The enemy attacks

Yesterday my husband called me at 5:30 pm and told me his car had just broke down- and I laughed. He didn't think it was funny and I had to explain to him that I wasn't laughing at him being stranded, but at the fact that of course our car breaks down now because Satan has no other way of attacking us. In fact, my husband told me it was as if it was demon-possessed, the radio turning off and on on its' own, the speedometer going up and down and the car jerking.

And of course this is the worst time for the car to break down. We have been trying to come up with $500 to send into our agency so they can submit our application to Maria's country. We had just raised about $400 and was planning on this weekend's fundraiser to come up with the rest. Our new house had a big time mouse/rat problem and we'e been sanitizing, painting and repairing.  There have been many unexpected costs and we're trying not to go into debt.

Well, it turned out it was the alternator and it cost just under $400. I'm not too panicked, because I know God has provided and will continue to fulfill His promises, but it is a little stressful.

Then I found out that one of the families adopting from Maria's country (but different region) was denied. The judge thought it would be better for little Kirill to spend his life in an institution with no education, not enough food and no family. What?  This same scenario could play out for any of us, but it is unfathomable. Please pray for the Davis family and Kirill. Please continue to pray for us and Maria too and for the judge that will hear our case, that he/she may find favor with us and have a heart that would seek the best for Maria. Please pray that God will provide for our needs and we would have the means to get to her as soon as possible. And if you are able, would you donate to our adoption fund via our PayPal chip-in box on the right? We can't use the Reece's Rainbow tax-deductible funds until after we submit our application to Maria's country.

This is the verse that the Lord gave to me today: 1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

I need this reminder to not get comfortable and drop my guard-let's be vigilant and keep PRAYING!

Look to God

I received a little adoption devotional study and was so encouraged by what one adoptive family wrote that I had to share it with all of you.  (I'm not sure about internet copyright but I will give them credit for this).  By Eric and Mitzie Tibbets- adopted from Russia and are in the process for Guatemala

During your adoption journey you are ikely to become child-focused instead of God-focused.  Let me challenge you that if you are longing more for the child instead of the Savior, you may want to pause and take inventory of your relationship with God.  I'd like to share a few truths we learned as we journeyed with God:

• You aren't waiting on man, you are waiting on God. (Wow- this is a hard one!)
• God isn't going to send you where He is absent.
• God is not bound by geography, timelines, politics or finances. (Did you hear that?)
• God hasn't asked you to walk this path alone. Not only will He remain with you each step of the way, He has prepared many warriors to go into battle with you. You'll be amazed at who He uses to meet your needs.
• Don't put serving the King on hold. Waiting doesn't equate to idleness. Invest in the wait; don't waste it.
• God's gifts to us are never late (MARIA is a gift); they are always on time and far beyond what we could ever imagine.

Adoption is about stewardship. Your child and everything you possess belongs to God. (Another hard one!) During the wait, surrender it all to God, for His glory.

Lord, help me to daily surrender all, and to deny myself and follow You, for Your glory.

Whistle while you work

I'm laying in my my bed right now and my whole body is aching. I've been cleaning for a week so we can move into our new house the first weekend of April.  My Dad has been helping me while my Mom and sister watch the kids. It's been hard to be away from my kids all day and it's been really hard work, but it will be worth it in the end.  Tomorrow is painting day-can't wait!

We finally were able to get our last six documents mailed out today. Our notary had been out of town and then her kids were sick, so we ended up waiting a couple of weeks to get them done. They are off to the Secretary of State and then to our agency who will send the big ol' dossier to Maria's country where we will officially be registered to adopt there. Then they will send us an invitation to come to be matched with a child (a formality since we have already requested to be matched with Maria).

There have been a couple of new developments since I last blogged. It looks like we will more than likely have to take three trips instead of two because of processing delays for Maria's visa and passport.  I received our travel packet and there is still a lot of paperwork to prepare and probably notarize to get ready before our court appointment (second trip). 

I was emotionally up and down last week when realizing that we are getting so close, yet don't have the funds to actually make it happen. We are walking by faith and trusting, but it is hard and the doubt constantly slips in and we have to keep going back to God's promises. Well, we then received great news about an interest free loan that we are probably going to get that we can pay back when we get our adoption tax refund next year! 

We constantly see God providing what we need when we need it.  But it's so hard not to glance over and go "Yeah, but where's the other $15,000 going to come from?" Yes, $15,000.  But it's not my plan, it's His and it's not something I'm going to worry about right now.

In fact, I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted and there's more to do tomorrow.

Thank you for your prayers, may God bless you for your faithfulness.