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Actually, LESS THAN......

PLEASE BE IN PRAYER!!! Our case will be heard in the Ethiopian Courts in less than 24hours. Tonight as we are sleeping so many things have to come together and the judge will be making a decision whether we will be the forever parents of these two precious children. We have heard that there usually is a 50% chance that you pass court the first time. Please pray that the Lord directs All and His will will be done!!! May He be glorified with whatever happens!!!!

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3 - Labor Pains????

Labor Pains are kicking in!!!!!! Coming off such a busy weekend into a crazy busy week and I am starting to feel the anxiety and stress kick in. I initially missed number 4 of the count down and was not going to post today either until a got the sweetest call from my husband letting me know I missed yesterday and that today WAS #3!!! Yes - Mr. "Not so sure about this Blog thing" himself. Can I just say... that I may be feeling the crunch and labor pains of the upcoming events but I have the best coach and partner ever to stick through all of this with me .. thick or thin!!! He was incredible during the delivery of all 4 kids, and although this is a different kind of labor there is no one I would rather have by my side at this time!!! LOVE YA HONEY!!!! THREE IT IS!!!!

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That’s right I can now count on one hand the number of days till our court date!!

I have to admit I’m having a hard day today though. I don’t know why. Maybe the cloudy rainy day is getting to me but yet I actually kind of like rainy days that make us all stay inside together and even get some projects done. Maybe it is the time of year where there is so much going on and I feel like there is no slowing down to really even think. The older two had a car wash this morning to raise money for a youth conference they are going to this summer and the little girls have dance recital this whole weekend. But really all those things are not that overwhelmingly busy and even with all that’s going on I don’t think that is the reason for my blues.

You would think I would be jumping for joy that the court date is just around the corner, but actually, I think I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed and stressed, and a little on our own here, which ultimately is ok. The thing is, you know when you are so passionate and excited about something and totally want to make the most of every opportunity, yet everyone around you is also soooo busy and have so many other things going on in their own lives that they too are excited and passionate about. I absolutely do not want to be self-centered or make this at all about ME! Yet I do intensely desire to spread the passion and deep burden to care for all the orphans throughout the world and not miss out on taking full advantage of the opportunities God is laying before us.

Mike and I are really considering traveling at the end of the month. That is IF… (I so badly want to say WHEN) we pass court. We are talking about leaving 3 weeks from today. OK.. so I guess that kind of explains the stress and blues a little. Trying to wrap up the four kids end of the year activities, plan their summer events, clean the house top to bottom because who knows when I will have time to do it again, buy beds, car seats and whatever else is needed when we return I guess could stress the normal person out just a bit. After meeting our children, Mike would only stay a week and then return on his own. I would then stay until we get an embassy date and can bring the children home.

I fully admit I am NOT an organized, task orientated person. Right now there are like a million things I know I should be doing but I almost feel paralyzed and do not even know where to begin and even the littlest things seem like huge tasks.

On top of everything I so badly want to help meet some of the needs that the orphanage the children are at has right now. It is just a new orphanage and the two men who started it are really amazing godly men. Mike kind of gets frustrated with me because he sees my desires and passions AND MY FRUSTRATIONS. He also knows the needs but is so wise with knowing our limits. Sometimes I feel like that is a bad thing but really he is so wise. There really is so much to be done just preparing for the kids to come home. Finances are tight right now with all the expenses of the adoption and travel expenses alone. I know I cannot expect everyone to have the same desires and passion that I have either. I have to keep reminding myself that God really does not NEED ME to do anything. If he wanted to use me to do something for the orphanage than it would be clear just how to go about doing that. If he wanted others to get on board with this mission too, He would impress it on their hearts just like He has mine. For now, I just need to keep on plugging along and getting ready for what is ahead and what I am capable of doing. Everything else will fall into place.

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Yeah , Thats right we are on SIX! SIX more days…

Actually, THE NUMBER SIX is pretty significant. Do you realize that in SIX more days there is a pretty good possibility that I could be a parent to SIX children? 6 !!!! WOW! What an amazing blessing! One of the main comments I get when people find out we are adopting is ... WOW, Aren’t those children so lucky to be adopted into your family OR they are such lucky kids? But truthfully … WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE LUCKY ONES? We are so amazingly blessed that God chose us to open our eyes and bring us on this journey. I think the impact that this journey has or will have on our family cannot even compare. I read about an interview with another adoptive family in Lakeville who actually go to church with my mom. It was part of something else that was posted on the Christian Alliance Blog but I loved what they had to say because it sums up exactly how I feel…

…The couple already had five children, the youngest ten, and had been anticipating the freedom of an empty nest. But on a mission trip to Africa, a concern for orphans budded into a sense of calling to adoption. A year and a half ago, they adopted two boys from Uganda, 3-year-old Phillip and 4-year-old Zachary.

Lisa Harding expresses what I’ve heard from so many adoptive parents in recent years: that the desire God stirred in them to care for orphans has most definitely not reached its completion in the adoption. Rather, they see adoption as one part of a life-long call to live out James 1:27. Speaking of their plans to attend Summit, Lisa expressed, “I’m excited about refueling what’s already a passion in us because this is not a period at the end of a sentence now that Philip and Zachary are in our house. Now, it’s what’s next?”

Just as significant, Harding’s words at the end of the interview capture the power of God’s intent in adoption and orphan care. It isn’t just about rescuing orphans; it is about rescuing self-absorbed Christian adults as well. Caring for orphans is a journey of root-level discipleship, because love for orphans transforms. As Lisa Harding concluded, “People have said, ‘Oh, aren’t they lucky, you rescued them from whatever. And I think, Are you kidding? I’m the lucky one. I get to be their mom. And I get to be daily rescued from my selfishness, and my impatience, and things that are just as disease-ridden in my soul.”

OH LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AHEAD OF US !!! WOW, IN JUST SIX MORE DAYS …. I GET TO BE THE MOM OF TWO MORE PRECIOUS LIVES THAT GOD CREATED AND LOVES!!!!

Thank you JESUS! Thank you Thank you Lord!!!

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