tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42358288725936821332024-03-20T00:19:24.334-07:00The Tarr Family AdventuresDevon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-18155110840127436802011-07-08T11:57:00.000-07:002011-07-08T12:14:07.159-07:00One Year Ago<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZAfHvkeTdFUV8EOw_UXtmj1rQ-OdhCX2Z8jRgenQ0loWW2YgLwkgE0oUmryxQTNxqxGuqVnLfjwzObEND9Od3Yk8B_T7YAKFYU16kT-m2S6jVnZU_1r1AtXukOYBx5dmE9_Z9BwAAeQ/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZAfHvkeTdFUV8EOw_UXtmj1rQ-OdhCX2Z8jRgenQ0loWW2YgLwkgE0oUmryxQTNxqxGuqVnLfjwzObEND9Od3Yk8B_T7YAKFYU16kT-m2S6jVnZU_1r1AtXukOYBx5dmE9_Z9BwAAeQ/s320/IMG_2785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627061882235754962" /></a><br />One year ago I was walking on clouds because I was days away from meeting and holding our Brielle for the first time. I was in awe that our Sovereign Lord had chosen our 9th anniversary, July 20th, as our court date and praying it would be favorable. I was imagining what the day in and day out of life would look like with four kids, one of them being Ethiopian American. I was wondering how our life would change and how much richer it would be. I was thinking about the culmination of years of paperwork and waiting coming to its climax. <div><br /></div><div>Today, and every day, I praise the Lord when I hear that sweet little voice calling "Mommy!" I smile with delight at her happy demeanor and energetic voice. I am thankful that she's growing like a weed and talking up a storm. I am overwhelmed at the grace of God daily when I see her play and dance, eat and drink, and walk around continuously in someone else's shoes or her flip-flops which she pronounces "eesops". She is such a gift and the labor that it took to bring her home makes her nearness all the more precious. This year has gone by faster than I ever imagined and my thankfulness for her life and adoption has only increased day by day.</div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-40397960328442160102011-03-05T18:10:00.000-08:002011-03-05T18:27:38.935-08:00Brielle is 2!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhGbRAkfDxvU3ciB8dAt6En1Z4_6Nlj3oso6AwyrJEcwKCMN6LUCNxwMF4e-g_K99FN3S92iwSKMMXRJWVLzZE-YxcZozXSU5_QRys7ChE7lCXjAcxKRGOwNucJHIk70XXzhY75aMSkE/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhGbRAkfDxvU3ciB8dAt6En1Z4_6Nlj3oso6AwyrJEcwKCMN6LUCNxwMF4e-g_K99FN3S92iwSKMMXRJWVLzZE-YxcZozXSU5_QRys7ChE7lCXjAcxKRGOwNucJHIk70XXzhY75aMSkE/s320/IMG_2383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580787465802481202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tSMUL-WP2R9fW6ces-1wzyyJB_ANiuchWbXtWv-QQWyOXiDZewoB0qQBf0Y1AKNfQNiOjXBL_aIRnMeoonKunlU6A1AXDF-Ti6dDr1kURdC8rS1JMK-r3G7dPfqsgmTZPIAJikzL_Ws/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tSMUL-WP2R9fW6ces-1wzyyJB_ANiuchWbXtWv-QQWyOXiDZewoB0qQBf0Y1AKNfQNiOjXBL_aIRnMeoonKunlU6A1AXDF-Ti6dDr1kURdC8rS1JMK-r3G7dPfqsgmTZPIAJikzL_Ws/s320/IMG_2400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580787202903133922" /></a><br />Brielle turned 2 on Feb 2nd! She was full of excitement at her princess birthday. She shrieks with delight when she is excited about something, and the house was full of exclamation that day. Our girl is growing too! We just took her to her 2 year old check up and she has caught up to the 50% from the 5% she was at the time we brought her home. She is talking in sentences now and wanting to start potty training. She wants to be fully included in whatever the older kids are doing. She also loves to say her name and the names of everyone in our family. I love hearing her say over and over, "Mommy, Daddy, Sissy, Bubba, Bubby, Brielle!" Her eyes are full of sparkle and she is thriving. I could not be more thankful and full of joy, and yet her very presence is a daily reminder of those across the nation and world who do not yet have a family to call their own. I find myself weeping in prayer often over those children even as I laugh with our beloved one. We are still battling both ringworm and impetigo, but these are minor things (though they are so contagious and persistent they are hard to conquer). As I now have two 2 year olds and am homeschooling my 2nd grader and preschooler I feel like when I wake up I blink and its time to go to bed. I am trying to capture these moments with the camera of my heart though as I know one day I'll say that it felt like I blinked and they were all grown up. What an honor it is to be "mommy" to so many precious ones!Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-80763555995760623832011-01-13T17:45:00.000-08:002011-01-13T17:53:38.709-08:00Our Adoption Testimony for Show Hope<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKGHums7MYYlPD6oFCt3qPkX6eXXAT1hXl8HOyFdhEPy1LRugyXmeeALvRBUYI4xquWyCxxTwfqAmeXMAtJuvunEP24vScZwXHSeY0AdFN8_CnCJ0wt-QNo7wEyV4_iZkOypMU1uzp-E/s1600/IMG_2282.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKGHums7MYYlPD6oFCt3qPkX6eXXAT1hXl8HOyFdhEPy1LRugyXmeeALvRBUYI4xquWyCxxTwfqAmeXMAtJuvunEP24vScZwXHSeY0AdFN8_CnCJ0wt-QNo7wEyV4_iZkOypMU1uzp-E/s320/IMG_2282.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561853095041721074" /></a><br />We finally sent in our adoption testimony to Show Hope for the wonderful blessing of the grant they gave us that helped fund our adoption. We wanted to share it here on our blog as well. We also just celebrated our first American Christmas and Ethiopian Christmas with Brielle. She is still doing so well, and I am daily overwhelmed with thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift that he has given us in her. <div><br /></div><div> Our Adoption Testimony</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Just days after our engagement in December of 2000, Nathan and I began to dream about what our family might one day look like. Both coming from large families,we were excited about having lots of children. We knew that adoption would be one of the ways that the Lord would grow our family in His perfect timing. Nathan grew up with a brother adopted from Vietnam and had experienced the miracle of adoption and way it blesses all who experience it. I had traveled to Kenya and experienced the Lordʼs heart for the children there and had taken several classes at Wheaton College regarding third world issues and the plight of the worldʼs orphans. Little did we know that on July 20th 2010, our ninth wedding anniversary, and exactly ten years to the date of my trip to Kenya, we would be in Ethiopia in a little court room, having a judge pronounce that our precious Bire (Brielle) was now officially our daughter (becoming our 4th child). What an amazing anniversary gift from the Lord!</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b> The story our daughterʼs name and the dates surrounding her adoption still </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>overwhelm me every time I think about them. They are a manifestation of the intimate </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>knowledge and perfect love and leadership of the Lord over each of our lives even in </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>the midst of devastating circumstances. The beauty of adoption is that when there </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>seems to be no future and no hope, God provides a future and a hope in Himself--so </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>often through His Body. We felt led to begin the adoption process in January of 2009. </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>We spent months of research and prayer regarding the country and agency we were to </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>pursue. We were accepted to America Worldʼs Ethiopia program in April of 2009, </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>pursuing a girl 0-18 months. Shortly after we began the process, we decided on the </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>name Brielle for our daughter. We loved that it means “God is my strength” and began </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>praying for our daughter by name every day. When we we received our referral call for </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>a 15 month old baby girl a year later on May 20th, 2010, we were shocked when our </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>family coordinator began spelling her Ethiopian name B-I-R-E--pronounced “Brie”. We </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>were truly in awe of our God and the fact that we had been praying for our daughter </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>literally by name for over a year-even before she was orphaned! Our show hope grant </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>enabled us to accept her referral immediately. As a pastoral family with limited income, </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Lordʼs provision through this ministry blessed us tremendously! When Brielle became </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>our daughter on our anniversary--a date chosen by the Ethiopian judge--there could not </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>be any greater confirmation that this was indeed the daughter God had chosen for us. </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>We can not wait to tell her of the love of God for her in this way as she grows up. He </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>truly has our days written in his book before one of them comes to be. His fingerprints </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>are on every single detail! </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><b><br /></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b> We were able to bring Brielle home on August 20th of 2010. Due to Ethiopiaʼs </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>two trip policy we spent about half the summer traveling and the other half packing and </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>unpacking. We were so thankful to finally have our whole family together! We had </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>been prepared in adopting a toddler for a challenging transition, but things could not </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>have gone more smoothly! She is one of the happiest and most delightful and engaging </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>little girls I have ever met! She brings daily joy to our family and all who know her. One </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>would never guess now that she was ever malnourished or had battled malaria multiple </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>times! She often looks around at all the loving faces surrounding her--family and </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>friends--several of whom have also been adopted and blessed by Show Hope--squints </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>her eyes, scrunches up her nose, puts a HUGE smile on her face and does a happy </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>dance! </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b><br /></b></p></div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-66940512512484507782010-10-22T17:42:00.000-07:002010-10-22T17:47:29.880-07:00Reflections on the Heart of God in AdoptionMy husband wrote an amazing blog this summer as we were preparing to travel to bring Brielle home. It spoke perfectly the things my heart and mind had been meditating on with regards to how our adoption process has been a window into God's own heart and adoption plan. Here is the link to his post entitled "The Second Trip" <a href="http://brushep.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/the-second-trip/#comments">http://brushep.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/the-second-trip</a>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-87078298478611358482010-10-15T17:38:00.000-07:002010-10-15T18:03:11.738-07:00Our Health Insurance Ordeal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnkhUVUkSd8rpn_146vyJCpTnGgVtu6NpCbolty4xrMA3rECXrRCdU9uwaexQ3MfSQhD49_qsOaKhNNHqgnWzYys6ZPtXo1bdSbfdnkoFKO3OzYmYNVf8qbaeq78IwS9aCSKtHCOaIZY/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnkhUVUkSd8rpn_146vyJCpTnGgVtu6NpCbolty4xrMA3rECXrRCdU9uwaexQ3MfSQhD49_qsOaKhNNHqgnWzYys6ZPtXo1bdSbfdnkoFKO3OzYmYNVf8qbaeq78IwS9aCSKtHCOaIZY/s320/IMG_1906.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528443107301715874" /></a><br />I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since we brought our precious Brielle home! The time has flown by, and she is adjusting so well to our family! I am so thankful she knows she is loved and taken care of, and she picks up everything so quickly. She is truly a master imitator which means that when my boys do things like "forget" their table manners, she jumps in right along with them banging her spoon and making buzzing noises. She still does the cutest little shoulder shaking dance when she is excited and lets out piercing squeals of delight.<div><br /></div><div>Our biggest struggle thus far has been battling some oozing infections on her head that the doctors believe to be impetigo but could possibly be fungal in nature. She also still has diarrhea everyday leading to may diaper and out fit changes. The main reason I have not been able to put a stop to all this nonsense except by giving her antibiotics and a thorough, painful routine of picking through her hair and putting cream on all her sores is that we have been having a horrific ordeal with our health insurance company. We were told that she would be added from day 1, but being an individual family plan in Tennessee she had to go through medical underwriting which we assumed would not be a big deal since she has no chronic illness. Also, I had falsely been led to believe by several health insurance informational sites that they would be required to pay for the first 31 days of her being home. Unfortunately this is for group plans only which are regulated at the federal level and not at the State like ours. Tennessee has very few restrictions on what insurance companies may and may not do. Therefore when our company came back and said that because she was not up to date on all immunizations (being from Ethiopia where many are not available) it would be $700 extra per month to add her on in addition to what we are paying for the rest of us (which is around $400 total). The Healthcare bill is a playing a huge role in this amount! My mouth dropped as the implications of this catch 22 became evident: we would now be saddled with an $800 dollar bill from initial doctor's visits and vaccines that occurred before we found this out. Of course our small church can not afford to pay $700/month extra and of course we can not pay this huge medical bill now, but we are trusting in the Lord and praying that our doctor's office will by chance have mercy and lower the amount we now owe them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully, there is a program called Cover Kids Tennessee for lower income families whose kids are unable to get health insurance. We just found out yesterday that beginning Nov. 1st, she will be covered by this insurance and it will most likely mean less out of pocket than our other insurance. Praise the Lord! Perhaps in a year we will apply again once she is caught up on all her vaccinations and then hopefully be added on for no additional cost. </div><div><br /></div><div>All that said--I can't wait for Nov. 1st so I can take her in and get her labs done and scalp cultured if we manage to not be able to rid this infection before then! To all of you who are adopting and have group health insurance consider yourself very blessed. If it's individual coverage you have---make sure you know your State's laws regarding adopted children. Tennessee has no protection for adopted children in this regard. I pray that this changes in the future, but for now, I am thankful for His provision through Cover Kids.</div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-71243566539980838592010-09-15T20:17:00.000-07:002010-09-15T20:38:22.279-07:00Our Family CheerleaderBrielle is adjusting amazingly well! She is such a happy girl! I love that the first word we knew she understood is "kisses". Within a few days of being home, when she heard the word "kisses" she would either blow a kiss or kiss us on the cheek. I love that the first thing she really understood is that she is loved! She is very affectionate with her family but not so with strangers which is a really good sign in terms of attachment. She is friendly with people, but does her nervous expression which happens to be sticking her tongue out and moving it around. All of her pictures of her homecoming have her tongue out! Her first week with us in Ethiopia, she was extremely subdued and quiet. We had heard she was one of the happiest little ones in her room, but we had yet to see what they meant. Now we know they were right. She is so full of life and not quiet AT ALL. In fact, she gets so excited about everything and exclaims very loudly squeals of delight with lots of hand clapping, waving, and shoulder shaking. Well maybe not shoulder shaking quite so much, but she does love to dance, and for all those who know anything about Ethiopian dance--it is all about the shoulders, so we'll have to show her some of the moves as she grows up. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Brielle is now saying several words and even 2 word phrases such as Bye-bye Dada as she waves to him going to work as well as "up", "mama" and "pup-pa" for our new puppy. Yes we did just get a new puppy 2 days ago just in case things weren't new and exciting enough already--more about that next post. </div><div><div> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We are still dealing with her impetigo which keeps popping up on her scalp and are about to start round two of antibiotics. I ended up bringing ringworm home from Ethiopia, so the two of us have been itching like crazy! Thankfully my sores are starting to clear up and hopefully hers will soon too. I've had her on soy toddler formula to give her a break from lactose while she was having diarrhea and it seems to have helped. I am hoping she is not permanently lactose intolerant, but we shall see. For now, I'm just thankful I'm not having to change her outfits 4 times a day anymore. </div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Somehow, I have begun homeschool with my daughter Kendra and am praying the Lord gives me amazing grace and strategy to accomplish everything I need to. There are literally not enough hours in the day, but somehow they must all be done! I feel like I am being stretched beyond my limits, but know that the Lord is expanding me in so many ways for His Glory and my maturity! I love that His mercies and strength are new every morning!</div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-64555887073332790812010-09-01T19:09:00.001-07:002010-09-01T19:25:17.625-07:00We're Home with our Brielle!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQhKWZ2ER_fjcMYkFnxg1eJ2DV72fJq1-1_we0D1V9GaQzIDj8mC5olREIyy1gPra7fX4jRU7s7eivcWseA1bKKHSkPfUQGYmWEo52BPZdr_v0EoBoovq9SRiwWXhUDwER7MCP2OgTAI/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQhKWZ2ER_fjcMYkFnxg1eJ2DV72fJq1-1_we0D1V9GaQzIDj8mC5olREIyy1gPra7fX4jRU7s7eivcWseA1bKKHSkPfUQGYmWEo52BPZdr_v0EoBoovq9SRiwWXhUDwER7MCP2OgTAI/s320/IMG_1686.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512135922251948050" /></a><br />This has been a whirlwind month! Only 2 weeks after we returned home, we got a phone call that we were cleared for embassy on the 18th and left a few days later! We were so blessed to get an embassy date less than one month from our court date! We have been home for a week and a half now and Brielle is doing great. She is so precious and fitting right into our family. She has struggled with some sickness since being home but is doing better and sleeping and eating well. She knows the word "kisses" and loves giving them to her mommy and daddy and brothers and sister. She also waves when I say hi or bye and seems to be understanding things pretty quickly. We are enjoying her exploring everything and taking great laugh out loud delight in the simplest of things like the swing in our backyard. We are so thankful to the Lord for the gift of her life. My mom and sister were able to be here for the first week which was very special a HUGE blessing in so many ways. My sons both got croup and my youngest one was extremely sick, so between Brielle and Bryan, we spent 3 out of 5 days at the doctor's office. Thankfully everyone is feeling better and we are getting a taste of what our new "normal" as a family is like. I feel like I'm sprinting to catch up with the rest of life that was put on hold during this last month, but I couldn't be more grateful for the fabulous end to our adoption process and this wonderful new beginning with our Ethiopian princess!Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-33973361069864191852010-08-04T12:07:00.000-07:002010-08-04T12:22:43.036-07:00We passed Court and hope to bring Brielle HOME SOON!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD40IBXdSzjfT520a4j7uCpwZLm7DFCvAFKXoYutcY4SS_BIwcVPgQXzsmVe7uuNzD0HzJwuGcpMJJWzjadyc6kfp2s-CwXdNDtRQ7r1L-z0AFODVMbPIl97WEyeOEeGBpPvYeNbV1wWM/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD40IBXdSzjfT520a4j7uCpwZLm7DFCvAFKXoYutcY4SS_BIwcVPgQXzsmVe7uuNzD0HzJwuGcpMJJWzjadyc6kfp2s-CwXdNDtRQ7r1L-z0AFODVMbPIl97WEyeOEeGBpPvYeNbV1wWM/s320/IMG_1575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501637087275309682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvQfuUtZqCHMku5n49XTz667mDAoDJm08sdYlwTnpS3MIBvu8PY4T9O4Q6h_lZjvF0xeQ0NB5zzkUJxu-3YiiOnFaMwWjuuVpJfIokWP59OWwi3XViYypEG5GtqTn9bDK_RmCWifv47Y/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvQfuUtZqCHMku5n49XTz667mDAoDJm08sdYlwTnpS3MIBvu8PY4T9O4Q6h_lZjvF0xeQ0NB5zzkUJxu-3YiiOnFaMwWjuuVpJfIokWP59OWwi3XViYypEG5GtqTn9bDK_RmCWifv47Y/s320/IMG_1596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501637078069296130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkCztGO9xRGD1Bhv47u_g6vrrIoadKTqtrh-SutGwepGP1NhvKAewGjNCDfqR8WoYnZm_e_KaXJFYTmZXx82bLETyIITmNHXKrCfXgGzz1KaQPEGj2r19xdvuA819up01n-6we1T4iNs/s1600/IMG_1579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkCztGO9xRGD1Bhv47u_g6vrrIoadKTqtrh-SutGwepGP1NhvKAewGjNCDfqR8WoYnZm_e_KaXJFYTmZXx82bLETyIITmNHXKrCfXgGzz1KaQPEGj2r19xdvuA819up01n-6we1T4iNs/s320/IMG_1579.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501637071564395026" /></a><br />Wow! It has been a whirlwind month! We are so thankful that on our 9th anniversary our precious Brielle officially/legally became our daughter---an orphan no more! She is an absolute joy and delight and we loved every minute with her. I miss her so much! I will write more about our trip very soon. One of the reasons I haven't been able to yet is that we will most likely be going back in a matter of weeks and are getting ready like crazy! We believe that our paperwork was submitted to the embassy today, so depending on how fast we get clearance and how many spots are available, we will either be leaving in 1 1/2 or 3 1/2 weeks. There are many reasons we are praying to go sooner rather than later, but once again we rest in the Lord's timing and trust He knows best! Thank you for your prayers and as soon as I am able I will write about our trip!Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-55759687290336919252010-07-03T18:33:00.000-07:002010-07-03T18:49:11.389-07:00We have a COURT DATE!!!!I was beyond excited when the phone rang a little after noon on Friday, July 2nd with news that we had our court date. My jaw dropped once again with this second, big news call from our agency (the first being our referral), when I heard what the date was--July 20th-our anniversary. It will be 9 years since we've been married and 10 years exactly since I was first in Africa on our family's trip to Kenya. The Lord did so much in my heart then both towards Nathan and the people of East Africa. It could not be more perfect that we are getting such an amazing anniversary gift from the Lord!! <div><br /></div><div>I am also considering this my BEST early birthday present this year as I am turning 30 on July 5th and was really hoping and praying that I would hear by my birthday. Of course, I so trust the Lord's timing and knew it would be perfect regardless, but the fact that He gave me this gift brings me to tears over and over again. His ways are so amazing! There is no one like our God!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I got the call and had only an hour to get flights found and confirmed by our agency before the holiday weekend! I was only a little stressed--:) but thankfully our good family friend Colleen Reagan who is a travel agent dropped everything she was doing and helped find us great flights. We travelled with her family to Kenya in 2000 and it is very special that she has now had a hand in our adoption. It's super expensive to fly to anywhere in the summer, much less Ethiopia, but we have enough for this first trip, and I know the Lord will provide for the second! We are leaving July 15th and returning on the 25th! We are planning on taking a two day trip down to the Awassa area the 22-23 and will work out all the the details of our trip with our agency early next week. </div><div><br /></div><div>These next 12 days until we get on a plane are going to be CRAZY busy! I want to enjoy every minute with my precious ones here at home because I know I will miss them so much. It was so hard to leave Kendra and Carson when we went to Croatia in 2008, and I know this will be no different leaving all three. However, I know they will be in excellent hands, and I am very excited to have an anniversary trip with Nathan that includes getting to hold and play with Brielle and have her grafted so perfectly into our family! </div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-8868898156792347142010-06-26T18:13:00.000-07:002010-06-26T18:28:26.077-07:00He's turned my mourning into dancing!He's turned my mourning into dancing again! He's lifted my sorrow. I can't stay silent. I must SING for His joy has come!<div><br /></div><div>On Friday morning, June 25th, after an intense afternoon and night of prayer for Brielle after finding out she had malaria and still no news on the birth certificate, I woke up with great peace in my spirit. I had been told by my family coordinator that I would hear some news about the status of the birth certificate--or at least news about when they might find out news :) per my emailed request. I had really been praying that I would hear that it was found by Friday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Several hours into the morning, I checked my email (for the 6th time I admit) and saw a big heading: SUBMITTED FOR COURT I opened it and it said that all our documentation ie. birth certificate was in and our papers had been submitted for court. I immediately started screaming Thank you Jesus!!!! at the top of my lungs over and over with my hands raised in the air. My kids all had their ears covered and I was trying to convince them I was really REALLY HAPPY!!! It was such an amazing gift to my heart. This means that we will hear within a week or two when our court date is and can start planning for our trip. It should be sometime in July--most likely mid. We are so excited!!</div><div><br /></div><div>This morning (Sat.) I woke up and had a message from Ashlie Fulmer, a dear adoption friend from AWAA that is over in Ethiopia for the summer to volunteer at the transition home and spend time with her baby boy that she is adopting. She had gotten to see the 1 year olds and said that Brielle looked completely healthy and happy. She was smiling and doing all the hand motions to the games/songs that the nannies were doing and looked great. This news thrilled my heart!! I had done some research on the medicine she was on for malaria-Coartem-and supposedly it is the very best and works in 3 days. I know the Lord's hand is on her and can't wait to get over and love on my girl!</div><div><br /></div><div>Truly no eye has seen nor ear heard any God like ours who works on behalf of those who wait for Him!</div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-21843493111126675972010-06-24T18:21:00.000-07:002010-06-24T18:49:19.418-07:00Waiting on the Lord for a court date<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">Psalm 27:13-14 "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" </span><div><br /></div><div>As we are still waiting on the Lord to bring the birth certificate for Brielle so that we can receive a court date, my heart takes refuge in the perfect plan and timing of the Lord. In my spirit I am at peace with knowledge that it will come at the right time. There is a day and a time that only the Lord knows when we will meet Brielle for the first time....then when she becomes legally ours.....then when we get to bring her home. All these moments are known by God and set in his plan. I trust Him with all my heart!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>This trust and peace is accompanied by a groan and longing that is too deep for words.... Many tears have been sown in this season of waiting. I believe I am receiving a taste of the longing of the Heavenly Father for his children. I am so in awe of the picture that adoption is of the heart and reality of God. Experiencing the adoption process is like diving into the depths of God's love. Even though the agony of longing unfulfilled right now is great, the joy that will surely come will be much greater. I love meditating on the reality that one day there will be no more sickness and pain, and God will wipe away every tear from my eyes. The One who my heart longs for Most of all--my beloved Jesus will be with me in Glory and Fullness--never to be separated again. These windows into his heart are precious to me and bring me great comfort in my yearning.</div><div><br /></div><div> Even now my baby girl is sick with malaria on the other side of the world and it breaks my heart that I can not hold her and comfort her and lay my hands on her as I pray. I am thankful that the Lord has sent doctors and nannies and America World Adoption friends to do those things. I believe that angels are ministering to her as well. I found at stat that said that every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria. Truly the Lord has his hand upon this precious one and has spared her life. He has a great and awesome destiny for her on the earth. Praise the Lord she was able to receive immediate medicine and medical attention! </div><div><br /></div><div>Please pray with us that she would recover quickly and fully and that the agency representative that has been sent to expedite our birth certificate would come back with it in hand and a speedy court date would be set. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">Ps 33: 18-22 "Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul form death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love be upon us O Lord, even as we hope in you."</span></div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-61037109381906400512010-05-20T19:31:00.000-07:002010-05-20T19:42:47.745-07:00Happy Referral Day!!!!!We could not be more excited that today we had the blessing of getting a referral for a beautiful 15 month old baby girl! She has the most beautiful smile in her pictures! She is so precious and beautiful and her name is actually a few letters rearranged from the name the Lord gave us for her--Brielle. We don't know what it means in her native language, but as far as I can tell online, in other languages, it might actually be derived from Gabriel (which is what Brielle) is derived from and means "God is my might!" How amazing is that?!!! I can't actually post her name or pictures until we pass court which I hope will be sometime in July. We will be traveling for court and should find out exactly when in a couple of weeks. My heart has felt like it was about to be torn from longing to see her face and know who she is the past couple of days. How sweet of the Lord to bring our referral today. It couldn't have been more perfect timing. We get to celebrate with all of the Tarr family this weekend, and then my parents are coming into town next week for my Dad's and Carson's birthdays. What a glorious time of celebration. Please pray for Brielle's health as she is on nutritional rehabilitation for malnourishment and just recovered from pneumonia. I can't wait to be able to give updates as we get them. We are hoping one of the families traveling next month will be able to take pictures of her and a care package. Thank you for your prayers and support this whole process. We are so blessed!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-1341849415181842162010-05-06T19:39:00.001-07:002010-05-06T19:45:43.533-07:00We are Next in line for a Referral!Well, as far as we know, we are #1 on the referral list for our baby girl. The two precious families in front of us both received theirs today. I can't believe it! I am so excited to finally see who our Brielle is, but I trust the Lord's perfect timing. Once we get our referral, we will travel to Ethiopia approximately 4-6 weeks later for our court date. We will then return home and wait 4-12 weeks for the US embassy to process their own investigations and clear us for her visa. We will then return and get to FINALLY bring her home with us! Please pray for all the details to go smoothly and for peace and joy as we continue to wait.Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-25584660114368880942010-04-09T18:39:00.000-07:002010-04-09T18:49:34.587-07:00We are ON DECK!!!We got a very fun email today from our adoption agency telling us that we are officially On Deck for a referral. This means we should expect to know who our daughter is sometime within the next 3 months!! It could happen this month, but since we are still 4th on the waiting list, I think it's safer to guess it will be next month for us. We'll see!! On a fun note, I got down a blanket I began knitting 6 years ago after I had Kendra and had put up on a shelf after only doing a small amount. I felt compelled to get it down today and begin making it for Brielle! It was so amazing to get the on deck email today as a confirmation that the Lord really was prompting me that it is time to start preparing for her. The time will be here before we know it. <div><br /></div><div>On that note, I am so thankful we went ahead and got our necessary vaccines for the travel. Unfortunately it was 8 shots for me and 6 for Nathan! I actually fainted shortly after and still can not lift my arms in the air without pain, but it was a labor of love. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>We will still most likely need to take 2 trips to Ethiopia unless something changes again. I doubt we will make the cut off date for only taking 1 trip. The Lord knows his plans for us, and they will be perfect!</div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-31781979982233096662010-03-13T18:20:00.001-08:002010-03-13T18:39:57.642-08:00We will be taking TWO Trips to Ethiopia this year!!!!We just received the news this week that the Ethiopian government has made a new law this past week requiring that families appear at "court" to testify to their willingness and commitment to adopt their child. This means that we will need to now travel 2-6 weeks after receiving a referral for about a week and then return home while the US Embassy processes our daughter's visa. <div><br /><div>The embassy has also stated that they are going to be doing more extensive investigations into each case due to some recent allegations regarding certain adoptions and agencies (not ours) that have been in the news lately. All of these measures will ensure that Ethiopia stays open and continues to be a great place to adopt from. However this means, our time between trips will be approximately 2-3 months. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are parts of this news that is challenging in areas like finances and logistics. The hardest thing might be spending a week with our daughter and then not getting to take her home with us the first time. I know we will have a better understanding of the heart of Jesus longing to return NOW for His bride, but knowing that it is necessary and right for it to happen in its perfect time.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are excited that we will get to meet our daughter earlier than we would have otherwise and will get to spend a whole week with her and the other children there. We will get to spend more time getting to know Addis Ababa and Ethiopia and will have life changing adventures I'm sure. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's possible we could get our referral in the next couple of months, so we need to start getting our shots and thinking through the first trip, as the moment we get the Big Call, life will turn into a whirlwind to make all the arrangements and prepare in a matter of weeks!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Our hearts desire is that we would be able to pass court before it closes at the end of August. While reading comments posted on our yahoo group, I've seen that you can pass court the first time or not for many times. It all just depends on things that are totally outside of our control. We rest in that fact that this will all happen according to God's perfect timing!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers. We are greatly in need of them!</div></div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-73592792398457992002010-01-19T19:22:00.000-08:002010-01-19T19:50:47.305-08:00We're now #4 and some thoughts on the EarthquakeThere is a family who just received their referral after 8 months and a week waiting. Previously it has been 9-11 months wait time for infant girls. We are now 4th on the known list for a referral for a girl. While there are surely some families we are unaware of, it seems realistic that our wait time will be under 9 months and that is exciting. I am trying to get as much done in many different areas of my life as possible during these last months of waiting. My heart wants the wait to be over, but the rest of me knows I have plenty to keep me busy in the mean time. <div><br /></div><div>My heart has been very tender this week with the news of the Haiti earthquake and all that has ensued. I have personal friends who will be leaving within a week to serve there and a part of me wants to join them. The other part of me would rather do anything but go. It has been exactly 16 years since my house was destroyed in the Northridge earthquake and my life was turned upside down in a matter of seconds. By God's grace in having wonderful American engineering our house did not collapse but was close. So there is a part of what happened in Haiti that hits so close to home and at the same time does not even compare to the devastation of what is happening there. Even though I had to move overnight, my family was safe and we were able to move into our grandparents home in Nevada where we received new clothes and were cared for. It was still traumatic to escape my destroyed home and never see it again, to not get to say good-bye to all my friends and to change schools mid year in middle school. Yet my faith in the Lord Jesus-as the unshakeable one-who promised to use this for Good in my life as I trusted him was the greatest gift of all. He was my anchor of hope in the midst of a great shaking. My hope and prayer for the people of Haiti is that they will find that same hope and reality in God that I experienced. Though there suffering is so much greater than mine ever was, the Hope of God's Word and presence is just as real and powerful for them as it was for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>To this day I hate earthquakes. Each time I have experienced one since the "big one", I think they are about to give me a heart attack. They terrify me and remind me how fast life can change--how quickly everything can be turned upside down. Yet I sing everyday, "Even though the mountains are shaken, even though they may fall in the sea, my heart will not fear. I will not be afraid, for the Lord my God is with me." This is the greater truth that I know will enable me to face whatever shakings still lie ahead of me. This is is the gut wrenching cry I have in my heart for the people of Haiti. This is the only refuge that will endure. </div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-35259244202557498492009-12-15T10:31:00.000-08:002009-12-15T10:44:19.170-08:00We're moving up the waiting list!Well, on the "unofficial" list of our agency's yahoo group, we are now 6th in line for an infant girl referral. This does not take into account families that we may not be aware of that are not a part of this group, and thus we can not really use it to estimate our referral date, but it is still exciting to move up the list! <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is very helpful and encouraging to read the posts of all the families who are different stages in their adoptions. I am seeing both the joys and the difficult trials that we may face in the days ahead and am asking the Lord for grace upon these families who are walking a few steps ahead of or behind us as well as upon our family during this process. It still amazes me that we have our entire adoption costs almost completely covered!</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Speaking of adoption costs, there is a wonderful family that have adopted a baby girl from Ethiopia and are now starting their second adoption for an older child. They are the Gibsons and they are having a great t-shirt fundraiser as well as a Christmas Give Away that ends today. I think I might have to buy a t-shirt myself. I really like them, and it would be a great way to give towards another family's adoption. I would encourage you to check out their blog. They are trying to make it an inspiring and encouraging resource for those who are considering or already on an adoption journey of their own. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will attach the link where you can buy an awesome adoption t-shirt and/or enter to win: <a href="http://mycrazyadoption.org/crazy-christmas-t-shirt-giveaway-last-one-of-the-year">Christmas GiveAway Adoption Blog</a></div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-42813765407775013282009-11-04T18:35:00.000-08:002009-11-04T18:40:22.273-08:00We received a $3000 adoption grant today!We have some exciting news! We received a letter in the mail today saying that Show Hope is awarding us a $3000 adoption grant! We are so thankful to the Lord for His provision through this ministry. We are now within $1200-4500 (depending on travel costs) of having our entire adoption provided for. It is so exciting to be able to echo and now speak as our own testimony what we have heard and clung to as we began this process--The Lord provides miraculously for adoptions! Thank you for your prayers. We are so encouraged as we wait upon Him to bring us the daughter he has picked out to be a part of our family.Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-45597973924031813922009-10-25T11:49:00.000-07:002009-10-25T12:04:31.984-07:00Help us Fund our Adoption by Joining Blastoff!The blastoff network has officially launched! Here is the link to my homepage: <a href="http://my.blastoffnetwork.com/devontarr">my.blastoffnetwork.com/devontarr</a>! The first day the invitation service was activated, so many people were trying to log on that their load balancer for their services exploded and everything was down for the better part of a day. I'm sorry if you were trying to join at this time and it wasn't working! Things seem to be up and running great now and we hope that people will be excited about joining even though it's brand new and people haven't heard of it. Pizza Hut is going to start marketing it soon on all their pizza boxes, so the word should begin spreading fast. For those of you who are reading my blog for the first time, the Blastoff Network is a new internet company offering a customizable homepage where you can do lots of fun things and save significant money when you shop online from over 400 major retailers. Also, when you share the network with your friends, you get a small percentage of anything they purchase through the site and of anything their friends purchase up to the 10th degree of separation. This means if people begin to understand how significant this could be and join through you or someone that can be traced to you, a large network can be built that might yield some significant extra income. <div><br /></div><div>We are going to use anything we make from this to complete our adoption! It has been over a month since we sent in our dossier to Ethiopia, and we are 9th in line in our agency (that we know of) for a baby girl and 20th for a referral in general. We are still expecting to receive our referral sometime next summer. Our desire is that we would have everything taken care of before the courts close next year, but we trust the Lord's perfect timing to bring Brielle (the name we have chosen for her) into our family!</div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-7701533059583235482009-10-20T18:02:00.000-07:002009-10-22T09:23:54.259-07:00Blastoff is Launching Oct. 22nd!We just got word that Blastoff is launching in two days Oct. 22nd at 12 noon central time! This is exciting because it means that you will now be able to go to my blastoff homepage at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><a href="http://my.blastoffnetwork.com/devontarr">my.blastoffnetwork.com/devontarr</a></span> any time after 12 noon Oct. 22nd and sign up to get your own homepage so that you can start sending it to all your friends. If you are interested in knowing more information, please send me an email at devon720@yahoo.com Pizza hut has a contract with Blastoff to start marketing it on Oct. 27th, so there will 5 days before any one else is able to start marketing it to get the word out first.<div><br /></div><div>As far as our adoption goes, we are now one month into the wait since our dossier made it to Ethiopia and are excited at how fast it seems to have gone. We have been brought much to do and accomplish during this wait which we trust will help the time seem faster than it really is. We are having fun being part of our adoption agency's yahoo group for families in process of adoption from Ethiopia. We are seeing what the needs are to pray over and rejoice in everyday. There is a real community fostered in this way that we are excited to be a part of!</div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-77034209828396317212009-10-11T12:56:00.000-07:002009-10-11T13:07:58.520-07:00Another Blastoff Update! (and the FCF camping trip)We just got back from the first annual Forerunner Christian Fellowship campout. We had a great time at the Castle Ministries lodge and grounds about 45 min. outside Knoxville. The kids had such a fun time, they cried when we left. Thankfully the rain cleared up before we got there yesterday and we had a sweet time of fellowship, worship, talent shows, grilled burgers and hotdogs and smores around the fire. I'm so thankful my Mom who was in town from Reno, NV for Kendra's birthday got to come as well! <div><br /></div><div>As far as Blastoff is concerned, they are needing to delay the launch date, hopefully for the last time. They are needing a few more days in working with all the major email companies to prepare them for the volume of invitations coming and are making sure Blastoff invitations are fully SPAM compliant. As soon as I hear an exact date, I will post it here. For now, keep telling your friends and family it is coming and feel free to email if you have any questions at</div><div>devon720@yahoo.com </div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-22507354258855960202009-10-03T18:21:00.000-07:002009-10-03T18:29:37.397-07:00Blastoff Date Changes!The date that you can sign up for Blastoff is now Oct. 12th. You will still have two weeks to tell all your friends before it goes public on Oct. 26th. We're sorry if you tried to join and it didn't work earlier. We had our first conference call with the other families who are adopting from Ethiopia from America World and are "waiting." It made everything even more "real" and we are so thankful for the Wonderful experience we have had with our agency and everyone we've been working with. We could not be more thankful for the way we are being cared for during this process. We are still expecting a 9-11 month wait for a referral, which would put us in June-August of 2010. It will be fun to see what the Lord has, and in the mean while He is bringing us plenty to keep us busy during the wait. Our daughter Kendra is turning six this week and we are so thankful for her life. She prays every day for her "sissy" to have enough food and be protected in Africa. She is so excited that each "step" of this process brings us one step closer to her.Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-90681209832116870852009-09-20T16:34:00.000-07:002009-09-20T17:00:00.830-07:00Help us Fund our Adoption by Joining Blastoff!We have much praise on our lips to our AWESOME God! He is continuing to pour out funding and resources for our adoption, and we are so thankful! We have now surpassed the amount that was needed for us to send in our paperwork. Also, our dossier was officially shipped to Ethiopia last week so we are officially "waiting" and trusting the Lord to bring a referral for our daughter in His time. <div><br /></div><div>One of the ways we believe the Lord is going to fund our adoption and perhaps more ministry ventures is through an opportunity that has been presented to us by a partnership between an established top 100 company, Prepaid Legal and a brand new company called Blastoff communications. Blastoff is a huge internet marketing company that is going to offer people a free homepage where they can keep their social networking sites like facebook open and customize music, videos, and designs on their homepage. There will also be a link to a "mall" and other needed services such as airline, internet, tv, phone, etc. where people can earn cashback and will be able to see any promotionals that different vendors are offering. There are over 300 big name companies that are already participating such as Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Bestbuy, Travelocity, etc. You will also get a small percentage of whatever anybody you share this with buys up to the tenth degree of separation. This means you can be earning commission off of potentially thousands of people. The vendors have agreed to pay a small percentage of money from each sale to each person who is in that 10 degree line of referral. To get a better idea of what it is you can go to blastoffnetwork.com and you can check out my homepage at ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/devontarr Prepaid Legal, of which I am now an associate, has the exclusive rights to market this free website for two weeks before it goes public on Oct. 12th. This means that on Sept. 26th at midnight (12am Sept. 27th),</div><div> you can access my homepage and sign up to get your own. You can then send invitations to all your friends to join and then they can send it to their friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is absolutely no-risk to this, because it's free, and even minimal amounts from people shopping online can add up. If you are interested or have any questions you can email me at devon720@yahoo.com Once this goes public, due to the viral nature of how quickly it can spread there will not be the same opportunity to grow a large network. My heart is that any money that comes from this would be used to see the gospel spread and families provided for.</div><div>There are several legitimate news articles regarding this opportunity. I will try to post a link if you are interested.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, if you want to, go to ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/devontarr on Sept. 27th, sign up and start spreading the word. I hope it blesses you too! <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-89747581077492706522009-09-11T18:17:00.000-07:002009-09-11T18:26:44.652-07:00Our dossier is on it's way!The Lord Jesus has truly made a way for us to send in all our paperwork today! We received around $3000 unexpectedly from extended family and a loan for the rest. We are so thankful and excited that we can now wait and rest in God's perfect timing to bring us to our daughter, even as we have been "working" unto that end for over four months now. Please pray that our documents make it safely through their last round of certification at the US Embassy and as they travel overseas to Ethiopia and are translated. I'll post when they have officially been shipped overseas.Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235828872593682133.post-88087519102214196582009-09-02T18:33:00.000-07:002009-09-02T18:38:21.845-07:00We received our USCIS Approval today!We were so surprised and excited when we received our approval notice from the USCIS today. This is what we have been waiting on to be able to send in our dossier! The Lord's timing is so amazing and we are very hopeful that we will be able to send our dossier to our agency by the end of next week---which means we will officially be on the waiting list! We are still needing a large amount of money to be able to send it in but are trusting the our God to provide.Devon Tarrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067580418585343713noreply@blogger.com0