Some of you already know, but...

Our Dossier is on it's way to Ethiopia! We still have quite a wait ahead of us, but we're moving forward! Praise God!

Plans

Proverbs 16:
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster

I have to admit; I have not been doing this very well. This is a concept I know and believe, yet I keep wanting to hold onto my plans. The waiting and the unknown seem so difficult. But GOD Himself, the Creator of heaven and earth, is in control. HE will work everything out to its proper end.

When I grow up...

Lately Elizabeth has been into making wishes. She was sure she was a shooting star the other day, never mind that it was early in the evening and still very bright outside. She hurried to make a wish saying, "I wish that I can be anything I want to be!" That's her answer right now when asked what she wants to be when she grows up, too.

I'm proud to know she's listening to something we're saying, and has taken that to heart! This is something we've been telling her for a while, especially when someone mentions that only boys or only girls can do certain things. We tell her that if she works hard and keeps trying, she can be whatever she wants (obviously with a few definite limitations). We've also been trying to explain to her that when we believe in Jesus, we want to make our own desires match with what Jesus wants for us. This concept is taking a little more time.

I am SO proud that she sees unlimited possibilities for herself. I pray that it will continue, that whatever other children we have also grow to have this view, and that we can give them all the support and encouragement they need.

By the way, when she does pick something, she's been saying she would like to be a veterinarian. So, Cousin Megan, we may have a little helper for you in a few years!

Long Day...VERY Long Post

Today was a rough day.

Elizabeth had her 4 year check-up today, which shouldn't have been a big deal. However, lately she has been getting herself very worked-up about every little thing--hence throwing up whenever she tastes her antibiotic. She knew she was going to get shots today (she asked and I had to tell her the truth), and she started crying and carrying on the moment we walked into the exam room. I got her to calm down, and we had a GREAT visit with the doctor. But when the doctor left, she knew it was time to get shots and she wound up again. She started crying and SCREAMING like I have NEVER heard her scream before. (This is the girl who didn't even cry for shots as an infant, and who amazed the techs with her excellent behavior a few months ago when she had to get painful antibiotic shots two days in a row.) We got her on the table kicking and screaming, and the moment they actually started giving the shots she stilled and was silent. She was great and happy again the moment they were done.

Silly me, I figured that since she realized she had made such a fuss over nothing, we were in the clear. I casually mentioned that the doctor wanted her to have some blood tests done. She started crying and whining again. I debated whether to add to the stress of the day by going ahead and getting the blood tests. I figured it was better to get it all over with and not totally ruin another day. Besides, we were already 35 miles from home, and I didn't want to have to drive back up.

Well, you can probably guess how this went. She was calm and happy until we started walking back in the lab. She was supposed to pee in a cup (at 4 years old? Are they serious?), but she was already so worked up that she was screaming and yelling at me for the whole 15 minutes I attempted to get her to cooperate. She screamed the loudest yet when we sat down do have her blood drawn. Mommy was crying by this point, too. Thankfully the ladies were well-seasoned and very patient with us! Again, the moment they started actually doing anything, she was silent and completely still. She just sat and watched her blood go into the vials. Then she was happy and actually wanted to try to pee in the cup for me. Go figure!

Mommy was totally exhausted by this point. So, after all that, we didn't get to go to Chuck E. Cheese like we had planned. I didn't want to take that away from her after all she had been through, but it was late, and I just couldn't do it. We'll go tomorrow.

Looking back over the day, I feel horrible about how some of the things went. I'm not sure how I could have made it any better for her, but I regret some of the things I said. I got so frustrated because I couldn't reason with her or control her that I told her she was being silly, and "STOP IT NOW!" so many times. I don't know if she is in delayed terrible twos/threes. She really hasn't had serious tantrums before. But I do know her feelings and fears are absolutely real to her, and not just silly.

Thank you, God, for giving me such a loving and forgiving child!

Simple Solution

I wish things were as simple in real life as they are in Elizabeth's sweet mind.

Out of the blue, she mentioned that she wishes Jose could come to our house. (Jose is the little boy in Guatemala we were previously matched with.) I told her that I wish Jose could come to our house, too, but that the government will not let him. She asked why. I said that there are some things with his paperwork that the government in Guatemala does not like, and so they won't let him be adopted. She smiled and said, "Well, we could get his papers and draw funny faces on the back. The man in the government would like it and laugh and laugh. Then he would let Jose come!"

Why didn't I think of that! All this worry about proper notorization, state seals, and all we had to do was draw funny faces! ;-)

Waiting

Waiting has been on my mind a lot lately. I realized, it's been over a year and half since we first went to the information meeting at BCS. It's been over a year now since we requested our formal application. At that time, we thought there was a good chance we'd have another child in our home by now. Yet this year we had to start almost back at the beginning again.

God has a very different idea about time than we do. This was posted on one of the forums I read, and it is a good reminder. It is taken from http://www.asliceoflifetogo.com/2006/03/16/waiting-for

Waiting.

We do a lot of waiting.

In Phoenix, we wait for rain. In Seattle, they wait for sunshine. We all wait in line at the grocery store. Some waiting is expected. No one in their right mind ever goes to the Social Security office or the Department of Motor Vehicles expecting to be in and out in five minutes. Some waiting we plan for.

It’s waiting when we didn’t plan to wait that is the hardest.

Like waiting for a job when we’ve been unemployed two months after the savings runs out. Waiting for the doctor to say this round of chemo therapy finally worked. Waiting for a baby to place in the nursery that’s been ready, and empty, for years. Waiting for that estranged relationship to be reconciled.

This is the waiting that exasperates and exhausts us. And if we’re honest, it is a waiting that frustrates and angers us. Because deep down, whether we admit it or not, we realize we’re waiting on God. He could do something about it if He wanted to. So why doesn’t He? Why doesn’t He do something? Anything to show us a glimpse of forward progress?

Most of the time we want our waiting to be over because we’re ready for a change of scenery. We want to be delivered from our immediate circumstances.

All we can see is what’s in front of us.

God has a different vantage point. He sees the big picture.

Though it pains me to say it, our waiting may be God’s working.

Abraham was an old and childless man when God promised him a son. If it was a hilarious thought that at 75 years old Abraham would be shopping for bottle warmers and a bouncy seat, then it was beyond incredible for him to be in the delivery room at age 100. But that’s what happened. God promised Abraham a son. And delivered on His promise 25 years later. They named him Isaac. It means “laughter”. Being a new dad when you’re 100 is pretty funny.
We can read the account in the book of Genesis and we can wonder about the wait. But God must have had His reasons.

Albert Baylis put it this way,
“It appears God wants to do more with Abraham than drop promises on him. Abraham had received an irrevocable promise from God. But being God’s candidate for blessing is not a trip to Disneyland. Because God is going to bless Abraham, he’s going to make him into a man of faith. Because He is going to make Abraham a blessing, God will take whatever time is necessary. And God has never let time bother Him.”

Time bothers us. But it doesn’t bother God.

If you’re waiting, know that God is working. It’s ok to yell and scream about it. It’s ok to wonder how and why. The Bible is full of people who, in the middle of their dry dust wait, threw up their questions to God. No worries. He is big enough to handle them. You may not get the answers you like. You may not get answers at all. But this much is true. God always delivers on His promises. In His time and in His way. And always for your good and His glory.

Hang in there.

The rain is coming.

Party On!

Today we had lots of fun at a birthday party for Elizabeth and her friend Beth ;-) They are three days apart in age, and since we would have invited most of the same people, we moms figured it would just be more fun to have it together. We even went shopping together a few weeks ago to get most of the decorations and party supplies. The girls were SO great about sharing their party. I was very proud of them.

Unfortunately, David and I couldn't find the camera this morning, so I have no pictures. :-( I'll have to beg some from the other moms.

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

My baby is FOUR today! Where has the time gone? She is becoming such a little lady!

Here are four things we love about our beautiful girl:
1. She loves talking and learning about Jesus!
2. She always wants to help!
3. She is SO anxious to be a big sister!
4. She loves to give her mommy and daddy lots of hugs and kisses.

Learn something new every day

Today I learned that our beagle Jake likes to eat dandelions, especially if someone has already picked them. Elizabeth was more than happy to share once she learned that Jake was eating them. Jake is her favorite.

I also learned that Diego likes berry juice boxes. He used his big powerful tongue to lick it out of Elizabeth's hands and then carried it around the yard, spilling some of the juice in his mouth.

We caught them all!

We have no more papers to chase for our dossier. We received our amended 171-H today! I want to jump right up and have it notarized and send it to be state sealed, but that will have to wait until Monday. I really wasn't expecting to have it yet, but I am SO excited that we do! It won't make it to Ethiopia by the end of March, but hopefully it won't be TOO long after that!