Recent Events

Beau here. So thought I would let yall know what we have been up to...including why Natalie isn't writing this :)

So I convinced my company to let me take 15 days at the beach and work from here a few hours each day. So Natalie and the kids left May 13, and I left May 15. We are just outside Destin at a beach resort. Note: I am already thinking about how to make this happen again next year...aside from my trips to Africa with church, I have never been away from the office over a week.

Key dates since we have been here
May 21 - celebrate my birthday
May 21 - celebrate one year since our referral
May 21 - find out we will be delayed again
May 22 - get court date, June 11
May 24 - B's birthday
May 25 - D's birthday; twins but born a few hours apart
May 25 - My sweet bride and my 13th wedding anniversary

So what have we been up to?

Hannah. All she seems to want to do is swim in the hot tub with her goggles. Yes, a bit off the beaten path. But she seems to find little girls every day to join her. Also, a lot of giggling.

Caleb. All over the place. We keep rotating - boogie board in Gulf, searching for shells, wading on the lazy river, walking the beach, playing football in the pool with me, hot tub, walking across the floating lilly pads.

Nat. I will quote her from 8 days ago..."I only want to do the things I love this week...spend time with the family, home school the kids, take long baths reading my Bible. No computer, phone calls, etc." She has remained faithful to this - zero time on computer and only one phone call.

Me. Aside from hangin with family and working, I have been reading a lot. List includes May issue of CT magazine, a book on Prayer by EM Bounds, Just Courage by Haugen, Confessions of a Caffeinated Christian by Fischer, The Rise of Christianity by Stark, God's Big Picture by Roberts, 3 John with a Kay Arthur study, and Philemon with a Kay Arthur Study. Today I start Adam's Return by Rohr and a Kay Arthur study on James. I have also listened to three or four sermons by Chan and Piper.

So that is what we are up to! We head back to Dallas on Sunday.

Oh, and it's nearly 9am, and Nat is still sleeping. Do I get points for that?

Delayed

Beau here. We so appreciate everyone's prayers as we have been awaiting MOWA's opinion and court. We found out today that we will not pass tomorrow as MOWA (who hasn't given any opinion for our previous court dates) has asked for a piece of information. So waiting to hear new court date and figure out what needs to be done to gather the new information.

While this isn't what we had hoped for in the sense that we really wanted to complete this part of the journey, in one key sense this is the best outcome for now - that of being in the Lord's will. At the end of John 6 many followers of Christ are overwhelmed and discouraged. Jesus asks them if they want to stop following him, and most walked away. Peter, a man of faith, said "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know you are the Holy One of God." And the Psalmist said "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." God sits in the heavens and does as He pleases, and I am comforted by knowing the Holy One is in control, and we are remaining in His will.

Praying and resting the best we know how...

Court Friday

Beau here. Nat down at beach... Hope 10th time is a charm! We got our final court document today, and court is Friday. Praying the Lord's perfect plan is that we pass this Friday. Last time we were in Florida (one year ago tomorrow...my birthday) we got our referral. Hope this is a trend for good news! Psalm 115:3...

Hamshe

Hamshe? A female hamster. Caleb came up with the name. Get it, Mom? It's a hammmmm-ster and she is a she, so ham+she. This has been Caleb's pet since August. He loves this rodent named Hamshe!

Well last Wednesday we were about to begin homeschooling, and we were all sitting in Caleb's room playing with old Hamshe. We were talking about how she has been the best pet (and we have been through a lot). The kids had built sweet Hamshe a little house to play in and we were enjoying the sweetness of childhood and family and fun.

Until....Hamshe got a little quick and started walking off from our happy group. Caleb got up to retrieve her. And. Well he stepped on sweet Hamshe. Barefoot for all the sensory horror of that feeling. He screamed. I screamed. We all started crying.

I picked up the very flat and very dead hamster. I listened to the screams of "Mom do something. Save her!" I looked at this dead, squished little thing and said "Let me go to my room and get something and I'll see what I can do" (I was trying to escape for some thinking time) I carried the dead hamster to my room, closed the door, and called Beau who was in Virginia and I started crying again (I felt so bad for this lifeless little thing. I felt even worse for Caleb who just stepped on his pet and was screaming in the hall.) Well while I was on the phone with Beau I felt Hamshe's heart start beating again, though he still looked flat and very dead. And within a few minutes he started to regain shape but still looked so sad and pretty lifeless.

I hear mice and rats can do that...get flat so they can sneak into your house....nice feature I guess. I guess it saved Hamshe's life. I'm happy to report that she is still alive today.

And no, I did not do a switch with a new hamster from the pet store and I do not think anyone else did either??

Why do I share this Hamshe story? First, because inquiring minds keep asking how Hamshe is doing. Second, because we learned the truth of Matthew 10:29 (Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? Not even one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father knowing it. God even counts every hair on your head!) Thirdly, to share how I prayed for Hamshe.

When I was in my room and she started to breathe....I prayed that God would have her die quickly. I hated to see her in pain, and I didn't want Caleb to watch her keep suffering. She was so flat and so dead....I never expected her to recover and live. I expected her to die, so I wanted her to die quickly. But there were other plans for her....and lessons for us to learn.

Now I know that this is just a hamster. And I know a hamster's life expectancy is not very long as it is. So I am trying not to read too much into this. But I learned something. I was reminded of a great truth. And this little creature reminded me of my big God.

Really I don't pray much for animals, especially hamsters. But the Lord has had an earful of my prayers this last year....begging, pleading with Him for my babies and for other big things. Yes He hears I believe. Big and small. And yes I believe He is a creative teacher, using all things to point us to Him and His love for us. Glad we didn't miss this horrible experience and the lessons we gained.

the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Romans 8

we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit,

groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons,

the redemption of our bodies.

For in this hope we were saved.

But hope that is seen is no hope at all.

Who hopes for what he already has?

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

May

Thinking about this month, feeling lots of mixed and bittersweet emotions. We have LOTS of birthdays this month...including Beau-and B and Y who are turning 2!! Beau and I will celebrate our 13th anniversary!!! School is out next week.....I am soooo excited, love summers with my kids! My little brother is getting married next weekend to a beautiful girl inside and out, so I am getting a wonderful new SIL. We have our 9th court date on May 22nd but do not have good news or the needed document as we approach that day.....SAD! May 21st will mark 1 year since our referral....I NEVER thought we would still be waiting....WOW! Every night I tell Beau....I don't think I can keep doing this....this waiting....this longing to be a Mommy to all my babies. But each day I wake up and keep doing it....waiting, praying, living, hoping for a phone call that will end this season of waiting. We are thinking of a vacation at the end of May...sunshine, escaping and relaxing.

I lift my eyes to you,

O God, enthroned in heaven.

We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy...

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,

for we have had our fill of contempt.

We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud...

Psalm 123

Chasing Fireflies

I love fiction and a sweet friend showed me an amazing author, Charles Martin. I have read a few of his books and am currently reading Chasing Fireflies. I always think about doing book recommendations on our blog, but never get around to doing so. I have read so many good books that I have found on other blogs:) I am not finished with this one yet but I think you'll like it. It takes place in the south, as do all his books I think.

Here is a quote from the book that I just loved...a foster father shares this wisdom with an abused and orphaned boy.....

Unc walked up next to me and hung his arms across the fence railing. In his hands he held an empty mason jar with holes punched in the lid. He stood there a long time turning the jar. Inside, a single lightning bug fluttered off the sides of the glass. Every five or six seconds, he'd light his lantern. Unc turned the jar in his hand. "Scientists say that these things evolved this way over millions of years." He shook his head. "That's a bunch of bunk. I don't think an animal can just all-of-a-sudden decide he wants to make light grow out its butt. What kind of nonsense is that? Animals don't make light." He pointed to the stars. "God does that. I don't know why or how, but I'm pretty sure it's not by chance. It's not some haphazard thing he does in his spare time."

He looked at me, and his expression changed from one of wonder to seriousness, to absolute conviction. "Chase, I don't believe in chance." He held up the jar. "This is not chance, neither are the stars."

I was hurting inside, and the streaks shining on my face didn't scratch the surface at telling how much.

He tapped me gently in the chest. "Neither are you. So, if your mind is telling you that God slipped up and might have made one giant mistake when it comes to you, you remember the firefly's butt."

I just read it and it reminded me of my conversation with Caleb yesterday who is such a deep thinker and a sweet emotional boy. He asked at the end of the day if we had heard anything about B and Y....when I said no....he just lost it and cried and cried.....repeatedly asking "Why won't God let them come home?" In my attempt to share that I understood his frustration and how difficult it is to trust God's plans....Caleb said "The only plan of God's that has worked so far has been getting one document and even that isn't helping...." Oh Caleb, what a hard lesson to learn for your tender heart...I may have to share with you about the firefly's butt.

Dreams

Recently we all woke up with very vivid dreams....

Hannah....woke up after dreaming Strawberry (her new bunny) fell into our pool. How scary! In the dream she was able to jump in and rescue to bunny. Still scary!

Caleb....woke up very emotional after he has dreamed he found at a thrift store (we are thrift store people) his lost stuffed puppy, Shelby. In reality, we lost Shelby about 2 months ago on an out of town trip. He got Shelby when he was born and has slept with him every night...so we were all sad when he was lost. Wish the thrift store dream could come true.

Natalie....dreamed she and Beau "snuck" away to Ethiopia, without permission from Gladney...ha!ha! This is my 3rd such dream:) In the dream we get to meet and love on B and Y...who are so beautiful and sweet and soft...the dream didn't last long enough:( Oh but the dream was so real and soooo good....can't wait for the reality.

Beau....dreamed he hired a maid and cook for his wife, sent her away to be pampered at a spa, and let her sleep in for the remaining weekends of the year:) I love Beau's dream:)

Reality...no new news on the adoption really. We are still waiting for the last document, praying for a miracle, hoping (blegging) we can go to Ethiopia SOON!

Life in pictures

While we wait...and pray for a miracle....we live and enjoy each moment we are given....here is a glimpse of what we have been up to lately.....

I surprised the kids (and Beau) with bunnies....Hannah is in love and carries them everywhere. The bunnies even joined us for story time tonight. Two bunnies...a Mommy and a Daddy...and we look forward to the "lessons" that these bunnies will bring...we hope to have free bunnies to give away in 4-5 months:)


We enjoyed a beautiful day at the arboretum with friends and beautiful flowers....it is my favorite picture day of the year:)

And Caleb turned 7 a couple of weeks ago....we didn't really do the big party thing this year. But we had lots of fun celebrating him in many fun ways. For his birthday he wanted a Nintendo DS....we told him it was too expensive for us to buy but he was welcome to continue saving his money. Well he had been saving money for quite a while and after his birthday had over $100 and needed $25 more. This week he got a card in the mail from his Aunt Yvette and it had a $25 gift card in it. He did the math and started screaming and jumping up in down yelling "I get my DS" He got so excited that he started crying and fell to the ground. I have never seen him so excited....he learned a great lesson in saving money and delayed gratification. Now he needs a lesson in not playing his DS all day:)

Over spring break we got to spend a few days with some of our favorite buddies at their lake house with their kids, two of which are beautiful Ethiopian twins....

While at the lake house we also got to meet up the Baggetts...who have four beautiful children! Both of these families have met and loved on B and Y for us....so it is surreal, priceless and kinda weird to give them hugs in person knowing they hugged our babies:)



Caleb loved their youngest son and had to have a picture with him:)

And we will continue to live life full of gratitude...just looking at these pictures my heart is full of thanksgiving.....and we will keep praying for miracles and peace....we will keep you posted:)

"LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us." Isaiah 26:12

Delayed Again

Beau here. Definitely delayed again as neither doc has been received. Leaning on two verses I love and trust in.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." -John 6:68

Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. -Psalm 115:3

Friends, God is sovereign, and God is good. He is not good or bad because of what I get or don't get each day, but because of who He is (1 John 4:19) and the one gift that can never be taken away from me (Ephesians 2:8-9). Today, I have my heart set on all that is true, honorable, just, pure, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4)...and find my strength in Him.

Will hopefully get a new court date at the end of the week.

There are really no words to adequately describe the mixture of emotions and thoughts racing through my heart right now.

Some of our closest friends "met" their son yesterday....it is so unbelievably exciting, I am still in shock....he is soooooo cute and we are all so blessed to know him now! Go congratulate the Butlers if you haven't already and read about their awesome moment. And their newest son's journey so closely matches another dear friend's son's story.....their boys will get to be best buddies!!! I am AMAZED to see God's work and His love for these two very precious boys!

Look at the nations and watch -

and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe,

even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

So here comes the mixture of emotions and thoughts...the roller coaster well described by a much better blogger....we are so thrilled one moment....and sad the next....trusting and hoping....scared and frustrated. With our adoption things are quiet right now....no new news today....we had hoped to hear good news after the weekend.....news that might give us hope for the very slim possibility of passing court this week. We have court in 2 days....we still need 2 documents....we have neither....so today as I am praying (and trying to complete a very boring online defensive driving class)....but as I am praying:) I realize, yes, I need to let go of hoping that the slim chance will happen....I need to accept that we are 2 days away with nothing that we need. I need to let go and accept God's very confusing plan in this journey to bring our babies home....so today I am sad for us....still praying for a miracle and praying for peace....