Waiting, hoping, and praying earnestly as we go through this process of adoption of two siblings from Ethiopia. Thanks for stopping in and thank you for praying for us, the kids, and for God's hand to continue to guide this journey! Thank you!
Week 5 just flew past as the family went on vacation to the beach! We didn't have internet service and our laptop decided to die anyway. So, I took the big 'hint' from the Lord and took a break from it all: facebook, blogging, e-mails, phones! Actually read 3 books - yes, the paper kind! - spent tons of time with the kids playing and not being distracted by the calls of the world around me. Todd and I shared a devotional together and time in prayer. All nourishment for the heart and soul that was much needed!
Week 7
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe." Psalm 139:13-16
Isn't that amazing to think about? He "saw me before I was born and scheduled each day." An all knowing and all powerful God who loves His children deeply does that. He thinks of us, planned us, and knows what is ahead.
We haven't had confirmation from the agency yet (as I'm waiting to hear) but from other family referrals going out I think we are now family #10 on the waiting list! I'll let you know the 'official' count as soon as we do, but none-the-less there is movement in the agency and precious little ones are uniting with their forever families!
Someone asked me today, and honestly I think I was asked 5 times today, "When are you getting the kids?" It's so great to talk with others about adoption and share in the excitement with them! Love it, but we just don't know. First we have to be matched with the kids and that's called the referral. Some sweet day we will get an e-mail that says "referral" and there will be these precious faces of our children! After that, and we 'accept' the referral, then the process begins of arranging for the children to go from the orphanage to the foster care home. The court date will be set, we'll get a notice of that date, and then we travel over the big ocean to meet the kids!
I used to think that maybe the kids weren't even in the orphanage yet. I would think of what their home life was like, what was happening between them and their parents. Was someone ill? Did someone leave the family with no support? Or was life just so hard that the daily struggle to provide a meal for another child was just too much? Then, I prayed for the children that they would somehow find comfort, find a caring adult, and be protected as they were about to face the most horrific crisis in their little lives, being abandoned.
Now, that we are this far in the process, and moving along in the weeks of waiting, moving along on the waiting list for our referral - we think the children are there now, there in the orphanage. They are heartbroken and confused. They are questioning and trying to comprehend what just happened to their lives. They are mourning a great loss and yet finding care in those who are providing care for them through the orphanage. We think they are there. We pray for them differently now. We pray for their mental stability as they try to comprehend their situation. We pray for their self-esteem that they will still know they are cherished little ones. We pray that they desire a family and a place to be. We pray for their hearts to be prepared for us and their eyes to be prepared to see us (as we obviously are of a different race and culture to them that they are not used to), and we pray for their souls that one day they will be restored to know that they are wanted and loved. Loved by their family so much that their family wanted them to survive and thrive in this beautiful, but often cruel world. Loved by their adoptive family who wants them, seeks them, will fight for them, and accept them. And most importantly, loved by their Heavenly Father who made them so wonderful and complex that as Psalm 139 says, "It is amazing to think about...you saw (them) before (they) were born and scheduled each day of (their) lives."
As we walk through week 7, would you join us in praying these things for the children? Please pray also for the spiritual warfare in that the attacks of the Devil would get the door slammed in their faces as he tries to spoil the Lord's plan for our family. Satan doesn't like the work of the Lord to prevail and trust me when we say we've seen him try to stir up trouble. Praying for protection and putting on the armor!
Week 5 just flew past as the family went on vacation to the beach! We didn't have internet service and our laptop decided to die anyway. So, I took the big 'hint' from the Lord and took a break from it all: facebook, blogging, e-mails, phones! Actually read 3 books - yes, the paper kind! - spent tons of time with the kids playing and not being distracted by the calls of the world around me. Todd and I shared a devotional together and time in prayer. All nourishment for the heart and soul that was much needed!
Our verse for week 5: (July 22, 2013) Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Week 6 has followed suit of all the weeks and gorgeous days of summer that seem to pass through as quickly as the grains of sand through your fingers! This week our oldest went to overnight bible camp. This is her 3rd year as a camper and she loves it every summer! Blessed to know the staff, as I have personally worked there for 7 summers during my teen years. May the Lord continue to bless the staff and this place that serves Him!
This week was a big milestone week in our family too as our oldest turned 10! Hard to believe that 10 years ago this precious gal entered into our lives! Her name means "Blessings to all" and that she truly lives up to. She enjoyed her birthday at camp with friends and loads of warm birthday wishes! We celebrated together when she was home again with her request of black raspberry pie and vanilla ice cream! This girl knows what's good. AND look careful at the picture below (she was in bunk #6!)
Our verse for week 6: (July 29, 2013) Psalm 8:3-4 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe." Psalm 139:13-16
Isn't that amazing to think about? He "saw me before I was born and scheduled each day." An all knowing and all powerful God who loves His children deeply does that. He thinks of us, planned us, and knows what is ahead.
We haven't had confirmation from the agency yet (as I'm waiting to hear) but from other family referrals going out I think we are now family #10 on the waiting list! I'll let you know the 'official' count as soon as we do, but none-the-less there is movement in the agency and precious little ones are uniting with their forever families!
Someone asked me today, and honestly I think I was asked 5 times today, "When are you getting the kids?" It's so great to talk with others about adoption and share in the excitement with them! Love it, but we just don't know. First we have to be matched with the kids and that's called the referral. Some sweet day we will get an e-mail that says "referral" and there will be these precious faces of our children! After that, and we 'accept' the referral, then the process begins of arranging for the children to go from the orphanage to the foster care home. The court date will be set, we'll get a notice of that date, and then we travel over the big ocean to meet the kids!
I used to think that maybe the kids weren't even in the orphanage yet. I would think of what their home life was like, what was happening between them and their parents. Was someone ill? Did someone leave the family with no support? Or was life just so hard that the daily struggle to provide a meal for another child was just too much? Then, I prayed for the children that they would somehow find comfort, find a caring adult, and be protected as they were about to face the most horrific crisis in their little lives, being abandoned.
Now, that we are this far in the process, and moving along in the weeks of waiting, moving along on the waiting list for our referral - we think the children are there now, there in the orphanage. They are heartbroken and confused. They are questioning and trying to comprehend what just happened to their lives. They are mourning a great loss and yet finding care in those who are providing care for them through the orphanage. We think they are there. We pray for them differently now. We pray for their mental stability as they try to comprehend their situation. We pray for their self-esteem that they will still know they are cherished little ones. We pray that they desire a family and a place to be. We pray for their hearts to be prepared for us and their eyes to be prepared to see us (as we obviously are of a different race and culture to them that they are not used to), and we pray for their souls that one day they will be restored to know that they are wanted and loved. Loved by their family so much that their family wanted them to survive and thrive in this beautiful, but often cruel world. Loved by their adoptive family who wants them, seeks them, will fight for them, and accept them. And most importantly, loved by their Heavenly Father who made them so wonderful and complex that as Psalm 139 says, "It is amazing to think about...you saw (them) before (they) were born and scheduled each day of (their) lives."
As we walk through week 7, would you join us in praying these things for the children? Please pray also for the spiritual warfare in that the attacks of the Devil would get the door slammed in their faces as he tries to spoil the Lord's plan for our family. Satan doesn't like the work of the Lord to prevail and trust me when we say we've seen him try to stir up trouble. Praying for protection and putting on the armor!
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