Legally Ours!!!

(I wrote this post yesterday but couldn't post until today due to internet connections in Africa...we are sooo blessed in the USA :)

Psalm 113
Praise the LORD.  Praise, O servants of the LORD.  Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and foevermore.  From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.  The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.  Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?  He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.  He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. 

We did it!!!  Our court day was today, and we officially passed!  I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to hear the words from the judge that he belonged to us now.  He is officially our son!  Court was a very simple and not complicated process which is nice since loads of paperwork were put into it beforehand.  We continue to visit him in the orphanage every day.  IF we get our court decree (piece of paper saying we passed court) while we are here, we will be able to take him out of the orphanage and back to our guest house for the day!  This would be completely awesome, but we are sincerely trying to give this outcome up to the Lord as He has complete control.  If we get it…yes!  If we don’t, then we will continue to visit at the orphanage, and take that as the Lord telling us that we need to love on and continue to minister precious children at his orphanage.  So many amazing opportunities to love on and minister in ways we never have.  We have a mission team staying at our guest house, and they donated supplies that we were able to take today.  Cole went out and blew bubbles….a HUGE hit with them all!  We will be bringing some on the next trip for sure :).  They also loved the soccer balls :). 

Since we have passed court, I am able to post pictures and reveal his name!!!  So……his name is Micai Addisu Espenschied.  Addisu (pronounced a-dee-sue) was his given name by the police officer that responded to whoever found him.  It means, “the new one.”  Micai (pronounced mick-kie) is short for Micaiah, a prophet from the Old Testament.  I read the name long before we knew we were adopting and thought it was such a cool and ethnic name.  I had no idea what the Lord had in store :).  It stuck with me, and the Lord reminded me of it again, before we found out we were getting a baby boy :).  We will be calling him both Micai and Cai for short.  Cai means, “rejoice.”  Total meaning being, “rejoice in the new one.”  Just felt like this meaning was meant just for him J. 

So, let me officially introduce you to our sweet Micai…..

The last pic is of us after court!  So exciting!  We are just so in love with our sweet Cai guy :)  Hoping to continue to post more pics soon!  Love to you all and thanks for the prayers...we feel them!