another day.. another piece of paperwork...

Whew.

Tropical Depression Beryl is here, dumping buckets of water on us. Everything is wet and dreary. I'm drinking coffee and ready to go back to bed. Instead, I'll get to head out in the yuckiness to send out MORE PAPERWORK.

Yep. More paperwork.

The vicious cycle begins again.

Last week, we got word that our case had been assigned a judge.  I didn't know this would happen- I assumed we would have the same judge.  But in the name of impartiality, a new judge is assigned to make sure everything is as it should be.  Progress!  Hopes were high we would receive a court date the next day.  

But that didn't happen.  The new judge was reviewing our documents, and was pleased with what she had seen so far.  We then hoped that when she finished reviewing our paperwork, a court date would be issued. 

And then, we got word that she requested an updated document for court.  So we got that taken care of last night, and out it goes today to the Secretary of State for the apostille, and then across the ocean soon. 

Praying this is the last piece of the puzzle before we will return for court! 

In the meantime, we've been celebrating 7 years of marriage! 

I told Ryan that these may not have been the easiest 7 years, but they have certainly been the best!  Thankful for each new day, and this adventure we're on together!

miscellany monday

1.  We've been super busy working on the home study updates.  We've sent off for our clearances, completed our new financial information, and had our medical forms completed.  Our social worker is coming for her visit Thursday morning.  Progress!

2.  I've been researching and testing a lot of natural body products.  Trying to get rid of a lot of the toxins- but it can be quite overwhelming.  I have to keep reminding myself that baby steps are the way to go!  Each product I switch out for a natural alternative is that much better for me- I don't have to do it all at once!  More on what I'm loving soon... :)

3.  The judge was on vacation last week, so no paperwork was delivered.  The new expected delivery date is Wednesday or Thursday of this week.  I'm waiting to get excited until it happens! :)

4.  Waiting stinks.  That is all.  

5.  When your head knows that God is faithful and is working everything according to His plan, but your heart is tired, weary, and hurt, it's SO HARD to reconcile the truth.  Thankful for friends who continually remind me of the truth until my heart can hear it again! 

That's all I've got for now!  In the meantime, come join the link up fun with Carissa at lowercase letters and share your miscellany monday!

test of faith

‎"Faith's most severe tests come not when we see nothing, but when we see a stunning array of evidence that seems to prove our faith vain." ~Elizabeth Elliot 

Our wait has been prolonged at least another week, due to vacations.
Our CIS approval is set to expire next month, which means another home study update.
Our supporting documents for the home study are too old, which means we get to update those too.
Including our medicals. Which was hard enough the first three times, but now our doctor has moved to another state. So we get to start over.

It's one of those days that feels like this process is never going to end. Today, it FEELS like I will be doing paperwork and jumping through hoops for the rest of my life in hopes that one day it will be enough to bring Hudson home. But, I can't trust my feelings. My feelings change and are often wrong. They are absorbed in the "stunning array of evidence that seems to prove our faith in vain."

But my faith is not in circumstances, it is in my unchanging God.  He is faithful, even when I am doubtful.  He is strong, even when I am feeble.  He is sure and steady, even when I am wavering.  He keeps every single promise, knows me so intimately that He has count of the hairs on my head, and pours out grace upon grace when I am unlovely.

I have yet another opportunity to increase my faith in this test, and am thankful that He holds my head above the water line when my strength is gone. 

waiting

"Waiting is one of God's most powerful tools of grace. God doesn't just give us grace for the wait. The wait itself is a gift of grace. You see, waiting is not only about what you will receive at the end of the wait. Waiting is about what you will become."

 -Paul David Tripp

 Trying to keep this perspective as we continue to wait- trusting in the One who is orchestrating it all!

Miscellany Monday!

1.  On Friday, we went to the beach for a relaxing day of fun.  I also learned I'm not so hot at applying spray-on sunscreen evenly.  I have one or two crispy spots. 

2.  Thursday was the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at the Elementary School where we have Good News Club.  While we were walking in, I noticed they were selling spots for the Community Wide Yard Sale they were hosting on Saturday.  I told Ryan we needed to ask about it on the way out.  Before we could leave, both the Principal and the Organizer for the event approached us and offered us a spot at the yard sale. So, that's where I spent my Saturday (they even reserved me a table INSIDE- sweet!)- and now we're $272 closer to bringing Hudson home! :) 

3.  The last of our paperwork should be making its way into the hands of the judge this week.  Praying that this is all they need to know we are Hudson's parents, and that he will quickly issue us a court date.  Wouldn't it be great to know when we are going back by Mother's day?!  I'm trying to keep busy until we hear something, because the closer we get, the longer the days feel!!

4.  99dresses.com - you should check it out!  Clean out your closets of those dresses you don't wear anymore and trade them for awesome, new-to-you dresses...without spending a dime!

5.  Since we started preparing for the yard sale, I've been in purge mode.  How did we accumulate so much stuff?!  I'm trying to break free from the cycle of consumerism (#4 is one small way) and it makes me sad how much we have been trapped by it.  It's time for a change!

6.  The garden is doing great, so far!  Lots of blossoms on the squash plants, which means soon we will be invaded by squash bugs.  I'm hoping we can keep them at bay this go round!  The strawberries are almost done (I think!) but we are continuing to enjoy snacking from the plants. 

That's all I've got for now!  In the meantime, come join the link up fun with Carissa at lowercase letters and share your miscellany monday!

a "jam" packed monday...

Let me tell you about our Monday.   It was quite eventful!

My mom was in town, and we wanted some fresh strawberries.  We went to a little farm down the road, and grabbed a quart.  You could pick your own, but we didn't have time.

So, later that afternoon, after we had sampled some of the delicious berries, we got an idea.  We would go back in the morning, pick our own, and make freezer jam!  We were excited, and went to get jam supplies that night, in preparation for the morning.  24 jars seemed like just the right amount, and wouldn't take long to make at all.  

We got up the next morning, and Mom, Ryan, and I headed out to pick berries.  We each grabbed a bucket, and got to work.  We met back up and took them inside to be weighed. 

Yeah, we got a little strawberry happy.  We discovered we had FORTY-FIVE pounds of berries. 

Oops. 

We quickly filled the 24 jars we had prepared for, and hadn't made a dent in the berries.  We sent Ryan back to the store to purchase more supplies, and we kept working.

91 jars of jam later, we still had more berries!

We left 15 quart bags of strawberries whole, to be used in smoothies, and popped them in the freezer.
The 15 cups of chopped berries that were remaining had sugar added and made 5 bags of toppings for ice cream or pound cake.

It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun!  Thankful that we will still have a taste of summer, even when winter arrives!  

I sure hope Hudson likes strawberries! :)