Christmas is wonderful. I love everything about it….the decorating, the food, the craziness…..most especially I enjoy the time with friends and family. 2 years ago our Christmas took an unexpected turn. 2 years ago we were in Guatemala…..God led us to start an adoption the WEEK BEFORE GUATEMALAN ADOPTIONS CLOSED. Yeah. God likes to do that to me sometimes. Talk about operating on faith……We didn’t know where in the world we would get the huge amount of money it takes to complete an international adoption having just finished one 5 months prior. They told us as soon as we got down there that they couldn’t guarantee that we could complete this adoption. Things were sketchy between our 2 governments, and everyone was wondering what country would honor which statements….Everyone else was wondering, but do you know what? I NEVER worried ONE minute about any of those things. I KNEW without a doubt that this was God’s plan, and I KNEW He wouldn’t let government mess stand in His way. It’s amazing that he chose Essie to save at that last hour and even more amazing that He trusted us to go fight for her and be her parents. It’s humbling and reminds me that with God on our side we can accomplish anything. You just have to take that first step on faith. Trust Him that He will keep his promises to you. Believe in yourself enough to let Him work through you… Be prepared that His way is most of the time not YOUR way. I have learned that if I just let go and let God He gives me the biggest blessings you can ever imagine. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and the gift He was to this world. 2 years ago God showed me that He loves every little child just like He loves Jesus. Every child is precious to Him, and He moved mountains, governments, and paperwork to bring one of His children home….. Remember how I stated how everyone was so worried?? Some of those adoptions are STILL IN PROCESS. There are still hundreds of children grandfathered in like Essie whose parents are still fighting to bring them home. I pray for these children and their families….this ordeal needs to be over for them all. During Essie’s adoption Guatemalan courts shut down and refused to release cases…..They added time onto EVERY step making the process take months longer…..and my Essie?? She flew through every step in record time. Her adoption took a total of 7 months, and we started with NO PAPERWORK at all done. If I wrote down EVERY miracle He gave we would be here all day. They were too numerous to count….We trusted God, and He brought her home. If you’ve read this entire story thank you….. I hope it touches and blesses you and maybe leads you to do something you were scared to do before. We were scared to death, but the reward is worth every single thing we had to do to get that precious child home. Take that leap. Take that first step on faith. You never know how God is going to bless YOU.
Two years ago at the very beginning of the journey:
The miracles themselves:
love and hugs,
14 comments:
Oh LouLou...
Sweetie what wonderful stories you have written about Anne and Essie. Essie truly was a gift from God. She came to you to easily to be anything but. What a wonderful blessing, and they are so close in age, they are like twins. Their faces are such joy to look at. I thank you for sharing and blessing me today.
You and DH are truly blessed and what wonderful people you are to open your home to these two beautiful little girls. My DH was adopted when he was 6 weeks old. That was in 1946, and he always says he was very special as he was hand picked by his parents.
God Bless you all this beautiful Christmas season, and may you find so many things to be happy for in 2010.
Country hugs sweetie...Sherry
Oh what a beautiful story and such a miracle from the Lord. He truly is faithful to give us the desires of our hearts and to bless us with His love. I hope you had a Blessed Christmas. Hugs, Marty
Lou,
Thanks so much for sharing. I've been following your blog since before AP came home and I remember well when you put your trust in the Lord that he would clear the path to bring sweet little Essie into your family.
You and your faith are an inspiration to so many of us. It is true that if we put all our faith and trust in the Lord anything can be accomplished. And you are so right that if you can just let go and let God he can give you the greatest blessings ever imagined.
May he continue to bless you and your family in 2010.
I loved reading this story. :)
I was just thinking about your family and this event today as I walked thru Target! I remember the whole journey! Such precious little girls. I think I need to write my whole journey down. I can see so much of God's hands in my journey I bet writing down the details will reveal even more!
That is such a touching story... I think you should have your blog published for these girls to read when they are older. If they every doubted any love in their lifes, all they would have to do is read it- you are a wonderful mom to them! It shows on their beautiful, happy faces. Congratulations to you and your husband for overcoming any obstacles you've had.
Here's to a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family!
:0)
Those girls are gorgeous. It's amazing how God worked through it all to get them to you. Just proof that if God is for us, who could be against us? I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family.
We started Derek's adoption in Sept 2007 - at the end of that month, our agency told us that they weren't sure we would finish his adoption. I never wavered for a minute and always believed he'd come home. Libby's adoption (complete Sept 2006) took longer than his did! As I sit & watch them play together (now 4 & almost 2 1/2), I know it was right to put my faith in Him. I despaired SO many times during Libby's adoption because it took longer than "normal" and I watched friends bring home their babies before I did. His timing was perfect, as always! :)
A Happy New Year to you & your beautiful family!! I LOVE the smocking on the girls' dresses!!!
Oh Lou, I know your story but reading about it again brought tears to my eyes. What would we do without our girlies? Praise the Lord for His faithfulness! We had very similar timelines. We started mid Dec. 2007 and brought Arabella home at the end of July 2008. God is so good! We were specifically praying for no Kickouts from PGN and for Arabella to be home by her first birthday (as well as all our family and church friends who had no idea what a KO or PGN was)! Since she was 4 months old the day we heard about her, we were told she would likely be 13 - 15 months old before we would have her home. No matter, I still yearned to have her home in record time, and indeed the Lord did it; she was home 2 weeks before her first birthday!:) There is no doubt in my mind that He alone did it! I will join with you and others who read this to keep praying until all the children are home with their forever families where they should be!
Hug those miracles and enjoy every minute with them!
Blessings,
Arabella's Mami
Hi LouLou!
I'm so glad you found this post. You must be searching for a sofa? I just bought a curvy, button tuffted, leggy, antique sofa for $65.00. I can't wait to get to that one.
I was just there this morning. They had at least 20 sofas. I'm not kidding. About 8 of them were that same shape as the PB one. You could try Craigslist. They have old, cheap sofas all the time. And I KNOW you could make this cover!
I got the fabric at Hancock. Hobby Lobby has it too. (Coupons!!!!!) Or something like it...same exact color.
Good Luck to you.
I'll help you every step of the way. Like I said before, it's just like making a dress for your furniture.
Kelly
Hey Lou! You touched my heart today with your words! So applicable to what we're going through now. Thanks my friend!
Happy New Year!! I am believing abundant blessings for you and your beautiful family!
In Christ, Aimee'
Happened onto you by way of pinterest - my new fave addiction and saw your 2 precious guat tots! I have an 8 year old, annabelle, from guatemala...your girls are just precious!!!
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