We are so proud to introduce the two newest Stutzmans-
our children, Hailegiorgis 12 and Bethlehem 7. Haile
(pronounced "Hi-lay") and Bete ("Beh-Tee") were officially our children June 12th and we are hoping that in 4-6 weeks we will return to Ethiopia to pick them up and bring them home!
Here is when we met the kids for the first time! They hugged us right away and the FIRST day when we left, they called us "Dad & Mom"!!

MEETING HAILE:



Love Adam's face in this one!!! Precious!





HAILE MEET'S NOAH



LOVE THE LOOK ON ZACH'S FACE!!

MEETING BETE-SHE WASN'T TOO SURE AT FIRST, BUT OVER THE THREE DAYS, SHE WARMED UP QUICKLY!





BROTHERS RIGHT FROM THE START!!!

EVERYWHERE THEY WENT THEY HELD HANDS-TOO CUTE!





SHOWING ME HER ROOM-THE TOP BUNK IS BETE'S BED

WE GAVE THE KIDS PICTURE ALBUMS WHILE WE WERE THERE OF OF OUR FAMILY AND OUR HOUSE-THEY LOVED LOOKING AT THEM-

Outside of orphanage gate:



Grandma Karen and her newest grandson!



HAILE HAD MADE THIS FOR US-COUNTRY FLAGS WITH ENGLISH PRINTING AND A MAP OF THE WORLD. I LOVE HIS HANDWRITING-SO NEAT!

CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK AND BRING THEM HOME!!

No News on court passing court yet....

We didn't hear yesterday or today on whether or not we have officially passed court and the children are legally ours.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  They say we should hear any day.  What we are waiting on, is the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) in Addis to issue the letter to the judge that they approve of the adoption, now that they have the father's death certificate.  Once the court gets this letter, they will totally approve it and the kids will be legally Stutzman's! :-)  Pray specifically that this letter will be done and sent to the court!  Thank you!  We can't show the kids pictures on-line until they are legally ours-but here are their precious hands on ours.

Here are my little girls shoes-I just wanted to scoop her up, put her in a buble bath and clean clothes, socks and shoes!  They were falling off her feet and falling apart with holes in them, and she was in the same boys outfit two days in a row-a transformer pajama top and stretch pants that were capri's.  Can't wait to get her all clean and fresh and snuggle!

GREAT NEWS FROM ETHIOPIA!

PRAISE GOD-THEY SEARCHED ALL DAY TODAY AND 2 HOURS BEFORE WE ARE TO BOARD THE PLANE, THEY TOLD US THEY FOUND THE FATHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR OUR KIDS AND THEY WILL BE SUBMITTING IT TOMORROW-THEY ARE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE COURT DECREE THAT WE ARE LEGALLY THEIR PARENTS BY JUNE 11TH-WHICH IS OUR ANNIVERSARY AND SEBLE'S BIRTHDAY-TOTALLY GOD!!!  THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYING!  WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE GET THAT OFFICIAL DECREE!  WE ARE LEAVING FOR THE AIRPORT TO HEAD HOME IN A FEW MINUTES.

We are here, we met our kids! But need prayers cause we didn't pass court

Hi everyone-I just have about 10 minutes before our driver picks us up to take us to a 4 hour Ethiopian class and then to court this afternoon.  Internet access has been irregular and they are keeping us pretty busy so not much time to even sit down to update!
The first day here, we got to go to our driver's house-the one that we used with Seble's adoption and have kept contact with and see his boys and wife-it was a great reunion!  They are doing well, and it was good to see them.  They did a coffee ceremony for us again-it was special.
We then went again to visit the place that Seble was found.  There are just not words for the emotions that this brought up.  How do you describe to someone what it is like to know that your baby girl laid all alone on the side of a road-so tiny that she wouldn't have survived the night if someone wouldn't have found her?!  My mom-heart cried out as I looked at the place she was left and then found.  How could someone leave MY baby on the road in the dark and cold?!  What desperation she must have felt to turn away and leave here there-my heart cried out, dear God, how could this be, how could this happen?!  My heart broke as I now KNOW this baby girl, she is my baby and to imagine her there all alone, I know and have to tell myself that the Lord was totally and 100% with her and that HE had a plan-what heartache and sorrow was there, has now been turned into His glory and His plan for her life to be in our family
Our driver reminded me of an all too sick fact when he said, "At least she is safe now and the dogs didn't get her".  Oh, ya, thanks-that helped!  But it is true and it is what happens to the abandoned babies here-so I know he was just trying to help.
Oh the pain that adoption has in it, but oh what redemption it also has.  God is good-all the time and He watched over her little soul.  As hard as it was to see this again, it is good for me to be able to really focus on how much He has His hand on her life and that someone's sacrifice to give up their child, has brought such a blessing and gift to our lives.  I pray that Seble's birthmother will know God's grace and that someday, I can throw my arms around this poor woman and offer her the comfort that we are so grateful to her for giving our baby life.  This is the one thing that I want someday.  I wish with all my heart I could tell her that she is loved, safe and healthy and very much ours!
Ok, on to yesterday-WE MET OUR KIDS!!!!! We first met with the social worker and she went over again their story.  I started crying as I heard of their loss and how they have to leave their close family member and how she loves them and was brought to emotional anguish at the decision that she had to make to leave them in an orphanage.
I choked up as the social worker told us that she had set the kids down last week before we came, and told them that they have a MOM and a DAD that wants them.  She said the little boy didn't believe her-he said, "No, really"? She reassured them that yes, it was true and he was so happy.  We then went to meet them and he came down first-he came right up to me and gave me a big hug!  Thank you Jesus!  I was so worried that they would reject us.   He speaks pretty good English. She is shy-but both have great senses of humor! A gift from God was that when we left the first day, he hugged me and said, "BYE MOM!" SO sweet! Couldn't believe it. She came up and said Bye really softly and kissed my cheek... She is precious with a great smile! They are both smart, and sang songs to us!
Ok, so kind of sad/bad news is, we didn't pass court! They are missing the birthfather's death certificate-so MOWA (Ministry of women's affairs here) won't approve the adoption until they get it! And in turn, the Judge can't approve adoption until MOWA does- So now of course I am worried that they won't find it after all this!! ugh...
I guess the father lived in a different city then he actually died in and it was several years ago. Pray please! Thanks. Judge said as soon as they get it-we will pass. They tentatively set the date to have it by JUNE 11th-so that is significant and I have to believe an "it's gonna be ok" from God as it's our anniversary and Seble's BD... Our agency/workers over here are sure they will find it....but I am so scared that they won't after all this, meeting the kids, money, etc....I know God has this, but it is hard. Why didn't they know this before-maybe they thought it didn't matter as the family member gave consent and father hasn't been in picture for several years? We don't know-they just keep telling us- "Pray and God knows" over and over....
So, We met them yesterday, saw them today and will see them last time tomorrow before we fly out tomorrow night...this will be SO hard especially not knowing-how can we tell them we will be back if we are not 100% sure? Our agency here has been looking for a couple days or so (not sure) and the place they thought the death certificate is-it wasn't there-so they have to find it. I keep telling myself that I can rest in Him, HE is in control, He knows the plan-that's all I can focus on right now. Thank you for your prayers!

We arrived safe and sound!!

We arrived in Addis this morning and have gotten settled in our guest house.  We are about to eat lunch here and then are hoping to contact Solomon-our driver from the last trip and go back and see where Seble was found again.  Tomorrow we meet the kids we think!  :-)  Thank you for the prayers!  We will try to keep you all posted! 

HUGE MULTI-FAMILY / CHURCH FUNDRAISER SALE TO HELP THE STUTZMAN FAMILY ADOPT THEIR SIBLINGS FROM ETHIOPIA! THIS IS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE SALE!!! WE HAVE TONS OF STUFF THAT HAS BEEN GENEROUSLY DONATED! PLEASE SHARE THIS ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO HELP RAISE SUPPORT-THANK YOU! WE WILL HAVE THE SALE AT OUR HOUSE IN SILVERTON -404 CHARLES AVE. SILVERTON NEAR CITY PARK (MAIN ST. TO COOLIDGE TO CHARLES). THIS COMING WEEKEND (MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND) MAY 25TH, 26TH, 27TH FRIDAY & SATURDAY 8-5 AND SUNDAY 8-1

HOW GOD WORKS THE MIRACLES TO GET HIS KIDS HOME~

Things around our house are moving rather quickly this past week!  We wanted to share some amazing news that only God Himself could ordain.  First, we got an email from JSC Foundation saying that one of the grants that we applied for had been APPROVED!!!  We were being GIVEN $10,000 for our adoption!!!!  That put me in tears and just praising God for his goodness!  He is totally and 100% faithful in bringing His kids, without a family, that are fatherless, into a family to give them a hope and a future!  For those of you who say that the reason you can't adopt is money, please know that YOU CAN, HE WILL PROVIDE FOR HIS CHILDREN!!!!  He is doing this in our family and we started out with zero with the enormous amount of approximately $44,000 to raise!!  As our pastor said it this week, HE is providing the funds for two kids half way around the world that don't even know they have a mom and a dad yet!  That IS OUR GOD!!!
Then, more great news just 48 hours after we got the message about our grant, and just TEN days after we were submitted to the Ethiopian court system, we got a call telling us that we had a court date!  This wasn't the most shocking part-we have to be in Ethiopia in TWO weeks!!! AHHHH!  WHAT are you kidding me!?
The week of good news just kept going-the day after this, we found out we were picked to receive a NO-INTEREST loan for $7,500 from another organization, Pathways to Little Feet, that we had applied for!
So, with all of this unexpected news, we quickly booked tickets and we will be flying out May 31st for our court date of June 5th.  Our kid's birthfamily court date, (where their family member has to appear to permanently relinquish them) will be May 29th-our hearts will be breaking for them as we go to bed that night to sleep, because while we sleep, they will be before a judge severing their rights to these kids-because they know that if they stay there, they will suffer in poverty for the rest of their lives without a mom or a dad, probably growing up to live on the street....how heart-wrenching is that!?  Adoption is ordained by God to make a tragedy into something beautiful, but because of the loss involved, it has a very sad and grieving side to it as well.  We are thrilled to be able to give these kids a hope and a future in Jesus and raise them the best we can to know and serve Him! 
So, we should know by the time we leave whether or not the birth family appeared and if their part is complete, or if the court system needs anything more from them, paperwork, etc.
Our trip will consist of us going over, meeting the kids in a group and playing with them for a couple hours (they may not know that we are their parents-we don't know what the orphanage is telling them, but we did ask them to begin preparing them if they could).  The next day will be court, and the next day, we will go back to the orphanage and TELL THE KIDS THAT WE ARE THEIR PARENTS!!  CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS?! 
I SO think of God and how he adopted us into His family and how HE knew way before we did, that we would be joining Him, but we had NO clue until it happened....this is how they will be.  We know, we are more knowledgeable than they are, and we are about to change their lives, just as the Lord changed ours!  AWESOME!
Every single step in this adoption has been completely fast-so different from Seble's!  It is unreal how fast this has went, I mean, we JUST saw the kids on a waiting child listing in JANUARY!  That is unreal-we leave NEXT WEEK!!!  So crazy!  Some friends at work were asking me if we had anything for the kids yet-beds, clothes, "what about socks", etc.  I said NO!  I don't!! -it's like going into pre-term labor without wipes and diapers! :-)  We are not ready, but after this trip, we will get ready and figure all that out and I know it will be ok! God Himself has carried us this far, He has this all handled and we rest in Him. 
Thank you all again for the support, love, financial support, words of encouragement and prayer!  We are continuing to fund raise as we still have our second trip to go back and pick up the kids, that we need to raise the funds for, but we know that He will provide for this. Our huge yard sale is coming up this weekend and it has gotten out of control big, so we are really hoping that we get a lot of people!  It is at our house all weekend in Silverton.  We hope to see you there!!!  We feel very loved and can't ever thank you all enough!  Continue to pray for us these next couple weeks-we can really use it!  Love you all-

TRAVEL SHOTS ARE DONE!

OUR NEW ADOPTION T-SHIRTS ONLY $16!

HERE ARE OUR NEW ADOPTION T-SHIRTS JUST $16 EACH! Let me know if you would like to order one! Just add $3 to ship.

CLICK ON OUR SIDE PAYPAL LINK TO ORDER, OR SIMPLY MESSAGE US TO GET OUR ADDRESS AND MAIL US A CHECK. 

REGULAR CUT-(MENS) S-XLG
WOMEN'S CUT: SM-XLG
KIDS: XSM(2-3), SM(4-6) MED(8-10) LG12-14) KIDS XLG-SAME AS ADULT Small

LIST OF OUR UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS

*Huge Garage Sale- Memorial Day Weekend –

At Our House 404 Charles Ave. Silverton OR 97381 (near city park)

Friday/Sat. May 25th/26th from 8-5 & Sun. May 27th from 8-1

We can pick up donations from people with our utility trailer at any time. 

*Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser- Sat. July 14^th from 8-10.  We have 250 tickets that we need to sell for $7 each.  We will also have 8 items to raffle off at the breakfast.  We will sell each raffle ticket for $1 or $4 for 5 tickets. Contact Adam & Amber @ 503-873-6934 for tickets.

*Dinner fundraiser August 18^th-some local families are having an evening for adults with dinner and entertainment.  Call Linda Webb @ 503 508-7387 for tickets and information.

 ONGOING Fundraising:

*Zachary Stutzman POP-CAN DRIVE- collecting cans/water bottles.  We can pick them up from you or drop off at 404 Charles Ave-(across from City of Silverton Park).

*Cassidy Stutzman- Candy Bar Sales

*Jacob Stutzman- Mowing lawns, and house / pet sitting.

* Adoption T-shirt Sales: go to our blog to check out our t-shirts: http://adamandamberstutzman.blogspot.com/

*$10 for Ten- asking everyone we know to give just $10 to help bring our kids home-you can donate at this link with Paypal, debit or credit cards http://www.acharityproject.com/f/10FOR10

*MICHE Bag and Accessory Sales to benefit our adoption-Go here to order: https://rayann.miche.com/Shop?partyId=47190

ZACH'S CAN DRIVE IS GOING STRONG!

THIS IS WHAT HE COLLECTED IN JUST ONE DAY AT THE CAR WASH!

CAR WASH A Success!

We had a great time at our carwash today and raised $495!!!  SO thankful to everyone that came out to help-we so appreciate it!! Thank you for your hard word!  We had a great time!

Local Newspaper does story on our Family~

Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills www.ourtownlive.com
Plus two: Stutzman family plans next adoption
May 2012 Posted in People By Kristine Thomas

Jacob Stutzman, 13, was the first to say what other members of his family were thinking. “When are we going to adopt again?” the Evergreen Elementary School student asked his parents Amber and Adam in November. Jacob traveled with his parents to Ethiopia in 2010 to visit the orphanage where his now-little sister lived. He saw people living in dumps and children roaming the streets. The oldest of six, Jacob will become the oldest of eight, when a brother, now 12, and a sister, now 6, arrive – hopefully in late August or early September from Ethiopia. In December 2010, Adam and Amber adopted Seble, from Ethiopia. Almost 2 years old, Seble toddles after her older siblings who include – Cassidy and Zachary, 10; Noah, 8; and Logan, 7. At Coolidge & McClaine Park she follows them up the stairs to the slide; holds up her arms to be placed in a swing and joyfully picks daisies and dandelions with Zachary and Cassidy. The news that two more children will become part of their family only seems natural and the right thing to do for the Stutzman children. “It’s exciting and it will be fun,” Jacob said. “I am excited to have a brother close to my age.” “We are going to have an even bigger family,” Noah said. “I will have three sisters but there are still more boys.” Already driving a 12-passenger van and requiring two carts to go grocery shopping, Amber realizes there will be more laundry, more food to prepare and more things to add to her already never-ending list as a mom. When people question her desire to adopt two more children, she simply looks at Seble and knows she has to do what she can to help two more. Sitting on a park bench next to Adam, Amber recalled how she went to the government agency where Seble was first housed. “I remember there were two caregivers and about 17 babies in the nursery,” she said. “They were crying and their diapers were wet and they were holding up their arms to be held and taken care of.” When she went to the toddlers’ room, the children just laid in their cribs, no longer expecting someone to come to their aid, she said. That could have been Seble, Amber said, as she watched her daughter gleefully grab handfuls of sawdust at the park and put it in her husband’s hands, then giggle as Adam spilled it back onto the ground. “I know I can’t save the world, but I know I can help one kid or two kids,” she said. “Our life has done a complete shift after returning from Ethiopia. It has made me appreciate what’s important and understand there is so much more to life than things.” With her adventurous personality, Seble fits right into the family, Amber laughed. “You would think I would get at least one laid back child, but all of them are constantly on the go,” she said. As Amber and Adam sat on the park bench, they marveled how the older children looked after the younger ones. “Without God in our lives, I would not have the strength to do all this,” Amber said. “You have to have a foundation as a mom. I hope my children learn from all this that you have to get outside your comfort zone in order to make a difference.”
http://ourtownlive.com/ourtown/?p=2304

DON'T FORGET THIS SATURDAY- WE ARE HAVING A CAR WASH and CAN DRIVE TO BENEFIT THE ADOPTION OF OUR KIDS FROM ETHIOPIA. PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT US IF YOU CAN!! IT WILL BE AT FIGAROE'S PIZZA IN SILVERTON ON SATURDAY, MAY 5TH FROM 9AM-3PM. Bring your dirty cars and your cans/water bottles!!!

SO POWERFUL!

I love this lady and everything that her organization does both here and in Ethiopia!

Father God, BREAK OUR HEARTS FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS!!

I have been waiting to share this- but I think it is important.  I know that some of you were aware that Seble spent some time as a 2-3 week-old-newborn, near death, at a government orphanage.  We were able to visit this orphanage while we were in Ethiopia, but they would not let us take any photos or video.  Miraculously, I found a couple that had a video of Seble's orphanage and it was taken the EXACT same week she was there, before she was transferred to Hannah's Hope, where her life was literally saved, as she finally received medical care!
People ask us why we are adopting again-THIS IS WHY!!-These images will forever be burned in our memory as well as the 20 babies in one room with 2 caregivers that were all crying and raising their hands to us, soaking wet and hungry-who just wanted to be held.  As a mom it broke my heart!  The next room had preschool children-the sad thing was, they didn't raise their hands and cry, they KNEW no one would pick them up!  God, please break our heart for what breaks YOURS!!! These children are not someone else's problem!!  They are yours and they are mine, because they are God's children and He loves them, just like you love and created your children.  They are precious children of God and He is the only one that hears their cries, when no one else is listening. Seble could have stayed there-she could have been one of these children!  The thought of that tears my heart in two-NO child should have to suffer and long for a mom and dad to call their own!  Our eyes were forever opened and will never close!  Please consider what you are doing to help these children as you watch this video, what if your child was here, like Seble was? Wouldn't you do anything you could to see them get home?  Please consider as you watch~