Full of Suprises!

After waiting 45 days to hear word on our contract that we placed on a house, we got word today (of all days!)! The title "glitch" has been resolved and everyone (there's four other offers) is supposed to offer up their "best offer". Only with a foreclosure, right?! The real estate agent is turning all offers in on Monday. (hate the waiting :-/) We have offered our best and we are placing our faith in God to do the rest. It's been fun seeing (at least in retrospect) how God has been guiding and providing and opening doors at just the right time these last few months.

With God NOTHING (look carefully-NO THING) is impossible!

The Check Is In The Mail

Not really, it's actually our immigration approval!!!

We only found out yesterday that we were getting expedited. Then we received an email today from immigration and our agency that our I-797 approval is going in today's mail! Talk about EXPEDITE!!!

So amazed at what God is doing.

Expedited!

We received an email from our agency today that immigration is expediting the review of our case!!! Guess waiting the week and a half for a letter from the pediatrician did pay off! Pray for quick review with favorable determination.

We still have not heard anything on the new house other than we might know something in a couple of weeks.

Lots going on!

Ephrem

Ephrem from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

 “What first drew me to this little boy was his sweet round face.  Obviously, he has suffered a great deal from malnutrition.  When we visited the school he and the rest of the children were so focused on their meal.  It’s amazing to see how Lifesong was changing their lives.  After lunch, I found myself surrounded by children playing a name game.  He reached out and kissed my hand.  My heart melted... I think of him daily.” 

Jenny Anderson, Orphan Advocate

Sometimes it can be hard to imagine the hardships that go on around the world.  We sit in our comfortable homes, with pantries full of necessities, and it seems strange that most of the world doesn’t have a pantry, let alone food to fill it.  But for millions of children in Africa this is their reality.  Hunger is a part of their daily lives.  Then add the fact that many of these children are also orphaned, either by death or abandonment… it’s almost more than we can bear.  It’s hard to go there mentally and we protect our hearts by pretending it doesn’t exist.  But it does.  Children are suffering.

Little Ephrem is one of those children.  Born in Ethiopia, his father is now dead and his mother disappeared years ago.  He was taken into his grandmother’s care, but she has struggled to provide for him.  At 4 years old, Ephrem is extremely small for his age, and most likely suffers from a type of growth disorder, though the lack of specialized medical care keeps us from knowing for sure.  And since he has been malnourished most of his life, it is no wonder his health is affected.
Praise the Lord, Ephrem is now enrolled in Lifesong’s Adami Tulu Nursery School, where he is getting two meals a day and seems to be flourishing under the care of his teachers.  His sweet demeanor and precious smile easily capture your heart.

Bring joy and purpose this Christmas season to children like Ephrem around the world!

*Want to use your blog to advocate for the fatherless? Click here to learn more.

God's Faithfulness

I have been praying about a certain situation for the last two months.  Today we were able to get some resolve.  I pray that God equips us for what He has ahead regarding this.

Meanwhile I've been able to get Christmas cards off and am excitedly looking forward to friends coming over tomorrow to share dinner with us!  Life never seems to slow down.  Lately I feel like I'm failing in so many areas- housework, meal prep, schooling.  You name it I'm probably failing at it.

God's faithfulness is never failing, however.  Sometimes it may feel like He is not listening, but He does hear our calls.  It may be housework, a broken relationship, waiting with regards to an adoption/children, finances, etc, but He will act in a way that is for our betterment even if it doesn't feel like it at the time.  His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. Amen.

Another Day, Another Dollar?

I have been saving money and spending as little as possible for so long, I find myself having difficulty spending money.  Maybe this is good, maybe not :-/  It does make it challenging to find inexpensive nice Christmas presents.

Fingerprinting and an Anniversary

We celebrated our 14 year anniversary in style with going to try to get into our fingerprinting appointments early! (a week early)  And God did it!  We walked in, filled out the necessary form and then were able to go straight back for fingerprinting!!!  (Never been THAT quick before) 
-------------------------
An Anniversary Diddy


We pledged each our heart
And from this we don't depart
I'm so glad to be chosen by you

Never been smoothing sailing
But God's love is unfailing
And He gets us through

So for what lies ahead
It's nice to have your shoulder to rest my head
I choose you too!

14 years and counting!

[I thought this got posted yesterday, then realized that it posted to our old blog!  Yes, I'm technologically challenged!]

Foray Into Public Education

Today I attended an ARD for Elizabeth.  We are going to be trying her in the Deaf Ed  3 year old classroom.  I am overwhelmed about all the restrictions on clothing, like if your pants has belt loops you have to wear a belt!?  Or the "only tennis shoes" policy.  GRRRR.  I hope that I can do this.  If she doesn't do well, we will be requesting home sessions and just speech again. 
They kept spouting socialization importance to me.  I really wanted to say, I don't want MY daughter acting like YOUR daughter!  We'll try and see, in January! 

Fingerprinting Appointments In Today's Mail!!!!

I've been praying earnestly for our fingerprinting appointments and said one last prayer before I opened the mail box this afternoon and there they were!  Was hoping to have them before Thanksgiving and then our homestudy was delayed and then we just haven't heard diddlysquat from USCIS. 
Double bonus, Elizabeth's US passport was also in the mail today!  God is a God of Wonders!  Looking forward to seeing Him continue to work!  
Our appointments are for 12/22 we will be attempting to get in on 12/15, our 14 year anniversary!  We have been able to get in prior to our appointments at least one time before and this could really speed Lillyanna's immigration approval along.  Please join us in prayer that they will allow us to be fingerprinted early. 

Waiting

Psalm 37:6-8 (NIV)

⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.
 ⁷ Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.
 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.

 We wait for letters of medical expedite.  We wait for US immigration.  We wait for God to provide the home to bring Lillyanna (like it?!) home to.  Sometimes waiting is so hard to do.  What a reminder in Psalms though that if we fret, in other words- worry!, it leads to evil!  What a wake up!  More trusting, more waiting.  God is in control, even when our world seems to be spinning out of control.  He has a plan.  He has a purpose.  We just have to wait.

Happy Birthday, Lilly!

Lilly,

You have never met me, seen my face or heard my voice.  But, God has made a special place for you in my heart and in our family.  Wait my darling, we are coming!  Until then, may God's mercy, protection and unfailing love keep you safe and soothe your heart.

Isaiah 40:31

... but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

---------------------------------------------------

Lilly's 4th birthday is today.  She has spent almost four years needing a forever family.  My heart is breaking that I cannot be there singing Happy Birthday to her and lighting candles for her to blow out.  Needing some hope and faith today.  Our adoption agency is considering a medical expedite if we can get a physician's letter.  It could put us ahead or they said it could toss us to the back of the line with US immigration.  Give us wisdom, LORD.

A Way to Help, Worldwide

Show the love of Christ to a child in need this Christmas!

What are you doing this year for Christmas?

Decorating the house?  Making Christmas cookies?  Celebrating with family and loved ones?  Exchanging gifts?

What if this year you gave gifts that not only celebrated your loved ones but brought the love of Christ to a child in need?  An orphan in Africa, India, Ukraine, or Honduras?

This year Lifesong for Orphans has gifts that will do just that.  Give the new Lifesong cookbook...

  

 

or give a child in Africa food, a child in Honduras job skills training, a child in India a home... in honor of those you love... and really, what could be better at Christmas than to know your gift was given to a child who needed it more.

Check it out here.

May God bless your holiday season!  


10-11 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

I Love Spring!

So why am I saying I love Spring in the middle of Winter?!  Because there are some beautiful flowering bushes that we have in our yard that remind me of Spring!  When we first bought our home eight years ago I thought it strange that these bushes bloom at the end of November/December time frame.  I honestly thought that the weather messed up their flowering cycle.  However, after eight years of the same thing happening and doing some research- their camelias.  I now know to expect their blooming.  Even though it happens in the winter it makes me think of Spring and how the refreshing of life to the earth is just around the corner. 

Winter is generally a hard time for me because of the reduction of sunlight, but these wonderful pink flowers all across our back yard are such refreshment.  It is also bittersweet, as this will most likely be the last winter that we will be here to enjoy them.  I am excited about God adding to our family, I am thrilled to possibly be moving (still no word on the new house), but after investing eight years of our lives here and bringing three of our five home here, it will be a loss.  Life has many different seasons just as a year has seasons.  I wait, somewhat patiently, to see what God would have for us in this coming season of our lives.  A friend made a statement this morning about us purchasing the new van because "aren't you adopting more?"  (speaking of more beyond the next one) WHAT?!?  We only know about the one more!  Life is so busy and I've already had to back out of at least one commitment.   Mr. Incredible and mine's conversations mostly involve what the next day holds and what has happened during the current day.  Dates happen once a month, if then, and usually involve Walmart. Lol!  My mind swims at the thought of "more"!  I lose track of appointments if they are not our usual ones.  (even when on the calander! :-/)  Fortunately I haven't lost track of a child (yet).  Already the laundry pile becomes a mountain if I get behind.  I have no idea how we are going to pack, adopt, school, and get to our many appointments if we do get the new house.  More? Really?! (shaking head)  But God has a plan, I need to trust....

As if life already isn't -(fill in the blank)- enough, when you have a child that constantly tests you and shirks their school work sometimes you have to get creative.  Today in point, I came up with, "A math lesson a day keeps mom happy and gay."  Hopefully that got the point across, if not I'll have to resort to more rhymery!

Thank you Lord for reminding me of your refreshing.  May I be able to have a spring in my step and a song in my heart as I serve the mission field you have given me.

Upsizing

Well we've prayed, we've test drove, we've counted the cost and test drove some more...  The last month it seems has been filled with uncertainty about what vehicle God would have us buy.  At first we thought he was leading us to an eight passenger minivan, but our hearts didn't settle.  We've compared minivans to suburbans to 15 passenger vans, looked at seating, pricing, etc.  Yesterday, we went and saw 15 passenger vans.  It is with fear and faith a lot of trepidation and still some hesitation, but we are going to be buying a 14 passenger van and we feel at peace about it.  Why all the fear and faith, trepidation, hesitation?  Have YOU ever driven one?!  It's like driving an aircraft carrier!!!  The fear is because we know of a young man who was injured in a 15 passenger van accident and his life will never be the same because of it.  Trepidation and hesitation are from the fact that we never imagined ourselves here, have never been in this situation before and it is a bit overwhelming.  The faith aspect is we believe that we are following what God is telling to do, but we really don't want to understand or try to comprehend why we need a 14 passenger van, an eight seater would fit us fine.  Maybe it's the cost, maybe the room, I honestly cringe to think about other possibilities.


God equips who He calls, He doesn't call the equipped.  So if he's called us to care for orphans and He's equipping us with a 14 passenger van... (I'm not ready to go there!)