I’ve got to figure out a way to write more often!! :) This summer has been full of activity in every area of my life…home, work, ministry, extended family. The Lord continually reminds me to find balance. So, I’m letting go of a few things and praying through some others. Ever been there? I’d rather do a few things well than many things poorly. I echo the age-old saying…oh, for a “few more hours in a day!”
Well, since my last post Tyler & Abbey have married and I now have a sweet new daughter. Abbey is a beautiful young girl and I am blessed to call her mine. We haven’t received all the wedding pics yet but here’s a sneak peak, just a couple of snapshots:
Well, since my last post Tyler & Abbey have married and I now have a sweet new daughter. Abbey is a beautiful young girl and I am blessed to call her mine. We haven’t received all the wedding pics yet but here’s a sneak peak, just a couple of snapshots:
Both Dad's did the ceremony.
We were so blessed to have them spend two weeks with us after the wedding. God is already working in these early days of marriage showing Himself faithful and drawing them near. It’s absolutely incredible to watch!!
We’re excited and making plans for another wedding in early spring. Ben proposed to Heather during the July 4th weekend! She is a gift and an answer to prayer. (She and Abbey both are.) They just had engagement pictures made…
We’re excited and making plans for another wedding in early spring. Ben proposed to Heather during the July 4th weekend! She is a gift and an answer to prayer. (She and Abbey both are.) They just had engagement pictures made…
Caleb is doing well and making plans for his future. We are enjoying every minute with him at home this year as he prepares to go overseas to school next fall. I already miss him, but I’m so excited watching him walk in faith to pursue the call of God on his life.
And what about Grace??? All I can say is…we’re closer than we’ve ever been!! She’s coming and we’re waiting. We crossed the 4 yr benchmark (since we applied) in July but according to our agency it won’t be 4 years until the end of this February, our LID date (when our paperwork landed in Beijing). Statistics are currently pointing toward 5-year wait time on many international adoptions. We weren’t told that in the beginning (because it wasn’t taking that long) but God is in charge of the timing and we know there is always much activity taking place in the supernatural as we wait. This passage in the Message is amazing…
"All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not just around us, it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." (Romans 8:22-28)
You know even in our world of difficulty it can feel like birth pains! But, as believers in Christ we have hope, we are expecting full deliverance!! I love that! So much happens during the wait. It’s gonna be worth it. We won’t even remember the pain for the joy that new life will bring! Chin up girlfriends (and anyone else reading!), may you be encouraged in the Lord.
And what about Grace??? All I can say is…we’re closer than we’ve ever been!! She’s coming and we’re waiting. We crossed the 4 yr benchmark (since we applied) in July but according to our agency it won’t be 4 years until the end of this February, our LID date (when our paperwork landed in Beijing). Statistics are currently pointing toward 5-year wait time on many international adoptions. We weren’t told that in the beginning (because it wasn’t taking that long) but God is in charge of the timing and we know there is always much activity taking place in the supernatural as we wait. This passage in the Message is amazing…
"All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not just around us, it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." (Romans 8:22-28)
You know even in our world of difficulty it can feel like birth pains! But, as believers in Christ we have hope, we are expecting full deliverance!! I love that! So much happens during the wait. It’s gonna be worth it. We won’t even remember the pain for the joy that new life will bring! Chin up girlfriends (and anyone else reading!), may you be encouraged in the Lord.
2 comments:
Thank-you, Karen. I needed that.
Sara
Wow neat! This is a really great site! I am wondering if anyone else has come across something
exactly the same in the past? Keep up the great work!
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