INTRODUCING!!!!!

Tewodros Samuel Kellar Stem

NEW COURT DATE!!!

FRIDAY JULY 31st

God's Timing is PERFECT

Yesterday, we received a call informing us that our court date has been postponed until further notice (we hope to receive a call with our new date next week). I rest in the fact that God is in CONTROL! There were many families affected by this, please also keep them in your prayers.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...

I know that our little one is being well cared for by his loving caregivers. Elijah told me today that he loves his new brother more than me. What more can a mom ask for than her children to love each other and pray for each other.

We no longer have a land line, so where our phone once sat now sits a picture of our little one, this made my family smile!

Hopefully I can post some more exciting news next week.

court date is fast approaching

In less than 48 hours we will know the results for our 1st court date (prayerfully only court date, but with any adoption one never knows). I am a very anxious nesting mom. I know one thing and that is God is in control. Who knew that on May 1st when we made the waitlist that in 2 3/4 months we would have a court date. I have already started preparing for packing. We still need to gather our humanitarian supplies, some pants for our boy, his backpack of activities... (if anyone in the family wishes to help let us know). Elijah's clothes from last year will most likely fit, we have discovered Elijah is tough on his pant/ jean knees; therefore, we need pants.

The M will return to work tomorrow after being on vacation for over 2 weeks. Since our court date is Friday they will be processing our paperwork along with several others from our agency. Praying all goes well and no problems.

FYI: we have the bunk bed assembled

Update on our little guy

He is growing! He has grown 4cm and .7 kg in a month. We received another beautiful picture today. He has the cutest smile.

Keep praying as next Thursday and Friday our big days for our family.

The M is on vacation until the 23rd. This is the day they will decide and then it goes to court the 24th.

Labor Pains

I have been pregnant twice. I loved being pregnant and feeling our baby kick. I however did not like labor. But in the end when they placed Ashleigh and later Elijah in my arms it was all worth it. Ashleigh was due December 30th. Kellar and I celebrated Christmas at home (as family was 12 hours away). I was ready for a Christmas baby. Kellar would take me through mall parking lots and over speed bumps (not at the slow down speed you should go over them). My water broke the night of the 26th (Kellar will tell you it was during SNL). Off to the hospital we went, where I was induced (yuck) because I was not having contractions. Ashleigh arrived on the 27th.

Elijah's delivery was a little bit different. I took Ashleigh to see a movie on the 15th (feeling a little weird on the inside). The feelings apparently were contractions (new to me). That night I woke up with definite contractions, I was in labor. Elijah arrived in time for our midwife to have lunch on the 17th.

Now we are getting very close to delivery of our son from Ethiopia. In 2 weeks we will know for sure how close we are to meeting him, holding him, loving him, .... 2 weeks to finish his room (as after this date if we pass court we will be making travel arrangements)

In May when we decided our summer travel plans we had no idea at that time why we traveled in June instead of July. Now we know, it was so we could put all our energy into bringing our son home. We ended our vacation and labor began.

Thank you to all who read my blog and share in our story of this awesome journey our GREAT GOD has carried us on, our journey to Ethiopia!

COURT DATE!!!

We received the call yesterday afternoon. We have been scheduled for court on July 24th. There are many families in our agency going to court this day. For those wondering, we do not actually appear in court. Our agency represents us.

Remember this day in your prayers, the decisions are often made the day prior. Please pray the judge appears to hear the cases as well as the electricity to remain on. Pray for us as this is going really FAST. God is up to something amazing in our family. If we pass court we will be traveling at some point in August (Kellar's busiest month). Everything will all work out. GOD IS IN CONTROL! PRAISE HIM!

Update

We received an update on our little guy this week. It is good to hear he is doing well. Ashleigh and Elijah are excited to know more about their little brother. We have started getting the boys' room ready. Check out the cool closet. Kellar once again did all the painting and of course the assembling of the closetmaid system. Hopefully real soon we will have the room walls painted and a new bed assembled. I am also going to post a few pics from our vacation last month.

Prayer points:

1. For our court date (remember courts close from 8/8-9/25)

2. For our Christian brothers and sisters in North Africa (where Kellar did his prayer journey in May)

3. God's continual provisions for our family

4. For Kellar as he makes preparations for campus ministry stuff for the upcoming school year

5. For our family to keep Jesus in the center of it all

“He has become such a grown up kid that he has become a mediator when his friends fight. He is observed to be more loving and caring to other kids. Sometimes when he comes up the younger kids start crying for his toy. He quickly gives them what he is playing with and takes another one for himself. A four year old was crying because a six year old was playing with a toy that she wanted to play with. He talked to 6 year old and convinced him that he should give to her. He has recently started painting drawings and he shows great excitement when it is time to paint.”