We have started receiving donations for the orphanage(s) in Ethiopia. We will take as much as we can when we travel for both of our trips. We were completely overwhelmed today when we received a very generous donation of formula, nipples, cloth diapers, socks and underwear from the Dunn family. Thank you Randi and Felicia Dunn and family!! We have also received additional formula, clothing and a beautiful quilt from others. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

If I were to sum up this journey in one word, it would be "emotional." I have shed more tears throughout this process than any other thing I've been through. The support we have received is incredible!! I've said this before, but I want you all to know how special you are to us. Each gift we receive brings me to tears. I'm so overwhelmed by your love and generosity.

On Saturday we received a very special gift from our dear friends, Steve and Coral Popowitz. Once again, I was brought to tears as I opened the package. Coral is the Executive Director of Children's Grief Connection. She had hoped that the PalmCross they ordered for us would have been here in time for camp last weekend so that our friends at camp could pray for us while holding the PalmCross. Unfortunately, it didn't arrive in time, but we know that all of our friends have been and continue to pray for us. What a beautiful gift it is! The following note was included with the PalmCross:

"This PalmCross has been carved especially for you. No other exactly like it exists. There is no finish on the cross. The oils from your hands and those of your loved ones as it is used in prayer will become the finish. The essence of the love and support of those who care for you will be imbedded in the wood forever. The first, and most deeply, is that of the carver and his wife."

Someday we will pass the PalmCross along to Malia for her to cherish all the love and support that is imbedded in it from all those who helped bring her home. Our PalmCross most definitely will be making the journey with us to Ethiopia.

We love you all!

Our t-shirt/sweatshirt deadline is approaching! We will be placing orders this Wednesday, December 1st. If you have not placed an order and would like to do so, now is the time!! Click on the fundraiser link on the left under "Links."

After just 4 short weeks of fundraising, we have met our goal of $5,000. We have shed many tears over your kindness, generosity and support. When we started this process, we weren't sure how we were going to finish it, but we felt led by God that He would take care of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being an answer to prayer. When we travel to Africa in less than four weeks, we will be bringing each and every one of you with us as we embark on this incredible journey we have imagined over and over again in our minds! Look at all of you who will be coming with us in our hearts:

Aunt Oni
Bruce, Kim, Brant & Kalli Baarstad
Keith, Sheila, Jordyn & Jarod Berger
Jan & Matthew Cady
Blake, Becky, Sam, Ben & Noah Carlson
Mike & Judy Dahl
Jean Davis
Mark & Cathy Dibble
Art & Marlene Dingmann
Randi, Felicia, Jessica, Derrick and Abbie Dunn
Nick & Donna Ellig
Linda Ferguson
Chase, Amber, Conner & Ethan Fischer
Aaron, Shara, Meg & Thompson Fisher
Paul & Karen Fleming
Kyle, Kathy, Matt, Andy, Tina & Ana Freier
Adam & Amy Gierl
Grant, Erin, Aniston & Beckett Gigstad
Trent & Elaine Gilbery
Mike & Lisa Grossman
Jeff & Rosie Gustafson
Sandy Hagen
Mike & Jessica Hamilton
Chris, Erika, Eva, Travis, Luke & Marie Hanson
Trevor, Sarah, Kyler & Alex Haugen
Mike & Joann Kerr
Tim & Dawn Kerr
Mike Kosloski
Karl, Becky & Greta Kraywinkle
Jack & Kay Kraywinkle
Karen Kuhn
Paul & Julie Lako
Keith & Kay Larson
Curt & Pam Larson
Geri Lehr
Denise Lindstrom
Jessica Meyer Lura
Jeff & Sue Marquis
Kathy McClure
Lindsey Meyer
Sergio & Cassie Mijangos
Adam, Wendy & Wylie Nordin
Ryan, Katie, Hayley, Lily & Will O'Connor
Mitch, Katie & Eli Okeson
Grace Pagnac
Steve & Coral Popowitz
Ron & Sue Ritter
Jacki Roeder
Michael, Heidi, Colton, Karsen & Kiara Rohr
CJ & Jen Sahr
John & Lorraine Sannes
Eldor & Cheryl Scheid
Mitch, Lorinda, Martha & Sophie Semanko
Roxann Storm
Sheri Thompson
Brian, Erika & Kendall Totman
Luke & Loni Trapp
Luke Trickle
Nancy Tunheim
Carl & Jane Unbehaun
Stephanie Wiseth
Pamela Wentz
Nick & Kara Wolski

This list grows daily!!! Thank you, again, for your spirit of generosity and for answering God's call in James 1:27 to look after the orphans in their distress. See our additional thank yous by clicking on the Thank You link on the left under the "Links" section for those that have helped in a variety of ways to walk us through the adoption process!!!

We would also like to let you know that additional donations that are received will go toward in-country expenses, court fees, Malia's visa or even to help sustain us through my leave when Malia is home, as I will only be getting paid for 3 weeks of my adoption leave. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as we did! We spent it surrounded by friends and family. We were able to meet my brother's girlfriend, Olivia, and spend the weekend with her. She is very sweet and kind, we are trying to figure out what she is doing with Matt...just kidding!!

Black Friday was interesting for us...Olivia and I toughed it out in line outside of Toys R Us on Thanksgiving...then we waited in line in the store for an hour. Good times! I also found some great deals on clothing for Malia. It is so much fun shopping for girl clothes!!

Tomorrow I will try to post about an amazing donation we received from friends for the orphanage children. It is absolutely overwhelming!!!

As you may have read from Ann's post, we spent this past weekend at Hearts of Hope camp which is a part of Children's Grief Connection, formerly known as Camp Amanda - Minnesota. I have been involved with this amazing organization since its very first camp in 2003 and am currently a member of the Board of Directors. Last weekend we put our 23rd camp in the books. Traditionally, I have served as a camp counselor. The past couple camps, I have been given the privilege to serve as the camp co-director. Serving as the co-director has not only allowed me to be involved with all of the children, it has allowed me to more closely be in awe while watching our volunteers interact with the children.

My heart overflows with joy watching these astonishing volunteers from all walks of life give up an entire weekend with their family and friends knowing that they are going to mentally, physically and emotionally exhaust themselves for the good of grieving children and their families. Time and time again, these volunteers open their hearts to heartache and sadness by listening to the stories of what grieving children have been and are going through.

At our camp in April, we had a couple volunteers who were blessed with a very special girl who needed a little extra attention. These two particular volunteers had the patience of saints and loved on this child while doing everything in their power to make sure she knew she was just was normal as the rest of the children in her group. The amount of effort, love and patience they exhibited was remarkable. The most remarkable part about Lisa and Kathy however, is that they would do it all over again without hesitation. They would do it again, just by simply knowing that they made a difference in the life of one child.

We have volunteers like John who not only jump to clean up after a child has thrown up (while I run the other direction), but volunteers such as my little brother, Luke, who wouldn't think twice about holding a bowl under a child's mouth as they vomit.

We have volunteers who willingly come to camp, fully knowing what they are in for, who are six months pregnant because Roz knows the positive impact Hearts of Hope has on grieving children.

We have volunteers who fly from Abilene, Texas to the bitter coldness of Minnesota in January because they know that grieving children so desperately need them. I must also mention that our Texan friends took part in our first annual Polar Plunge last year helping us raise over $10,000.

These are but a few examples of the exemplary service from our volunteers. Every single volunteer for Children's Grief Connection has every reason to pat themselves on the back and know that without them, Children's Grief Connection would not be who are today. Simply, we not be able make camp happen without your on-going dedication and love!!

The leader of our organization is not only a personal friend whom we cherish dearly, she is an inspiration to anyone around her. She and her husband have truly given of their lives to be the hands and feet of Jesus. While Coral is as humble as you will find and doesn't like much praise, she deserves it in the utmost way as she is truly a God-send.

From my past experience it seems as if many non-profit organizations struggle with obtaining enough volunteers. Children's Grief Connection has the exact opposite problem, even after all we put them through, our volunteers feel the need to come back, time and time again. They see the positive results that come out of this organization and beg to return for more exhaustion.

A sincere heartfelt thank you to all of the volunteers who help make this organization a success. You are an inspiration to many!!

Does it ever feel like all you do is run? That is how I am feeling these days. Between parent-teacher conferences, having a sick child, grief camp and preparing for international travel...I am spent.

Nick and I spent the past weekend at Hearts of Hope camp. I am going to selfishly admit that every time I sign up for camp, I regret it when I am packing and on the way there. I have all the excuses in the world...I'm tired...I'm busy...The weather is going to be bad...Kaleb needs me...But as soon as my campers arrive, I am so incredibly glad I am there. This weekend was no different.

I was able to spend the weekend with the most amazing, precious kids. They were smart, funny, loving and sweet. Their stories of loss and grief overwhelmed me. When we were sitting at the candlelight ceremony on Saturday night and I was cradling two grieving children, I really realized for the first time, that people are the most important thing to me. My heart was already completely in love with my campers. I would do anything for them. It made me realize, again, that I do not do enough to put myself aside and give my all to serve. After all, even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Some interesting things about camp...my brother-in-law Luke went as a counselor. He is 19 years old, and he cared for 5 energetic boys...one who was puking! He is such a fine young man.

Our daycare provider and dear friend, Sheila, was my co-counselor. She came down with laryngitis on Friday night. We had no assigned male counselor for our 3 energetic boys. Thank goodness for Nick's good friend Brian, who stepped in to help us with the boys. He was a life saver!!! Let's just say I am still feeling the effects of emotional and physical fatigue!!!

Our good church friend, Kathy, also came along for the first time. She made an immediate connection with the teen girls!

And, I just have to tell you, in the 12 years that I have known Nick, I have never been prouder of him. Not only was he the camp co-director, he was the funeral director for the "Funeral Director Question & Answer" session, and he handled himself with love, dignity and grace. You are amazing, Nick!!!

On the adoption front, we are narrowing in on 4 weeks until we get on that airplane! It seems like we get either gifts or something in the mail that we have ordered every other day! We now have special shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer for curly hair, bug spray with 100% deet (do you think that is a high enough concentration of deet??), lots of hand sanitizer, diapers, bottles, clothes, socks, blankets, toys, pacifiers, and a travel backpack and purse. Nick still needs to get his shots...I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything we need to pack, but I know we still have time! We have also received some donations this week for the orphanage kids. Thank you all so very much!!!!!

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. We are so very thankful for our wonderful friends and family. May God bless you during this holiday season!!

PS - A little shot of Kaleb enjoying the foot of snow we got today.

Today I took Kaleb to get his hair cut. As I was talking with the hair stylist, she told me she thought we were crazy for adopting. She didn't elaborate, but I could tell she really meant it. Just to clarify for all of you, we are crazy!!! We are crazy in love with Jesus - our Savior - and we are crazy in love with a little girl named Malia. We received a card in the mail yesterday from a dear friend. The picture on the front showed a man leaping from one cliff to another. She included this note on the inside...

Dear God,

I have no idea where I am going; I do not see the road ahead for me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end...and the fact that I think that I am following Your Will does not mean that I am actually doing it.

But I believe this - I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.

I hope I have that desire in everything I do.

I hope I never persist in anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it at the time.

Therefore, I will trust You always, for though I may be lost - and in the shadow of death - I will not be afraid because I know You will never leave me to face my troubles alone.

Thomas Merton

That pretty much sums it up for us...crazy or not, we continue to forge ahead with an overwhelming sense of peace from God and completely drenched in love, gifts and blessings from our wonderful friends and family.

As our travel date approaches, we are thinking more and more about what we need to pack. We are slowly picking up things at Target/Walmart that we need for ourselves or Malia. Many of you have been asking about what you can send along to donate to the orphanage. We do occasionally get e-mails with items that they are in desperate need of, however; we do have a list of items they are always in need of. If you feel led to donate some of these items, please send them to us, drop them off at our house or church, etc. before we travel. The list is as follows:

• Powdered formula, all brands
• Disposable diapers, all sizes
• Blanket sleepers, all sizes
• Socks, underwear, all sizes
• Cloth diapers
• Plastic pants and pins, all sizes
• Nipples for bottles...badly needed, Gerber or other brands
• Ride on toys
• NO stuffed animals please

As many of you know, we received some new photos of Malia 'Mebone' this week. She is growing like a weed! She looks healthy and beautiful. We are so thankful to the nannies that are caring for her!! We can't wait to show her to all of you!! Thank you all for your continued support. We are constantly receiving donations, cards, shirt orders, etc...we are humbled and grateful. We will be placing our shirt order on December 1st. That gives anyone else who is interested about two more weeks to place your orders. Thank you, thank you!!!

I am enjoying the evening at home alone as Ann and Kaleb are being doted on by Grandma Rosie and Papa Jeff in Thief River Falls. I'm getting much needed things done. I extremely behind on some websites I am creating. My good friend, confidant and Calvary's website re-design partner, Becky, was hoping to have the new church website completed by Thanksgiving. Last night I made a brief visit at church. While walking up to Becky with my tail between my legs, I gently informed her that I wasn't going to make the deadline. Sorry Becky, I know you understand, I'm adopting a child, I need not explain where my time has gone...right?

As I was sitting here in comfort, I became a bit chilled. So I reached down and turned on the little space heater that sits under my desk. It was so simple to do, I turned the knob and knew that heat would come out. It is so second nature to us that if you plug something into the wall, shazam, we will have power and whatever we plugged in will turn on. As I am sitting here in the warmth of our home, I realize our closets are full of clothes (Ann's closest is bursting at its seams) and cabinets full of food, I am reminded that there are 143 million orphans worldwide that don't have the simple things that we take for granted and expect to have...a home, clothing and food.

It's not by their choice that these children are without. These poor hopeless children are wandering dangerously through the streets looking for shelter, digging through garbage looking for food, being forced into sex for reasons I need not explain, forced into slave labor in-order to simply eat. These helpless children are being beaten, betrayed and belittled. They are alone and without a family, they are without shelter and safety, they are without clothing and food, and they are without something every human being deserves to have, HOPE and LOVE!

The month of November is Adoption Awareness month. Last Sunday our church hosted Orphan Sunday. Orphan Sunday was an opportunity to make the church and community aware of God's call to care for the orphan. My heart was filled with joy as I heard that a mother and daughter who hadn't planned on staying long were drawn in, stayed till almost the end, and now are forever changed to help the orphan.

I can tell you first hand that the journey of adoption is not easy. It has been by far the most radical emotional roller-coaster I have ever been on. The ups and downs are often. Not only is it emotionally draining, but it's also mentally and physically draining. By all means, it isn't easy, but in reality, what things of value in life are easy? While I know that not everyone is called to open their arms and home to an orphan, we are ALL called to care for the orphan according to the words of Jesus found in Psalm 82:3-4, "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

Here are 10 ways every Christian can care for the orphan.

• 1. PRAY for them.
• 2. SPEAK UP for them.
• 3. PROVIDE for their needs.
• 4. SUPPORT those who support them.
• 5. PROTECT them from harm.
• 6. VISIT them where they are.
• 7. GIVE sacrificially to them.
• 8. ENCOURAGE them to press on.
• 9. ADOPT them into your family.
• 10. MOBILIZE your church for them.

Did you know that there are over 500,000 children in the United States foster care system? 129,000 of those children are immediately available for adoption. There are over 300,000 churches in the United States. If less than one-half of the churches in America adopted one child, there would be no orphans left in America. A quick look at the phone book leads me to believe that there are well over 100 churches in Fargo/Moorhead alone! It's time for the church to wake up and realize what God said in James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

On October 11, 2010, I woke up to an e-mail with photographs of a beautiful baby girl who was born on or around August 26th, 2010. This poor innocent baby is currently is living in an orphanage half way around the world in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I have yet to touch her, hold her, smell her or hear her, and yet I love her more than I ever thought was possible. At very that moment, I was willing to lay my life down for that child. No matter what it takes, no matter what I have to endure, I will leave no rock unturned to ensure that she becomes a forever part of the Tunheim family. All children need and deserve a loving family and a warm home, all 143 million of them! How many is 143,000,000 you ask? Take a look at this sobering video to find out.

To date, we have received over 45 donations and/or shirt orders, bringing us to a total of $4,320.00. As I was writing this blog, I received an e-mail indicating that a far-away distant cousin on the Tunheim side of my family purchased a t-shirt in support of our adoption. I have only met her a few times in my life, all while frequenting a restaurant where she was working as a host. Today we received a donation from an individual whom we have never met. She just simply found our blog and was inspired to help.

There simply are no words that will convey our gratitude! Ann and I truly thank each and every one of you who have been of support to us through this amazing journey. Our hearts are overjoyed by your emotional and financial support. By God's grace, within the first several weeks of 2011, there will be one less orphan in the world. Be proud of yourselves as you have helped us make this dream become a reality. We are a people called to defend the fatherless...we are people called to care for the child that has no family...we are people called to visit orphans in their distress. How are you going to follow God's command to take care of the orphan? I encourage you to step outside of your box and take a risk. Ask God for direction on what he wants you to do, and listen. You will be surprised, the rewards will be immense!

"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." John 14:18

So, I know you all think I'm crazy for wanting to put up the Christmas tree. And, you are probably right. I have to say that this Momma is starting to struggle again with the wait. I do know full well that God is in control. I know that His Will is being carried out. But it is STILL HARD to WAIT!!! I know my baby is waiting for me. I want to hold her, smell her, kiss her, feed her, hug her, and tell her I LOVE HER. The chorus from this song by Steven Curtis Chapman says it all...

Steven Curtis Chapman - All I Really Want

All I really want for Christmas
Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose
Shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for
But there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

So, yes, I am putting up the Christmas tree this weekend. I am going to sit and look at it every night and pray that for Christmas this year, God makes Malia an official/legal member of our family. Please join us in praying that the Judge sees wonderful parents when he reviews the Tunheim file and meets with us face-to-face in court. That is all I really want for Christmas.