We've been home almost 3 months. We stink at blogging.

So sorry. Here it is, December 1st. Obviously everyone knows we've been home and doing wonderful. I just had to put one last update before I call it quits on blogging which I have absolutely no time for. Yes, we landed back in the states September 12. Ethiopia is the most amazing place, the people were amazing, the friends we made are friends for life. We will never forget the amazing things God has done for us. He has called us his children, he has given us a plan and a purpose, we are so thankful. We delight in Him! We want to go back to Africa. Any country, it doesn't even have to be Ethiopia! We just want to return. I want to play games with the children and care for those in need. I listen to myself yelling I want...I really want what God wants and I just don't know. I'll pray, I'll fast, I'll listen. God, where do we go from here, we know their is more. We're so thankful. We love Owen. He was made for our family.

Ethiopia, here we come!

We're leaving, on a jet plane...don't know when we'll be back again...
Actually we do! We're leaving September 4 to pick up baby Owen and coming home September 12. SO exciting. If I'm not able to access facebook while we're in Ethiopia, we will be using blogspot to keep everyone posted on the happenings while we're there. Can't wait to meet our son! Praise the Lord! We are scheduled to arrive Saturday the 5th, rest on the 6th, sightsee on the 7th and 8th(Travis's birthday) and pick up our son on the 9th! We'll be at the American Embassy all day on the 10th and then picking up Owen's passport hopefully at the end of the day. Usually you pick up the passport the next day, but that falls on the Ethiopian New Year and the office will be closed. We're leaving that Friday night, the 11th, at 10:15pm and arriving home Saturday evening!
Baby boy, God has a mighty plan for you! Mama and Daddy are coming to take you home!

BIG DAY

First, I'm sorry I forgot to post that we were scheduled a court date of Aug. 5th. So I've said I'm a bad blogger and I wasn't kidding! We passed court today and Owen is officially ours! We should be traveling to pick him up sometime next month, probably early in the month! WHO'S EXCITED...me. God is faithful and righteous, and he blesses me with another son. I'm overwhelmed...with love, and it's good. Anyway, here's some pics of baby Owen!

last time practicing, I think I got it!

I love this picture!

practicing again

So I'm practicing posting pics while I update everyone on how the Schneider kids are looking these days!

practice with pics

I just wanted to practice posting pictures so when we pass court I'll

know how to put Owen's picture up for everyone to see!

I'm a lazy blogger!

Well, it has been a long time since our last update. It's been a very difficult time. Through these last 7 weeks or so we did not know anything about the future of our son, we didn't know how long this would last, anything. It was so hard I couldn't even blog, it just made me upset. Well, we finally found out the investigation is complete and Owen is still "adoptable". We're very happy, this is great news! We have also been given a video of Owen at his orphanage and we love to watch it over and over. The kids say his eyes are so big they're gonna call him Bugsy. I don't know if I like that nick-name or not. So now we wait for a new court date to be assigned. I know their were at least 5 families ahead of us from our orphanage. I really don't know where that's going to put us but I do know that court will be closing on August 3 until mid-October. Yes, this is very hard to think about so I won't think about it. We'll just wait and see what time brings. I know my God has everything in his hands and he will work it all out. We want Owen home when God wants him home so we'll wait on God! We also have learned Owen weighs a whopping 15+ pounds! God is faithful! He will be 8 months old on July 7!

Victory coming

Our court date has been delayed. The gov't has issued that all abandonment cases in the capital city of Ethiopia be re-investigated and cleared, along with a letter of clearance. There is thought to be some unethical practices going on. This is no suprise to our God. He's not wondering what to do now. I lay it at the feet of Jesus, Lord this is yours, I have no control but God you are over it. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man Ps 118:8. I take refuge in Him, I will not wait on man, I will wait upon the Lord! Many families are affected by this, my heart is with them all. One family in particular was one day away from court, their second try. I am learning something though. Just because we're adopting doesn't mean our life is all about our adoption. Sometimes I think we live, eat, breathe adoption. I have caught myself now losing focus of what I have now. My kids may think I'm a basketcase if I don't get it together. I have to stay strong for them, and for Travis. I have many gracious blessings to enjoy while I wait. So I will continue to live, and enjoy it. We will go camping this summer, have get togethers with friends, and continue to press ahead. Every day is another day closer to bringing our baby home. So we'll keep on going.

Dog riding

So, Travis is out of town working. It's becoming a way of life right now. Sometimes I take advantage of this time by catching up on reading, eating junk food for dinner(I still feed the kids), and letting the kids stay up late. For the most part it gets old really fast and the excitement of cereal for dinner doesn't compare to the lonliness we're all feeling. Everyone seems quickly agitated, me especially, and when the kids get to a point that I don't think they could possibly fight anymore they suddenly become partners in crime, chaotically running and screaming through the house. That's actually fun to watch if you can stand the noise. This season will pass, and we'll be a closer family because of it, but in the meantime the house seems to fall apart without daddy. I know this time is harder for him than it is for us, so I can't complain. He's sitting in a hotel hot tub right now while I'm here watching the kids run through the house trying to ride the dog. Seriously, I know he has it worse. We should be getting an update on Owen soon. I heard every 6 weeks the doctor checks them over and sends an update. That should put us at the first week of May. I'll keep you posted.

COURT DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As most of you know, thanks to facebook, we got our court date! June 2nd is it! Can you believe it?! If all goes well in court we'll be traveling about 4 weeks after the court date! He'll officially be our son! Also, we're 99% sure his name is Owen Nahom Schneider. Sometimes we waiver a little because we still like Logan, but we're almost positive! Let's pray all goes well in court and our little baby Owen stays strong and healthy! Thank you Lord!

Calming in the storm

So, no court date yet. That's okay...right? I mean some people wait 2 weeks and some people wait 5 months. Does it make sense? Does "orphaned" make sense? No, but we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God is in control and he is working all things out for the good of those who love him. Looking at our baby's pic(still no name) has proven to be a bad idea for passing time. We almost want to avoid looking due to the heartache, but then God speaks to me through his word;
Do not fear, I am with him
I will command my angels concerning him to guard him in all his ways
I know the plans I have for him, plans to prosper him...to give him hope and a future

Could anything in the world bring comfort the way God can? NO! I've sought temporary relief in the past and all it does is numb you for a short while, pushing the pain down deeper only to come back stronger and uglier later. Nothing in all this world can soothe heartache the way our Heavenly Father can. And he wants to, that's what's so breathe-taking. He says...
Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest! So I rest

Update on baby boy!

I've recieved an update on Nahom. He weighes an amazing 5.2 kg! This is a true blessing from the Lord. On February 9th he was 4.5kg and by March 3rd he was only 4kg. I wasn't mentioning his weight loss to very many people, I just couldn't bring myself to speak it. To jump from 4-5.2 is HUGE! That's a 2 and a half pound increase in one month! Praise the Lord, He is most worthy of praise! Glory to God! Can you say yes and amen?!

I am the worst blogger ever! We got the biggest news in the adoption process on March 24th and I never even updated! We have recieved our referral! We are having a boy! He is so adorable. We've picked a birthday of November 7 (he was abandoned and therefore no birthday was given). According to the dr. in Ethiopia he was born sometime in November. We can't agree on a name. The govornment named him Nahom for now. We might keep that for a middle name. We've found out the babies don't wear diapers but rather layers of plastic trash bags are wrapped around their bottoms. That explains the sever diaper rash mentioned in the medical report. Also, he only weighs 4kg, which is about 9 and a half pounds. We are now waiting for a court date. Once we pass court we travel 3-4 weeks later, so the court date is important in estimating travel time. please continue to pray for our little baby as we wait on the Lord.

Well, I just talked with someone in our yahoo group of waiting families and found out they got their referral. Here's the crazy thing, they sent their dossier 3 days after us! Can you believe it, they got a referral of an 18 month old boy! We could literally get our referral any day! The kids are getting their hep. A shots on Thursday morning. We also have another round of shots this Friday afternoon. I also have to get my passport.....oh, so much to do!

Whoo Hoo! #4

I don't have a lot of time, but I just recieved word that we're #4! God is amazing! His hand is in this process and we praise him for his amazing favor!

# 7! That's right, we're number seven on "the list!" Their are officially 6 families ahead of us wating for their referral. The referral, just incase you don't know, is when you get a picture as well as medical history and any other information, of your child. You choose at that time if you want to accept your referral. After you accept, you have to pass 2 court dates in Ethiopia (I think it's 2). Once you pass court you are officially the legal parents and you may fly over there and bring your child home. Also, I don't think I have made mention that our orphanage in Ethiopia is out of formula. Their is a "formula crisis" in ET right now and MANY infants are going without. I spent some time crying about this until I realized, God is bigger. If he can turn water into wine..... you know the rest! Meanwhile some amazing waiting families have coordinated a "drop off" of formula from us, the waiting families. It should be there in mid-march. God continues to provide and work details out, a big thanks to all of the people donating to the cause!

I think I got it!

Don't look now but I think I got this blog thing figured out! We'll see. Hopefully our friends and families will be able to keep up to date with all the adoption info. As of right now we are officially a waiting family. Our dossier was received in Ethiopia on January 23, 2009 (see sidebar). So I guess now is when the real wait begins. We are waiting for a referral of a baby boy or girl, age 0-2. All we know is their are quiet a few families in line in front of us. We have no idea how long the wait will be. When the time comes we'll let everyone know! Once we get our info and pass Ethiopian court, we will travel to ET to pick up our baby! Yeah! We do know their is a formula shortage in ET right now. Please pray the all of the children in ET are being fed. Continue to pray for peace and protection over our child. We'll keep you "posted" when things change.