Thoughts…..

Tonight my mind is on JE….it has been a lot! I wonder how he transitioned back to orphanage life after living with a family for a month because of Gillette's Summer Hosting program. Orphanage life for him is extremely DIFFICULT…..it's hard for any child however when you have some type of "difference" it can be unbearable. We pray that he gets move to a loving foster home until we can bring him home. I wonder if he is smiling like I've seen in the many pictures while here in America this summer. I cherish the few times we were able to FaceTime with him and look forward to when we will be able to Skype with him on a some what normal basis and inform him that we are his FOREVER FAMILY. Those times were priceless, and some days I close my eyes and try to replay our conservations and his SMILE!! God has blessed us to have a wonderful relationship with his host family, and his mom sends us pictures and videos at just the right time. We also get reminders of him from the Summer Hosting Coordinator…..just a taste of heaven.

We stay really busy with ministry and with the kids, but its during our down time that this process gets the hardest. The kids even ask when can we Skype with JE again….soon babies soon!! Its funny how I tried my hardest to come up with every excuse to not pursue this adoption and God showed it plain…."its time; I've got you covered." And look at me now….thinking, planning, praying and declaring over JE, our LOVE. Back in the deep ocean we go…..opening our hearts to the "one in front of us." Taking on something we have never done before but we get to do it together….using our marriage and life to bring glory to our Father and all the while, we get to reap the benefit of some awesome children. We have the pleasure to raise children that will impact the world; Impact the kingdom!! We get to show them how to overcome every obstacle that tries to come in their way of achieving their goals and God giving purposes!!

What do we do in the waiting? Pray for JE….his wait is far more painful than ours….he has been waiting for years to have someone to call Daddy and Mommy! We pray for others in the process….I have actually made a friend with one of the families adopting another boy from this year's hosting program….we have someone to cry, encourage and praise God with. Our social worker comes in the next 2 weeks…and we should have our finalized home study in our hands by the end of the month. Our plan is to have our I800a application in by Thanksgiving and then dossier in country before end of the year.

I challenge those of you reading this blog to step back….take a look around, ask God how can your live your life to the fullest for him. It will look different for each of us……..