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A friend and co-worker passed away this month after battling cancer for a year and a half. I was in awe of his courage and how he never complained. He never questioned that God chose him to endure cancer but accepted and embraced the journey. Seven months of chemo were endured while never missing a day of work. Some days he would be seen in the break room during lunch laying his head down or sleeping in his truck after work before making the drive home. He always gave God the glory for his strength and endurance.
God used him to draw co-workers closer together. We gathered and prayed with him and soon found ourselves praying for others and sharing our lives on a deeper level. We continue that even today. What a blessing. Thank you Lord!
We talked many times about our adoption process and he continued to lift us up in prayer. I always walked away encouraged and with a lighter spirit whenever we talked. As for his family he had a loving wife and two very young boys. The most heartbreaking part of his passing is that these boys lost their father.
It was mentioned during the memorial service that he often asked his family “Is it Sunday yet?” He looked forward to attending church and visiting with friends. Later as I thought about the memorial service that phrase “Is it Sunday yet?” clicked. Our adoption blog “Sunday Will Come”! I logged onto the blog and this spoke to me “"In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come.”
So my friend and brother in Christ - Sunday came and ended your suffering. I miss you and will never forget you. I am thankful that God allowed me to know you. Lord, thank you for using those specific words that spoke to my heart. Also, for reminding me that for his family and their grief - Sunday will come. We trust you Lord in all things!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
"Sunday" has been delayed
Yesterday was an emotional day as friends at Church wished us well. It began to hit home that we were finally about to meet our children. Larry talked with the Sunday School class about our trip and adopting the boys. We learned that each child in the class will bring their favorite food to give to the boys. Also, the children will learn some Spanish phrases so they can talk to the boys and make them feel welcome in class.
This morning we received a call from our agency that Juan contracted Hepatitis A and will be quarantined for three weeks. So our trip is delayed and we meet the boys March 12. We trust God and his timing so we will just continue to pray and wait.
This morning we received a call from our agency that Juan contracted Hepatitis A and will be quarantined for three weeks. So our trip is delayed and we meet the boys March 12. We trust God and his timing so we will just continue to pray and wait.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What a week!
Most of this week was spent dealing with USCIS and the National Visa Center. Monday the National Visa Center said they would search for our paperwork which FedEx delivered on the 11th. By Wednesday Larry was tired of being told "call back tomorrow" so he kicked it up a notch and Layla committed to search for the overnight envelope. She called back in a few hours to say they found the paperwork. We were so relieved the issue was resolved…or so we thought. Since we did not receive a confirmation email Larry called them on Friday. Layla said the paperwork they found turned out to be someone else’s.
Wednesday morning we emailed (you cannot call) Memphis USCIS to ask they resend our paperwork to the National Visa Center (this was before we received Layla’s call they found the paperwork which later turned out to be incorrect). Memphis USCIS responded that the National Visa Center probably would find the paperwork or were unaware they had processed it already. Does this make sense to anyone...uh NO. Memphis USCIS stopped responding to our emails asking they resend the paperwork. So Friday Larry went to the local USCIS and explained the situation. They called the Memphis USCIS and the paperwork was resent to the National Visa Center.
So we are leaving Tuesday and trusting God will take care of this issue.
Wednesday morning we emailed (you cannot call) Memphis USCIS to ask they resend our paperwork to the National Visa Center (this was before we received Layla’s call they found the paperwork which later turned out to be incorrect). Memphis USCIS responded that the National Visa Center probably would find the paperwork or were unaware they had processed it already. Does this make sense to anyone...uh NO. Memphis USCIS stopped responding to our emails asking they resend the paperwork. So Friday Larry went to the local USCIS and explained the situation. They called the Memphis USCIS and the paperwork was resent to the National Visa Center.
So we are leaving Tuesday and trusting God will take care of this issue.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Just around the corner
We received the amended I-171H in the mail on Friday. Thank you Lord! Our agency has another couple in the same situation and the US Consulate in Bogota issued the letter to begin court proceedings based on the amended I-171H. The National Visa Center still needs paperwork from CIS to send the cable visa to the US Consulate in Bogota. So, we will continue to check that this week.
We had the travel call with our agency which lasted about two hours. The call contained information regarding additional forms to fill out before we travel. We also talked through every step of the trip in detail so we know what to expect. It was a lot of information and we took three pages of notes. We also purchased a few more entertaining items for the boys since we learned there are a few lengthy appointments.
Today we thrift store shopped to provide clothes for the boys. Apparently, they will only have the clothes they are wearing. So, we used the year old height and weight information and an internet children’s clothing size chart to guess their current sizes. Hopefully we are close enough to provide some wearable items. We will also purchase shoes in Bogota.
We are so very thankful for the wisdom and guidance God is providing through this journey.
The coming week will be final paperwork prep and packing. Then it is off to Bogota!
We had the travel call with our agency which lasted about two hours. The call contained information regarding additional forms to fill out before we travel. We also talked through every step of the trip in detail so we know what to expect. It was a lot of information and we took three pages of notes. We also purchased a few more entertaining items for the boys since we learned there are a few lengthy appointments.
Today we thrift store shopped to provide clothes for the boys. Apparently, they will only have the clothes they are wearing. So, we used the year old height and weight information and an internet children’s clothing size chart to guess their current sizes. Hopefully we are close enough to provide some wearable items. We will also purchase shoes in Bogota.
We are so very thankful for the wisdom and guidance God is providing through this journey.
The coming week will be final paperwork prep and packing. Then it is off to Bogota!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Week in Review
Monday: Our agency suggests we show up at our local CIS office, explain the situation and ask to be fingerprinted. So, we gathered together any and all CIS correspondence along with our passports.
Tuesday: The local CIS office was very helpful. Our fingerprints were taken optically but Ramona's scores were low. The local CIS office says the fingerprints will probably be rejected and called later that afternoon to confirm it. Since we are in a time crunch, they will take a sworn statement on Wednesday when Ramona returns for fingerprints. If the fingerprints are rejected again, then this statement supersedes fingerprints. A criminal history letter from the county is also required. The Williamson County Sheriffs Department tells us that criminal history letters are issued on Tuesday and Thursday and must be requested in person. If the letter is requested on Tuesday, then it will be ready on Thursday, no exceptions. Ramona requests the criminal history letter and explains our situation and once again ask for an exception and if we can pick up the letter the next day. The response was "there are 100 gun permits in front of you". Well we certainly would not want to delay a gun permit! It was clear they did not "get it". We begin to gather, obtain notarization and make copies of documents needed to obtain Visas.
Wednesday: Ramona's fingerprints are taken but the scores are low. A sworn statement is taken. Larry drives to two counties for notary certifications and then to the state office for apostille.
Thursday: The local CIS office calls to confirm that Ramona's fingerprints were rejected for the second time. Larry picks up the criminal history letter and drops it off to the local CIS office. They say that the sworn statement and letter will be overnighted to the Memphis CIS office.
Friday: The apostilled FBI clearances and medical letters are mailed to Children's Hope in St. Louis. These will be sent ahead of us to Colombia for translation. Larry travels to ATL to obtain Visas. He dropped off the paperwork and they told him it would be about an hour. Larry picked up the Visas and the Consulate General came out to introduce himself. He wanted to tell Larry that he was very proud of us and our kindness to adopt these children. He said it would change these children’s lives. He also wanted to meet the children but since we live 4 hours from ATL that would be difficult. He comes to Nashville once a year and said he would call us to meet the children. We rarely think about how we are blessing these children’s lives. We just think what a blessing they will be to us and how honored we are that God is entrusting us with them.
We will continue to push and ensure the necessary CIS and National Visa Center approvals are obtained before we travel. We thank and praise the Lord that he made this a productive week. We know that he is in control and trust.
Tuesday: The local CIS office was very helpful. Our fingerprints were taken optically but Ramona's scores were low. The local CIS office says the fingerprints will probably be rejected and called later that afternoon to confirm it. Since we are in a time crunch, they will take a sworn statement on Wednesday when Ramona returns for fingerprints. If the fingerprints are rejected again, then this statement supersedes fingerprints. A criminal history letter from the county is also required. The Williamson County Sheriffs Department tells us that criminal history letters are issued on Tuesday and Thursday and must be requested in person. If the letter is requested on Tuesday, then it will be ready on Thursday, no exceptions. Ramona requests the criminal history letter and explains our situation and once again ask for an exception and if we can pick up the letter the next day. The response was "there are 100 gun permits in front of you". Well we certainly would not want to delay a gun permit! It was clear they did not "get it". We begin to gather, obtain notarization and make copies of documents needed to obtain Visas.
Wednesday: Ramona's fingerprints are taken but the scores are low. A sworn statement is taken. Larry drives to two counties for notary certifications and then to the state office for apostille.
Thursday: The local CIS office calls to confirm that Ramona's fingerprints were rejected for the second time. Larry picks up the criminal history letter and drops it off to the local CIS office. They say that the sworn statement and letter will be overnighted to the Memphis CIS office.
Friday: The apostilled FBI clearances and medical letters are mailed to Children's Hope in St. Louis. These will be sent ahead of us to Colombia for translation. Larry travels to ATL to obtain Visas. He dropped off the paperwork and they told him it would be about an hour. Larry picked up the Visas and the Consulate General came out to introduce himself. He wanted to tell Larry that he was very proud of us and our kindness to adopt these children. He said it would change these children’s lives. He also wanted to meet the children but since we live 4 hours from ATL that would be difficult. He comes to Nashville once a year and said he would call us to meet the children. We rarely think about how we are blessing these children’s lives. We just think what a blessing they will be to us and how honored we are that God is entrusting us with them.
We will continue to push and ensure the necessary CIS and National Visa Center approvals are obtained before we travel. We thank and praise the Lord that he made this a productive week. We know that he is in control and trust.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Attention Prayer Warriors
Our fingerprints with CIS expire 2/20/09 and we are scheduled to be in Bogota 2/26/09. We are told by our agency that it takes about 3-4 weeks to get approvals to the US Consulate in Bogota after updated fingerprints are taken. So we need to get them done in the next few days. The issue is that CIS must issue us an appointment to be fingerprinted; we cannot just walk into their office.
Here is the process: CIS issues an appointment and the fingerprints are taken at a local CIS office. The local CIS office then sends the fingerprints to the FBI. The FBI returns our clearances to the local CIS office. Then the local CIS office mails a hard copy to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire. The National Visa Center mails a hard copy to the US Consulate in Bogota. The US Consulate in Bogota won't give our agency the letter needed to begin our case in court until they have the hard copy of the fingerprints.
We mailed a letter to CIS on January 13th requesting an appointment but have not received a reply. Today we emailed the CIS office in Memphis but have not received a reply.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20
Here is the process: CIS issues an appointment and the fingerprints are taken at a local CIS office. The local CIS office then sends the fingerprints to the FBI. The FBI returns our clearances to the local CIS office. Then the local CIS office mails a hard copy to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire. The National Visa Center mails a hard copy to the US Consulate in Bogota. The US Consulate in Bogota won't give our agency the letter needed to begin our case in court until they have the hard copy of the fingerprints.
We mailed a letter to CIS on January 13th requesting an appointment but have not received a reply. Today we emailed the CIS office in Memphis but have not received a reply.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Travel Plans and such
We chose to fly Delta because they have an adoption fare which eliminates change fees for the return trip. Delta requires you to present the I-171H or I-797C from INS when purchasing the tickets. You cannot obtain the adoption fare by booking tickets online, you must speak with a representative. Our adoption agency says that a 4 week stay in Colombia can be expected. It was really thrilling to see their first names attached to our last name on those tickets!
We also learned that the Colombian Consulate in Atlanta, GA requires at least one of us to apply for the TS Visas in person. So, as soon as we gather the appropriate documents one or both of us will head to ATL. The requirements for a TS Visa from the Atlanta consulate can be found here: Colombian Consulate Atlanta
Our FBI clearances arrived yesterday and we also received our updated medical letters this week.
The travel call with Julie (Colombia Program Director at Children's Hope International) is scheduled for February 12th.
Also, wanted to mention that we used a program called Visual Link Spanish to learn spanish. We did order a demo from Rosetta Stone but preferred the methods used by Visual Link and it was less costly. The program includes computer and audio cds.
Whew! So things are moving along smoothly and SUNDAY IS COMING !!!!
Thank you Lord for entrusting us with these three beautiful and precious little ones! We place all our hopes, dreams and trust in you Lord!
We also learned that the Colombian Consulate in Atlanta, GA requires at least one of us to apply for the TS Visas in person. So, as soon as we gather the appropriate documents one or both of us will head to ATL. The requirements for a TS Visa from the Atlanta consulate can be found here: Colombian Consulate Atlanta
Our FBI clearances arrived yesterday and we also received our updated medical letters this week.
The travel call with Julie (Colombia Program Director at Children's Hope International) is scheduled for February 12th.
Also, wanted to mention that we used a program called Visual Link Spanish to learn spanish. We did order a demo from Rosetta Stone but preferred the methods used by Visual Link and it was less costly. The program includes computer and audio cds.
Whew! So things are moving along smoothly and SUNDAY IS COMING !!!!
Thank you Lord for entrusting us with these three beautiful and precious little ones! We place all our hopes, dreams and trust in you Lord!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
February 26th is our date to meet the boys!
We have been told to arrive in Bogota on February 24th in order to be well rested and acclimated to the altitude before meeting the boys. Rested...are you kidding us!?!? We were so excited when news of the assignment arrived we hardly slept that night. It is hard to imagine getting much rest before the long anticipated first meeting.
God continues to bless us richly!
We are working on the travel details and hoping to wrap that up early next week so we can apply for Visas.
God continues to bless us richly!
We are working on the travel details and hoping to wrap that up early next week so we can apply for Visas.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
!! Assignment !!
It's a boy and a boy and another boy!!! We are so excited and blessed! Thank you Lord!
We now send a reply to ICBF that we accept the assignment. There is a flurry of paperwork ahead and travel arrangements. We hope to travel toward the end of February. Our fingerprints were mailed out to the FBI on Saturday. We also must renew our fingerprints with CIS.
We are also reminded once again that God has perfect timing. A family member is having surgery this week and this last delay prevented us from being in another country when we are needed here.
We have also prayed to receive updated information on the boys since what we have is a year old. God answered that prayer and we will receive updated information on the boys next week. It first has to be translated. Praise God!
We now send a reply to ICBF that we accept the assignment. There is a flurry of paperwork ahead and travel arrangements. We hope to travel toward the end of February. Our fingerprints were mailed out to the FBI on Saturday. We also must renew our fingerprints with CIS.
We are also reminded once again that God has perfect timing. A family member is having surgery this week and this last delay prevented us from being in another country when we are needed here.
We have also prayed to receive updated information on the boys since what we have is a year old. God answered that prayer and we will receive updated information on the boys next week. It first has to be translated. Praise God!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Abandonment decree upheld!!
Praise God! The wait is over and the court sided with ICBF and upheld the abandonment decree. So the adoption of these boys moves forward. Now we must again wait on the assignment. We have been told to not expect the assignment until January due to the holidays. We must update our FBI clearances and employment letters in preparation since they will be over 60 days old soon. This will be the 3rd time we have updated these documents. But we can hardly even care and are happy to do it because things are moving forward again! Thank you Lord!
Monday, November 17, 2008
The waiting continues...
First, the good news, the birth certificate was corrected.
The other news is that relative of the children has shown an interest in them. So the court will decide to either uphold the original abandonment decree or place the children with this relative.
Due to the delays in this process we recently began to pray that God confirm we were within his will. Early last week God gave us the knowledge that someone was inquiring about these children. God was preparing our hearts for the news we received today.
So, God is still saying "WAIT" and this could be to increase our faith by denying something we hope for so that we are pushed to trust in God’s goodness to provide for us. God may be trying to exercise patience. If we are willing to be patient for something, we are declaring its value to be greater than the suffering we endure in the waiting. Maybe God wants to try our love by asking “Do you love me even when I do not provide that for which you ask? Do you love me more than my blessings?” He may be trying to enlarge our desires by withholding that for which we ask to increase in us a capacity to enjoy his blessings all the more.
Whatever the reason we will pray that God does what is best for these children. If the court decides in favor of the relative, then we believe it is God's will and they will be okay. If we are eventually able to adopt these children, then we will be very blessed!
The other news is that relative of the children has shown an interest in them. So the court will decide to either uphold the original abandonment decree or place the children with this relative.
Due to the delays in this process we recently began to pray that God confirm we were within his will. Early last week God gave us the knowledge that someone was inquiring about these children. God was preparing our hearts for the news we received today.
So, God is still saying "WAIT" and this could be to increase our faith by denying something we hope for so that we are pushed to trust in God’s goodness to provide for us. God may be trying to exercise patience. If we are willing to be patient for something, we are declaring its value to be greater than the suffering we endure in the waiting. Maybe God wants to try our love by asking “Do you love me even when I do not provide that for which you ask? Do you love me more than my blessings?” He may be trying to enlarge our desires by withholding that for which we ask to increase in us a capacity to enjoy his blessings all the more.
Whatever the reason we will pray that God does what is best for these children. If the court decides in favor of the relative, then we believe it is God's will and they will be okay. If we are eventually able to adopt these children, then we will be very blessed!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Hoping for an update
The Colombia Program Director is in Bogota this week. She said that she would try to find out some news for us. We are hopeful to hear something...anything...just to know where things stand.
Friday, October 3, 2008
More waiting ahead
We learned another error was discovered on one of the children's birth certificates. So, it was sent to be fixed. We think this will take a couple of weeks. We just keep telling ourselves that God's timing is perfect and continue to pray and praise.
The judicial strike in ongoing. There is a couple with our adoption agency that is stranded in Bogota due to the strike. But for God's grace go us. We are so thankful.
http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/news/1544-judicial-strike-celebrates-one-month-anniversary.html
The judicial strike in ongoing. There is a couple with our adoption agency that is stranded in Bogota due to the strike. But for God's grace go us. We are so thankful.
http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/news/1544-judicial-strike-celebrates-one-month-anniversary.html
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Paperwork, Assignments and Strikes OH MY!
We could have been stranded in Bogota during this ongong judicial strike if not for the paperwork glitch which delayed our assignment. We are so thankful that God has protected us.
"The strike by 40,000 court employees over wages continues in Colombia after the union that represents the striking workers decided not to call off the strike that began 17 days ago."http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/sep2008/wkrs-s23.shtml
Colombia judician strike strand would-be adoptershttp://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/news/1299-colombian-judicial-strike-strands-would-be-adopters.html
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
"The strike by 40,000 court employees over wages continues in Colombia after the union that represents the striking workers decided not to call off the strike that began 17 days ago."http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/sep2008/wkrs-s23.shtml
Colombia judician strike strand would-be adoptershttp://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/news/1299-colombian-judicial-strike-strands-would-be-adopters.html
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
Friday, September 12, 2008
Why the assignment has been delayed.
Apparently, there was a problem with one of the children's documents and it had to be sent back to be fixed. The good news is that it has been fixed and they have received it back in the Bogota regional office again (just yesterday). So now all we need is for them to hold an Adoption Committee meeting and they'll make the assignment.
Do you feel it...Sunday is almost here!
Do you feel it...Sunday is almost here!
Monday, September 8, 2008
WAITING...Waiting....waiting
Some days the waiting is just not easy. So, I searched for some encouragement:
What you are waiting for is never as important as how you wait
Powerful statement, isn’t it? No, it is not my quote but I think it applies to this adoption wait in a huge way. And since you won’t find it in the Bible, I’ll not stake a claim that it’s a universal truth. But it’s a wise declaration. When I first heard it, I found it unsettling and it raised a combative spirit in me. How can the child I am pining for be less important than the seemingly trivial way I spend my day?
Throughout scripture, God calls us to obedience.
Not to strive for that which we cannot see, but faith, obedience in the things we can see.
“Cease striving and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. This speaks to me of God’s Hand upon His master plan and that today, while I wait, I am to be still, to stop striving and to rest in a sovereign, holy God. I hear a gentle reminder that He is God, a reminder that I am not. And perhaps as I am still, I will know that He really is God, the God capable of delivering me from want.
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3. This verse is “backwards,” at least to my way of thinking. I had to read this over and over to believe that it really says what it says. So often, I want to submit my finely-crafted blueprints to God, get His stamp of approval and move on with my plans. As God’s economy is opposite the world (“the first shall be last”), He calls me to obedience in my daily walk. Do I commit my works to the Lord? Every day, each moment? Only then will my plans, my desires be established.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. So faith is the assurance. Not the things we hope for or the things we cannot see. God is calling us to choose and to choose faith. A faith in our holy, sovereign God.
Is the goal as important as the wait? I have a finished, settled and permanent home in heaven, sealed by Jesus Christ. I’ve been left here to become more like Him, to make the daily choice of faith to spend my wait honoring Him. Heaven is important, the goal precious. But that is in the capable Hands of God. He calls me to a daily walk of obedience. That little child is precious, so very important. But she is in the most capable Hands of the God Who can say,
“I am God.” Let’s commit our works to the Lord today and honor Him in the wait.
http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/waiting/2008/04/what-you-are-wa.html#more
If we ever wondered why waiting on the Lord is so hard, need we look any further than the great patriarch Abraham and his wife, Sarah? Their loss of confidence in the Lord’s timing led to “family planning” choices that dishonored God and to this very day result in bloodshed around the world.While our adoption waits may not impact the world forever, they will have eternal consequences. How best to use the time God gave us during the wait? No matter how often I insist that Proverbs 16:3 is a typo, it still reads:“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.”Oh, how I wish it were reversed so it would align with my view of the world! Nonetheless, that which God asks of us is, in a word, obedience. He will take care of the rest. Our goal during your journey is that you might invest time in the kingdom and become more like Christ. That as you commit your works to the Lord, your plans will be established.Join us as we share our journeys down the road to adoption. We’ve learned that God is sufficient, He is worthy but He is never early! And as my wife is prone to say, “God will never send you where He is absent!” http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/waiting/
What you are waiting for is never as important as how you wait
Powerful statement, isn’t it? No, it is not my quote but I think it applies to this adoption wait in a huge way. And since you won’t find it in the Bible, I’ll not stake a claim that it’s a universal truth. But it’s a wise declaration. When I first heard it, I found it unsettling and it raised a combative spirit in me. How can the child I am pining for be less important than the seemingly trivial way I spend my day?
Throughout scripture, God calls us to obedience.
Not to strive for that which we cannot see, but faith, obedience in the things we can see.
“Cease striving and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. This speaks to me of God’s Hand upon His master plan and that today, while I wait, I am to be still, to stop striving and to rest in a sovereign, holy God. I hear a gentle reminder that He is God, a reminder that I am not. And perhaps as I am still, I will know that He really is God, the God capable of delivering me from want.
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3. This verse is “backwards,” at least to my way of thinking. I had to read this over and over to believe that it really says what it says. So often, I want to submit my finely-crafted blueprints to God, get His stamp of approval and move on with my plans. As God’s economy is opposite the world (“the first shall be last”), He calls me to obedience in my daily walk. Do I commit my works to the Lord? Every day, each moment? Only then will my plans, my desires be established.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. So faith is the assurance. Not the things we hope for or the things we cannot see. God is calling us to choose and to choose faith. A faith in our holy, sovereign God.
Is the goal as important as the wait? I have a finished, settled and permanent home in heaven, sealed by Jesus Christ. I’ve been left here to become more like Him, to make the daily choice of faith to spend my wait honoring Him. Heaven is important, the goal precious. But that is in the capable Hands of God. He calls me to a daily walk of obedience. That little child is precious, so very important. But she is in the most capable Hands of the God Who can say,
“I am God.” Let’s commit our works to the Lord today and honor Him in the wait.
http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/waiting/2008/04/what-you-are-wa.html#more
If we ever wondered why waiting on the Lord is so hard, need we look any further than the great patriarch Abraham and his wife, Sarah? Their loss of confidence in the Lord’s timing led to “family planning” choices that dishonored God and to this very day result in bloodshed around the world.While our adoption waits may not impact the world forever, they will have eternal consequences. How best to use the time God gave us during the wait? No matter how often I insist that Proverbs 16:3 is a typo, it still reads:“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.”Oh, how I wish it were reversed so it would align with my view of the world! Nonetheless, that which God asks of us is, in a word, obedience. He will take care of the rest. Our goal during your journey is that you might invest time in the kingdom and become more like Christ. That as you commit your works to the Lord, your plans will be established.Join us as we share our journeys down the road to adoption. We’ve learned that God is sufficient, He is worthy but He is never early! And as my wife is prone to say, “God will never send you where He is absent!” http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/waiting/
Thursday, August 21, 2008
100% Colombian
No news to report. We are still waiting for the assignment from the regional office.
The company where I work uses a coffee service and the measured coffee packets read "100% Colombian Coffee". So I cut out the 100% Colombian and posted it in my cubicle. It catches my eye and I just can't help but smile thinking of the day we will meet our 100% Colombians.
The company where I work uses a coffee service and the measured coffee packets read "100% Colombian Coffee". So I cut out the 100% Colombian and posted it in my cubicle. It catches my eye and I just can't help but smile thinking of the day we will meet our 100% Colombians.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Little by little
We heard today that the Bogota Regional Office has officially received our dossier and has officially requested the paperwork on the children so they can make the assignment. Our updated FBI clearances have been requested. We also acquired updated medical and employment letters. So we are officially waiting on Gods perfect timing.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Waiting on the assignment
We are awaiting the assignment of three siblings and barring anything unexpected these boys will soon be ours. We should have the official word in two to four weeks. We can't post specifics yet but hang in there...Sunday Will Come.
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