tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14755196848314862892024-03-05T17:28:21.890-06:00Keeping Up With The JonesesDerek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-43748812669973479122012-04-30T00:28:00.001-05:002012-04-30T00:28:58.592-05:00A Year of Firsts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
This time last year I was on a plane somewhere between Ethiopia and Nashville. Our journey to Zoe was coming to a close. We were getting ready to be HOME. All three of us, together, a family at last. I remember the days leading up to us being home my mind was racing. Could i do this? Could i be a mother? Could i be a mother to a toddler? Could i be a mother to a child that so vividly remembered her birth mother? Would she ever see me as her MOM. Would i be enough?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSGYOwqO3yBAFS6t-CLaC5aNyzv54bVGX67DyCnTBxvBpSLoczCGbq5XuJ0VxJPLhHH729XsHB25U0VF7SeF8Pn-idQUjLyDBMV3PpofO_PR83XETdnGuU3N93wcHeZViJSvXWkvTX32h/s1600/IMG_3894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSGYOwqO3yBAFS6t-CLaC5aNyzv54bVGX67DyCnTBxvBpSLoczCGbq5XuJ0VxJPLhHH729XsHB25U0VF7SeF8Pn-idQUjLyDBMV3PpofO_PR83XETdnGuU3N93wcHeZViJSvXWkvTX32h/s200/IMG_3894.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5Ezh7yXcTwDSIImUKAL4fyUSEOPORE8sAGmNpodQLk7EsAyJUagnqxl25M8ifKft7hv71_FJ5UA7Vf27e911dzsKgPLiUDeK_RjkRZI4eeivLbEI7yopdtwDB3ZUFJLg9430T01cieej/s1600/IMG_3876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5Ezh7yXcTwDSIImUKAL4fyUSEOPORE8sAGmNpodQLk7EsAyJUagnqxl25M8ifKft7hv71_FJ5UA7Vf27e911dzsKgPLiUDeK_RjkRZI4eeivLbEI7yopdtwDB3ZUFJLg9430T01cieej/s320/IMG_3876.jpg" width="213" /></a>Ready or not, we were home!! Arriving at the airport was a night that i will never forget. We were surrounded by family and friends (who are just like family) who cheered as we walked down the terminal. It was our first...First. Our first day in America as a family. Although it was overwhelming, Zoe was all smiles. She Was so excited to finally meet her FAMILY! This was just one of many First for my Zoe Girl.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lk9Ln9sEirIx0eAa0wC-nJ0uj8nl3AOczqwl2n3Wt0WCRH9ntNUC2Ymx0a7UfSrfZK1_8QgQ278Teq4l0NZvQ530HqZ-fceLqPuteBlN8CuSNrcr78fSBLKytbAIj_1Oa4J3Phbpw0MC/s1600/IMG_3932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lk9Ln9sEirIx0eAa0wC-nJ0uj8nl3AOczqwl2n3Wt0WCRH9ntNUC2Ymx0a7UfSrfZK1_8QgQ278Teq4l0NZvQ530HqZ-fceLqPuteBlN8CuSNrcr78fSBLKytbAIj_1Oa4J3Phbpw0MC/s200/IMG_3932.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORLYfsGnBekSb-eVoQj3M2-UxHLPyGVF2MPpEoHI6TEudNAkI9pv22DwgNG8dTIGHzo82J_utdyd8PE21bhn9Blivz7gXQtCAS_Ei7vzCBmJxNOo1sBLciqRMpAGbd9sPBQ6_yvPO9lSp/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORLYfsGnBekSb-eVoQj3M2-UxHLPyGVF2MPpEoHI6TEudNAkI9pv22DwgNG8dTIGHzo82J_utdyd8PE21bhn9Blivz7gXQtCAS_Ei7vzCBmJxNOo1sBLciqRMpAGbd9sPBQ6_yvPO9lSp/s200/IMG_3949.jpg" width="150" /></a><b>First Time at Home</b><br />
When we arrived home, Zoe got to see her new home for the first time. She was truly excited about her playroom and room. She was even more excited that her cousins were there to share in the excitement. Zoe had been counting down the days to meeting them. (Sophie, who went to Ethiopia with us- along with Patti Grams- had told Zoe all about her cousins. Zoe was especially excited about meeting Lillie because she was a "baby" Zoe instantly took to Lillie and began mothering her and carrying her around as if she were her very own baby. Little did Zoe know about the newest baby growing in Aunt Carrie's tummy :)<br />
<br />
<b>First time Away from Mom and Dad</b><br />
So most parents don't stay the night away from their first child for months and months. Not us. Zoe's second night at home was also her first night away from me and Derek. This was not our plan. However, i ended up having to be taken to the Emergency room and stay the night and stay a night away from my brand new daughter. Not how i would have planned it, but just how things go sometimes :)<br />
<br />
<b>First Time at the Zoo</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTtL7dnJu0WbhBw_HUJ4skmoof6FX0ylYMIMbdNP2de31Fadg3WAAS4rx8eeSkDyULGGw4306ErUIUPsHD5UM-FPzJqmaBygx_Zh30kHLjqT-sxorWI9G8gxLrY_9i7aIJz4UihRa87z7/s1600/IMG_4092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTtL7dnJu0WbhBw_HUJ4skmoof6FX0ylYMIMbdNP2de31Fadg3WAAS4rx8eeSkDyULGGw4306ErUIUPsHD5UM-FPzJqmaBygx_Zh30kHLjqT-sxorWI9G8gxLrY_9i7aIJz4UihRa87z7/s320/IMG_4092.jpg" width="320" /></a>So all the books tell you to keep your newly adopted child at home the first few weeks and not go out. Well, since we had already not gone "by the book" so far, we decided to venture out to the Zoo on Zoe's first week home. She loved riding the carousel on that day and continues to love it today.<br />
<br />
<b>First Trip to the Beach</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90V1mGHvMyhwyGAa71ZP3u6NILX38KLK96D9xkjN707aJFPb941kP9Que5NCCngxH69XsGbuWb8gKulsYryB8br4kvjuf2znXCZGEwmsay8V56hOuvvK1IszAQBgyIpAZu80gT8LIT85f/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90V1mGHvMyhwyGAa71ZP3u6NILX38KLK96D9xkjN707aJFPb941kP9Que5NCCngxH69XsGbuWb8gKulsYryB8br4kvjuf2znXCZGEwmsay8V56hOuvvK1IszAQBgyIpAZu80gT8LIT85f/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" width="320" /></a>I</b>n July of 2001, we took Zoe on her first beach trip. Again not "by the book" Instead of a short trip to test out being away from home we went to the beach for 2 entire weeks. As always, our Zoe did great. Zoe truly loved the beach. She loved the sand, the ocean, the pool...everything. We experienced another first on that trip. We were at the beach on Zoe's fourth Birthday (her first in America). Of course, in Jones fashion, we did not let the fact that we were in a condo in Perdido stop us from decorating and celebrating. We spent the day doing things that Zoe loves. She spent the day with her cousins (WHOM SHE LOVES) we went swimming, we ate pizza, we went to a super fun restaurant where she got to get a glitter tattoo, and then ended the day at build a bear where Birdie was "born". (Birdie is one of the family in this house. Birdie does not miss out on much.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwvPhnFz-NUYVz0usVtkq-m58080gMpvgzKvXbhBH9N5SJLw4fJ3dJ9zCIxVCSKWKfkzkT-g752kdMIBApwAf2xpUpVFU4wmguyqzCNdqr2y7VA-kKNGO6jC6LTwwF63mZ3AXgSUCY0qi/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwvPhnFz-NUYVz0usVtkq-m58080gMpvgzKvXbhBH9N5SJLw4fJ3dJ9zCIxVCSKWKfkzkT-g752kdMIBApwAf2xpUpVFU4wmguyqzCNdqr2y7VA-kKNGO6jC6LTwwF63mZ3AXgSUCY0qi/s200/IMG_0972.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCdTy-Lb7xZI-3uX-Z1g4Wbt-LwMCD4wX40u38SDbUVWnl8AY5SOWO1mEF2u1abrM0g63Pwdoe2OZiqSDn2gk812iOFgMHZLuhp5ejB5iib6rupiGCnw2KFutWeklF74T6oZB9-gsaKxU/s1600/IMG_5426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCdTy-Lb7xZI-3uX-Z1g4Wbt-LwMCD4wX40u38SDbUVWnl8AY5SOWO1mEF2u1abrM0g63Pwdoe2OZiqSDn2gk812iOFgMHZLuhp5ejB5iib6rupiGCnw2KFutWeklF74T6oZB9-gsaKxU/s200/IMG_5426.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G-2O-fU7W82u4Sy0f6aiDwQnECP8ncSK1GMw146p-8ASYf-dG-LCHutUTsQj5haFJ_Vh7XgSMtzpjjDqoEv1OOuOvTFOYjOTqZmk_nN3hQXsRDB8t5mw7ZLFxRDOtD354EJQI-wtaaHE/s1600/IMG_5409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G-2O-fU7W82u4Sy0f6aiDwQnECP8ncSK1GMw146p-8ASYf-dG-LCHutUTsQj5haFJ_Vh7XgSMtzpjjDqoEv1OOuOvTFOYjOTqZmk_nN3hQXsRDB8t5mw7ZLFxRDOtD354EJQI-wtaaHE/s200/IMG_5409.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HW_XdMuCv8MTll10f2nT6gcsdDZNufAUpG3xamrrF-bd5iwG-cKN3ccHnUkzq2fLr8b_15qZ67sjU8BxCgtL4Vdvmb8yzUurb8EtYeBM7NnRcvEmlp8wQ49jXfyw8xUHoAoSmzJc_7Eh/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HW_XdMuCv8MTll10f2nT6gcsdDZNufAUpG3xamrrF-bd5iwG-cKN3ccHnUkzq2fLr8b_15qZ67sjU8BxCgtL4Vdvmb8yzUurb8EtYeBM7NnRcvEmlp8wQ49jXfyw8xUHoAoSmzJc_7Eh/s200/IMG_0920.JPG" width="150" /></a></b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2wDy3k_CAL3PVIuSiipugBWr_Q14MTS8_wqgbbO8OX0MyGOxqhV0-J8i8PTz3au9czJ3OnKYyU3XOvEezpbm47ggnLJrBNfY-_JgdcFy2d8E_AsHaBSAAzaxMtW8G73EC6F79XjtolV0/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2wDy3k_CAL3PVIuSiipugBWr_Q14MTS8_wqgbbO8OX0MyGOxqhV0-J8i8PTz3au9czJ3OnKYyU3XOvEezpbm47ggnLJrBNfY-_JgdcFy2d8E_AsHaBSAAzaxMtW8G73EC6F79XjtolV0/s320/IMG_0652.JPG" width="320" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1rAND-bV6CYfeczHmb6vyCEF2uZAJ4OtJOH86rP4leWv2GdjOIk8RFwd-unXP376zHHNAzPgRN5UqXw7t62awVMcxglZWjPIacetSqahYrGBEhOHcuRz2_l7dxWt-tXHIBw1qDsNoNHf/s1600/IMG_1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1rAND-bV6CYfeczHmb6vyCEF2uZAJ4OtJOH86rP4leWv2GdjOIk8RFwd-unXP376zHHNAzPgRN5UqXw7t62awVMcxglZWjPIacetSqahYrGBEhOHcuRz2_l7dxWt-tXHIBw1qDsNoNHf/s200/IMG_1124.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>First Birthday Party</b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">After returning from the beach we celebrated Zoe's Birthday with her very first Birthday Party Ever!! Zoe choose to have a Mary Poppins Party. From decorating kites to making piggy banks to hold their tupons, to chalk drawings and "racing" carousel horses, to eating spoons full of sugar, the day was definitely a "jolly Holiday" that was "Practically Perfect in Every Way."</span></b></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiSPx3i3GyUaNDOdsR70MEPs7bDHSKyecexB73ZBm1M49HPQnujXJeoj6yQi_K_xvWE1bvhfl-4Z58Smfm6eBFlaOZzYFNcW0mPIfAzkr0fUYinyeEwXXec88KiHSia8rD6oVEqxuRZOb/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiSPx3i3GyUaNDOdsR70MEPs7bDHSKyecexB73ZBm1M49HPQnujXJeoj6yQi_K_xvWE1bvhfl-4Z58Smfm6eBFlaOZzYFNcW0mPIfAzkr0fUYinyeEwXXec88KiHSia8rD6oVEqxuRZOb/s200/IMG_1118.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciq2dQkdzjy7YTTGsi3ef91RfOcjiwXSD_GJ7jKHogWoU3ic9CxFjvCeQtgemBmKUekw9lCB_tnsthtNwYfUEYAOd3yqmLvcLVfbOZ5JRqr_j-oLocPVwJM7JKLv0lfnEetK_fRhgu3um/s1600/IMG_1120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciq2dQkdzjy7YTTGsi3ef91RfOcjiwXSD_GJ7jKHogWoU3ic9CxFjvCeQtgemBmKUekw9lCB_tnsthtNwYfUEYAOd3yqmLvcLVfbOZ5JRqr_j-oLocPVwJM7JKLv0lfnEetK_fRhgu3um/s200/IMG_1120.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCn70BZcDA2B5AKPaMYi3yU_amdUrbgUgyX0Ykycd3gncP8Qu6qV7B3ce83dCsU1Ma4FW8s6ts04maOXrFNvuYCsxcYJuLfcLJvemLV6PNvmnSRCJDbb52bp-yqd-3CXe1Q27yYsWuT38i/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCn70BZcDA2B5AKPaMYi3yU_amdUrbgUgyX0Ykycd3gncP8Qu6qV7B3ce83dCsU1Ma4FW8s6ts04maOXrFNvuYCsxcYJuLfcLJvemLV6PNvmnSRCJDbb52bp-yqd-3CXe1Q27yYsWuT38i/s320/IMG_1140.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b> First Day of School</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixa_LPr2_dvhpp5XNpF-yPw0hyphenhyphenT4h0h2gdhm1LlefD03XOLtHQzvd_8lZCNI5f7OxsPmSSJ8oQT0JZIY7O-mxmrwcZgV2JVh88N8-RvW1bDYyoHCzV47gZ_oPLGvb-UtvtGCWZW0UkVk71/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixa_LPr2_dvhpp5XNpF-yPw0hyphenhyphenT4h0h2gdhm1LlefD03XOLtHQzvd_8lZCNI5f7OxsPmSSJ8oQT0JZIY7O-mxmrwcZgV2JVh88N8-RvW1bDYyoHCzV47gZ_oPLGvb-UtvtGCWZW0UkVk71/s200/IMG_1340.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyPPsMFSizquye5ahpFMUjmfKkM1ZZLLuh6EMTEAhEtiDrgcFrDD7jkrpJI09WWPsXrdI87BCPX00CKWcgT0UhHWcLc58MjjLK0BQTPFb_E__6tVCsLxGDLawiJLknAM0Tpy3jo2_3l5Q/s1600/IMG_1371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyPPsMFSizquye5ahpFMUjmfKkM1ZZLLuh6EMTEAhEtiDrgcFrDD7jkrpJI09WWPsXrdI87BCPX00CKWcgT0UhHWcLc58MjjLK0BQTPFb_E__6tVCsLxGDLawiJLknAM0Tpy3jo2_3l5Q/s200/IMG_1371.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWzneoBTdtmlwSjTL27ZyotsksEXONfFxsOFan6ayFE99WwEA9-dydWse0FaudXLfUu0cO1BdyrNEYZJZnnPHEO_rODwfr3ikUBOjQzSPhWWX-D9eo2ybQ9ZEwlwmLMdVl5uAdq_20YhI/s1600/IMG_1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWzneoBTdtmlwSjTL27ZyotsksEXONfFxsOFan6ayFE99WwEA9-dydWse0FaudXLfUu0cO1BdyrNEYZJZnnPHEO_rODwfr3ikUBOjQzSPhWWX-D9eo2ybQ9ZEwlwmLMdVl5uAdq_20YhI/s320/IMG_1388.JPG" width="320" /></a>In September, Zoe had her First Day of School. We started the morning celebrating "Whooooo's going to Preschool". We had a "crazy" breakfast of Zoe's favorite cookies. We then followed the White Family tradition of a First day of School pic in front of the door on the front porch. Finally we were off. It was the first and only day that we were early to school :). We waited anxiously in the hall until this guy arrived. Will is Zoe's best guy. They are the best of friends. and i am so happy that they got to spend her first year of school together in the same class. I cannot stress how much she loves ALL HER COUSINS, but she and Will definitely have a special bond.<br />
<br />
<b>First Surgery</b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">In October we found out some crazy news. As a part of Zoe's initial exam by the international adoption clinic we were told to have an x-ray of her chest. We honestly just forgot about it. She was a healthy happy kid and we just honestly never thought about getting an x-ray. After our amazing pediatrician urged us to go ahead and get it we went. By the time we got home, we got a call from the doctor- they had seen a spot on her lung. That led to 10 days of test, more test, a consultation with a surgeon and then October, 27, 2011- Zoe's First Surgery</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bPoQ5p-bGa1bidDFNVO7UNcZXEgknN3tasMrDRcB9Vzmr88t71Ssh0TFpx8ZyD9SPOFRyrwRCrM9ECuMWn1RrYF2ReUCDs5flrD5PL4FvV0SoXWRxSwpzpI_aAVkUaXH1Bx2wn7Iindm/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bPoQ5p-bGa1bidDFNVO7UNcZXEgknN3tasMrDRcB9Vzmr88t71Ssh0TFpx8ZyD9SPOFRyrwRCrM9ECuMWn1RrYF2ReUCDs5flrD5PL4FvV0SoXWRxSwpzpI_aAVkUaXH1Bx2wn7Iindm/s320/IMG_0217.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaOLT8NTfrOHNqIc90zugcJuAGFNVboFtsyVHacctjAq67PAa1ZiPpaFh3e-i3eFtgrEHsEL1i63Km4_eXr7LD-MkO3C4S6rttE8s7Cvu0ML6rbnOXIMv4DcI3IBO9oJ38RLRDTzCB8x0/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaOLT8NTfrOHNqIc90zugcJuAGFNVboFtsyVHacctjAq67PAa1ZiPpaFh3e-i3eFtgrEHsEL1i63Km4_eXr7LD-MkO3C4S6rttE8s7Cvu0ML6rbnOXIMv4DcI3IBO9oJ38RLRDTzCB8x0/s200/IMG_0224.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AJDyVr5cARKwODMUE9TqjVj7JtSrG14oEbUkgn2IrR312RgY2C1bYdsXffle4qmwKJ-dXe28r6DxuRC6Q7hRqtemJagK3be8-XuG-IwOr5fBpasaUUXKFvl8-Zp_Pg-05Y-n_SJGFw9q/s1600/IMG_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AJDyVr5cARKwODMUE9TqjVj7JtSrG14oEbUkgn2IrR312RgY2C1bYdsXffle4qmwKJ-dXe28r6DxuRC6Q7hRqtemJagK3be8-XuG-IwOr5fBpasaUUXKFvl8-Zp_Pg-05Y-n_SJGFw9q/s200/IMG_0220.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4Q-b1srsuszL9XtKVQ48NG0cUt1PUH5tXwrJyTqSVD9MFgbem4nM6xo8Y8s9MRNxfkO2o34iIWpb5lXddw65f4NwxFak8S_98hegvJQH4joHsasApJVi8B2WLV4s_tVK9LsdydJZVn77/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4Q-b1srsuszL9XtKVQ48NG0cUt1PUH5tXwrJyTqSVD9MFgbem4nM6xo8Y8s9MRNxfkO2o34iIWpb5lXddw65f4NwxFak8S_98hegvJQH4joHsasApJVi8B2WLV4s_tVK9LsdydJZVn77/s200/IMG_0682.JPG" width="150" /></a> During the testing phase of this little journey we found out that 100% of Zoe's stomach was above her diaphragm. The crazy thing was she had NO SYMPTOMS. All of the doctors were amazed. We later found out that most kids who have this have it at birth, and most don't live more than a few days. How our little girl, in a third world country, with no medical treatment had lived 4 years like this is nothing but a miracle. We met with a young doctor. Our first meeting with Doctor Tom was one that i will never forget. He showed us pictures of Zoe's stomach. He explained to us the severity of her condition and the importance of doing sutrgery as soon as possible. He then looked straight into our tear filled eyes and through his own tears said that he had a daughter the same age as Zoe and he totally understood how afraid we were but that he promised he would take very good care of her. I knew in that moment that we had been directed to the PERFECT doctor for us. So on October 27, we checked in to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital for what would be one of the longest days of my life. Zoe was in surgery for over 7 hours. It was the longest wait of my life. My little tiny girl was on a table in the care and hands of a man we barely knew. After the longest wait, Doctor Tom came out. Everything had gone beautifully, He was able to do the entire surgery laproscopically (which we were not sure was going to be possible).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv_U66sUKpPeqAknSJEYWPwce1W7rmKuv1n78S-_33Al_43AWLRU7JXJFFEzy5pju422IVylcqfKZmwaRKCvfMcdWcsEdxLjfqAU8YkpfoxM1DUR2apcVtTkKaQpLFDbxwHjFC6H0LUmS/s1600/dr+tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv_U66sUKpPeqAknSJEYWPwce1W7rmKuv1n78S-_33Al_43AWLRU7JXJFFEzy5pju422IVylcqfKZmwaRKCvfMcdWcsEdxLjfqAU8YkpfoxM1DUR2apcVtTkKaQpLFDbxwHjFC6H0LUmS/s320/dr+tom.jpg" width="240" /></a>Zoe had done great and was ready for us to see her. Dr. Tom then followed us to the waiting room to meet and hug every member of our family! We were told to expect to stay in the hospital for a minimum of 5 days. Unfortunately that meant that Zoe would miss Halloween. We tried to make the best of it, as did the hospital. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlsiIl9n5c516tbJFysV0WLnJwb0MbvoZrk8zP93UZopDr7F05u1nqePyi2fN3Oq3o08V_FWrmdRqAhDuMuxrRyEEuAAX7VsVQisqr5ESl1Ed6XZMaPzjP9eXtoUEUvXzZhMf_gzSWu4s/s1600/IMG_0237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlsiIl9n5c516tbJFysV0WLnJwb0MbvoZrk8zP93UZopDr7F05u1nqePyi2fN3Oq3o08V_FWrmdRqAhDuMuxrRyEEuAAX7VsVQisqr5ESl1Ed6XZMaPzjP9eXtoUEUvXzZhMf_gzSWu4s/s320/IMG_0237.JPG" width="320" /></a>They had face painting and then a private concert for the kids and familiys with Rascal Flatts. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although Zoe fell asleep during the first song, it was a brief relief for Derek and I. For the first time, we didn't feel like we were in a hospital. We sat and listened as the group sang "God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you". I thought about our journey to Zoe. How nothing had gone as planned and yet it was the exact road that the Lord had planned for us. After the concert, we went back to the room to settle in and start making Halloween plans since we would not be able to go home. Well, Zoe had different plans. She did not stay 5 nights in the hospital, she stayed only 2. Dr. Tom literally could not find a reason to keep her any longer. She never had one drop of pain meds outside of Tylenol and Advil. She never had any of the symptoms that she should of had after a surgery of that magnitude. She was perfect. She was happy, and she was ready to go home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>First Halloween</b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Well we made it home for Halloween. We were told to "take it easy" so we loaded up our Princess Tiana in a little red wagon and with our favorite flower, lightening mcqueen and ariel, we set out to trick or treat. </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb2R9LyTP5W1u8aGI0pZM1hAJZWl-3a_vbG8ZiL52NEUSEQK19MY1L-hqU7CLiwX2qCPt1dwGnJq8fSEqPw_nLQqGVXp2bC5XAlwLEe24UcfGI4AjL_J4WvVMoZxQTaIh_FjqH1MguvV5/s1600/IMG_0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb2R9LyTP5W1u8aGI0pZM1hAJZWl-3a_vbG8ZiL52NEUSEQK19MY1L-hqU7CLiwX2qCPt1dwGnJq8fSEqPw_nLQqGVXp2bC5XAlwLEe24UcfGI4AjL_J4WvVMoZxQTaIh_FjqH1MguvV5/s200/IMG_0318.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4RHDoABt1NIqeC2e9SJ3w9ESaTJppOqMqeCceQTj_QjaD2UgjWrRrrBrM46SgBvLXKmQzrbpj-ZCBIo8ikSOdRrq0883-KMbQMFGF7F7IWB60w7V1TK-tCGNVoWo05ee64pmBWjLmy_I/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4RHDoABt1NIqeC2e9SJ3w9ESaTJppOqMqeCceQTj_QjaD2UgjWrRrrBrM46SgBvLXKmQzrbpj-ZCBIo8ikSOdRrq0883-KMbQMFGF7F7IWB60w7V1TK-tCGNVoWo05ee64pmBWjLmy_I/s200/IMG_0306.JPG" width="150" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Well, the wagon didn't last long. Before we knew it Zoe was running the streets. So much for taking it easy. </span></b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">She collected TONS of candy and really did great even when she realized that due to her food restrictions she would not get to eat hardly any of it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<b>First New Baby</b></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">After waiting and waiting the day finally came for Lucie White Roden to enter the world. Zoe was over the moon excited. She had been planning for months all the ways that she was going to take care of baby Lucie. She had let Carrie know what she was going to be allowed to do and that Zoe would do all the rest. She also spent lots of time giving Carrie mothering tips (as if she needed them). Finally the day was here when she would get to see Lucie and hold her for the first time.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH_H2uxQjOoh1SNcbRjpuDSmBg0v9hoRR841c_6kXeCZd-Ygqrz8UrON0CVWS7MTmlpifI5oUu4Crp_SJoLxcxKmjiC43W4kFYqIBS4009IiIWn3DGNCGbk9nzr_GaKWzmAG401YyYKQE/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH_H2uxQjOoh1SNcbRjpuDSmBg0v9hoRR841c_6kXeCZd-Ygqrz8UrON0CVWS7MTmlpifI5oUu4Crp_SJoLxcxKmjiC43W4kFYqIBS4009IiIWn3DGNCGbk9nzr_GaKWzmAG401YyYKQE/s320/IMG_0357.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Zoe was so excited i thought she was going to come out of her skin. She could not believe that Lucie had finally come out. She was ready to begin her newest mothering gig. She instantly feel in love with Lucie.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORlpHNZP3TAV3afGR5ZtJqTrta1MCI4PDG3gJ8KprA3Q0DHprU2-nB2pRxRIpyNbQU4qnzt2BVerLNDavcpRuYiYV4iYO3n6qss4OtdlKOCPZyXbyROR3G5hMxXCZmJefVUy8PVcYdwMP/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORlpHNZP3TAV3afGR5ZtJqTrta1MCI4PDG3gJ8KprA3Q0DHprU2-nB2pRxRIpyNbQU4qnzt2BVerLNDavcpRuYiYV4iYO3n6qss4OtdlKOCPZyXbyROR3G5hMxXCZmJefVUy8PVcYdwMP/s200/IMG_0361.JPG" width="150" /></a>Even today when she is running wild with Sophie, Will and Lillie, she will out of no where stop and very gently come over and give Lucie some special gentle love. She lights up when she sees Lucie. I believe that she takes true pride in the fact that Lucie is healthy and happy.<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>First Thanksgiving</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEEjkllxWVwJa2hvOftEdOX4iR4ghyphenhyphenM2MrwkWcBr2EKfRTvfhE9qdte_2dr8koRZsib0QYPypD05gmix80CWyHZ2GCwrshwdUKe8C0922IsHOuoYAlYZdT6r4Ze87TkSMo0STHhOQVLtU/s1600/IMG_0491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEEjkllxWVwJa2hvOftEdOX4iR4ghyphenhyphenM2MrwkWcBr2EKfRTvfhE9qdte_2dr8koRZsib0QYPypD05gmix80CWyHZ2GCwrshwdUKe8C0922IsHOuoYAlYZdT6r4Ze87TkSMo0STHhOQVLtU/s320/IMG_0491.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliO9q5OE0is-0DQTSAUwHbW4HJ3oJEut4byM17gron8aC33HREtJA4VwI3zAlP3Ag5zTmDAMMpj9QUEscMgbrBSlM24-D2lDxY5epteuyOA3u-k97AMaccoHaB_lWcxRpwlpOSSb2Aiue/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliO9q5OE0is-0DQTSAUwHbW4HJ3oJEut4byM17gron8aC33HREtJA4VwI3zAlP3Ag5zTmDAMMpj9QUEscMgbrBSlM24-D2lDxY5epteuyOA3u-k97AMaccoHaB_lWcxRpwlpOSSb2Aiue/s200/IMG_0407.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Zoe had a truly blessed first Thanksgiving. We had much to be thankful for. She had spent her first 6 months at home. She had survived and thrived since her surgery and probably the thing she was most thankful for--- SOLID FOOD. Thanksgiving day was Zoe's first day off food restriction since her surgery. She had been a champ about the liquid and soft food diet, but my little meat eater was thrilled to bite into some turkey. Thanksgiving was full of fun. All the kids performed a play about the first Thanksgiving and Zoe ate herself silly. We all shared what we were thankful for and spent the weekend just being one very big happy family!!<br />
<br />
<b>First Christmas</b><br />
There is neither time nor space on this blog to fully describe Zoe's first Christmas. It was AMAZING!! I will have to come back and blog on it later so that i can do it justice.<br />
<br />
<b>First Circus</b><br />
For Lillie's Second Birthday we ALL went to the Circus. Zoe sat in utter amazement. She danced clapped and later mimicked everything she saw. As i watched the tight rope walkers, i felt like my future life was flashing before me. My little dare devil took in every step they took. I just new the day was coming when i would see her shimmy across something... and sure enough she has. The Circus was a great night for all of us. Lille had more fun than any kid i have ever seen. It was a great night of Firsts for many of the kids.<br />
<br />
This year has been full of a lot of FIRSTS. And now, the day is finally here. April 30, 2012- Zoe's First Anniversary of being in America, of being home. My what a difference a year makes. Zoe is doing amazing. She is adjusted to our family, she is adjusted to our home, she is adjusted to our community, she is adjusted. This year has been full of celebrations. We have not missed one opportunity to celebrate and today, again we will celebrate. As i look back at this past year, i realized what a crazy year it has been. There have been wonderful days, and some very hard days. We have all 3 laughed a lot, smiled a lot, played alot and cried a lot. There have been days when i have asked myself those same questions i asked myself on our first day home- "Can i do this? Will i ever be enough?" I can say that the Lord is faithful in all things and that Today i can honestly answer all of those original questions with a big YES. I know that our life is not going to always be easy. Zoe still has a lot to learn, as do I. She and i are going to clash. We are SO So much alike. I could not have a child more like me if i birthed her myself. We do everything to the extreme. We Laugh hard, we play hard, we fight hard and we love hard. Zoe describes our family as 2 feisty girls and 1 slow daddy. We are both glad to have a 1 slow daddy because he is able to keep us grounded.<br />
<br />
My sweet Zoe. This is been the best year of my life. I never knew what it would actually be like to be a mom. I surely did not realize it would be as hard as it is sometimes. But i also did not know how wonderful it would be. You have brought more joy to my life than i could ever imagine. You smile can light up a room and your laugh is contagious. You have such funny habits and phrases that you like to say. Every day is an adventure to you and you are FEARLESS. (which sometimes scares me :) You have the confidence that most people dream of having. I pray that is something you never lose. You a very curious and your questions are never ending. Even though you claim to not like learning, your constant questions let me know that you are constantly learning more and more each day. I can t believe how much you have done and learned this year. More than that, i cant believe how much you have taught me. You have stretched me in many ways. You have opened my eyes to things i had never really seen before. You love life. You go through each day full speed- and my girl you are FAST. You literally RUN through many days. You LOVE BIG. Your love for your cousins is one of my favorite things to see. You have such a unique and personal relationship with each and every one of them. So while you still think that aunt Carrie knows the most of anyone you know and even though you want to please her so, and even though you still at times ask to be a Roden, i know that you are right where you need to be. You are a Jones- You are Zoe Renae- A life Reborn. You are my daughter, and i wouldn't trade one second of this past year with you. I LOVE YOU AS BIG AS THE SKY. Thank you for a WONDERFUL FIRST YEAR OF FIRST!<br />
<br />
You are my Sunshine!!<br />
<br />
Love Mom.<br />
<br /></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-42280343533463584722012-01-30T00:00:00.000-06:002012-01-30T00:00:42.821-06:002 Feisty Girls + 1 Slow Daddy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We have an awesome life. I love to wake up and see what each day holds for me and my girls. Zoe is a truly amazing kid. She is kind, she shares, she forgives, she can turn a bad attitude into a good attitude, she is very smart and I could fill a book with all the wonderful things about her! Zoe has transitioned beautifully into our family over these last 9 months. We take lots of happy pictures and do so many fun things. But, honestly, our life is not all sunshine and gummy bears.<br />
<br />
January has probably been the hardest month we've had since we brought Zoe home. I think back to a year ago after we had just met Zoe in Ethiopia and had to leave her. It was the most difficult time in our lives. We had such joy getting to know her then such sadness to leave her. This was followed by the roller coaster of emotions as we worked with the Ethiopian court system and government agencies to finalize the adoption process.<br />
<br />
Now she is home. We get to hold her and love her and laugh with her everyday. This month we have also spent time crying with her. As we've started this new year, Tori and I have been extremely busy at work and my usual patience has been at an all time low. Zoe and I have had some difficult times and I have had days where I've felt like an utter failure as a father and husband because I literally don't know what to do. I am supposed to be an "expert" on kids and I am at a total loss.<br />
<br />
We weren't sure what was going on, but beginning right after Christmas Zoe began grieving her birthmother, Mehret. I have watched Tori hold Zoe in her arms as she weeps over the loss of her birthmother and the fact that she is beginning to forget her. More recently, her behavior has started to change, her sleeping patterns haven't been normal and even her eating habits have changed.<br />
<br />
Tonight was, by far, the most difficult night of parenting we've had with our precious Zoe. Today started off rough for the girls. I went to church early and they had their typical Sunday morning at home, watching cartoons and getting ready to come meet me. Everything was going just fine, then Tori chose Zoe's favorite red boots to wear to church. It seems that Zoe decided she did not want to wear them and the meltdown began. By the time they got to church things were better and everyone complimented her awesome boots. Throughout the day she struggled with having a good attitude, but was able to turn it around. Then bedtime came and she fell apart.<br />
<br />
I was putting Zoe down and she began flailing and screaming so loud that Tori came in to see what was going on. She was kicking, and screaming, and hitting, and spitting, and screaming, and flailing, and biting, and screaming, and yelling and screaming and crying. It took both of us to physically hold her down. Both of us were so angry and couldn't figure out what was going on. Tori finally got the sense to talk it out of her. We realized that the problems of today were more than just red boots and bedtime.<br />
<br />
Zoe began to ask why Mehret gave her away through the saddest sobbing I've ever experienced. Mehret has always been freely discussed in our home. We have always said that she gave us the best gift and talked about how we truly love her. Over the past month Zoe has talked about her in a much different way. She has said some of the most hurtful things to us in the process of grieving her loss and dealing with feelings of abandonment. Tonight we watched our 4 year old daughter scream and weep over being abandoned by her birthmother. She decided she never wanted to talk about her, love her or pray for her ever again. We told her that we would always do these things and then Tori prayed for Mehret right then and there. Zoe asked us, "What is Mehret to me?" We told her that she was the one who gave her life and cared for her until we could come and get her. She now knows that we love her no matter what she says to us, that we will never leave her and God made her for us before she was ever born.<br />
<br />
It is truly amazing to me that Zoe can even have these feelings. She is angry, she is sad, she is confused and she is heartbroken. As she worked through these feelings tonight we felt them right along with her. Adoption is amazing, but it is also very difficult. Not many preschoolers around here have much to mourn or grieve. She has been through so much in her little life. We so often shortchange children and what they feel and understand. There is so much more than they can express living inside their tiny bodies.<br />
<br />
After things calmed down we were able to talk about this passion she has inside her and how she is a "feisty girl" just like her mommy, which she loved. She wanted to know more about being feisty. She was so excited to share this trait with Tori. We talked about how they are like a zig zag line going up and down and up and down and I was more of a calm straight line. She looked at me and asked, "Daddy, why are you slow?" Which is a question Tori asks fairly consistently of me. Tori began to talk about how the two of them are so alike. We talked about how they will live big, fight big, but most importantly they will love big. Tori talked about how she got in trouble A LOT by her mommy, just like Zoe will and how I didn't get in trouble very much while I was growing up. Then Zoe looked up at Tori and said, "I think Daddy is gooder than we are." We all laughed and then I was able to say to the both of them that of all the girls in the entire world I could choose, I chose a feisty one to be my wife. Now I live in a house with 2 feisty girls and couldn't imagine it otherwise. Our family needs Tori to understand Zoe and me to make sure they are both alive at the end of each day.<br />
<br />
So, today was a day we will never forget. We saw our daughter suffer, we heard harsh and hurtful words and our family grew stronger. So, we pray that we will continue to know how to love and parent her well. We pray that we can help her remember Mehret when she forgets and we can honor her when she feels betrayed. I pray that she remains feisty and our great God uses that passion to change the world and glorify him in mighty ways. Today has been so very difficult, but we have learned that 2 feisty girls + 1 slow daddy = The Jones Family and we wouldn't have it any other way.</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-30593565772729288592012-01-16T23:10:00.000-06:002012-01-16T23:10:29.080-06:00MLK Day 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I am ashamed to say that this year is my 30<sup>th</sup> MLK Day and the first time it has meant anything to me. I’ve always thought of this day as a holiday for African Americans. Now I have an Ethiopian daughter and I’m forced to think outside myself. As I tried to tell Zoe a little about this day I said that it is important for people with brown skin and then Tori stopped me and I realized, for once in my life, that this day is important to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>everyone</u></i>.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dr. King challenged our world and we should all be so very grateful for his courage and leadership, no matter our skin tone. As I thought about this day I began to realize that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no one is truly free unless everyone is truly free</b>. If my neighbor has no freedom, then mine can be taken away at anytime. I am so thankful today that we can celebrate a man who reminded our country that God created and loves us all, so we must live together in peace.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am so thankful that my daughter will have every opportunity in the world available to her. It pains me to think that my brilliant, beautiful, vibrant daughter might not have been part of my family if it wasn’t for the courageous work of people like Dr. King. I cannot imagine my life without her and I cannot imagine her growing up in a world where she could not have the hope of doing anything and everything her heart desires. Because of Dr. King’s dream, I can tell my sweet Zoe that she can follow her dreams anywhere they take her!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today I thank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for inspiring change. I pray that my family and I will have courage to stand strong, like him, in the face of injustice. Today I recognize that Dr. King took a stand for each of us, no matter our race, gender or tax bracket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today is a challenge to me, and everyone like me, to celebrate the differences in each of us. Today I praise our great God for uniquely creating and loving us all beyond our wildest imagination!</div><!--EndFragment--></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-41380134382149139412011-12-14T23:53:00.002-06:002011-12-15T00:05:45.696-06:00LIFE x 30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This month, Tori and I celebrate 30 years of life. It's very cool that we were born just 11 days apart so we get to celebrate our lives together each year. There is something about 30 that makes you look back, look forward and look in the mirror. As we look around we find nothing but blessings in every direction. We sometimes wonder how and why we are so very blessed! It is absolutely ridiculous.<br />
This year, more than any, we celebrate LIFE! Life is a word that we have spoken over and over and over again this past year for many reasons.<br />
<br />
First, we celebrated bringing home our unbelievable Zoe Renae, "a life reborn." Everyday with her we are amazed at how God blessed us with a life so incredible. I tell everyone that there is no way Tori could birth a baby more like her. They are two of a kind and I couldn't be happier about it. In July we were able to celebrate Zoe's life when she turned 4. It is awesome that when we look at her we only see our daughter, nothing else, just our daughter who we dearly love.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAmgCU6Wf89R5hq2xLGE4fSy4kdDPWtikivuZisow4-FD1DlYcGupnjyiHZtIo2MgX4Hxe_OaV3aqNT2pxVgXpZ_MpUIzXh9sST033J3kqEG1p4l5lLZ-ncmBoqC4ucuxcUx9FWQlaiNy/s1600/zoey_040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAmgCU6Wf89R5hq2xLGE4fSy4kdDPWtikivuZisow4-FD1DlYcGupnjyiHZtIo2MgX4Hxe_OaV3aqNT2pxVgXpZ_MpUIzXh9sST033J3kqEG1p4l5lLZ-ncmBoqC4ucuxcUx9FWQlaiNy/s320/zoey_040.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Also this year we celebrated the life of Tori's dad and a year without cancer. His life has also been reborn as he faced death head on and God gave him more time here with us. He's been given the chance to impact so many lives through this battle and has hope to offer others pleading for life. His life has and will continue to impact the world for Christ. We pray that Zoe will be one of those lives.<br />
<br />
Then we found out, through some routine tests, that Zoe needed major surgery. Again we prayed for life. The surgery was amazingly successful and again we thank God everyday for her life. Zoe's surgeon, Dr. Tom, is her first real-life crush and one of our all-time favorite people.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibabybtvcwzyeMH9ycz9KtIbn5Q0Q4DsGyMXePNDkNkRgsHsS_HwwgysdxLYFRZriw0qDxBdOnH_TTRxjCBbqOcCC-KcNCsrG-biez9ECgZaNLnEOrzPpn1xED-_Vag_BQTkJCpWW3grcy/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibabybtvcwzyeMH9ycz9KtIbn5Q0Q4DsGyMXePNDkNkRgsHsS_HwwgysdxLYFRZriw0qDxBdOnH_TTRxjCBbqOcCC-KcNCsrG-biez9ECgZaNLnEOrzPpn1xED-_Vag_BQTkJCpWW3grcy/s320/IMG_0217.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv_U66sUKpPeqAknSJEYWPwce1W7rmKuv1n78S-_33Al_43AWLRU7JXJFFEzy5pju422IVylcqfKZmwaRKCvfMcdWcsEdxLjfqAU8YkpfoxM1DUR2apcVtTkKaQpLFDbxwHjFC6H0LUmS/s1600/dr+tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv_U66sUKpPeqAknSJEYWPwce1W7rmKuv1n78S-_33Al_43AWLRU7JXJFFEzy5pju422IVylcqfKZmwaRKCvfMcdWcsEdxLjfqAU8YkpfoxM1DUR2apcVtTkKaQpLFDbxwHjFC6H0LUmS/s320/dr+tom.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Now we are turning 30. We celebrate our three decades of life and the few we've had together. Tori and I are perfectly matched and I am blessed to be married to my best friend. We are just enough alike to enjoy our lives together and different enough to complement one another perfectly. We are blessed to be in ministry together and happy that our lives intersected 4 1/2 years ago.<br />
<br />
Just 6 months after we met, we celebrated our lives by getting tattoos. We were just friends, but we both got very meaningful artwork inked on ourselves. Some people think it's crazy, to us it's a special memory. This year to celebrate LIFE we decided to tattoo again, to forever remind us of the LIFE we have to celebrate this year and always.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJglV6rk6fW7n0-Ed4BGSVk2AUW7jVeoLJOZe_FPgs_sFXvmcbGnhRkvCp5Gv3W7hDOyM-mn6IqiVchjGqIW6wLdULVWHYKyRxNeloXBwlqqIjuuHPaNFrYWthxJxL1NGvgtNu95FK2D1/s1600/Tori+Life.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJglV6rk6fW7n0-Ed4BGSVk2AUW7jVeoLJOZe_FPgs_sFXvmcbGnhRkvCp5Gv3W7hDOyM-mn6IqiVchjGqIW6wLdULVWHYKyRxNeloXBwlqqIjuuHPaNFrYWthxJxL1NGvgtNu95FK2D1/s320/Tori+Life.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gRCLfbvgwDSNXgCHkgMKgTwfrU5ZGUH_n8iKk6hnPN0DmzXA9ZbP-_pghm5DTI6MM_2lMTOA1ElltTPD6z2gh-FdUff4kThzhu_Xki-xPQJ27v4sxPi-YwYfTnX59KCAgWLa_pcCnfIr/s1600/Derek+Life.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gRCLfbvgwDSNXgCHkgMKgTwfrU5ZGUH_n8iKk6hnPN0DmzXA9ZbP-_pghm5DTI6MM_2lMTOA1ElltTPD6z2gh-FdUff4kThzhu_Xki-xPQJ27v4sxPi-YwYfTnX59KCAgWLa_pcCnfIr/s320/Derek+Life.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We look back on wonderful life, we look forward to wonderful life and when we look in the mirror, we see amazingly blessed life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAjTa07KbGpjwmfREr91vB0vxEKMYVOJxqXRf7DL1YpXJKYG477Bw3gOM6mjs3WUp4_gVhz8A3pIWP49MmItfeuv6SlMfubVu3r_6RbEtpRFeOBuiGsAZO7TosNxbJPuKvf7rqeb35I7H/s1600/birthday+family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAjTa07KbGpjwmfREr91vB0vxEKMYVOJxqXRf7DL1YpXJKYG477Bw3gOM6mjs3WUp4_gVhz8A3pIWP49MmItfeuv6SlMfubVu3r_6RbEtpRFeOBuiGsAZO7TosNxbJPuKvf7rqeb35I7H/s320/birthday+family.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-7160032982475242982011-03-23T11:04:00.000-05:002011-03-23T11:04:16.922-05:00Zoe Then and NOW!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It is amazing to look back at the first pictures we ever saw of that "sad little girl" and see how she has blossomed into the vibrant Zoe we know today! This video shows the progression from the first picture we saw of her until we met her. A few pictures of us and her birth mother capture the amazing time we had getting to know her, as well. We can't wait to bring our Zoe home!<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21396697" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/21396697">Zoe Then and Now</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6364772">Derek Jones</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-43275536003378778962011-03-21T15:56:00.002-05:002011-03-21T15:56:55.840-05:00Meet Zoe Renae Jones!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We have been truly overwhelmed by the love and support shown to us on our journey to bring Zoe home. Finally, today we are officially her parents! This has been God's plan for a long time, but the Ethiopian government recognized it today. So many kind words and continued prayers have been coming our way since the moment we announced that we passed court that we don't even know what to say. We are overwhelmed and truly speechless. Since they say a picture paints a thousand words, we hope this video will share the love and excitement we have as we wait the last few weeks until we can bring our Zoe home! Thanks for your great love and support! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21311062" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/21311062">Zoe Renae Jones</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6364772">Derek Jones</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-41060039074688539082011-03-15T22:52:00.000-05:002011-03-15T22:52:14.040-05:00A Different Kind of Miracle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you all for the many prayers you have prayed on our behalf these last few days! Tori and I have been overwhelmed by the prayers from all over the country for our sweet Zoe. Today was the big day in court and once again, we did not pass. The miracle, however, is that the judge made a court order to MOWA to work night and day to write all the backlogged letters by Monday and she will sign them as they come in. So we should know something early next week. We are at peace and filled with hope for our situation. As we look back through our journey we see God's hand all along. Then we thought, h</span></span><span style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ow small minded are we to pray for a miracle just for us? And how great is our God to provide a miracle for so many? It is amazing to see God work in such a way that changed the entire court system in Ethiopia. So many families who have been waiting on that one letter will now be able to bring their children home sooner than expected. We're looking forward to great news next week. </span></span></span>The journey is not over, please keep keep praying with us!</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">WE STILL KNOW THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!</span> </div><div><br />
</div></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-48158070529903603272011-03-07T11:00:00.029-06:002011-03-15T10:22:36.447-05:00Praying for a Miracle- Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks to everyone who has signed up to pray this week. I am going to keep this post updated everyday with the prayers of the people. </span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Tuesday's Prayers</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Lord, As I've prayed this week and as I've heard each piece of discouraging news coming from Africa, I couldn't help but think about Abraham and Sarah and the obstacles they faced in trusting You for their child. I mean, their age alone makes the hurdles with MOWA seem small as far as obstacles go! And I thought about how Sarah even got to the point of laughing - just finding it utterly silly that You could still give her a child. I feel like Tori and Derek have been there this week, overwhelmed with the ridiculousness of the the hurdles, even to the point of laughter. And I know that whether for Sarah, or for Derek and Tori, laughter only comes after your eyes have cried all the tears they can cry and only after your heart is hanging by one shred, just hoping not to sever into two pieces. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I also know that just as You were faithful to Sarah in those very moments, You are being faithful to Tori and Derek even now. Again we ask You to make the way straight. To deliver the letter to the right hands. To give the child to her parents. You've long been in the business of giving children to parents who begged You for them. And now we are begging You to give Zoe to Tori and Derek. We know that You are able. We love You, and we are choosing to trust You. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Good morning Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important;"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">How good it is to know that as we sit and wait for word about court today, You are already there. You already know the outcome. You hold all the answers. How comforting to know that not only today is in Your hands, but all of life…all of Zoe’s life. You, the creator of the universe, hold Zoe’s future in Your hands. You know every emotion she will ever feel. You know who her best friends will be and where she will go to school and who she will marry. You know the exact moement in time when she will open her heart to You and commit her life to You. You know the struggles she will have in life as well as the victories and joy she will experience. You know the number of hairs on her head. Thank You that we can trust You with the outcome of today because You are an all-knowing, all-seeing, ever-present, faithful and loving God. Thank You for the faith and confidence that You have given Derek and Tori as they wait on You…a confidence that goes beyond whatever has happened in the past or what may come to pass in the future. A confidence that comes from trusting in You alone. As they wait to hear if they passed court today, please put a song of hope and joy in their hearts. Help them to keep their minds fixed on You.</span></span></div></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">God, Your Word tells us that </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">“Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” </span></i></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(James 1:17). That sweet little girl is a good and perfect gift from You to Derek and Tori. Please, Father, please…let them pass court today so that this gift from You will soon be home with them. God, You have heard the cries of our heart concerning Zoe. Now, we pray that today would be the very day that You answer them. May today be the day that we see our deepest longing fulfilled concerning this precious child whom You love so much.</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">We wait on You. Amen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">“God answered their prayers because they trusted in him.”</span></i></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> (1 Chronicles 5:20)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">“You will know the I am the LORD. Anyone who trusts in me will not be disappointed.” </span></i></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(Isaiah 49:23)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Be still, and know that I am God.” </span></i></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(Psalm 46:10)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Derek & Tori – stay encouraged. Do not fear. Do not lose hope. He is with you and for you. He is with Zoe and for Zoe! Rest in Him and Him alone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Father, hear our prayer. We trust You and know You alone control this but we are asking for a sweet miracle and that the final paperwork come through to pass court to bring our precious Zoe HOME! Please wrap your arms around Derek and Tori and lift them up with Your strength! We are crying out to You for this and Trust YOU! Looking to give You all the glory! Please give Zoe a sense of overwhelming comfort and help her to know how much her forever mommy and daddy love her and are moving heaven and earth through prayer to get her home to them. We love You Lord and pray all of this in your name. Amen</span></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Monday's Prayers</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As I began my prayer time this morning for Zoe, I felt led to open up the devotional book that was on the top of my stack of books. Here is what it said:</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pray Believing</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning, what is the main thing you pray for - the desire that you most hope to receive? It may seem far away and impossible. However, when you pray with faith, you acknowledge that God can solve any dilemma and that you fully trust him to help you. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As he answers, you follow his instructions with a humble spirit of hope. If your request is God’s will, he will provide it. If it is not, he will change your desires to something better.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So pray expectantly, knowing that God loves to answer you. His response may not happen immediately, but be certain that he is moving mountains for you.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will (get it).” </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mark 11:24 AMP</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">“If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will.” </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mark 11:23 CEV</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear God,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I praise You for answering my prayers. I believe that you will either grant my request or provide something infinitely better. More than anything else, I ask that all the paperwork necessary to pass court tomorrow, is already in place. If it is not, I pray that you move (or remove) mountains (obstacles) that may be standing in the way. Would you please do this today? Please bring Zoe home soon. Nothing is impossible for You. I know that you can solve any dilemma and I fully trust in You. Father there is no One else that has the power and influence that You do and so we place all our trust in You to move this adoption to a close and bring this sweet little girl home very soon. God we place all of our hope in You and ask that You align our hearts with Yours so that we desire what You desire. Thank You for Your goodness and love. Soak Derek and Tori in Your comfort and love today as they continue waiting on You.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amen</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Sunday's Prayers</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Zoe-</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think about you all the time. I see your face everywhere and I hear your sweet voice in the silence of my days. You have already been one of the greatest blessings of my life and I can hardly wait for you to be here with me and your mommy forever. You are one of the most loved little girls this world will ever know. People who haven't met you, me or your mommy are praying for the three of us everyday. I know that God has a huge plan for your life. I can't imagine in my wildest dreams what He has in store for you. Your mommy and I have loved you from the moment God prepared our hearts to adopt you. This was long before we saw your picture or held you in our arms. Your name is Zoe Renae, which means a life reborn. I already feel that my life has been reborn as we travelled this journey to bring you home. I have gone to experience a whole new culture, I've had to be strong for your mommy and I am still learning to wait patiently on God and trust Him no matter what. I know everyday that passes without you here is not just one less day without you, but one day closer to having you forever. The days I got to spend with you were such a blessing. You were so full of life, joy and wonder. I loved seeing your smiling face, hearing your sweet laugh and watching you dance around the room. Your confidence was amazing. I pray all the time that God protects your confident, joyful spirit as you wait for the day that we return to bring you home. I don't know why things aren't working out like we planned, but I do know that God has the plan and He hasn't failed me yet. Soon you will be here with us and we will praise God for bringing us together!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear God-<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I praise you for the life You have given me and for the journey that has brought me to this point. Thank you for bringing Tori and I together and leading us on this journey to adopt Zoe. I praise You for creating her to be part of our family since before she was born. I pray that You will mold me into the Daddy that Zoe deserves. I pray that I will lead our family in service to You. Make me aware of what my wife and daughter need from me and help me to act on it. I pray that I will follow Your example of a loving Father in such a way that it draws Zoe to You. I pray that her life will be filled with Your love and Your Word. I pray that the day is not far that she will come to know You as her Father, Savior and Friend forever. Be my strength where I am weak so that my girls feel safety, love, freedom, peace and joy. I pray the days still to come that Tori and I spend apart from our sweet Zoe will feel like the blink of an eye to the three of us. I pray that You continue to keep Zoe safe, healthy and well cared for until we can bring her home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">God, I pray that you will blow our minds with a huge miracle this week. This letter from MOWA may seem insignificant, but right now it is our salvation from a firey furnace, the closing of hungry lions mouths, the defeat of a giant with one stone, the giving of sight to blind eyes and the calming of a raging storm. You are the God of miracles. We admit that we have absolutely no control over our situation in Ethiopia right now. We've had no control over the entire journey we've been on to adopt Zoe. So, no honor or glory can come to us, but only to You. I pray that You direct the actions of the Ethiopian government and allow our paperwork to be complete tomorrow in court. This is the mountain we are asking You to move. God I have faith that You can do it. It may be that of a mustard seed<b>, </b>but I have faith that You can move this mountain. There is no reason to believe we will pass court tomorrow without You intervening and providing a miracle. A miracle that only our mighty, awesome, living God can do. All of our trust is in You. All the honor and praise goes to You for the miraculous work we are anxiously expecting from You tomorrow. I praise You for the peace You give and for the family and friends You have abundantly surrounded us with and the countless prayers they've prayed on our behalf. I am a man blessed beyond measure, far beyond what I deserve. I thank you for your unending love and grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amen<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thinking of all my grandchildren tonight Lord and spending time in the children's Jesus Calling. I really do not have any words that haven't been spoken to you by me asking favor from you regarding Zoe. So I am going to Be Still, Know you are God and pray scripture from Jesus Calling. For March 13, John 16: 22, " Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be happy. And no one will take away your joy." Thank you Lord for caring about the way we feel. Thank you for reminding me that joy is coming. This joy is from a well that does not run dry. March 14, Ephesians 3:18," And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love. I pray that you can understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is." Thank you Lord for loving me and allowing me to be one of your children. Thank you for giving me the chance to share your love with Sophie, Will, Zoe, and Lillie. May I take every opportunity to share the gift of your love with them. March 15, Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you...he will rejoice over you with singing." This scripture reminds me to thank you for my children Carrie, Tori and Hope. I gave Tori Scripture jewelry when she graduated from high school that said in Hebrew,' I am with you'." Thanks for being with her now and then. Thank you for your word; its wisdom, promises, and power. March 16, Proverbs 17:22, "A happy heart is like good medicine. But a broken spirit drains your strength." Thank you Lord for this encouragement. You know that I want to have a happy heart because you give us Zoe without any more waiting. But I am asking you to remind me that you are the reason that I should always have a happy heart. This devotional goes on to say that God created laughter and that we can look at some of your creation like monkeys, giraffes, zebras and camels. Thank you for that reference to zebras. It makes me feel special because you have created all that there is and yet the zebra has significance regarding Zoe. It is the little things things that so often speak to me. May I be aware of you in all things. I come to you as a little child asking for your will regarding Zoe, totally trusting you to do the best thing for Tori, Derek,Zoe and our family. I ask that I will be both the parent and grandparent to each child that you allow me to invest in. I love you. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My Sweet Zoe-</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In just 24 short hours the courts in Ethiopia will open and our case will once again come before the judge. We are waiting on one letter before we can say you are legally ours forever. I cannot begin to describe all the thoughts and emotions I feel right at this moment. In all of my emotions, I know one thing for sure. It is one of the greatest lessons I have learned (sometimes the hard way) and am still learning everyday. No matter what season of life I walk in, God is still God and he is worthy to be praised. It is one of the greatest lessons you will learn in life as well. I pray that as your mom I can be an example to you of praising God in every season of life. I have been listening to this song for 4 days straight and it is truly my prayer tonight.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Desert Song</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This is my prayer in the desert</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When all that's within me feels dry</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This is my prayer in the hunger in me</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My God is a God who provides</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And this is my prayer in the fire</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In weakness or trial or pain</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There is a faith proved</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Of more worth than gold</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So refine me Lord through the flames</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And I will bring praise</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I will bring praise</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">No weapon forged against me shall remain</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I will rejoice</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I will declare</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">God is my victory and He is here</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And this is my prayer in the battle</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When triumph is still on it's way</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So firm on His promise I'll stand</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">All of my life</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In every season</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You are still God</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a reason to sing</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a reason to worship</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This is my prayer in the harvest</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When favor and providence flow</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I know I'm filled to be empited again</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The seed I've recieved I will sow</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Father,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There is so little time left before court! Please keep Tori and Derek surrounded by Your peace! I pray that Zoe's heart is also filled with Your peace! Please take away any of her fears. Please let her be surrounded with love each moment until Tori and Derek can get to her. May her American life as Zoe Jones start very soon! We are so ready for the moment that the three of them come through the Nashville airport. I pray for the excitement of that very moment to carry each of them through the rest of their separation! Lord, please let the MOWA office deliver the needed letter so that this process is seamless and precious Zoe is brought home soon! Amen!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Zoe</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Let me introduce myself. I am Rick, one of your grandfathers. You will probably call me Tato like your other cousins. Your Aunt Hope who is also adopted gave me that name years ago. Both of your grandfathers are pastors. Also your dad and uncle. That's all a little weird but you will come to understand that later in life. You have been a part of our family for months now even though we have never held you in our arms. I have lots of pictures of you and pray for your arrival every day.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You are a special little girl and believe me this family knows about little girls. Today at lunch we all laughed as we thought about you and what life would look like for all of us in a few months. You are blessed with a new mama and daddy that love you more than you will ever know. They have been getting everything ready for your new room. It is going to be really cool and I can hardly wait for you to see it. The best thing about your new room, house, mom and dad, and family is love. We are going to give you all the love we possibly can. You will soon learn that we are not really the source of all this love but your Heavenly Father, who loves you most in the world, is the source of our love for you.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tonight is Sunday, March 13, 2011. We are expecting to hear the official news about your adoption in about 24 hours. I am really praying and asking God to make that happen soon. Be sure of one thing, you are already in our hearts, you are part of this family, and we will bring you home as soon as we possibly can. I love you and can hardly wait to give you hugs and kisses. I believe that God has a special plan for your life and I am so happy just to be a little part of it. I am so excited to see what He is going to do with your life. I will see you soon.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Love, kisses, and prayers,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tato</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Lord,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you for bringing Tori into my life. Thank you for bringing Derek into her life. Thank you for bringing Zoe into their lives. You had a plan from the very beginning of time for the Jones Family and who am I to question it? Their are so many questions in my mind that you already know the answers to. I pray a calming Peace for Tori, Derek and Zoe. Show Tori and Derek and Zoe a sign of comfort that everything is going according to your plan because You are the BOSS and NOTHING slips by YOU. Let Tori and Derek feel Your Presents like never before. You were, You are and You will always be. I like the saying, Let Go and Let God. Their is absolutely Nothing I can do, so I pray and wait and remember, Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." You are Faithful to complete what You have started. Phillipians 1:6. Its in Your Name I pray, Amen.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Saturday's Prayers</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Trust in the Lord. Do not lean on your own understanding. Always acknowledge him and he will direct your path. I am trusting. I do not understand. I praise you and give you the glory for every good and perfect gift. I am asking that you give Zoe to Tori and Derek. I accept your perfect timing. I hope that all the waiting is for your greater purpose so that other and many children get to be part of a family. I sing in my heart many times a day. Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world. Thank you Lord for all the children that you have allowed me to invest in. Spending time with a friend of 30 years, I was reminded that this kid from our first youth group, who knew us for 90 days, came to live in our home in another state. Thanks for that experience. I was reminded that I never understood why, how, or who you allowed in my life, yet there was always a purpose that I understood later. Thank you for giving me some of the answers before heaven. I thank you for all the problems in my life ( even though I am very blessed) because I got to see that you could solve them. Again I ask you tonight (at 3 in the morning) that you protect and prepare Tori, Derek, and Zoe for your perfect plan. The desire of my heart is for Zoe to be in America with them and so I delight myself in you by saying your name, noticing your creation, accepting your provision, and learning from your correction. You are the Father and I know that you love Zoe more than I can comprehend, so I wait and I hope. I love you. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Father,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> I come to you tonight with a hopeful heart! I pray that your plan for Zoe, Tori, and Derek is to be together soon. Please make the rest of their journey smooth. I pray that you will work out all kinks, slow ups or problems. Please give them peace and confidence in You. I also thank You that during this difficult time Tori and Derek's love for You has been shown for all to see! I am so thankful they have turned to their family of believers just as You want them to. I thank You for their hearts and the amazing work you are doing in them both! I know that every bit of the strength and determination they are gaining will assist them in raising Zoe. In Your most holy name I pray. Amen</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Friday's Prayers</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear lord,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I come to you tonight to praise your name! Thank you for all you have done in this adoption process so far, and all you are going to do! Please help Derek and Tori to pass court in march 15! Please give them peace and comfort during their wait! Thank you for them and for Zoe! In Jesus' name, amen!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Derek and Tori,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">But you, oh Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15</span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Praying for God's love to surround you all until He brings this process to completion, and that you find rest in His faithfulness and perfect timing.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Thursday's Prayers</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Today as I lift up Zoe to you, I picture her precious face, a face You know so well. And while I know that there is no face exactly like sweet Zoe's, there are thousands of faces of children in Ethiopia who are waiting just like Zoe is. Lord, I know that You love families. You created them. You intended for children to be brought up in them. Lord, please make the path straight for the thousands of children in Ethiopia who need families. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Lord, please make the path straight for the one child waiting to join our family. I pray that You will guide and direct all that is going on Ethiopia politically regarding MOWA and adoptions. I don't even pretend to understand all that is involved, but I know that You fully understand every piece and part. I'm not even sure how to pray intelligently, but I know that You care about these children and that Your design is for children to be in loving families. Lord, please bring these little waiting ones to their mamas and daddies quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Surround Tori, Derek, and Zoe with Your love tonight. Calm their anxious hearts with peace that passes all understanding. Help them, help all of us, to rest in You. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lord,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Today we bring Tori, Derek, and Zoe before you once again, and ask you to make the path straight for them to be united as a family. We ask You specifically to get the letter from MOWA into the proper hands on March 15. Lord, remind Tori and Derek that though you are giving Zoe to them to love and care for, she is, has been, and will always be Your child. You love her more than we can imagine. You shaped her before she was born; You made her in a wonderful way. You know her inside and out - every bone in her body! You know exactly how she was made, how she was sculpted from nothing to something! You've watched her grow each and every day of her life, and You know every stage she's been through and every stage she will go through. Even though, Tori and Derek may not know all the details about Zoe's first few years, You do. She was not unseen. You knew her, loved her, and watched over her, each of those days. And You've already prepared the day that she will join her mama and daddy as a permanent part of the Jones family! Lord, we ask you to bring that day about quickly, and we ask You to sustain Tori, Derek, and Zoe with Your love until that precious day. Amen.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Father,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I pray that you will grant peace and hope to Derek and Tori. As they wait and pray for their child, hold them in Your arms as Your children. Let them know that Your plans are best, Your timing is perfect, and You have the power to do anything! I know that nothing is impossible for You! Please put Your hand in this situation. Let the court date go smoothly. Thank you for people like Derek and Tori who have such a passion for helping children! I know you did not give them this passion and love for Zoe for no reason. Please guide her safely home to them!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve kept my feet on the ground,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope now; hope always!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Psalm 131:2-3</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear, sweet, beautiful Zoe -</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You have two amazing parents and one big church that love you SO much! Even before any of us knew you, we prayed for you! You are a precious child of Jesus! He has a wonderful plan for your life!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Derek & Tori,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As I fasted and prayed for the three of you on Monday I had an overwhelming feeling that God wants and needs for you to know that He is in total control. I felt like you guys already know that but He kept putting it on my heart so I wanted to let you know!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I continue to pray for peace for the 2 of you while you wait and peace and protection for Zoe until you are all together. I pray that your paperwork will all be in order, on time, and that you will pass court on Tuesday (which happens to also be the date we are due to close on our new home.) May God's love and peace be with you!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">God, please be with Zoe today. Give her sweet little heart great joy! I thank you that children are made so strong and resilient and I pray this time of waiting seems like the blink of an eye to sweet Zoe. I pray that she is surrounded with friends and laughter and feels your presence always. I also pray for Derek and Tori. Please God, give them rest in the midst of this storm. Help their minds to stay focused on you. Help them to find comfort in your great arms. I pray they feel that connection to Zoe, knowing that you are holding all 3 of them tight. We praise you for what you are going to do in the life of this new family of 3!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear God, Please be with Derek and Tori during there adoption for Zoe. I know you have a plan for them and all things will happen when they’re supposed to. Give them the strength, courage, and perseverance to continue this journey. I know they’ll be great parents. I pray all these things in Jesus name. Amen.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Wednesday's Prayers</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear God,</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you so much for all of your blessings. Thank you for the desire you have placed in Derek and Tori's heart to adopt Zoe. Lord I ask that you please open every single door on this path for them, so that everything will go so smoothly in the adoption process from this point forward. I ask that you please allow their paperwork to pass court on March 15! God I know you have plans for the Jones family, and these plans include Zoe! I know that you are going to work all of this out for good. I praise you for all you are going to do through this situation! Please be with Derek and Tori and comfort them as they wait for this week to go by. Help them to sleep well at night, and feel your peace during the day. I ask you to also be with Zoe. Help her to feel Derek and Tori's love even though she is so far away! In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Zoë,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My name is Linda Lamb and today I had the great pleasure to pray for you. Your parents ask for people to pray for you, they set times for people to sign up. I told them I would pray for you early every morning this week. I was given today, this morning to pray for you. I have to admit, I was a bit bummed that I only got to pray for you today and not every morning. But I think this made the time I had praying for you today more special.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had several times during the night when I semi woke up and realized you were on my mind and I was talking with God. My thoughts were of asking him to be with you. I asked God to be with your parents-to-be and to be with your birth mother. I wondered just how I could pray for you. Would I possibly know every need you might be having. No I could not, but I could understand a parent’s ache in their hearts that is so deep you think you cannot breathe another breath. Then I knew, God knew every need you have. He has created you and he has called you His. He would know, if I just simply asked Him to lead me to feel your heart.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When day broke early this morning. I had hoped to see a beautiful sunrise and greet the daylight and glorious splendor. I would ask God to bless you and keep you. I would feel the sunbeams on my face. But today, we had a rainy and cold morning. Then I realized. This was another moment I had you all to myself…no beautiful spring sunrise to steal any of my thoughts of you, simply a quiet house where everyone here at my house was tucked warm in bed. All I had was my bible and thoughts of you.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had several thoughts on my heart to talk with God about today concerning you and your adoptive parents. I wanted to honor your birth mother as well. Asking God to give her health, courage that I knew she already had more than I might ever realize, and to give her safety for each day.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had several thoughts for your new parents. Thoughts of how their hearts must hurt right now. How loving you so much and yet being apart from you must make them feel that their hearts would actually break. I asked God to give them peace and rest while they continue to go thru these days that must seem unbearable and never ending. I asked God to continue to protect them and guide them each day. To watch over their health at this time as well. I thanked God for the family and friends they have to hold their hands and to catch every tear they cry. To give them a moment of hope when they feel there is none. I asked God to allow you arrive safe in their arms and be tucked tightly in your bed here in the home that they want so much to share with you. I know someday, all they have gone thru will be worth the journey they are currently on. But as for now, is just plain hard.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had prayed for the people who will always be nameless in this journey. The people who are actually working on all of the paperwork and documents of your adoption. I have prayed that your file and your paperwork would make it to the top of the stack. I pray that before March 15</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, your application is completed. That all paperwork will be 100% complete and there be no error or omissions. I have prayed that these office personnel can work at their top performance levels and even comment among themselves, how productive and how much they have been able to accomplish during this week.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have prayed for you, Zoë. I have prayed that each day you have with your birth mother will be enough to bless you with memories that will last your lifetime. That your health be guarded and your strength stay strong. I have prayed that thru this experience of waiting to be adopted and arrive in the United States of America, and to Franklin Tennessee, that God will some how, some day use this to be a glory to Him.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As I said earlier, I have felt I had you all to myself today and treasured each moment of the day thinking of you. Wondering what you might look like. What the sound of your laughter would be like. Today is Ash Wednesday, the day of repentance and remembering, starting the Lenten season and the 40 days leading up to Easter. Very fitting I think for remembering you. I was blessed to be able to go the Historic First United Methodist Church here in Franklin at lunch for a special service of reflection, placing of ashes on your forehead and personal prayer time at the alter. Again, my life was blessed being able to talk with God and again, ask for your health, to ask for strong and focused workers and for God to be so present to your adoptive parents that they can feel him with every breath they take.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good night dear sweet Zoë. Thank you for the wonderful privilege of praying for you today and even getting to know you just a bit. Even though my time with you was this morning. I have a feeling I will not be able to get you off of my mind till someday we meet face to face and my life is blessed to gaze into your eyes and say Hello face to face. May God hold you close in His arms each and every day.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As your sister in Christ,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Linda Lamb<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Father I praise you for who you are! I thank you that you are my Father, that I can come to you with anything, great or small. I thank you for knowing me and allowing me to know you. I praise you for allowing me to cry out to you. Lord I believe that every good and perfect gift comes from you and you alone. I thank you for the gift of Zoe. I thank you for the privilege of getting to be her mom. I thank you for the time that I have spent with her. I thank you for her eyes that favor her dad, her cheeks that look like mine and her smile that can light up a room. I thank you for her adventurous spirit. I thank you for allowing me to see the wonder in her eyes as she spent her first days with Derek and me. I thank you for the loud moments when we all danced and sang together. I thank you for the quiet moments when we all laid together and I watched she and Derek sleep. I thank you for the moments that she cried out to me her mama. I thank you for all of these very special moments- moments that you provided- gave to us as gifts. I thank you that right now today you are watching over my sweet Zoe. You are aware of her every need. You are there when she is happy; there when she is scared, there when she is sleeping, you are always there. I pray that as she grows up that she will recognize and remember that you have always been there for her. That you are her ultimate Provider.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lord, I thank you for the people you have surrounded Derek and I with in these waiting days. I thank you that you have provided them the words to say and pray when I could not form words at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lord I ask that you make the path for Zoë’s homecoming straight. I ask that our letter from MOWA be at court on the 15</span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;">. I pray that there will be no glitches. I ask that March 15</span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;"> mark the day of this process of adoption starting to come to an end.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lord, I thank you that “you’ve got this”. There is no need for me to be fearful. Nothing that has or will happened is a surprise or a crisis to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">More than anything Lord, I praise you. I praise you for being my Father, my maker, and my teacher, my Lord. I know that regardless of the outcome on the 15</span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;"> that you are the same great God- You were and are and will be forever. I know that if we don’t pass court that that is you saying No not now. God I want to be someone who walks this journey with grace and gratefulness- regardless of outcome. I want my life to say, I trust my Father! I know he knows what is best. Most of all I want to remember in all things to praise you. I will praise you! I will praise you!! I will praise you!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Create in me a clean heart oh God. I come before you forgiven by you and forgiving because of you as I boldly ask you to bring Zoe to our family. I praise you and give you glory for the desire to adopt and the completion of the process. I thank you for young people who choose to change the world one child at a time.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I understand that Tori and Derek have avoided calling attention to themselves and have followed every legal rule and obligation. Yet they are in a position now that allows you to be the only source that can bring Zoe home. May we shout from the mountains and give you praise as the provider of this good and perfect gift. I ask you in your name that you protect Zoe and put angels all around her. I ask that her stomach be full, her clothes be clean and comfortable, her physical body be healthy, and that she remember that she is loved. I ask in your name that Tori and Derek choose to make right choices regardless of temptation to make things happen in their own power. I ask that you give them both the confidence that they are equipped to be first time parents to Zoe. Lord God the Father, put your arms of comfort around T and D and give them strength to change the things they can, accept the things they can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference. Lord I ask that Zoe be incorporated into both our physical family and our family of faith. May she know that she came to T and D because you gave her to them. I ask that she bond with all our family members and that she is able to grow up with cousins and siblings knowing that it is our desire to leave a legacy of loving all the children of the world. I pray that Zoe will desire to love others as she has been loved. Lord, I want to clothe the naked, feed the poor, and take in those in need that you bring into my life because you tell me in Scripture that when I have served the least of these, I have served you. Thank you for the heritage and the legacy passed from my grandma, Carrie Vickers, to my mom, Olga James, to me, and now to my girls, and then to their girls. I love you. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Father, your word says to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6. God, this is something we just don’t understand, but God we are trusting you every step. I pray that March 15</span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial;">, will be another step closer to bringing Zoe home. We praise you in the waiting time and trust in your perfect timing. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Father, I bring before you a cry of many of our hearts. We are asking that you make a way and provide for all the details for little Zoe to come home to Derek and Tori soon. I know you are bigger than this, and capable of more than I can imagine. Please guide and direct the actions and steps of those in Ethiopia to get that paperwork completed and turned in with no more delay.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As we wait for March 15 to come, I pray you would give Zoe good days. Surround her with people who make her feel loved and cared for. Would you give her sweet memories of her Mommy and Daddy visiting her, and would you give her a hopeful and secure heart as she looks forward to seeing them again.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">God, I ask you to please do the same for Derek and Tori. I pray that you would surround them with people to love and care for them well. When their minds and hearts become overcome with fear or doubt, I pray you would replace that with hopeful expectations and sweet memories of their sweet little girl. I pray their hearts would be comforted as only your Spirit can, and that this time of waiting would also be a time of joy and growth. I pray you would strengthen their relationship with each other through this, protect them as a couple and prepare them as parents.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We love you God, and trust you with the story of Zoe coming home.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end: they are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Lord our God is with Tori and Derek in TN, and with Zoe in Ethiopia. He is mighty to save you from disappointment and despair and bureacracy. You are his children and He takes great delight in you. He will quiet your anxiety over this situation with his great love and, regardless of outcome, He will continue to rejoice over you and Zoe with singing. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Praying that even in your most anxious, desperate moments His mighty love will quiet you and give you strength to persevere through each day. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lord, we praise You in the waiting. You are just as intentional about what You do not reveal to us as You are about what You do reveal. Even when we have no answers, we can be sure that You know what You are doing and can be trusted to let us know or not know certain things. We trust You because of Your character and depend on You to do what is right all the time. You sit enthroned above the earth. Your eyes are on Ethiopia and Tennessee. You have chosen to give Zoe to Derek and Tori and You will complete what You have started. So we praise You in the waiting, knowing You always do what is best. We pray for strength and peace for Derek and Tori and for protection and provision for Zoe. We ask that the necessary paperwork be prepared, signed, and in court on March 15</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">. We ask not only for ourselves but so the world will acknowledge that we serve a mighty God. Our God is able….and He will!! So we will praise you in the waiting.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Tuesday's Prayers</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lord, We ask you to straighten the path that will bring Zoe home to her mama and daddy. We know that children are a gift from You, and that You love to give us good gifts, so we boldly ask You to give Zoe to her family quickly. We specifically pray that the letter from MOWA will be in the right hands at the right time. We trust in Your timing, knowing that while You are rarely early, You are never ever late. We are so thankful that You have the whole world in Your hands, and we ask You even now to let Tori, Derek, and Zoe feel the peace and security that can only come from being held by You. We love You and thank You for Your gifts, for Your timing, and for Your strength.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Heavenly Father, I am coming to you on behalf of Derek and Tori and their sweet daughter, Zoe. I thank you and praise you for bringing this family together. I praise you for planting the idea within Derek and Tori to seek adoption and then for leading them to Ethiopia. You knew the child that would be the perfect match for them. You made all the arrangements and then allowed them to meet Zoe! You are the giver of every perfect gift and you bless us with good things that we cannot even imagine! Father, now Derek and Tori are having to wait. Because you made us Father, you understand how hard waiting is for us. The enemy can really do a work on us during these times. I pray that you will continue to guard Derek and Tori's hearts as they wait for your perfect timing. I pray that they will better understand trusting in you and knowing that you are sovereign. I pray that they can rest in the fact that you are so much bigger than any official in Ethiopia or any regulations that the Ethiopian government can come up with. I pray that they will learn to know you in a way that they would not have understood without walking through this time of uncertainty. And now Father, I ask that you would cause all of the pieces to fall into place for this week's court date. I pray that the form that is needed is already complete and waiting to be presented this week in court. I pray that the enemy would have no influence over creating another delay for this family. I ask that you would allow them to receive the good news that they can now book the tickets to go and pick up their sweet Zoe! Please grant this blessing to them this week! Father, we will continue to give you the glory for bringing together another family who will bring glory and honor to your name! Thank you for the future blessings that this child will bring to her new family and to the greater church family. Thank you for the blessings that this child will receive as she is brought home and shown the love that will be bestowed on her. Thank you for providing a chance for her to know and understand the love of a Mother and Father. Oh Father, we are so anxious for Zoe to come home!! Thank you for loving us and caring so much about the things that matter most to us. Let Derek and Tori and Zoe experience your peace and we ask you for a miracle on their behalf in court this week! How we love you Father! Amen</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear God, I pray for your hand to be all over Tori and Derek's adoption process for sweet Zoe. I pray for wisdom, comfort, and peace. I pray for their court date on the 15th to go great and all of the needed paper work to be there so they can bring their daughter home as soon as possible. Dear God we know you are faithful and thank you so much for that! Allow Tori and Derek to feel your love so overwhelmingly! It is in your Son's Name We Pray! </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amen</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Lord, you know Derek and Tori’s heart to provide a wonderful home for sweet little Zoe, so we ask you right now to intercede to make the necessary man-made hurdles dissipate to where only you can get the glory. We can’t wait to meet this sweet thing!</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Almighty God,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You are an awesome God. You are all-knowing, all seeing, and all powerful. You are</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">our anchor and hope. You are the answerer of prayer, the author and perfector of our faith. You are the only One able to save. You are our All in all. And in this moment, as we draw one day closer to Zoe’s court date, we are counting on You to orchestrate all the circumstances necessary to get that letter issued and in place in Zoe’s file so that next Tuesday everything will be in order and her adoption will be finalized. God, we are asking You to be her Advocate. God, we cry out to You – El Elyon – the God Most High, knowing that You are an ever present help in time of trouble. We are counting on You and You alone to be Zoe’s Deliverer and Defender. We know You are dependable and we trust You as our faithful God. We trust that Your timing is perfect and we take comfort in knowing that we can take You at Your Word. You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever ask or imagine so we begin another day asking You to awe us as You move heaven and earth to get this sweet little girl home. Fill her parents with hope and give them peace as they wait and lean fully on You. Amen.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">Monday's Prayers</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are the creator of life. I praise you that Zoe is fearfully and wonderfully made. You created her in her mother's womb and your eyes saw her unformed body before she was born. She is your precious one! We praise you for this sweet miracle that was born 3 years ago. God, I know you have great plans for her. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Father, I lift up March 15th to you. We cry out to you and plead that Derek and Tori would pass court on that day. I pray that the waiting time will go as quickly as possible. Fill them with your peace as they wait. I ask that Zoe will be in her home by Easter Sunday with her Mommy and Daddy!! I pray that you will watch over Zoe and keep her safe while they are apart. Just like your eyes saw her unformed body in the womb, your eyes can see her now. I pray for your protection and that she would sense your presence. I pray for those that are caring for her now. I pray that they are providing the love and care that she needs. I pray that you would give Derek and Tori rest and that they would cling to you. Thank you, Jesus. In Jesus' Name We pray, Amen! </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good morning Father,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you for the gift of a new day. Thank You that your mercies are new every morning. How reassuring it is, to know that when we draw near to You, You draw near to us. You never slumber nor sleep and you invite us to come boldly before Your throne of grace. Oh God, in this next week, we long to see Your grace and Your mercy and Your power demonstrated, as You move mountains to get the needed paperwork processed and in the proper hands so that Zoe’s adoption can be finalized and she can</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">come home to her parents soon. Father, nothing is too hard for You. Nothing. You are a water walking, mountain moving, universe making God. You flung the stars in the sky and you tell the oceans how far they can go. You know the number of hairs on our head and your thoughts toward us are more than the grains of sand. So we know that you can move in the mind and heart of the person responsible for writing “the letter” and have them write that letter today. Would You please do that? Would you please put Zoe’s file at the top of their list today? Father, with the same power that You used to raise Your Son from the dead, would You please raise that letter from that man or woman’s desk today? Lord, we long to see that sweet child here in her new home with her family. We are asking that You move heaven and earth today to orchestrate the circumstances surrounding the final paperwork, so that it will be written and delivered to court this week. God we are trusting in You and You alone. And while Derek and Tori wait out this week, would You please give them Peace with a capital “P”? Would You wrap Your arms around them so tightly that they continually feel the supernatural comfort that comes only from Your Presence…the comfort that human words could never describe? Father, thank You that You love them so much that You picked them out of all the parents in this entire world…to be Zoe’s mom and dad. Keep them encouraged - infuse hope in them - as they wait for their daughter to come home. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” Philippians 1:6</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Zoe,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We pray to our all-knowing, incredible God that your adoption letter request will be moved to the top of the pile and that it will be completed quickly and thoroughly. We pray that all legal requirements are finalized before your March 15th court date. May you come home with your new parents, Derek and Tori, immediately after your court date to live a wonderful life in the United States, where you will become a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh Father, I come to You asking that you please allow all the paperwork to be in order before the March 15th court date. I ask you to bless little Zoe as she waits to join the family You have put together. Please hold Derek and Tori close and give them Your peace as they await their daughters arrival. I praise You for the gift of Zoe, for this beautiful little girl who will soon be a part of so many lives. I ask You to bind satan and cast away everything that might stand in the way of a successful court date resulting in the wonderful completion of this family. Thank You God for Derek, Tori and Zoe. Thank You for their witness, for their love and for all they do for Your Kingdom. We love You Lord and thank You that You are answering our prayers even as we speak them. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dear Lord,</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I thank you so much for precious Zoe. I also thank you so much for her mommy and daddy, Derek and Tori. Thank you so much for allowing Zoe to already be such a part of their lives. God, I ask you to please be with sweet Zoe right now. Help her feel surrounded by your love and peace during this time where she waits for Derek and Tori to bring her home. Lord, I also ask you to please be with Derek and Tori as well. I know they are having a hard time worrying and wondering about Zoe, and I ask you to please take any trace of fear and anxiety from them. You say to "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for he cares for you!" 1 Peter 5:7. I pray they will be able to do this as they wait. Lord, I also ask you to please allow their letter to go through, so they will be able to pass court on March 15. Thank you for your grace and your mercy, and thank you for all you are going to do through this situation. Thank you so much for all of your blessings. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-38867997261612584482011-03-05T19:20:00.023-06:002011-03-07T23:53:31.937-06:00Praying for a Miracle- Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hello Friends. We are asking you to join us on a week long prayer journey. We received new news this weekend from Ethiopia that is very concerning. If you want, you can read all the details of what is going on at the end of this post. The bottom line is that it is more crucial now than ever that we pass court on March 15. (If we do not pass, it could add as long as a year to our journey).We have prayed that throughout this entire process that God would receive all the Glory. We are at a point now where there is nothing else that can be humanly done in this journey. It is totally out of mans hands. It is all up to God and we are asking and praying for a MIRACLE. There is nothing that is too big or too hard for our God to handle. So this week we will be on our knees asking for that miracle, and we are asking you to do the same.<br />
<br />
So here is how we would like to do this. It is a 2 step process<br />
<b><u>Step One</u></b><br />
We are going to post time slots below. We are asking you to email us <a href="mailto:mrstorijones@gmail.com">here</a> (mrstorijones@gmail.com) telling us which time slot you would like to sign up for and agree to pray sometime during that time frame. (we will update this post as people sign up so that you can see which slots are covered). Of course we would love to have multiple people in each time slot, but most importantly we want to cover every slot.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Step Two</u></b><br />
After you have prayed during your time slot we would like for you to email us again <a href="mailto:mrstorijones@gmail.com">here</a> (mrstorijones@gmail.com) and send us a message with your prayer. It can be as short or as long as you want. IT can be a prayer, scripture, anything. As those come in we will post all of the prayers in the different time slot on the blog under Praying for a Miracle- Part Two.<br />
<br />
We can't wait to look back and to one day show Zoe all the prayers of God's people as we approached this crucial day. We want each of you to know how grateful we are for each and every one of you. We thank you for walking this journey with us. We trust that everything happens in the Lord's perfect timing and that he has not forgotten us. He knows the desires of our hearts. He loves our Zoe even more than we do. WE KNOW THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!<br />
<br />
Thanks for loving us, for loving Zoe and for joining us in this journey.<br />
Derek and Tori<br />
<br />
<b><u>Time Slots For Prayer</u></b><br />
<b><u></u></b><b>Monday, March 7</b><br />
<b></b><b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- Cindy Cole, Kimba Campbell</span></div></div></div></div></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></span><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Rick White</span></div></div></div></div></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></span><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></div></div></div></div></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Tina Robison, Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Mickey and Bridgett Ward</span></div></div></div></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></span><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></div></div></div></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Allison Gage, Margie Thiel</span></div></div></div></div></b></div></div></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b></span><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></div></div></div></div></b></div></div></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.- Glen and Jill Harper, Sarah Williams, Margie Thiel</span></div></div></div></b></span></div></div></div></b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Tuesday, March 8</b><br />
12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- D'Arcy Bishop, Patti White<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Robbie Green, Rick White, Debbie Hall, Mary Catherine Sexton, Amy Farrow</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Allison Skalisky, Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Carrie Roden</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Keith Warfield, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.<b>-</b> Sarah Williams, Phil and Donna Jones, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Wednesday, March 9</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- Linda Lamb, Patti White</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Rick White, Kimba Campbell, Scott Family, Amy Farrow</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Carrie Roden</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Courtney and Kevin Lofton, Diane Dawson, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.- Sarah Williams, Angela Chapple, Margie Thiel<br />
<b><br />
</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Thursday, March 10</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- Jessica Chicago, Stephen and Heather-rae Houle, Patti White</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Rick White, Mary Catherine Sexton, Amy Farrow</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Cindy Cole, Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Carrie Roden</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Mandi, Alyssa and Trevor Davenport, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.- Faith<b> </b>Payne, Sarah Williams, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Friday, March 11</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- Ashley McClanahan, Patti White</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Susan Burch, Rick White, Amy Farrow</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Allison Skalisky, Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Carrie Roden</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Coy and Julie Hamm, Victoria and Jesse Brooks, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.- Sarah Williams, Margie Thiel, Danielle Berg</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Saturday, March 12</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- Ashley McClanahan, Patti White</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Rick White, Amy Farrow</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Carrie Roden</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Cindy Cole, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.- Sarah Williams, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Sunday, March 13</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- Ashley McClanahan, Patti White</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Rick White, Amy Farrow</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Carrie Roden</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Erin Robinson, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.- Sarah Williams, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Monday, March 14</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.- Cindy Cole, Courtney Lankford, Patti White</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5 a.m.- 10 a.m.- Rick White, Amy Farrow</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Cissy Durham, Margie Thiel, Pam Darnell, Carrie Roden</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3 p.m. - 8 p.m.- Allison Gage, dp, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8 p.m. - 12 a.m.- Sarah Williams, Margie Thiel</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Tuesday, March 15- </b>Sometime during this time frame will be our actual court hearing!!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 a.m.- 5 a.m.--- Allison Skalisky, Cindy Cole, Dana Carter, Patti White</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u>Update on things in Ethiopia</u></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So many of you know that we have not passed court the last 2 times because we were missing one piece of paperwork. This piece of paperwork is a letter from the Ethiopian Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA). The first court date was a holiday and so MOWA was closed. Our second court date MOWA was moving and so was closed. Currently MOWA writes 30-50 adoption letters a day. The government is wanting to cut back on the number of international adoptions in Ethiopia. So beginning <b>March 10</b>, MOWA will be writing ONLY 5 LETTERS A DAY!!.( Our Court date is March 15) In 2010, around 2500 children came to America from Ethiopia. In 2011 they are predicting that only 500 will come home. You can read the official story <a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/-Ethiopia-to-Cut-Foreign-Adoptions-by-Up-to-90-Percent-117411843.html">here</a>. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-35507349909213666402011-03-01T02:34:00.000-06:002011-03-01T02:34:50.290-06:00It's finally March!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We've been counting down the days to our new court date. When we heard about it, March 15 seemed so very, very far away. Each day brings us a little closer and now it is finally March!<br />
We really wanted to keep ourselves occupied the last few weeks to help with the waiting and boy, have we accomplished that goal! Along with everyone we know, we've been sick, not-sick, sick and hopefully not-sick for good. We've also basically redecorated our entire house, inside and out. We have spent many, very late nights working on so many projects.<br />
Adding to the list, we celebrated the 3rd birthday of our awesome Nephew Will, in typical Team Jones fashion. As part of the decor, Tori created a 9 ft. long train from cardboard boxes to hold the gifts and for the kids to climb in for pictures. It was a spectacular day celebrating our favorite little guy.<br />
Then, we got to have the first, major, grown-up party at our house last weekend. It was about time since we have almost lived here for a year! Our friends Jeff and Allison are having a baby boy, so we had all of the church staff over to celebrate. It was so fun to relax with friends from work and NOT talk about work, but simply get together to show Jeff and Allison how excited we are for them and give their little guy some gifts! We also got to show everyone Zoe's room, playroom and pictures of our sweet girl throughout the night. It was such an honor to be the ones hosting a night full of blessings for Jeff and Allison's precious baby boy. Tori had been wanting to have this party so bad since she found out Allison was pregnant. Who knew that it would be such a huge blessing to us?! We had so much fun getting everything ready that we didn't have much time to think about the waiting. Then that night we celebrated the new life of this special boy we're about to meet and all we felt was joy and excitement for our friends!<br />
This weekend we were spent, beat, worn out, dog-tired, exhausted... We'd been going so hard for the last few weeks that we just had to sleep in and watch TV in bed, which made for a fantastic, lazy Saturday.<br />
With everything going on it's been easy to miss out on what God has been doing for us. As I look back it is so cool to see how the Lord provided for us in these days of waiting and it gives hope to the days ahead. He knew we needed some major fun events for us to throw our heart and soul into. So, Will was born 3 years ago and Allison got pregnant several months ago. What part of God's great plan will tomorrow hold and when was it set in motion? It is crazy to see how His plan unfolds. It is awesome to see how He works. It is humbling to see how much He loves us.<br />
So, even when things aren't joyful, even when little things remind us of our precious child, even when there is no party, even on days when it is hard to smile; We can rest easy, we can look forward with hope and <b>we can praise our God!</b> He is the one who led us to our Zoe and He is the one who will bring her home to us in His perfect time. His plan is coming alive in surprising new ways everyday.<br />
So, we praise Him for the day we first saw her sad little face. We praise him for the day we saw her first little half-grin. We praise Him for the day we hugged and kissed her as she laughed and smiled and squealed! We praise Him, praise Him, praise Him for the days that are still to come.<br />
It's finally March! Still, we nervously anticipate the "Ides of March" and ask that you keep praying with us for great news. On March 15 we long to hear that we have passed court and Zoe is one more step closer to coming home forever.<br />
It's finally March and the journey continues! Thanks for being with us through it all.</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-82694619562217166372011-02-10T00:27:00.000-06:002011-02-10T00:27:11.316-06:00Wonderful Torture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a roller coaster of emotions this year has started off to be. We've hit some of life's highest highs and lowest lows already in 2011. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It all started about a month ago when we made our first trip to Ethiopia. Getting there was no picnic, but we arrived in Ethiopia exhausted and so very ready to meet our little girl. It was a real adventure getting from the airport to the guest house and I had my first feeling that we might be taken to a dark alley and killed for our possessions. (It didn't happen) We arrived at the guest house and met two amazing couples, the Giddens and the Quinns and their precious, new daughters. We were hoping Zoe would join all of us right away, but we found out that we wouldn't get to meet her until the next morning. Disappointing, but it gave us great time with the other couples as we got to know them, talk about our adoption journeys and become lifetime friends. The next morning we went straight to meet Zoe. Just before we arrived, her birth-mom had been there to say goodbye. So, Zoe was crying, but she took to Tori instantly and we rode back to the house taking pictures while giving her suckers and cheap plastic jewelry. It was so fun.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, we went to court, which went so smoothly and quickly. Afterward, they told us that Zoe's birth-mom wanted to come back with us to say goodbye and take pictures, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">because they had never taken a picture</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. It is hard to imagine not having a picture of your child...we already have dozens of Zoe that we cherish. So, from the courthouse, we were shuffled into a van with strangers and Zoe's birth-mom. This was the second time I thought we might be taken to a dark alley and killed for our possessions. (Again, it didn't happen) The ride back was spent learning anything we could about Zoe. Her birth-mom said the only thing she wanted for Zoe was that she have the opportunity to learn. We promised she would be educated and go to college. After we arrived back at the house, we spent the most wonderful time with Zoe's birth-mom and she had the chance to say goodbye, tell Zoe we were her new parents and she physically handed Zoe over to Tori. It was the most beautiful time we could ever have imagined and something we will never forget. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later that day we got the devastating news that we did not pass court. We were heartbroken, but were given a new court date 10 days later. The next couple of days, however, we were amazing. All our expectations were blown away by our little Ethiopian diva. She was not shy or sad, like every picture, video and description had shown. Zoe lives up to her new name as she is so very full of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">life</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. She loves to sing, dance and giggle. She also loves to throw major tantrums like the average 3 year old. Her first major fit was absolutely no fun for us, but it gave us a good taste of what is to come. For the majority of our time together, she was so entertaining and extremely loving. She totally understood what was happening and called us Mommy and Daddy the whole time. She never passed a mirror she didn't like and she loved anything pink or sparkly. She is going to fit in our family just perfectly. She is really awesome. We are so blessed to have spent those few days with her. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking her back to the orphanage was the most difficult thing we've ever done, ever. We had just spent several days with her, fell more in love with her and then had to leave her in an Ethiopian orphanage. Zoe was actually happy with all the kids there but we were a total mess. She waved goodbye with a huge smile on her face, while we sobbed uncontrollably. We made the long journey home missing her terribly every single day. It was </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pure joy</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> meeting her and then </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">absolute torture</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> leaving her.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We waited the ten days for our new court date. Everyone we knew and everyone they knew were promising to pray for us. We had a sleepless night, checking email every hour. As the day went on, we thought we'd never get any news! Finally we got word from our agency that we had been given the wrong court date. Devastated again. We would have to wait ten more days. This was putting us 3 weeks behind the original schedule of bringing her home. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally our new court date arrived, February 7. Many more prayers and another sleepless night. Then we got another email...we did not pass. We thought we had prepared ourselves for failure, but we were devastated again. Devastated, yet again. We spent most of the day in bed, depressed and trying to make sense of it all. Tori handled it her way, on the phone, talking things through with her mom, her sister, her dad, her mom, her sister, her mom, her sister... over and over again, while I handled it my way, talking to no one, simply texting my family and trying to sort through it in my own mind by myself. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next morning we woke up, a little late, to the email with our new court date... </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MARCH 15! SIX WEEKS!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It was like a sucker punch to the gut. All the wind out of our sails. Our feet knocked out from under us and every other cliche for utter disappointment you can think of. We spent another day in the bed, feeling even worse than before. Tori spent time on the phone again. I called my dad and had him spread the word for me. We were ready to hop a plane back to Ethiopia, but there is absolutely nothing we can do but </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wait</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, nothing in our world seems quite right. We seem to be getting farther away from our Zoe every single day. We thought we would be bringing her home mid-March and now we are just hoping to pass court by then, before we start 8 more weeks of waiting. We just want her here. My heart pains for Zoe. I pray everyday that her spirit is not broken while she lives in the orphanage. The little girl we met was so confident, independent and full of life. I pray that is the girl we return to one day very soon. As Tori says, "we are here, but she is dare," and nothing about that seems right.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be honest, we are impatiently waiting. All the while, we've had so many kind and loving words from friends and family, encouraging us daily. We know that she will not be here with us one day sooner than the Lord has scheduled, but this week, as hard as we try, we just don't understand God's perfect timing. We know that, years from now, we will look back on these days and they will just seem like a short blip of time. These months will go by and then she will come home FOREVER. But this week, we are sad, we are sad, we are very, very sad.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The days ahead are busy days. Hopefully the business will keep our minds occupied so that the time passes quickly. Still, each day we live with the wonderful torture of holding our little girl and leaving her behind. We wouldn't trade a single moment that we got to spend with her, but it makes every moment without her even harder than before. She is ours and we are hers and we will do whatever it takes to bring her home as soon as possible. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For now, we wait. We wait, we wait, we wait. It is the hardest thing we have ever done, but still we wait for the wonderful day that the Lord has planned for us to be reunited and our family will be whole.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, as we wait on God's perfect timing we thank Him and praise Him for our precious, Ethiopian diva and I pray Isaiah 40:31 over the three of us:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Yet those who wait for the LORD</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Will gain new strength;<br />
They will mount up with wings like eagles,<br />
They will run and not get tired,<br />
They will walk and not become weary."</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for your love and support as we continue on our journey. Thank you for talking about things with us and not talking about things with us. Thank you for praying with us/for us. Thank you for waiting with us. We love you all very much.</span></div></div></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-63695942379701876682011-01-22T20:35:00.002-06:002011-01-22T20:35:39.742-06:00You’re Dare and I’m Here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time at my grandparent’s house in Alabama. I loved staying there and I especially loved spending times with my cousins. My cousin Jamie is almost 5 years older than me and when I was little I wanted to be and do anything she was doing. Of course, being 5 years older she didn’t always want me around. I will never forget this one time when Jamie was going to play with one of the girls in the neighborhood and I wanted to go too. Somehow she and my grandfather tricked me into getting into his truck. As he drove away I looked up at him and said in my small child voice “But Big Dad, Jamie’s dare and I’m here”.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That may have been the first time I said the phrase “she’s dare and I’m here”, but it certainly hasn’t been the last. There has been many times in my life that that phrase has ringed true in my life. Nights away from family while in college, weeks away from Hope while she was still in Ukraine. Years away from Carrie while she lived in Atlanta… All moments in my life when I thought she is dare and I am here.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well this past week was full of those moments. On the second day that we had Zoe, she had a bit of a melt down. It really was not that bad looking back, but at the moment, it was horrible. She was being a typical 3 year old and testing her limits with us as her new parents. When she didn’t like our response she began crying and having a fit. She then proceeded to take off all the things we had given her and throwing them down. (She is one smart cookie) Well, as a new mom who was exhausted, in a foreign land, away from family, and having lived 2 of the most emotional days of my life, I lost it. I started crying and could not stop. I began to wonder could I do this? Could I parent this little girl? What if she didn’t like me? What if she rejected me? What if she didn’t want me to be her mom? Well the doubt set in and the spiritual attack was one of the strongest I have ever felt. So what did I do? I called my mom. I wept telling my mom what was happening and she on speaker phone told me exactly what to do. She told me to hold Zoe tight and tell her I loved her and sing to her. I could not even get the words out, so my mom sang over speakerphone as I held Zoe. I was a hot mess. I couldn’t get it together. I wanted my own mother so badly but “she was dare and I was here”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After Zoe calmed down and was back to her smiling self, I was still a mess. I just could not get it together. I wanted to be back home. Back in the comfort of my own family. I just knew that if Carrie was there, she could help me. She could reassure me, she could encourage me and hold my hand. But, “She was dare and I was here”. So Derek let the nannies at the guesthouse watch Zoe for a little bit so that I could get it together. We called Carrie and she talked to me for over an hour. I missed her so much, and it was so nice to hear her voice and hear her reassure me that Yes I could do this! She actually laughed at me and at how smart Zoe was to know how to get to me like this. Now, looking back, I can also laugh, but at the time I was not laughing. I was a mess. After a 1 hour $250 phone call to Carrie I was able to get it together. Derek, Zoe and I all went to bed very early that night and finally got a good nights sleep. Its amazing what sleep and reassurance from home can do. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have to say that I am so happy to be back home in my own house, with my family close by. But, it is also so hard. “My little girl is dare and I am here”. Oh how hard that is to think about. This is probably the hardest “you’re dare and I’m here” experience I have ever had. How oh how can I be away from my little girl this long. Then last night as I lay in bed (well this morning at 5 am because my days and nights are mixed up) I sat praying for Zoe thinking lord how can I do this. It hurts so much that she is dare and I am here. Then the Lord reminded me of a sweet moment I spent with my daughter. On the last day before we took Zoe back, we went to eat at a restaurant that had an art gallery/store in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zoe and I picked out a beautiful painting to take home. While Derek was paying and having the painting packaged up Zoe and I spent what would be our last 30 minutes just the 2 of us girls together. I held her tight and close and rocked her and sang songs to her. We sang, “You are my Sunshine” “Jesus loves the Little Children” and finished up with 16 versus of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (we had to cover every family member). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord reminded me of that moment tonight and the words “he’s got the whole world in his hands” played over and over in my mind. See, it doesn’t matter that Zoe is dare and I am here because God is everywhere. He has her in his hands, he has me in his hands, and he is holding both of us close. He loves her more than I ever could and he loves me that much as well. This entire journey is in His hands even if she is dare and I am here..</div><!--EndFragment--> </div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-31220721490292381972011-01-11T22:56:00.000-06:002011-01-11T22:56:15.278-06:00Ethiopia or Bust!I really can't wrap my mind around the fact that we are leaving this <i>Saturday</i> for Ethiopia and will be holding our little girl in our arms on <i>Monday!</i> We have gone from looking at pictures of a sad Ethiopian girl, to filling out paperwork to actually meeting her face to face. Reality is starting to sink in. I mean, we are about two months away from bringing her home! I don't even know what emotions I should be feeling. I know that I am so stinkin' excited I don't know what to do with myself. I can't wait to actually meet our Zoe.<br />
But, to be honest, I am expecting it to be really weird. T and I will be two strange white people that are very excited to see her. She will have just been moved to the transition home and then taken with us to the guest house for a few days. This could totally rock her world. Hopefully the pictures we sent will help with our initial meeting. Maybe she will recognize us after a month of looking at our pictures.<br />
Luckily, Tori is an amazing "giver." She can't help it, she just loves to give a gift. It is in her DNA, handed straight down from Patti. So, the girls have been collecting lots of wonderful things for us to take with us to greet our precious little one. She has packed enough crafts to keep us and the entire city busy. So, we don't have to worry about too much awkward downtime. In addition to the crafts, we're taking her lots of suckers, a white baby doll, Mrs. Potato Head, play dough, tiny underwear, little shoes, new clothes in various sizes for her to try on, some comfy PJs, Sesame Street DVDs and matching silver, heart necklaces for her and Tori. I cannot wait to see Tori and Zoe interact. Tori is so amazing with kids and was just created to be an awesome Mom. I could almost weep thinking about the love she will pour out on our daughter. It's going to be so cool to watch T pull one thing after another out of her bag of tricks to ease Zoe's fear and just start getting to know her.<br />
As we talk about this trip we are trying to be very realistic. This might not be a trip filled with hugs and laughs. It could be lots of screaming or tears or silence. We have no idea what to expect. All that matters to us is that we get to meet her, love on her, hug on her kiss on her, and simply be with her.<br />
We have a wild trip ahead of us. I will give you a brief look at our itinerary so you can know how and when to be praying for us, because if you are reading this, we are expecting your prayers!<br />
We leave Saturday evening, January 15, and fly to D.C. then on to London. We have a 10 hours there, so we rented a day room to shower and rest or do whatever we need to do. Then we're off to Ethiopia. We land in Addis Ababa on Monday morning and head to the guest house where we will be staying. We hope to pick up Zoe shortly after that to bring her back to stay with us. Tuesday morning, January 18, we leave Zoe at the house with caretakers and head to court where we will officially adopt her. Her mom will be there so hopefully we will get to talk with her and learn more about our little girl. Please pray that things go smoothly and we pass court without any hiccups. This has not been the case for every family and last month a few birth-mothers backed out on court day. We're praying that Zoe's mom will stick to the decision she made and we'll be able to thank her for the unbelievable gift she is blessing us with as we reassure her that we will love and care for Zoe more than she could ever dream. I cannot imagine the sacrificial love it must take to do what she has done for Zoe. After court we'll go back to the house and spend the rest of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday getting to know our little girl. We're planning on taking Zoe back to the transition home Thursday night because our flight leaves at 1:45 AM Friday morning, January 21. We'll fly back to London, on to D.C. then to Chicago and finally home to Nashville, Friday night (thank you 8 hour time difference).<br />
This trip is going to be totally insane. I honestly don't know how we are going to leave her there. After spending time with her, bathing her and putting new, clean clothes on her, sending her back to the orphanage will be the hardest thing either one of us has ever done in our life. It is going to take both of us dragging each other onto that plane <i>(and some powerful drugs) </i>knowing that it will be 8 weeks before we bring her home. We can't imagine what will be going through her little mind as we dive-bomb her life for a few days and then head back to America. We pray that we'll be able to use the translators to help her understand that we are coming back to get her and she is not being left again. We are preparing ourselves as much as we can and we will spend our time with her rejoicing and praising the Lord for this unbelievable gift without dwelling on the hard days ahead.<br />
In the past month, we've been overwhelmed by the kids at church sending us off with more play dough, hot wheels, diapers, baby clothes and formula than our suitcases can hold! We've packed our huge suitcases with stuff the kids are sending to the orphanages and tried to get most of our clothes in our carry-on bags! It is amazing to see them open their hearts to kids in need around the world. All of us "grown-ups" have so much to learn from the love and generosity of kids.<br />
So, I write this blog with great anticipation and excitement. Thank you all for asking about Zoe when you see us and for the great encouragement you have provided. We can't wait to come home and share stories and finally send pictures everywhere! We are so grateful for your participation in our journey and we are so thankful that you continue to pray for us and our sweet Zoe.Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-68392822297070780092010-11-21T01:12:00.000-06:002010-11-21T01:12:15.584-06:00Wherever You Are My Love Will Find YouIt's official, January 18 is our court date in Ethiopia! We'll only be there for a few days, but we'll get to meet Zoe, hold her and love on her for the first time. During this trip we will officially adopt her in Ethiopia. But, after spending a couple days with her, we'll then leave her with just a few pictures of us for 6-8 weeks before we can go back to get her and bring her home to Tennessee. We are over-the-moon excited about the day we will finally meet her, but also scared to death. We have no idea how she will react to us when we meet. She will probably be scared to death herself! We just pray that it will be a time to start bonding and begin the process of becoming a family. We're also praying that we'll be able to drag each other onto the plane home. It will take an act of God and probably some powerful medication to do so.<br />
Last weekend we were able to meet Sue, the director of our agency, Celebrate Children International. It was amazing to sit down with her and hear hear heart for the kids in Ethiopia and all that she is doing to make sure they find forever families. The house we were in was filled with internationally adopted children, several from Ethiopia. It was exciting to see the smiles on their faces and how quickly they have integrated into American culture. All I could think about was our Zoe, when they waved from outside or snuck a taste from the sugar bowl as they passed by. Sue loved on all the kids and knew them by name as she does all the kids she is advocating for around the globe. I am so glad that we are working with someone who views her job as a ministry and a calling. She is kind, but tough and her work is changing lives for eternity.<br />
It really is weird to be an adoptive family. We know that it is a special calling and not for everyone. All Christians are called to care for the widows and orphans, but that doesn't mean everybody is supposed to bring them into their homes and families. We want to be advocates for these kids around the world without making Zoe, or any other kids we might adopt one day, become little trophies on our mantle. Like I have said before, Zoe will be as special as any children in our family. Everyone thinks, "Wow, you are going to change that little girl's life," and we will, but we know that we have as much or more to learn from her than she will ever get from us. So the three of us will learn and grow together and all of our lives will be reborn.<br />
Tomorrow is our annual "Story Sunday" at TPC and I am preparing to talk to the kids about Zoe's story and the project that we'll be doing to collect much needed items for Tori and I to take to the Ethiopian orphanages in January. Tonight I video taped myself telling the story of our adoption journey in 5 minutes for the kids at our Franklin campus. It was amazing as I sat in Zoe's room, by her giant stuffed zebra and talked about how God has provided for us and answered so many prayers in the last few months. I thought back to how God changed our hearts from adopting a little baby to an older, waiting child who might have missed her chance to be adopted. I remember looking at the many smiling faces with Sue encouraging us to think about the "sad little girl" and then realizing that was our daughter. I remember the day that we got an email with no subject that opened to the smiling face that we'd been praying for. We had no idea how long it would take to see that smile and God gave it to us before we even met her. These past few months have been the busiest and craziest of our lives. The waiting has been getting harder. Today, Tori read a children's book in Target that began with these words, "I wanted you more than you ever will know, so I sent love to follow wherever you go." Thinking about Zoe had her in tears before the last page finished with, "you are loved." The author put our feelings into words. The words we wish Zoe could hear today and everyday. They are the words that the Lord has spoken to us throughout our lives, "Wherever you are my love will find you," and now this is the cry of our hearts for Zoe.<br />
As the days get closer to meeting her, the days without her pass. We think of Thanksgiving with family minus Zoe, a trip to Disney World without her, Christmas morning with her far away and ringing in a new year knowing she is there and we are here. Life as we know it is about to change forever. I don't want to sound like "Debbie-Downer" but I would rate this journey higher on the sad/difficult chart than the joyful/exciting one. I know that the days of joy will come when we hold her little body tight, kiss her sweet little cheeks, kick the soccer ball in our back yard and read stories at night in bed. But for now there is no little body, no little cheeks, no one to kick the ball back or listen to stories. It's hard to know that, most likely, no one is doing these things with her now and these are days we'll never get back. I also know that God still has much to do to prepare us and much more to provide for us to bring her home. So, we continue to do the best at the calling He has placed on our lives for now. We minister to and love on those around us today and we pray for the "sad little girl" in Ethiopia. We pray for warm nights, a full belly, health, love, comfort, security and lots of smiles. The day we meet cannot come soon enough, but it will come. The day will come when our sad tears will turn to tears of joy as we wrap our arms around the little girl that the Lord created to be ours.<br />
Taking the time to read this blog and pray with us means so much. We're grateful to those of you who have joined us in the journey as we bring Zoe home. We can't wait for you to see her smiling face and love her like you have loved us.Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-58042522338652968052010-09-27T19:42:00.000-05:002010-09-27T19:42:17.988-05:00Is the waiting just so hard?<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">So normally I leave the blogging up to Derek, but I felt like I might take a stab at it. So while this might not be as eloquently written as the blogs Derek writes, it is still just an honest account of where we are right now in our adoption process.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I talk to someone almost everyday about our little Zoe, and without fail I get the same question from people. “Is the waiting just so hard”? I always give the same simple answer “Yes”. I give that answer because until now I haven’t known exactly how to put my answer in to words. I don’t want to ever say “no the waiting is not so bad” because that would make me seem like I’m not fully committed to this journey or that I'm not already in love with my child. But the truth is “the waiting is not really that bad.” For me, this journey did not begin 2 months ago when we filed out our first piece of paperwork. It did not begin before I got married when Derek and I talked about wanting to make adopting a child a part of our family life. For me, this journey began almost 13 years ago in a small village outside of Vinnitsa, Ukraine. It was there that I met my sister Hope and God planted a seed in my heart. While I know that the Lord used me as an instrument in Hope’s adoption and I had a huge desire for her to become a part of our family, her adoption did not fulfill the desire that the Lord placed in my heart. I have known since I was 16 years old that I wanted to adopt a child. I knew that this was a desire that the Lord had placed in me. So for 12 long years I have lived with that desire with no knowledge of when there would be a light at the end of this waiting tunnel. While I wasn’t sitting everyday for 12 years thinking about when I would adopt, it has been a deeply planted desire. For 12 years I have clung to the promise that the Lord gives you the desires of your heart. I didn’t know how or when this would or could happen, but I knew that it was a true desire and that the Lord would be faithful. </div><div class="MsoNormal">So here I am 12 years later right in the middle of the adoption process. We are down to the last few months until we get to bring our little girl home. I long everyday to be able to hold her and love her and have her here. However, I don’t look at the waiting as just hard. After waiting 12 years with no light at the end of the tunnel, a few months with a bright light at the end doesn’t seem all that bad. I know and am confident that He who began a good work in me all those years ago is going to be faithful to complete it in just a few short months.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what do I do while I wait?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, I do just that…wait. I am trying to remain as still as possible and seek the Lord’s guidance for every step I take. I know that this last stage of waiting has a purpose just like the last 12 years. I know that there are things that the Lord is doing in me and Zoe that requires just this specific amount of time. </div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s funny; I was sitting on my back porch the other day and saw a caterpillar attach it to the wall of our patio. It was this big fat nasty looking caterpillar that had all of these ugly spots on it. It quickly began forming a cocoon. I could see through the cocoon and could see that nasty fat caterpillar. It looked disgusting. Then just a few days later an amazing thing happened, that caterpillar was no more and a beautiful butterfly emerged. I feel like that is what is happening with my Zoe. The first time I saw her picture she was this tiny little girl with a shaved baldhead and was described as the sad little girl. There was no smile on her face and no hope in her eyes. Then we got another set of pictures and she started to show signs of maybe smiling, but she was horribly sick. She had almost a yellow color to her and her eyes looked sick. We got to see a half smile from her, but mostly we saw fear and apprehension. Then, just last night we got a new set of pictures, and just like that caterpillar, she has flourished. We saw a little girl with beautiful black soft curls beginning to grow on her head, healthy coloring to her skin, and huge smile that can light up a room. It is amazing to see how much she has flourished over these past weeks. And as I was thinking about her development, I started thinking of my own development. I can feel the Lord working, changing and shaping me in my own life. I too am becoming a “new creature”…a mommy. I see myself thinking less and less about myself and more and more about my child. I find that the boundaries that I have needed to set in my life for so long are so much easier to set and stick to knowing that it is for my Zoe and for my family. I am gaining a new perspective and appreciation for Derek. I am seeing him grow and develop in to a daddy. It is amazing, scary, thrilling and challenging all at the same time, but more than anything it is just part of this journey, part of the waiting.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, until we bring our beautiful Zoe home, I will wait. If you ask me if it is so hard to just wait, I answer yes but I am so grateful that Derek, Zoe and I have this time to allow the Lord to continue working in us. So I face each day proclaiming the promise that he who began a good work will be faithful to complete it.</div><!--EndFragment-->Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-90039606110172171602010-09-23T00:08:00.002-05:002010-09-23T00:21:16.196-05:00Fearful, Excited and Hopeful Ramblings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is weird to adopt. Tori isn't pregnant, like several of our friends, but we are about to be parents like they are. We have all the same fears and expectations of what it will be like to have a child, but we don't have any part of her yet. She isn't growing before our eyes. We can't feel her move. We have a few images of her and that's all. It's just weird. I had a friend whose wife went to the hospital today because of some concerns with her pregnancy and we have another friend who got to hear her baby's heartbeat the other day. As scary and worrisome as this time is for them, they have the opportunity to check on their kids who aren't here yet. When something doesn't seem right, they have medical professionals check their babies. If they need to, they can change their diets to help their children receive the proper nutrition, they can wrap up in a blanket if it is cold or take medicine if they're sick. We know that Zoe isn't getting everything she needs, but we can't do anything about it. We recently learned that it probably isn't hot in Ethiopia at night and now Tori goes to sleep concerned that Zoe isn't warm or cozy. But we can't help her, snuggle her or tuck her in tight. We just have to wait, fill out some more paperwork, look at her picture and dream of the day she will be with us. Everyday that we wait, we know that it's one more day of her life that we miss out on. There are millions of firsts that we will know absolutely nothing about. We don't know her first word, we missed out on her first step, we never saw her first smile, we didn't give her first hug, we didn't witness her first breath. No matter how many firsts we will be blessed to have with her, the first years of her life have been absent from ours. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been thinking lately about how I have learned so much in this last year from the precious preschoolers at church and watching Matt and Carrie parent their 3 awesome kids. I see how amazing, unique and special every single child is. I think about how we want to raise Zoe as our child, not our "adopted" child. She will be just as special and wonderful to us as the biological children we will have one day. The story of her arrival here will be extraordinary, but the arrival of each and every child is extraordinary. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It kind of freaks me out to think about being a dad. This would probably surprise a lot of people, since I am a kids pastor, but it really does freak me out. I absolutely love teaching and entertaining a huge group of kids for an hour once a week. I have a degree in Family Studies and I have been training other adults to lead children for years. But the thought of being responsible to raise an entire human and prepare her for life is quite daunting. What if I work too much and how much is too much? How will I give her the attention she deserves so that she will grow to be a confident woman? Will she trust me? How will I let her know that I truly love her unconditionally? How do I keep her away from boys? That makes me think about the fact that Zoe is a girl. Yikes! Of course, I've been told that I will be a good dad to a little girl...I think that's because I am more of an artist than an athlete, but still I have almost 29 years of experience being a boy and none as a girl. I don't really know what dolls do or why a tea party is fun. I do know that this stuff is really important along with pink and sparkly things. I realize that all first time dads are completely clueless, too, but I guess that working with kids shows me how much and how easily I can really screw her up. I just don't want to screw her up, you know? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a huge relief and ginormous blessing to know that Tori will be her mom. She will be a truly amazing mom. Really the best. Seriously, no little girl could be luckier than Zoe. Tori is amazing with all kids. I watched her love on our nephew, Will, today and thought about how lucky Zoe is going to be. Tori will hug, play, cuddle, sing, kiss, bandage and do more for Zoe than she could ever dream of. She will make our little girl feel like the most important person in the world. She'll ask her ten million questions about the simplest thing and listen to every detail, celebrating the mundane and honoring the ordinary so that her every moment feels special. It is a blessing for me to watch her as we go through this journey. Her heart breaks everyday for Zoe in a million different ways. I am blessed, challenged and humbled to hear of her concern for our little girl. I am blessed to be taking this journey with my best friend and love of my life. I have learned so much about love from Tori and I can't wait to watch her teach Zoe to love, give and celebrate.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading our blog, talking about it with us and sharing it with others. It is so encouraging to hear you say that you are excited for us and that you are praying for our little girl with us. We're also really honored that you are buying shirts to help share our story and raise awareness about the many children waiting for forever families. There are lots of these kids out there from all over the world and right down the street who we would love to help you connect with if God has prepared and called you to adopt and you just don't know where to start. We would be so happy to help you take the first step. We've taken many steps in this wonderful journey. Thank you all for walking it with us!</span></div></div></div></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-87557558912638823982010-09-13T01:10:00.000-05:002010-09-13T01:10:00.266-05:00Love from a DistanceThe last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy around the Jones house. We are overwhelmed by the many blessings in our lives, but man, even a life full of great blessings is busy and stressful!<br />
Last week, one particular day was a little extra overwhelming and less than perfect. Then, we got home and Tori checked the mail. There was a small package from Celebrate Children with a DVD of our little girl. Instantly we forgot about everything going on and went straight to the TV and watched the brief video. It was surreal to see her like that. The first part of the video was actually a little bit hard to watch. Everyone was trying really hard to get our "sad little girl" to smile. They were snapping in her face, pulling her by the arm, poking at her cheeks and flashing pictures of her. They wanted her to smile for prospective parents, but they were simply freaking her out! She was so very scared of what all was going on around her. It was breaking our hearts to watch. Then, they moved to another part of the room and she played a hand slapping game with one of the translators. It was adorable to watch her play. She was so into it. Tori says she played that game like it was her job. She was going to hit that guy's hand no matter how fast he moved it away! She would hit his hand extra-hard whenever she got the chance. She even tried to trick the guy, so we know there's a little trouble in her. This is when we got to see the first smile that we had only seen in pictures. It was so fun that we watched it immediately again.<br />
I know that Tori goes to bed every night thinking about Zoe, how she is being treated and did she get enough food to eat today. For me, watching this video connected me with Zoe in a whole new way. She has become more than an idea, more than a picture and more than a child that will one day be ours. As we watched that video we saw our little girl in an orphanage being taken care of by strangers. Zoe is no longer a stranger to me. We see her and know she is ours. The rooms that we have prepared for her seem a little bit lonely now. They sit empty and lifeless. We long for the day that she will play in her new playroom and sleep in her new bedroom.<br />
Our first home study visit is in the morning. Tori has been working hard all night to make sure our paperwork is all signed, notarized, filed and ready to go. Of course I've been sick all day and doing what little I can to help. Tori has promised to prop me up like "Weekend at Bernies" or whatever it takes to get us through this appointment in the morning, without canceling. Hopefully the social worker will see through the spaced out Tylenol Cold fog I will be in. We're really ready to get this interview over. I am sure that it will work out fine. We have a room setup, a couple of new fire extinguishers, our medicine is up high and I can't plug anything in easily anymore.<br />
As the days pass on we get more excited, but it also gets harder. We know this little girl is ours and it is more and more real everyday that she is not with us. The home study is another milestone and there will be more along the way. It is weird that just a few months ago we felt whole. Now there is an empty place wherever we go. We can't wait to experience life with our little Zoe. We can't wait for her to see Thomas the Train with her cousins or watch her receive hugs and kisses from grandparents. That day is not terribly far away. Until then, we will continue to pray for her every moment of everyday. Until then, we will continue to prepare a magical place for her to sleep and play. Until we can hold her in our arms, we will continue to love her from a distance.Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-88871565527198064242010-09-01T00:11:00.002-05:002010-09-01T16:17:46.054-05:00Furniture, Photographs and T-Shirts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">For the last few days we have been working hard to refinish furniture, hang curtains (without saying one bad word) and find special items for our little girl's bedroom and playroom. W</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">e have been transforming our office into a playroom and guest room into her bedroom.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">It has truly been a labor of love. We've had so much fun searching out things at Goodwill, looking through Hobby Lobby and wandering around Lowes for hours asking for help from every single employee at least twice. We've found lots of great stuff and it is so cool to put our personal stamp on it all. It turns out that the dressing table we got from Goodwill was actually donated by a friend at work who recognized it from a picture on my cell phone! The amount of pink in our house has increased 100-fold and I'm sure it will only go up from here. It is really fun for us to think about what she will do, how she will play and even what she will be when she grows up. We've been dreaming and talking far into the future about a precious little one who we have yet to meet. During this time, we have been looking at pictures and reading about a sweet, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">little 3 year-old girl named Tesfanesh and today we officially committed to her! They call her the "sad little girl" because no one could get her to smile for the camera. We will call her Zoe Renae: A Life Reborn, which is our prayer for her. We pray that joining our family will be a rebirth and the days of the sad little girl will be no more. We pray for and dream of days filled with smiles and laughter. We have seen nearly 100 pictures of her and only 1 with a smile on her face. She is VERY small and extremely shy, for now. Her mother is still alive, works at a bar, doesn't know who her father is and can no longer care for this adorable child. In her most recent pictures, they have her dressed in boy clothes...aReebok basketball jersey and khaki shorts. I told Tori that we will look back on this with her and either say, "see you were born an athlete," or "can you believe you ever wore sports apparel?" A few people have seen her picture and say she looks like me. This might be my only hope, since my nieces and nephew look just like Tori's dad. </span></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffcccc;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Thanks for praying with us and celebrating with us today!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px;"><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Today, we also want to offer you the opportunity to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">create </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">awareness and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">support our journey in a more tangible way by purchasing a t-shirt in Zoe's honor for $15. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I designed the shirt with some of our favorite words forming the shape of Africa. They are American Apparel shirts in black and red for </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">adults along with pink and blue for kids. The image will be in white ink on the front of the shirts. There is a picture </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">below to show you an idea of what the shirts will look like. We want anyone to have a shirt, regardless of if you can pay or not, so let us know if you need </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">help with one. We really just want tons of you all to share Zoe's story as it unfolds and promote adoption wherever you go. This shirt will hopefully b</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">e a reminder for you to pray and a conversation starter to help you share with others. There is a PayPal area on the top right-hand side of our blog where you can choose your </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">sizes and colors as you submit your order. Thanks for partnering with us on this and we look forward to seeing lots of Zoe shirts around!</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></span></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511822696848240482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YG0xBnRdKfoOukEwGyBnDUJM-VyNEfs2b_VK2_EiL1JdzbTwXcikst4yEG4sjCiKJXy8M8NPmWKQgkoI6XzqudFmwxK4Lh1bDtmoY5ACgbsbwsvixkz-3fW1nx1vcINQzqDWvqbKsy6k/s400/zoe+shirt+group.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 281px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We will take pre-orders until September 13th before placing our first order of shirts. (Please go ahead and pre-order so we will know how many to order). They should be in shortly after that. We will let you know as soon as they come in! Thanks!!</span></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-83721461495073564072010-08-10T23:56:00.000-05:002010-09-01T15:26:15.107-05:00Adoption: The Jones Family BeginningWe have officially started the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. Tori and I both knew that this is something that was in God's plan for our lives. I knew it was in her heart since the day I met her and I know she prayed that it would be in mine. It is truly amazing to think that in a few months I will be a father. We've been talking about our "Zoe" for a year now. We haven't met her, we don't know anything about her. All we know is that Zoe means <i>life</i> and we feel called to bring <i>life</i> to this child who has no hope of <i>life</i> under her current circumstances. We have prayerfully considered this huge undertaking and believe that there is no way we CAN'T do it. With great joy and anticipation we are moving forward with the adoption of a young Ethiopian girl.<div>It is amazing to watch Tori shine throughout this process as her heart breaks over every waiting child we see. Even though it is overwhelming, she gathers the paperwork and organizes it over and over, knowing it is leading us to our Zoe. She has read hundreds of pages telling us how to properly submit every document. We're looking for our passports, ordering copies of our birth certificates, getting reference letters and having EVERYTHING notarized. A friend of ours called this time in the adoption the "paper pregnancy" because we are into months of paperwork. It is already difficult and emotional at times. We are, however, extremely fortunate and blessed to have families who support us 100%. I know that we have more than enough love to give little Zoe when she arrives and we can't wait for that exciting day. I know that the transition from an African orphanage to a white American household will not be easy. I am just trusting the Lord to guide us as we raise this sweet little girl. There will be so many days that she will feel different and I am sure there will be days where she will be discriminated against. It already breaks my heart, but I pray that in spite of this, she will be a confident leader, not one who lives as a victim. It will be a huge job, as her father, for me to instill this confidence in her from the moment I see her. I pray that she will learn more of the love of Jesus everyday and as a result of her adoption she will more clearly understand what it means to be adopted into God's family.</div><div>We are gearing up for a long, emotional, expensive, tiring journey but I know that the Lord has prepared us for this throughout our lives and He is continuing to do so. We are starting our family with adoption so that all of our kids know that this is what Joneses do. We care for those who can't care for themselves, however this may present itself throughout our lives. We want them to know that this is important to God and it is important to us. I also pray that those around us who see how we are starting our family and living our lives, will learn about what we are doing and say, "if they can do it, we can." </div><div>I don't know what our future holds or how we are going to parent an Ethiopian girl in America. All I know is that God has directed both of our lives in such an amazing way so far that I trust He has an amazing plan for us and especially for Zoe. I can't wait to see how He uses her life to change the world.</div><div>If you are reading this, I invite you to take this journey with us. We covet your prayers throughout the entire process and as we bring Zoe home. Like I said, we don't know what our future holds, but we know Who holds it. We are placing our trust, hope, fears, joy, pain and lives into His hands as He brings our family together from opposite ends of the world.</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-50949374624810888572010-04-16T21:03:00.000-05:002010-04-16T21:08:42.572-05:00The Celebration ContinuesThank you so much to everyone for all of the prayers and encouragement to dad and our family. We are overwhelmed by all the love that is being shown to us. The last few days have been wild. We are all still processing that there really is a light at the end of this tunnel. We feel so blessed that dad has been healed. In the words of my sister, Hope "only God". We are grateful to his wonderful doctor and nurses, but we are most grateful to the Lord- the great healer. Thank you to all who are celebrating with us.<div><br /></div><div>News Channel 2 wanted to get in on the celebrating, so they joined dad today on the golf course. See the full story here http://www.wkrn.com/global/story.asp?s=12326416.</div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-46148222213836110982010-02-03T23:19:00.000-06:002010-02-03T23:20:40.228-06:00Pigeon Wants a Puppy<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">About a month after Tori and I got married she decided she wanted a puppy. So I bought her a book that seemingly described the situation. It was called “Pigeon Wants a Puppy.” In this book, the pigeon really, really wants a puppy. It turns out the puppy was more than the pigeon had bargained for and she quickly moves on to wanting something new. Our story is quite similar, but with a twist, of course.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tori only wanted a cute little puppy that could fit in her purse and peek out occasionally to sweetly prance around before slipping back into her bag to nap while Tori continued with her day. So she asked if we could get a little puppy like that and I said absolutely not. Days later we were searching the Internet and newspapers for what dog would be perfect for our new family. After a few hours we came across a breed that was described as small, non-shedding, hypoallergenic and a great indoor dog. We thought, this must be it; we should get a miniature Schnauzer. We looked at information online and decided we wanted a solid black male without clipped ears. We talked to a genuinely kind couple in Murfreesboro and were on our way to their house a few hours later. Of course, before we got out of town we stopped at Target and deliberated over which baby blanket he would need to be wrapped in as we drove him to his new home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We pulled into their driveway and as we walked into their backyard, one of their two little boy puppies ran directly to Tori. We looked at both, but we were hooked by the little runt that chose Tori. We talked with the breeders for a few minutes and then headed home with our tiny, little, black fur-ball. He was adorable and we decided to name him Zeke. Zeke loved the soft green blanket with a tough dog sewn onto it that we had picked out for him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We went directly to introduce him to his new grandparents. The first house we came to was Tori’s mom and dad. Patti was honest, saying that she’d rather have another human grandchild, but Rick was smitten. We spent some time with them and Zeke peed on the carpet, which is something that has become sort of a tradition for him. Then we took him on to my parents’ house. This is a house that is traditionally a pet-free zone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the way we stopped at a pet store to get a bed, some food, a black Harley Davidson collar with silver spikes, a leash, an id tag, a bag of treats and some clothes, you know, the necessities. The people were very helpful, almost too helpful, but we got almost everything we thought we would need and we headed out. Then PANIC. Tori felt a small tick on our precious new Zeke. I tried to use the tweezers on my pocketknife, but we were hurting him and couldn’t get it out. I ran back inside and quickly found special tweezers and we got him taken care of quickly. Whew, crisis #1 was over and we were ready to go. We should have seen the sign of what was to come with this cute little black runt. Anyway we arrived at my parents and they fell in love with him. Dad even wanted to hold him, which was totally out of character. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We took him home to our house, played a little bit and put him in his new cage. He cried a little but went to sleep very fast. The next morning I took him to church and introduced him to a few hundred of my closest kid friends. We could not believe how calm and good he was. Everyone was falling in love with him. Soon after we had VBS and I decided to bring him to meet all the kids and get him socialized. I took him on stage and let 800 kids pet him. Many thought he was a stuffed animal because he barely moved. This was so fun and exciting for us for a few days. During the day we left him in the volunteer room with our friend Shelley and one day she came to get me saying that Zeke had an accident in the bag Tori had been carrying him in. The smell was really bad to say the least. I was about to go on stage, so I had to get Tori to take care of him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I finished my responsibilities I called Tori and she was in tears. She was at the vet and the diagnosis was possibly Parvo, which my grandparents dog had just died from and it is rare that any survive. The tests came back negative, but we monitored him throughout the evening. He was barely breathing and Tori’s calls to the vet went from hourly to every 5 minutes, so she had us bring him in around midnight. I held him while she put in an I.V. and we left him to be treated for Parvo. He survived! But, this was the first of many trips to the vet. The staff talked to Zeke and us like we were old friends. I believe we were the reason for some of the upgrades we began to see around the office. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After a few months we got used to cleaning up diarrhea and feeding Zeke pills wrapped in cheese. Amy and Cissy weren’t used to it when it happened in our cabin at children’s camp, but we all moved on. Zeke really became part of our family and Tori bonded with him really strongly while he was sick. As the days have gone by he has really grown. He actually got much larger than any cute purse can hold. He also became WILD. Very little of what we read about him before we got him was true to who he is. In fact, some days we almost wish for the Parvo days. Zeke is a crazy, wild dog. He eats only wheat and gluten free food. He is highly intelligent, which makes for much trouble. He wakes up early and goes out often. A puppy is a lot of work. Tori takes care of him in the morning and I play with him at night. My family took him in as a grandchild/nephew and they keep him when we go out of town…and pamper him. Mom sews up his over-chewed toys, dad plays chase games with him and Janice bathes him everyday. He is kind of the Jones family dog as everyone takes care of him. Sophie loves to look at him and she wants to play with him, but he is still a little overwhelming for her. Will really likes the idea of him, but he is just the right size for Zeke to knock over and make a chew toy out of, so they don’t play very much. Hope takes him for walks on bedazzled leashes and talks about how wonderful he is. He is part of the family for better or for worse.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pigeon wanted a puppy and she got it. It was simple for the storybook character as she got overwhelmed and could easily look to something new. We found out that in real life you cannot simply turn the page and move on to something the next bigger and better thing. The puppy, who is far beyond what we had anticipated, was more than just a picture on a page. We fell in love with the little guy. Zeke is pure trouble, but he is our trouble and we couldn’t imagine our story without him.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-54470698307603316162010-01-25T11:42:00.000-06:002010-01-25T12:19:54.463-06:00Blessings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsMlNuosDgbpSx9h0UBxUhTVdstLDqHMhAWTELbJDkVrr7h4fozpkOr32-qb1VdZvFdmRY-cSSD3BOD2oVSazHH-H34qta9-Ft6joRl9l-VbhV5elJOLIahg5J3LMCNRc0tbVSJB9RG1h/s1600-h/lillie+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsMlNuosDgbpSx9h0UBxUhTVdstLDqHMhAWTELbJDkVrr7h4fozpkOr32-qb1VdZvFdmRY-cSSD3BOD2oVSazHH-H34qta9-Ft6joRl9l-VbhV5elJOLIahg5J3LMCNRc0tbVSJB9RG1h/s400/lillie+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430742933886698994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lillian Hope Roden</div><div style="text-align: center;">January 18, 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;">7lbs 4 ozs</div><div><br /><br /></div><div>So this time last week I was rushing to Atlanta praying that i would make it in time to see my new niece born. Carrie was suppose to be induced on Wednesday of last week, but Lillie had other plans. So Monday morning i woke up to my mom on the phone saying that Carrie was in labor and that i would probably not make it to see Lillie be born. I was so upset because i had been in the room when both Sophie and Will were born. So Derek and i quickly packed our bags and jumped in the car and raced to Atlanta. It turned out that we arrived at the hospital about 30 minutes before Lillie was born. You will have to read Derek's post about his experience during Lillie's birth with Sophie and Will- it is priceless.<div><br /></div><div>So, the time had finally come for Carrie to push. We were all so excited. It's funny, I knew that in a few minutes i would be seeing my niece, i knew she was a girl, i knew about how big she was going to be, and yet when she came out i was so surprised. I immediately started crying. Now, it is no surprise that i cried, but this time it was different from when the other kids were born. Lillie's birth was different for me. As i stared at the beautiful little girl with ten perfect fingers and ten perfect toes i was reminded of all the perfect gifts and blessings the Lord has given me in my life. </div><div><br /></div><div>I looked at my older sister and was overwhelmed with love and amazement. I was amazed at the strength of my sister. She had once again birthed a perfect beautiful child. I look at her and was overwhelmed with how much I admire and look up to her. She is one of the best mothers i have ever seen. She was born to be a mom. I thought about one day having my own kids and praying in that moment that one day i would be half as good of a mom as her. I am so glad that she is my best friend in life. I am so glad that one day when i do have kids of my own that she will be there beside me helping me not screw up :) I am so grateful that i have been able to see her be a mom up close and personally. I am so blessed to have her as such an incredible example of what a wife and mom should be. I Love her big as the sky. </div><div><br /></div><div>I looked at my own mom and was reminded that my mom is awesome. She was standing there with tears in her eyes looking at the newest addition to our family and i prayed right then that Lille would inherit the strength that my mom had passed to each of us girls. I was grateful that my mom is a woman who loves her children and has taught us how to love others. I love that she is a mom that will drop everything in her own life to be there to experience moments- big and little- with her kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>I then looked at Matt, my brother in law. I thought about how grateful i am that my sister has a husband that loves her so well. I watched Matt kiss his new daughter and was grateful that Lillie would grow up with a dad that will tell her everyday that she is loved and beautiful. I thought that at that moment that little girl has no idea how great of a dad she as and how much fun and laughter he will bring to her life. Watching Matt with Will and Sophie is one of the funniest things in life. He can make them laugh like no one else and i know it will be the same with Lille.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally i looked at Lille. I was reminded how much i love little girls. Now don't get me wrong, i love little boys and especially Will, but there is just something about girls in our family. I have a relationship with Soph that most aunts would covet. She is my best girl. We have a bond that </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCskbLQuw6WsGfb3cd-Dg6drrVoIi6G4KAMsdSdOHUFIOKBGedGhLoPoB41jsor02LXpIyE_6yIw1gMcuMSaETATzLZx5fGIzFlRWbzXuLUlBSmeM3GhgWyd1pnF8FAvFNRgsoqaZotrF9/s200/lil+and+t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430743293813932482" /><div>is like none other. So i started thinking about how much fun it was going to be to let Lillie into our girls club. I looked at her perfect little hands, feet, eyes, head full of hair, mouth- and could not believe how in an instant i could fall so in love with this little girl. I cant wait to see her grow both physically and in personality. Will she be silly or serious? Will she have blue eyes like Soph or brown like Will? Will she be a good sleeper like Will or stay up till all hours of the night like Soph? I am so excited that this new chapter in life has begun with Lille. I cant wait for our relationship to grow. I know that there are great adventures ahead.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-2086957197951730442010-01-20T15:58:00.000-06:002010-01-20T18:18:55.342-06:00Adventures with Uncle DerekWe got "the call" and arrived in Georgia 2 days earlier than we planned for sweet Lillie's arrival. I am over the moon for her, but strangely her birth was not the most excitement my life saw these past couple of days.<div><br /> <div>Soon after we got to the hospital we were asked to pick up Sophie and Will from school. After Tori was reassured we would make it back in time for Lillie's birth we happily went to gather our niece and nephew so they could soon meet their little sister. We knew that when we arrived back at the hospital the kids clothes would need to be changed as Sophie was dressed like Juliet for a school project that day. We arrived at the school in less than 5 minutes, woke Will up from his nap and quickly got the kids to the car. As we were getting in, I got a call saying that I needed to drop Tori off at the door so she could get right in to be with Carrie as she delivered Lillie. Tori suggested that I change them in the trunk of the SUV. We dropped her off with kisses and "I love yous" then headed into the parking garage.</div><div><br /></div><div> We parked and started moving to the trunk. Sophie asked that I close the door for privacy so I climbed in, put will in my lap and did my best to close the door from the inside. Our space was cramped with two large suitcases, a stroller and the three of us. I tried to close the stroller with Will in my lap without success so I attempted to shove it over the backseat in-between the two car seats without hitting Sophie in the face or catching it on her poufy pink princess dress. It would not fit, so I tried to unlatch and fold it up. I was successful so I moved on to the changing of the clothes.</div><div><br /></div><div> I helped Soph get her dress undone so that she could take it off. I opened the suitcase and had to lay the top flap over me and Will to get to the clothes. Their outfits had been described for me, so I knew what I was looking for: 2 white turtlenecks, 1 pink corduroy dress, 1 pair of brown overalls and <i>tights.</i> Everything seemed to be right on top, so I grabbed a turtleneck and some tights so I could get Sophie started. Together we decided the bloomers from her costume should come off so we could get the tights on. I got the first leg on and left her with the second...so then I went back and helped with the second. Tights on, check. We got the shirt on with ease. Then came the dress. It had buttons all the way down one side and a bow on the other. It seemed that it would go on much like a long vest and Sophie told me that the buttons went in front. After we got started it didn't seem quite right, so we took it off and went with buttons in the back...perfect. I handed her a pair of brown shoes with pink polka dots and gave her the task of putting them on while I started with Will. </div><div><br /></div><div>I knew this would be trickier because he was in my lap and halfway under the suitcase reading his "Cars" book. I took his shoes off and he asked that I put them back on, but I kept on going and removed his shirt. I grabbed the closest white turtleneck and began to pull it down over his head. Something was keeping it from going all the way on and I realized that it wasn't even to his nose and ears, so I pulled harder. As I continued I began to realize that I was getting nowhere and suffocating him as he began to scream/cry. I pulled it off quickly and decided to give him a quick break while I helped Sophie take her shoes back off and put them on the right feet. Then I went back to Will and the tiny necked turtleneck. I pulled it over his head again and began to make him scream once more. I realized that this was never going to happen. So I reached over him, pushing away the pink princess dress, to dig through the suitcase to see if there was another shirt. Moments later I found a white turtleneck, with a larger neck and a little teddy bear sewn on the front. I knew this must be the one. I quickly got it on him and we were in business. I tried to get his pants off one leg at a time, but it was tricky to do so while he was on me and under the suitcase. Finally after some creative movement we were ready to get the overalls on. This was a quick task and then the shoes were a breeze. I gave the kids a quick look and we were ready to jump out so we could go in to see their new baby sister. </div><div><br /></div><div>I felt along the back door of the SUV to find the handle, but it was nowhere to be found. Stuck! We were stuck in the trunk. The wheels in my head began to spin as I tried to figure out how to get the three of us out. Then I heard my name followed by four scary words..."Uncle Derek, I have to potty." Panic mode sets in. I look to see if I can push by her and squeeze between the car seats and over the back seat. So, I come up with a brilliant idea. I send Sophie over the back seat so that she can open the side door, go around the vehicle, open the back door and free us. She got over the seat just fine, but the door was very heavy and she couldn't quite open it. I didn't know if it was locked or not, so I had her climb to the driver's seat and try to open it. As soon as she got to the front, the side door fell open. I called to her to get out through the side. She quickly got out and walked around back. She got to the back and I shouted through the glass for her to pull the handle, but she couldn't find it. She shouted to me, "What do you want me to do?" and I shouted back, "Pull the handle!" and she shouted, "What?" and I shouted "Pull up on the handle!" I began to realize this wouldn't work, so I told her to come back around to the side. I made the decision that I would have to squeeze over the seat and try to maneuver between the car seats. I made it over and then pulled Will over from the back. We climbed out. I went to the back and realized that the trunk handle was hidden in the license plate nook. I grabbed the few things I could see that I thought we might need, locked the car and we walked as fast as our little legs would carry us to the elevator. </div><div><br /></div><div>We went down three floors, got out, walked down the sidewalk, went into the main building, got on the elevator, went up 3 floors and found the nearest men's room. The three of us got into the only stall just in the nick of time. I kept Will from touching stuff while Sophie went potty. We went to the waiting room around the corner, got some skittles and lemonade and sat down to wait for the baby. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a phone call from Aunt Pam, Will said, "I poop." Great. I had one diaper, no wipes and no desire to change a diaper. We quickly left, went to the nurses' desk, asked for some wipes and a changing station. They brought me a whole pack of wipes and sent me on a hunt for the changing station that could not be found. Finally after Sophie said, "You've had us walking all over this whole hospital," I decided to find a secluded place and change the diaper. I lay him down, unbutton the overalls and awkwardly pull them down. I nervously open the diaper and to my surprise, it is fresh and clean. Will looks up at me and laughs. I put him back together and all three of us go to the "play area" and amuse ourselves with broken toys. A few minutes later Tori calls to say that baby Lillie was born! This is when things calmed down. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tori came to get us and we all went up to meet her. Sophie held her, I held her and Will just wanted to bite her. I was so glad to be an uncle again and I look forward to new adventures with my special three...Sophie, Will and Lillie.</div></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475519684831486289.post-89973133323727103492010-01-16T21:16:00.000-06:002010-01-16T23:02:55.636-06:00Meet The Joneses<div style="text-align: left;">So here we are, Derek and Tori Jones, making our first entry in our new blog. Derek and I got married on May 2, 2009 and our life has been nonstop since our "I Do's". Here is a short recap of our past few months- We like to refer to it as "Four Weddings and a Funeral".</div><div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">May</span></b></div><div>Our adventures started on our honeymoon where each of us got horribly sick every time we ate a meal. there is nothing more romantic on a</div><div> honeymoon that violent food poisoning. By the end of the trip we were at our beautifu</div><div>l amazing all inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic dining on Doritos and Gatorade from the gift shop.</div><div>The rest of the month was full of activities </div><div>including my dad's birthday, mother's day and my little sister, Hope, graduating from High School.</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL02rh4h9-vXSmlKqkFq-l93_TK74Dey29ffeJEhNJAyPpqw6E55eZssNqHlI2RfI0LZMCZfHDWLROYVgdZbY-YfBzOD-N2uXKjFA_QzJxqXeXXYB2dRZqb8jvveILJiQCXWR0vuvMZdF1/s200/DSC00593.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427550162302166546" /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><b>June</b></span></div><div>The first week of June was VBS at The People's Church, and since Derek is one of the TPC Kid's pastors, this is a very big week for us. To add to the excitement of the week, we decided that we would get a dog, so we got Zeke. We thought that we had this sweet very calm puppy until Thursday of VBS when we had to rush Zeke to the emergency room at the Vet's office to find out that he had Parvo. Luckily he was treated and survived.</div><div>Later in the month we had Warrior and Princess camp again at TPC. This week was so much fun because our niece, Sophie, came and went to camp. We all had a blast. We also found out in June that my sister Carrie was pregnant and would be due in January :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><b>July</b></span></div><div>In July, we had a huge event in our lives. Sophie turned 5. We had a "Think Pink" party. Everything was pink, we all wore pink, and ate pink candy. For some reason Derek and I thought that we should make Sophie's birthday cake. After dozens of eggs and pounds of flour later we had a giant pink cup cake cake. Check out my sister <a href="http://incasetheyeverwonder.blogspot.com/">Carrie's blog</a> for all the pics.</div><div>Later in the month, Derek had Kids Summer Camp, and Zeke and i went with him. Everynight at Camp there was a different theme party and</div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoitDVMF3Td98Fvfe0UMl9cvp0R6U84Rw-HoVqrFPBjrruJDOOSR9S1RaUTWjA8bc7ouY9-sApmXmX5SVmxu4lzREjp35z3Yw3iw_mYeKAmZHcURuhJ2X1s2W9Ncemps7ij6Nl5taRMBaC/s200/DSC00672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427553196676993986" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAhMayuyxq5fGjZMAHxyxogGmTDWPgUig6Ysnx3Lj65YnBgqB14ArmhkJWJrtxDGumOYu1qVIrW5cNjCilVHTiou6IggWjFkNneBqM8_j780TSSAXTfyfMqqY805jsoNLbHzXgsgNTO43/s200/DSC00656.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427553187083882530" /><div>you better believed we dressed up.</div><div><br />We finished the month with a family trip to the beach with my family---well it was suppose to be a family trip. My mom, dad and Matt and Hope ended up not being able to go (my grandfather had to have surgery and my Aunt Jan was diagnosed with Cancer), so Me, Derek, Sophie, Will and Carrie had a family trip to the beach.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><b>August</b></span></div><div>August was yet another busy month. We had Leadership Summit at TPC. That is one of my biggest events of the year. My sister, Carrie came in to work for me that week which helped tremendously. That week was also her birthday! The biggest adventure in August was that Derek changed jobs. He went from working on the TPC franklin campus to being the TPC kids pastor at our Spring Hill Campus. With this move, he moved offices. This was the first time in 3 years that we have not worked in the same office. It was a little weird at first. However, he is back now- the Spring Hill staff is officing in Franklin until their new building is done.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><b>September</b></span></div><div>In september we went to Atlanta for a few days to spend time with my sister, Carrie, Matt, Sophie and Will. We had a great time in the ATL. We spent one full day at World of Coca Cola. </div><div>Later that weekend, the girls had a special night out at The Glass Slipper Ball. Sophie was the most beautiful princess and she had a blast dancing the night away. It was during this trip that Carrie and i realized that we were married to teenage boys. Matt is the 15 year old and Derek is 13. They have teenage boy humor and like teenage boy pranks. Matt usually instigates things and Derek keeps it going.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><b>October</b></span></div><div>In October we had a lot going on at Work. We had a conference, a Spring Hill party, Pumpkinfest and lets not forget the UT vs Alabama game- which was one that was a little too close for comfort. Matt, our brother-in-law also had his big 30- even though his party was postponed twice and eventually canceled :( We also celebrated Derek's dads birthday. He was the big 60 and we had a surprise party!!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">November</span></b></div><div>In November, we had a crazy month. The week before Thanksgiving, my Aunt Jan died. It was a very sad time, but we were all glad that she did not suffer long. She died just a few months after being diagnosed with cancer. We all traveled to Alabama for her funeral on November 17 (which was also my mom's birthday). It was during that trip that we found out about a relative of Aunt Jan's- Unca Jack. Derek and Matt had quite an experience in my Aunt Jan's basement going through some of Unca Jack's most treasured possessions. I cant go in to all the details here, but in their teenage boy humor, Matt and Derek had much fun retelling all that they found. The very next week was Thanksgiving. After having Thanksgiving dinner with Derek's family on Wednesday night, we went to Alabama to have Thanksgiving with my family. We had a great time with family. We loved getting to watch the Alabama/Auburn "Iron Bowl" game at my grandparents. It was a night of yelling, cheering and laughing!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">December</span></b></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcUnOxsFCRoJjSDo_Drskjqfv_k35lz4xO4ieBPuiAn56v_kdSJJs4al2MPxWEpMBpOxhvCmVxM431oHbgUmkAAmlxbNmOZJplzDQPannU_loyNonWVGBbFyMv7HyP2ts6-LKSQhDFnMR/s200/16130530000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427564512397220498" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_GLb8ZBEXlD69Qpnef7Mq3ypbS2GbsSmCQUTfINzqArq8IxdXzSolasDOiMzgIYGwW_XzZMmRzLswdaddKZj0IMCVjdE0_sJo2jhdyQ6s59wNA8gyUFqpkprRWDB8u5eLIUMifMxT5Ue/s200/16130530002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427563821615656002" /><div>The month of December may have been our busiest month. Derek</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWbBNTJeyDZge7XwFXx6GcRWRzN5eWAXHTQQLBBZ8sOnrgBOUDzmvWQYloKUocdNNNWPIMKeja4jdDG6VEaKsQLSiH_jDPGsuDt6Q-pUKjORRWzzSKDHmKcOCNgCBMpDWUHZ3ShQWrJdp/s200/16130530001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427564206794478226" /><div> and I both have December birthdays (the 12th and 23rd). We decided about a week out that we wanted to celebrate our Birthdays in Disney World. So we booked our trip and 9 days later flew out to Orlando. We had the best trip ever. We were only there on a Monday- Wednesday, so we packed out our days and nights. We went to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (which was my favorite). The party had amazing decorations, parades, fireworks and a snowfall on Main Street. I will never forget all that we got to do and see on that trip. It was like a dream.</div><div>After celebrating in Disney, we came home to get ready for Christmas. We literally had 4 Christmases. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my immediate family, Christmas night with Derek's family, December 26th with my mom's family and the 27th with my Dad's family. All of these family members came to my parents house- Did i mention that my mom had knee surgery on the 23rd. She was a trooper. It was truly the craziest most exhausting Christmas of my life, but it was truly fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, i am betting that you are exhausted from reading all of this. This is just a very small glimpse of all we have been doing in these first few months of marriage. I promise our blogs will never be this long again. Thanks for Keeping up with the Joneses</div><div><br /></div><div>Tori and Derek</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Derek and Tori Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05576052347196327368noreply@blogger.com2