Friday, May 27, 2011

Is anything too hard for Him?

Wow, time flies.  I had no idea it had been so long since i updated you guys... so sorry!!  We, like many of you, have been trying to navigate the last days of school, attend graduations and get some sleep in between.  However, as tiring as it can be, we still all have smiles, see...
Anyway...this morning as i was again asking the whys of our continued wait, God in His sovereignty led me to this verse in Jeremiah 32:27, "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?"

Wow, once again i sat speechless (i know that is hard for those of you that know me to believe).  The truth is, no one is causing this to take longer than God says so.  He can do anything He wants, so... for now He wants us to wait.  He wants us to learn.  He wants to grow in compassion.  He wants us to love more. 
So that is what we will do!!

Please continue to join us in prayer.  There are alot of things going on behind the scenes that i am not able to share with you just yet, but i will soon!

 I love you all so much and am so thankful for your love and support through this season!  LeAnn

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Focusing upward as opposed to outward...

I am so sorry i have been delayed in updating you all!  Thanks for your patience. 

I don't know what thoughts conjure up in your mind when you hear the statement "blonder than i pay to be", but for me it is absolutely true!  i can even tell you that in many instances this is a joyous truth in my life.  if you add on top of this that i am incredibly ADD then you can imagine that it is an adventure around our house.  i live by sticky notes (do i have any soul mates out there?).  Now top those two truths off with the fact that i love to live life to the fullest, with full - all out acceleration at every turn, and i bet you wouldn't need help coming to the conclusion that we do not have alot of dull moments in our house.   

i'll share a couple of pictures to show how this has passed down the generation line: 

Jordan and Hannah participating in spagetti eating at Camp with no utensils!
 Sklyer preparing to take flight as Super girl at Six Flags!
 Gracie and Abby rocking out as the next girl wonders!
This life was meant to live in abundance!!

But let me be quite honest for a moment, as we continue in the wait, the truth is i have to go before the Lord every morning to "fill up" on His goodness so that i do not spend my days pining away about the constant "hurry up and wait" mode we find ourselves in.  It is a frustration that given the opportunity could steal my joy.  Look above at all the good stuff i'd miss if i allowed myself to get caught up in the momentary trials, if i afforded myself the enemies comfort of walking around irritated. 

We miss our boys and we want to bring them home, but... not til God says so.  For whatever reason, God in His sovereignty, has chosen to push our travel dates back again.  So... we have no idea what this truly looks like.  We are expecting sometime in July, but... He alone knows.  And i am truly ok with that. 

I was reading in Oswald Chambers this morning (on the wrong day of course, LOL) and this is what i read:
"Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually."

I have found this to be true.  Every morning since February of last year when our family began this journey, i arise and go before His throne and empty my heart out before Him concerning the circumstances and allow Him to realign my focus and perspective and i truly believe i stand up a tiny step further in my journey of knowing Him more.  So i'd have to say the waiting period has been worth it.

Today as i head out to the door to be the light of Jesus wherever He places me, i am making the choice to focus upward knowing He is in control as opposed to outward where it can look alot like chaos.  I don't need to take hold of the control strings, God has got this one, it is all as it should be!!

It means the world to our family for you to take this journey with us! Thank you!  LeAnn






Monday, May 9, 2011

To be quite honest...

Well i have to admit this weekend ushered in some moments i wasn't ready for.  Nobody was home from Thursday on but me and Gracie (and we had a ball picnicing, bicycling, feeding ducks and just being girls). However, around Sat afternoon she was ready for someone that played her way!  So she invited a spend the night guest.  So while they were playing i had time to ponder the situation for a moment, and to be quite honest i wasn't prepared for some of the feelings that rose up. 

in my mind the boys would already be here (i am sure the Lord is getting a chuckle about now).  i had already figured it all out in my head and i guess i had (without realizing it) allowed my heart to attach to the notion as well.  i thought that i'd be celebrating mother's day with my two sons here, sleeping in their beds, hearing thier sleepy voices early Sunday morning, but instead we are still an ocean apart. 

Understand that i know God's timing is perfect and i completly trust Him, but i had a hard time telling my heart to understand that on Saturday afternoon.  I longed for them and hurt for them all in the same moment.  I longed for them to have a home, to belong to a family, to have someone to call mom.  I hurt for them to have a family who loves them and to feel a sense of belonging.  And as i poured it out before the Lord, a still small voice spoke very clearly to me, "Not yet!" and a peace fell back over my soul. 

And as i pulled myself together a remembrance came over me, God loves them more than me;  He's got this under control.  i quickly got back to enjoying the moment i had been blessed with and left the details to God. 
And to be quite honest, it was FREEING!

Oh i forgot to tell, Skyler had the blessing of being invited by a dear friend to travel to the Kentucky Derby.  They had tickets close to the finish line, she was estactic!  She met the owner and jockey of Secretariat (gotta see the movie if you don't know who i am talking about!) It was quite an experience for her !

God Bless you and your family!  LeAnn

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

There is Sonshine!

I am praising the Lord today for the beautiful sunshine!  I pray that each of you and your families are together and well.  Due to the recent turn of events in Alabama everything has once again been backed up.  But i know and believe God has it all under control. 

The latest that we understand is that our paperwork will go to the Brazilian consulate this week.  Once it is returned THEN it will go to Brazil.  So... once again we are in the hurry up and wait mode. 

But nothing during the wait has been a waste, it has been glorious.  God has taught me tremendous amounts of patience through this all.  He has taught me about silent periods and desert experiences.  He has taught me the joy of tears and laughter.  He has taught me to hold tight to my family; both my given and church one.  He has taught me the precious gift of friendship.  But more than anything He has and is, continuing to teach me to enjoy the moments i have, right here and right now...that in every situation i can find Sonshine!  That even in the dark moments the Son shines bright, and it is my choice whether i choose to enjoy Him or not!

I will let you know when we have movement, but until then i will enjoy the day full of Sonshine God has blessed me with, i hope you will too!