Not THE news, but GOOD news!

 We have NOT yet received the magic word "approved" that we are waiting for from the interview that took place last week. Our agency is working to communicate with the embassy to see if we can find out the status of our case.....so please keep praying!

 

Do we want to hear from the embassy? Of course! But, it has also been 7 long months since we had to leave our son behind in Ghana. 7 months. So today I think I'd rather hear his sweet voice. Really. Or smell his sweet, fresh, out-of-the-shower smell. Ask any waiting adoptive parent. You stare at every picture, watch every video, replay every memory, drink in every detail......because you just don't know how long it will be before you see your child again. YOUR child.

 

Proverbs 25:25
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. 
Tonight we received these new WONDERFUL pictures of our sweet, healthy, beautiful boy!! Our agency director delivered the t-shirt that he is wearing as a gift from us, as well as a letter with pictures of our family. He reports that Nash is doing well and was very excited to received the t-shirt! (He absolutely LOVES soccer!!) The last pictures we saw of our baby were from July, so you can only imagine how it feels to see these - sort of like seeing the latest ultrasound picture, only my baby is gonna be 9 in a few days!!

These pictures are like pure gold.  You just can't put a value on them. I mean, he never leaves my thoughts. His picture is my screensaver on my phone that I look at everyday too, but somehow getting a new picture that was taken  just a few days ago takes me right back to Africa with him. It lets me know he really is OK. That we're gonna be OK. That this is gonna happen. 

 One "God thing" that I wanted to point out - zoom in on the second picture if you are able. There is a sign just over Nash's right shoulder that has a verse on it.

The verse is:

Psalm 7:1 O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me

Jeff & I are so thankful for your continued prayers. We know who the Mighty Deliverer is. We put our trust in Him. Nash needs a Mighty Deliverer working on his behalf to deliver him safely home. Please continue to pray. The battle is not over. Please pray that we will receive the magical word "approved" and move one GIANT step forward in bringing Nash home.

Blessings,

Brooke

"I have a special message for you!"

The Messenger

These were the words that Chloe, my very energetic 7 year old spoke as she stood, on Thanksgiving morning, beaming up at me. I was barely awake, thinking about the food preparation for the holiday meal that I was to prepare later in the day. I smiled at her, yawned and patted her on the head.  I replied something to the effect of, "Ok Sweetie, what message do you have for Mama?" (I'm sure I didn't have much enthusiasm in my voice for two reasons 1) I am NOT a morning person 2) Chloe has an endless imagination and is forever coming up with silly messages to share - especially before your first cup of coffee!

The Message

Chloe quietly handed me what appeared to be a crumpled, rolled piece of paper. "Here's your special message. Read it!" I unrolled the paper, expecting a hand-drawn picture or maybe a cute "I love you Mom" paper.  What I read absolutely blew me away and has taken me this long to share. Here is what Chloe had written on her paper, along with a hand-drawn heart, of course. :)

Your Love

Your love…is so mity so powerful so grate os your name. 

Jesus you can move a mounton. 

Your love is so…Grate

Your love never fales us.

 Jesus so powerful.

For those of you that don't regularly read 7 year old writing/spelling, here's the spell-checked version:

Your Love

Your love…is so mighty, so powerful, so great is your name. 

Jesus you can move a mountain. 

Your love is so…Great.

Your love never fails us.

 Jesus…so powerful.

 

 

 

The Meaning/Unlikely Teacher

 

After I finished reading the paper, I asked Chloe where she got her words, thinking maybe she copied them from a devotional, or saw them on a paper, etc.  She looked up at me and said confidently, "God gave them to me for you, Mama!" Wow. Just wow. I just hugged her and let the tears flow, as they are again now. I mean, what do you say to that? At the time, we had just found out that yet another appointment had been canceled for our adoption.....I was feeling so spiritually low.  Yet this amazing little person who has been alive 1/6 of the time I have been had heard and more importantly BELIEVED and SHARED a message that she received from God. The Lord that she knows loves her and is capable of anything. Moving mountains....bringing her brother home.....she believes with her WHOLE heart that Jesus is exactly who He says He is and that He is mightier than any obstacle that this world has in our lives.

Psalm 8:2 ² You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,^[a]silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

 

 

Here are some favorite songs....of course!

This song reminds me exactly of the message that Chloe shared with me:

http://youtu.be/Orn8tEqQrTU

While looking for the song above, I was blessed with discovering this song! Perfect Peace is a very special phrase that has been a running theme over this 2+ years of our adoption journey. This was a definite "God wink!"  :)

Isaiah 26:3  You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

http://youtu.be/IKynh0Spy-Q

Love & Blessings,

Brooke