What We've Been Doing While We Wait

January has been quite a busy month. That's a good thing. It helps the time pass quickly, until we bring GG home. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her being here & doing these things with us. I can't wait until we are sharing life with her. While we wait, this is how we roll :)

Seth @ his 7th birthday skate party:

Coy showing how cool he is:
Some of our friends helping us celebrate:

Seth on the 100th day of school, dressed as if he were 100 years old :)

Daddy had a birthday, too:

The last time Tennessee got a good snow was the year Seth was born. The day before his birthday it had snowed 6 inches. I was 9 months pregnant outside making a snowman w/Coy. What fun memories :) It snowed 2 more inches the day he was born! Snow doesn't happen like that in TN very often. This past Friday, we got between 3 & 6 inches depending where you live. Here in Smyrna we got closer to 3 inches, with some freezing rain to top it off. It made a really fun time sledding.

Seth:

Coy:

All of us :)

Hopeful To Bring GG Home in 2010

It is looking very hopeful that we will be bringing GloriaGrace home in 2010 =) We are very near our fund raising goal for our final adoption fees & travel. We will be in Colombia for 4-8 weeks. We are prepared for 4 weeks. Most of the time it is closer to 4 weeks than 8, but we would like to save a little more just in case. If you would like, here are a couple of ways you can help.

We have a Pay-pal donation button on the side bar of our blog.

We still have our adoption t-shirts for sale. We are wearing them in the picture on our sidebar. You can use the pay-pal button to order, or leave me a comment w/your order.

We also have signed up for a coffee fundraiser through Just Love Coffee. Just Love is a fair trade coffee co. based in Murfreesboro. The coffee ships directly to you, and we get $5.00 per bag sold. You can go here to see the selection of coffee & place an order.

I know that these are financially difficult times for some. Please don't feel guilty if you can not purchase, or give @ this time. God has been so good in pre-paring the way, & I know that He will provide to the finish.

We would love for you all to pray with us as we wait.

Thanks for journeying with us,
Tim, Kelly, Coy, Seth, & GG

Praying for I C B F

We had an update phone call w/our caseworker today. It has renewed my spirit. Usually the phone call goes something like "well I really have no new news, do you have any questions?"
It can be a little discouraging. In fact I really wasn't even looking forward to talking to her today, because I didn't want to hear "there's no new news." :(

Today's phone call was a little different. She told me that they had talked to the orphanage director & was told that we are "taken." She is assuming this means we have been matched & our paperwork has been sent on to I C B F. I C B F is like the department of children services. They have to look over & approve the adoption, before anything else can happen. This can take up to 6 months. :( We will not be told anything about our daughter until they have approved & translated the paperwork.

God chose GloriaGrace long before we even dreamed of adoption. He knows the date of our referral & the date of her homecoming. Would you pray w/us for the I C B F to move quickly in approving our paperwork.

Happy Birthday BIG Seth

We went to order Seth's birthday cake the other day. The lady @ the bakery asked me what I wanted written on the cake. Seth pipes up & says "Happy Birthday Big Seth!" Seth will always be my "baby boy," but today he turns 7 & he thinks that makes him "Big." =~)

Our Traditional Birthday Pancakes:

Seth loves song cards. I found this "big" one :)Birthday Lunch:
We're off to pick up the cake & go to the Skate Center for his party. This is his second year in a row to choose a skating party. Last year he nearly closed the skate center down. Seth man loves to skate :) Will post more birthday party pics. later.

When I Grow Sad & Weary God Fills My Empty Tank

Have I ever told you how hard it is to wait? If I've said it once. . .

Waiting is hard!

I try my best to wait well. Waiting on God's most precious timing, knowing how perfect it is. I have my days, though. Days when much time has passed w/no adoption information & every single person I come into contact w/asking me if we have heard anything. Mostly I am thankful that people are asking & thinking about GloriaGrace. It is wonderful to hear people tell us they are praying for her, & I love love love to hear her name spoken. Sometimes, though it brings up discouraging thoughts. Often people say things like "I just don't understand why it takes so long." Well believe me...I don't understand either. Which leads me to moments of feeling sad & worn out, but then my sweet Father fills me right back up.

Like when I read today's devotional from Jesus Calling:

I am able to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of Me. Do Not be discouraged by the fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark. The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power & Glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention. Keep your eyes & your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.

Ephesians 3:20-21; Romans 8:6; Isaiah 40:30-31

I laugh & think how could I ever have a moment of doubt. (Well I kind of know why-I AM A GIRL :) Yes I am a girl with girly emotions, but I am also a believer. I have faith, and I have a Father that takes care of my each & every need. Physical & Emotional. He will sustain us through all time & in His truly perfect time He will allow us to meet & bring GloriaGrace home.