It's all in a name.... Rickson Jinna

From the book Surviving Paradise by Peter Rudiak-Gould - page 69. (By the way, one of the best books I have ever read! If you want to know more about life on the Marshall Islands, you have to read this book. I couldn't put it down!)

"Another pastime was perusing my student's names. Better than fiberglass fishing spears or grass huts sporting solar panels, these names embodies the comingling of foreign and native. A few of the names were purely Marshallese : Jaiko, Alino, Joab, Jabdor, Rilong, Aknela, Jela, Jolopot. A few were purely English: Mike, Rosanna, Steve, Susan, Ronald, Solomon, Marshall. But most lay in a bizarre nether region between the two languages : Shisminta, Stainy, Rickson, Mickson, Bobson, Wantell, Bolta, Maston,Lobo,Rostiana, Leekey, Ranson, Brenson, Alvin, Almon, Jomly, Franty, Anty, Henty, Kenty, Hackney. "

"Cement, Superman, and Souvenir. There were rumors of villagers on other islands names Radioshack, and Tax Collector, and a father son name Typewriter and Computer."

Latest accessory for the Marshall Islands!

I mean seriously???!! All you can do is laugh! I have a stress fracture in the top of my foot. I saw the doctor last week and thanked him for squeezing me in since we would be leaving to adopt our son. He said "well, you're going to be adopting your son in a boot". It really is a nice accessory. I mean you can't beat the nice synthetic and plastic to help keep you warm. It should go really nice in a tropical environment! Hahaha... I'm going to keep laughing :)

End of a fundraiser :)

Our fundraiser was a huge success! Thanks to all of you for the support! I have my final few shirts ready to go in the mail in the morning! What a relief. It has been hard work, but worth it. The shirts were so cute and I am so glad we did this! My friend Emily did such a great job on the applique. We have had so much fun doing this together! The goal was to work on these shirts until we received our referral. Now we can concentrate on bringing Rickson home!

It's out of my control...

So, we have had some paperwork complications....ah, the world of International Adoption. We are currently in a holding pattern while we wait to hear word from the courts when our hearing will be. So far, no news. The courts have decided they now need some additional paperwork that could be difficult to obtain in the US. Our agency is trying to reach an agreement with them and in the meantime we wait. I have been so anxious and worried since I heard this. I have been feeling overwhelmed with all I have to do, yet not knowing when it needs to be done by. However, tonight when I was driving home I was listening to my praise music and I remembered something I should never forget. I am not in control! This is not in my hands. God has this all planned out, just as he had the perfect child planned for us. I just need to remember to trust and know there is no need to worry and try to handle it alone. In fact, I don't have to handle this at all, God is doing it for me. Tonight I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

It's a Boy!!!!!!

It is official! We received our referral today! Rickson Jinna was born on May 1, 2010! What an unbelievable feeling! We are so excited and feel such peace. We know this is the baby that God has had planned for us all along. We cannot wait to meet him! God is so good!