We are in the midst of some crazy delays that don't belong on a blog, but suffice it to say that the world around us is spinning and likely will cause us to have to wait until January for court, and that in itself has felt like a 400lb weight on my shoulders for about 72 hours now.
But....
We got to spend the weekend with Lena...... We picked her up Friday night after filling out appropriate paperwork, and got to cook dinner together, go to the mall Saturday, eat meals, carry kids, ride metros and buses, go to church, play wii, listen to music, watch movies...etc. Etc. What an awesome weekend as a family of five... Well. Six with Samantha.
Speaking of Samantha, she has seriously been awesome. My kids love her. She loves my kids. Without her we would have been dragging them around town for all these meetings and trying to have sensible conversations through translators these days..... It would be 100times more stressful! Thank you Samantha! Now, if I could only convince her to stay longer :) hehehe......
Tonight at church, as we sat together... Knowing Lena didn't understand it all, but listening to the children's group do their Christmas program, singing songs, and listening to the sermon, I was absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude for the things God has done for us. I'm definitely not saying I haven't questioned him in our delays. My whole mile walk to the grocery store today was a carefully worded argument with God..... But tonight, my heart was filled with worship.... (Hearing the little girl playing Mary tell her co-actors to "come worship, now!" Helped also) my heart was grateful....
for the time with my family all together for the longest time since we started this adventure.... For you, the supporters and prayer warriors of this trust walk... For Ronnie, the one I lean on when this gets tough.... For Lena, who trusts us more than I can imagine.... For Josiah and Lydia, who love their new sister and really don't understand why she isn't with us all the time yet.... For Samantha.... For the home we are able to stay in with people who love God and minister to families fighting to love a child.... For the orphanage that Lena has been in, that this wasn't her first time in church, as they go every week!.... For the unbelievable amount of peace that we have, even while it feels like this Ukrainian world is spinning uncontrollably at times..... For Skype and FaceTime that allow us to connect with home at the moments it seems most necessary, and for Lena's first conversations with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.....
This journey has forced us to be in positions, both positive and negative, where we have absolutely no control. I can't take any credit for everything God has done here..... Nor can I do anything about the things that are causing us delays.... We are here for a reason.... We walk through the streets of revolution.... Sometimes wishing we could be a part of what we pray will be a good turning point for a beautiful country, praying that the country see Christ through this somehow..... Also, maybe selfishly, praying that the adoption process is never used as a tool for a power struggle.
We go to appointments, praying as we walk in that the hearts are softened and papers are in order. We know that the peace we feel, especially in the evening, is because you are praying for us. I sometimes just pray that God will put us on someone's mind, because we don't know what else to pray for ourselves.....
We listen to Josiah sing about Joshua and Jericho, we discuss Gideon, shadrach, meshach, abednego, and Daniel. We hold to promises of never leaving and never forsaking. We remember that God is the one who places orphans in families.
We sleep again, to wake up again, to go to another meeting, pray another desperate prayer, and try to make to next Friday having accomplished something more so that we are closer to bringing our girl home!
Thank you..... Your prayers are holding us up. Every. Day.
Please don't stop!
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