Well, yesterday was Brent’s and my anniversary…we celebrated 14 years. It has gone so quickly and I can say he is still my knight in shining armor!! I’m thankful for the man he is as well as the father he is to my children. He continually amazes me as he interacts with our children…
He surprised me with a cake and card that was so sweet…I was in tears at the sweetness of his actions…I’ll post a picture of cake a little later.
We also had a gift from the Lord yesterday! We were told we had a prospective referral coming in August! So we may get to travel in August. We were so excited to say the least! We now have a time frame in which we can focus…though I don’t know if I’ll sleep easily again until then! My sister-in-law Kelley told Brent, “she won’t sleep until August”. Yep…you were right Kelley, not easily anyway…I had a terrible time falling asleep last night! Wonder how long I can maintain that!
So, since we are at the end of June…might as well say it is July, right? We have about a month more to wait!! Not too long…Pray with us this time will go quickly…
In His Watchcare,
Joy

So, though it may not look as though I’m busy, since there is nothing typed…I have been doing much behind the scenes. We have two extra children this week, a boy and girl…I’m trying on the little girl role for the week. You know I’m lovin’ it!! I have also been pleading with our insurance company to get a special document that our region requires, and I prayed very hard during the run around time…we should have our document by Thursday…I know this was the Lord softening some hearts. We are also waiting on some documents to come back from Secretary of State so we can send that on to our agency. I think we just about have all the paper work needed for our region that we could possibly get, except for our medicals. We have also gotten Annalise’s bed up, as well as finding some more sheets for her bed. She now has two sets of sheets that perfectly match her room!!
If you think of us, pray we will continue to see blessings where paper work is concerned and that the Lord will work beyond our expectations in bringing our baby girl home.
Joy

Ok, so we have a houseful today…6 children, I think that is considered daycare…

We have my two boys, the neighbor’s two boys, and my brother’s two girls…how did this happen?

Here are some pictures of the fun involved thus far…

I’m posting some pictures of H’s b-day, one from a wedding we went to, a cutie-toot bag my sister-in-law, Kelley (B’s brother’s wife) got for Annalise (note: this is the name we have given her, and do not know her name as of yet, and will be unable to tell until Gotcha Day), and finally a picture of one of my baby cousins I was watching for a few hours. It was good for me to reacclimate myself and thinking to having a toddler in the house. I sure do have a lot to do to baby proof, should she be 1-3!!

Well, the paper chase continues to go well. We were able to get our doctor’s licenses, our affidavit, and just now in the mail, our USCIS approval. The only things we have left are insurance letters, and financial statement/original homestudy from our social worker. That is only four things. That feels good. It will be even better when I have it all done…but I know it will come together in time…the Lord is working behind the scenes, as He always does.
I do look so forward to getting “the call” for our referral. Most of the time I have this twinge of ache in my heart…sometimes I can actually put it out of my mind. I’m trusting the Lord to continue to soothe my heart as He has been doing so we can make it through this wait zone. It’s not as long as it has been now…
I would so appreciate your prayers in this regard…
In His Watch Care,
Joy

Sunday morning in Sunday School, our teacher quoted the scripture, “Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will
mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint” I tell you, what a balm on my heart as it tends to ache for this little one we are waiting on. I question sometimes why do we need to wait,
doesn’t she need us now? But I tell you, in my heart, I know He will make a way when she is ready and when we are ready…and in the meantime, He sends sweet reminders such as the above scripture to soothe my heart.
In His Perfect Timing,
Joy

We are in awe tonight of God’s mighty hand…today at school, we were given a gift of a significant amount of money towards our adoption. Words cannot express the utter amazement we feel at this point…except to say only God could orchestrate this type of blessing. I’m so thankful for people who allow God to work through them in mighty ways…we are sooo blessed…
I’ve laughed with a few friends and told them my emotions are out of wack…I truly feel like I’m pregnant!! Lord willing, this pregnancy will come to an end before too long…
Waiting on the abundant blessings He offers,
Joy

We are winding down to the end of the year this week and are having a great time this week. Today, we had our 2nd grade party, where there was all kinds of fun! My students and their parents presented me with their end of the year gifts today…the neatest thing…they showered me with “faberge eggs” and sent money in them to help support our adoption…How sweet is that? They did such a fabulous job on their eggs. I plan to put them in Annalise’s room. One day when she is old enough, I will tell her of the wonderful blessings the Lord gave us through people who loved her before they ever knew her…
I am amazed, continually at how the Lord is providing for us through our process…I know this is His handiwork…
In His Almighty Hands, Joy