Big News

It's a snowy day here today.  The kids are home from school due to the weather outside.  There is much talk about "spring" and how it still feels like winter - and indeed it does.  Yesterday it rained almost all day.  Then it snowed all night and there are still flakes coming down today.  A sweet friend of mine that grew up in Africa told me today that when it rains in Africa it is God's blessing raining down.  I feel like today God's blessing have been pouring on our family.

Yesterday, Amanda and my mom were invited to a have a authentic Mexican meal with a friend of my mom's here in town.  Amanda came home so excited and said that she just ate the best meal she has ever had!  While they were eating, this neat women was sharing with Amanda and my mom about prayer.  She shared with them that there has been times when she was was hungry in Mexico that she would pray for food, and guess what... our awesome God provided.  Food would "show up" at their door.  Amazing!  Well, as Amanda was sharing with me, I said ... Amanda, maybe we should pray to find out about our court date for the twins ... and maybe we should pray specifically that we will find out about our court date TOMORROW.  Amanda and I continued visiting - which was so special to me.  Amanda is a busy teenager and the time that her and I just get to sit together and talk seems to be getting less and less.  Then we went to bed ...

We woke up this morning to Awesome news!  Our agency notified us that we have a court date scheduled!  We know that we will be in Ethiopia on May 18th for court!  We know a day that we will be able to hold two little boy's hands in our hands while we stand on the ground of their birth country.  We are one step closer to bringing these little ones home to our home.  It is sooooo exciting!

So, after I read this email I thought about Amanda and our conversation last night, I wondered what she would have to say when she woke up to this new news.  Grace woke up first and heard the news.  She went down to Amanda's room and told her... and Amanda came running upstairs and gave me such a big hug I can still feel it in my ribs - she almost picked me up off the ground - and her words to me are still echoing in my heart ... "MOM, I prayed about that last night!  I prayed we would hear TODAY when our court date was".  And we did!

I have some dear friends that are putting on a shower in honor of our boys this weekend. .  I found out today that as they were meeting and working out the details of the shower they prayed that we would hear the news of our court date this week.   Thanks ladies for praying and for all the work you are doing by throwing this shower.

And, as we were worshiping at church last Sunday standing next to a family that we treasure, the worship song "Mighty to Save" started playing I couldn't help but reflect on their experience of waiting for a referral for their little boy.  I am so thankful for this family and the wisdom they have been able to share with us as we have walked through this journey.  And, as we sang "Might to Save" I found myself prayerfully asking God to "please give us a court date soon".

I have to admit, with all the things going in in Ethiopia these last few weeks, I have struggled with doubt.  I have spent time worrying.  I have thought negatively about things.  I will still be on my knees in prayer for Ethiopia and all that is going on.  I will be in prayer about the rest of the journey we have to walk down before we can call these little boys "our children" legally and bring them home.   But God is reminding me that He is in control and that instead of spending time doubting, worrying and thinking negative I am going to work on focusing on spending my time asking what He would have for me to do - what my part in things is and how I can help to be a light and share truth.  Because the truth is, it is not about me - It is all about Jesus.

To God be the Glory!