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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.

3/22/2006 Dear Friends, I am coming to you still in a funk (and it is still a yucky day out there...cold too). And a little discouraged.

We e-mailed our agency this week to ask about the possibility of visiting in June. We wanted to make sure that would work if we choose to do it. And I was (and am) very excited about spending a little time with Maria. But apparently deep down I had hoped that they would say, "No, you shouldn't go visit...it will be too close to pickup time..." Well, I finally got the answer last night. "Those dates would be fine." And though I am happy that we can go, I am crushed that it doesn't look like we are getting close at all to travel. I am feeling a lot more like Hunter yesterday. I may start crying and have a temper tantrum too. :) This has been such a long process. We expected it to take a few months, but it seems to get longer and longer with no end in sight. When we started, I just knew we would sail through (and give God the glory for it :), but I also have learned that God's ways are not our ways.

Okay, enough of the negativity. (I don't really have any benefits to share...it is morning and I haven't even had breakfast yet...) Here is where you, faithful readers, come in. Matthew 18:19-20, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

I realize this isn't some magic pill or an "Abracadabra" moment. This is simply a matter of prayer and faith and waiting on God. But if you can, please join us in prayer anytime you think of us that we will make some progress in this case. Please pray specifically for our lawyer to feel motivated to finish our adoption (and I am in NO way criticizing his work...I am sure he is doing all he can), that our case will get the approval of the family court, that our case IS in the US Embassy for preapproval and that we will receive it quickly, and that the next stage of the adoption (PGN, where they finetooth our paperwork) will move quickly also. And that we will give God the glory for all of it. We know Maria is in good hands at the Hogar. We also know we are SO ready for her to be a part of our family. Thank you for your prayers, notes of encouragement, and celebrations when God answers our prayers!

Thank you for praying!

3/23/2006 As you know, this spring break hasn't been all I really had hoped it would be. I was hoping to clean out the garage (MUCH needed), play outside with the kids, repair the yard/pickup up after this long but mild winter. You know, good old spring break stuff for me. Besides, I thrive on sunshine. (I also thrive on Sonshine, but physically, I really need sunshine...) Thus far, we have not had one moment of that. In fact, this morning I woke up to a white ground. Yes, it snowed. It isn't the first time it has done this on a spring break, but it is definitely the latest it has happened. Whatever happened to global warming? Regardless...I am really going to try to focus on MY Sonshine and pray that today is a better day in spite of that white stuff out there.

Let's see...any benefits yesterday? I got a couple of sweet and encouraging entries on the guestbook. I needed those. The kids and I did have fun just reading books at Barnes and Noble and welcoming "Ribby", our new betta to our family. (As you may remember, Big Red departed this heavenly life a couple months ago.) I did get a LONG nap, which is the only thing I really like to do in weather like this. Oh, and I found out that a couple using my agency is making a trip to Guatemala and have offered to take a package for us to Maria. I won't lie...I hoped all day for some good news. And the "funk" continued ALL day. (and is already starting out this morning) But in spite of all the yuckiness, there were some blessings to praise God for.

I am back in Psalms, which only seem appropriate for the week. Psalms 73:26, 28, "My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works." Whew! How true is that! My flesh and heart fail me daily. I know deep down that weather and messed up plans are SO minor compared to all of the ills of the world. Especially compared to those I know who don't know Him, who may never know Him. Which gives believers such an awesome responsibilty. Because even when I feel down in the dumps, in a funk, almost over the edge, I still need to trust in Him and declare His works. And I fail daily in this. Instead of my prayer being Maria will be home soon (or maybe I should say in addition to), my prayer needs to be more focused on asking God's forgiveness for my impatience and irritability and asking for help in drawing near to God and trusting in Him so that I will declare His works. Because He is the strength of my heart if I only will let Him be. I guess sometimes I just like to have a pity party. I don't know why...I am miserable when I do, but that human side just takes over. So I am going to work today on relying on His strength in my heart. Even if there is snow on the ground. Even when we go another day without any kind of progress in our case. I realize I may be setting Satan up to give me the worst day ever. But with God on my side...I will just depend on Him to get me through.

Well, we are about to make muffins. There may be too many cooks in the kitchen (fighting over the one and only stool), but hopefully it will be a fun experience for all of us. :) And maybe we will get some yummy muffins at the end.

Thank you for praying with us while we wait! And thank you for your support and encouragement. It really means more than you will ever know. Still waiting for Maria...

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