A Friday Full of Hope

What a difference a couple of weeks make! My last post on 9/4 was a bit on the hopeless side.
Solomon was right when he wrote, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12).

While I don't have anything concrete to share in terms of a date to leave for the Gotcha Trip, we have had a flurry of news this week! A letter drafted by members of congress, including Ken Salazar from Colorado - (go Ken!) was sent to the Kyrgyz Embassy in DC and to Kyrgyzstan, requesting a meeting with the Prime Minister when he is in the States next week!

Along with the news of this letter, we also heard that a paper in Bishkek published an article specifically about International Adoption and stating that the Parliament is of the mind to lift the moratorium and process the adoptions of the 65 families while they overhaul the whole adoption process. Rather than making us wait until they finish re-writing the family code - which I applaud the Kyrgyz for doing. We want things to be transparent, ethical, legal and most importantly, in the best interest of the children!

I'm trying to manage my expectations, but I feel a surge of hopefulness. There is more potential for movement than we've had in months!

Fridays

Fridays should be happy occasions - and the Friday before a three day weekend should be joyful! Right?
I realize that as this wait to bring Moonbeam home continues, I find myself very melancholy on Fridays.
Another week over.
Another week without news.
Another week older.
Another week of milestones missed.
Another week spent living in an orphanage.
Another weekend to wait through, knowing the next possible news will be Monday.

It just makes me so sad.....sigh

Defending the cause

Sadly, I've no news to share on the adoption front.
I've been spending time looking for Scripture that speaks to God's heart for orphans. Here are some wonderful pictures of this very heart:

In Isaiah 1:17, He commands us to
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.

Proverbs 31:8 tells us to
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

Who would be more speechless, more powerless, more oppressed, than orphans living in institutions?

On the plane to Maui....

about 10 minutes in to the movie, my sister leans over and says to me, "why is this movie in Spanish?"
Huh?
I only had to look at her arm rest to discover the why:
Me: "Uh, that's because you're listening to it on the Spanish channel - English is on channel 1"
As Syd would say, "Duh!"
Sorry, sis, this story was just too funny not to tell! :-)

A Week "Off the Grid"

Much to Lucy's

and Cleo's

dismay, the humans of our family, spent last week here...
enjoying views like this...
and this....
not to be outdone by this...

in fact much of the week, my view looked like this...

and while we shan't speak of how this evening ended, we enjoyed such things as a dinner cruise

and a delicious meal here...

A grand time was had by all! I feel so relaxed and refreshed. It's good to be "off the grid" for a time. I didn't check email, voicemail, my blog or any of the yahoo groups I belong to - it was actually quite a relief! I sure wish my sweet Moonbeam could have joined us! I thought about her every day and I continue to pray without ceasing for her and all of the waiting children. Lord, bring them home!

Hannah's 3rd Birthday Party

We had a great time celebrating Moonbeam's third birthday - although it was bittersweet without her there. Next year for sure! Sadly, Syd and Kristi had a previous commitment and couldn't join us. Do I have some amazing friends, or what? All willing to celebrate my sweet girl even before she is home. I hope someday she will see these pictures of all the friends that loved her long before they even met her, and feel incredibly special!

The princesses eagerly awaiting the cake!

The queens awaiting the cake :-)

The lovely Kristen (on the far right in the picture above) made this delicious cake - complete with Skittles for decoration. It was divine! Yum!

Ready to blow out the candles.

Waiting for the cutting of the cake.

The girls generously opened Hannah's presents :-)

Having fun.

Being silly.

The rest of the crew.

We love you Hannah!

One Year Ago Today, Part Two

One year ago today, I was boarding a plane for London and then transferring to a flight for Bishkek, to meet Moonbeam for the first time! I boarded that plane feeling nervous, excited and a bit overwhelmed. I remember thinking, what does one wear to meet their daughter? (this became a non-issue when my luggage was delayed for four days :-) What an amazing trip! I had such a wonderful time and over the course of that week of visits I bonded with Hannah in a way I never expected. She became my daughter that week. And no matter how long it takes....I will wait to bring her home forever!
Part One here.