Merry Christmas 2010

Wow!  What a year this has been.  I can't wait until next Christmas to see what happened in 2011.  By next Christmas we should be a family of 6 (God-willing). 

This year we will have a white Christmas.  It snowed about 2 inches where we live overnight.  The peaceful, graceful, light snow was still falling this morning when we woke up.  It was beautiful.  Last year, in our area, we had way too much snow and cold for my liking.  This year has not been as cold, so that is a blessing all in itself. 

We received our fingerprinting appointment on Dec. 17 as I had expected.  Our appointment is scheduled for January 10, 2011. 

I wish you all a blessed new year!  May God be in your EVERY day.

God Opens Doors To Joy

When God opened the door to adoption, I knew that waiting on the other side would be a brand new child to enter into our family.

I know that I have an amazing family.  I have a wonderful husband and 3 precious gifts for sons.   You can not beat those priceless gifts.  They are so dear to my heart.

What I didn't know is that through adoption I would come across some other AMAZING families.  I have made 2 new friends already and have met other fabulous God-fearing, child-loving people through adoption boards.  These people fill my heart with joy and sometimes my eyes with tears (mostly good happy tears). 

What another grand, undeserved blessing.  Praise God!

Now, we wait a few more days.  We should have our fingerprinting appointment by this Friday (Dec 17).  Since I think our family is so amazing, I hope the US government find us suitable to adopt. 

May God Bless your heart!
Christina

Monday Afternoon Update

We should be Home Study to Korea some time this week.  It was either sent off last Wednesday, or it will be sent to Korea this week.  That's exciting news.

We received our homestudy last Wednesday.  As soon as I got it, I called our SW and made sure I had the documents necessary to send off our I-600A.  This is the document you send so that the US Government (Homeland Security) can decide if you are fit to bring a child into this country.  Anyway, that's how I understand it.

God is amazing. 

A friend that we made at the Parents in Process class received a referral from China last week.  Please pray that their journey will continue to go smoothly and quickly. 

Church was really good yesterday.  It was about being prepared for Christ's return.

I leave you with this Bible verse for the day because I have needed more faith the last few days.

Luke 17:5-6
⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
 ⁶ He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Movement and a Good Book

I think I felt my first "kick" today.  More like a little "flutter."  The adoption process has its own set of pregnancy symptoms.  Since we are paper pregnant, I guess the movement of the child are dependent on phone calls, emails, and steps achieved in the paper process.  Kicks in the womb are little reminders that there is life in there preparing to join your family.  The only problem is that the paper pregnancy kicks are fewer and far between.  

Our movement is that we received a call from our SW.  She said that our homestudy will be possibly completed for our review on Tuesday, November 16.  That was quicker than I expected, so I am excited.

I finished reading Mary Beth Chapman's book Choosing to SEE.  What a GREAT faith story.  You can see the hand of God working through these people and in their lives.  What an inspiration.  The book only took from Tuesday night until Friday morning to finish.  After I finished it, I also listened to Steven Curtis Chapman's Beauty Will Rise CD.  It would be so awesome to meet these people in person.

God is GREAT!  Today I leave you with this Bible verse:
Isaiah 41:10

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Christina

Searching for Songs to Sing to My LORD

Sometimes it is difficult to express what you are going through with words.  This morning I am searching for possible songs to sing to the Lord in front of my church.  Here are some words from the song "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)", which is sung by Amy Grant (and surely other artists, but she is the one that I was looking at).  This song describes very well what I am feeling and going through.

Here are the first part of the lyrics minus the end chorus x2 with my words in purple surrounded by parentheses:

I have traveled many moonless nights (Oh, how many sleepless nights I have already had filled with worry and darkness.)
Cold and weary with a babe inside  (Not a baby inside my womb, but in my heart.)
And I wonder what I have done (What an honor that He chose us for this path. I feel so unworthy, yet glorified because my God is glorified.)
Holy Father, You have come
And chosen me to carry Your son  (Of course Mary was pregnant with Jesus, but I have been chosen to carry this child in my heart and some day in my arms.  I will be able to show this child love because God loved me first.)

I am waiting in a silent prayer (Only God understands adoption more than anyone here on earth.  And only other adoptive parents understand this wait.)
I am frightened by the load I bear  (Oh, YES God Almighty.)
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?   (Sometimes it feels that way, even though we aren't alone.  It is our journey to travel alone.  No one experiences it the same.)
Be with me now, be with me now   (DAILY, I beg for this.)

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me your holiness, for you are Holy
Breath of Heaven  (All that I ask is that I am pleasing to Him.)

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place? 
But I offer all I am         (ALL, I AM.)
For the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me


I have tears in my eyes even now as I reread and write.  God is so merciful and wonderful.

Romans 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Hanging in the Balance

I can't tell you exactly what the title to this entry means, because of privacy with our agency.  I can tell you that it does have to do with timing.

 I doubt myself.  I wonder if God is really talking to me or did I come up with this adoption idea all on my own? 

So this morning I spoke to God.  God I need your word.  I need to hear from you today.  Am I doing what you want?  I need your strength.  I am doing the Bible Study, Becoming a Woman of Grace by Cynthia Heald.  I am on Chapter 8 Freedom to Serve.  For the first question we were to summarize James 1:22-27.

Here is what it says:

James 1:22-27 ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
 ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.


AMAZING!  I couldn't have planned it better myself.  I hope you take the time today to seek Him, so that you can see and experience your own miracle.

God promises that He will speak to us if we seek Him.  To God be the glory!

Love,
Christina

And the Answers Are:

I have asked these same questions to other families that have chosen adoption.  So that we don't have an awkward conversation, I will just answer them here for you.

Why are you adopting?

Jeremiah 29:11-13   For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

God has called us all to take care of orphans and widows.  Shawn and I feel called by God to adopt.  Some people are confused by our decision.  Once our baby gets home, we'll let you know the entire story.  We don't even know what it is yet, but I can't wait to share God's glory. 

How much is it going to cost?

Matthew 6:19-21  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God called us to do this.  He has given us everything we have, so we feel we should share it with one that doesn't.  This baby will be added to my collection of priceless children.  My children are my treasures.   I would much rather invest in the life of another, than invest in something that dies away. 

Do you worry about xyz concerning adoption?

The answer is yes.  I struggle everyday.  This journey is a huge test of faith.  I will be honest, I don't trust God enough.  I pray for more faith and trust in Him.  I pray daily for His strength and direction.  He knows the timing.  I have to take refuge in His protection and his plans.

Matthew 6:25-27 & 33-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


Now concerning the child's "real parents."  We are his adoptive parents and any child we raise, we are also those children's "real parents."  The child has biological parents and if they choose to be open and receive information about the child, I am willing to provide it.  However, we are the child's "real parents."  Just like it is rude to ask a mother whether she is pregnant, it is rude to ask about the child's real parents when they are standing right in front of you.  And NEVER ask in front of the child/ren.

I am sure there will be other questions concerning our decision to adopt, but I will answer to my God for the plans He has in my life.  My family will be blessed by adoption and hopefully we'll be a blessing to the child as well.  I promise to do my best.

Love,
Christina

Homestudy at Our Home Today

I am in an interesting mood this morning. Very tired as I didn't get to sleep until after midnight and was up at 6:30 a.m. to get the boys ready for school.  DS#3 thought it was a good idea to stay up until 10:15 pm.  Not normal for him, usually he goes to his bed cries for a couple minutes or less and then is out like a light.  Last night he cried for about 15 minutes.  DH was exhausted and ready to go to bed at 7:00.  Since, he was so tired I took DS #3 to the other end of the house.  We watched a couple of TV shows that I had recorded.  Usually he falls asleep during Mommy's boring shows, but not last night.  Oh, well.  He finally fell asleep.  I took him to his bed and then I crawled into my own, only to toss and turn for another hour.  Right as I was about to sleep.  DS#2 came into my room and startled me.  I asked him, "Do you need to use the restroom?"  He started whining, "No, I don't need to go."  I asked, "What do you need?"  He went back to his bed.  I covered him up, gave him a kiss, and went back to my own bed.  Sleep walking. :)  I'll take that over the night terrors he used to have.

My pastor encouraged us to read one chapter of Proverbs every day.   Proverbs 26:11 made me laugh:  "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

Idiots. :)   Yes, I have been one of those and still am at times.  Some times dogs are easier to train than people.:)

Now about this home study.  I need to put the finishing touches on the house before the SW arrives.  I am really excited.  I think she is going to be a little overwhelmed with my personality today.  Some people just don't appreciate my effervescence (bubbles!:).  I'll let God's light shine.  He called me for this, so I guess I need to let Him drive, right?

As always, pray for us.

Homestudy Part 1

Our homestudy went well.  The next part of our homestudy will be on Tuesday, October 26.  I hope it goes even better.  I am excited.

I guess it is nice when you see/feel movement. 

We have SO much to be thankful for. 

Love,
Christina

Sleepless in Stanberry

I think it's funny that when I get pregnant, I can't sleep all the way through a lot of nights.  Even when I am paper pregnant and waiting on my little one to come and join our family, I can't sleep. 

It's what I do.

Fire Within

I awoke this morning with a fire in my chest.  I was thinking of the verse that says, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire."  We serve an awesome God.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24   
12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
 ¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
 ¹⁹Do not put out the Spirit's fire; ²⁰do not treat prophecies with contempt. ²¹Test everything. Hold on to the good. ²²Avoid every kind of evil.
 ²³May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

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There will be tough days in this adoption journey.  I will need to reread the above passages.
I have great news: our first part of our homestudy interviews starts October 22, 2010. 

May God be with you today and always!

God's Days

Can you even imagine living where there is no sin?  no sickness?  no tears?  no orphans?  Living in the arms of God is such a precious gift.  I praise you my Lord!

Well, we should be scheduled for our home study ANY day now (our payment cleared).  I am excited and anxious at the same time.  Please continue to pray for us.  Pray that the child is safe and being well taken care of.  Pray that he/she is with someone that has love in their hearts for him/her.  Pray that our finances will be taken care of.  Pray that we bless this child more than he/she can imagine.  And last, but not least, please pray for the orphans that don't go to a family.  May God's blessings still find them, through others.

Come As You Are

Yesterday was an amazing day.  I received my passport in the mail.  I was totally surprised, because I didn't think it would come that quickly.

I talked to our social worker and she needed me to write some documents about my past.  It wasn't what I wanted to do yesterday with my time, but I got a nice compliment from dh.  He says, "You're such a goody-two shoes."  Yes, I understand that it has a negative connotation these days, but do you know me?  I strive to be a virtuous woman.  I fail at times, but I get back up and go at it again.

Oh, my heart is filled with love.  God is so good.

This is one of my favorite songs of all time (I have many).

"Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!" Charlotte Elliot (1789-1871)

I ask you to please come to Christ as you are, so that He can transform you into who He has planned.
God Bless You!

A Small Celebration

We have turned our paperwork in so that our homestudy can be started.  I am so excited.  It is also nice that it is done because it is open enrollment for insurance this month.  That means that I spend hours going over my husband's job's new or old altered insurance plans.  More paperwork.

We received the Adoption to Korea Guidebook.  I am liking some of the changes that we are seeing.  I am looking forward to traveling to Korea.  It may not be for another year or so though.  God knows.

The local school nurse called me yesterday to help with health screenings for the school.  I guess I will be volunteering 2 days this month there.  It looks like this month is already starting to be booked up.

Now it is time to clean, because I don't have anything else to do today.  We find out today whether or not I have a job.  I'll keep you posted.

Please continue to pray for us, especially for our little one. 

²²"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. ²³"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."  Mark 11:22-25 (NIV)

God's Love Part II

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

Yesterday, was a difficult day for me.  I needed to be surrounded by God's presence. I laid down to pray. 
This journey is VERY difficult.  We have to continually put our trust in the Lord for deliverance. We are only one month into the waiting.    We will not make it through this process without God. 

I know He is watching over us.  We got good news yesterday, pending our homestudy, we've been accepted into the South Korea program.  Woot!  I didn't even know that the social worker had sent our paperwork in, I thought she was waiting for one more piece of information.

God is amazing.  2 Corinthians 12:10 came to my mind.  When I looked it up, I noticed the verse before it.

 9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
 ¹⁰Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

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I am one of the weakest people you will meet.  May God's power abound.  He is Holy.  He is Faithful.  Praise God.

God's Love

Thursday, September 23, I went to renew my passport because they had spelled my name wrong the first time one was issued to me 4 years ago.  It was great news.  All I had to pay was the fee for the pictures.

Still waiting on our clinic to get us our test results back and letters about the health of our children.  Hopefully, we get them back on Tuesday.  I'm ready to send in my paperwork.  I need to remember in God's timing.  It will all work out.

Pray for us.  Pray for our child.  And pray for the children who don't have a loving home to go to.

I pray that God's love permeates your entire being today.

Grrr!

We have all of the paperwork done for the homestudy.  We are just waiting on the doctor to read bloodwork and finish writing a couple of letters.  Hopefully, she can get that done so that I can mail it tomorrow.

I went for an interview tonight.  Not sure I got the job, I'll keep you posted. 

God is amazing.  I went and visited my husband's cousin tonight at the hospital. She had her baby.  Her baby is so beautiful.

I wonder.  Has my baby been born yet, or is he/she just waiting on the Lord?  I will trust in You, Lord, for you know my plan.

Psalm 52:8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

Whirlwind

We have been incredibly busy with paperwork. Thursday we tried to get medical documents and we had our physicals started.  Saturday and Sunday was spent in the adoption classes required by Hague.  Oh, this process is moving right along.  You really have no idea how many hours it takes until you are in the process.  I hear it is all worth it, and I can't wait to experience the joy.

Today I am sending some paperwork to another state to get backgrounds done in that state as well as our own.  We have bloodwork to be done.  I need to continue to figure out how we are going to finance this journey, if it is completed quicker than we first thought.  I also need to hurry up and get my passport taken care of. 

One of my children is sick with a fever again. I hope he gets better soon. 

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (NIV)

Not Quite Speechless

We don't qualify for the country of China for adoption.  It leaves me a little sad.  I sort of thought that China might be the country.  However, it was my second choice.  I just couldn't imagine being turned down by a country. 

God knows our plan.  I will continue to trust in Him.

I will leave you tonight with this Bible passage:

because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:14-18

Time To Clean Tuesday

The inquiry about the child didn't work out.  I can't say that I didn't shed a tear.  I am an emotional person. There is a little feeling of loss, but I have to trust God.

I'd like to say that my husband is great.  He comforts me.

Today sounds like a great cleaning day.  My house would not pass any type of inspection.  Can you say clutter?

Seems like I need a cleaning also.  My hair is disheveled, but I am pretty clean on the outside.  It seems it is a good day for spiritual cleaning.  I just need to be in God's presence, the Great Comforter.  I am blessed that today is the day that the church is opened for prayer.  I look forward to visiting.  There is something different about praying inside a quiet church.  NO distractions and it's peaceful.

I was just given a hug by my youngest.  How warming to my soul.

I can't stop thinking of this Bible verse:

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 1 Chronicles 17:16

Who am I (Christina), O Lord, that you have brought me this far? I will continue to cling to the Father.

I praise You, my God.

Dust bunnies beware, I am coming to get you.

Doubtfilled Sunday

Everyone has a bad day from time to time.  I will be the first to tell you that I am full of faith for our Father in heaven. My problem this morning was that I had no faith in my own abilities.  It is true, I can't make it on my own.  That starts the downward spiral of I am worthless.  Apart from God that is true also. 

God whispered to me through His word,  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (part of 2 Corinthians 12:9)

Why is it that God continues to follow through on His promises, yet I easily forget to rely on Him?  I have to come back to Him daily.


For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Isaiah 41:13


I may be down, but I am not out!  I will put on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-20).  I will continue to be bold, even through my weaknesses.  I will continue to be bold about my faith even when it makes someone else feel uncomfortable or they point to me and say all I want is people to focus on me. I beg you please, look at Jesus.  I WILL fail you.  Jesus NEVER fails. 

Praise God for taking care of us.

Chosen

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

"For many are invited, but few are chosen."  Matthew 22:14 (NIV)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

We have chosen a Waiting Child (little girl) to request more information on Monday, September 13, 2010.  Once we receive the information, we will decide if we want to continue to pursue this child.  If we choose to pursue, then we wait to see if we are her chosen family.

Hope vs. Wish

Look these two words up in the dictionary: hope, wish.  Do you see the difference?  If you are wishing for something, you're probably going to come up empty handed.  Hope is something you already have or it is something (or someone) you usually work toward. 

In his name the nations will put their hope. Matthew 12:21 (NIV)

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

Isn't it amazing how faith, hope, and love are intertwined like the trinity?  And they all last forever.

I have a passport, but they spelled my name wrong.  So today, I filled out the application for a new one.  On the application it asks when and where are you traveling.  I wasn't sure how to answer that, so I put in about 4 months.  Of course, it will more than likely be longer than that, but I don't want to be held up by my passport.  Some of the people receive referrals very soon after they receive their completed home study.  For the country I put Korea or China.  God only knows at this point. 

I hope my little girl comes home soon.  I am waiting. 

I encourage you to listen to John Waller's, "While I'm Waiting".  I love that song.  It's the anthem of a lot of people who are waiting for their children.

Annyeong -that means bye in Korean.  Bai Bai - one form of bye in Mandarin (China).  Goodbye, that is goodbye in English.  Yes, I do get a kick out of myself.

A Thousand Years Wait

You know that ache you have in your heart to want to hold your new baby? I am pretty sure that this wait for my little girl won't be forever, unless God has other plans, but the worries that surround the wait time are aggravating.  By that I mean it brings forth pain.  Don't get me wrong.  I appreciate all the blessings I have in my life.  There is just a groaning within for my little girl.  I am sure that some look at the time I've waited and say, "Oh, well you've only waited 2 weeks."  Yes, that is correct, and I have a long road ahead of me.

I have so many questions:  What will she look like?  Where will she be from?  What is her background?  Will she love me?  Will our children get along?, etc. The list is circular.  Everyday, she is closer to coming home.

Have you ever wondered about these Bible verses:

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8,9

You and I didn't always exist.  Was there a first time that God saw our future?  Was that first time waiting on us agonizing?  Or maybe He just always knew.

When you look back in time at something you already accomplished, it seems like yesterday, but looking forward, it seems like a thousand years.  I think God's love for us is so amazing.

Look up the word "faithful" at thesaurus.com.  What do you see? I saw a description of God.  Maybe not completely, but a part of Him.  The more I learn, the more that I see how important words are.  The Words of God are the most important.

Every minute she is closer to being in my arms.

Wonderful Wednesday

GOOD Morning! Yesterday was an awesome day.  I talked to my sister-in-law and can't wait until their house is built and they move closer. I called my social worker at the adoption agency and talked to her for the first time.  She was very helpful and so nice.  She sent me the forms I needed and set us up for the required adoption classes in 2 weeks.  Hallelujah!  Please continue to pray that this adoption process goes smoothly.

My husband and I had a wonderful walk.  We had a good discussion about wishing vs. doing something about what you want.  Wishing gets you nothing.  You have to step up and work for what you want.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture  Psalm 37:3

I really enjoy this Bible verse.  We live in a rural area.  We are surrounded by nature. Pastures can be so peaceful.  Just watch out for the cow patties.  On that note, I need to go change a dirty diaper so that we can have fresher air.  Later.

Hodge Podge

Well, I have been writing a lot of my thoughts on Facebook for about a year now.  I am just getting tired of reading stuff that just has no meaning.  I would rather filter out some of the junk that is on there, so I guess I'll start writing here. 

Shawn and I just watched "Julie and Julia" last night.  Shawn has talked to me about writing a blog before, but last night I decided that now is the time. 

This blog has at least a two-fold purpose.  One is to keep track of the journey of our adoption of a little girl and two is to help educate myself and others about the Word of God.  So buckle up and get ready for my kind of ride, on FAITH.