We are so thrilled to have a departure date, a court date and that the days are flying by! We are busily prepping our home, and stocking up on items we will need in Uganda, as well as figuring out where we will stay!
The legal procedures in country are going to take at least two months. Most likely, it will stretch longer. Your continued prayers over this whole process are much appreciated. Please pray for all of us as we prepare, that we would physically and emotionally ready, clear headed and patient. That the Lord would prepare the way and soften hearts. For safety, health and peace for all of us.
I'm continuing my journey of learning ASL, so if you run into me and you know it, feel free to test my skills!:) I'm looking forward to teaching my little princess from the get go!
We'll try to stay connected while in country. For those interested in getting updates, please email me and I'll put you on the list!
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Letting Go
"You've brought me to the end of myself
And this has been the longest road
Just when my hallelujah was tired
You gave me a new song
I'm letting go
I'm letting go
I'm letting go
Falling into You
I confess I still get scared sometimes
But perfect love comes rushing in
And all the lies that screamed inside go silent
The moment you begin
You remind me
Of things forgotten
You unwind me
Until I'm totally undone
And with Your arms around me
Fear was no match for Your love
Now You've won me"
Letting Go by Steffany Gretzinger
click here to see this excellent song!
This song is therapeutic to me today! We have journeyed through this adoption now for 420 days, and have reached the ocean, so to speak, with no boat. We're waiting for our ship to come in, but it's still nowhere in sight.
After waiting for over four weeks to hear something, I couldn't wait anymore, and emailed our agency. I was informed that the judge is now returned from leave. Please pray with us that she appoints a court date soon!
I have become pretty good at distracting myself. It is a unique kind of crazy, waiting for a child you dearly love, but not really having any idea when the day will come when you're actually allowed to go to her! We know that delay can come again at any time during this process. Something could come up and push this out further and further. We had allowed ourselves to start imagining our Easter celebration as a family of 6 in her country of origin...now we're just hoping we get a court date some time before the courts recess in August...hopefully well before, but at this point, I'm not holding my breath.
When I am tempted to doubt, I am reminded that He has brought us this far. He is surely able to complete what He has begun. Each step that He had led us through has been miraculous. None of this could have been accomplished in human strength. Only by the will of the Father have we come this far. Only through His strength in us can we accomplish what we have set out to do. He loves our girl even more than we, or anyone else does!
He is the God who is able to perfectly complete...And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6
And, after all, there is no fear in love.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. 1 John 4:18
I am letting go. Not giving up, no, never. But I'm learning so much in this waiting. I'm falling into Him, more and more. Trusting it into His hands, over and over.
And this has been the longest road
Just when my hallelujah was tired
You gave me a new song
I'm letting go
I'm letting go
I'm letting go
Falling into You
I confess I still get scared sometimes
But perfect love comes rushing in
And all the lies that screamed inside go silent
The moment you begin
You remind me
Of things forgotten
You unwind me
Until I'm totally undone
And with Your arms around me
Fear was no match for Your love
Now You've won me"
Letting Go by Steffany Gretzinger
click here to see this excellent song!
This song is therapeutic to me today! We have journeyed through this adoption now for 420 days, and have reached the ocean, so to speak, with no boat. We're waiting for our ship to come in, but it's still nowhere in sight.
After waiting for over four weeks to hear something, I couldn't wait anymore, and emailed our agency. I was informed that the judge is now returned from leave. Please pray with us that she appoints a court date soon!
I have become pretty good at distracting myself. It is a unique kind of crazy, waiting for a child you dearly love, but not really having any idea when the day will come when you're actually allowed to go to her! We know that delay can come again at any time during this process. Something could come up and push this out further and further. We had allowed ourselves to start imagining our Easter celebration as a family of 6 in her country of origin...now we're just hoping we get a court date some time before the courts recess in August...hopefully well before, but at this point, I'm not holding my breath.
When I am tempted to doubt, I am reminded that He has brought us this far. He is surely able to complete what He has begun. Each step that He had led us through has been miraculous. None of this could have been accomplished in human strength. Only by the will of the Father have we come this far. Only through His strength in us can we accomplish what we have set out to do. He loves our girl even more than we, or anyone else does!
He is the God who is able to perfectly complete...And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6
And, after all, there is no fear in love.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. 1 John 4:18
I am letting go. Not giving up, no, never. But I'm learning so much in this waiting. I'm falling into Him, more and more. Trusting it into His hands, over and over.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Holding Pattern
Spring has sprung here in the Midwest. February was bitterly cold. It had us all pining for the warmth of the sun.
About a week ago we received word that our file had been assigned to a judge in Uganda. And now that judge is on a one month's leave. This means we will not be travelling for at least another month. I would imagine it might be reasonable to assume we would get a court date in May. Ambiguity is the flavor of the day around here though. Anything more than tentative gets our hopes too high.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't quite disappointed at this delay. Going from "we could get a travel date any day", to, "we won't travel for at least another month or more", is quite deflating. It's not just a trip we're talking about here. Or a package in the mail. It's a little person. We need her. She, I believe, needs us.
The stingy bit of sunshine we've been getting around here lately is a bit of a consolation. Now that the snow is gone, the little people can at least get out to play and get a change of scenery.
As much as I want to be angry with someone, and rant about foreign governments and judicial systems, I really do know that God's hand directs it all. I don't like it all, but somehow this is right, good and meant to be. Each day that I don't get to hug those little shoulders and caress those smooth brown cheeks hurts. Our grace-giving, all loving God knows this. He knows.
So we wait some more. It's been 403 days since I saw a photo on social media and opened my heart, this possibility, this door. The labor process since has been arduous, and has not yet ended. Relief is not quite in sight, but surely this misery has to end soon. Surely, we will turn a corner, and all these bends in the road will be behind us, and there will be our girl.
We've been tucking away little things for her, here and there. Some new, some handed down. One intangible inheritance from generations ago will precede or accompany her wherever she goes. It is beautiful and we hope she loves it. In my mind and heart it's who she is, blended with the day dreams of a new daughter and the dreams that come, unbidden but welcome, in the sleeping hours of the night, of a beloved memory.
Hopefully, the next time I write will be a hurried announcement of our impending travel! Please continue to pray for a court date, safety, good planning, health and no more bumps in the road. Thank you.
Oh and one more thing, a praise! We are overjoyed that my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, along with their two daughters, will be able to come to help and minister in Uganda for a period of time while Dan returns home. I am so grateful for their willingness to come out of the Comfort Zone, to love in a tangible way! Praise the Lord! Please pray for them as they prepare and fundraise.
About a week ago we received word that our file had been assigned to a judge in Uganda. And now that judge is on a one month's leave. This means we will not be travelling for at least another month. I would imagine it might be reasonable to assume we would get a court date in May. Ambiguity is the flavor of the day around here though. Anything more than tentative gets our hopes too high.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't quite disappointed at this delay. Going from "we could get a travel date any day", to, "we won't travel for at least another month or more", is quite deflating. It's not just a trip we're talking about here. Or a package in the mail. It's a little person. We need her. She, I believe, needs us.
The stingy bit of sunshine we've been getting around here lately is a bit of a consolation. Now that the snow is gone, the little people can at least get out to play and get a change of scenery.
As much as I want to be angry with someone, and rant about foreign governments and judicial systems, I really do know that God's hand directs it all. I don't like it all, but somehow this is right, good and meant to be. Each day that I don't get to hug those little shoulders and caress those smooth brown cheeks hurts. Our grace-giving, all loving God knows this. He knows.
So we wait some more. It's been 403 days since I saw a photo on social media and opened my heart, this possibility, this door. The labor process since has been arduous, and has not yet ended. Relief is not quite in sight, but surely this misery has to end soon. Surely, we will turn a corner, and all these bends in the road will be behind us, and there will be our girl.
We've been tucking away little things for her, here and there. Some new, some handed down. One intangible inheritance from generations ago will precede or accompany her wherever she goes. It is beautiful and we hope she loves it. In my mind and heart it's who she is, blended with the day dreams of a new daughter and the dreams that come, unbidden but welcome, in the sleeping hours of the night, of a beloved memory.
Hopefully, the next time I write will be a hurried announcement of our impending travel! Please continue to pray for a court date, safety, good planning, health and no more bumps in the road. Thank you.
Oh and one more thing, a praise! We are overjoyed that my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, along with their two daughters, will be able to come to help and minister in Uganda for a period of time while Dan returns home. I am so grateful for their willingness to come out of the Comfort Zone, to love in a tangible way! Praise the Lord! Please pray for them as they prepare and fundraise.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Drawing Ever Closer
We are finally going to be able to make some tentative travel plans! We were informed that we will PROBABLY travel in April! This feels like a momentous day! Especially as we are drawing very close to the one year mark. It was February 14th of last year that I sent an email to A's agency. Two weeks later we found out they had accepted us as her family.
There have been multiple phone calls, many emails, hundreds of sheets of paper. Fundraising, prayer upon prayer upon prayer, months of waiting with no news of our girl, days when I open my email to discover the beautiful gift of a new photo or 30 seconds of her little personality, a cancer battle fought, holidays celebrated with the nagging notion that someone is missing, knowing that next time, next time we celebrate, A will be here. We've all been waiting and praying so long, she's a famous person around these parts. Her picture is everywhere. Her story is on many hearts. Will she really be ours? Do I really get to be her mama?
With the joy, there is also much to ponder and much to be done.
Here's a glimpse into my brain at 5:30 a.m., lying in bed with thoughts whirling like a hurricane.
Malaria, TYHPHOID, Yellow Fever, Luggage, Two months, parasite, bills, homeschool, UGANDA, dirt roads, transportation, emergency, HOSPITAL, packing list, GET IT DONE, food, foodborne illness, mosquito, skirts, summer clothes, sunscreen, DEET, guest house, walking to town, three kids, four kids, sign language, anemia, HOME, no hot water, paperwork, delay, water, visa, tickets, what if, leaning in.
God's words rise in my mind as I type these words, to paraphrase what it means in my words "You're not supposed to be worrying about anything Gina. Pray about it. Let ME take care of it." "You have only to be still and watch the Lord defend, protect and fight your battles."
The Israelites were gripped in fear. Why had Moses led them to this dangerous place away from all that was familiar, where they would surely DIE? But Moses, representing Father God, reminds them:
“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
The Lord Himself has brought us here. The Lord Himself was with A every time she was deathly ill and her mama was not there. The Lord Himself has allowed our paperwork to all go through so far. The Lord Himself has moved in each love-motivated heart that sacrificially gave towards the redemption fund of our girl. Allowing us to be FULLY FUNDED, so that we could focus on packing, preparing, cleaning and do a little dreaming of our new daughter too! These are HUGE battles that He has won for A, for us, for our family.
I should not be worried, but I do feel twinges of anxiety. We love to know that there are friends praying for us! It is no small feat, to pack, to prepare, to plan, to bring three young children to a third world country, to stay for two months, and sustain all those little lives, with another joining us, with trauma, and strive to keep them healthy and happy. But it's my job. I can do everything I need to, with Christ giving me strength. Please pray that He would be tangibly near to us, from here on out.
To those who are reading these words and have already been praying, have donated money or time to our adoption fund, who have kindly encouraged or given helpful travel advice, I am so deeply grateful. It shows His love in you, beautifully.
There have been multiple phone calls, many emails, hundreds of sheets of paper. Fundraising, prayer upon prayer upon prayer, months of waiting with no news of our girl, days when I open my email to discover the beautiful gift of a new photo or 30 seconds of her little personality, a cancer battle fought, holidays celebrated with the nagging notion that someone is missing, knowing that next time, next time we celebrate, A will be here. We've all been waiting and praying so long, she's a famous person around these parts. Her picture is everywhere. Her story is on many hearts. Will she really be ours? Do I really get to be her mama?
With the joy, there is also much to ponder and much to be done.
Here's a glimpse into my brain at 5:30 a.m., lying in bed with thoughts whirling like a hurricane.
Malaria, TYHPHOID, Yellow Fever, Luggage, Two months, parasite, bills, homeschool, UGANDA, dirt roads, transportation, emergency, HOSPITAL, packing list, GET IT DONE, food, foodborne illness, mosquito, skirts, summer clothes, sunscreen, DEET, guest house, walking to town, three kids, four kids, sign language, anemia, HOME, no hot water, paperwork, delay, water, visa, tickets, what if, leaning in.
God's words rise in my mind as I type these words, to paraphrase what it means in my words "You're not supposed to be worrying about anything Gina. Pray about it. Let ME take care of it." "You have only to be still and watch the Lord defend, protect and fight your battles."
The Israelites were gripped in fear. Why had Moses led them to this dangerous place away from all that was familiar, where they would surely DIE? But Moses, representing Father God, reminds them:
“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
The Lord Himself has brought us here. The Lord Himself was with A every time she was deathly ill and her mama was not there. The Lord Himself has allowed our paperwork to all go through so far. The Lord Himself has moved in each love-motivated heart that sacrificially gave towards the redemption fund of our girl. Allowing us to be FULLY FUNDED, so that we could focus on packing, preparing, cleaning and do a little dreaming of our new daughter too! These are HUGE battles that He has won for A, for us, for our family.
I should not be worried, but I do feel twinges of anxiety. We love to know that there are friends praying for us! It is no small feat, to pack, to prepare, to plan, to bring three young children to a third world country, to stay for two months, and sustain all those little lives, with another joining us, with trauma, and strive to keep them healthy and happy. But it's my job. I can do everything I need to, with Christ giving me strength. Please pray that He would be tangibly near to us, from here on out.
To those who are reading these words and have already been praying, have donated money or time to our adoption fund, who have kindly encouraged or given helpful travel advice, I am so deeply grateful. It shows His love in you, beautifully.
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