| Day by Day |
| 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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| 3/15/2006 Hello all! I have added one of the scanned pictures of Maria at the bottom (Thanks, Dad!). The photos are just beautiful, but they weren't digital, so we had to scan instead. Maria really can smile! :) We knew she could, we just didn't have any proof until now. Thank you for the prayers from my Grandmother ("G.G") She had a surgery today (not the main surgery she will need) which we hope will speed up the healing process a little. Okay, what is my blessing going to be today? Hmmm...I can't say it was just a topnotch day. It started off a little shaky (literally, I was shaky). I didn't have any planning time in the classroom, so I am feeling a bit disorganized. Students are anticipating spring break in a couple of days...they are quite full of energy and noise. It wasn't really a bad day, just hectic. But my husband did come eat with me today. That is a blessing and always a treat. And as I returned from my workout this evening, I just happened to notice some beautiful yellow flowers growing on the side of the road. I saw them and thought, "Thank you, God, it is another blessing from you!" The verse I am clinging to today is from Isaiah 65:24, "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." I realize that this was written about the new heavens/new earth. But isn't it wonderful that it is true today? Before I even call to God, He knows my prayer and will answer. If I could, I would spend several hours a day in prayer about this adoption, about the kids I check on, about my family, about my church. When you have 19 kindergarten students vying for your attention though, it is hard to stay focused on prayers. They end up being these short little bursts throughout the day (and usually still get interrupted by life). But God knows. And He answers. Please continue to pray for our paperwork to be submitted to the Embassy this week if it hasn't already. And for a quick pre-approval. And for our decision about a trip this summer. And for our sweet Maria, that she continue to thrive and grow. Thank you again for your visits, messages, and prayers! |
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| 3/16/2006 Happy St. Patrick's Eve! (Okay, I made that up) Do you hear the counting? That would be the teachers counting down until 3:00 tomorrow afternoon. :) I don't want to give the impression I don't like my job. I LOVE teaching. And I LOVE my kiddos. And honestly, I am not the one in need of a spring break, though I plan to enjoy just relaxing and doing my own little projects. It is the kids...they need the break. They are getting on each other's nerves, tattling, etc...they need a break. Okay, I thought I would be hard pressed to think of any "benefits" for today. It wasn't really a grand day or anything. But as soon as I thought that, I thought of three things. My co-worker and one of my closest friends, Katie, gave us a new little umbrella stroller for Miss Maria to use. I cannot wait to put her in it! And we got our gas bill (technically it was yesterday, but it was today I really thought about it)...even with as cold a month as it was (at times), it was very low for this time of year. You know we needed that with that December bill we had. And finally, my dear buddy Cole got some good news today...his spinal fluid is clear of those yucky leukemia cells. Praise God for that! I probably have used this verse, but it seems appropriate today. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." I am a planner. I have plans for spring break. Several involved FUN outside things for the kids. Well, guess what Arkansas weather is supposed to be like next week? Chance of snow. Yup. And low temperatures. When we first signed up for the adoption, I had it "planned" out...we would have Maria home about...now. Now I just laugh (a little sadly) at how naive I was to think that. I have given up guessing on that one. The point is...while planning isn't necessarily a bad thing (God tells us to be good stewards of our time and money), we don't know what tomorrow will bring. That is one thing I have learned from these brave little children I check on nightly. We are not promised a healthy tomorrow. Or that things will go our way. I need to think about today. (And obviously I am not so good in the looking at the future thing) God has tomorrow figured out. I just need to worry about where I am today. Now know I am saying that chuckling to myself. Much easier to write than to believe at times. Just today I read about one of the family courts in Guatemala that moves SLOWLY. I started worrying about whether that was where we were. But then this verse popped into my head. God knows where we are. (Which is good...we don't really) Not to mention, worrying is NOT going to change anything, except make me sick and tired. (I did learn a couple things from you, Mom). I just have to trust that Jesus has our tomorrows, and Maria's tomorrows in His hands. Thank you for praying with us while we wait! |
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