DNA collected

I got an update in my email from my case worker today!!!! DNA was DONE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND... the court interview (that I spoke about previously) was done TODAY as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot even grasp it right now!! It's just amazing to me how quickly it's all happening!!! One of my co-workers said, "Maybe he'll be home for Christmas!" I said to her, "Definitely not be Christmas because the government closes down during the holidays..." The Lord saw fit to give me this extra measure/boost of LOVE today. And I'm praising Him, let me tell ya!

Whhooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just cannot believe it!!!! The hilarious thing is that people keep asking me if I have his room done yet... umm... Nope! Yeah, I'll definitely have to get things started soon. I mean, I've prayed for things to expedited but... geeezzz.... we'll see. I'm just so blown away at how sudden things happen.. and when I least expect it, there's an email from my case worker with an update. I'm not complaining by any means... I'm overjoyed!

Case entered Family Court

I got 2 emails from my case worker this afternoon about 45 minutes ago.... I've been soooo excited, crying tears of joy!!!!!!!!!!!!

On 11/16, my case entered Family Court in Guatemala, which is a HUGE step. The social worker will be interviewing Connor's birthmother during this family court process. ALSO... TODAY, 11/28, DNA authorization was issued!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's not yet a date for when the DNA will actually be done, but it's definitely a huge hurdle, one that I've been praying over for months and soooo happy to hear it's finally here! I'll continue to update things as they occur. Bless you all who are soooo incredibly supportive & loving. I know Connor will be showered with blessings & love by you all!

Dry Spell?

I've been thinking & praying about what my case worker told me recently, that where I'm at in the process is usually a "dry spell."

So this morning, I remembered this passage in the Bible that talks about God making a way in the desert so I went ahead and dug into the Word to find that passage... here it is:
Isaiah 43: 18-21 (NIV) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise."

Here it in the Message translation, which I love!!!! "This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies— they lie down and then can't get up; they're snuffed out like so many candles: "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' —the coyotes and the buzzards— Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me."

I'd read this passage months ago and was thinking about it. And it reminds me that GOD IS WITH ME IN THE DESERT -- those times when nothing seems to be happening and you just cry out for God to speak to you. It's those times when you've looked back and seen that He was, in fact, there with you. This "dry spell" right now has been testing me. It's getting harder & harder as the process moves on, the more pictures & updates I get (be them ever so joyful -- to see my son grow up through pictures) the harder it gets. The more I want to kiss him & hold him! But I know that maybe the harder it gets for me, the more I am assured by God that He is holding Connor, has a special angel just for him watching over him. God is that "oasis" where I can rest, relax and enjoy life. I sit back and take it all in and enjoy this time he's given me to know him in a different way than previously. To know Him as a parent, that He has my best interest in mind, and also Connor's best in mind.

Deuteronomy 29:5-6 "During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the LORD your God."

As much as I'd like everyone to know & be assured that I am at peace throughout this process, sometimes it's not for others to understand, some things I don't even understand therefore is hard to explain to others?!? Some people "get it." Others never will and that's okay. People that "get it" even if they've never walked a day in my shoes.... people who have never had children or been through the adoption process.... they are the ones who amaze me.

Pictures!!

Here he is at 2 months old... 10lbs and 23.2" long!

2 month medical check up

I just got an update in my email today on Connor. He's doing good, had his 2 month check-up on 11/6. He's growing like a weed. He's 10 lbs and 23.2" long now. No new pictures but it was a nice surprise to have a medical update, knowing he's growing and doing just fine. So that's it for now. I'll continue to update you all as things occur. God bless!!! Keep us in your prayers.

Laying it all down

I just have to share this. First, my nephew, Gavin (who is 4 years old), is such an amazing, loving little boy and I cannot imagine my life without a little boy like him as my nephew. God knew I needed him in my heart & life.

When he comes over with my sister & Mom, he gives me big hugs, asks to "play some game" (on the computer), and usually plays outside in the yard. So often, he'll run in and bring us all some rocks and tell us "They're special rocks just for you." From here on out, I'll never view rocks the same again. Previously, when he'd bring me these rocks, I'd take them and put them on the counter thinking "How many stinkin' rocks do I need? They're just rocks..."

So this morning I was reading my devotion about worrying, about God knowing our cares and His desire for us to lay them at His feet. I read the verse 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you." The end of the devotion is what got me and reminded me of these rocks Gavin presents to me. The "treasure/trinket" at the end of the devotion is a worry stone. But instead of carrying around this worry stone, place it on your bathroom counter and when you see it, let it remind you to lay your cares & worries at the feet of Jesus.

Gifts from children can be so symbolic & carry so much meaning, even if you don't realize or understand it when it's given. And did it ever hit me this morning as I read about not worrying about tomorrow, casting my care of Him because He cares for me! So often we need to go "back to the basics," back to when we were children and were care-free! We lived day to day, not thinking about what'll happen the day after only thinking about what new thing we could come up with to do, an adventure to undertake tomorrow, or continue today's adventure.

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has troubles of its own." And this... "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the God is peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

In essence, it was God speaking to me through my 4-yr-old little nephew who was saying "Don't worry, just take take what I have for you right now and enjoy it for what it is." Gavin is an irreplaceable gift from God and he speaks volumes every day that sometimes I miss the meaning in the simplicity.

"When I'm afraid, praising the Almighty God draws my focus away from the situation and back to Him; when I'm worried, praising God reminds me of His goodness to me." This song is wonderful... if you know it, sing it.. "We fall down, we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus.. the greatness of His mercy and love at the feet of Jesus.. and we cry Holy, Holy, Holy.. we cry Holy, Holy, Holy.. we cry Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb.."

Listen to your children. Often God wants to use them to speak peace, joy & simplicity to your heart.

Other adoptive families

Everything is going well. No word yet on when DNA will be done on Connor and his birthmother, but please continue to pray over this - that it will be done soon and the case will enter family court very very soon and get through that quickly. Although you may not completely understand the process, know that your prayers do make a huge impact.

Happy to report all that God has been doing in my life during the waiting.... He's blessed me with two new wonderful families. The first was a few weeks ago when I went to a "Waiting Families" get-together/meeting at the agency. I got there a little late, but recognized this couple sitting near the front. So when the whole thing was over, I went up to them and we started talking. We were both at the same informational meeting there in December 2005! So I asked where they were adopting from, they say -- GUATEMALA!!!! So here's the crazyyyyy thing... absolutely AMAZING similiarities!!! Their daughter in Guatemala was born beginning of August, which makes her & Connor only 3 weeks apart in age!!!!! AND.. they've given her the name... SARA!!!!! Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND... get this --- I told them I live in Battle Creek.... they also live in Battle Creek.... and who knew .... we live like 1 mile from each other!!!!!!! They're literally right down the road from me!!!!!!!! We're at the same spot in the adoption process!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!! What a huge huge blessing that God brought us together like that!!!

As if that weren't enough... I was going to a Singles / College group thing at church and... well... long story... I saw a friend of mine in the lobby with his wife & kids... started talking to him about the adoption and he looks at me and goes, "No way, we're adopting from Liberia!" So we had this adoption process in common and I've known this family for years & years, having taught their kids in Sunday School! So it was soooo amazing talking about the whole process and struggles, etc... so while I'm in the middle of talking to them about adoption, this lady who is standing a few feet from us, walks over after hearing me talk about adopting from Guatemala and says to me "We have 2 children from Guatemala." Oh my gosh!!!!! I cannot even contain it! How exciting it is!!!!

So interestingly enough, when I've least expected it, God has opened doors wide open and just blessed me beyond belief!!!! The cute thing is that as this lady (Tracy) was asking me about where I am in the process, etc... her daughter comes running up, this beautiful Guatemalan girl... Tracy says she has to run & take her to the bathroom... her daughter looks at me, smiling and flipped her hair. Tracy says "She just got her hair cut..." I said "Oh, it's very nice... I also got my hair cut the same way!" She just smiled! It was sooo funny.

God never ceases to amaze me. A close friend of mine & co-worker, Naomi, shared this story with me... about how God spoke to her one morning after she'd cried out to him, "Lord, I desperately need you to speak to me.. it's been so long since I've heard your voice." She explained that she was getting ready for work when she heard the Lord speak so clearly, "Wake up, sunshine!" She kept repeating that to herself while she was getting ready and throughout the day. It's so much like God, being our Father, us being his children... to say "You are my sunshine..." like the childrens' song... "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.. you'll never know dear how much I love you..." Hmmm... just a wonderful realization to know God sees me as his sunshine.

I love you all. Have a wonderful week!