What a week!

This has been a week to remember! I have yet been able to sit down and journal the whole event. It has been life changing. God is constantly molding me into the person that He wants me to be and I have been reminded of this plan this week. He is the potter and I am the clay. Mold me and make me into the daughter,sister, friend, and mother that you want me to be. Thank God for the reminder that He is in control and I am NOT. I will need to come back to this post many times in the next few months.

I am not sure what the time frame is next. I am waiting to hear about the court date. I know many people have not passed court the first time for different random reasons. Please pray for all families that are in this waiting process. I did hear that the abandonment cases were going to be back on at the end of June. There is also the rainy season to contend with, which is different each year and not made known until a week or so before courts will close. There are alot of factors in the time line.

I received word from the Spears family that they saw Yoseph while they were getting their girls. They have taken photos for me, but I do not know where they are. So I wait in anticipation to see more photos of him. This part is so exciting. All of my family and friends are eager to get a better look at him. He looks like he is full of vigor in his referral picture. I think I am in for a wild ride.

I just returned from Hilton Head SC for my friend, Kerri Lich's, wedding. Deedee, her mom, Cannon and I hung out for the weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony. Kerri was so pretty! We stayed at the Belfair country club in Bluffton, SC in a cottage and the entrance was breathtaking. I feel like I have seen this picture in a movie before. Thank you Kerri for such a great weekend.

The Roller coaster is going up the hill...

Yes...I have been on a roller coaster ride of emotions today. What in the world is God trying to say to me? The girl referral was retracted today because it was acutally for another family. Thanks for letting me know that before I got connected. I told everyone at school. So ridiculous, so I had to tell everyone that it wasn't happening in the afternoon when I received the email.

I had life group tonight and determined in my heart that I was not going to set perameters on this adoption. Whatever God wants to give me I will accept and not try to prove that it is from Him. He knows just what I can handle. This was my prayer.

Life group is over and I turn on my phone and there is another email with another referral. There is a brief description of why this mistake happened and then some information on a cute little guy named Yoseph. He was born on April 22, 2009. Am I getting all worked up? No! I am taking this one slow. I am talking with Lisa Prather before I do anything else.

I can not loose another night of sleep. I was so worn out today, I came home and slept for an hour before bible study. He is in control. He is in control.

Oh Boy...or should I say Oh Girl!

I received a referral tonight from my adoption agency! The big switch-a-roo is that it is for a GIRL! I have been preparing this whole time for a boy. What are you doing, God? After having talked to many family members and friends, I think I am going to accept the referral.

God has a sense of humor. As I look at this event, I think of the gift of life that He is allowing me to mold and form into a follower of Christ. What a huge responsibility. So...Samuel is going to be Samantha. I still like the idea of calling her Sam. I guess I need to tweak my blog site.

Thank you God for this night!

Good-bye 5th grade Hello 6th grade!

We did it! We have promoted the class of 2017. They are no longer mine, but the middle school's gain. I have enjoyed teaching this motly crew. Many great memories with each one of them.

God has blessed me with another wonderful school year and now a relaxing summer to enjoy. I feel so grateful tonight. It is my prayer that He keeps His hand over everyone in this photo and that they grow up to be leaders for the cause of Christ.

On the adoption front, there has been a hold up on abandonment cases at Ethiopia. Grace, our point person for our orphanage, seems to think this will blow over in the next couple of weeks. My orphange has received 10 new babies that are abandoned and they are getting their medical reports done. If all works out, I could be recieving a referral pretty soon. So...please pray for Samuel and his health.

Look what a year can do

I just received some pictures from my friend, JP, tonight. He was the leader of my mission trip to the Dominican Republic last year in Feb. While down there I met a 5th grader named Rafelina. She came to the church the night we set up the clinic and we connected. Throughout the week she would sit with me while I did blood pressure on people and helped me to translate. We did not communicate well, but ended up giving each other a gift on Valentine's Day.

Now JP takes care packages down to her every now and then and we have set up an account for her future education. I can not believe how much she has grown in a year. He and I are meeting up this week to exchange information and to see when he will travel again to her home. This has been such a great way to continue the lines of communication with Rafelina. I really appreciate JP and his love the DR.

I feel like I should make another trip to see Rafelina once more before I become a mom. JP has offered to take me down there and see her again. God is so good. He continually provides for all of my needs and then the needs of others. I do not take any of this for granted. I am feeling very grateful tonight.

Now What?

Well...I received word from my adoption agency today letting me know that they have merged with another group called Nightlight Adoption. I checked out their website and seemed a bit confused. They have advertisement for frozen embryos. What? I didn't see anything about Ethiopia on their site, so that concerns me. I did email my contact person and will probably call tomorrow if I don't hear back from her.

So my question still remains..Now what? Does this change anything for our wait on a referral? Will this help us in the future with connections and are we still with Hope Adoption in St. Louis? I will have to say I often question my agency about what is going on. I am sure this is part of the process. Still trying to rest in God's plan and not mine. Easier said then done.

A friend asked me the other day if I am still asking myself "What am I doing?" I have to say that I am not asking that question of myself anymore. I guess I have crossed that bridge and feel like I am finally getting used to the idea of being a mom.

Speaking of being a mom, the little girl that I carpool almost threw chunks in my car this morning. We were at a stop light at Providence and Rea Rd. and she opened the car door to gag. Her brother had a bunch of school supplies in a grocery bag and I dumped those contents like no ones busy and had that bag at her face in seconds. Now I have to say that I did that out of some selfish reasons along with their safety. I can not hear, see or smell throw up without feeling sick myself. I hope that problem changes for me in the future. Turns out I am not quite there yet after all. God has a way of reminding me of my weaknesses.

Good Friday

Boy oh boy is God ever talking to us tonight. The day has been overcast and rainy off and on. As I sit here typing, watching tv, petting the dog and drinking diet coke, (Yes...I am ADD) I hear the thunder roll. Isn't it always neat how Good Friday seems so dark and mysterious?

I went to the Maundy Thursday service last night with Jen and Jenny and it was amazing. Forest Hills does such a great job of presenting the message. I sat afterwards for awhile to reflect on what I had just heard and seen. There were parts of the movie called "Passion of Christ" shown on the screen during the service. Candles lit and then extinguished as the story of his betrayal was told. One candle was left for the last supper. The bread is his body and the juice is his blood and it was given for our forgiveness of sins.

Wow...the atmosphere was just right to help you imagine the pain and suffering that He went through. How can we be sad or discouraged when this act of ultimate love was done on our behalf? God, forgive me for being consumed with myself and the daily activities that take me away from you.

The thunder is still rolling...thank you for the reminder...