journey of a blessed family

Today was G's 3rd birthday and I was soooo hoping and praying to receive approval from China today, but, alas...nothing. I was really pretty bummed out this afternoon--really feeling disappointed and just, well, deflated, but God and I had a little talk and while I don't particulary care for His timing at the moment, it doesn't change the fact that I TRUST Him to be right on time. At a moment that I felt so sad and discouraged today, God gently reminded me that "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, walk and not faint" Isaiah 40-31,32. This is the verse that God had already given me as G's life verse as he is facing a lifelong illness and will certainly need God's strength, but today in my weakness, I claimed it for myself, too!! (Funny how much better I felt when I did that!) Later in the day, I was walking down the hall at work and the heel of my shoe came loose and I thought "It's just one of those days"...to which God immediately replied, "Yes, child, it IS one of those days...it is a day that I have made and you shall rejoice and be glad in it!!" Yes, Lord--good point! I rejoice that even though I didn't get the news I wanted, I know it will come at the perfect time that you have ordained; even though I have some strange medical symptoms (see below), I still have breath for another day; even though G is on the other side of the world and I can't hold him on his birthday, I know his Father is holding him for me and this is the last birthday he will spend without us....Yes, I believe I will rejoice and be glad in it.....

We had some family and friends over this evening to rejoice and be glad it was G's birthday and even had our first 'Chinese' birthday cake (thanks to a friend at work who happened to be in the neighborhood of the nearest Chinese bakery about 100 miles away earlier in the week and picked it up for me). Here's a few pics of the cake and my precious children (all 4 of them!) This is the day that the Lord has made--I pray you, too, will rejoice and be glad in it!! Blessings, D

Nothing from China yet...Today is day 71 since paperwork was logged-in.

Next Friday is G's 3rd birthday--I really hope to have received confirmation by then. But, then again, I have to trust God's timing and know that when He ordains it to happen, it will happen.

Hmmm...what else is going on besides waiting for the phone to ring...kids had soccer games today...My dad and stepmom have been visiting from Florida for the past couple weeks...E got a new haircut today--too cute!

I have nothing exciting to tell you...oh, here's an interesting tidbit--for the past couple of weeks I've been smelling cigarette smoke (when there is none) No one in my family smokes (yes, I'm sure), no one I work with smokes, I smell it in my car, I smell it in non-smoking establishments...everywhere! Weird, huh? I saw the ENT a week ago and he was a little baffled since I don't seem sick in any other way except the smelling smoke symptom, but we're thinking maybe I have an underlying sinus infection that has been hanging around since way back in the Spring when I was sick with a double ear infection and sinus infection and was generally more sick than I'd been in many, many years. So...we're trying a long, strong round of antibiotics to see if we can knock out anything that may be lurking, but I'm quite baffled...Anyone experienced this one before? I'd love to hear about it. I guess I win the strange medical symptom of the month award!

Well, not much related to the adoption, (today is Day 66 of waiting for Letter of Acceptance--shouldn't be long now) but plenty has been going on in our household in the last few weeks. The kids started back to school a few weeks ago....

(oops...swing and a miss...but she has good form!!)

WOW--I'm Tired!! We've been a busy crew.

I also sent a birthday package to China last week (to celebrate G's 3rd birthday on Sept 12), but was in such a rush to get it to the post office before the Labor Day weekend, I forgot to take any pictures! The orphanage is supposed to have a cake and take pictures for me, so maybe eventually you'll get to see some!

Hoping to hear from China any day now....please pray, as always, that we have patience to wait for God's timing!! I'll be sure to let you know right away when we get word, but for now, I'm going to call it a night....Blessings, D