Busy days

We've been super busy trying to get all of our paperwork filled out and appointments made. We've had our blood tests and they came out clean (no surprise I guess) and Luis had his medical exam. I have my exam and fingerprints on Friday and he does his fingerprints on election day.

We've also been advocating for our church to recognize Orphan Sunday on Nov. 7. We are going to have a table on the patio and be able to share the flyers on 10 ways to care for the orphan from the Christian Alliance for Orphans. We also will have Reece's Rainbow flyers and flyers for an Orphan Sunday event being held in Ventura hosted by the Gold Coast Orphan Alliance. It's interesting that the directors of both the Christian Alliance and GCOA all went to Westmont College with me!

In addition to all of this, I've been contacting people with the Down Syndrome Association of Santa Barbara and am trying to get resources and build connections. We realize that our life is about to change in a big way and we want to be as best prepaed as we can. We know the Lord is going before us and has already brought people to us that are great sources of information. He is answering our prayers: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

And besides that, trying to keep up with our homeschooling and coaching and ref'ing our kids soccer teams and cleaning and organizing and purging to prepare for two weeks of house guests and trying to find a house and Luis getting a stomach bug and last night my baby developed croup and is having a hard time sleeping. :(

So, that's what this week has looked like!

Give Me Jesus

My husband is such an encouragement to me and such a blessing. Thank you Lord for giving him to me! He sent this video to me this morning:



This has been what the Lord has been challenging our family with. What are we willing to give up, surrender, deny in order to do the things that matter to Him?

I love my family

Of course, we have felt the full range of emotions since we started this process. Yesterday I scheduled our first home study visit and am trying to take baby steps and get a couple of things (paperwork, anyone?) completed each day. I called the Sherriff's office to schedule our fingerprinting and had to leave a message. The automated voice told me that the available appointments are usually two weeks out. Huh? I wasn't expecting that.

On a sweeter note, my beautiful children are really embracing the idea of having a new sister and it is so amazing to see how God has put a deep love for her in their hearts. After seeing her photo, my 4 1/2 yo keeps remarking about how he would like to take her right out of the photo and bring her here. My 8 yo thinks about her constantly: I really miss her, Mommy when you go see her, it will be so hard for you to have to come home and leave her, Mommy, don't forget to take a video of her when you go so I can see my baby. They pray for her every day and it's such a blessing. The most precious thing she said today was "This is the best thing that's ever happened to us so far." I agree and I love that she "gets" it.

Yes Lord Yes

My grandfather is a pastor and he has a favorite chorus that says, "I'll say yes, Lord, yes, to your will and to your way, I'll say yes, Lord, yes, I will trust you and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I'll agree and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes."
I want to do what this song says. I want to trust and obey the Lord. I want to say "Yes, Lord".
James 1:27 "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."
Maria needs a family.
Yes, Lord.