The Holidays are behind us and the year is in full swing. Everyday we think about . . . and pray about her. We don't know how long it will take before we get the call from the agency inviting us to make arrangements to travel.

We are continuing to pray that some of the latest developments in the region do not cause too much instability and lead to longer wait times for our adoption. With the recent separation of neighboring Serbia and Kosovo and the Albanian majority in Kosovo, the region is being watched carefully. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1957254220080219 Please continue to pray that this does not create any problems for our adoption.

I have also begun to make some progress on our travel budgets. I have contacted United Airlines which has a partnership with Austrian Air (http://www.aua.com/us/eng). The main flight to Albania is through Vienna. Deb and I will most likely need to purchase more flexible flight options, but the boys and their chaperone can fly through Vienna on a United code share flight for 50,000 - 80,000 miles (points). Since the airline is pretty rigid with timing and the boys don't need to have much flexibility in their schedule, we can use this great tool. I will have enough for one flight in my account and I have been promised another by a co-worker. I would still like to either earn enough miles or have more donated for the final ticket.

I have also begun to put some effort into collecting change and beginning to put that into the Sunshine Fund. I know that it is not much on a daily basis, but over a two year period it could end up being something of substance. Also, a big thank you to one of Deb's co-workers at T. Rowe who walked up and gave her a check last week (thank you NM!). This came as quite a surprise to Deb. She has not been vocal about the financial need behind this process. God is so good to provide for all needs.

There is still a great deal of excitement around this process. Even though we are continuing to wait, God is doing some wonderful things. He is allowing our boys to mature a bit more before Sunshine comes home. He is putting a greater burden for Small Group ministries and starting a group for Adoptive Families on my heart (I need to get one started at Mountain). And, He is encouraging us to share our Adoption story with others. So many of you have been great about asking about the progress. I wish I had more to share, but we are being patient.

Family Note: Big Congratulations to Deb’s brother David with the new job as Offensive Line Coach at West Virginia University. Go Mountaineers!!