We are still here....

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. Life is always busy with nine children, four on the way! Most days I am so focused on raising our current arrows, all the while dreaming and praying for our three little ones half a world away. We get regular reports about their health and progress, which is always so good for this mommy's heart.

When we began this adoption we never imagined it would take over two years to bring home our little ones. I, being a planner, like to think on my own time schedule. If it were up to me we probably would have adopted before Abigail was born, which means we never would have been matched with these precious babies. When will I learn to rest in God's timing.

Since it has taken so long we are now starting our homestudy process again. Wow, never saw that one coming when we did this just over a year ago. A homestudy is a written report about a family. A social worker prepares the report and it is sent to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Department as well as the country the children are coming from, which in our case is Liberia, West Africa. Today we went to the Sheriff's office for our FBI and GBI fingerprinting. Now we have to get eleven medical physicals done, our septic tank approved for fifteen people, new reference letters, employment verification, etc. Unfortunately it all costs money, but the Lord has provided each step of the way for this adoption.

We are getting near the end. The Ministry of Health in Liberia has stated they will be taking cases in January. I have been dreaming about traveling to Africa for a few years now. I pray that God will use our trip as a blessing to those we meet, those that need to see God's love, those who have so very little compared to us in America. May we be a light to Liberia, West Africa. I don't believe this will be our last trip to Liberia, but a beginning of a lifelong ministry.

Prayer Requests:

• Health for the babies - they are severely malnourished, weighing less than 10 pounds each, yet they are healthy so far
• Homestudy process - that all will go smoothly and quickly
• Wisdom for travel - Our little one in the womb is due in March and we would prefer her to be born in America not in Liberia
• That God would use the Redman family to bless many in Liberia

Thanks for your continued support for our family during this adoption process. We know God has great plans for each of our children, those born in America and Africa.

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The babies are growing

Excellent sermon

Invest the time to listen to this sermon, as it cuts to the heart of what we believe:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=525091133123

More Pictures of the Babies

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Triplets!

We received an email today about triplets that need sponsorship in Liberia. Two little girls and one little boy!

All three are tiny, about the size of a six month old. They are getting teeth and are able to sit up, but they only weigh in at about 12 pounds each.

Our sponsorship will provide money monthly for food (particularly rice and protein) as well as any medical care they need. A nurse from the hospital checks on them and a Dr. is available as well.

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Adoption Article

Here is an article written by a Liberian man regarding adoption. Many of the Liberian people desire to see adoption opened again to help the children.

"Adoption, Politics and the State" by Francis Nyepon.

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Added Blessing

God has blessed our family with another little one, not through adoption (yet!) but through birth. Our little one is due to arrive in March.

This week has been a busy week with four birthdays. Noah turned six years old, Jordan turned thirteen, Jonathan is fifteen and Rachel will be seventeen in a few days. Each year it is so fun to see the children grow and mature. We are all looking forward to God's blessings in our family over the next year.

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