Fun Fridays

Since we've been living here in Kansas we've been celebrating Fun Fridays. It's a great time. We home school 4 hard days every week and although we do some household chores on Fridays, we also try to do something very fun (and educational) on Fridays, like field trips or special family outings. It's one of my favorite days of the week (Sunday is my absolute favorite day of the week :) I like Fridays because after we do all those chores, the house is all clean (Aaahhhh.....) and I also love doing fun stuff with my kids. :) They also look forward to Fridays every week!!

Today we happened upon "Kansas Day" at the local elementary school. The school did a great job putting this day together to celebrate the "birthday" of Kansas and we went over and participated in the school event! It was complete with volunteers in olden day prairie costumes, arts, crafts, family life activities of prairie days including gun displays, leather punching, candle making, corn husk doll making, rope making, hair braiding, an apple cider press, marble games, etc. etc. etc. EVERYTHING was hands on and the kids came home with tons of special "Kansas" projects! We had a great time and I was so blessed to find out about the activity from a dear neighbor. What fun this was!! Hope you enjoy these photos!



We haven't heard anything this week from BFAS about "EMMA and JOSHUA". I'm not sure I ever wrote the post that I intended to this past week (it's been a good but busy week) letting you all know that we DID finally decide on these American names for our children from Ethiopia. We *may* still use their Ethiopian names, but we just don't know what they are yet-- so we had to give them some names so we could discuss and pray for them specifically as a family!
Emma means, " One whom heals"
Joshua means "One whom God has saved."



Perfect names for our little ones!! Anyway-- We are really ready to get their medical and family history information, as well as their names. I expect we'll get this information any moment now. I'm trying hard to be patient. It'll be nice to know some more about them and sign all of the official documents so we can officially start waiting for a court date which will HOPEFULLY be sometime in April.

By the way-- Joel and I just finished reading "There's No Me Without You" by Melissa Fay Greene.....very good book. It really impacted my perspective of international adoptions from Ethiopia. I highly recommend this book for anyone involved in orphan care, and everyone adopting from Ethiopia. I just received "Red Letters" by Tom Davis in the mail today---- I'll keep you posted about this book. I'm excited about reading it to see how God is using this man....I've already heard so much about his mission and heart for the lonely!!!

Since we got our referral, my heart has ached for Emma and Joshua. Since I saw them, I have been so concerned for their broken hearts. I am sure they are lonely and confused, scared and sad. I can't imagine what they have been through in losing their parents. We are on the other side of the world and we can't help them. I can't show them love yet. How does God know just what truths I need to hear every time I go to him in prayer and open my Bible for study??? Amazing. I can't be with these children to comfort, love, protect and be there for them yet but God can and He is with them. Thank you Lord.
These are the Scriptures that I touched me today and spoke to my grieving heart..........

Psalm 10:17 "Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them."

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit."

Matthew 11:28 " Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

Please pray for Emma and Joshua.

Blessings and hope your Friday was Fun, too--- AMY