Still Waiting

This week we received word that our three little ones are growing well. They are eating well and gaining weight. So many things are happening with international adoption right now. UNICEF is doing everything they can to halt adoptions in Liberia, Ethiopia, Haiti and many other foreign countries.

This week Liberia has announced that they will be putting a hold on adoptions again, third time in two years. Two days later the Ministry of Health in Monrovia announced that adoptions will proceed again, though slowly.

Where are we at? We are waiting for the accredidation of our agency under the new laws. We also wait while Liberia continues to get their process ironed out. We will be sending paperwork over with our agency the beginning of April. Once our paperwork is accepted by the embassy in Liberia we will receive the children's visas, medical reports and the clearance for them to leave.

We continue to send support and pray for our little ones. We are praying they will be home before their second birthday in July!

Due to the fact that we do not have a travel timeline, we are waiting to see who will travel and when. The airlines will require three adults to travel to hold the children on the plane. Andrew and I would love to travel and as of right now that is our plan, but we have several options.

Ways you can help.....as time gets closer we will be taking donations of frequent flyer miles. We will fly from Georgia to Belgium and then into Monrovia. There is a possibility that Delta Airlines will open a direct flight to Monrovia from Atlanta, which would be wonderful! The airline will require the children to have tickets as well, but they are much cheaper than a full ticket, as they will be sitting on our laps.

So we continue to wait.

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Homestudy....again

Today we met with Kelly to do our home visit. Every twleve months a homestudy must be updated.

So far we have accomplished the following:

Application

Homestudy Agreement

Child Abuse and Neglect Background Check

Sexual Offender Background Check

Financial Forms

Tax Return

Criminal Checks - Local, GBI and FBI

HIPPA Forms

Federal Express Account Info

Septic Tank Exam

Address Form - past 10 years

Gun and Pool Safety

Self Studies

Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates and Passports

Copy of Health Insurance

Still need:

Employment Verification

Medical Reports - each member of the family

Pet Vaccines

Reference Letters

Change Address with the USCIS

Today the dogs go to the vet and tomorrow the family goes in for physicals. We are almost complete.

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Names

Have you ever stopped to think of what is in a name? Parents find out they are expecting a little one and they begin planning his or her future. But do we take time to stop and think about naming our children? Did you ever stop to think that your child's name will be the most common proper noun they hear in their lifetime. They will probably hear the name you choose for them an average of two to four million times. Even after they die their name will still be used.

In the Redman home choosing a name is a major thought process. Dad and mom pray and ask the Lord's wisdom in choosing a name that will glorify the Lord. The children offer input as well. Some of our children have gone a week or more without a name, much to the chagrin of the grandmas.

But consider what God's Word says about a name. Proverbs 22:1 tells us, " A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

Doug Phillips, of Vision Forum Ministries, puts it very clearly when he states," The naming of a child is one of the most important decisions you will make on behalf of your son or daughter, so be deliberate. Be biblical."

Is it your goal to name your little bundle of joy by the most popular name, a name to give him the competitive edge, to be different than everyone else, or to name your sons and daughters by names that will challenge them to live Godly lives for their Creator?

Here are the names of our children so far...

Rachel Anne - Little lamb, grace

Jonathan David - Gift from God, beloved

Jordan Daniel - The descender, God is my judge

Josiah Stephen - Supported by God, Crown

Rebekah Lynn - Captivating, beautiful

James Levi - To follow, united/joined

Noah Michael - Rest, like God

Gideon Eli - Warrior, Ascension

Abigail Grace - Father's joy, grace

And now our three little ones from Liberia....

Hannah Faith - Grace, faith

Hosanna Joy - Salvation, joy

Solomon John - Peaceful, gracious gift of God

And one more due in March...stay tuned for an update in the naming of the next generation of Redman arrows.

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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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