The Day I Could Have Met an Axe Murderer & Other Uplifting Stories

When my blogging friend Tracy contacted me about getting together I was thrilled! I excitedly shared my news with my dear husband who immediately replied, "How do you know she is not an axe murderer?" Hmmm...

I am happy to report not only was she NOT an axe murderer, but she was a lovely person with a sweet son and I could have talked to her all day. It wasn't at all like meeting a stranger, but more like a long lost friend. It made me long to go on a blogging buddy road trip so I could meet all of the wonderful people I've become so fond of.

If I had reported on this yesterday I would have told you there was potential for us to go to court this week. Now, I'm not so sure. Our POA in Ghana has taken ill and has been incommunicato since last week. This makes chances for court slim to none. We are praying for his health and that he will be able to return to work soon. Please Lord!

We were thrilled to get a DVD of Mercy in the mail yesterday from our agency. It was great to see her opening our recent gift to her and trying it on. We also got to talk with her on the computer for about 35 minutes. What a blessing! This girl certainly makes it easy for us to fall in love.

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

How Do You Measure Success?

When we returned home yesterday I was feeling a bit deflated. It had been a long day, the smell of bratwurst was making me sick, and my feet were killing me. I knew our day had not been as profitable as I'd hoped and as I sat down to count the cash I wasn't feeling like much of a success. I was praying we'd make enough for half of a plane ticket - last year we had made $700 and $400 on our brat frys. After counting out $231 I was thinking that this day had been a bust! We didn't even make enough for 1/4 of a plane ticket to Ghana...sigh.

After a nice steamy shower and a meal other than bratwurst, I decided the day had actually been a huge success - maybe not financially - but in other ways:

• God blessed us with beautiful weather - the sun was shining and there was a cool breeze blowing all day long!
• Jeff, Delaney & I got to spend the day together!
• We had the ability and the resources to have a fundraiser!
• We got to visit with many friends & family who came to show their support!
• We got to meet someone new from Junction City who follows our blog!
• We had the opportunity to talk with someone who had volunteered several weeks in Zambia and Malawi!
• We are $231 closer to our Ghana trip than we were the day before!

All of those things made for a very successful day indeed.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

Hungry?

Salzwedel Family

Adoption Fundraiser

Brat Fry

Sunday, June 28, 2009

10:30 - 6:00

Festival Foods

We'll be servin' up some tasty bratwurst on Sunday to help bring Mercy home! Please pray for good weather and excellent attendance. Tell your friends!

A Love/Hate Relationship

On any given day or any given moment I have a love/hate relationship with adoption. Lately I've been feeling like I just need to take a break from thinking & worrying about it all. There have been some things going on that have needed extra prayer (is there such a thing as EXTRA prayer...I mean really, you can never have too much!).

I feel like God has been telling me to chill out! So today I decided to do just that and go to the local pool for free swim with the kids. I was blessed to run into several moms that I know and have some adult conversation. I was even introduced to someone new...someone who does foster care...someone who has adopted. Guess what we talked about? Yep, you guessed it - adoption.

The truth is that adoption is thoroughly monotonous. It is emotionally and physically draining. It stretches you in the most uncomfortable ways, but somehow joy is found in walking in obedience. It gives you an understanding of God's love that is hard to explain. I was blessed to be able to talk about adoption today. It reminded me why I am doing this. It is an act after His own heart. I am blessed to be on this journey.

In his heart a man plans his course,

but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

A Watched Pot Never Boils

I've found this stage of the waiting is not very pleasant. You know when you are not expecting any news at all it just seems easier. No/low expectations = no discouragement.

When you think you could get amazing life-changing news at any moment it just gets, well, hard. Really hard. Fridays are the worst because you know it is your last chance for news for this week. Another day checked off on the calendar.

I read today that discouragement is just ungodly thinking in disguise. Ouch! Consider me convicted.

I feel like I'm standing over the stove waiting for a kettle of water to boil. Lord, help me to wait expectantly!

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation
Psalm 5:3

Excitement is Building

Delaney's keen eye happened to catch a show on the Travel Channel yesterday that featured a tour of Ghana. She recorded it and hubby and I sat down and watched it together. I was completely enamored with every scene of the show. I soaked up every bit of footage with eager anticipation of the day we travel to Ghana.

Back when we first changed to Ghana I had serious concerns about whether or not I would ever be excited to travel to this land. How could I ever love this place as much as I did Haiti? The more I hear, the more I see, and the more I fall in love with our sweet Mercy, the more I can't wait to step foot on her country of birth.

I've Been a Bad, Bad Blogger

You know how the saying goes - if you don't have something nice to say...

With that in mind I've not had a lot to say. Last week I was feeling especially exhausted with the adoption process. Now I realize things in Ghana are moving at lightning speed compared to Haiti, but after everything that's gone on for us I have been just sick of the whole thing.

Last week I met someone just starting the adoption process. She told me where they were adopting from and I immediately said, "well you are in for a wait then". She told me it wouldn't be so bad and she thought they would be OK. I didn't say anything, but on the inside I was thinking that you have no idea what this wait and this process will do to a person. That this amazing act can make you feel like you are drowning when standing with your feet firmly planted on dry land. And then it hit me - I have turned into the worlds worst advocate for adoption. That is so NOT the person I want to be.

We were thinking we would have had court by now or at the very least have a court date. Alas, neither of those things has happened. I am praying, praying, praying that we will hear something this week. On Friday I got new pictures of Mercy with the latest care package stuff we sent her. Suddenly most of the bad feelings I was having earlier in the week were washed away. Her smile was like a soothing balm to my heart. Five glorious pictures providing sweet relief from the pain of being separated by an ocean. Reminding me once again that any pain that I have to go through is worth it.

Worth every tear.
Worth every prayer.
Worth. it. all.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise Him,

my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43:5

Dairyfest 2009

Picnic in the Park - Friday night

here piggy, piggy

the big sheep

Mmmm...homemade ice cream

Parade - Saturday

the big cart

oooh, tractors

Wordless Wednesday - Got It!

For more Wordless Wednesday fun head on over to 5 Minutes for Moms.

Hallelujah & Praise the Lord!

I don't believe it! After thoughtfully composing my letter to Senator Kohl's office this morning I went to my e-mail and found a response from USCIS. Praise the Lord!

The e-mail simply said that that processing of our country change had been completed and we should receive our new notice in the next 2-3 days. Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our agency director is leaving for Ghana today so we are praying we will be hearing something about a court date very soon.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18