Taking it to the next level...

So we are down to the last few months before we are reunited with two of our four Brazilian family members... It has been a long journey, but a good one...

Since we have been legally matched now, we are beginning the final paperwork... However... As we have evidenced again and again anything can happen, so pls continue to pray.

Yesterday we had the coolest gift, which was absolutely orchestrated by the Lord... Our sweet friends in Brazil (who have been fighting for us on the ground) were granted visitation with one of our boys for the week... And we got to Skype with them... It was SO... I can't even put my thoughts into words...

Let me try to explain... It was wierd and right all at the same time... It was awkward and perfect... It was different and wonderful... It was exciting and serile... It was scary and exhilirating... all at the SAME time... I don't know if that makes any sense, but it's absolutely true! This short moment in time took my emotions to a whole new level!!

As I sat with the Lord this morning trying to understand what all I was feeling, I realized that we've been fighting for this reality SO LONG that I have yet to allow myself to think about what happens from here... And what a perfect time to allow my heart to go there! As the New year is about to find its way... It brings with it a title wave of "new beginnings"... And... a time to make choices about the direction we are headed...

The New Year is a time to reflect on the past, a time to look forward to the future, a time to Praise God in the present and a time to take our commitment to the Lord to the next level...

What a reality today has held?... For us... Our immediate future will incl. adding a 13 yr old boy and a 10 yr old boy... from a different culture, that speak a different language... And that live an ocean away... Only a PERFECT GOD could do something so amazing!!!

I am overwhelmed at the blessing of telling the boys all about you who have been fighting from your knees on their behalf... and about the Father up above who gave them to us... The One who knit them together and sent His Son to save them... What a glorious day that will be!

As you and yours ponder all the new beginnings around the corner... I pray that your walk with the Lord is first on the list... What a perfect time to reflect on your Creator and consider what going to the next level with Him means!

Know that I appreciate you and love you from the depths of my heart, LeAnn

'happily ever after'

the other night Jordan came in from work looking quite pretty...

she had played Cinderella at a school earlier in the day...

long after i had snapped the photo and she had gone up to spend hours trying to get all the makeup off her face and the "stuff" out of her hair... i begin to think about life... and the fairytale stories we read so often...

i began to think about all the days i wished for a "glass slipper" ending to the day... but instead i got a "scrubbing floors and holding a mop bucket" kinda ending to the day...  i wonder how many of you know just what i mean...  i have certainly had more than a few of those lately!  but you know what i have begun to find... though i don't feel all pretty and perfect at the end of the day... i feel accomplished and joyful and good... we were created to make a difference...

i have decided "glass slipper" days are overrated... they are perfect for fairytales that we read about but for everyday life i got other things to do than put on alot of makeup, prance around and try to be perfect... that is for my precious dauthters to enjoy...  i got work to do... my Cinderella days will come when i get TO THE OTHER SIDE... my happily ever after is when i am at the foot of the throne WORSHIPING MY KING... so until then there are MANY others i am called to help find thier way to a FOREVER happily ever after... beginning with my four babies over in South America!!

so thank you for your continued prayers... movement is happening as we speak... paperwork is being sent... and mountains are FALLING into the sea... our GOD IS MIGHTY!!

the approval papers HAVE MADE IT TO OUR AGENT... so we are on the home stretch...  it won't be long until we are sitting across from our 2 boys sharing with them about the only TRUE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!  What a day that will be :)

oh how He loves them so...

i am so sorry i haven't updated you... i have been busy with the Lord handling some things that needed to be handled...

 i needed to spend some good 'ol girl time with my daughters ~and their friends :)

i needed to spend some time putting some closure to my current work situation so the Lord could have my full attention, as well as celebrating His birthday in style with the elves :)

and i needed to get away for some good 'ol girlfriend time :)

each of these are exactly what the Lord ordered for my encouragement to handle the next battle... lest we be deceived the enemy is on the field :(

i am a glass half full kind of girl... i absolutely believe in people... sometimes to my ruin...  and this process has certainly been a test of my belief...

SO WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED!!  PRAISE THE LORD!!  however, the enemy is using people, as he most commonly does, to continue to confuse the process... this whole week has been one big battle... please continue to pray for the boys...

our Lord, however, in His infinite wisdom and sovereignty has His people in place to continue to fight all the enemies advances... but it does and continues to prolong the process...

here is what i love though... THE ENEMY DOES NOT WIN, GOD DOES... GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL AND IS WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF THE KINGDOM!!  He will not leave my boys high and dry... you know how i know? because the Bible tells me so :)  He loves them more than i do!!

i will know so much more tomorrow, i will keep you posted!!  

so thankful for the gift of laughter...

i believe that a good bout of laughter always helps the aching heart!!

so i was sitting down to let you in on the latest with a heavy heart and i looked down and read on a piece of paper sitting on my desk this...

 What do call cheese that isn't yours?  Nacho Cheese

 What do you call four bullfighters in quicksand? Quatro sinko

i belly laughed.  i am so thankful that God knew what today held and that He knew that i would need silly humor to lighten my mood :)  what a gift laughter is!

so the meeting NEVER happened yesterday.... and today is a holiday... hmmmmm?!!?!  so my guess is tomorrow they will be closed as well... God is definitely teaching me about His timing :)

so it could be tomorrow, or it could be monday or it could be... your guess is as good as mine!  i'll let you know when i know something!

in the meantime God is doing a work in my heart... as i've continued to cling tightly to Him and surrender deeper daily...  it's interesting how He changes my perspective as i've entered deeper than ever before into another's pain... 

i'm still here in my comfy home with my wonderful family in the middle of an amazing holiday season...  while my boys are in an orphanage that is none to comfy... with no family... and limited understanding of the GREATNESS of this season...

oh how i pray you hug your family tight today... that you laugh deeply with them... that you count your blessings... that you point all around you to Him... and that you quit sweating over the small stuff... those gifts you haven't bought or wrapped is not what brings the joy of the season... nor is how many parties we can go to... IT IS JESUS... please don't let that point be missed!

Praying for you and yours!  LeAnn

  

yep, i don't know, but He has a plan!

that really sounds so cliche` but it is the truth.  i don't have another answer... in His perfect timing we will be on our way!

whether the judge signs our papers on the morning of dec 7th or not is the million dollar question?!  however, as much as my flesh would like to walk around sometimes with my lip stuck out like my kids above... sitting around just waiting on a call... it would bring NO GLORY TO MY GOD, so i make a decision of the will to not!

i choose to continue to worship Him and serve Him in the wait, shining His light for all to see...to lift His name high (what better time than this season that is all about Him, "CHRIST"mas). 

so we will LOVE HIM and THEM FROM AFAR until our time has come to be all together :)