While the Clouds are Movin'...

I had been thinking I needed to update the blogs I follow and a couple of other things on here, but hadn't found the motivation! But a thank you to Amie who had just updated her blog which, in turn, motivated me and even gave me a few new blogs I hadn't yet seen! So, even though it is waaaay too late at night and I should be sleeping, I feel relieved to have finally accomplished most of what I have wanted to do! Tomorrow I am going to add some links to websites that care for and support orphans, as well. 

In the meantime, only 1 week and 4 1/2 days left until court! The clouds are movin'....a new day is soon to come.

"Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning." Ecclesiastes 11:7

We Have a Court Date!

Yup...that call we have been waiting for finally arrived! We do have a court date! I am thankful and relieved, but it is not as soon as we hoped. It is further down the road than I have ever read or heard of from anyone else going through a Bulgarian adoption. But, as God has shown me so many times along this journey...none of this is my vision nor my plan. It is HIS! The amount of times He keeps reminding me of that truly leads to believe that I must still be struggling with that surrender of my plan and my vision!

But, on February 11, 2011 our adoption will go to court and I pray that on that day our sweet Selah will legally be our little princess! I would soooooo appreciate it if you would pray with us that day! Bulgaria is 9 hours ahead of us (here in Phoenix) so anytime after 11 p.m (mountain time zone) on February 10th, a judge could be ruling on our case. From what I have been hearing, most cases recently have been passing at the first hearing, but I am going to be praying like crazy for that same scenario for us.

Last night I had planned to take Zachary and Landon to the TobyMac and Brandon Heath concert. This week, however, a horrible flu bug hit our entire family and little Landon was still running a fever and not feeling very well at all. So, Zach and I invited a very special family friend to go with us in place of Landon. It was so much fun to spend the evening with her and Zach! Anyway, I do like a lot of TobyMac's music, but my kids LOVE his music. I was looking forward to a fun night, but I honestly didn't expect to have an incredible night of worship, of renewal, and of a word from God. But, our God is AWESOME and He spoke to me through Toby's song "Hold On", which  I have heard a million times before but honestly never felt the whisperings of the Spirit. I can't even believe how perfect the words were for what we have been experiencing right now. Through this song, He reminded me that, in the grand scheme of things, we are almost there and we have to "hold on to that hope that will lead us to tomorrow". He also reminded me that I cannot lose sight of the One who is holding us because He is the One who brings us that hope. And last but not least, I was reminded that we just have to hold on a little bit longer because the clouds ARE moving a little bit faster now and we are seeing a hint of the sunlight breaking through!

"Hold On"

 Wake up to the morning light

Wipe away the lonely nights

Let a brand new day wash over you

 

Wanna see you smile again

Show some love to your crazy friends

Wipe your tears away, those days are through

If you move just a little bit closer

You can put your head on my shoulder

Yeah, yeah

So baby hold on

Just another day or two

I can see the clouds are moving faster now

And the sun is breaking through

If you could hold on

To the One that’s holding you

There is nothing that can stop this crazy love

From breaking through, we’re breaking through

Wake up to the rising sun

Thank the Lord for the things He’s done

Lift your eyes to the hope that’s ever true

Wanna see you smiling girl

You’re a light in this jaded world

Wipe away those tears

This one’s for you

And the stars are up there shining for you

Oh, how the Father does adore you

His love will never change

And you and I, we were born to follow

The hope that will lead us to tomorrow

And no one can take it away

Here is my favorite YouTube video, but it plays a second song after "Hold On" called "Get Back Up"...that is why it is so long. "Hold On" is really only four min so don't be scared away :-)

If anyone out there knows of or is now having their court date scheduled so far out, would you please either comment or send me an email? I'm just kind of wondering if this is something new due to a larger amount of referrals which means more children going through the court system which then could translate into a back-up in the courts until more staff is hired? I'm sure with the pace picking up, the courts are going to have to make a trasition of some kind.... 

Holding on 'til our princess is home,

What to Say.....

I know that I am very inconsistent with posting....but at least you can assume that when I am quiet, I am struggling. I wish wish wish wish I had great news, but I don't. We are still waiting for a court date.

I struggle with being transparent, but also with never wanting to turn anyone away from a calling to adopt. So, I sometimes get quiet because I can't find the positive to say.

I often like to listen to and read books written by Joyce Meyer. Her matter-of-fact way of speaking in such a down to earth way is so easily applicable to our lives (which is why the Amplified version of the Bible with commentary by her is called  the "Everyday Life Bible"). One of her quotes I like is:

"I have discovered that patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting."


Isn't it soooooo true?  We can all be forced to wait. God is in control and there is not a thing we can do about it! But, how we do the wait? If we can do it with a good attitude, we have come so much closer to what patience really is!

For me, though, it is the struggle between the two. I want to be real and transparent...to be who I really am. But I also want to do it with grace, and the truth of the matter is that I try really hard, but that patience is a day-by-day (actually minute-by-minute) struggle.
I know I have said it before, but this wait is BRUTAL. But, no matter how brutal it may be, I know that the treasure waiting for us on the other side of the world is so worth it! There is nothing I wouldn't do for her.

God's Word tells us that pure religion is to care for widows and orphans. Sadly, the number of orphans in our world is so large that it makes my heart ache and my stomach churn. If God puts adoption on your heart...if He calls you to be one to walk the journey of adoption, do not fear the "brutal". He will be there in the pit with you and, besides that, there just is no escaping the call He puts on your heart and out of that obedience will come a treasure like no other.

Today I read a friend's post on her blog and my heart just hurt for all that she is feeling. Wanting to encourage her, I was in search of scripture and, with His usual amazing way of working things out, God led me to a verse that I pray encouraged her, but it really helped me, as well! So, to all the waiting Mommy and Daddy's out there that feel as though it may never happen, as though the day will never come that your little one is safely home and the despair is kind of overwhelming right now, I pray this verse encourages you today.

"We are pressed on every side by troubles,

but we are not crushed.

We are perplexed,

but not driven to despair."

2 Corinthians 4:8