I found this and had to share...

It took A WHILE for it to load, but so poignantly stated the case for so many.
(remember to pause the music on the right so you can hear the audio)


Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

...plans...

We plan and then God happens.  The closing on our house is NOT going to be what the contract stated, nor is it going to be Thursday.  We have now been told Friday.  The closing date seems to keep vascilating between Thursday and Friday.  Why not Wednesday, when it was scheduled for?!  Though it may not be what I want, it will happen. 
Another couple with paperwork dates the same as ours got their TA yesterday.  We DID NOT.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Our plans may not go according to our plan, but HIS plan is always at work.

Words of Encouragement

As I ran about town yesterday, I stopped at a friends to drop some items off for her adoption travels.  I felt so drained, so empty, so exhausted.  We still have no word on our TA.  She gave me a precious devotional, Jesus Calling.  Here's the entry for February 21st:
"TRUST AND THANKFULNESS WILL get you safely through this day.  Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing.  Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining; those 'sister sins' that so easily entangle you.
Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting Me.  It is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily.  The more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes.  Thought patterns of trust become etched into your brain.  Relegate troubles to the periphery of your mind, so that I can be central in your thoughts.  Thus you focus on Me, entrusting you concerns into My care."


Colossians 2:6-7 (the Message) "My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving."

Psalm 141:8 "But God, dear Lord,
      I only have eyes for you.
   Since I've run for dear life to you,
      take good care of me.
   Protect me from their evil scheming,
      from all their demonic subterfuge.
   Let the wicked fall flat on their faces,
      while I walk off without a scratch." (the Message)

1 Peter 5:7 (the Message) "So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you." 

What a Week!

My week had had enough drama by Monday night.  Mr. Incredible was feeling ill, disappointing news on the house, no news with the adoption and the stacks of boxes were overtaking the house! 

This is how Timothy greeted friends who dropped by Monday night.  T*equila box in hand, stating, "These are my clothes!"  My house looks like a well stocked liquo*r store with all the liquo*r boxes around.  Unfortunately any drunk that may break into our house would be sorely disappointed to find kitchen items, toilet paper, diapers, books, clothes... 

Tuesday brought me feeling very poorly along with more frustration on all fronts.  Wednesday was a blur of school, somewhat encouraging news on the house and having to basically totally redo (unfortunately unnecessarily) a project for church.  Oh how I pray that today will yield news on the adoption, news on the house and that me not going to exercise and staying home to pack/paint might actually be beneficial and maybe I can kick this congestion once and for all...

Here's the project I was working on.  Enjoy!

Waiting on Travel Approval

Oh this is familiar territory.  Weren't we here not that long ago?!  Our Article 5 was dropped 2/9/11, so that's when our three to eight week wait began.  But because of everything else that China has done for us quickly, will this be expedited also?!  Thinking we will get TA this week, but I know that seems unrealistic.  God is a God of the impossible though!  So we will wait and see what He does... It would be nice to be able to plan, to at least some extent, the next 2-3 months of our lives thoooough... okay I'll stop griping. :-) 

The Things God Brings Your Way

Some days are easier than others.  Some days you wish you could relive over and over.  Some days you wish had never happened.  

Though our opinion of each day can vary, God created each one.  The good, the bad and the ugly each come our way for a reason, a purpose, a plan.  

Elizabeth has been puny for the last week, tomorrow we go to the ENT to see if it is a problem with the tubes in her ears...

At 11pm Sunday night we had a "photo shoot" to try and get a picture of us wearing the clothes we would meet Lilly in.  Our "shoot" was during one of the very brief interludes of not holding Elizabeth for the past 72 hours. 

 oops

 oops, again

 Really, we haven't been drinking officer.

YO! We live in da hood.

 Yes, I'M AWAKE!

The keeper!

The purpose?  We are sending the photo and a letter in a care package to Lilly.  Praying and hoping that seeing this photo and then seeing us (in same clothes) will help ease the transition.

Happy Chinese New Year!

We are marking this special occasion by watching The Three Stooges and I Love Lucy.  Chinese, right?!  Hey when you have puny kids/parents and you don't want to go out- 1) Because it is SO COLD and 2) You don't want to bring any other germs home- you make do!  Nothing says Chinese New Year like lentils with rice and carrots soup and our afore mentioned entertainment (at least this year).  Lol!  Maybe we won't be packing, adopting and puny next year.  Cheers!