Great job Chesswava!

We were so excited when Chesswava came home from cheer with this on her phone!  This is something she has been working for off and on for the past 3 years!!  She got her round-off, flip-flop, back tuck!  We would sign up for 8 week sessions at the gym when she wasn't too busy and she'd go for an hour a week.  They would look beautiful on the tumble track (which is like a long, narrow trampoline) and then try it on the floor and not get anywhere.  She would get so frustrated.  She has been so busy since the fall that we have not signed up for anymore sessions.  But her cheer coach this last month has been having optional tumbling practices, and Chesswava has been going and she got it!   I asked her last night, so....what was the difference...why did you get it this time.  Her response, "I think it was because I really wanted it this time."  I had to laugh.  This girl says the funniest things sometimes.  Anyway, Great job, Chesswava!

Today I start the process of updating our homestudy and sending a letter to USCIS to get fingerprints done again.  Our homestudy expires in April and fingerprints in May.  I can't say I'm really excited about having to do this...but I know it's worth it in the end.  We are so ready to get Sunshine home and are not willing to take a chance in another delay!

No Matter What

Finding Joy

We found out Friday morning that we did not pass court again. We were rescheduled for March 7th.  Although my heart mourns the fact that we have to wait longer to bring R home and tears still flow unexpectedly,  I have found joy in my Lord and Savior.  I have been so blessed by words of encouragement and have felt prayers of many who have lifted us up.  I have been talking with my Savior and  have been reading and meditating on His Word and have found great peace.

Psalm 46:1-3,7a,10
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and mountains quake with their surging.....The Lord Almighty is with us....Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

God, You are my strength!  I will not fear the "what ifs" This journey is not about me.  This journey is about bringing glory and honor to You.  Lord, may you be exalted on high in our journey.

Proverbs 3:5,6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

I trust you, Lord! Even when I don't understand!

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Lord, thank you for loving me and carrying me through this hard time.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

Father, all your ways are perfect and good.  I know you called us to adopt and You will work everything out for good.

James 1:2-4,12
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything....Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Lord, we have faced many trials in the last year and a half, but I will keep my eyes are on you.  I trust you.   My reward is not here.  My reward is eternal life, that I have received through faith in my Lord, Jesus Christ. 

This is only a portion of the comfort I have received from meditating on God's word in the last 3 days, but my hope is that it will provide comfort for others who may be going through a hard time.

May the Lord bless you and keep you;

May the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

may the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

                                 Numbers 6: 24-26

 
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!!!

It's Friday!! And The Last Day of Our First Trip

Well, after three days off for our big blizzard, my children are actually excited to go back to school.  They are old enough to realize that every day that school is canceled, an extra day gets tacked on at the end of the year, and they DO NOT want that.  They did get a chance to enjoy the time off and play in the snow!  I love when they are home.

The last day of our trip to Ethiopia was bittersweet.  I cherished the time we were able to spend with R, and I was excited knowing we would get to see our children at home soon.  I had really missed them.  The hard part was knowing the minute I woke up, this would be the day we would have to say goodbye to our sweet R.  When we started on this journey, we were anticipating taking one short trip to go pick up our little girl and bring her home.  But half-way through the process, things changed and now we need to go twice...once for our court date and once for our embassy appointment and to bring her home. We were able to spend a lot of the day at Hannah's Hope.  We spent the day just playing and playing some more...trying to soak in enough of R to last until we could come back to pick her up. It was so hard leaving knowing we hadn't passed court and not having a time frame to focus on.  There are so many changes and unknowns in the adoption process, but God has been through it with us each step and He continues to carry me through.  I am so thankful for His love and protection...I know He is watching over R while we cannot be there and I trust Him.

This all brings me to the fact that while we tried to sleep last night, our second court appointment occurred.  There is no way of knowing if the missing letter made it to court this time, until we get a call from our agency letting us know if we passed or not.  It's in God's hands and I have to trust Him.  Whatever the news today, I will praise Him.  Without Him, none of this would be happening.  I will cling to his words in Jeremiah 29:11;

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Happy Nine Months and Signing Day

Had to take little break from journaling our trip because our baby girl is 9 months old today.  Happy Nine Months R!  We love you and are praying for great news on Friday and that we will be able to bring you home as soon as possible!!  We got a call on Monday that R is sick and on medication.  It's hard knowing she is sick half way across the world and not be able to hold her and take care of her.  Praising God is that she is at HH where she is getting great care.  So many of the children are sick.  I'm just praying that we all can get them home soon.  Here is another photo from our trip...R's sisters can't wait to get her home so they can do her hair.  Loving all the curls!!!


The other exciting news at our house was that T1 officially signed with Georgia Tech this morning!! 

He is so excited and we are for him.  He has worked so hard to get to this point, but we have to give all the glory to God!  Without Him, none of this would have happened.  It's so amazing to hear the story about how T1 got to this point...a story I never grow tired of hearing.  God worked out all the details and everything fell into place.  Atlanta, here we come!!!!