We got an update from our agency this afternoon -- we are at number 3 on the wait list!!!!
We are seriously close to the top of the list!
I haven't heard a confirmation on when the next committee meeting will be, but right now, I am just flying high -- so excited to be number 3!!!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Our God is awesome!!
What an incredible week we had at Vacation Bible School! I think I am still on a high from it! It was an excellent time of Bible stories, games, crafts, snacks, and of course song and dance. I don't know who had more fun: me or the kids. Seriously, I loved it.
Our theme was Babylon: Daniel's Courage in Captivity. We studied what Daniel and the other Israelites that were carted off to Babylon went through: different place, different language, different food, different everything. But: when things change, or when you are afraid, or when you are lonely, etc., God is always with you. It was a great lesson for the exiles, and it was a great lesson for the kids to remember. No matter what, God is always with them.
The music was outstanding. The songs were great, and really complemented the lessons all week. I had some very dear teenage girls to assist me, and we had a great time teaching the kids the songs and dances. I had the music running through my head all week, and in fact it is still there. All the songs were wonderful, and those kids rocked the house singing Amazing Grace, Our God is an Awesome God, and all the new ones too. I was really amazed at how into it the kids were: the little ones definitely but even the older boys. It really brought a joy to my heart seeing them belting out a tune and doing the little moves. So totally adorable.
The tune that is especially in my head, and the one that I think was the predominant favorite for everyone, was Stand Firm. The lyrics were so great: "Stand firm when life changes, stand firm through the ups and downs, stand firm for you know that God is in control. The storms of life may push and pull, but we are standing on the Rock that never rolls." Another camp favorite: God is Watching Over You: "When you're jumping, jumping up and down, when you're spinning, spinning all around, God is seeing everything you do, 'Cause He is watching, watching over you. God is watching, watching over you, 24/7 watching over you. Your life is in His hands, He's got great big plans, 'Cause He's watching over you." My prayer for all those little kiddos, and the big ones too, that they would always remember that: no matter what: God is in control, and He is watching over us with tender care.
As we get closer to the top of the list, and hopefully closer to receiving our referral, is it comforting having the reminder that God is so totally in charge of everything. Nothing, not even the smallest detail, escapes His notice. That's the awesome God that we have!!
Our theme was Babylon: Daniel's Courage in Captivity. We studied what Daniel and the other Israelites that were carted off to Babylon went through: different place, different language, different food, different everything. But: when things change, or when you are afraid, or when you are lonely, etc., God is always with you. It was a great lesson for the exiles, and it was a great lesson for the kids to remember. No matter what, God is always with them.
The music was outstanding. The songs were great, and really complemented the lessons all week. I had some very dear teenage girls to assist me, and we had a great time teaching the kids the songs and dances. I had the music running through my head all week, and in fact it is still there. All the songs were wonderful, and those kids rocked the house singing Amazing Grace, Our God is an Awesome God, and all the new ones too. I was really amazed at how into it the kids were: the little ones definitely but even the older boys. It really brought a joy to my heart seeing them belting out a tune and doing the little moves. So totally adorable.
The tune that is especially in my head, and the one that I think was the predominant favorite for everyone, was Stand Firm. The lyrics were so great: "Stand firm when life changes, stand firm through the ups and downs, stand firm for you know that God is in control. The storms of life may push and pull, but we are standing on the Rock that never rolls." Another camp favorite: God is Watching Over You: "When you're jumping, jumping up and down, when you're spinning, spinning all around, God is seeing everything you do, 'Cause He is watching, watching over you. God is watching, watching over you, 24/7 watching over you. Your life is in His hands, He's got great big plans, 'Cause He's watching over you." My prayer for all those little kiddos, and the big ones too, that they would always remember that: no matter what: God is in control, and He is watching over us with tender care.
As we get closer to the top of the list, and hopefully closer to receiving our referral, is it comforting having the reminder that God is so totally in charge of everything. Nothing, not even the smallest detail, escapes His notice. That's the awesome God that we have!!
Friday, June 01, 2012
We've GOT to be close now!
I learned yesterday that the committee at IHNFA met last Friday May 25th (yay!!!) and made I think seven referrals! I don't know any of the details as to whether they were boys or girls or what ages the children were or if any of them were siblings or if any had special needs or anything else (though I think that about covers all the options). But wow: seven referrals!! The procedure as I understand it is that the wait list is updated after all the families have accepted their referrals, which is probably in another week from now. But holy cow: we have GOT to be close now! Best case scenario is that we will be #1 on the wait list at that point (worse case scenario is that we won't move at all -- don't even want to think about that! Not sure how we would even calculate reasonable worst case scenario [yes, there really is such a thing as reasonable worst case scenario!] so I won't worry about that either!) It would be amazing to be #1 on the list, but even if we are something like 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, we are seriously close to the top, and it is quite possible that we could receive our referral at the next committee, which is absolutely incredible to think about. Of course, it may not happen: all the children available at that point could be outside our parameters, but it is way possible that we could be one of the lucky ones!! So, May brought some wonderful news, even if it didn't bring the best possible news for our family.
Oh, by the way, it doesn't look like we will be making any change to our parameters at this point, like I had referenced in my last post. We were considering increasing the age parameter a little bit, but it was recommended to us to just sit tight, since we are so close to the top, and we don't want to do anything that that would slow down a referral. Like I said, I felt like it was in God's hands whether we made the change or not, and I am comfortable leaving things as they are and would have been comfortable making the change too.
So hopefully we will hear our big news from the next committee meeting, hopefully in June. I tell you: it is SO much easier in this wait now that school is out. My days are completely full with swimming and reading and biking and scootering and all the other fun summer stuff. And to sweeten the deal even more, next week is my favorite week of the whole summer: Vacation Bible School!! I really love it. I am the music lady again this year, and the songs are great. I am really looking forward to doing them with the kids. Our theme is Daniel: Captivity in Babylon. It is our first time doing an historical VBS, and it has been so much fun so far: learning the songs and their motions and decorating the school gym to look like ancient Babylon. It is amazing what you can do with a bunch of cardboard boxes, crepe paper, paint, and a bunch of duct tape! I'm going to wear an outfit that I got in Morocco ages ago, and even though Morocco isn't exactly ancient Babylon, I have a feeling none of the kids will mind too much. Can't wait!!
Oh, by the way, it doesn't look like we will be making any change to our parameters at this point, like I had referenced in my last post. We were considering increasing the age parameter a little bit, but it was recommended to us to just sit tight, since we are so close to the top, and we don't want to do anything that that would slow down a referral. Like I said, I felt like it was in God's hands whether we made the change or not, and I am comfortable leaving things as they are and would have been comfortable making the change too.
So hopefully we will hear our big news from the next committee meeting, hopefully in June. I tell you: it is SO much easier in this wait now that school is out. My days are completely full with swimming and reading and biking and scootering and all the other fun summer stuff. And to sweeten the deal even more, next week is my favorite week of the whole summer: Vacation Bible School!! I really love it. I am the music lady again this year, and the songs are great. I am really looking forward to doing them with the kids. Our theme is Daniel: Captivity in Babylon. It is our first time doing an historical VBS, and it has been so much fun so far: learning the songs and their motions and decorating the school gym to look like ancient Babylon. It is amazing what you can do with a bunch of cardboard boxes, crepe paper, paint, and a bunch of duct tape! I'm going to wear an outfit that I got in Morocco ages ago, and even though Morocco isn't exactly ancient Babylon, I have a feeling none of the kids will mind too much. Can't wait!!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
We walk by faith
I am part of the team that is organizing a retreat coming up in early June. The theme of the retreat is "We Walk By Faith," and I am so excited to be a part of it. This is my fourth time being on team for an ACTS retreat, and I have enjoyed it so much each time -- it just gets better and better. If you ever have the opportunity to go on an ACTS retreat, I would encourage you to do it because it is really wonderful and you will most certainly experience God's love for you in a very special way. And then be on team, because you will love that too!
It has been so special for me that the theme of the retreat is "We Walk By Faith." I personally did not select the theme, but when I learned what it was going to be, I couldn't help but smile, knowing that God certainly would teach me a few things with a theme like that! And of course He has!!
As you can imagine, this whole adoption is an exercise in "walking by faith." Since the very beginning, it has been God's work. He was the one that started us doing this. He is the one that is sustaining us during the process. He is the one that knows how it will turn out. We on the other hand are walking by faith.
Lately, I have felt a bit of a nudge to make a bit of a change. Nothing MAJOR major, but definitely meaningful. I have been praying about it, and talked to Jerry about it, and he thinks it seems right as well. We have discussed it with our agency rep, who also thought it was something that we should consider pursuing. As it stands, it is in God's hands (where else would it be, eh?). I believe the nudge is coming from God, and I feel peaceful and joyful about it. And the best part about it is that I am walking by faith. Maybe nothing will come of it, but if God wants this to happen, it will happen, I have no doubt. I'm not going to second-guess. I'm not going to strategize. I'm not going to come up with a list of pro's and con's or a cost-benefit analysis or even a regret analysis. Yes, there really is such a thing as a regret analysis. This is very uncharacteristic for me as it seems like my whole adult life I have been one to make things happen. If one way doesn't work, I figure out another way. It is just how I am, and for the work world, it works great. So it has been a challenge for me in my faith life to "Let go and let God," as they say. To figure out that place where I still do my part but also where I just let Him act through me. To know when I need to stop moving and shaking and doing, and just be. I think it will continue to take me a while to re-learn some habits and behaviors, but I am trying. In this area, as in many others, I am a work in progress, and it is certainly fun to have a front-row seat to see what God will do!
It has been so special for me that the theme of the retreat is "We Walk By Faith." I personally did not select the theme, but when I learned what it was going to be, I couldn't help but smile, knowing that God certainly would teach me a few things with a theme like that! And of course He has!!
As you can imagine, this whole adoption is an exercise in "walking by faith." Since the very beginning, it has been God's work. He was the one that started us doing this. He is the one that is sustaining us during the process. He is the one that knows how it will turn out. We on the other hand are walking by faith.
Lately, I have felt a bit of a nudge to make a bit of a change. Nothing MAJOR major, but definitely meaningful. I have been praying about it, and talked to Jerry about it, and he thinks it seems right as well. We have discussed it with our agency rep, who also thought it was something that we should consider pursuing. As it stands, it is in God's hands (where else would it be, eh?). I believe the nudge is coming from God, and I feel peaceful and joyful about it. And the best part about it is that I am walking by faith. Maybe nothing will come of it, but if God wants this to happen, it will happen, I have no doubt. I'm not going to second-guess. I'm not going to strategize. I'm not going to come up with a list of pro's and con's or a cost-benefit analysis or even a regret analysis. Yes, there really is such a thing as a regret analysis. This is very uncharacteristic for me as it seems like my whole adult life I have been one to make things happen. If one way doesn't work, I figure out another way. It is just how I am, and for the work world, it works great. So it has been a challenge for me in my faith life to "Let go and let God," as they say. To figure out that place where I still do my part but also where I just let Him act through me. To know when I need to stop moving and shaking and doing, and just be. I think it will continue to take me a while to re-learn some habits and behaviors, but I am trying. In this area, as in many others, I am a work in progress, and it is certainly fun to have a front-row seat to see what God will do!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Love in the home, a Mother's Day poem
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,
but have not Love,
I am a housekeeper—not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,
but have not Love,
my children learn cleanliness—not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside
to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation’s message to a child’s heart.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child.
As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is Love.
Author Unknown
but have not Love,
I am a housekeeper—not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,
but have not Love,
my children learn cleanliness—not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside
to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation’s message to a child’s heart.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child.
As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is Love.
Author Unknown
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Being 8 is great!
It has been a really funny couple of days since my last post. I have had literally a zillion friends (ok, ok, not exactly literally) approach me at school drop-off or pick-up or at church or the grocery store or wherever asking how things were going, with that look that says "I really want to ask about how the adoption is going, but don't want to ask if you don't want me to." So I have had the chance to share that we are #8 on the wait list with all these people! Everyone has been so super excited that it is making me even more excited! My head reminds me that it still could be a long way off before we get our referral, but my heart is getting so excited and hopeful that someday soon we will see photos of those beautiful eyes and kissable cheeks and know that these are the children that God has planned for all eternity to be part of our family. Oh my precious babies, I can't wait to hear that you are mine, my own sweet babies. I pray that we hear news of you soon!
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