Preparation

We are undergoing a time of preparation in our home.....

1) I am preparing luggage.  Our family is headed back to Piedras Negras, Mexico for our family mission trip. There is a team of 20 going to be His hands and feet.  I am really excited about going. I am really excited about the children's programs that we will be doing as well as hanging out in the evenings with our new Mexican friends.  We have some great things planned to do with each of the orphanages as well as the kiddos that live in Piedra Angular.  We have alot to accomplish on our trip (building a pharmacy, VBS for the kids, hospital feeding program). Even with our small group, I know that we will get done what needs to get done.  The kids are super excited too! 

2) I am preparing the baby's room.  This week while the kids were at Camp Mimi, I was able to clean their rooms and get stuff donated.  The baby's room had become a place to hold said donations as I have been accumulating things as I clean and organize.  Last night, I got almost everything moved out of their room! I am so excited. It is now almost empty, so I can begin to imagine what it will look like in a few months!

3) I am preparing for some good news.  Our approval wait time is now into the 5th  month. Once we reach our 5th month completion (August 26, but who is keeping track) our agency will contact the Rwandan ministry to see what the word is for our family.  Now, we could hear something before then (and I pray that we do) but at least now I have a date to look forward too!  This allows me to relax a little in the whole "will it be today" thoughts that seem to run through my head.  Also, there is some official (unofficial) news that the Minister was gone for a 3 week leave but has returned today! So we will just see what happens between now and the end of August....

As you can see, there is lots of preparations going on.  The next set of preps will be back to school and decorating the baby's room!

I can see my faith

picture from Jen Lemen

What does your faith look like to you? Over the last few years, my faith has been smack dab in front of my face.  My upbringing had pew sitter faith.  I went to church but that was about it.  This pew sitter faith continued into my late twenties.  It was so easy to go to church on Sunday then live the rest of my life.

The last few years have been a roller coaster of emotions, all being faith tested.  How God has transformed my life to be that of meaning and living for Him. Now, I am not perfect, far from it actually. I struggle everyday but I really do try to live for Him.  I think about Him alot and I find myself redirecting my thoughts to Him more so than ever.  I enjoy the conversations that we have in my prayers.  I enjoy seeing Him in the beauty of the earth, people, relationships.  

My faith has taken on a new meaning as we began the adoption process.  What a journey it has been, what an amazing journey of faith. How my faith has grown as I pray for my child daily. I pray that they have clean water, food, are loved on, are clean...  I didn't pray this for my biological children. Didn't need too. I could feed them, clean them, give them a drink anytime. Now I am at His mercy rolling around in my faith.  His plan is so great that I cannot even imagine it.  

This next week, our family will be traveling to Mexico once again. We are taking a group of 20ish to be His hands and feet.  When we were there a couple of weeks ago, we visited 2 orphanages.  We sat and played with the babies. Held them, prayed for them.  My 8 year old had a wonderful time here as well. She got right down on the floor and started to play with these little ones.  We can't wait to go back to spend more time with them.  I hope that this stays in her heart as she grows older.  When I look into a child's face, either mine or someone else's, I always see Him. In the innocence, the beauty, the not knowing of the world.  

The look of my faith changes with the life seasons.  There is always a core faith.  There is always the foundation.  But I do believe that the evolution of my faith depends on where I am in my life.  Right now my faith looks like patience and sweet little faces.

Friday Fav Fotos

Here are some fun pics over the last few weeks....no new adoption news.

Watching the Viva show at Sea World on Kay's birthday

Finishing the log ride at Sea World

Kay and her 8th birthday cake!

Kids with dirty feet in Mexico enjoying a bumpy ride

Our family at the Market in Piedras Negras.

Week 18

Wow, what a week! We arrived safely home late last night from our trip to Peidra Negras, Mexico. We went to visit some missionary friends and also prep for our family mission trip in August. It is very dusty and hot down in old Mexico. But great things are being done there by the Crossroads team!

Our adoption agency (AWAA) had the first Rwanda conference call this morning. I didn't really get any new info but it was good to hear about the program and what things might look like in the future for the program. One change that seems to be happening is the referral process. In the past the referral process took 2-3 weeks. Now it is taking 4-6 weeks. Nothing is "official" but that is what seems to be happening with families in this step of the process. There are added checks/approval steps by the Minister so this increases the wait time for the referral. So once we get our approval, it will be another 4-6 weeks until we know who our child is and see their little face (via pics from the agency)

An update on our process...we are in week 18 since our dossier arrived in Kigali. It is just a few days short of 4 months (see the ticker to the right). If we have not heard about our approval by the 5th month (which will be August 26), then our agency will call Rwanda and do a check for us. So that does give me an actual date that I may have some info. Other than that, nothing new to report.

Good News for the Rwanda Program and some Birthday Business

Great news for the AWAA Rwanda program today! Two families received their referrals. What a sweet thing to hear! These families dossiers were in Kigali in early March I believe. Congrats to these two families (The Limmer Family and Room4Moore on the side bar if you want to read their blogs).

We are having a little family vaca this week. We are on our way to Peidras Negras, Mexico for a visit with some of our favorite people. Today is Kaylee's 8th birthday so we spent the day at Sea World. A good time was had by all and we are all amazed by God's creatures. Tomorrow we will finish up the drive to Mexico. We will be getting things planned for our church family mission trip in August. We are going to visit 2 orphanages on Friday. I am hoping that when we come back in August, our group can do something for the orphanages.

Here are some pics today from Kay's 8th birthday!

Week 16

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances"
1 Thes 5:16-18

I can't imagine

I was reading some of my favorite blogs tonight and came across this one. The Reed Family is adopting form Ethiopia. They had been matched to a sweet 2 month old girl. They were to travel to get her in just a few weeks. Over the last few days, she has been sick with diarrhea and pneumonia. Her little body just couldn't handle the sickness. Today, she passed away.

I can't even imagine what this must be like for them. Going through the adoption process, all of the waiting, being approved, then matched, passing court and then.... Wow, I know that God has a plan and is in complete control, but wow.... Please join me in praying for this family. I do not know them but have read their blog on occasion. You can visit their blog by clicking here. Pray for their strength and comfort during this time. Thanks...

Another Friday

Well, Friday is just about done and no approval call has been made by our family coordinator. That means another weekend to wait. Maybe we will hear something next week! Oh how I hope, hope, hope to hear something next week! Here are some pics of the kiddos enjoying the summer and beating the heat!

15

Our dossier has been in Kigali for 15 weeks....3 months, 1 week and 5 days. Monday night, I had an overwhelming urge to pray for our little one...then another urge around 3am. My eyes shot wide open and I felt the need to pray. So I did. Not sure what that was about...hoping for an approval soon!

God of Justice

Whether it be in your community, state, nation or in another country among people who speak another language, we are called to GO. GO, serve Him by serving others. GO, He gives you everything you need.

Another Week Down

Another week down in the old waiting game.  Our family coordinator did share with me that the waiting time for an approval has increased to 4-6 months (it was 2-5 months when we started). 

This week was a busy and quiet one for me.  Ryan has been in Belize with our high school youth on a mission trip since Sunday. He gets home late tonight.  The kids went to Camp Mimi B and had a blast! Her house is so much fun..so much fun that they stayed an extra day!  With the house empty, I was able to get lots of projects done!

Here's to another week down and ? many more to go.... Have a great 4th!