We have found out that we have moved from number 3 to number 2 in line. It is very exciting to see movement within our region and I’m looking forward to seeing more…
For those of you who are following and live nearby, we have set a date for our Barbecue. We are having it in front of the fellowship hall at church on April 11th from 11:00am to 2:00 pm. We will serve barbecue plates for a donation. This is the Saturday before Easter, but we are hoping to still have a good turn-out. Be praying it will go well.
I have been so thankful that the Lord has sent encouragement at just the right times, even before the fear could be uttered…I am thankful to know He continues to look after even my emotional needs… He is so good.
In His Watch Care,
Joy

There has been some stir in the water with our agency, meaning there have been some referrals to come in. Though it is not us yet, this can only be good. As far as we know, there are two in front of us, but I haven’t heard from them whether they were one to get a referral. I know for sure there was a referral for a little boy.
I’m on the road to recovery, and was able to go for a walk today in the beautiful sunshine! I’m thankful to have these beautiful days sprinkled between the cold ones, though it can reak havoc on the skin. ;o)
We are working on sending out our letters to family and friends regarding fund raisers, etc. That has felt good to complete. I’ve had a couple of orders for rings which has also been encouraging.
Keep us in your prayers, I keep thinking…its just right around the corner…I can almost feel it. I certainly get caught up in the anticipation. Since my imagination is finely tuned  I sometimes get my heart rate up just thinking about receiving that call…does that count for excercise?
On a serious note, I often ask myself…do I anticipate the Lord’s coming? The truth is, sometimes I do, but not all the time like I should. Lord, forgive me for my lack of love for You…and my lack of anticipation of meeting You face to face in all of Your glory.
In His Watch Care,
Joy

It has been fun to look back over our blog to read various entries which serve to remind me of how far the Lord has brought us thus far. I am a “whole picture” person and like to look at the whole of a situation, but don’t always spend a lot of time on the details. This can be good and bad, but here, I would say it is a blessing. Though there are bumps along the way, on the whole, the Lord has been so faithful and so involved in our lives and this process. I love to be reminded of the little things He has orchestrated in order for things to work out just perfectly.
I was on a Ladies’ Retreat this weekend, and had a wonderful time, but a hightlight was to meet the friend of the speaker who is also a fellow adoptive mother. It was a blessing to share hearts, and feel a kindred spirit, that being the Holy Spirit, bonding us in sisterhood and through shared experience. I’m thankful the Lord orchestrated this as well.
As people ask about our adoption, they usually tag on, we’re praying for you. This has been such a blessing, and I always say, that is exactly what we need. Truly, that is all we need. The Lord will orchestrate all the details that must come together in order for us to complete our adoption. There are days when I feel such an anticipation and feel…it could be today. There are other times I try to ground myself and remember, the trend in wait time is longer. I choose however to remain an optimist! I think the Lord would approve, since it was He who said, He will do what seems impossible, when there seems to be no way.
We are finishing up some of our paper work, and will send it off to Raleigh to be apostilled and then it will come back to us and we will send it on to our agency once we scan the apostilles. We have to keep copies for ourselves, and also send the originals plus two copies of everything. I think we are going to need more ink cartridges!!
Well, I know this is just a “thinking it through” post, but I know when this journey is complete, these thoughts I’ve had will be near and dear to my heart…and one day to our little girls’ as well.
It is all here for you sweet girl…we love you and are praying for you each day…
In His Watch Care,
Joy

Well, since the last post I have been to the hospital with what surely felt like a near death experience. ;o( After a mis-diagnosis regarding my sickness, I ended up at the hospital a week ago Sunday. Come to find out it was not the flu as the first doctor  assuredly deemed, but instead, pneumonia! I don’t think I have ever experienced such pain as I did with this sickness. I have never, to my knowledge run a fever of 104 until one week ago, and I can assure you, I never want to experience such a thing again!
The blessing in it all, or one of them was that I know God was there in it all. He was working behind the scenes to the very last details. My mom who works for a chiropractor had the whole week off, which is a first ever in this doctor’s practice. He had decided to take a week off and let the girls in the office have the week off as well. He usually has another doctor come in and fill in. But this week he did not, and so Mom was there to babysit me during the day. What a wonderful nurse she is!! My sweet husband was there in the evenings, and what a sweet nurse he was as well. These were a few of the blessings I experienced during this time of sickness that I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to experience. It would have been nice to do without the pain…but it was all part of the plan. The Lord had walked before me to prepare the way and well…there is nothing but comfort in that! I’m thankful to have learned the things I did through this trial.
We are still hoping to hear something soon regarding a referral in the next weeks. Be praying for a miracle!!
In His Watch Care,
Joy