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Showing posts with label sunflowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunflowers. Show all posts

Monday, August 3, 2015

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


Monday, July 27, 2015

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love" (Psalm 33:18) 

When you don't know what to pray for anymore, or how to pray, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

When you feel disconnected, the LORD brings us back to Him and reminds us that He never left us nor will He ever leave us.

When you feel empty, He fills us up again.

When you lose hope, He reminds us of His promises and His unfailing love.

 Continuing to give thanks...
-hope
-His unfailing love
-His ever presence
-God sightings

-a Sunday service different than what we are accustomed to, but powerful


-sunflowers, the sign of the end of another month, and the beginning of another month




-a fun outing with my dear friend


-enjoying the warm weather in the pool

-colour and how amazingly they grow


-a fun week with my whole family and lots of cousins second cousins


-enjoying a new, fun activity


-my chef for the week

-game time outside

-playing in the sand with cousins


-enjoying lots of time with various sport activities



-a budding photographer and how she loved taking pictures all week

-how his silliness never fails


-how he loves getting home runs





-enjoying a new activity this year (4vs4 soccer tournament)
-feeling like a youth as he joined the youth soccer tournament (and didn't even get injured nor did he injure anyone!)




-fireworks tradition
-staying safe (before the bucket almost exploded!)




-classic game of spoons

-how all the cousins get along (all ages)

-brotherly love






-how he spent so much time with the children!

-a bit of cooler weather for the week, making his time more relaxing and the cottage more tolerable!

-uncles who take their boats on the water and allow the children to enjoy various water activities




-how she loves to spend her time with all of her grandchildren



-celebrating national ice cream day (almost every day)


-finding time to relax

-how she makes the most of every opportunity






-how she loved biking around like the older children

-sitting around the campfire
-the patience of older cousins and their willingness to play games
-a busy, but very fun week of vacation