Just Tryin' to Beat the Heat

Let me just tell you that it is HOT here right now! Good grief, it has been between 96 and 99 degrees for days on end. It seems like the only way to stay cool outside is to either be in the pool, the shade, or to be eating watermelon. These girls LOVE watermelon...so do the boys, but for some reason, I don't have any cute pics of them eating watermelon.

We have gotten word that there has been some small movement in the little guy's file that we are pursuing in Ch*na. We are hoping to hear something soon and to be able to post his adorable little face on our blog for you guys to see! Can't wait until he is joining us next summer to eat watermelon with all of us!!

Wish I had news...

Well, I wish I had news about the little guy waiting in Ch*na, but nothing yet. So, we have just been having to pass the time busy-ing ourselves with homestudy paperwork and milkshakes :-)

One sweet story to go along with the milk shakes. When we brought Abby home, Maggie was officially "de-throned". This was quite an adjustment for her. Yet, she and Abby have grown so close. This has been our prayer, especially since they are so close in age. Often I will see them competing for attention, toys, space, love, you name it. But, the other day they were chasing each other and playing hide and seek. Maggie came running up to me and said, "Mommy, Abby is the BEST fwiend (translation...friend)" That just makes my heart smile, and makes me whisper a little "Thank you, Lord." He knits these kids together like I could never do on my own.

Announcing...

someone is missing...

Yep, we are adopting again! :-) We are really excited, and I wish I could post the little guy's picture, but Ch*na hasn't given us the official "go ahead" yet. We have begun the paperwork chase, and we should know more in a few weeks. But, I just wanted to ask all of you to be praying for us and for our (Lord willing) newest little one. He will be a year old this month, and he has spina bifida. He is beautiful, and we love him already. If the Lord closes the door, we know that He has another better family in mind for him.

Thanks!!

Just in case you are sending money to Texas for the Tom Lee family, please note that the address below has been changed just a bit. We got an update on that address in Sunday School this morning.
You guys have all been amazing! There have been responses from Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and even California. Thank you so much - this is a huge blessing for the Lee family, and their neighbors who also lost their homes!
Also, in case you are local and want to help with the clearing of debris and/or rebuilding, this blog http://shoalcreekvalleyrelief.blogspot.com/ has been set up to tell you in what ways you can help best (days, times, tools needed, etc.)

How you can help...

A fund has been set up to help the family of Tom Lee through their church back in Texas. You can send checks with a note saying that it is for the "Tom Lee" family or for "Sherry Lee and family" in Alabama.
Please send it to:
Fredricksburg Christian Fellowship
157 Schmidtzinsky Road
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Thank you guys so much for all of your responses! I know Sherry and family greatly appreciates it! When her daughters Emily and Tiffany were visited in the hospital yesterday, someone asked them what they needed...how we can help. Here is their response, "Please just pray that God will be glorified in all this." He already is, dear ones.

Shoal Creek Road...

A dear family's home...

another dear family's home...

The kids and I just returned from taking lunch out to the families and workers out in Shoal Creek Valley. These are small glimpses of what we saw. Words cannot exress...pictures cannot convey... I drove in silence with the kids looking out the windows, not really understanding what they were seeing. People had spray painted names of insurance companies on poster board and hung them on their mailbox. Many were just walking. Many were just standing beside a concrete slab that used to be their home.

Some of the families were gathered at the home of one family whose home was at least still standing, although they did have a tree in their second floor and no power. They were working hard. All of them were amazingly kind and grateful for everything we had to give them. I asked Nan, the lady in charge of co-ordinating donations for that area, "What do you need most right now?" Food and clothing. But, they don't need an abundance of it, because there is no where to put it. Absolutely no where. She said the main thing they are going to need right now is money. They have to move debris, clear away trash, tow cars that have been tossed like they were toys, and they must rebuild. Sherry Lee is making funeral arrangements for her husband and the father of their 13 children today. Please pray for her. She had to search through the rubble of their home just to find insurance papers and her check book...I can't even imagine.

God is amazing. His power has been so evident. These people are strong because of their faith in Jesus, and it has been amazing to see the body of Christ come together. They will rebuild, Pratt City will rebuild, Tuscaloosa will rebuild, and most importantly, God will be glorified.

Wait...wait...wait...GO!

Ready.... Set.... And waiting for Him to say "Go!"

So, the Lord has been really working in me on this waiting thing. I can't even begin to go into everything we are waiting on as a family...tax issues, real estate issues, information, etc. Waiting has been so, so hard. Everywhere I look, I see/hear the Lord saying, "Wait for Me...just wait." It has been in my devotionals, friends have been speaking of it, etc. Anyway, I started thinking of all the times I have to tell the kids to WAIT...wait until after dinner for your treat, wait to cross the street there is a car coming, wait until the officiant says "Go" or you will be disqualified, on and on. I expect them to trust that I know what is best for them - that is why I am telling them to wait. That was my "Ah-HA" moment. The moment when I realized that Lord was saying, "Wait, child. I know what is best...I see those cars coming. You will run ahead of Me and be disqualified. The treat will be sweeter after dinner." Man, it is easier when it is me giving the lesson to my kids! :-) Oh, to be teachable and smiling as I wait (like Drew is doing at the starting line).

In my devotional ("Streams in the Desert"), one of the quotes was, "Did you ever hear of anyone being much used for Christ who did not have some special waiting time?...so, He withholds the enjoyment and conscious progress because He knows best what will really ripen and further His work in us." Can I ask that the work be furthered quickly or is that defeating the purpose? :-)