Court date news!

We just got back from a wonderful Christmas weekend at Mom and Dad's and Grandma and Grandad's in Ohio. It was a little different this year with the Lugbill clan (my maiden name) taking off today for two weeks in Brazil/Paraguay minus the Black clan, but it was still really special, it's just I keep thinking Christmas has already passed and it's still 5 days away!

We came back with an unexpected e-mail from Terra Bailey, our new family coordinator since Duni moved back to Ethiopia. Here's an excerpt from it:

"I am writing you today to inform you of a change in America World's process regarding communication of court and travel dates. AmericaWorld will now share with families their issued court dates at the time they are confirmed. Please note the following concerning court dates:

• Roughly 30% of families do not pass court on their first issued court date.
• If a family does not pass court initially, court dates are then issued approximately 1-2 months after the original court date.
• Families can expect communication from America World roughly 24-48 hours after their court date. It is our desire to contact families with the news of court as quickly as possible. America World will have no additional information to offer families until we receive confirmation from Ethiopia. Unless an urgent issue arises, we request that families refrain from contacting us regarding updates on court.Please rest assured that we will be contacting you as soon as we have any news."

Our court date is scheduled for February 2, 2009!!! If we pass, we would then expect to travel 2.5 to 4 weeks later. We should get specific tentative travel dates (was that an oxymoron?)within the next two weeks, and I'll be sure to let you know. Mark your calenders and please pray! Pray however you feel led. God knows what He's doing, but I sure hope it's in His plan for us to pass the first time; however, we have had so many friends not that we are not going into this with our eyes closed. We just want to get Selah home asap!!! Her little stash of clothes and other goodies (Mom and Dad just bought her a precious doll for Christmas!) is quickly growing...now we just need HER. I'm getting SO ready with each passing day. I just put an 8x10 up of her on one side of the fireplace mantle with the boys' framed pic on the other side. I will leave you with the verses I'm going to be repeating over and over again in the next 6 weeks:

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7

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