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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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Waiting for GOD for Maria

5/16/2006

Well, as I survey the guestbook to see who is waiting with us...it looks like it is two families. :) At least the Bible says, "When two or three are gathered in my name..." So the prayer force is still strong.

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Why could I, might I be discouraged? Well, two reasons. One is that we are visiting soon, and I am a little nervous taking the kids (if their birth certificates should come back). I made the mistake (I know, I know, I shouldn't have looked) at reading the Embassy's "travel warnings" and noticing that about two times a month there is an armed robbery right outside of the airport. So, I am going to just come out and ask for prayer. Please pray for God's protection around our vehicle as we travel in Guatemala. And, Dad, if you are reading this, don't freak out. We will not purposely put ourselves in harm's way, and especially not our children. I don't know that traveling to certain parts of this country would be much different. This is where we are going to have to completely trust God.

And second...PGN. I read ANY and ALL information I can find out about the current situation of PGN. People are stuck there. It has always been unpredictable with the timing. But right now more so than ever. With a new director, cases are VERY slow in coming out, including cases that went in months before ours. We, of course, were hoping to have Maria home for most of the summer. That doesn't seem likely. A little discouraging, but we do trust in God's timing and we wait FOR the Lord...not PGN directors or previos or pink slips. (Though we cannot wait to see pink :) So I could easily be discouraged. Right now I wonder if she will be home before October. But I am going to rely on God again...God is going to be with me WHEREVER I go. Even into a long wait to exit PGN. If I have to be there to bring Maria home, then at least I know my God is right there with me.

I hope everyone (all two of you families :) has a great week! It is almost halfway over.

Reba, waiting FOR the Lord

5/17/2006

Still waiting for the LORD. Not for the phone to ring. (well, maybe a little) Not for at ETA. Just for the Lord. It isn't easy...I won't lie. But I know my God...He knows what He is doing...even if I don't.

2 Samuel 22:33 "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."

I am realizing more and more that I will more than likely be brought to my knees before we see the next step of the adoption. It is the way God has led me all along. I finally drop to my knees in desperation, then He hears my cry. Okay, He hears me before then. It is just then He chooses to answer. Maybe that is the only way I can be taught. Since we haven't been in PGN very long yet, I can't say I am completely on my knees in desperation. Of course, in some ways we are. It has been nine months. We are so desperate to bring Maria home. Yet, I must wait. It just isn't time yet. I don't know when His time will be...but it will be perfect. (Remind me of that in two months. :)

Speaking of arming with strength, I should probably add that I am not completely naive. As much as we long for Maria to be here, to be with us, I am sure not thinking this will be a fairy tale. Maria is probably, no...WILL, have a hard time adjusting to life outside of the Hogar. And trust me, around this house, it can get a little crazy with the other two kids...they have lots of spirit and enthusiasm. Maria may wonder what has happened to her regular life. And we are going to have to adjust to life with a toddler again. Changing diapers, waking up in the night, babyproofing...it will NOT be easy. Then there is going to be that "honeymoon" period where we are all trying to figure our new roles out, including Lauren who will no longer be the youngest, and Hunter who will suddenly have TWO girls to watch his every move. With the way things are going, the timing could very well be the beginning of school, which will be an adjustment and little added stress. And while we have been waiting for SO long for that day to come, and we hope and pray it does, we also realize that there is this scary life beyond that one day. Kind of like marriage after the big wedding. Or parenthood after the actual birth. There will actually be days that Maria is cranky and maybe not so happy to be in our family. There will be days I will be tired and may not want to play and sing. All that to say, we are not only praying about PGN (and doing a LOT of that...) but we are praying for what comes next. When and if we do get there (God willing), please pray with us, be patient with us, and just be ready to listen.

Thanks for ALL who are waiting with us, whether you sign or not. :)

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