In Better Hands

It's hard to stand
On shifting sand
It's hard to shine
In the shadows of the night
You can't be free
If you don't reach for help
And you can't love
If you don't love yourself
But there is hope when my faith runs out...
Cuz I'm in better hands now

[Chorus]
It's like the sun is shining
When the rain is pourin' down
It's like my soul is flying
Though my feet are on the ground
So take this heart of mine
There's no doubt
I'm in better hands now

I am strong
All because of you
I stand in awe of
Every mountain that you move
I am changed
Yesterday is gone
I am safe
From this moment on...
And there's no fear when the night comes 'round
I'm in better hands now

[Chorus]
It's like the sun is shining
When the rain is pourin' down
It's like my soul is flying
Though my feet are on the ground
It's like the world is silent
Though I know it isn't true
It's like the breath of Jesus
Is right here in this room
So take this heart of mine
There's no doubt

You can't be saved
If you're not reaching out for help

Nou fini! Pa gen anko...

We're done! There is no more...

This family is doing the happy dance tonight because our home study is done. Hooray, hooray the home study is done! We should get our official report in a couple of weeks. Praise be to God for getting us through this first part & providing for our financial needs.

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!
Psalm 64:10

Psychiatric Aggravation - Er, I Mean Evaluation

Arrogant: (adjective) having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride.

You know the conversation is not going to end well when the psychologist starts out by saying that he feels the need to inform you that he is "suspicious of private agencies placing children from foreign countries". This tidbit was followed up by "adoption agencies place children with no idea as to what child is good for what family and then he is left to pick up the pieces". Excuse me, but isn't that what psychologists do? I'm certain that helping people pick up their pieces is what earns him that fat paycheck.

I was then informed he would not perform a one visit evaluation, but would need multiple visits and multiple psychiatric screenings and multiple $$$$$$.

Oh brother! I contemplated telling him all we really needed was someone to verify that we weren't psychotic serial killers, but I refrained. I think God was holding my tongue. Thanks Big Guy!

Thanks Katy!

So I just checked in to see what Gracyn's mommy was up to and she re-directed me to a beautiful blog post. I'd like to do the same for you...

Watch the video under the post called "Opportunity to Share" and you will be blessed. I pray if I were in the same circumstances I would have even a portion of the grace this man has shown & to be able to praise God even in the midst of such great uncertainty.

Please keep this family in your prayers.

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Exodus 15:2

Call to Action on Haitian Adoptions

Check out Vera's blog to see the latest update in the ongoing saga of Haitian adoptions.
http://adoptivemomhaiti.blogspot.com/2008/02/call-for-action2007-haitian-adoptions.html

I Want To Be Real

I got this encouragement in my e-mail today from Pastor James MacDonald at Walk in the Word and just felt the need to share. A lot of people who are non-Christians say Christians are hypocrits so why would they want to be a part of that. I've had times in my walk that I can relate to that statement. I pray my thoughts and deeds are genuine.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:1-6

I want to be real. I don't want to force it or fake it or fix it after the fact.I just want to be real.

I want to operate from truth, not from pressure to please or perform for people. I don't want to choose from fear of what others will think of me or of my motives. I want to choose what I know is right because it's good and because it pleases You. Help me, God. I want to be real.

I have the information mostly. I know I'm supposed to read and pray, and I know about worship, too. I know I'm supposed to witness and work for the kingdom, and I know about loving others more than myself. Oh, yeah, I know all the stuff. I know nearly everything I'm supposed to know, and most of all I know that knowing is not enough, because it doesn't displace the denial in my heart. Help me, God. I want to be real.

By real, I mean ready, filled with anticipation when I arrive at Your house to worship You, heartfelt worship. Yeah, that's real.

By real, I mean ready with thanks for the cascade of blessings raining down on my head in this and every moment, genuine gratitude. Yeah, that's real.

By real, I mean an easy choice of obedience to silence my demanding flesh which calls me to choose what You lovingly forbid, obedient holiness. Yeah, that's real.

By real, I mean ready to be generous to people in need, not hoarding or hiding or helping out of guilt. Yeah, giving freely and continuously. That's real for sure.

Help me God. I want to be real.

http://www.walkintheword.com/WeeklyWalk.aspx

Praying for Haiti

I am asking you all to be in prayer for all of the families currently trying to adopt from Haiti. A lot is going on in this country. Satan seems to have a strong hold over the people in power of the adoption process there.

Many families have gotten a lot of bad news over the last few days. Families that have biological children have been told their files will not be signed out without special dispensation from President Preval or have been told they will never be signed out. These families have been waiting for months believing they were making progress only to be told they have not moved at all. The legislation currently being proposed in Haiti could be detrimental to a lot of adoptive families & children.

Please be in fervent prayer for the children of Haiti. Pray that files will be released. Pray that the wicked & corrupt will be removed from power. Pray that President Preval will sign off to allow all of the couples with biological children to complete their adoptions. Pray that all of these road blocks will be removed and that our God will be glorified in the process!

Being Bold for Christ

I was involved in a job interview today that really got my attention. The woman interviewing was in her 40's and was relocating to our area. She was clearly nervous and indicated she hadn't had to interview for a job in over ten years. She dressed simply and her hair was neatly done. There was nothing extraordinary about the lady sitting before me. Nothing about her made her stand out from the crowd. Until she spoke of her faith...

Wow! To be in a job interview - which is an already fear inducing situation - and tell how God is working in your life and how you want to make a difference in the world. To share the message of Christ with three strangers. She was not ordinary. She was bold. She was daring. She got my attention.

God is challenging YOU today to be bold. After all, Satan is bold in sharing his message of sin. Why shouldn't we be bold with the greatest news that has ever been told? Christ's message of hope & love & forgiveness & sacrifice for us needs to be told. I pray we will quit doing what is comfortable and live boldly for Christ.

To quote a great bumper sticker I saw:
Try Jesus. If you don't like Him, the devil will always take you back!

When Love Takes You In

My Favorite People in the Whole World

Home Study...Take 3

Ughh! I thought we would be done with our home study yesterday. I guess Judy will come back on the 26th to meet D & K. She's had two opportunities to meet B, so he is covered. It's not that I don't like visiting with her - in fact I think she's very enjoyable to talk to - but I really wanted to be done so we could get our report & start applying for grants. At least if I'm filling out grant paperwork it will feel like I'm accomplishing something instead of just sitting & waiting (although I suppose I should get used to the waiting part). She did make a nice comment on her way out though, she said "I think you have a lot to offer a child". It was just what I wanted to hear...

I'm currently reading "Brave Enough to Follow" by Stuart Briscoe. I'd like to sign off with some words that have meant alot to me:
"So it is with the call of Christ. He does not fill in the blanks. He does not discuss the fine points. He doesn't have to. He chooses not to answer all the questions, and at times appears to ignore some of the fears. All He does is show us who He is, prove He is totally reliable, and give us the opportunity to jump & discover that He cares for us in love & envisions for us a future beyond imagination. The call of Jesus was, and still is, short on detail but full of promise."

Heartbroken

I've tried not to be down & out about the money thing for some time now. God has amazingly provided the funds needed for our home study and I am eternally grateful. I know the money coming in was through His grace alone.

Our current needs are to pay the $4,000 agency fee and the $670 fee to file our I-600A. I spoke with Sara this morning about our situation. She said COTP had asked how close we were on our dossier because of possible referrals to offer their approved applicants. This has really hit me hard. Our daughter could possibly be at the orphanage right now and I can't say yes to her because of money. I hate this. I feel sad and angry and disappointed. I feel like my hands are tied and all I can do is pray for strength to get through this and that He will make a way for us financially.

Our final home study visit is tomorrow. Please pray that all goes well. Please pray for God's will to be done in our lives through this adoption. Please pray for hearts to be softened and doors to open.

I wanna set the world on fire

Until it’s burning bright for You

It’s everything that I desire

Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but

You, You are big enough

I, I am weak but

You, You are strong enough to

Take my dreams

Come and give them wings

Lord with You

There’s nothing I can not do

Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children

And reach across the farthest land

And tell the broken there is healing

And mercy in the Father’s hands

My hands my feet

My everything

My life, my love

Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire

I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

I’m gonna set the world on fire

Set the world on fire

Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole

Who Are You? Who Who Who Who...

OK, I know I have readers. In fact I thought I was making progress in the "comments" department. But my enthusiastic rise in comments came as quickly as it went. Dead silence. Nothing.

You may think I'm just a desperate loser longing for constant reassurance, but the truth is I'd like to know a little more about my readers and your comments are important to me. Below are a couple of random nonsense questions I'd appreciate each visitor would answer in the form of a comment on this post. Thanks in advance for humoring me...

1. Where's the furthest place you've traveled to?
2. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
3. Chips or popcorn?
4. What's the last thing you bought at Target?

The Throne

Who knew that a new toilet could be both a source of excitement & discontent? The kids seem so impressed with the bright shiny new toilet that my handy hubby installed today. It has however, already caused a slight spat. Again, who knew that who gets to use the new toilet first would be an item worth debating. We decided since K helped with the install he was victorious in the inaugural use of the new potty. Ahhh, it's the little things that make life grand!