One Sought Me

God is so good!!! Let me tell you a story... We are continuing to raise funds for the adoption as several costs have tumbled in during this extended process for us.  What once was proposed as a 12-18 month journey to adopt has turned into 2.5 years and counting. Updated paper work, fingerprints again, new appointments, mailing documents, etc. Each month we support Tarik's care while he is in the foster home of $350 a month.  With the latest movements in our process too, we have fees associated with those costs that are  $650.  It all is adding up as one month runs into another past our anticipated funds. ( See our 2014 Fundraising Report here .   And our latest needs here. ) Just as I sit down and start to wonder how tight are things going to get, I get an email that another necklace order needs filled. And guess what? It will cover our next fee!  So thankful and once again just in awe of God's provision just when we need it! Then a friend asks to ho...

We are ever so grateful for this Easter season as we reflect on the LOVE that God, our Father, has for us!  So much, He loves us, that He sent His son Jesus to rescue us from sin that separates us from joining with our Father in Heaven.  What a day to rejoice and celebrate the Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin and death!!  A NEW LIFE given to those who believe so we may spend eternity with our Heavenly Father!  A family united! On the Saturday before Easter Sunday we received a special letter in the mail that moves us forward in our adoption process!  The US Embassy letter that shows our case has been reviewed and passed investigations!!  SUCH. A. Great. DAY!!  We are thrilled and praising our God for making a way for our family to be united and for little Tarik to start his new life as a precious son! Today we mailed out that letter that then gets some run-around here in the states before being sent to Ethiopia.   Next steps, cou...

Oh friends, Just let me tell you how great this news is!!  Last post we were asking for prayers for the US Embassy interview with those involved with our adoption case.  Missed it?  Read about it here.  Well, tonight we heard from our agency that the interview DID indeed take place and those who needed to show up, showed up!!!  Thank GOD!!  We are exceedingly thankful for this speedy response to even know that the interview took place and we didn't have to wait for weeks in suspense!  God is in the details.  He delights in them. Zephaniah 3:17  “ The Lord your God …will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing .” Psalm 37:23  God “ delights in every detail of [your] life ." I could barely sleep last night just thinking of all the array of events that could be taking place on the other side of the world where the sun was shinning.  To think of all the details with li...

Well folks, we just mailed in our dossier updates ( as some of our original docs were now 2 years old and needed updated ) to our agency today!! About 14 notarized documents, certified by the city court, certified and a pretty gold seal from the Secretary of State, and now off to be authenticated and translated before they fly over the ocean to our agency's office in Ethiopia!! Please be praying for safe travels of these important documents, accuracy, perfect timing, God's guidance, and smooooooth paths to get us to our boy!!!! God is so good!! Grateful for His ever-present love and help! Thankful for the POWER OF PRAYERS!! We are trusting the Lord for every step of the way and we are reminded that He delights in the details of our lives!  Please keep the adoption process in your prayers as God brings us closer and closer to seeing His plans through to completion!   Currently, our adoption case is being reviewed by the US and after approval we will move on to be reviewed...

Welllllll....it's so great to report some good news!!  We can only give thanks to God for His continued hand in all this adoption process and He deserves a shout out:  THANK YOU LORD! If you have been following our adoption process (and read back in past posts if you are just checking in), we had received one set of documents from Ethiopia after waiting over 5 months for it to come! Then, the US immigration offices requested more documentation.  This time the Ethiopian officials have a time frame of 87 days to reply.  This date is April 10, 2015.  I know that we have been praying and that we have been in  your prayers too!  On Friday, January 30th our agency called with the surprise that they had received the requested documents from Ethiopia!  After only 2 weeks of waiting!  YESSSS!  Praising God for giving us this little paper, and it's a giant step forward !!  Habakkuk 2:3   For still the vision awaits its appointed...

Here we are 26 weeks after being matched with this precious little somebody who we long to hug, hold, and get to know as our son!  Through much waiting, paperwork, and waiting some more, we are moving forward in little steps and for this, we celebrate!!  Praise God for guarding, guiding, and His forever faithfulness through this journey!  Thank you for lifting us up in prayer and for our little boy, Tarik, being fresh in your prayers! Every Friday we get an update on Tarik with his height, weight, and 2 precious photos! Those little feet are getting bigger, more teeth, and those cheeks!  Awh, he is a cutie!! So where are we now??   Finally, 5 months after we were matched with our little boy, we got the papers needed from Ethiopia that were required to send on to U.S. immigration office/ USCIS to review our case. This process ensures, by U.S. standards, that Tarik truly is an orphan, adoptable, and will be allowed entrance into the United States. ...

Thank you all for praying along with us for this adoption process !! Last week we really asked for deep prayers (read here) from everyone and anyone to really lift up in pleas to the Lord to let nothing get in the way of His plans.  The one paper, that needs to be signed from the officials in Ethiopia by one person....and it's been delayed for 5 months.....it has been hard to wait. Last week in my prayers I was asking the Lord for comfort in knowing that it will all be all right. During church we were reminded of the Lord as our shepherd and how he leads us weary, straying sheep to the calm, still, refreshing waters.  In a real shepherds daily life, he would lead the sheep to graze, drink, rest, and travel along paths.  Some paths would wind up the mountains.  A narrow path with a steep drop off to one side and a wall of the rock mountain to the other.  The shepherd would tap his rod on the rock of the mountain so the sound would echo behind to the sheep fol...

Thank you for your prayers for our adoption journey.  Early on in our adoption process, I was told that this was going to be long journey and a rough road.  I didn't want to listen to that, but knew that as with any adventure in life, 'those' types of roads are quite possibly the ones we will end up traveling. Not us though, right?  Ours will be easy and smooth sailing - nope. Turns out, this fellow was right and we are smack in the middle of a pit in the road.  We do thank you for your prayers for our little boy and we are grateful that his health continues to be strong!  We do thank you for your prayers for us, as it is an emotional roller coaster.  There are days we feel confident, days we question, days we are hopeful, and days when are hearts sink. Lately, it's been hard as we reach the 2 year mark in this process and yet another Christmas is going to pass by without our new family member home with us to celebrate. It's been hard as we compare (an...

All I want for Christmas is......  What about you?  What is on your Christmas wish list this year?  It doesn't take long for our kids at home to sit down and write out a list of goodies they would like to find under the tree on Christmas morning.  It doesn't take me long either! All I want for Christmas is a little white Fed Ex truck to come zooming down my road carrying tidings of adoption papers and joy! The crisp, white package would say "To: The Vogtmans, From : Ethiopia Adoption Officials."  Is that too much to ask? Sigh. Well, humor aside - As many of you know we are waiting and waiting for one set of paperwork to be signed and processed to us from Ethiopia where our 1 year old little boy is waiting to be joined with his forever family.  We started this process in December of 2012 and God has brought us a long way! We accepted a referral of a little boy in July 2014 and now wait for the next step.  It's a bit late coming - to say it nicel...

Thank you so very much for your prayers for our family and for our little Tarik - our one year old who is soon to be an orphan no longer.  We love him from Ethiopia and back again!! If you haven't visited our story/blog site before, please browse around so you can get to know us and the path that we are on, by God's calling to our family, to adopt.  It's a long story and there is more to it waiting to unfold! Since December 2012 our family officially started the process to adopt internationally.  Through twists and turns, in July 2014 we were matched with a then 10 month old little boy who we named Tarik.  He is from Ethiopia and his name means, "I have a story to tell." Every Friday our adoption agency graces us with a new photo and a health report of our little boy. Our family 'oohs and awhhhs' over his cuteness! We are grateful to the Lord for his strong health. I just can't hide it anymore and I want to show you a sneak peek of this little...

It's been over 4 months since our referral of our now 1 year old little boy.  He is currently healthy and in a foster home in Ethiopia.  He is crawling, pulling himself up to stand, and maybe even starting his first steps.  He loves to smile, interacts with others, and laughs.  He is fed, clothed, and sleeps in a warm bed at night.  All these are amazing and wonderful things that we have learned about our boy from other families who have visited the foster home, and from our adoption agency representative who visits the foster home as well.  All a blessing, but, he isn't with his family.  There is a mom and dad, 2 sisters, and 2 brothers waiting for him to come home.  We love him already and he is constantly on our minds.  Each night for over 2 years we have prayed for this little boy to join our family.  God knew who he was before he was born, and even now God is watching over him for us. So what's the hold up?  We are waiting ...

"Defend the cause of the fatherless..." Isaiah 1:17 ORPHAN SUNDAY and NOVEMBER is ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH. Please pray for the babies, children, and teens all around the world who desperately wish to belong and be loved in a family! Learn more about Orphan Sunday/November at  www.orphansunday.org Watch the official Orphan Sunday 2014 video here:  http://vimeo.com/95002482 Share information with your church family and pastor to help raise awareness of Orphan Sunday/November Adoption Awareness Month and join in prayer together for the building of families through adoption and foster care. Keep us in your prayers as we are still waiting for paperwork to be signed and delivered to us from the Ethiopian government.  The wait can get very frustrating at times as in our point of view, we just don't understand why things take so very long.  Every Friday we get a new picture and a health report of our little boy from our adoption agency.  It's a blessing to see h...

Hi friends and prayer warriors!  I am launching this quick post to ask for you help.  As many of you know, the foster home in Ethiopia, where our little boy calls home, is experiencing an outbreak of the Measles.  As far as we know, Tarik, is well and recovering from two recent bouts of Pneumonia.  We continue to pray for his health and strength, and thank you for your prayers! Several of the children from the foster home have been admitted to hospitals there in Ethiopia. Please be praying for these little ones as they are experiencing respiratory complications from pneumonia and/or the Measles.  Some cases are very serious and 'touch and go.'  It breaks a mama's heart to know your little one is alone in a hospital half-way across the globe. The medicines there are limited with no vaccines for the measles even available.  Our adoption agency is currently doing all they can to help the children.  The foster home is requesting nebulizers as thi...

Today was hilarious.  Just one of those days where it was laugh out loud, or just sink and cry.   I was thinking about Ethiopia so much today that it was coming out my ears!!! No seriously.  (Wearing these earrings today given to me by my friend, Alemitu, for my birthday.) We have been waiting and praying for our next set of treasured paperwork to come to us via Fedex from Ethiopia.  We need these documents in order to continue forward with our adoption process of our little boy.  Until these are received, there is nothing we can do to get closer to bringing him home.  I stalk my FedEx account to see if it has been charged a shipping fee.  Every FedEx truck that we see out and about on the roads we (Ok, it's me.)  scream and say "come to our house!"  The kids get a kick out of it.  THEN TODAY the FedEx Express truck pulls up to our driveway.  I glance at the door with that twinkle of hope that this time (after 5 gazillio...