JOIN US WHILE WE FOLLOW CHRIST WHERE EVER HE LEADS US IN THE WORLD
Friday, January 27, 2012
Approval, Approval, Approval................
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
January 12, 2012
1 John 5:2
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
Happy Birthday Joyce, your family misses you!!
Seven years ago a little girl was born and she was very sick. She had a hole in her heart and couldn't nurse without getting so tired. She never could quite get enough to eat and her birth mother was very worried about her. She was not gaining weight and growing. Her mother couldn't afford to take her to the doctor to save her. You see in 3rd world countries parents are often forced to do the unthinkable. Do I keep my child and watch her die or do I leave her somewhere she will be found and taken to the doctor. The sad truth is that hospitals and other organizations will treat the abandoned child, but not the child that the mother brings in that cannot pay. We are so thankful that Joyce was found and her life was saved and redeemed. Under the meticulous care of the Sisters in the order of Mother Teresa she was saved. They weren't sure she would live. They fed her with a tiny tube down her throat and provided her with her life saving heart surgery. Each child has a story, purpose, and meaning. Each and every life is important whether they are born into wealth or poverty.
.Psalm 34:11
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD
Thursday, January 19, 2012
RAINING ON THE SNOW..................
Revelation 7:16
‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Thinking, and thinking some more. Today I am unable to forget, and I keep remembering the children that live with Joyce in the orphanage. Their faces and those little arms reaching up for love and attention. A little girl that her mother left her while she tried to go school and better her life. This 2 or 3 year old tiny little girl cried so many tears, and begged us to be her mom and dad and take her home too. She loved to be cuddled and rock. I imagine when she closed her eyes she tried to imagine she was in her mother's arms and not mine. The truth is her mom may or may not ever return. A set of twin girls who had suffered malnutrition and their mother had too many young children to care for and couldn't provide them with enough food so she left them at the orphanage in Tema. They were so little and yet so sad knowing that she left them. They were so smart and wanted extra attention. I cannot forget their sad dark eyes. I could not hug them enough. I was glad that Joyce realized we were taking her home and just trying to leave a little love for those babies. In love their mother saved their lives, but what a price, an unthinkable sacrifice. Having to choose being with your baby and leaving them so they can get enough to eat.
Psalm 9:18
But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Talk about weird weather yesterday 18" of snow and today rain and more rain on the snow. Needless to say the snow is melting quickly and what a muddy mess. I am tired of waiting, so much of life is waiting and waiting some more.It is so hard to move so many times!!!!! The truth is we move when we have to, nothing is more important than staying true to our promises. I literally thought life had ended as I knew it when we moved from Montana back to Fort Collins. I still miss Montana, my life and friends left behind. The truth is life is not about my comfort or where I love to live and who I like to spend time with. It grieves my heart that I have friends that I will never see again this side of heaven. We started each adoption knowing that road wouldn't be easy, but luckily we did not know how hard it would be. Three adoptions, three job laid off, and two major moves. Jesus says , "Follow Me" and we will where ever that may be. I think back just a few months and I had a job that I loved and would have stayed there as long as I could. Friends that were so helpful and supportive. A small windy town on the eastern plains of Colorado our home for a season, and we miss the friends that we made. A new chapter in the new year 2012, looking forward to times spent exploring the many beaches and beautiful surroundings. A time to explore Portland and Seattle. We are waiting on the US side of paperwork. In the eyes of Ghana we are Joyce's parents. We are her parents and in the court's eyes. We just need to be approved to bring her to the US. We need that most important visa stamp to allow her to come home. She has waited so long for a family. She has no memories of living with a mother, father, and siblings. No idea about going to school on the bus and living life as most children do. I can't wait to see what US doctors will be able to open up her world to hearing things loud and clear. No more not hearing what is going on, a whole new world to be hold. I am very excited to take Elise with me on the 2nd journey to Ghana. Hopeful that my mom will go, but I am NOT going to try to "sell" her anymore on the life long benefits of such a journey. It either will transpire or it won't. No more middle ground, either do or don't.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NIV
‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Thinking, and thinking some more. Today I am unable to forget, and I keep remembering the children that live with Joyce in the orphanage. Their faces and those little arms reaching up for love and attention. A little girl that her mother left her while she tried to go school and better her life. This 2 or 3 year old tiny little girl cried so many tears, and begged us to be her mom and dad and take her home too. She loved to be cuddled and rock. I imagine when she closed her eyes she tried to imagine she was in her mother's arms and not mine. The truth is her mom may or may not ever return. A set of twin girls who had suffered malnutrition and their mother had too many young children to care for and couldn't provide them with enough food so she left them at the orphanage in Tema. They were so little and yet so sad knowing that she left them. They were so smart and wanted extra attention. I cannot forget their sad dark eyes. I could not hug them enough. I was glad that Joyce realized we were taking her home and just trying to leave a little love for those babies. In love their mother saved their lives, but what a price, an unthinkable sacrifice. Having to choose being with your baby and leaving them so they can get enough to eat.
Psalm 9:18
But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Talk about weird weather yesterday 18" of snow and today rain and more rain on the snow. Needless to say the snow is melting quickly and what a muddy mess. I am tired of waiting, so much of life is waiting and waiting some more.It is so hard to move so many times!!!!! The truth is we move when we have to, nothing is more important than staying true to our promises. I literally thought life had ended as I knew it when we moved from Montana back to Fort Collins. I still miss Montana, my life and friends left behind. The truth is life is not about my comfort or where I love to live and who I like to spend time with. It grieves my heart that I have friends that I will never see again this side of heaven. We started each adoption knowing that road wouldn't be easy, but luckily we did not know how hard it would be. Three adoptions, three job laid off, and two major moves. Jesus says , "Follow Me" and we will where ever that may be. I think back just a few months and I had a job that I loved and would have stayed there as long as I could. Friends that were so helpful and supportive. A small windy town on the eastern plains of Colorado our home for a season, and we miss the friends that we made. A new chapter in the new year 2012, looking forward to times spent exploring the many beaches and beautiful surroundings. A time to explore Portland and Seattle. We are waiting on the US side of paperwork. In the eyes of Ghana we are Joyce's parents. We are her parents and in the court's eyes. We just need to be approved to bring her to the US. We need that most important visa stamp to allow her to come home. She has waited so long for a family. She has no memories of living with a mother, father, and siblings. No idea about going to school on the bus and living life as most children do. I can't wait to see what US doctors will be able to open up her world to hearing things loud and clear. No more not hearing what is going on, a whole new world to be hold. I am very excited to take Elise with me on the 2nd journey to Ghana. Hopeful that my mom will go, but I am NOT going to try to "sell" her anymore on the life long benefits of such a journey. It either will transpire or it won't. No more middle ground, either do or don't.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NIV
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wishing we were closer!!!!
Learning signs very quickly
The important signs for Dad & Mom
Joyce Abena
Showing here attitude in the pose
We miss you Joyce!!!!Come home soon!
No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began
Friday, January 6, 2012
Memories of Ghana and our Joy
On the adoption front we are in the process of waiting for the approval of our I600. This is a US procedure and once this is complete we can request Joy's visa packet. The wait for the I600 can be up to 60 business day and we filed on Dec 14 in Ghana with the American Embassy. Of course holidays do not count for days being processed. So I guess we have only been waiting 12 business days so far:( It looks like March 16 is 60 days and then I have heard up to 5 weeks for the visa. Trying to be patient and save money for the up coming trip. Trying to get all of our medical and dental appointments all caught up before Joyce comes home.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Brent frying yummy plantains, so good!
Joy at Jeanie's for a visit with mom
Joy at Jeanie's with Dad with her new favorite....GUM
Getting my hair done at Auntie Jane's about 3pm
beginning the braiding process 4pm
More braiding 5pm
More hair and braids 6pm and very heavy
Head is hurting questioning my "hair" decision 7pm
9:30 pm and wow is it cool, but my head hurts!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
OUR YEAR IN REVIEW 2011........
Elise and her friend Daisy that we lost in 2011
Feb 2011
March 2011 The Grandma's and Sneha
Sneha's 10th birthday
My hair is growing finally
Our Daisy the best dog ever
The Indian Ocean as warm as bath water
Indian Market
In India for the 3rd time:)
Rural India
Easter 2011 Graedy 13
Brent Easter 2011
Elise Easter 2011 11 years
September 2011 "Our Garage Sale"
The move-AGAIN
Spending time with family at Seaside Oregon
Meeting our new family addition in Ghana, Africa -Joy
Brent and Joy Dec 2011
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