BEYOND!

They say Patience is a virtue. I guess the person who said that has never waited on their child. It has been a long wait. We are going on 16 months. I am beyond frustrated, beyond anxious, beyond questions, beyond surprise and BEYOND patience. It is a tough task to sit idly by while people around you get their children in 9 months, 10 months, a year. I have pasted on many a smile and muttered a less that enthusiastic "Congratulations! We are so happy for you!" more than one time. Not that I am not truly happy for those around us who have brought home their forever child, but jealousy rears it's ugly head! I want to hold my little girl, I want to see if she smells the way I have dreamed, I want to run my fingers through her typically Islander straight hair (something we don't have in this family) I want to ease this feeling of angst in my heart, this pleading in my soul, the unrest that I feel, that sometimes overwhelms me to the point of distraction. I have another little baby out there, that should be here!!!!
There is an empty spot in my heart. God asked me to take more, I promised Him I would.....I am just waiting for Him to fulfill His end of the bargain! Boy, do I not like His timing sometimes!
But we just keep on, with our daily routine, trying to keep our minds focused on what He has for us right now, in this moment, and praying everyday that the Lord will give us Mercy!

Where we are.....

Ok...so I am a lousy blogger (see August 28, 2008 entry)...
However, a lot of people have been asking where we stand in our adoption journey. Well, right now we are just standing. The Philippine Inter-Country Adoption Board(ICAB) does not have a specific list where you are 10th, 9th, 8th etc...
You are just in a large pool of applicants that the Philippine social workers can pour over, and then you eventually get picked.

We received some important info, for us, in May. Effective May 1, 2009, ICAB has set a moratorium on accepting new applicants wanting to adopt children 0-2 ICAB shall resume accepting new applications for the aforementioned categories only after it has processed at least 50% of the existing families in our current list.

So basically, that is good news for us, since our application has been there since August. Please continue to pray for us, that our process will go quickly.
Thanks

I Cry Everytime.....

So Facing the Giants has ended up being one of my favorite movies, despite the volunteer acting. As we get ready to start this new adventure of starting City Community Church, I guess I am a little sentimental in all God has shown us, given us and provided for us.I can't quit now. There is work to be done. I cry every time I watch this clip....If God has given you the gift of leadership, or whatever the gift is He has given you...don't waste it. Watch my
favorite clip....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RekmSBA1NK8/

Where does the time go.....

As many of you already know...I am a home school mom. School has started and as usual I have dropped off the edge of the earth. Although I enjoy the job of schooling, I often look around at the clock and the calendar and think, where did all my time go. However, I am counting this as a blessing. When 12-24 months have gone by quickly and we finally get our match for our lovely Philippine Princess (or Prince) I will be able to think "Wow, that was fast! Where did the time go?"

On another note, I wanted to share a link to a blog from an acquaintance of ours who is adopting from Ethiopia. Her most recent post, sent me over the edge. http://adoptelliott.blogspot.com/2008/09/ignorance-outrage-and-stupid-people.html

I know, I know, I know

So I am a lousy blogger ;-) At least I can admit my shortcomings. There is so much going on in our lives and so much I could write about...but I am just trying to be still right now, and not speak. But an update....we got our letter that says we have been accepted as prospective parents by the Philippines (finally after 11 years I have been OFFICIALLY approved as a parent ha ha ). This means that our dossier is available for the social workers to look for a match. It still takes time though. We are still trying to raise funds, but are amazed at the miracles God has already provided for us.
Our prayer request for finances is this, that they would come through. We have applied for a grant and they are having a selection committee in September. Please pray for favor over our application to be accepted. This was God's idea and He will provide in His timing. Will someone keep telling me that please?!

It's Official!!!!

We just returned from an incredible missions trip to El Salvador, the second for Nathan and I, the first for our 10 year old son Connor. While we gone we received the official letter that our dossier has been received in the Philippines and they are now going over it with a fine tooth comb. Please pray for favor in this process......

under the overpass...

I just got done reading this book....Under the Overpass. Now I think it is one of the better books I have read in a long time. A woman at church said she had heard of it and asked me if it was "Phenomenal". My answer is this...if you are a person who wants to be inside the walls of the church and be fed and that is it; then you may not like this book. However, if you are looking to be CHALLENGED in all of your ideas about what God expects out of us as those who claim His name and what our responsibility is to those less fortunate than us...this book is for you.