Adoption Update

"You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope...(Job 11:16-18).

The emotions experienced during this adoption process can be compared to a roller coaster to say the least. Referrals have been very slow lately, which is very depressing. When we started the process, we were very busy meeting with the lawyers, going to the police station for fingerprints, meeting with our practitioner, etc. etc. We were anxious and so excited. When our agency went bankrupt, we were crushed. It felt like another miscarriage. We were very joyful when the agency was reconstructed and when referrals started coming in, we were ecstatic! I carried the phone with me everywhere. Now, I have turned the emotional tap off. I don't care if the phone rings; I have no emotion. I was beginning to feel bitterness kick in. However, today, through the working of the Holy Spirit, I was inspired by the song "That's what faith can do" by Kutless.

I pray that God will forgive me for my bitterness and anger and that I will be able to have faith and hope in Him. "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands" (Deuteronomy 7:9).

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

301) Fresh White Snow (finally)

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7).

302) Day home to rest and play

"...'Come with me by yourselves to a quite place and get some rest'"(Mark 6:31)

303) Brotherly love

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love" (Romans 12:10).

304) tucked in teddy bears

305) sister outing

306) safety on the snowy roads

307) cancellations so we can be home tonight!

308) playing in the snow

309) making forts out of snow

310) skating with cousins

311) shovels

312) husbands who like to shovel

313) gorgeous sunrise

314) Christ, my propitiation (fancy word used by our pastor meaning atonement)

315) Jesus constantly pleading my case before the Father

316) God's faithfulness

317) cousins wanting to stay longer together

318) uplifting new Christian CD

319) fond memories of a loved one

Till we meet again

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away'" (Revelation 21:4).

It was a snowy day five years ago the morning I received the call that my father had collapsed and joined the angels in heaven. It was a call that I will never forget. Five years have passed by so quickly, yet the love I have for my dad and the lessons I learned from my dear father will remain with me forever.

He taught me to how to love life and have fun.
He taught me that to love the Lord and to trust in Him.
He taught me not to be afraid of death as he openly talked about "when I'm in the box..."
He taught me the importance and value of family.
He taught me the importance and value of church family.
He taught me the importance and value of strong friendships.
He taught me gratitude and how to show gratitude.
He taught me to respect others.
He taught me to put a smile on your face even at 3:30 a.m. (going to the market -I haven't learned that one yet).
He taught me to set goals and "Go for it"!
He taught me to have fun with your children.
He taught me to give hugs and kisses to your children and your spouse.
He taught me the importance of Christian Education as he dedicated his life toward that cause.

The list could go on! These are lessons that I am still learning as I run the race.

There are very few days that go by that I don't' think of him and smile. The last time I saw my dad, he had his chubby cheek sticking out waiting for his good-bye kiss, and I know that when we meet again, it won't be much different except we won't ever have to say good-bye again.

Till we meet again!!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

(Alaska 2007)

286) Ransomed from sin (preached by our pastor last night)
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from you forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 Peter 1:18,19).

287) special devotional time with our daughter
"For You created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" (Psalm 139:13,14).

288) Bright flowers
"May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works" (Psalm 104:31).

289) love shown by my hubby with flowers on Valentine's Day
"...love one another deeply , from the heart" (1 Peter 1:23).


290) get together and prayer time with fellow adoptive parents
291) friends' 40th birthday celebrations
292) fundraiser dinner for Haiti
293) family day
294) glow in the dark basement party (planned by our daughter- for her and her brother)
295) our exceptionally gifted pastor
296) hope and encouragement preached by our pastor
297) tidy time
298) play time
299) Kleenexes
300) laundry helper

Joy in Diversity

"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right'" (Acts 10: 34,35).

The opening words to DC Talk's song "Coloured People" begin with "There is joy in diversity". The song continues with the words:

We've gotta come together
And thank the Maker of us all

CHORUS:
We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace
A piece of canvas is only the beginning for
It takes on character with every loving stroke
This thing of beauty is the passion of an Artist's heart
By God's design, we are a skin kaleidoscope

As the Olympics begin, we will be reminded of the kaleidoscope which God has created. We are so excited to bring our little girl home from Ethiopia, and to celebrate our differences and more importantly to rejoice in our similarities!

As we watch the Olympics, our family will especially be following Team Ethiopia (team of 1)! Robel Teklemariam will be competing in the cross-country ski events. Check out the video and cheer on Robel. Go Robel Go!!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

269) skates (and the ability to use them well)
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:4,5).

270) hockey sticks

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).

271) we're #9 waiting for our referral

"If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:25).

271) soup fest with my brother and sister

272) cousins babysitting cousins

273) winter enrichments

274) Friday night pizza with cousins

275) day out with our daughter to see the musical "Little House on the Prairie" LOVED IT!

276) Daddy and son night out (and cousin and brother-in-law) to see the Sens

277) sister-in-law babysitting the boys

278) friends celebrating new decades (Happy Birthday, Jacquie)

279) God's provisions for the elderly and wonderful nursing home facilities

280) our "visible"church and our church family

281) bright, warm sunshine

282) siblings sharing their prized possessions

283) party for 2 and sharing the lazy boy chair with our oldest

284) our youngest's excitement to welcome a new student to his class today

285) fresh air

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

251) Christian movies and a positive response to our movie night
"Righteousness guards the person of integrity" (Proverbs 13:6 TNIV).

252) We've moved up to #10 waiting for our referral

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for" (Hebrews 11:1-2).

253) Scripture Tea- while sipping on my tea, I read the passage hanging from the tea bag "Call unto me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things" (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV).

254) Daddy- daughter time (cuddles on the couch)

255) early morning taxi to the airport (thanks, Hon)

256) mission teams

257) inspiring adoption seminar this past weekend

258) Sunday School

259) soup

260) loving, caring school teachers

261) play dates

263) team work -snow derby

264) team work -my hubby and I

265) safety in the cold at snow derby

266) proud son of his ribbons!

267) great babysitters

268) closet cleaning time