God is Good

 Wow!  It's been a while since I've updated this blog.  With the pandemic, waiting for paperwork.... life, it almost feels like another lifetime has passed.  :)  We have had SUCH good news these last couple months!  

It began this past February when I reached out to Holt see if there was any change in Muaysai's paperwork.  They responded the day after Easter... her paperwork is complete and SHE IS ADOPTABLE!!!  It was a much longer wait than anticipated.  Many times they reached out to see if we wanted to move forward with another match and I just couldn't do it.  I firmly believe I am supposed to be her adoptive mama.  This journey has not been my doing alone, but the Lord's along with the precious support of my husband and children... we are doing this thing!  

What does this mean?  We can now continue on the journey of adopting Muaysai!  Essentially we get "back in line" which they informed us usually means 1-2 yr from this point.  We just finished our second homestudy update and we are about to renew our USCIS immigration paperwork for the third time as well.  All of the sudden, the wheels are moving again.  We don't know for sure, but it is likely we could be leaving to get her inside a year!  We just signed the acceptance paperwork today!  Tears of joy stream down my face as I think of this beautifully orchestrated plan.  I just have so much love for this little girl.  I am also heartbroken that I can't share this moment with my mother.  Grief doesn't get easier, just different.  I know she is looking down from heaven and overflowing with joy for us.  Muaysai won't know my mother on this earth, but I believe she will help shine a guiding light, pointing us upward towards the ultimate Light.  I've found that if we quiet ourselves, the evidence is overwhelming.  God is Good!

A special thanks to many of you who have prayed and supported us during this adventure.  A few days ago I went to check the balance of our adoption savings account which when combined with the connected hearts ministries fund (that many of you contributed to) is just $3.83 short of the $14,560 we need!!! Can you believe it?!?! (Don't worry, a kind soul already paid the difference... you know who you are:)  Yeah, God is good!  I just get so emotional every time I step back and look at how He has provided through you all to supply our every need in this process. THANK YOU!

Muaysai turned 5 this past February and she is just the cutest and sweetest sister!  I can't post the pictures and videos, but if you see me... just ask me to share! She is walking steadily on her prosthesis and receives regular physical therapy.  Now our focus shifts to preparing our children, ourselves, and home for her arrival.  I can't even imagine the pain she will have to endure as everything she knows, her culture, communication ability, friends, and caregivers are stripped from her.  I feel deep pain that we will be that catalyst.  I pray we will be able to provide her with an instant sense of peace, love and comfort.  It will be harder now that she is older; she will likely remember living in an orphanage and hopefully developed strong bonds.  I hope and pray that we have all learned many things these last couple years and that the growth of those experiences will help our whole family prepare for this change. We have all adapted, cocooned unexpectedly, dealt with our own biases in how we interact with all those around us and have been challenged to love those despite differences of opinion and views.  This is messy living at it's best and I pray we all continue to listen to each other.  I think Muaysai will benefit from all the work we've done as a family these past few years and I hope she can benefit from our growth together, after all we are truly better together.  It's going to be hard, but I pray that love and healing abound.  

Prayer Requests:

Approval from Thailand occurs swiftly

Muaysai would welcome the photo book and gifts we will soon send.  That she would have peace and desire to know us more.  

Travel and preparations for such

Trav's Celiac Disease (new diagnosis in the last few months):  I'm sure he is LOVING this PSA.  ;) This was unexpected and is basically a hard core gluten allergy (not to be confused with intolerance).  It requires a strict diet and ramifications can be serious without diligent adherence.  Pray for his gut to heal and that he would gain weight.