My Child

  

My Child

You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31

You were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being for you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139: 15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26

I brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.  

You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 134: 13, 14

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me ~ John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you simply because you are my child,

 and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139: 17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5

I want to tell you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:4

And I will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for your is revealed ~ John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39

The Holy Spirit will bear witness that you are my child ~ Romans 8:16

And Jesus will prepare a place for you in My house ~ John 14:2

My promise is for you, who I have called to myself ~ Acts 2:39

Keep yourself in my love ~ Jude 21

Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Today we celebrated "G"'s baptism!  It was a glorious day!
    

Heading to Ethiopia...Ordinary Hero Style

 
I've been waiting for 8 months...Bags are packed - well almost packed...And, tomorrow I leave for Ethiopia, and I am so grateful that I am able to go.  When I board the plane, I will totally be on a spiritual high :)  I can't wait to go love on some little kiddos and tell them how much God loves them.
   
I won't be blogging while I'm there (not that I blog much lately anyways), but you can visit ordinaryheroblogspot.com to see the latest. 
 
Well, I've gotta go finish up some more laundry.

Please say a prayer for our team...that we would love boldly!
 

Catching Up...

  

We're alive over here - just way behind on keeping up the blog.

Life is busy with 3, we've been...

doing hair...

making soup...

 just take carrots, ham, grapes, shredded cheese, canned peaches and microwave for 1 minute...yum?!?

losing our first, then second tooth within a couple of days...

singing in the choir...

 getting guinea pigs (kept at Nanny's for now)...

getting a new dog (again, kept at Nanny's)...

having Easter egg hunts... 

didn't take long for this boy to figure out an Easter egg hunt... 

and, playing a little soccer.

First Family of 5 Weekend Getaway!

   

The kids had Spring Break this past week, so we decided that we would take them out of town for the weekend - just a short little trip.  I prepared "G" ahead of time explaining what a hotel was, what all we were going to do, and that after 2 nights sleep, we would be coming back home.  He did great.  He slept beside the girls bed and did great.

We headed to the local children's museum.

Our first stop was the water area.  "G" loved this area.  The girls have been several times, so they enjoyed being able to show him how everything worked.  We were here for a long time.

Next stop was the art area.  This is "B" favorite spot.

"A" favorite area is the music area.

After about the first half of the museum, we left for lunch.  When we returned, we headed to the science area.  All of the kids loved the hands-on activities.

 

While dad and the girls built a house, "G" figured out how to line-up the tubes to get a ball to go through them.

Next, we were off to our hotel pool.  It was awesome, because as we were headed into the pool, we ran into some good friends of ours.  We were able to hang out by the pool and visit and later do dinner and ice cream together.  They pick up their daughter from ET this week.

At first "G" was a little unsure of the pool and decided to stick to the hot tub.

After putting on some floaties, he decided to jump in.

He's a pool fan now :)

The next day, we headed to the local aquarium.

The kids discuss the "game plan".  I go over the rules of how we stick together, and what to do if you get lost.

After the aquarium and ice cream, it was such a beautiful day, we decide to do some walking.  We did a LOT of walking!!

"G" on his first carousel ride.  He loved it! 

I love this picture.  It sums up our weekend.  We had a great time!

 

God Bless America & Children Around the World

   

The kiddos have all had their school programs and have done fabulous.  I LOVE going to watch them!!!  I am so proud of them!

 

God Bless America

 

A's school did a patroitic 2nd grade music program.  It was refreshing to see the ol' red, white and blue being celebrated. 

  

".....different...different..., but we are all American - American through and through."  (I can't remember all of "A" lines.)

Children Around the World

Next, "B" and "G" had their spring program.  The theme this year was Children Around the World.  They rotate themes every 4 years, so it was fun watching and remembering when "A" first participated as a Spainish Dancer.  They did add a finale this year, and it was AWESOME!

King of the Jungle

First up was "G".  I had no idea how he would do in the program, but I was not nervous at all.  If he participated, then great.  If he froze, then I would be right there to get him, and it would be no big deal.  He did great!!  I was so proud of him, and he was so proud.  He had spotted us as he was walking in; "B" was sitting with her group really close; and he could see "A" sitting in the front with all the kiddos, so I think all of that really comforted him.

He was a little unsure as he walked up front for his turn - but smiling the whole time.  Luckily, we were in the front, so we were right there to give him the thumbs up and encourage him.

By the end, he was KING OF THE JUNGLE!!

It's been fun to see him yelling this periodically around the house.

Can Can Dancers

Their little costumes and routine were too cute.  "B" was super excited to show us her routine.  (The boys in her class did a separate routine.)

The Finale

Given the fact that our family has been blessed by international adoption and given the current situation for orphaned Ethiopia children, I "see/feel" children around the world much differently than I did just a couple of short years ago.  It was really hard not to get emotional during the finale. 

"B" class came back out together and walked around with their letters to "We Are The World". 

Then, they lined up to spell...

Then, the children started singing "Let There be Peace" on earth and let it begin with me.

With God as our Father

Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother

in perfect harmony.

Then, everyone sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". 

I have to say it was the BEST preschool show!!!  The staff, teachers and children did an outstanding job!!



God's Faithfulness - Looking Back - One Year Ago

 

It's around 3:30, and the phone is ringing.  Is this the call that we have been waiting for dreaming about?  A small group of friends just left, and we've all been just gitty about me getting the call any time now.   As I rush to the phone, I just know that it is AGCI - "The Call", and I feel the Holy Spirit telling me no - this is not the one. 

 

"Hi, "V".  This is Julie from AGCI.  I want to talk with you about your parameters."  She goes on to talk with me about what all we are "open" to in a child.  Then, she says that she has a little boy that she wants to talk with me about.  I get "S" on the phone, and as she lists all of the medical conditions that this little boy has, I just kinda fade out.  I just know that this is not our child.  I feel it in every sense. We decide that Julie is just going to email his information over without a picture, and then we will call her back once we have a chance to look over everything.

While we are waiting on the email, I tell "S" that I don't need to look at his information that I just feel the Holy Spirit telling me no.  "S" says okay and makes the heartbreaking call to Julie telling her that we have decided not to proceed.

I'm crying and do what I do when I don't know what to do.  I get my Bible and head to the livingroom.  I need confirmation from the LORD that we are following His will and not turning away this child based on fear.  As I read, I am washed in God's peace and his scriptures speak to me - Stand Firm, Wait upon the LORD.  

 

Later that night, I email Julie asking her to let me know when this little boy gets a family.  S and I have been talking about financially supporting him until he does.  The next day she lets me know that another family is thrilled to pursue him.

So now, we sit and
Wait upon the LORD.

Two weeks later, as I open up a waiting children email from AGCI, I see the most precious 3 1/2 year old boy - "G".  He's the one!

As our 1st court appointment turns into a 2nd, and our 2nd turns into a 3rd, I started to doubt whether or not I had missed God's will.  Was I wrong?  Was the first little boy the boy God intended to be part of our family?  Then, I read a blog where the blog reader went back to see what was going on in her life the day that her son arrived at the transition home.  

Of course, I do the same.

 

The day that "G" arrived at the transition home was the same day that we got the call from Julie about the other little boy.  It was the same day that I felt God so strongly telling me that the other little boy wasn't the one.  It was the same day that God gave me the words to Stand Firm and Wait Upon the LORD.  Words that had comforted me during the disappointments.

Here we are a year later, and I am in awe of God's faithfulness.  I am in awe of His blessings when we Stand Firm and Wait upon Him.

A year ago today, a tiny 23lb 3 1/2 year old boy half-way across the world walked into Hannah's Hope scared and alone.  Today, he is thriving!  He is vibrant, full of life, full of potential, free to be who God has called him to be. 

 

He is our blessing!

 

How Great is Thy Faithfulness Lord Unto Me!

karenhalbertphotography.com

Thank you to Karen, an amazing friend and photographer, who squeezed us into her busy schedule to capture this day of God's faithfulness.

    

Father / Daughter Dance

   

There's only one thing that is sweeter than a little girl who thinks her daddy hung the moon - TWO little girls who think their daddy is the best!

This was "B" first time to attend our church's father/daughter dance.  She was so excited.  The night before I overheard big sister telling her all the details about the dance and telling her that she was just going to love it.