The God of HOPE

I have struggled blogging lately. I have written 3 or 4 entries and then deleted them. The wait is getting HARD!

I haven't wanted to say it because I feel unfaithful. I trust God. I know that He never shows up a day late. I know that He knows what He is doing. I want His will to be done. And so I struggle. I wrestle with myself and God and the enemy everyday. I try and replace my feelings with the Truth of Gods Word.

I know the truth in my head and in my heart.

But this mommas heart is breaking for her little girl!

I want to hold her and kiss her. I want to tell her how precious she is. I want to tell her she is chosen, and loved. I want to grieve her losses with her. I want to wipe her tears, and drink in her smiles. I want to rock her and read her stories. I want to give her baths, and play with her hair. I want to play dress up with her, and let her try on all my jewelry. I want to whisper in her ear "you are daughter of the Most High King, and He loves you!"

And so today, I wept at the foot of my Saviors Cross, and I begged Him to bring her home soon. I proclaimed His truth that He sets the lonely in families, and to please bring my daughter home. Today He showed me that is exactly where I needed to be! At the foot of the Cross, pleading my case, because He hears me. And today I feel strengthened knowing that my Savior's will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Today I believe that He is going to move mountains and bring me my baby girl home, because that is where she belongs!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Today I have joy and peace because He is my HOPE!

Please join me, and the other families waiting to bring their babies home in prayer. Lets storm the gates of heaven for the lonely ones.

I HEART TEXAS

My hubby and I just spent a couple of days in Fort Worth TX at a seminar specifically for parents adopting older children. Gladney, our wonderful adoption agency has now made it mandatory for anyone adopting a child over the age of 5 to attend this training. The thing I love about our agency is that their #1 concern is the children. The training was AWESOME and I wish I had gone to something like that about 17 years ago! :)

It was all about parenting the heart of your child and connecting with them, and not just focusing on their behaviors. It was based on decades of study done by Dr. Karyn Purvys from Texas Christian University and others. Dr. Purvys wrote a book called The Connected Child that I HIGHLY recommend- whether you are adopting or parenting biological children there is a lot to be learned from her work.

Gladney offers their training free of charge to any parent adopting through them, so if you are adopting through Gladney talk to your case-worker for info on the Pathways training.

The other highlight of our trip was finally meeting Emily and Moody Alexander face to face! They have been an important part of our adoption journey. God used them to bring us to our beautiful daughter.

It felt like we had known them for years! We were all so transparent and authentic with each other. Only mutual love for God and His glory can form bonds and friendships like that! So looking forward to hanging with them this spring in Cali!

P.S. Alexanders- Thanks for the Babes chicken fried steak. I can't stop thinking about it! :)

Update Day!

Today was update day!

Update day is THE best day of the month! The beginning of each month we get a picture and a brief description of our little girl. I look forward to this day all month long. I read over and over the words, drawing a picture in my mind of what it will be like to have her home. How her unique personality will change our family dynamics.

I stare at the picture, smile and giggle at it. I have even been known to talk to her picture that is the backdrop on our computer. My husband thinks I'm crazy- he's probably right.

I am trying so hard not to wish the days away wanting to get her home so badly. I am trying to be in the present with my family, knowing that very soon everything will change. We will not be the same family. We will not be the same people. God is going to use this little girl to rock our world. I am confident of that!

When I opened her picture today I laughed out loud! This girl is a hoot!

Her hair is fluffed out as she was getting her hair braided by a care worker.

She is staring straight into the camera with these amazing brown eyes.

The look on her face is worth a thousand words. I can see her saying

"are you kidding me right now, you're really gonna take my picture now! Can't a girl finish her braids before you go snapping pictures."

I mean that's what it looks like she's saying in the picture. :)

Oh how I wish you all could see this picture!

The update said she is showing a quieter, cuddly side. And that she doesn't mind sitting still having her hair braided!

I say hallelujah to that!