So Long June

I cannot believe June is over. Another July is here and it's Moonbeam's birthday month! In fact, a month from today she will be three years old.
It's so hard to know that she will spend her 3rd birthday in the orphanage. I never dreamed that a year later I would still be waiting to bring her home. But I do feel hopeful that this will be her very last birthday spent in the orphanage!
So, so long June! May July be a month with lots of good news!

Fabulous Friday

I was in Washington DC for business over the past few days. OK - that's not the fabulous part, it's coming - be patient.

One of the things I have been noticing lately is how there are many blessings associated with this dismal wait! I've always loved how God can take something that seemed incredibly horrendous and turn it into the most amazing blessing one could imagine! (Think Joseph and the way his brothers sold him into slavery - that had a wonderfully happy ending. Or, on a lighter note, turning lemons into lemonade.)

What the enemy means for our destruction God can redeem and use for good purposes! (my paraphrase of Gen. 50:20)

All that said, here's the FABULOUS part. I had the opportunity to meet another amazing PAP and, until now, virtual friend - Pamela. She is adopting the lovely miss Tulla Belle from the BBH where Hannah also resides. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Pamela online and on the phone so it was just wonderful to meet in person. She is an amazing woman, with a heart for God and to top it off she is passionate about the welfare of children.

And, if all this weren't enough, Pamela invited Tom and Rebecca from Joint Council on International Children's Services to join us. JCICS is working tirelessly to cut through the red tape and help the waiting families bring our children home! Tom and Rebecca are both passionate about children's issues and are committed to connecting them with loving families. I got to know each of them better over drinks and dinner. We had such a great time. We laughed and talked and sippped a few drinks. Before we knew it over three hours had passed. Not only are Tom and Rebecca amazing advocates for children, they are a ton of fun! It truly was a Fabulous Friday! One I wouldn't have missed for anything!

Faithfulness, Part One

Note: I started this post earlier this month and am just now getting back to posting it....it's such a poignant reminder of what a roller coaster this adoption journey is. I am not deflated today at all, but who knows what this week will bring....sigh.

As I sit here feeling completely deflated, I am filled with the sense that I need to remember His faithfulness to me. One of the things I love about reading the Old Testament are the many places where the Israelites take time to remember, aloud, the many ways that God has been faithful to them. There are literally dozens of passages where the people recount all that God has done for them.

I feel like I need to do that - I need to recount the many ways that I have seen God's faithfulness to me on this adoption journey and I know there are many! I need to remember and choose not to lose hope!

I remember...during my wait for a referral I prayed that You would not send me to Kyrgyz on my visit trip by myself. There was a VERY small window of time that my dear friend Elisabeth would be able to accompany me. And You worked that out down to the very day! Thank You Lord!

I remember....how nervous I was about meeting the other family that would be sharing this experience with me. I was concerned how the details would work themselves out - sharing a driver, translator, 5 people in a Jetta in over one hundred degree weather! Thank You Lord for Jeff and Lisa - what a blessing it was to get to know them! How privileged I feel to have shared my visit trip with them. They will definitely be friends for life! :-)


Lord, You are faithful!

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today I said yes, I will be your mama Moonbeam. I will never stop feeling like your mama! I pray for you everyday. I miss and love you!

I Think He likes Me Better

I just came back from a very brief business trip to Orlando. I left yesterday at 3pm and I'm already home. Here's an excerpt from my conversation with Syd when I got home tonight...

Syd....Did you go to Disney World?
Me.....No
Syd....Awww. Was it a business trip?
Me.....Yeah
Syd.....Awwww. I was hoping you'd get me a present from Disney.
Me.......Oh, well, I didn't make it to Disney
Syd......Well, I'm going to buy my own present when we go on vacation.
Me.......Says who?
Syd......Says me. With money from Papa
Me.......(cracking up) You are one lucky little girl. You know Papa never gave me money when I was a little girl
Syd.......Well, I think he likes me better!

And you know what, I think she's right :-)

Snoopy Dance

Just in case you weren't too sure what Snoopy dance I might have been referring to in my last post....

Image found here

A Call to Pray, Part 2

I don't feel at liberty to share the details, but God is on the move! I truly believe that we are seeing some positive signs that progress is being made to bring the kiddos home. I still have no idea of the when or the how soon, but I feel confident that we are "trending positive", and that is something to celebrate!

I think I'll be doing my happy dance tonight - picture Snoopy!

Thank You, Lord for Your presence and peace! Thank You for Your unending mercy and patience with me as I have, of late, tended to assume the worst and not the best. Thank You that You have not forgotten these orphans and that You are on the move to place them in families!

A Bit of an Anniversary

I realized that this time last year I was in the midst of considering the referral of my sweet little Moonbeam. I received her picture and information for the first time on June 11, 2008! I remember staring at the picture, wondering are you my daughter? Oh, how I wish I could post that sweet little picture here, but not until you are home forever! I went back and looked at my journal from those days and it was so fun to remember the things that God did to confirm in my heart that yes indeed you were/are my sweet little Hannah!

I looked at the notes I took from my conversation with Dr. Ochs - a Pediatrician who is also an adoption specialist. I emailed him Moonbeam's medical information and her picture. The first thing he said to me on the phone was, "the picture says it all, I think you have to go and pick her up". He told me that "you just can't fake a smile like that, she must be being well cared for".

It's hard to believe that an entire year has passed and she is still living in an orphanage. I don't understand this at all, but I will wait. And perhaps the three Kyrgyz women who have begun to champion our cause will have great success in their upcoming meetings with parliament! I know they have many people praying for this to be true!