Happy Mother's Day!

Today's sermon was wonderful. Bill spoke on Colossians 1:24-29.
He talked about striving and toiling while doing what God has
called us to do. What God has called us to is not easy and
honestly, if we are living the life He has called us to, we should
be tired by the end of the day. But we can do what He has called
us to, not by our own strength, but "according to HIS power, which
mightily works within me". This describes me these past few weeks.
Tired, emotionally spent, ready to just sleep for weeks...until
I get the call of good news regarding our Titus. But God has
called us to work through this and I know I have things to learn
and do before he arrives. I was tear-free until we got to the
closing song...

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land, where my possessions lie.

All o'er those wide extended plains, shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns, and scatters night away.

No chilling winds nor poisonous breath can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness, sorrow, pain and death, are felt and feared no more.

When shall I reach that happy place, and be forever blessed?
When Shall I see my Father's face and in His bosom rest?

I am bound for the promised land.

I know mothers can relate when you sing a song and just automatically sway.
I sing and sway and cup my hand as if I am holding his little head near my
heart. My possession is somewhere else and I ache for him. And Jesus
reigns and is in control of this whole adoption process and this comforts
me, but I still hurt. The last verse just is amazing! I yearn to see
my Father's face, the ONE who loves His children PERFECTLY! Oh, to
rest in His arms! I believe God has been whispering to me..."enjoy your
girls now, don't live in the future, live in the now. I will bring him
to you, but enjoy what I am giving you presently, now". I am trying.
I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. I am so blessed. Here is
an update that people received from our agency. Please continue to pray!

My agency says:

Due to the huge amount of open cases the courts have right now, they are
designating Wednesday as open case day. They will hear open cases part of
the day Wednesdays until they are through them all.

This doesn't mean this upcoming Wednesday they will hear all, obviously,
we have at least 15 open cases right now and every other agency has as
many so it will take some time to get to all of us. At least they
recognize the problem and have come up with a plan!

Blast Off!

Every year in the Spring, GEPC has a rocket blast-off. Daddy helped his girls assemble their rockets throughout the weeks leading up to this wonderful occasion. It is so much fun getting together with our church family and seeing our kids' faces light up when they shoot off and then try to chase them down and catch them as the rockets plummet back to earth. I've had them on my camera for a while...this happened a few weeks back.

Adoption Update

So I just received word that we didn't pass, but we are still an open case. We still don't know why we didn't (somebody does, but word hasn't gotten back to us yet), but it could be a missing paper, a change on a piece of paper that needs to be made, someone didn't show up, or a power outage. Having it remain "open" is good b/c once the paper or whatever needs to be done is done, we don't have to wait for a specific day...it will usually be approved once they bring in what they need to bring in. Of course Alex and I just held each other crying--she is such a sweetheart! I am hormonal and worn-out and just want to hold him, but God is faithful and His timing is perfect. The couple we are going to go to Ethiopia didn't pass either--no one did yesterday.

"But these things I plan won't happen right away.
Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place.
It will not be late by a single day."
Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT)

Tonight, I picked up a DVD of video and pics of our little man. I didn't know what to expect in regard's to emotional connection with our adopted child vs. bio, but when I see his face, my heart is filled with joy and an ache so deep. I want my son home, I ache to kiss his cheeks and see Vince hold his son for the first time. I am just as intimately connected to Titus as I am my other children, and I haven't even touched him yet! Adoption is an amazing mystery and I praise God that He has given us this journey to walk through. Continue to pray that it passes soon! I am sooooooo ready! :)

"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." 1 Thes 5:24

Balloon Man and other pics

We went to Set 'em Up Jacks last night with my parents and Balloon Man was there. It was so much fun and since we were the only table with kids, we got extra-special treatment! Also, I am throwing in some better pics of the girls in their dresses and one of Vince and I on our date to PF Changs---my favorite!

Easter

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. We've been busy wrapping up school, getting ready for our little guy coming home and just enjoying SPRING! Our court date is coming up next Wednesday the 22nd! Please be praying that it passes on the first go around! We are really hoping to get him home before his birthday!

Lila's favorite tree

Last week, while driving in our car, Lila said "Daddy, are you EVER gonna get me a popcorn tree?" We thought about it for a while and then realized she was talking about Bradford Pears. She loves them and keeps herself busy trying to count them all.

Lila's School Birthday and Misc.

Here are some pics from her Birthday at Giving Tree. On their special day, they get to dress a bear in the outfit they choose, be a princess, and other special things. Right now, 66.6% of the girls have a barking cough and the other 33% is sounding bad. Haley has been on Albuterol, which makes her totally goofy. Everyone is mad at mommy because after Bible Study this morning, we were going to go to the park with some of our homeschool friends. The girls came into my room this morning and Lila was barking up a storm, and I asked if she was sick. She said yes, and Alex (who had already made all of our sandwiches for lunch) said "Now Lila, why'd you have to go and tell her that?!!!" So I am surrounded by broken-hearted sicko's this morning. Praising God for my coffee!