Focusing on Our Blessings

One of the biggest blessings in my life is my family. Last weekend we had an impromptu birthday celebration for my niece who turned 13. Tammy (pictured in the middle) hosted the party and my other sister, Tina (far left), and her 3 kids also came. There were 16 of us there yet we were missing 13 family members but it was fun! 

Yes, I agree.....we do look alike!

Here are a few of the photos. Keep in mind, our camera was just an extra. So my pics are not that great!

The camera on my phone is not the best. Here are a few of the cousins!

More cousins.

One of the biggest blessings to me is the love of my life. He is the perfect mate for me and I fall short of deserving him. I snapped a photo of Jeremy, unknown to him, while he was finishing his morning devotions one day last week. Again, my phone camera.....not so great a photo.

This is why our marriage works. God is always first. I love this about Jeremy.

Our kids love to play outside. It might be because for years I have shoved them outside encouraged them to enjoy the outdoors.

In all honesty, I have a few kids that would live outdoors if allowed. Some kind of a meeting was taking place in the pile of leaves with Micah and Becca.

I am working on finding blessings in things which I would normally struggle.

Becca's school desk.......BEAUTIFUL! Right?

 

Ben's desk......SIGH!!!!! Notice how his mess has migrated over to Selah's desk (on the left)? I will rejoice thinking of what he is learning in spite of that mess.

I will choose to rejoice in the fact that we live in a country with terrific healthcare. Kyle is having a few issues with what we believe will turn out to be asthma. We are not strangers to that.

And our first blessing from China.

Please pray for us as we complete these last few weeks of our adoption. It is difficult to complete an international adoption in a normal time frame. You can multiply that stress by a bazillion when you are dealing with a child who is aging out and the potential difficulties of a government shut down. So far we are unaffected by this shut down. It is not easy. 

Today is day 59 as we wait for the US to approve our preliminary immigration application. We requested an expedite but the answer is no. We even contacted our congressman's office. We are in a normal time frame for now but should be assigned an officer by this Wednesday. Please pray for our approval to happen that day. Then that one last piece of paper gets sent to be authenticated. Then finally we can send our dossier to Chin@ and they can begin to prepare Selah's official paperwork. 

Of course, please pray for Selah and her upcoming transition. Our family covets your prayers as we plunge into this new adoption. 

We have applied for 18 grants. We have not heard back from any of them yet. We know God will provide.

As Mariah got sick this weekend my heart ached for our Selah. For almost 14 years she has had no one to cuddle her and love on her when she had a fever or cold. I cannot imagine the hurt she has in her heart. She needs to be home. Just imagine, she surely does not understand the magnitude of that word. We also know it will take time (probably years) for her to accept and understand our love.

Selah, when you read this one day I hope you know how loved and desperately wanted you are to so many. Especially to me and Baba/Daddy.


"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:5-6