Introducing...

Ava Eleanor Argene Strobel

She is home and we are filled with great joy!

There is so much to tell about our journey to Ava and all we have learned in following God and opening our hearts to hear HIS plan for our lives. We could never have imagined the love we would feel not only for Ava but for so many children who we left behind. This little one needed us yes, but we are already feeling that it was us who needed her more than ever.

We are adjusting slowly to her needs and her cues. Her brothers are very dear and watching them interact and talk with her is so awesome! 

I cannot wait to continue to process all the joy and much of the heartache I saw in Ethiopia. There is so much to share and it is country who now owns a portion of my heart. In fact, I cannot wait to return but until then we can educate and advocate for the many orphans still in great need.

Stay tuned and thank you all for the amazing and unending support!

Home

There are few words more precious than HOME. Today I am so aware of the many comforts we have and that all of the eagerness and emotion surrounding the arrival of our sweet daughter would not be possible without the following:

FAITH: An open mind and heart and a willingness to surrender and allow God to steer the ship. Relinquishing control is not my strong suite and let's face it most of us live the American lifestyle of working harder to gain more and get further. I have come to understand in a way I can barely express that letting go and letting God is one of the best gifts you might ever give yourself.

TEAMWORK: Never underestimate strong and frequent communication with your spouse. As teammates Bob and I have come to believe that all things are possible. It may not always look supper glamorous or even smart to those on the outside looking in but our constant dialogue is a big piece of our adoption story. You see way back when we began thinking of adoption and before we even felt the strong call to adopt, Bob and I would spend a great deal of time just talking. He would tell me I was crazy and that with the three children we already had our hands were very full and I would remind him that although I knew that I still felt the nudge that we were the family that should adopt. The dialogue we have shared through this journey has been priceless and I am grateful every day for such a devoted and exceptional man in my life!

GRATITUDE: Always remember to be grateful for your community. Our community of family, friends, church members and neighbors have been nothing short of sweet miracles and such an important part of this journey. As I looked around at those welcoming us home at the airport I was so touched by my feeling that this child comes home not just to a family of love and support but to a community of love and support!




ORGANIZATIONS:  All God's Children International has blown us away in their commitment to adoption and the orphans of Ethiopia. The staff loves the children as if they were their own and it was obvious from start to finish that they are well run, organized and on top of every detail. There are numerous organizations who are aiding orphans all over the world. You can make a difference in so many ways without ever feeling called to adopt. Ask me how or just start researching all that can be done to support those children who live without parents, homes, food and or education all over the world. I hope to get many of the best organizations posted to my site soon.


There is far more to share but as I go to sleep in my comfortable home with my family all fast asleep, I want to say how glad I am that God chose me. God chose us to become adoptive parents, God chose us to be open and willing, God chose us to be stretched and changed by what we would see in Ethiopia, God chose us to raise not only our first three children but now to raise four children with Christian values and hearts for the least of these. God chose us to spread our love.

Our work as beacons of light and hope and our promise to the orphan has just begun and today we are grateful that a little one who might not have survived has been found and that God has connected the many dots to create the shape of our lives together. We are HOME. Thank God for the journey!

BE THE CHANGE and get your t-shirt(s) HERE!

Speak Up for Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves!

All proceeds from the sale of our tshirts will benefit 

the love and care of orphans and widows.

-Send a child to school

-Send someone to love on orphans 

Be the Change 

ONE CHILD at a TIME!

We have three junior sizes and small, medium, large and x-large for adults. Please note that the shirts are slightly fitted.

Please feel free to email us at strobels@mac.com should you have any questions.

Thank you for your support!

choose a size

medium large xlarge youth small youth medium youth large

Such a celebration!

Today I sit here as the luckiest girl in the world! Truly, I am richly blessed and supported in ways I can barely put into words. This week three friends who are also my dear neighbors, hosted a shower for me and for the little girl who will soon adorn our streets with her beautiful eyes and precious smile. My friends, Kim, Michelle and Carrie seriously went all out people and I do mean ALL OUT to get our all boy household ready for a little princess. Take a peak at a few photos below and you will see just how they spoiled me :)

So let me just say that that you have never seen a cuter and more amazing cake! 

It made me cry to see the blond momma holding the little cocoa baby complete with curly locks.

Sweet Cakes Design

Here in Grand Rapids, Michigan certainly does deserve a shout out for clever and delicious cake.

The entire top square cake is now in our fridge and we plan to all share it as a family before I depart 

next week for Ethiopia. 

I'm telling you the entire night was super special!

The table looked extra special too with amazing flowers out of my girlfriend's backyard and 

darling cards displaying facts about Ethiopia.

They used fancy ribbons to wrap each napkin and even brewed Ethiopian coffee that we had brought home so that everyone attending could try it. 

YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING IF THEY ARE FOR HIRE BUT SADLY NO... THEY ARE ALL THREE BUSY MOMMIES WHO HAVE THEIR OWN BIRTHDAYS AND FAMILY EVENTS TO PLAN. :)

It was such a gift to me to be in a room with so many supportive women. I so appreciate the generosity, the curiosity and the support surrounding our adoption. I cannot help but think that several of us in attendance that night would make a terrific mission team. Most of us are raising little ones but who knows what the future holds. I just know that the adoption of one sweet baby into our hearts and our home has turned out to be so much more than I could have ever imagined. 

Even through the questions, the wait and the many program changes this has been a miraculous journey.

Thank you all for making me feel so blessed and so loved.

You guys ROCK!

For good

Adoption is the land of disclaimers so let me begin by saying that all of this could change but guess what?

We are Ethiopia bound again and this time it is to bring our daughter home for good. Her tiny feet and big eyes will soon be right here under the same roof. We will be a family of six and the Owen will officially be a big brother. It is all really happening and we could not be more thrilled that soon little Ava will be home in our arms where she belongs. 

Our Embassy date was announced yesterday and 

it will be on Monday, August 23rd.

Crazy huh that we work like mad and have to wait wait and wait some more only to then be granted very soon after passing court, a quick embassy date.

We are still soaking it all in around here and wondering how we will get everything ready.

Who knows and in many respects who cares.

Ava will soon be home!

Ethiopia- a few photos...

Here is the door we entered to meet our daughter for the very first time...

On Sunday morning we saw this group of cattle right on the streets alongside traffic.

Navigating the streets of Addis can be challenging but the scenery is always interesting!

Here is the traditional coffee we enjoyed at the home of our new friend and taxi driver, Solomon.
From incense to our chicco treat, it was the real thing!

The children of Ethiopia absolutely stole our hearts. Here is the group of boys we
loved who sleep at the bus station each night for a variety of reasons. They receive
some donations and help from local ministries. I look froward to seeing them again when we
return.

This was a typical scene outside our window daily. Ethiopians work very hard and their animals
do to. We have no idea just how easy we have it even on a long and tough work day.



There are hundreds more images to share of both Ethiopia and the miracle of adoption. Processing all that we saw and the host of emotions we felt throughout the week is taking some time. I will share more photos soon.
I'll leave you with a question. Is there a place or a person God is stirring you to explore or reach out to? 
For us it is the land of Ethiopia where we were called and challenged to open our eyes and our hearts wide.
Where might it be for you?