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3/11/2006 "And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in Him."

Another weekend, more time of waiting. Weekends are especially tough as I have mentioned, because you know nothing is going on with the adoption process. Well, at least not physically in the Guatemalan court system or the US Embassy. Thank goodness, God doesn't take the weekends off! So even if the adoption isn't going anywhere here on earth, that doesn't mean that He isn't setting some wheels in motion in a way we cannot see.

I don't want to make it sound like we are just twiddling our thumbs waiting. We really aren't. I had a meeting at school today. (voluntary...it was good) Mark and Hunter went to see the Baseball Hogs win. (And what a gorgeous day to watch!) Lauren and I enjoyed some quiet time taking a long afternoon nap. We enjoyed a visit with GG who amazes us with her positive upbeat attitude despite having a broken ankle and a possible long stay in the hospital waiting for surgery. And we had a "picnic" in the living room with leftover pizza (we rarely eat outide of the kitchen) while we enjoyed some TLC. (Literally, the TLC channel shows :) And in between shows and during commercials, I have started reading a book about toddler adoption. Throw in a few loads of laundry and the constant quest to keep the kitchen clean, we are staying busy.

But even so, it is always there. It that pink elephant in the room. We cannot NOT think about Maria. Lauren writes "Maria" on everything. Hunter prays for her to come home. Her face in on the picture slide show of our computer. And our hearts and minds are always in that silent prayer mode that this adoption will go smoothly so we can bring her home. Someone asks about her and the process, and we all just light up. I think by talking about her, by buying her clothes and books, by writing on here about her...well, it gives us just a little sense that she is with us in our hearts and spirits. And we are just praying that her heart is preparing for us too. Meanwhile, we just wait on the Lord. Our hope is in Him.

Thank you for your prayers as we wait! (P.S. Please sign the guestbook! Even if you have already...we love to know who is waiting with us.)

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If you return to the Main Page, we hope that you will sign our guestbook. We hope to share the encouragement and kind words with Maria someday.

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3/9/2006 "Shout to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with joy; come before him with singing. Know that the LORD is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends. Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise. Thank him and praise his name. The LORD is good. His love is forever, and his loyalty goes on and on." Psalm 100

I have been checking on kids with life threatening illnesses for several months now. And when I first started, I noticed a lot of them would put meaningful Bible verses on their sites. Sometimes long passages. I would find my eyes glazing over. And now look what I am doing? Each day I am searching the Scriptures for the words that speak to me. (And if your eyes are glazing over, I understand...I have been there. :) And I am amazed at what I read. I don't know why. I believe the Bible and know it to be true. And I know the stories inside and out. I was raised going to church, accepted Christ at a young age, taught Bible curriculum in Christian schools, and am now teaching my own children those same stories. And while I cannot say I have read the Bible from cover to cover (tried several times...man, you miss a day, you are BEHIND.), I can say that I have read many of these verses several times. Yet in some ways it is like I am reading them for the first time. And they just speak to my heart. Isn't it neat how that works? Proverbs 3:5-6, one of our family's life verses, has meant different things at different points in our lives. The same can be said for this Psalms. The LORD is good. No, we have no progress. And have been told not to expect to hear anything for a while. But regardless, THE LORD IS GOOD. His love is FOREVER. Even those times I haven't necessarily felt it. His love is still forver. And his LOYALTY goes on and on. Regardless of whether we get a miracle of a quick adoption (and trust me, at this point, it could only be a miracle) or we have a lot of starts and stops (much like traffic in NWArk), we know that God is with us. He is loyal to us, His children. And we are thankful for that!

Speaking of the Lord, I have a little prayer request. My grandmother (we call her GG because she is the kids' great grandmother) has broken her ankle (while doing volunteer work no less). She in the hospital waiting for surgery. We just talked tonight about how maybe this was God's way of teaching her a little bit about patience (which we are learning ourselves through the adoption process :). This is not what she planned for her life right now, but it is there nonetheless. Your prayers would be appreciated, particularly for the doctor's decision about the timing of the surgery.

Have a blessed day!

3/10/2006 Psalms 128:1-6 "Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house. Your children like olive plants All around your table. Behond, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children's chidlren. Peace be unto Israel."

I have just been reminded today how grateful and blessed I feel to have my children. Yesterday at school, our ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher was in Hunter's classroom. She told the ESL kids that a visitor was coming to speak to them (ESL students) about Guatemala. Hunter raised his hand and announced that he really thought he should go. So this morning, the ESL teacher came to get the students for the talk. Hunter asked to go. I found out about it and had to go peek in that room. Here in this room was a sea of beautiful brown faces. And then one little white face (pale white like his mother) in the middle. It was one of the most touching sights I have witnessed. (Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera...) I am so eager to find out what he learned about Guatemala. I know that a few times this week he has just sighed and said, "I want Maria Elizabeth to be here." We all do, Hunter, we all do!

I am also very blessed to have a loving husband. One who fills my car up with gas, even 10 o'clock at night. One who encourages nights out with girl friends. One who does the laundry without complaint. One who doesn't blink an eye when I just have to buy a few books from Barnes and Noble for our children (as if we don't have enough...). I was very fortunate to have a date night with my husband (we are having a little break in the date as he groans and moans over the Razorbacks, and I do my computer thing). Mark, I love you and feel blessed to have you.

As for prayers, please continue to pray for our case to get submitted both to family court (preferably not court 3) and for preapproval at the Embassy. We still pray for a June pickup, even though it would only be by God's glory. And if aren't much closer to getting to bring Maria home, please pray for the decision about visiting for her birthday. I would like to go with all of my heart and would love to take the kids. Actually I know the decision...it isn't a wise choice. But pray that I will accept that. :)

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