A Special Post: Ethiopia Edition

They come every week, faithful on Thursdays to allow us one quiet evening together. Our boys wait anxiously, counting down the minutes after their naps, eager to see what that evening will bring. Nerf guns? Wrestling? A movie and popcorn?

How our boys love Thursday night. 

Date night. 

It's hard to know who is blessed more by their coming, us parents, weary with the day, and beyond grateful for a quiet dinner to ourselves OR our children, who are exuberant over their willingness to tirelessly build forts or watch Toy Story just one.more.time.  Either way, how all of our hearts are grateful for our dear Auntie Manda and Uncle Wris and their desire to give. To bless us for no other reason than because they love us. And to do it in such a way, that lets you know that they expect nothing in return. 

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Last Thursday evening, after boys were long tucked in and Jer and I returned from our evening away, Chris and Amanda sat us down with an oh-so-familiar gleam in their eyes. Soon came news that they were expecting...from Ethiopia! A baby? A young child? A boy? A girl? 

Makes no matter to them. 

They have no expectation. 

Only a desire. 

To love one of the least. And to mimic, in a tiny way, their own adoption into the family of God.

{I'm telling you, how they bless!}

They tell us how they've prayed. How they know this is God's will. How they vacillate between sheer joy and absolute fear. 

We tell them that this is what it is to be expecting.

Hearts are full and joy abounds. They are paper-pregnant.

But wouldn't you know that good things and sincere hearts and brave efforts don't always come free? In fact, this thing, as noble and loving and true as it is, actually costs quite a bit. More than a car, or a wedding, or even a down payment on a house. Turns out, bringing home a baby from Ethiopia costs just around what some single income families make in a year. 

One whole year. 

Seems daunting to most but not them. Believer's in the most high God. Followers of His commandments. They know that the Lord will provide for this endeavor that He has called them to. But they also know they must work  as diligently as the ant, preparing for winter. So they have started planning. And preparing. And humbly imploring the help of those that love and know them. 

And that is where I come in. My heart, resonating with their love-love for Him, for us, for this child timezones away-cannot help but want to bless them in return. To return the favor that they have so graciously shown me over these last few years and make some small dent in helping to bring home this child that the Lord has intended to make their two become three. 

And in searching for a way to do this, I have finally settled on this one small thing. 

Appeal to you.

Some of you I know and some of you I may not but I will still ask you to consider helping my sweet sis and bro-in-law carry out what the Lord has set before them. 

It may not be much, to use this tiny platform, this small plot that I have staked out in this giant  blogdom, but every little bit helps, right? 

So I beseech you now, sweet reader. How else might you otherwise spend $20 this week? This month? This year? What small sacrifice can you make to help bring this child home to loving parents and a forever family?

No amount is fruitless and every drop is a drop in their large bucket. In fact, should the 44 of you who follow this blog consider donating $20 a piece it would bring in nearly HALF of what they need to start their home-study and apply for a child.  Imagine the possibilities...

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So should your heart be stirred to financially help Chris and Amanda bring home their baby, please click on the button

to make your donation. And please, oh please, now matter what you decide-pray for them? Oh, and  might you also consider sharing this post? Facebook, email, just pass it on. It only takes a moment and it could tremendously change the life of their  sweet African babe who is waiting.    

And should you make a donation {of any sort} won't you consider leaving me a comment? It would be my privilege to write you a note of  personal thanks as well as to offer up thanks to the Father for your generous heart.  

Thanking you in advance for your grace and love!