What a difference a year makes!

Last year, both Ethan and Abby prefered to ride a little tricycle rather than their big kid bikes because they found it difficult to keep the pedals turning. When we pulled the bikes out this year, however, they both hopped on and just started riding down the sidewalk like pros! Amazing!

As for me, I can run a much faster mile today than I could one year ago. I've been aiming for a 7-minute mile, and I'm pretty close. Also, I realized today that I can match my Dad's trick of supporting lifting his sitting body off the floor with his fingertips. My strength training is paying off!

Why share these incredible feats? Well, the closing on our house is scheduled for one week from today. What that means is that it is crazy packing time at the Tappers. I have been filling boxes for several hours today. I am currently choosing to procrastinate from my packing responsibilities in order to communicate with all of you in blog-land.

Anybody out there want to feed my distraction and share what new thing you can do this year?

The Amazing Hand of God

When we adopted Ethan from Ukraine, there were not many other families in our agency's Ukraine program. In contrast, AWAA's Ethiopia program today has close to 200 families! We families are able to connect through our blogs and yahoo groups. Hearing each other's stories is an inspirational part of the journey.

Here's two examples. I really hope you'll take the time to read these and see how incredibly God can work in and through the adoption process!

The Semlow family

The Foote family

Such glimpses of the providence of God and His active participation in our lives remind me what an awesome God we have. Here's another reminder from Psalm 40:
I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world's "sure thing,"
ignore what the world worships;
The world's a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
AMEN!

A very small "peek"

We got a short email from the family that delivered our care packages to the Transition Home in Ethiopia. Having just arrived home, they hadn't even uploaded their photos yet...but they had this to share about our boys:

• I did not download my pics and video yet, but i have both for you as well as foot stampings. My husband spent so much time with your boys opening their bags and looking at everything and they were so joyful. They kept kissing your pictures on the cubes! You will be in love with them!

Doesn't that just make you smile???

Finally Feels Like Spring!

Court date!

Time seems to be moving faster lately in the lives of the Tappers!

We have packed a lot of things into the last few days. A two-day yard sale (that brought in some nice profits and helped to unload a lot of stuff that we had no desire to move), a visit from Mike's parents, a short visit from old friends, and--of course--a special time of Easter worship and celebration.

Today, we were excited to get a court date for our Ethiopian adoption. On May 21st, we should get word about whether A___ and D____ have officially been declared our boys. If so, we would probably leave for Ethiopia sometime that first week of June. If not, we will have to wait for another court date.

Additionally, we are eager to hear from the family that was delivering our care packages. That sweet family should have met their son and spent some time with our boys in Ethiopia during the wee hours of the morning here in Maine. I am so curious about that interaction! I'll be sure to share when I get any news!

The blessing of others...

Estimated adoption fees: $22-30,000.
Items to place in a care package for our boys, plus postage: $42.
Cadbury eggs (my favorite!) to help me pass the time until the boys are officially ours: $.75/each.
Having great friends who help you out with special projects, who bring you dinner on busy days, and who share their insights on important adoption issues: priceless.

Thanks, Leanne, Helen, and Kevin!
And, if you are interested in a wonderful piece on bonding and attachment written by a family who adopted two boys (in a similar age range as ours) last fall, check out http://family-from-afar.blogspot.com/2009/04/glimmer-of-breakthrough.html. Their example is inspiring!

That was fast!

The Tapper family is pleased to announce that another big piece of our transition puzzle came into place within the last few days. After just 10 days on the market, someone put an offer on our house. We accepted (after a few minor negotiations), and the house is now "under contract!" It's been a bit of an emotional ride, but we are so thankful for such affirmations of God's work in our lives and also for wonderful friends and family who help us negotiate all these details!