We received the notice in the mail on Tuesday that the fingerprinting/name search process is over! We have since completed our I-800 A and reviewed the final draft of our home study. My arms are beginning to ache even more for our precious daughter. Her furniture is in; her room is being painted next week, she received her first baby doll from Nana - we are ready!!
Thank you for your continued prayers! We serve an amazing God!!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Diapers and Doughnuts
I am hosting Diapers and Doughnuts this Sunday afternoon, February 20 at 2:30. Please come and bring your daughters and your diapers! Sally Batchelor will be here to speak about her recent adoption from Uganda and we will collect cloth diapers to send to Africa for the diaper-less orphans! Come and bring friends!
Lisa
Lisa
Friday, February 11, 2011
Fingerprint Update
We did receive notice that my fingerprints were rejected, and now we are in the Name Search phase. It seems funny to rejoice that they were rejected, but we felt all along they would be and they were just sitting (in God's hands, of course!) This next step could take 2 weeks - could be shorter. We are thankful for some movement! And thankful for your prayers!!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
147 Million Orphans at Parkview
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Fingerprints - again!!
We received news early this morning that the systems were still down in Montgomery and that there had been no progress on my fingerprints!?
I have to say that as my exhaustion sets in from Belize and we try to get back into routine with homeschooling - I was just down and disappointed.
I just felt defeated! I have lifted this in prayer sooo much.
But, I had some quiet time with God today in my car while John Reese was in guitar - and I just told God how sad I was and how I don't understand, but that I would praise Him regardless.
I know He has called us to adopt and He will lead. I just have to remember that my job is to follow - not to try to cut in front of the line and take over for a bit!
I also prayed specifically that the I.T. people that were in the Montgomery office today working on their systems would care about my prints enough to try to make them go through - that someone in that office would just try - today!
And.... Reese called about 2:30 to let me know that they had gotten the computer to read and send the prints!!! Hallelujah!
Now, there are still some steps with the fingerprints as they will either be accepted or rejected by the FBI and then a name search will begin. Please pray that this is not such a complicated process!
However - as those people in the ABI office have been without computers for a whole month (yes!!) I just know that they were wondering what on earth was going on - and God was delaying these prints until today - for His reasons!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
I have to say that as my exhaustion sets in from Belize and we try to get back into routine with homeschooling - I was just down and disappointed.
I just felt defeated! I have lifted this in prayer sooo much.
But, I had some quiet time with God today in my car while John Reese was in guitar - and I just told God how sad I was and how I don't understand, but that I would praise Him regardless.
I know He has called us to adopt and He will lead. I just have to remember that my job is to follow - not to try to cut in front of the line and take over for a bit!
I also prayed specifically that the I.T. people that were in the Montgomery office today working on their systems would care about my prints enough to try to make them go through - that someone in that office would just try - today!
And.... Reese called about 2:30 to let me know that they had gotten the computer to read and send the prints!!! Hallelujah!
Now, there are still some steps with the fingerprints as they will either be accepted or rejected by the FBI and then a name search will begin. Please pray that this is not such a complicated process!
However - as those people in the ABI office have been without computers for a whole month (yes!!) I just know that they were wondering what on earth was going on - and God was delaying these prints until today - for His reasons!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Belize Family Mission Trip
When God leads His people through a spirit filled week of service, it's just hard to put it into words. But, I am going to try.
Reese has been to Belize four times with medical, dental and construction teams. He left a piece of his heart there many years ago. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity he had to go because it changed his life - thus our lives. Although I felt like I understood what he did and how he was touched, I really had no idea!
What a blessing to be able to take our entire family on this trip.
We worked hard painting; we handed out school supplies; we interacted with deaf and hearing children; we experienced pure and sincere worship; we formed new relationships and strengthened existing ones, and we met amazing people!
The trip was special on many levels. First of all, traveling to a third world country and seeing extreme poverty certainly makes us realize how blessed we are in some ways. However, seeing the true joy that radiates from the people - makes us wonder if all of our "stuff" doesn't get in our way - especially in our relationship with our Lord.
The trip was also a time of spiritual renewal as we saw people living out lives of obedience to the Lord. It is a challenge to me to attempt to live out this obedience in my life here in Decatur. We spent so much time praying to God and praising God and seeing God at work that we will never be the same again!
Our hearts ache today for the precious time we had in Belize and for those we miss. We were especially blessed to spend time with two of the most godly and humble people I have ever met. I won't be able to sum it up with words, but we love them and we were blessed to spend a week with Buddy and Kathryn Hardy as they live out the Great Commission in Belize!!! Check out the last picture of Ellie and Buddy aka "Chief" on our prayer walk at the Valley of Peace. What a precious example he is to us and our children. Another team of people from the Decatur area will leave on February 12 for a medical and dental missions week through Fishers of Men. Please join me in praying for this team as they prepare to go!
Singing "He Touched Me" and Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace"
Riley, Tillman, Mr. Dan and John Reese. Mr. Dan is a missionary at Cayo Deaf Institute (CDI).
Serving lunch at the Valley of Peace
Handing out flip flops at schools
We painted a dorm for the workers at CDI.
Our new friend, Larry aka Steve serving lunch
Ingram, Ellie and Kris at CDI - Oh what a precious time!
Ellie LOVES and MISSES Ms. Kris.
Yes, this is John Reese!!
Riley working on a home for the kids at CDI
John Reese and Tillman found flip flops "slippers" for all of these boys!
Reese has been to Belize four times with medical, dental and construction teams. He left a piece of his heart there many years ago. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity he had to go because it changed his life - thus our lives. Although I felt like I understood what he did and how he was touched, I really had no idea!
What a blessing to be able to take our entire family on this trip.
We worked hard painting; we handed out school supplies; we interacted with deaf and hearing children; we experienced pure and sincere worship; we formed new relationships and strengthened existing ones, and we met amazing people!
The trip was special on many levels. First of all, traveling to a third world country and seeing extreme poverty certainly makes us realize how blessed we are in some ways. However, seeing the true joy that radiates from the people - makes us wonder if all of our "stuff" doesn't get in our way - especially in our relationship with our Lord.
The trip was also a time of spiritual renewal as we saw people living out lives of obedience to the Lord. It is a challenge to me to attempt to live out this obedience in my life here in Decatur. We spent so much time praying to God and praising God and seeing God at work that we will never be the same again!
Our hearts ache today for the precious time we had in Belize and for those we miss. We were especially blessed to spend time with two of the most godly and humble people I have ever met. I won't be able to sum it up with words, but we love them and we were blessed to spend a week with Buddy and Kathryn Hardy as they live out the Great Commission in Belize!!! Check out the last picture of Ellie and Buddy aka "Chief" on our prayer walk at the Valley of Peace. What a precious example he is to us and our children. Another team of people from the Decatur area will leave on February 12 for a medical and dental missions week through Fishers of Men. Please join me in praying for this team as they prepare to go!
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