feel sad or shocked by waiting, because it is what everyone told us we would do. But we have lost excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation in our waiting.

Unlike a "biological" pregnancy, where there is a "due date," we wait for a date that is ominous and unknown-kept secret and hidden. We can't even give rough estimates. . . at least not ones that we, ourselves, can hope in.

We know God is Good! We know His timing is perfect! We know the saying that "the best things come to those that wait." But these comforts don't seem to comfort much these days.
However (I know I write these a lot in my posts, but I mean it). HOWEVER!! The Psalms in Scripture give a balm to our hurt and longing to become parents. Especially David's Psalms written as he waited and waited and waited to see God's plan unfold. He had been anointed as king. He had been promised the throne. And yet he waited for God's timing. All the while, running for his life!

Listen to Psalm 30: I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help,
and you restored my health
You brought me up form the grave, O Lord.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
His anger lasts for a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may go on all night,
but joy comes with the morning.

When I was prosperous I said,
"Nothing can stop me now!"
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

I cried out to you, O Lord.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
"What will you gain if I die,
if I sink down into the grave?
Can my dust praise you from the grave?
Can it tell the world of your faithfulness?
Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O Lord."

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Lord, I am thankful this Thanksgiving season for many blessings. Naming them all would take a much longer blog. :)

One more down. . . 11 more to go!

Another Bethany family has been referred a two year old little boy from Ethiopia. I'm hoping there will be a few more. They (referrals) often come in "bunches." But every time I check. . . . no news. But we praise God for the ONE!

Thanks for praying for us as we wait.