Happy St. Patrick's Day

here are the pictures from our st. patty's day celebration. enjoy!!

i hope you are all enjoying this most festive, not to mention very green, holiday. we spent ours in the best way possible...getting to snuggle with baby. we went to the adoption agency for about an hour today and got to spend some time bonding with baby. not only is the he most precious thing in the world, he went to the doctor and got rave reviews! praise God! as of now he is scheduled to come home on monday. please pray all goes smoothly and that we will finally be able to bring him home then.

peace, love and leprechauns (only if they are the nice kind...with a pot of gold...we could use that!)

Psalm 18

i was reminded of this chapter in psalms last sunday in church and reading it has brought so much comfort and peace. shocking...God's word brings peace?? it is so perfect for what is stirring in my heart with the pending adoption. i have made a commitment to continue to read through this chapter as if it is a prayer and praise from my heart.

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,

and I am saved from my enemies.

6 In my distress I called to the LORD;

I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my cry came before him, into his ears.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

he drew me out of deep waters.

19 He brought me out into a spacious place;

he rescued me because he delighted in me.

28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;

my God turns my darkness into light.

29 With your help I can advance against a troop

with my God I can scale a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect;

the word of the Lord is flawless.

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

31 For who is God besides the LORD?

And who is the Rock except our God?

32 It is God who arms me with strength

and makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he enables me to stand on the heights.

34 He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You give me your shield of victory,

and your right hand sustains me;

you stoop down to make me great.

36 You broaden the path beneath me,

so that my ankle does not turn.

46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God my Savior!

49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations,

O LORD;

I will sing praises to your name.

peace and love.

Day Three

it's been a long week so far...and it's only tuesday! clearly God is not through using this process to teach and mold us, as well as deepen our relationship with and reliance upon Him. we found out yesterday that the insurance company our birth mother was under will not cover her bills and that we will have to incur that expense. the trouble is, that we really do not have any extra money to spend. this issue, naturally, caused a great deal of distress on both our parts. truly...how do you put a price tag on a child? at the same time, there really isn't any more we can do financially.

and of course...in the midst of our failing faith...God shows up. not only is the director of our adoption agency trying to negotiate on our behalf, my amazing uncle and wonderful people from our church have begun to go to bat for us. isn't the nature and grace of God awesome? we were full of doubt, lacking in faith and He showed up anyway. He showed up ANYWAY. i'm just in awe of that. that i have a Savior that acts on my behalf; that pours out His grace and mercy on me in the midst of my sin and lack of faith for Him. and yet...why is it that when trouble comes again i will mostly likely show a lack of faith? why must i be like the hebrews whom God delivered from egypt and yet lacked faith and turned to their idols? why don't i believe and live my favorite verse from the Bible, psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." there is so much power in that verse that should always bring comfort. God is so in control and all things will be used to His glory. i am just thankful i have a Father that loves me in spite of my failing flesh and uses my sin to make something beautiful.

it is apparent to me that this adoption is not just about us becoming a family. God has and is using this journey to refine us. to deep our relationship and further us in our walk with God. i have grown spiritually more in the last few months than i ever have. i have been broken down to the point where God is the only strength, the only refuge i have. while it's a painful place to be in some ways, it is where true beauty and life changing grace is found. thank you God.

at this moment, Lord willing, we will be picking baby up on either monday or tuesday. please continue to pray for the birth mother, the baby, and that God will continue to work deeply in our lives.

peace and love

Something Beautiful

today was one of those truly beautiful moments in life. meeting and holding this child was so humbling and so beautiful. i know i've said that i have had humbling experiences before...but nothing like this. there are no words...none...that can articulate this moment. as we held this child, in front of and with our birth mother, i've never felt the grace, love and power of God the way i did in that room.

my Holy, Abba Father, thank you for the life of this child. for the beauty you create in the midst of all of our sins. i am in awe of you and the grace you pour down on us that are so incredibly undeserving of your love. we pray for your mighty and perfect will to invade our minds, hearts and spirit and that in the coming days we will fix our eyes, not on our own selfish desires, but on you and your perfect and eternal plan. we love you Father. we thank you for taking us to places we never would have gone and never would have survived without you. thank you for taking us further still. thank you for the love we now bear this child and this birth mother, regardless of what may come. blessed be your name.

amen.

peace and love that is overwhelming...