What's Happening Wednesday!

Since I have so much going on I can only think in bullet points...and I missed Miscellany Monday and my typical extra Tuesday to catch up... I figured I'd make my own this Wednesday!  :) 

1.  Our paperwork is in the Secretary of State's office RIGHT NOW!  After it receives the apostilles needed, it will be off to our agency.  Praying this is the last of things we need, and that it (with everything else provided) will show clearly to the court that we ARE Hudson's parents. 

2.  Ryan and I are in week 2 of the Couch to 5k challenge and still going strong.  I'm getting a little bit nervous about the long stretches of running in the weeks to come, but hopefully these weeks before will have me prepared!

3.  The bird netting is working fabulously on my strawberries.  It does make them harder to pick, but at least they are un-pecked!

4.  I've been thinking a lot lately about what Jesus intended for the church, and what the church has become.  The disparity between the two is unfortunately very great all across this nation (not in all cases- there are exceptions- but it is widespread.)  Possibly more to come on this later.  :)

5.  I'm still a work in progress when it comes to cultivating a heart of thankfulness.  Working on replacing my complaints with gratitude, knowing that God is working in every situation for His glory.  Hopefully one day thanks will be my natural response to whatever comes my way, but until then, I will continue to be intentional about this!

What's happening in your Wednesday?

roller coaster

After all the excitement, celebration, and joy over the good news of our documents being ready, we received another blow.

More documents were requested.

Honestly, I cried. My first response was whiny despair, frustration, feelings of hopelessness and that this process will NEVER end and Hudson will never come home...

I've heard the adoption journey compared to a roller coaster many times. Yesterday, I wanted to press the emergency stop button, unfasten my harness, and just GET OFF! Not that I wanted to give up on our son, but I am just so ready to be DONE. It's exhausting.

After some time to sit with the fact that this paperwork must be done, lots of deep breaths, a good cry, and some time in the Word- I have a much better perspective. Isn't that what life is all about anyway- what perspective we choose?

I can sit in despair and wallow in misery, exclaiming that this isn't fair. From my perspective, it sure feels this way. My son is waiting for us. Each piece of paperwork requested delays our return even more. Other people's journeys don't look this way.

I can choose my frustration and worry. There is a lot to be frustrated over, and many things to worry about. But really, when I choose to react from MY perspective, what good comes from that? What does my worry change- other than elevate the stress in my life? How do my cries of injustice speed along the process or change what is required?

I've decided to choose thankfulness. To see things not from my limited perspective, but from the perspective of knowing we were called here by God who works all things for His glory. Even delays and more paperwork are for His glory.

So today, I am thankful.

I am thankful that the paperwork requested is simple, and depends mostly on us.

I am thankful that everyone is being proactive in our case, to anticipate needs before they arise to eliminate any doubt that we are Hudson's parents.

I am thankful that God loves and cares for Hudson more that we do, and He is working on his behalf.

I am thankful for all the family and friends that God has placed in our life to pray Hudson home, to support us, and encourage us.

I am thankful that no matter what, I serve a faithful God who always keeps His Word.

What are you thankful for today?

breaking news!!

ALL our documents have arrived to our agency, and they are quadruple checking that this is all we will need, and then they will fly over the ocean, finish translation, and then find themselves in the hands of the judge!  He will then issue us a new court date, and we will return again! 

We would love to travel before our visas expire on May 5th!  Would you join us in praying that if it is God's will, we will travel by then for court?  I have learned all throughout this process that His timing is perfect, so if we don't travel by then, I know there is a reason.  I also know He hears our prayers.  Our desire is for His will to be done!

Thankful today for this good news!

miscellany tuesday... :)

I'm a bit behind this week. :)  It happens!

1.  The reason I'm behind (well, the main one at least!) is because this weekend we had our DNOW- it was an awesome weekend where the youth ministries of 4 local churches united together to do missions all over our county and learn about being AUTHENTIC in our faith.  It was just as exhausting as it was awesome, so I took yesterday off with Ryan to recover. 

2.  We've already eaten about 20 strawberries from my garden, and we've successfully protected them from the birds with netting.  I have lettuce sprouting from seed in the other garden, and we're waiting to see if the other plants will survive- it got really cold one night and they have a little damage.  We shall see!

3.  Ryan and I started the Couch to 5k yesterday.  Running isn't my favorite thing, but I really would like to get better at it.  Most importantly, we want to be healthy.  So, yesterday was the beginning of making healthier choices.  Day 1- Complete! 

4.  Two of our documents have been authenticated and are waiting with our agency for the last documents to arrive so they can be sent over to the judge.  Honestly, I'm not waiting very patiently.  But I am TRYING.  It is super hard work putting my trust in God and His timing, when it doesn't make much sense to me!


That's all for this Tuesday!  :)

two months

It's been two months since we boarded a plane to come home after we heard the judge say "No." 

A lot has happened in two months, and yet, a lot is still the same. 

We have grieved the loss of what "should have been."

We've chased more paperwork to return. 

We've learned "trust" and "surrender" on a deep, raw, real level.

And our son still waits, on the other side of the world, for us to return for him. 

Most days, I am filled with such a deep sense of peace that it can only be from God.  I know we are following His plan, His way, His calling.  And so our steps, however wobbly, continue in the direction He has called us on.  While we don't know how much longer we will wander, we know the One who is guiding us is faithful.  He is good.  He is our comforter, healer, protector, and provider.  While we are apart from our son, I know He is holding him close, and working all things out for His glory. 

Amen.

miscellany monday!

My day so far:

1.  Spend time with Jesus over coffee

2.  Meeting with the Pro Health Ultra guy just to tell him we don't have the $$$ to spend on new cookware because we can't eat it, fill our car tank up with it, or fly to get Hudson with it

3.  Wash, dry, fold, and put away 3 loads of laundry

4.  Make a loaf of bread for the week

5.  Clean up the kitchen so I can make a big mess later (see what's left to do!)

6.  Make student Quiet Time Booklets and Ministry Sign up sheets for DNOW this weekend

What's left to do:

7.  Clean, cut, portion and freeze 40 pounds of chicken (Thanks, Zaycon Foods!)

8.  Check on the garden (the strawberries are being eaten by some very pesky birds...)

9.  Work out and shower (hopefully I will have time!)

10.  Meet a Sunday School class for dinner

11.  Stalk Periodically check My FedEx for status updates on our documents

12.  Plan out the rest of the week- it's going to be a crazy one!

In the meantime, come join the link up fun with Carissa at lowercase letters and share your miscellany monday!

a little good news!

Things are moving again on the adoption front!

Our psychological evaluations are complete (and we are not abnormal...but I wouldn't say we're normal either! :)) as well as the supporting documents that were requested by the judge. These will soon be on their way to get apostilled, and then across the ocean where they have already started translating them. It's so nice to be making forward progress again!

And I know it is no coincidence that yesterday I completely surrendered the adoption to God's timetable. My worry or stress doesn't move anything along quicker. My anxious emails only slow things down. I am NOT in control, no matter how much I would like to be or try to be... but I know the One who is. He is greater than all my fears, worries, and dreams. He is orchestrating Hudson's story as He sees fit. Nothing happens a second faster than He allows, or is delayed without His approval. I know that everything in my life has come through His hands because He has allowed it for a reason.

All along this journey, God has been molding my heart more and more. I pray I am beginning to look even the smallest bit like Him. I want to be an instrument of His glory, however He sees fit. Even as I write this, the song that comes to my mind is "Bring the Rain" by MercyMe. I want my life to live out the prayer to God that He can bring me ANYTHING that would bring Him glory- even if it costs me.

"Bring me joy, bring me peace 
Bring the chance to be free 
Bring me anything that brings You glory 
And I know there'll be days 
When this life brings me pain 
But if that's what it takes to praise You 
Jesus, bring the rain 

I am Yours regardless of 
The dark clouds that may loom above 
Because You are much greater than my pain 
You who made a way for me 
By suffering Your destiny 
So tell me what's a little rain"

 God is good!

more paperwork!

We just got word that the judge is requesting a few more supporting documents for some of the documents we already sent in. Thankfully, they depend on us, and we can get them done quickly. The judge is being wonderful in all this, taking the time to make sure everything is covered so there can be no question about anything this go round. We are certainly thankful that he is being thorough, but I am most definitely ready to be done killing trees! :) And even more ready to get our boy home! I keep praying that I wouldn't be so distracted by the wait that I miss what God has to teach me in the here and now. While circumstances may be hard, God is still good, and my heart still has so far to go to be like Him. I don't want to waste this time of my life, now, while I wait- I want God to do what He wills in my heart and life. I pray I don't miss it.

miscellany monday

1. The garden is planted (minus the Roma tomatoes...haven't been able to find any yet)!

I'm attempting squash again, even after the evil squash bugs killed all my plants last year.  I'm trying some companion planting this year (using plants that deter squash bugs and other pests around the targets of said pests) in hopes to get a handle on the problem.

And my strawberries- oh my word!  The plants from last year already have about 20 green berries a piece!  I added new plants this year to have a whole bed of strawberries- looking forward to the harvest!  YUM!

2.  I got on a crafty kick this weekend, re-purposing old t-shirts (thanks Pinterest for some ideas!)  So far, I've made:

 Two art smocks for Hudson (tutorial here)

  a reusable produce bag for the grocery store (tutorial here)

and I'm still working on some new headbands!  I'm sure Ryan is ready for me to transform the dining room table back to its original purpose, rather than a sewing/crafting spot.... :)

3.  Tonight is "Youth Night" in our community revival.  Praying for hearts to be stirred to get rid of all the junk and sin to make room for Jesus. 

4.  We're still waiting for the rest of our paperwork to be completed to send over the ocean...and then once that happens, we'll be waiting some more for it to be translated, delivered to the judge, and for him to issue a court date.  I'll keep you posted as things progress, but right now, we're just waiting...and waiting....and waiting...


In the meantime, come join the link up fun with Carissa at lowercase letters and share your miscellany monday!