Friday, April 27, 2007

If You Say Go

I really hope things are taking a turn for the better....this has been another one of those rollercoaster days- weeks actually. Hubby and I are learning valuable truths as we walk this path with the Lord. We are really being refined during this journey and we learn more and more to trust the Lord for his provisions in EVERY area of our life. All I can say is, "Wow." Part of me wants this hard journey to be over, the other part of me desires to keep going because I know there is wonderful glory in the end.

Forgive me for not sharing details at this point, I feel like I'm being secretive for not sharing. Things are very 'touchy' right now with the adoptions and we can't risk saying anything that would jeopardize the kids or the adoption process. Please continue to pray for safety, the Lord's comforting hand & swiftness of the paperwork.

This is my song for the day:
If You say go, we will go
If You say wait, we will wait
If You say step out on the water, and they say it can't be done
We'll fix our eyes on You and we will come

Your ways are higher than our ways
And the plans that You have laid are good and true
If You call us to the fire, You will not withdraw Your hand
We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

If you say go, we will go
If You say wait, we will wait
If You say step out on the water, and they say it can't be done
We'll fix our eyes on You and we will come

Monday, April 23, 2007

Kisses in the Wind

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams. You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems. I know you wonder where we are...what's taking us so long. But remember children, I love you all so and God will keep you strong. Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind. May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you. I promise you, my darlings, I'm doing all that I can do. Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend. But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind. May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight. And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Despite all- we give thanks!

As many of you may know, our first born daughter has been a type 1 diabetic for almost 5 years-she was diagnosed at age 2. On Monday morning, our son, was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Hubby and I saw some of the signs two days prior and realized what was happening. We checked his blood sugar late Sunday night and our suspicions were confirmed. I brought him to Children's Hospital Monday morning and we were blessed to be back home by Tuesday afternoon.

The one thing that has changed for Hubby and I-since Dear Daughter #1's diagnosis-is that we have extreme peace, even in spite of our son's diagnosis. We continue to give thanks that the Lord has blessed us with 3 beautiful & healthy biological children, as well as 4 beautiful and precious adopted children. We are also blessed that Dear Son #3 has a big sister to 'show him the ropes' and stand along side of him during the uncertain times (like finger pokes & insulin shots). He is doing amazingly well for being in 'day 3' and talks with sister about 'being special' & having a special job to do- given by God.

Yesterday, the two children played for about 2 hours, role-playing & playing doctor. I'd given them lots of diabetic supplies, band-aids, & extra insulin pump 'stuff.' They 'tended' to their stuffed animals with such love and compassion- sister really provided some comfort to her brother, without him even knowing it.

As I scanned the 'new & improved' diabetic supplies & aides that have come to the market since DD#3's diagnosis- God brought to me an amazing 'injection aide' that I've never heard of. This aide looks almost identical to sister's insulin pump infusion sets and will allow brother to have injections through that port, instead of giving shots through the skin. This aide will be changed in the same time frame as sister's pump sets & will prepare our son for the day when he gets his very own pump. All the while, sparing him the many insulin shots throughout the day. How awesome is God?!? I never would have found this if it wasn't for God directing my eyes and curiosity as I quickly scanned websites yesterday.

So, today I will call the Endocrinologist & request this wonderful 'set' for our son. We continue to give thanks.

So many scriptures & thoughts have come to mind in the last few days. I'd be here forever if I shared every single one. God is so good as He has come along side of Hubby and I to comfort us & bring us amazing peace. He has given our son an easy spirit as well as patience for us as we teach him from 'square one' as we did our daughter. We continue to give thanks.

A few scriptures for today:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14: 27

"...We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
Romans 5: 3-5

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Thank you

First, I would like to say thank you to all of you who continue to support us and pray for our family. This road tends to get bumpy at times but we continue to keep our eye on the Lord and continue to move forward and follow Him.

Today, I smile and laugh as I explain to you yet another example of just how wonderful our God is. Yesterday, in the middle of our day, the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID, didn't recognize the number- it looked like a calling card type number. So, I answered it thinking it may be 'grandma'. I said, "Hello?" Then I heard one of the sweetest voices on the planet, "Hi, Mum!"

IT WAS DEAR SON #1! I just about screamed- that was a phone call I was NOT expecting... Immediately I began to cry. I asked him if he was ok, he said yes. He explained he was borrowing a phone and that I needed to call him back because there were no minutes left on the calling card he was using. I was excited but nervous as we tried to communicate the numbers back and forth. I thought, "I have one shot to get this right- don't mess up these numbers!"

I got the numbers correct and called him back immediately. We were blessed to have a 30 minute conversation. The reception was ok- sometimes I couldn't understand him, most of the time I could. He told me truths about what is going on in the orphanages right now and explained that he is doing ok. We laughed a lot as I kept saying, "STOP, slow down- I can't understand what you're saying." He'd laugh and say, "Ok, mum- I will slow down." At one point, I kept saying I was sorry and that I was trying so hard to get every word he was saying. He was so loving and said to me, "Mum, I will say it over and over again until you can hear me and understand me." What a sweet heart!

I think we were able to devise a plan to speak with the other 3 children every week on Saturdays. DS#1 said he goes there to play soccer on Saturdays and that he'd try to borrow that same phone so we can speak with everyone on a regular basis. The other 3 children are asking to talk with us and DS#1 told me that they can't wait to hear our voices. We have been sending messages to them through him for quite some time because we very rarely can get through to the orphanage.

DS#1 asked to speak with DD#3 and DS#3- how their faces lit up as they ran for the phone to talk with their big brother. It truly was a precious moment, right there in our living room! I assured DS#1 that the paperwork continues to move forward and that they will all be home soon. I told him that even if it takes months, we will all be patient because we know we will all have a lifetime together.

I also explained that 'Grandma' is praying about going to Liberia the same time Dad (hubby) goes. She hasn't been back in over 10 years and is wanting to see family,etc. DS#1 was so excited and said he would pray for Grandma to be able to come to Liberia.

What a wonderful God we have! He knew this is exactly what I needed to keep going and stay strong. Just the voice of our beautiful boy lifted my spirits- and the anticipation of being able to speak to our girls and our little man keeps me looking forward to the end of the week. Thank you, Father!


And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Corinthians 13:13

...Do not be afraid any longer, just believe... Luke 8:50

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8