We have a new court date....October 17th. We are hopeful that we can then bring the twins home a few weeks following that date. As we enter yet another season of waiting...we are still learning what it means to fully trust in the Lord's perfect plan...
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
A note on the previous post...I included a portion of Ephesians 3...I was "randomly" reading that paragraph a few minutes before our case worker called. I knew I was waiting to find out when we would be allowed to bring the babies home and I was stealing a few minutes of time to myself....I read "to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" and I just stopped and thought "Oh NO!"....I thought "Lord I know my vision and desires are so limited...I just want these babies home....help me to trust in what You have planned" Then the phone rang....and tonight I still am "trying" to learn through the tears what it means to trust in what He has planned.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Sad news...
We did not pass court today like we had hoped for. The rainy season court closure has begun....so our next expected appearance in court is sometime in October. We are so sad and asking for God's power and peace to guide us these next few months of more waiting....
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Pray and Shop
***Updated....Go read this post if you too are waiting...
Pray....
Tomorrow, August 6th, the courts close for the rainy season. Our case is still open in court....please pray for us tonight (Ethiopia is 7 hours ahead of us)...that while we are sleeping (trying to sleep) our case is approved by the judge in Ethiopia!
Shop....
Some of our dearest friends have designed the coolest logo. Please go check out their cafe press site and buy something! You will be supporting something great and wearing something very cool! Please pass the word around....
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Lessons from Moses
The kids and I have used the summer to look at the life of Moses. We started studying Moses in order to look as God's heart for adoption and His sovereignty in people's lives. We have really enjoyed looking at how God used the little boy in the basket in mighty ways. I was preparing for teaching them and the Lord sweetly taught me a few things. Moses had many lessons in trusting and patience and waiting on the Lord....all lessons I need!!!! Exodus 14 discusses the dramatic event of the Israelites being trapped between the Red Sea and the approaching Egyptians...at no surprise to the Lord but at great distress to the Israelites who were freakin' out. Moses gave the best reply...and his words have stuck in my heart and have carried me through our continued wait....
Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today....The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
So with the adoption we continue to wait....hoping to hear final word next week and still hoping to travel in August??? We will keep you posted....
**
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Just waiting for THE phone call
To update those wondering....things are really looking good for the Gladney families who have been waiting like we have. We know our case is still open in court and is just waiting for final approval. We are just waiting for the final phone call from our awesome case worker....she will let us know when the adoption is final and when we can travel. We are hoping to travel sometime in August....yippee!!!!!
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27: 13-14
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:3-4
Friday, July 11, 2008
Moving
Good news...things are beginning to move and the delays seem to clearing up. We are so excited to think of getting to the babies soon!!!
"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." Lamentations 3:22-24
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Accepting Circumstances
Beau here. I read a great quote this week, and I wanted to share it today as an encouragement to all those waiting. You see, I came into a relationship with Christ in early 2000, and one of the first books I read in 2000 was Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. It really opened my eyes up to what Christianity was - not just a decision, but also my life's calling. While I will enter the kingdom of Heaven only because of Christ crucified and resurrected (see Ephesians 2:8-9), Christ wants me to live in all ways to know and glorify Him (see Ephesians 2:10).
Anyway, Bridges recently wrote a book called Respectable Sins that my community group is reading. It is a review of sin in our life that most people find acceptable, stuff like anxiety, pride, impatience, unthankfulness, selfishness, envy, and worldliness. As a follower of Christ, I don't want to be pleasing to man; rather, I want to be pleasing to Christ (see Galatians 1:10). therefore, I want to work through sin areas in my life that most people are not going to call me out on. So last week I was reading on DISCONTENTMENT, which is obviously a trap easy to fall into when life doesn't go your way. So here is a quote from Bridges that I need to constantly remind myself of:
Wow.
Father, as I meditate on Psalm 63, I am reminded that I can “rejoice in You” and rest in You as You are sovereign and You are good. Lord, help me to view You as necessary in the same way I naturally view water and food as necessary. May I wake up with a thirst for You in the same way that I want a glass of water in the morning. May my thirst be for my accepting Your will, not my lamenting the lack of fulfillment in my own selfish desires. May I have a hunger that can only be satisfied by You, and may I seek to satisfy that craving all the days of my life. Lord, You are my deliverer, and as a baby bird is only safe under the wing of its mother, may I stay in Your shadows. Lord, I lift up my friends who are waiting in their "wilderness experience" today; Lord I don’t know why I say that, as You know this already. You are the author of life. Lord, Your love for us is CRAZY; it is scandalous. You don’t want part of us; You want all of us. Why – because You want what is best for Your children. Just as David didn’t need a tabernacle to worship You in the wilderness, I thank You that we don’t need to be in a physical church to be in and rest in Your presence today. I thank You for giving me a personal relationship with You Lord, and I pray You would help me see today how I know You will use it. Help me see “Your strong right hand” today, and may I rest in the hands of my Daddy. Lord, I praise You. Amen.
Anyway, Bridges recently wrote a book called Respectable Sins that my community group is reading. It is a review of sin in our life that most people find acceptable, stuff like anxiety, pride, impatience, unthankfulness, selfishness, envy, and worldliness. As a follower of Christ, I don't want to be pleasing to man; rather, I want to be pleasing to Christ (see Galatians 1:10). therefore, I want to work through sin areas in my life that most people are not going to call me out on. So last week I was reading on DISCONTENTMENT, which is obviously a trap easy to fall into when life doesn't go your way. So here is a quote from Bridges that I need to constantly remind myself of:
Acceptance means that you accept your circumstances from God, trusting that He unerringly knows what is best for you and that in His love, He purposes only that which is best for you. Having then reached a state of acceptance, you can ask God to let you use your difficult circumstances to glorify Him. In this way you have moved from the attitude of a victim to an attitude of stewardship.
Wow.
Father, as I meditate on Psalm 63, I am reminded that I can “rejoice in You” and rest in You as You are sovereign and You are good. Lord, help me to view You as necessary in the same way I naturally view water and food as necessary. May I wake up with a thirst for You in the same way that I want a glass of water in the morning. May my thirst be for my accepting Your will, not my lamenting the lack of fulfillment in my own selfish desires. May I have a hunger that can only be satisfied by You, and may I seek to satisfy that craving all the days of my life. Lord, You are my deliverer, and as a baby bird is only safe under the wing of its mother, may I stay in Your shadows. Lord, I lift up my friends who are waiting in their "wilderness experience" today; Lord I don’t know why I say that, as You know this already. You are the author of life. Lord, Your love for us is CRAZY; it is scandalous. You don’t want part of us; You want all of us. Why – because You want what is best for Your children. Just as David didn’t need a tabernacle to worship You in the wilderness, I thank You that we don’t need to be in a physical church to be in and rest in Your presence today. I thank You for giving me a personal relationship with You Lord, and I pray You would help me see today how I know You will use it. Help me see “Your strong right hand” today, and may I rest in the hands of my Daddy. Lord, I praise You. Amen.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Dealing With Life's Circumstances
Beau here. So I recently started another blog that I am using with some guys I am "doing life with" as we try to spur one another on. Each of us in the group takes turns "taking the lead" on different roles. A couple weeks ago, I took on the role of EQUIPPING, helping challenge one another in our Bible study and siritual disciplines. Anyway, I just posted the below on the other blog, but I thought I would post it here too, hoping it would be an encouragement to other families on the journey of adoption. Praying for us all...
A bit long...sorry.
“God is great, God is good, thank you for this meal. Amen.” I have heard Caleb (my boy) say this so many times that I hardly process it when he says it. I want to unpack that a bit in this post and challenge all of us as to whether we really believe this.
So I spent my quiet time this morning in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. I was specifically drawn to verses 3-10. I have included them here.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again.
In looking at this, I have to keep as my perspective what Paul says in verse one, which is that his life is guided “by the will of God” (see also Psalm 139:13-16, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 8:26-30, Deuteronomy 8:11-18, Psalm 100). Do I believe God is sovereign (self-governing, supreme power, in control, etc)? In other words, do I believe God is great (all-powerful)? This is a foundational issue, and my perspective on this question affects every experience in my life. I am a black and white thinker. Sort of like the guns on a fighter plane. You know what I mean from the movies (think Top Gun) where they show the cross-hairs, it takes a while for the red cross hairs to lock in on target, then you hear a beep, the cross hairs turn green, and there is no way to unlock the missile from its target. When it comes to my belief in the Word of God, that is how I tend to operate. When I understand a truth from God’s Word, I can fully, emotionally lock in on the truth. While my black and white mentality gets me in trouble in lots of areas of life (disagreements with wife, making social plans, etc), in the area of accepting God’s truth, it is a great blessing. So, how are you doing? Do you think God is sovereign?
So as you cats know, we have been going through an adoption process for about twelve months now (actually filled our first document one year ago Sunday). It has lasted way longer than we had originally anticipated. To be honest, I thought we would have been done by January or February. Natalie and I have been asked lots of questions (or really people sharing presumptive statements with us) such as “You must be so frustrated. You have got to be upset that this isn’t happening quickly enough. Why is your agency taking so long?” I have consistently shared God’s truth on this which is something like “God is sovereign. His timing and His plan are far better than my plans, so while this is not the timing I had originally hoped for, I am convinced this is the timing the Lord has willed.” I will then often be asked “But when do you think it will happen?” Clearly, the listener didn’t fully understand what I had just said. So then I often answer, “I don’t know. God knows the exact day, but He hasn’t told me about it.”
I have heard and seen lots of people get really frustrated with the timing of things in life, most recently the timing of adoptions has been a frequent one. When I hear most people get frustrated like this, I really feel sorry for them and hurt for them. I am not surprised, as most people don’t believe in the mighty power of the Lord. At the same time I hurt for them, because I know this world is fallen and not understanding sin and the ultimate victory of Christ can make this world and life pretty hopeless. But when I see Christians get frustrated, it is really disappointing to me. As we see in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, how we respond to the trials of life is an integral part of our witness to the Lord. For example, in verse six Paul says “ But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.” Later in chapter six, Paul says something similar “We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.” Colossians 4:5 says it more directly as it pertains to our witness to non-believers when Paul says “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.” You see, when we don’t believe in the sovereignty of God, everyone suffers – I suffer, those I lead (family, etc) suffer, and those who don’t know Christ suffer.
So why do Christians respond this way (other than the fact that we are all sinners; see Jeremiah 17:9)? This is tied to a pivotal way the Lord has grown me over the past twelve months. I have believed in the sovereignty of God (God is great!) for quite some time. I believe that many of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are quick to get frustrated with life’s undesired circumstances also believe God is sovereign. So I don’t think that is always the issue. So what is it? I think the question goes one step further. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE RESTING IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD? Do you think His ways are better than your ways. In other words, do you think God is good? It is one thing to believe God is sovereign; it is another thing to rest in that sovereignty.
As we have waited quite some time for our adoption, I have frequently told myself “God is in control (great). God loves me and has my best interest at heart (good). I may not have planned it this way, but why on earth would I desire to be outside of God’s holy and perfect will? I will rest, knowing my Savior is my leader.” I often listen to the song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Tree63 which is so full of theology and best expresses the idea of how we as followers of Christ need to face life’s circumstances. All of the verses are here (http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/tree63/blessed-be-your-name.html) but I will note the following line “You give and take away; you give and take away; my heart will choose to say; Lord, blessed be your name.”
So what is the application of this long rant of mine…
1. Do you believe God is sovereign (great)? List any areas of your life where you have little hope that God is in control.
2. Are you resting in God’s sovereignty, wanting His ways to be your ways (good)? What areas of your life are your struggling to control instead of resting in the hands of your Daddy?
I will wrap up with three passages that really strike home for me.
Joshua was leading the Israelites soon after Moses died as God’s people had just entered the promised land. Many people were complaining about their life’s circumstances. Joshua stood before the people and reminded them of God’s greatness and God’s goodness. Then he said “If you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). In Matthew 6 we see Christ tell us that we cannot serve multiple gods in life. Only one can be preeminent.
Job was the man stripped completely of every earthly privilege – family, health, wealth. All of it taken away from him. He got lots of questions and advice from others similar to recent questions we have gotten. Remember earlier I said “You must be so frustrated. You have got to be upset that this isn’t happening quickly enough. Why is your agency taking so long?” So how did Job respond. Job 42:1-6 says,
Then Job answered the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted; you asked, ‘Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?’ But I have declared without understanding things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Pay attention, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes!
Finally, Paul spoke later in 2 Corinthians (chapter 12) about the “thorn in his side.” As he wrestled with God to understand why he continued to struggle with the thorn, I love what God lovingly told Paul “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Then Paul realizes this truth and says himself “So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me…For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (see also Philippians 4)
Praying we all rest in the greatness and goodness of God, no matter life’s circumstances, and praying that like Job and Paul, we come back to the foot of the cross when we stumble in our pursuit of trusting His plan, becoming all the stronger in our faith.
A bit long...sorry.
“God is great, God is good, thank you for this meal. Amen.” I have heard Caleb (my boy) say this so many times that I hardly process it when he says it. I want to unpack that a bit in this post and challenge all of us as to whether we really believe this.
So I spent my quiet time this morning in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. I was specifically drawn to verses 3-10. I have included them here.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again.
In looking at this, I have to keep as my perspective what Paul says in verse one, which is that his life is guided “by the will of God” (see also Psalm 139:13-16, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 8:26-30, Deuteronomy 8:11-18, Psalm 100). Do I believe God is sovereign (self-governing, supreme power, in control, etc)? In other words, do I believe God is great (all-powerful)? This is a foundational issue, and my perspective on this question affects every experience in my life. I am a black and white thinker. Sort of like the guns on a fighter plane. You know what I mean from the movies (think Top Gun) where they show the cross-hairs, it takes a while for the red cross hairs to lock in on target, then you hear a beep, the cross hairs turn green, and there is no way to unlock the missile from its target. When it comes to my belief in the Word of God, that is how I tend to operate. When I understand a truth from God’s Word, I can fully, emotionally lock in on the truth. While my black and white mentality gets me in trouble in lots of areas of life (disagreements with wife, making social plans, etc), in the area of accepting God’s truth, it is a great blessing. So, how are you doing? Do you think God is sovereign?
So as you cats know, we have been going through an adoption process for about twelve months now (actually filled our first document one year ago Sunday). It has lasted way longer than we had originally anticipated. To be honest, I thought we would have been done by January or February. Natalie and I have been asked lots of questions (or really people sharing presumptive statements with us) such as “You must be so frustrated. You have got to be upset that this isn’t happening quickly enough. Why is your agency taking so long?” I have consistently shared God’s truth on this which is something like “God is sovereign. His timing and His plan are far better than my plans, so while this is not the timing I had originally hoped for, I am convinced this is the timing the Lord has willed.” I will then often be asked “But when do you think it will happen?” Clearly, the listener didn’t fully understand what I had just said. So then I often answer, “I don’t know. God knows the exact day, but He hasn’t told me about it.”
I have heard and seen lots of people get really frustrated with the timing of things in life, most recently the timing of adoptions has been a frequent one. When I hear most people get frustrated like this, I really feel sorry for them and hurt for them. I am not surprised, as most people don’t believe in the mighty power of the Lord. At the same time I hurt for them, because I know this world is fallen and not understanding sin and the ultimate victory of Christ can make this world and life pretty hopeless. But when I see Christians get frustrated, it is really disappointing to me. As we see in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, how we respond to the trials of life is an integral part of our witness to the Lord. For example, in verse six Paul says “ But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.” Later in chapter six, Paul says something similar “We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.” Colossians 4:5 says it more directly as it pertains to our witness to non-believers when Paul says “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.” You see, when we don’t believe in the sovereignty of God, everyone suffers – I suffer, those I lead (family, etc) suffer, and those who don’t know Christ suffer.
So why do Christians respond this way (other than the fact that we are all sinners; see Jeremiah 17:9)? This is tied to a pivotal way the Lord has grown me over the past twelve months. I have believed in the sovereignty of God (God is great!) for quite some time. I believe that many of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are quick to get frustrated with life’s undesired circumstances also believe God is sovereign. So I don’t think that is always the issue. So what is it? I think the question goes one step further. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE RESTING IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD? Do you think His ways are better than your ways. In other words, do you think God is good? It is one thing to believe God is sovereign; it is another thing to rest in that sovereignty.
As we have waited quite some time for our adoption, I have frequently told myself “God is in control (great). God loves me and has my best interest at heart (good). I may not have planned it this way, but why on earth would I desire to be outside of God’s holy and perfect will? I will rest, knowing my Savior is my leader.” I often listen to the song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Tree63 which is so full of theology and best expresses the idea of how we as followers of Christ need to face life’s circumstances. All of the verses are here (http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/tree63/blessed-be-your-name.html) but I will note the following line “You give and take away; you give and take away; my heart will choose to say; Lord, blessed be your name.”
So what is the application of this long rant of mine…
1. Do you believe God is sovereign (great)? List any areas of your life where you have little hope that God is in control.
2. Are you resting in God’s sovereignty, wanting His ways to be your ways (good)? What areas of your life are your struggling to control instead of resting in the hands of your Daddy?
I will wrap up with three passages that really strike home for me.
Joshua was leading the Israelites soon after Moses died as God’s people had just entered the promised land. Many people were complaining about their life’s circumstances. Joshua stood before the people and reminded them of God’s greatness and God’s goodness. Then he said “If you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). In Matthew 6 we see Christ tell us that we cannot serve multiple gods in life. Only one can be preeminent.
Job was the man stripped completely of every earthly privilege – family, health, wealth. All of it taken away from him. He got lots of questions and advice from others similar to recent questions we have gotten. Remember earlier I said “You must be so frustrated. You have got to be upset that this isn’t happening quickly enough. Why is your agency taking so long?” So how did Job respond. Job 42:1-6 says,
Then Job answered the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted; you asked, ‘Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?’ But I have declared without understanding things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Pay attention, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes!
Finally, Paul spoke later in 2 Corinthians (chapter 12) about the “thorn in his side.” As he wrestled with God to understand why he continued to struggle with the thorn, I love what God lovingly told Paul “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Then Paul realizes this truth and says himself “So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me…For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (see also Philippians 4)
Praying we all rest in the greatness and goodness of God, no matter life’s circumstances, and praying that like Job and Paul, we come back to the foot of the cross when we stumble in our pursuit of trusting His plan, becoming all the stronger in our faith.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Court Date
We received word yesterday that we have been assigned a court date....June 10th. We are so excited to be already in that process and are prayerful and hopeful that the process would be quick. We could see our babies by the beginning of July! We are soooo excited and now so busy with preparing for TWINS!!! I am just now realizing the reality of the news and am getting so excited!
I also wanted to quickly share two of the many answered prayers....
1. A simple prayer that I thought impossible after months of jumping at every phone call....I so desired and prayed that I would have a peace on the day of "the call" I didn't want to be so obsessively nervous about getting the call, that I couldn't even enjoy the moment. I can honestly say that I thought that this prayer was unanswerable...but I can gladly report that I wasn't even thinking of "the call" that day (we had just returned from Disney and it was Beau's bday)....it was a wonderful moment and although I was so excited and was crying and had to ask Natalie (our caseworker) to hold a few times while I disciplined our wild kids.....I was so thankful that the Lord had given me His peace and the ability to enjoy every moment!
2. A bigger prayer...I had prayed before we started and throughout these 8 months of waiting that if possible that the Lord would allow our children to be with their birthmother/family for as long as possible. Now if they were in an orphanage I wanted the Lord to rush them to us of course...so I prayed that too. I was very picky and specific in my prayers I guess:) But I deeply wanted the Lord to give their Ethiopian family as much time as possible with them. And the little we know about their story has given me such a beautiful picture of how God answered this prayer. What a gift to me...to see how the Lord answered that prayer. And what a gift to B and Y as they had that precious time. I am just amazed by it all and so thankful for every piece of this journey. And it honestly makes me not "miss" the milestones (first smile, sitting up, etc) we have missed with them....I am so thankful that others got to live those milestones with them. God is so good and in every detail!!!
I also wanted to quickly share two of the many answered prayers....
1. A simple prayer that I thought impossible after months of jumping at every phone call....I so desired and prayed that I would have a peace on the day of "the call" I didn't want to be so obsessively nervous about getting the call, that I couldn't even enjoy the moment. I can honestly say that I thought that this prayer was unanswerable...but I can gladly report that I wasn't even thinking of "the call" that day (we had just returned from Disney and it was Beau's bday)....it was a wonderful moment and although I was so excited and was crying and had to ask Natalie (our caseworker) to hold a few times while I disciplined our wild kids.....I was so thankful that the Lord had given me His peace and the ability to enjoy every moment!
2. A bigger prayer...I had prayed before we started and throughout these 8 months of waiting that if possible that the Lord would allow our children to be with their birthmother/family for as long as possible. Now if they were in an orphanage I wanted the Lord to rush them to us of course...so I prayed that too. I was very picky and specific in my prayers I guess:) But I deeply wanted the Lord to give their Ethiopian family as much time as possible with them. And the little we know about their story has given me such a beautiful picture of how God answered this prayer. What a gift to me...to see how the Lord answered that prayer. And what a gift to B and Y as they had that precious time. I am just amazed by it all and so thankful for every piece of this journey. And it honestly makes me not "miss" the milestones (first smile, sitting up, etc) we have missed with them....I am so thankful that others got to live those milestones with them. God is so good and in every detail!!!
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