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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 |
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| 5/21/2006
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 There are so many things we pray for our kids. We pray to have healthy children, but there are NO guarantees. We pray that our kids will have happy, productive lives, but there are NO guarantees. But most importantly, we pray that our children will become Christians...that they will turn their lives over to Jesus/God and ask Jesus to "live in their hearts". I cannot be honest and say I have prayed every single day (or at least consciously...it is always in my heart), but that is our one and only hope for our children...Hunter, Lauren, and Maria. We know that if they do that one thing, then the other things don't matter. And most of all, when we cannot be with them, God can be. Well, today my heart is full of joy. Hunter walked down front. He will be baptized (more than likely) in a few weeks. We cannot honestly pinpoint the day he accepted Christ as his Savior. He has told us for over a year that he did. We have always had very serious talks with him about God and salvation (at his urging). And as some of you know, I accepted Christ and was baptized at a young age. I don't regret that, but there have been times I have gone through doubt since I don't remember the exact day and time. I worried about that with Hunter. But the truth is, he is very confident about his relationship in Christ. It isn't a mature relationship yet. He is quite wiggly in church still. And we are definitely working on some character traits, like compassion and love (for his sister :). But honestly, Christ is still working on character traits with me (you can make your guesses which ones :). And I am still wiggly in church sometimes too. And Hunter may feel the need to recommit his life again one day. That is okay too. I just know that I am full of joy that he has made this commitment to follow Jesus at a young age. Please continue to pray for the adoption. Today we went to Kohls again (this time in Fayetteville) and saw that SAME little girl (or a very similar twin) with the dark hair, dark eyes, and little rubber banded hair. Thank you, God, for reminding us of our little girl... |
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| 5/22/2006 Well, I continue to have problems with my AOL account. I am getting really frustrated. I have had numerous people let me know that their messages are NOT getting to me, yet aol doesn't seem to recognize it as a problem...customer service is NOT their strong suit. I have opened a free account at [email protected], and I can be contacted at [email protected] if you ever have trouble with aol. Any advice would be appreciated...:) I am feeling a bit of that hyperventilation coming on. I am not sure if it is the wait in PGN for Maria or just this time of the year fatigue and long to do list. I am just really having to prioritize to make it day by day. We are counting down the days until our visit. We are so looking forward to seeing her sweet face and holding her in our arms again. Okay, I am counting down the days to see her. I think Mark continues to be preoccupied with the leaving part again. I am not so sure he has recovered from the last one. I am not particularly fond of that moment either. That is where I have to completely trust that God knows what is right for Maria. He will bring her to us when the timing is perfect...for Him. Sounds so easy... Falling back on my tried and true verse tonight, "Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart and lean not on your own understanding...in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." I have to give Him ALL of my heart. Even that part that is missing Maria SO very much. I definitely cannot lean on my understanding...I want her home now. Why can't she be here? That is my understanding. God sees a bigger picture than me. That is where that trust stuff comes in. He will lead us in this path. In His timing. I would be lying if I said that every day I wasn't hoping for that phone to ring with the words, "You are OUT." But I also know that it will probably be a while...and only in His perfect will could it happen any sooner. Again, God doesn't have to show off or boast of His goodness...so He doesn't have to deliver an early adoption to boast of His goodness. If He wants it to, wills it to, and believes it should...it will. Until then, we continue to wait for the Lord. Thank you for waiting with us. We would love to see who is reading...the guestbook is really easy to use :) Just go back to the main page... Oh, on a final note, please say a BIG prayer for Jake Owen...he is having some scary procedures done. I am so thankful for the faithfulness of His parents...Please, God, reveal yourself to that sweet family. |