Joy Comes

Picked up my phone to see some wonderful news - a dear family, new friends, the ones adopting our hope-for-kids dear friend, got the call today to come over!!! They have to leave next week!!!
I’m so excited for them!!! REJOICING! 
(AND They were just ahead of us in the process and didn’t expedite, so... any minute now...)

But then I saw another message, a heart breaking message. Other dear friends, long time friends, who had hoped to adopt a particular little baby girl, had the door closed on bringing that baby home today. 
I’m mourning for them. Weeping. 

But we can still rejoice! That baby and her family (bio and hopeful) have been lifted before the throne of our Lord by a great group of believers. Daily. 
He hears. And just because this door closed, their home and hearts are still open. Longing. 

Oh what a torrent of emotions! 

That’s adoption. 

Halted

For the sake of preserving what's happening on this journey of adoption, we would be remiss not to
mention that a global pandemic has halted the adoption. We haven't stopped. The process is just stalled.

Early last week we excitedly mailed all our dossier forms to our agency in the state of New York. But like so many people everywhere they can't "gather" - work is slowed or totally at a stand still. So our documents sit. Waiting. 

Ukraine has been dealing with this slightly longer. They hope to begin accepting dossiers again on April 2nd. Will they reconsider? Probably. Would our documents even be there by then? 
(Update: Ukraine has pushed the end of their quarantine to April 24th)

Like so much of this process, so much of the last year, we wait. 
It's out of our hands. 
We wait. We trust. We hurry. We get excited. We get stand still. 
We are reminded yet again Who is in control. 
That none of this is based on our desire or feelings or effort... but some grander, perfect, good plan that will glorify Him. 

On the flip side, life here is pretty much the same. The daddy and big kids (thankfully) still keep working. Gene as a truck driver, the boys as support for truck drivers (they wash big trucks, which keeps our food trucks rolling), and the older girls in food service (for now). But because of their exposure to folks from all over, we are just assuming we could have been all been exposed. We had already decided to stay away from others as much has possible. 

Life at home is pretty much the same. We continue homeschooling, minus our few regular classes and gatherings. We're finding lots of new things to learn on YouTube. We've indefinitely postponed Josiah's big 10th birthday party. We're just staying home. 

Thankfully, for the most part, we are really good at just being home. We are thankful for good health, for supplements to help boost our immunity, a good size house and a big yard, sunny days, and that we are all pretty easily entertained. 

In other news, I was put in contact with a mom in Minnesota who is trying to adopt the best friend of the kids we are trying to adopt. This young person "calls" then nearly daily. So the mom has gotten to know our hoped for kids a little. What I learned was that 1) eventually, we'll be visited by Minnesotans, and they'll be visited by Georgians, and 2) all three kids have hopes of being home in the USA by summer time. Oh wouldn't that be wonderful!!! 

So we continue to pray. We've just added to our prayers that this virus will pass quickly. That all 13 of us (and all the grand folks) stay really healthy. That this adoption process picks back up. That grants and donations will come in while we wait. That we can be with them soon. 
And we trust He who is sovereign. 
And we wait.  

“Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10

Look what God is doing... Prayer and Confirmation

Wednesdays seem to be becoming a day of new news. 
Wednesday is also the day the younger children and I go to Community Bible Study (CBS).
This year we are spending 30 weeks studying the book of Genesis.
We have Core Group time to discuss the weeks lesson. In my core group this year there is an adoptive mom and a mom whose teen son had a brain tumor. This teen was once and athlete and honor student, now he will probably always live with her. 
I didn't know when we rejoined CBS this year that I would meet these women.

I received word about Andrii's illness on an early Wednesday morning. I cried. I called Gene. We prayed. Then I tried to go about the day as normal, getting children reading for CBS. I told two friends when I got there. I was a little weepy. 
During core group one of the discussion questions got that teen son's mama talking about him and her struggle. She cried. I was blubbering. I HAD to tell those precious ladies the news. No more questions got answered that day. We prayed. For those boys. For us mamas. For comfort. For clarity. 

That same teen son's mama answered a question this week about what she's learned so far from Genesis, "God made ashes of some of these peoples lives, but he brought something beautiful from it."
She sure is beautiful. 

This week I wore my LOVE shirt and went with news about the completed homestudy. 
We had studied about Abraham's faithful unnamed servant who was tasked with going to get a wife for Isaac, and the beautiful way Isaac meet Rebekah (the original plot line for all Hallmark movies). (Genesis 24) What a good time of discussion we had! 

After core group we all go hear a prepared lecture. And it was just what I needed (even the music). 
The credit for this next part goes to Nancy B., Assistant Teaching Director. 

When we ask God for guidance for a specific decision or action we can expect 3 proofs to what we believe is His answer (and I can totally attest to this!)
1. Confirming Circumstances (support, time, finances... evidence)
2. The guidance we feel we are receiving are within God's revealed will from His word. (you'll see a verse or verses in you regular reading - if you regularly read - that confirm this). 
3. A deep peace concerning the decision (for real, confidence and peace - even if the thing to do  still seems scary)

In our lesson, the servant, Isaac, Rebekah and her family all saw God fulfilling His plan in the details of their lives and also in His bigger story. When we faithfully answer God's call, He uses us to fulfill His Master Plan. 

The unnamed servant was called to act, he was successful in his undertaking - and he gave all the glory to God.
We feel tasked to adopt... and know that God is in the details.
These ladies and I faithfully show up to CBS... and look what God is doing!

Sometimes the trip is LONG (the servant traveled about 3 weeks by camel, we have spent a long time already trying to  get to Ukraine), but that just gives us more time to pray. 

PS - Today is Friday, Jan.17 - We mailed the forms to USCIS today! 

Desire

If desire were dollars or wings we'd be in Ukraine.

We desperately need prayer. Support - of all kinds.

Last week we found out that "our boy" had a brain tumor. Today we have been told that he has been in the children's hospital for 4 days, today he was officially diagnosed with "stage four malignant brain tumor with metastasis in the spinal cord." He has begun chemo. They believe it is inoperable.

We don't even understand all those words. We are researching each one. We have more questions than we can give voice to.

Oh to be by his bedside, holding his hand.... calling him "mine."

We cannot play the "what if?" game.
Only the "right now."
And right now... he should have a Mama and Daddy and family with him, comforting him, encouraging him...

And "our girl"... what must she be thinking? She's not as fluent in English as he is and communication is limited. She needs a Mama and Daddy and family with her, lots of hugs, encouragement, comfort, understanding....

They need love. And we want so badly to lavish them with so much love...

We are so close. We have "official" people there now advocating for him. For them. For us.

Funding continues to be a seemingly insurmountable hurdle. But God....

He who has call you is faithful, 
HE WILL SURELY DO IT.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

In the spirit of total transparency, thus far we have paid in over $5000 in adoption fees, the total estimated expenses is at least $43,000. So we just need $38,000 more (and we laugh and pray and fund raise and strategize and pray and trust God who loves them even more - because that number seems ridiculous - and more than many people make in a year).

So we ask, HELP! Help us go get them quickly!

We've got fundraisers in the works. See this post. 
We've got a tax deductible place to give through the Abba Fund.
We've got direct giving via PayPal.
We are preparing for change drives in churches and groups and available to speak anytime in person or online.
We've got ideas and need help getting it all to work.

Update: The agency we hosted through is hosting a fundraiser and it’s amazing! See it here.

Thoughts swirl and hearts hurt.

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; 
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Psalm 82:3

As I'm writing our younger 4 children came in just now and offered to give up any Christmas presents - we just all want them HOME. Help us bring them home. Help us call them son and daughter.

This is the picture of those beautiful children we hosted. Those children we hope to make our own.
When we told them we wanted to adopt them, he said, "Both? or just her?"
"Both child. We want you both."

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

Come Back Soon(er)

Today all this legal stuff is just taking too long! 

I’m feeling impatient. I want to rush things but it’s out of my control. (And to fair, we are still just in the overly detailed dragged-out beginning phase – so this is totally a heart issue – keeping it real).

It’s been four and a half months since we hugged them good-bye. (Seem longer). We didn’t know what to do with ourselves. God distracted us with a problem with the van (less serious than the current van problem).

I dreamed again last night that we were where they are and I could hug them, touch their faces, tell them that I love them and that we really are trying hard to get there and bring them home.

Oh, to bring them home!

Got up and did my morning routine. Bathroom, coffee, devotions (about parenting), emails, Facebook (hit the brakes) - right near the top of my feed someone had shared a beautiful older child adoption story (linked here). Now I’m a teary-eyed mess.

Reminded again that God is in control. We may not understand His plan. We may get impatient with His timing and provision. But it is ALWAYS PERFECT.

He loves them.

We just trust and press forward with the next task at hand. All for His glory.

They’ll be here soon.    

"This God—His way is perfect; 

    the word of the Lord proves true;

    He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him."

Psalm 18:30

PS - It's so much the little things that impress me and keep me amused. Pretty rocks, little flowers, baby toes....wanna boost my ego a little? Subscribe to this blog - we "installed" a gadget for that near the top of the sidebar. Or just comment occasionally. Tell us your praying, give us some wise word, or tell us we're crazy... all are acceptable. 

Prayer Request

We are thankful for our good health, and remember how the Lord has lead, guarded, provided for, and loved us all these years. Please join us in praying for the following details.

First, as part of our home study we must have a letter that our septic system is in good working order. It has been examined and found lacking. According to our very nice fella from the health department, a family half our size shouldn’t be able to flush the toilet. Yet here we are… a year and a half of flushing and showers and laundry and dishes… but he can’t give us that letter. But he wants to help us resolve this easily. 

He asked that we first check for leaks.

Did you know that your toilets could be slowly leaking from the tank into the bowl without you knowing it? And that that slow leak adds constant pressure to your septic? And you can test it with red kool-aid?

New information for us too. Turns out all our toilets needed new flappers.

Worse case now is we will need to add some more drain field. Messy costly job.

Next, this weekend our big giant van, that is the Mama’s main vehicle, started making really weird whiny noises and being a jerk. (It jerks, especially in reverse). We’ve got a couple of theories about what could be wrong.

Lastly, (which seems minor compared with those first two) that oldest tall child, is the only one who hasn’t gotten her medical exam done. Medical reports are also needed for everyone in the family. The older two girls aged out of the pediatrician’s office and just hadn’t gotten a new doctor yet. They both visited a local office to get their records transferred and become new patients. One got in, one’s records never showed up. The office has resent the request (over a week ago) and we continue to wait.

We praise the Lord that all of our medical exams were covered by our insurance as our yearly check-ups.

We are at peace as we trust God has all things in His control and will provide for each need. Pray we see soon how those first two request will be provided for and that any oversight on that last one is cleared up.

We’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment on any of our post. We know most of this blog now is the nitty-gritting, somewhat boring details. But hang on the really exciting stuff will come as we continue to press forward.

Jorja is a natural!

This past Saturday, we had a great time at the Lavonia Spring Festival!

We prayed for sunshine and the Lord heard and answered our prayers! It was extremely sunny and hot till after lunch time – then it drizzled. But at about 3, the flood gates were opened and we got drenched packing up. Jacob said I looked like a jumped in a lake.

Little did we know that our little Jorja was such a salesperson! She talked to everyone she could! “Would you like to buy some lemonade and candy to help support adoption?” And when one older couple said that would be nice but they are diabetic, she smiled and happily gestured to the donation can and said, “You could just give a donation.” They did.

I did NOT teach her this! Boy are we glad she’s on our team.

The Car Wash was somewhat less successful. Perhaps it was the threat of rain, or not enough advertising…. But they and a couple of really good friends had fun.

Both fundraisers broke even and made a profit and there’s enough stuff left over to try again. 

SEVERAL times.

We’ll be at the Carnesville Spring Fling this coming Saturday. Hopefully I’ll remember to take more pictures.

On Sunday, we went to church. And later that day meet some church friends at the park. Again with not enough pictures, until right before we left. Josiah built a fort on the volleyball court and I HAD to take a picture. Then they destroyed it. 

Oh the joys of little boys!

Monday evening a very rare thing happened ---- I was home ALONE for over an hour. I cooked supper and sat in Ava’s hammock (that she got with her birthday money) and started to read a book! (its actually pretty good. I was crying by the end of the introduction and for most of chapter one).

We are also reading a chapter or two during evening devotions of George Meullers Autobiography. It’s really making us think and both books are deepening our resolve to NOT go into debt for this adoption. God continues to provide.

Just last week, three unexpected donations were made. All three who gave said something to the effect of they “felt” they should give that certain amount. Those three donations are EXACTLY the amount to finishing paying our home study fees. God is working on hearts and minds! He is certainly doing a thing.

Another blessing is that our medical reviews are being covered under our yearly, insurance paid, physicals. Yippee!!! Everyone is covered there except the big girls, they are too old to see the pediatrician and don’t yet have their own primary care physician.  Pray they are accepted as new patients at a different doctor’s office very soon.

And we are thankful that our computers are still working. We use them often. The PC recombobulated itself and Gene had to take one of the laptops apart. But he and some YouTube fella got it fixed and put back together.

Gene also fixed all the toilets today. He’s pretty handy. Praying for more easy fixes to our septic tank issues.

Our list of things to do for the home study is getting very short.

We’ll keep praying and working tit we get these big babies home!

National Day of Prayer, May 2, 2019

"There is no great movement of God that has ever occurred that does not begin with the extraordinary prayer of God's people." Dr. Ronnie Floyd

Can I just be totally real here? (if you think not then read something else)

Sometimes, lately, my prayer life … it’s been hard…

I’m so easily overwhelmed. There’s SO MUCH! So many hurts and sorrows. So many lost and living in darkness. So many people. So many things. And I haven’t even gotten to ME yet…

And my prayer has just been something like, “O Lord…. You know all things…” and sometimes regurgitated verses. Some groans. The words don’t come easy (which is not my normal).

And a list of bless this one and that one seems shallow.

But maybe that’s where He wants me. Back at the simplistic. Maybe He’s doing one of those “good things” and making me more like Christ.

Humble. Trusting. Committed. Full of simple faith and wonder.

And I’m so full of ME. He certainly has His work cut out for Him.

Then there was last night. The Daddy was getting ready to go to work and be gone awhile. I have so many irons in the fire and selfishly want him here. I was feeling overwhelmed….

But the dam finally broke. The tears came… buckets full.

It was a good healing cry. So much has happened this year to slow us, hinder us, distract us, discourage us, grieve us… and the sniffles have come and gone quickly during short prayer, or a song, or the thought of a missed face… but to let loose…

And you know what? There was joy this morning. And revelation this evening (you read it here first folks!) (by they way, this was written the night before the national day of prayer)

Abba Father is up to something wonderful.

And it begins here.

So, for this National Day of Prayer here’s my simplistic prayer:

God Bless…

*Our national and state leaders who give of their time to serve the people. May their hearts be surrendered to the Lamb

*Our local officials among us. May they enjoy safety, and may their hearts be surrendered to the Master

*Those in military service. Grant them strength and peace. And may their hearts be surrendered to the Savior.

*Missionaries and those in ministry, foreign and local. May their relationships be rich and all their needs meet. May they be surrendered to the Great Provider.

*My church family. The grief and trials are heavy. My heart is grieved. And yet, You prove faithful in each household. May we each find comfort in the word and each other. And may our hearts be surrendered to the God of All Comfort.

*My pastor and elders. Grant them wisdom to lead and peace in their homes. May their hearts be totally surrendered to the Shepherd.

*My scattered family and dear friends. May they each know they Your love, the love of God (which is far greater than mine) and seek You always. May their hearts be surrendered to Our Father in Heaven.

*My children. Ava, Autumn, Elijah, Alex, Lora, Jorja, Jacob & Josiah. May they each grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May they not ever forget or forsake the things they have been taught of God, even if they forget all else. May they seek what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue and praise. May they be surrendered not to me but to their Creator.

*My children that aren’t here YET. Andrii and Anastasia. God give them safety of body, mind and spirit. Send your servants into their young lives and guard them from the snares of evil. And put into their minds that they are loved and wanted. Remind them we are running to them. But You are already there. And may they be surrendered to the Father of the fatherless, and know they belong to the King.

*My husband. O precious man! How he loves me! Because he loves You. (I’ll skip all the lovey-dovey adjectives) May he be encouraged in his pursuit to provide and guide and guard our family. And continue to give him patience for his “independent dependent” (that’s me). May he be surrendered to the Great Husbandman.

*Me. How blessed indeed I am! God great me the mental clarity and physical endurance for the task at hand. Help my unbelief. May you continue to surrender me to You.

And may Jesus get all the praise and glory, forever.

Amen

PS Lord. If we could have sunshine for the festival and fundraisers Saturday that would be fantastic. But either way, we know that You totally got this!

Love you! Amen.

And if you (blog reader) made it this far, here's a link to the live stream from Washington DC at 7:30-9:30pm. Just click here.