Still No News

So I guess I lied because I said I wasn't going to update my blog until I got a court date. But shortly after my last post, God had a little talking to me about my attitude. So I thought I'd share some of what God is teaching me. First of all, I am continually amazed at how much God is working in my life. And it would take way to long to type it all out. But I'll give you a brief look.
I read a devotional that talked about being a picture to the world of what God is about to do. And it ended with the question: How can my life be more of a picture of God's heart? I felt so convicted. I felt like God slapped the back of my head and said "HEY! IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!"
This story, this adoption, is about God. It is for His glory and to demonstrate his redemption. It's not about me, and my desires. God is not with holding good from me. He promises to work all things for good for those that love him.
I also read a couple of passages. Psalms 130:5 "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."
And I can't type out the whole passage, but I read Isaiah 40:21-31. But verse 23-26 says, " 23He it is who reduces rulers to nothing,
Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
24 Scarcely have they been planted,
Scarcely have they been sown,
Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth,
But He merely blows on them, and they wither,
And the storm carries them away like stubble.
25" To whom then will you liken Me
That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing.

Goodness, I can't even begin to tell you all the ways that this (and the rest of the passage) speak to me. But the gist of it is this: my heart needs to be waiting on God. This adoption is not being controlled by the paperwork, the agency or the "judges of this world" God is in complete control. I need to lift my eyes up to him. My hope is in HIM. He will give me strength. He has not forgotten my cause.

So I realize, that seems long. But that is as brief as I can put it. Please continue to pray for me, for Violet, and that we get a court date.

Forever waiting

So, we had heard our paperwork would be done. It's not. We're still waiting. I don't know when it's going to be done. So honestly, at this point when I hear updates, I'm not really getting my hopes up. We'll get a date when we get a date. I'm not going to keep expecting it to be soon just to hear, we're still waiting. We're both pretty frustrated and discouraged. So, I don't really plan to update my blog again until I actually have a date. Thank you for your prayers.

New Blog

As you can see, I fancied up my blog. Do you like it? Well, usually Wednesdays are the day that I hope for a court date. But Sue had told me that I would not be getting one this week. Since our paperwork should have been finished on friday, hopefully they'll turn it in to court this week. But so far I have no confirmation of that. She didn't receive any of the updates yesterday, so hopefully tomorrow we'll hear the status of our paperwork. BUT, please keep praying for a May court date. AND please keep praying for Violet. AND, please keep praying for me. The waiting is so tremendously hard. I can't possibly explain how badly I want to go get my baby. I want to hold her more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.

He Still Answers Prayer

So, after finding out on Wednesday that they expected it to be a few weeks before they got the paperwork together to submit to court, I completely fell apart. I cried and cried and vented to my sister and my friend, and cried and prayed and read my bible and prayed some more. I prayed that God would do something. I begged him to do something, because I felt like I couldn't do this anymore. Yet there's nothing I can do to change it. It wasn't this beautiful spiritual moment with flowery words. It was me bearing the ugly parts of my heart to God.
Then Thursday I got an update from Sue (my caseworker). They spoke with the Orphanage director and he said he was working on the paperwork and thought he would have it done by today. PRAISE THE LORD!!!! So our paperwork should be turned into court next week. So hopefully we'll find out what our court date is either the 15th or at latest, the 22nd. Things are moving.
I'm so encouraged for so many reasons. Not only because this puts us SO much closer to getting our baby. But because I poured my heart out to God. And He listened. And He answered. We don't always get the answers we want when we ask the Lord, because we don't always see the magnitude of what He is doing. But He's still faithful, He still answers prayers, and He still moves the mountains. Praise the LORD!

A Few More Weeks

So here's the gist of what I got today. We did get an update but no court date. And it looks like we will not be getting a court date for a few weeks. So here's my prayer requests: Pray that the paperwork would miraculously be processed quickly. And possibly more importantly, pray that I would let go, and God would give me peace.

"Any News???" " Nope still waiting"

This Tuesday will be one month since we got our second medicals and have been waiting for a court date. The good news is that court dates have sped up and more people are passing court. The bad news is no matter how I look at it, I still don't have a court date! :) Once again, I'm hoping for this Wednesday. I have been doing very good during the week at trusting the LORD and not obsessing over the adoption the way I had been in the past. And believe me, the peace that I feel is ONLY from the Lord.
I am going to try to turn in an order for more T Shirts this week. I am ordering the black ones which can be seen on the right hand side of my blog. So if you are interested in buying one, let me know what size so I can be sure to include enough on the order.
A friend of mine came across this verse and shared it with me. I have since read it almost everyday. So I thought I would share it with you.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

This song encouraged me today.

Be still my soul
The Lord is on your side
Bear patiently
The cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God
To order and provide
In every change
He faithful will remain.

Be still my soul
Thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through stormy ways
Leads to a joyful end.

Be still my soul
The waves and winds still know
Still know
His voice who ruled them
While he dwelt below.

Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.