The Longest Post Ever...Plus Our Big News

Boy, this weekend was a doozy.

As usually happens when it is the absolute least convenient time, I got sick. I don't believe I've been quite that sick in a loooong time. Of course all the kids have had it in varying degrees too, and as usual, Jeremiah escaped unscathed (so far), which is a good thing since he will be working with our church family to build another church in town this week.

On Saturday he took the kids (all of them- swoon!) to his parents' to play in the pool, then to church for Drive-In Movie Night ( Mary Poppins) which I really wanted to go to, but instead I stayed home and slept which I also really wanted to do.

I may also have eaten more than an appropriate number of ice cream sandwiches. But that's neither here nor there.

Friday Ethan and I went on a date. He wanted to go play tennis and go to the mall (?) But we just went to the grocery store and Walmart; and he wanted to go to the park, but I was beginning my downward spiral so I didn't feel like being out in the 90+ degree heat. We got him a water gun, and he picked one out for Charlotte too.

He said at one point, "Mom isn't it so nice of me to go on a date with you?"

Next time he wants to get ice cream and chocolate milk and go to the park.

Even though I didn't feel good, it was one of the best dates I've ever been on.

I feel the need to preface this with something-

like, " I know this is going to sound crazy..." or " I never thought in a million years I would be saying this..."

But the truth is:

God answers prayers.

He is :

Loving

All- Knowing

Merciful

Compassionate

Faithful

And He has had a plan from before the beginning of time for us and we are humbled and in awe that He has chosen this for us.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord,"and will bring you back from captivity."

Jeremiah 29:1-14

Awhile back, I posted this, telling you of something big that God was doing in our lives...

We had prayed that God would take over control of our family and be the leader, the One who decided how many children we would have, etc. And He is painting a picture that is surprising and different than we probably would have thought up on our own.

So are you ready?

Are you just dying to know?

Are you on the edge of you seat?

Well then, drum roll please...

..........................................................

..........................................................

The big news is....

We are adopting!

A girl!

From Ethiopia!

I know, crazy huh?

I'm sure you will have lots of questions. I know what some of them will be, and I will try to compile a little Q&A list here in the next few days. But feel free to ask us anyway, if there is something you want to know, like

What in the world are you thinking?!

This is going to be a long and trying adventure. These things can take up to two years or more. While we wait, we will seek to glorify God in the process.

I'm so happy to have this blog to be able to communicate with you all on a level that is sometimes hard to do face-to-face. We will need all the spiritual and emotional support you can offer. And we covet your prayers.

This is the video that God used to stir our hearts. And especially this verse at the end:

"Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know, and holds us responsible to act."

Proverbs 24:12

Be sure to turn on the volume.