Countdown to Kids!

Well it's now one week before we travel to Ethiopia to bring Lila and Kaleb to their new home in North Carolina. Our oldest two daughters, Alexandria (18) and Mycah (15) landed in the Dominican Republic yesterday for a week long mission trip. They will return home just one day before mom and dad travel to Africa.

Grandma and Grandpa Madigan (Holly's parents) will travel in from Illinois to stay with our other children while we are away. Thank you so much Carol and Dave!

We also wanted to give praise to God for a tremendous financial gift that we received this week from someone who asked to remain anonymous. Our family was speechless. It has been so humbling to see God's hand of provision all along our faith journey. I would like to use the word "unbelievable", but then again it shouldn't be surprising to us as we serve a great God!

Today Holly, Conor, Quin and I enjoyed a great morning and afternoon celebration with several Elevation Church families on this the 4th of July. Tonight it's fireworks at Pine Lake Country Club (suppose to be a great show and it's FREE!). Our kind of entertainment.

The finale for the day (and for the next few nights) will be the annual Conor Murdock fireworks extravaganza at the Murdock Home. Conor has been our MC for a number of years and this year he is equipped with more fire power than any other year before. Go Conor! (Grandpa, I'm sure that Conor will have plenty of leftover when you and grandma arrive into Matthews) Have fun!

We are so thankful for the freedom we have in this country, the sacrifices of our forefathers, the courageous service of our military men and women and ultimately the freedom we are blessed with through Christ Jesus.

Hope you and your families have a great weekend! Thank you again for your continued prayers for our family.

Love, The Murdocks

A LITTLE MORE BREATHING ROOM

While on vacation in Cincinnati last week (visiting the Creation Museum), we learned that Lila and Kaleb's birth certificates had been delayed. These things can happen with any adoption. Especially when adopting through a third world country, even basic services (like electricity) are not always reliable. We have so much to be thankful for in the USA.

Our confirmed travel date is now July 11. We fly from Charlotte, to Washington DC, to Rome and then into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, landing on July 12. While in Addis, we will be staying at an Ethiopian Guest Home for adopting families.

Holly and I have now received our Typhoid, Polio boost and TDAP vaccines in addition to Hepatitas A and B received a few years ago when we adopted Quin from China.

Praise God for His perfect timing! Thanks again for your continued prayers!!

MOM AND DAD TO ETHIOPIA

Twenty three (23) days and counting before we land in Ethiopia! We are so excited to meet our newest children: Lila Asnakech and Kaleb Matthew. Have you ever seen two more precious children in your life?

This week we've arranged for oral typhoid and t-dap shots, started re-childproofing our home, added a new queen size bed for Quin and Lila to share, received three new dressers to hold all of the wonderful children's clothes (thank you so much to so many friends!), lined up a fun-filled weekend of additional paperwork and confirmed plane flights for Holly, Lila, Kaleb and me.

How is the rest of the Murdock clan doing?

Alexandria just graduated from Covenant Day School and will be attending Gardner Webb University this Fall on an academic scholarship, Mycah just finished 10th grade and celebrated her final awards night at Arborbrook Christian Academy, Conor just finished 7th grade and is coming home from New Life Camp in Raleigh and Quin is so excited to be a "big" sister having just turned 5 years old!(how time flies!!)

We are so blessed to have a full house of some amazing kids, and the fun is just beginning again. From 18 years old to 1 year old, we are so thankful for the richness each of our children add to our lives.

Thanks for your ongoing prayers. Praise God for His faithfulness!

The Murdocks
Pat, Holly, Alexandria, Mycah, Conor, Quin, Lila and Kaleb

INTRODUCING LILA AND KALEB

Today the authorities in Ethiopia approved our adoption paperwork for Lila (2+) and Kaleb (1+), so we can now send pictures!!!

Our tentative court date is June 30, which would have Holly and I travel to Africa during the week of June 22 to bring our children home during the week of June 29.

Now begins the final details of booking airflights, securing needed vaccines, making in-country arrangements, recruiting family to stay with our other children while we travel and a number of other "to do's".

Thank you so much for your ongoing prayers for our family and especially for our new children.

We praise God for His goodness and for those who have supported us along this journey!!!

With Love,

The Murdocks

COURT DATE

Our court date in Ethiopia has been set for May!!

If we are fortunate to have our case pass during the first hearing (about 50% do), then Holly and I will travel to Africa to bring Kaleb and Lila home 6 - 10 weeks later. (July/August timeframe)

We receive regular medical reports and picture updates of our newest children. Not that we are partial or anything, but we believe that Kaleb and Lila must be the most beautiful children in all of Ethiopia.

They both appear to be receiving lots of love and nutrition at the orphanage and we are so thankful to God for his care and provision.

Can't wait to share pictures with you. Please continue to pray for the protection and care for Kaleb and Lila.

With Love,

The Murdocks

Want to help care for orphans in Ethiopia and pick up a cool shirt?

Visit: http://www.ahopestore.org/

AND THEN AGAIN...

We have wonderful news! Last night we received a call from our case worker at Christian World Adoption letting us know that they have matched us with a little 1 year old boy and a 2 year old girl.

Because of the cautious nature of referrals and adoptions in Ethiopia, we are unable to post pictures for now...but trust us that they are so precious.

Thank you for continuing to pray for our children's protection, for their health and for their hearts as they prepare for a signficant transition.

We will keep you updated and one day be excited to introduce you to our newest family members.

We are so thankful for each of you.

MATCHING GIFT

In December our family was blessed by a Matching Gift award of $3,000 from the James Fund (a Family Christian Store Foundation). We shared this opportunity with our friends and family, and the response was incredible! Not only was the match met, but the total raised to date is over $7,400 (including the match).

Our adoption paperwork (dossier) is now in Africa and we are waiting patiently for "the call" that will tell us our family has been matched with our potential children. This can be some of the most trying time for adopting parents due to the fact that you've completed all that you can, and now you just have to wait. Timeframes can be effected by the caseload of your agency, unforeseen changes in the country's adoption policies and even weather changes (example: Monsoon season) that may close adoption offices for a period of time. 

In the meantime, we will plan to get certain shots or vaccinations that are recommended for those traveling into Ethiopia, continue to talk about names (we are considering Lila as a potential girl's name) and stay busy with everyday life stuff.

Alexandria is narrowing her college choices. Mycah is loving her first year at Arborbrook. Conor continues to serve and grow as part of the e-Kidz ministry at Elevation, and Quin keeps us on our toes as our highly inquisitive and high energy four year old!

We are still hoping to travel this Summer to bring our new children home. Thank you again for your continued prayers and support!