One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

"Who will go to bat for us?"

This is the question that I asked Paul after hearing about more delays in our adoption process, yet again.

The High Commissions requested clarification about two documents a few weeks ago.  Our agency sent those documents to the High Commissions, which we were able to track with a DHL tracking number.  It arrived, and a signature was given to show that it was received.

Last week, we were checking our e-mail, obsessively as we eagerly anticipated the news of Seber's Visa.  However, we received news from the High Commissions requesting for the DHL tracking number for the two documents.
This wasn't the news that we were waiting for.
We would love to fly to Nairobi and start searching people's desks for these documents.
We were wrestling again with the feelings of  helplessness.

Who will go to bat for us?
God is the answer.
He already went to bat for us on the cross because of His love for us. "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

We are praying for divine intervention.
We are praying that He will retrieve those documents.  We are praying that He will place them in the hands of the right person and that He will put the pen in the hands of the right person to sign and issue Seber's Visa this week!! We are praying that we will be able to soon bring home our precious son to his forever family!
Please join us in praying for divine intervention!

Continuing to give thanks...
-that God goes to bat for us
-that He is our strength when we are weak
-prayers and support from loving family and friends
-that His grace is sufficient

-my best friend, my confidant, my soul mate

-enjoying God's beauty

-how she loves flowers and taking pictures, just like her Dad

-showing off her new glasses

-how she willingly wears her new glasses and takes pretty good care of them!

-how she loves to play

-enjoying the new play structure made by her super handy uncle

-his diligent, hard, detailed work

-our adorable super heroes

-lunch outside with Beppe

-having fun with colour!

-enjoying March break at the park together as a family

-testing out his new cleats
-his love for sports

-how she's fitting in so well with the family

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him" 

(Psalm 62:5).

When seasons overlap... 
When there is sadness, when there is joy.
When there is hurt and pain, when there is healing.
When there is doubt, when there is trust.
When there is despair, when there is hope.
When there is suffering, when there is pleasure.
When there is unhappiness, when there is elation.

When seasons overlap...

God doesn't promise joy without pain, but He does promise that He has everything in His control.  He promises us that His love is never ending and it is unconditional.  He promises to never leave us and that He is our strength and strong tower.  His promises are true and He is always faithful to His promises.

Today was a very emotional day. 

We've been on a very emotional roller coaster.

Today, we received the exciting news that the MOWA courts in Ethiopia have given positive comments regarding our file, and that they will issue us an adoptive court date in a few days.  That means that we hope to be travelling to Ethiopia within a week or two, D.V.!  We are so thrilled that we'll be meeting our little boy soon!  God's timing never ceases to amaze me!

Continuing to give thanks...

-overlapping seasons

-an answer to our fervent prayers

-joy and happiness in the midst of sadness

-God's faithfulness to His promises

-renewed hope

-multiple conversations with a dear friend today, reminding me to trust in God, first and foremost

-loving, supportive friends and family

-worshiping with thousands of other believers of all different backgrounds

-when walls are broken and bridges are built

-inspiring music and lyrics ("Because he lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!" Bill Gaither) 

-enjoying trick or treating together

-how they love to play games together when he comes to visit
-enjoying dinner together

-preparing for some canine therapy

-how most of us are excited to get a little puppy (sorry, Jesse)

-my helper and how she loves to do the work that I'm doing with me

-how she finds her escape places

-grandparents who have hearts of gold and love and pray for all of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren

-celebrating his 79th birthday blessings

-running for a great cause (edu deo)

-how she includes a spot for him at the dinner table

-the great community building projects the grade nines are doing
-the wonderful things happening at our amazing high school
-the awesome, loving, supportive teachers at our high school and grade school

-Sunday afternoon naps
-the pleasure she took while styling my hair

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

Adoption Update

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised" (Romans 4:20,21).

The next few weeks on our calendar were looking pretty empty.

Last night, we were researching hotels and guest houses in Addis.

We were still feeling hopeful for a travel court date before court closures in mid August.

However, we will be taking another detour in our journey.

Today, we received more discouraging news that some of our documents need to be submitted in a new style of binding and authenticated and bound together.  We will need another MOWA (ministry of woman's affairs) court date in the fall.  This just seems so unjust, unfair, and ridiculous.  We are so disappointed (to the point of a head ache, nausea, and severe heart ache!).

Yesterday, our guest pastor reminded us of the glory of God and while he preached about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, he reminded us that through trials and difficulties, God's name is still glorified.

We pray that God will still be glorified through this detour and disappointing news.  We pray that through this detour, our faith may be strengthened.  We continue to pray for our precious son that he will be kept safe, healthy, and be loved and cared for.  We are so thankful that God promises to never leave us, but that He will walk alongside us and carry us through our trials.

Continuing to give thanks...
-God's promise to never leave us
-God's love, comfort, and strength
-the freedom when submitting to His plan, knowing that He is in control over all things

-celebrating his 11th birthday

-that God entrusted him into our care

-how he loves to learn

-the joy he brings to our lives every day!

-how they all join in the fun of celebrating each other's birthdays

-being silly together

-how he wore his hat proudly
-how he reminds me so much of my father!

-how he is always exercising his brain

-Deborah's photography skills

-her love for nature and how she finds the beauty in everything

-her beauty inside and out

-how they can't get enough of Oma and Opa's pool

-getting lots of pool time in this summer

-lazy, summer days