Change...

What do you think of when you hear the word "Change"? Is it money in your pocket? Getting into your pjs? New hair color? It is something different for all of us, but boy do I feel it lately. Change is hard. I have felt for about 2 weeks now that many things in my life are a changin' and I don't know the outcome of any of them. I hate the unknown sometimes.

So what did I do? I took a personal day and headed to SeaBrook Island to get away and get focused back on what is important in life. It's the circumstances that matter, but how I react to them that matters. God is in control. If only I could be paid in CHANGE for that line. :)

What have I learned this weekend? I know, do we always have to been learning? I think so. If not, why question things? I am learning to lean on Jesus and not myself for my every day. I know He has a plan and purpose for my life and those involved in it to prosper and be fulfilled to overflowing joy. Keep your eye on the prize is a phrase that has been running through my head lately. The prize can be so many things right now. But ultimately, I believe the prize is knowing God and His character so that others may see Him in me during this time in my life.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine...

(This will be one of Yosef's favs when he gets here.)

God is perfect! Tasfa!

Pollen...

Yes, I am blogging about pollen. It is crazy bad out here in Charlotte. Today we were able to get a bit of rain and I have a river running down my driveway that is green and yellow. The kids at school have been messed up all week long. So what do we do tomorrow? We take a field trip to Brattonsville, which is a revolutionary war site in the middle of nowhere. It will be fun, but also full of pollen. Let's just hope that this rain hit Brattonsville.

I am looking forward to an update on Yosef. We need to get a police report written for him. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. So many people are waiting to hear some good news. I can't wait until we all get our kids and can celebrate their homecoming.

God is perfect!

Abandonment Case

Lisa should be back in town from Ethiopia. She did email me a few times while visiting and gave me some updates on Yosef. He is apparently wearing a 24 month old outfit that is a little bit big on him. A little bit? He just turned 11 months last week. Great day! She did say he is having no problem eating. It sounds like he is more like his mother than he knows.

She sent a few photos of him while he was on the potty chair. This is the second time I have seen him on the potty chair. This last time he was on the potty chair, he was holding a baby doll in one hand and a photo book that I sent over in a care package. I sent some pics of me, family and his buddy Lyra. He was looking at the photo of Lyra. I wonder if he remembers her. I look forward to the day that they get to see each other again.

Lisa met with Shimiless on Friday and they called someone and it was determined that his case is going to be turned into an abandonment case now. A Hope staff has to get a police officer to write a report on Yosef and then it can be taken to the MOWA. We should get a court date once this happens. Prayer for a quick report to be written, please. :)

So glad that there is finally movement on his case and we aren't just standing still. I am also happy to hear that Shimiless is over in Ethiopia. Hoping he is making things happen for all of open cases out there with Hope and Nightlight.

God is perfect!

Spring Break...

Spring Break is coming to an end today. It has been so nice to do alot of nothing for the last week. The weather in Charlotte has been great the last couple of days. I have a tulip tree that is in full bloom right in front of my house. I don't think I have ever seen one of these before I moved here. It truly is beautiful. I love the Spring time, but with it comes the pain of allergies. I woke up this morning with a headache and sneezing. Noooooo! Taking some meds asap. Gotta love the South.

Yesterday my girl at Nightlight traveled over to Addis Ababa with a family that is picking up their child. It is my hopes that she can find out what is going on with Yosef's court date. My paper work for the POA arrived on Thursday over there. I am praying that it will bring Yosef to their attention so that he can get a court date. My family all joined together on Sat. morning to pray on his behalf for a court date to be assigned this week. I love my family!

I looked up what Yosef meant in Aharmic (sp?) and it said God is Perfect. So I think my new sign off will be just that. Instead of God is good, God is Perfect!

Interview with God

One of my friends sent this to me the other day in an email. I love the pictures of the sun shining through the clouds and sky. Enjoy! http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

Update to the update

Yes, that is what I said. Here is the update to all of my updating. I had my home study visit yesterday and it will be done on Friday. I can then send it to CSI for a renewal of my I 171-H form. If you are in the process of waiting for a court date and are wondering if your immigration paper work is good, you should check! I also need to request for a new set of finger prints to be made.

I emailed Lisa today to see if she had heard from Laurie at the Hope office today. Still no email back. I am really hoping to hear some good news this week. Praying specifically for a court date to be set.

The latest on the court date travel issues is that it has been pushed back to May 8th now. They are hoping to get it pushed back to August. I am finding out that it does not pay to freak out about changes. I know that is easier said then done, but I am holding to this statement.

I am on Spring Break this week. I have loaded up the dog and am down at Seabrook Island for the week. I sat out on the beach for about an hour today and then the clouds persuaded me to go in. I love it down here. The house smells exactly the same when Bonnie was here. It brings back vivid memories of her and the kitchen table when I walk through the back door. Looking forward to hearing what God has for me this week.

God is good!

Homestudy Update

Yes...that is what I said. Time to update my home study. Unbelievable how this all happened. I was reading through someones blog and saw that they had to get re-finger printed and do some other paper work. I thought to myself, I wonder if I need to be concerned with this issue. So, I called Lisa yesterday and found out that my home study is going to run out as of March 29th! Holy Smokes!

I got in touch and after I pay $800 and chase down some paper work and do a home visit I can ask for an extension with the Immigration for free. So here is the question to be asked, "What if I had not read that blog?" If we do get a court date in the next 3-4 weeks and passed, I would have been screwed on the state side. Great Day!!

This is how I am looking at this situation. I am thankful for bloggers and the advice that they are giving out, because they just saved me a whole bunch of potential hassles. Why can't my agency keep me informed on what I should be doing next? Thank God I am aggressive enough to call and ask questions.

Lisa is traveling on March 20th-26th and will be talking with all of the people there that have to do with the court case. I am hoping I get a court date while she is there. I know this is a good thing, but sometimes I wonder if anyone knows what is going on.

Oh God...give me patience. God is good.