Dance show

The girls decided to put on a dance show for me today while I was trying to work on some home studies. I couldn't help but grab the camera to record these precious moments. And to all my clients who read this blog, don't worry, it really only took about 20 minutes out of my work day. Please remember that they came up with these dances all on their own with no help from mommy.

We started out with some slow songs

Then Chloe requested some instrumental numbers

Finally we just needed to bust a move

Too Much Excitement to Handle

After a late night last night that did not result in any sleeping in, the girls just couldn't keep it together this afternoon while Mommy tried to do their hair. Essie was up first:

Not even the excitement of the World Cup could keep her awake:

Next it was Chloe's turn, but she faired no better:

So, after a nap and a yummy dinner at Grandpa & Grandma Kinnell's, Mommy is back to doing hair while the girls watch one of their favorite things: The Three Stooges.

Thoughts on Another Failed Court Date

I'm not going to lie - it hurts. It's really frustrating. It's infuriating. Another court date comes and goes without a positive decision. (Turns out a birth relative did show up, it just wasn't the right one. Uncle Bob came instead of Uncle Bill.) We had really hoped to get the boys home in time to start school in August, but that is no longer a possibility.

It's in situations like these that I'm so glad for the faith that has been passed down to me and that I have received through grace. Because my faith tells me that even when things don't go the way they should, there is still good in it for me. James gave us a revolutionary new thought that we should rejoice when things don't go our way, because it actually makes us better persons. Beyond that, Paul declared that "all things work together for good for those who love Him."

I've said many times that I don't believe God has a purpose for everything (ie, repeated court delays in the adoption process), but I do believe that God will find a purpose in everything. I believe that all situations can be redeemed if I am willing to allow them to be. That knowledge doesn't allow me to feel sorry for myself. I am a prisoner of hope, chained by my own belief in God's power to use anything to bring glory to Himself and accomplish His purposes in me.

E. Stanley Jones wrote that when Christ is truly sufficient for you, there is nothing that anybody can take away from you or deny you, because Christ is all you need. So until our case finally passes, and I am able to travel to bring home my boys, I will enjoy the time I have with my wife and girls and trust in my all-sufficient Savior to redeem the waiting. And even when it hurts, I will echo the words of Job: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:5).

Didn't pass

The birth relative did not show again so our case did not pass again. New court date is July 14th.

Court Date #2

Our case goes to court again tomorrow (middle of the night here). I know many of you have been praying already and we appreciate the messages of support you all have been sending our way. We've been told the boys are on their way to the transition house in Addis so it feels like things are starting to move (even if we haven't passed court yet). We know the Lord is in control and pray for his perfect timing to bring the boys home but as parents, we of course want them home as soon as possible. Praying we have good news to share with you all tomorrow!

One More Week

To get a tax deductible receipt and help us with the financial burden of bringing the boys home.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution that will be matched to help us bring our boys home, checks can be made out to Lifesong with "Kinnell - 1264" in the memo. The address is Lifesong for Orphans / P.O. Box 40 / Gridley, IL 61744.

Our next court date is Thursday. The birth relative has been located and is supposed to be at the court date. Please pray that nothing else will stand in our way to getting our boys home.

Another Busy Week

We've had another busy week in the Kinnell household. The girls went to VBS at a local church last week so we started out with their closing program on Sunday night.

Can you spot the African children?

I finally conquered cornrows and beads with Essie this week and it stayed really well all week. She loved the beads and did not want me to take them out tonight.

Monday night was our monthly adoption support group meeting. The Waggoners had some sparklers that the kids really enjoyed. The Waggoners got some great news from CIS while were were there and we had 2 new families, both adopting from Ethiopia, join our group. YAH! I cannot stress enough how encouraging our support group is to us. I always tell my clients to find a support group before they bring their children home. No one understands the joys and trials the adoption journey brings unless they have been through it themselves. I am always so encouraged after our Monday night meetings.

Chloe really liked the sparkers-good the July 4th is just around the corner.

Aunt Buffy was in town this week and the girls were SO excited to spend the night with her at Grandma and Grandpa K.'s house. Chloe grabbed her backpack and was out the door before I even said it was time to go.

Tonight I head out to the garden after we got the girls to bed to check on my beans. I was not only surprised to find a lot of beans that needed to be picked, but I also found my first cucumbers. I was so sad the girls were already asleep because they get so excited to find new treasures in the garden. But I had a long day of work and with hair and bath night, I did not get outside until almost 9pm. I didn't even have time to do the girls hair so they are all natural for church tomorrow. We'll see if we have time tomorrow afternoon for some hair.

Blogspot always loads videos at the end of a post so here is a short video from the VBS program. The girls were so cute singing their songs, I just had to share with you all.

Oh, I almost forgot, after having no air conditioning this whole spring, we finally got a new unit on Thursday and our insurance paid for all of it, minus our $500 deductible. Since the heat index was 100 all week, we were all thrilled to finally get AC. I never knew I'd be so thrilled to have workmen show up at my house at 8:30am. Thank you Jesus and thank you KY Farm Bureau Insurance Company!

Lifesong Grant

Just wanted to let everyone know that there is only 2 weeks left to give towards our Lifesong for Orphans grant. We've almost made it to our $4,000 matching goal, and any money we raise over that will go to our additional expenses.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution that will be matched to help us bring our boys home, checks can be made out to Lifesong with "Kinnell - 1264" in the memo. The address is Lifesong for Orphans / P.O. Box 40 / Gridley, IL 61744.

Thank you so much to all of you who have helped us along on this journey. Remember our next court date is June 24th (next Thursday). Please pray that the birth relative can be located in time.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

The girls blew out the candles before I could even take a breath.

Ababa & the girls got me a Van Gogh skin for my laptop and a new crockpot (I asked for a new one)

This is my old crockpot, which I bought at a yard sale before we were married. The plastic lid was not original and finally cracked a few weeks ago.

My new crockpot, stainless steel and everything~snazzy!

More Gardening Adventures

The girls have really been helping me in the garden. They seem to enjoy it, especially Essie. She really sticks with it and likes to "get those weeds". Chloe announced that we were "good farmer ladies" while we were working last night. I finally got in my 2nd batch of corn, which was my goal for the night.

Essie & Chloe using their tools that Meemaw bought them.

The girls soon decided they wanted to use the "real tools" not their "toy tools"

The girls discovered our first tomatoes and tonight we picked our first beans. Nothing beats the 1st beans of the season!

Not sure what's Chloe's funny face is about

Summer fun

These videos are a few weeks old, but don't have anything else to report so thought you'd enjoy the girls in their pool. I had just filled the pool with water so it was a little cold. The next day it felt like bath water, thanks to the sun. We still don't have AC so thinking about the pool helps us stay cool.

Gardening my frustrations out

I decided to vent my frustration with life right now by working in the garden this morning. Our new court date is June 24th and our AC/Heat unit is completely dead and it will cost over $3,000 to replace it. The girls were "bored"(b/c I wouldn't let them watch TV) so I put them to work weeding, just like my mother used to do with us kids. I had a stroke of genius by having them race down their rows of corn to see who could weed faster. Once the excitement of the race was over, Chloe went to swing. Essie stuck with it though and once water was added into the mix, Chloe was all about helping again.

Essie weeding

Essie watering the plants

Chloe takes a turn watering

Memorial Day Weekend

We celebrated Memorial Day with friends and family and some new hairdos.

Chloe has 4 topknots while Essie has cornrows on top.

Getting better at cornrows.

Chloe took this picture-not bad

Amy's cousin DJ and Aunt Karla (from MD)