It's time

I'm itchy. It's time for Betty (or possibly, Leah Grace Elizabeth) to be home. Home, already. I'm itchy because it takes far more time than it should, particularly for a sick baby. I'm itchy because Betty was sick with the flu last week and I wasn't there to make sure she is okay. I'm itchy because Uganda is experiencing violence and I want to protect my girl. I'm itchy because DCFS is taking their own sweet time to approve my file. I'm itchy because we have a family vacation in November and I want Betty on the trip. I'm itchy because Betty needs to be on the right cocktail, not just any cocktail. I'm itchy because Seth wants to know where Betty is and "Uganda" doesn't really explain it to him. I'm itchy because it's summer and oh what fun we would have if she were here! I'm itchy because I'm not even fingerprinted or USCIS approved yet. I'm itchy!

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Lord, we know that you are the beginning and the end and that Your timing is perfect. I pray for Your perfect peace over when Betty comes home. But Lord, I pray You would intervene to bring her home quickly. Speed DCFS approval and USCIS. I pray that You would protect her and kiss her boo-boos until we can do it. I pray that You would suppress her HIV and keep her free from infection. Last, Lord, I pray Betty would know You -- somewhere in the deepness of her soul -- even though she is a little one. Amen!

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Have mercy, Lord!

Seth and Betty

Seth and I have been talking about Betty for a month or so now. Since Seth is a "new" talker, it is fun to hear him try to express himself around non-concrete topics, like Betty.
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A couple of days ago, Seth came into my bedroom and asked, "Where's Betty?" As he did so, he pointed to my dresser mirror, which currently looks like this:

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I asked, "Where is Betty?" And Seth said, "Yes, Betty." I said, "Well, Betty is in Uganda. That's why we pray for her to come home. Betty lives in Uganda." At that, Seth stopped and got a funny look on his face. A couple seconds later, he asked, "Uganda truck?" What, you might be wondering, is he talking about and what do trucks have to do with Betty? Ha. Easy explanation. I got Seth a truck in Uganda and we called it "Uganda Truck."

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So, somewhere is my sweet son's mind, Betty is living in this truck or near this truck or is related to this truck. See, I'm not sure he has any idea what "Uganda" is or that it is a place! I love watching him try to wrap his brain around these things. And, yes, Lord, let's get Betty out of the truck and into our house. Soon!!!

Caring for Orphans

God's command to care for orphans looks different for different people. For some, it may not mean adopting. Would you consider caring for one of these orphans by providing them valuable education? Each of these children is cared for by Nsambya -- Betty's orphanage. Each of them is an orphan. Each of them need education, perhaps their only chance at ending the cycle of poverty in which they are trapped. There is no free public education in Uganda. To go to school you must pay for school. If you are interested in helping, leave me a comment or send an email and I will connect you with the right people.

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Meet Felix. Felix came to Nsambya when he was five months old and is now 4 and a half years old. He is in nursery school and soon, primary school. His schooling costs $480 per year. Oh, those eyes.... SPONSORED

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Meet Mark. He has a foster family (so he is not growing up in an orphanage) but the family is having difficulty paying for school. He is in second grade. His schooling is $480 per year. I just want to smooch him!

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Meet Patrick. He is five years old and has been at Nsambya for most of his young life. I met Patrick when we were in Kampala. His schooling is $480 per year. Seth, Betty and I will be covering Patrick's school costs. (and, who knows what the future holds for us with Patrick. I'm just sayin'.....).

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Meet Karungi. She also has a foster family who cannot afford her school fees. Isn't she just adorable? Her school fees are $490 per year. I love that precious angel look on her face. SPONSORED

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Meet Abraham. He has been at Nsambya for 14 years. (Sigh) He is in 6th grade and is doing well but needs help with fees. His total cost is $600 per year. Help this handsome young man!

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Meet Dylan. Dylan's story is very sad. He was stolen from his family. The perpetrator is in jail and Dylan is now in a foster family. His school fees are $480 per year but the family cannot afford to pay for them. Dylan needs urgent assistance. If his needs are not met, he will be returned to the orphanage. Sweet boy.....

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Last, Claire. Claire is in a foster family in 5th grade. Her school fees are a whopping $700 per year and the family cannot afford that. Claire looks like an absolute delight. Won't you consider gifting her??

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For half the cost of your flat screen TV or for the cost of two nights in a hotel, you could help these kids. Won't you consider a small sacrifice to make a big difference????

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"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy 15:7

HIV Facts

As I've continued to research, I have come across the following facts or quotes which are my new favorites:

• Children living with HIV in parts of the world with easy access to good health care, and HIV medications (AKA Antiretroviral medications, ARVs, and HAART or Highly Active Antiretoviral Therapy) have an excellent prognosis. Since HAART began in 1996 we have seen a rapid decline in the number of people with AIDS in many parts of the world. It has increased the number of people living with HIV. This is because without HAART HIV will progress to AIDS. . . . . Many many people who started this therapy 11 years ago are alive today and doing well with their HIV so well controlled it is not even detectable in their blood. This means their immune system functions almost like people without HIV. It means they can go to school, college, get married and have babies- and they are doing all of these things and more. Many of you, if asked, would say you do not know anyone with HIV, but the reality is that many of you do and you just don't know it. . . . . They are all in schools with kids like your kids and you would never know what they are walking around with. But, you don't really need to know, unless it's someone you are close to and you can offer help with childcare when they travel to see the HIV clinic every three months.
• Do HIV+ children pose a risk to other children in their homes, schools, churches, etc.?
  None. (read that period aloud) There is no known documented case of a child passing HIV to another child in school or church.
• "Don't spend time worrying about weird and obscure ways of transmitting the virus. The simple fact is that if no one shared needles and everyone wore condoms, the HIV epidemic would disappear." - Joel Gallant, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Associate Director of the Johns Hopkins AIDS Service at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• 93 deaths every DAY in car accidents1 - 4 every HOUR
  10 deaths every DAY from swimming accidents
  8 deaths every DAY from fire accidents
  4.9 deaths every DAY from falling on stairs
  2.5 deaths every DAY from choking
  1.5 deaths from lightening strike every WEEK
  4.4 deaths on amusement park rides per year
  Over the past 28 years that HIV/AIDS has been carefully tracked by the Centers for Disease Control, there have been only 8 reported, though unconfirmed, cases of household transmission of the virus. 8 in 28 years
  (It is important to note that among those 8 cases were hemophiliac brothers sharing razors, some elderly women not using simple universal precautions for years, and some individuals living in bizarrely unsanitary conditions, further proving that under ‘normal’ household conditions, the virus is almost impossible to pass. - Also there have been no further cases since 1994, likely due to vast changes in the ratio of people w/ AIDS vs. HIV and the life altering improvements in medicine.)
• Children with HIV are perfectly safe to be around, hug, kiss, and share food and bathrooms with. For this reason, generally people with HIV are not required by law to tell ANYONE about their condition, including schools and even dentists.
• You are 287 times more likely to be struck DEAD by lightning than accidentally contract HIV from living with a positive person.
• Pray for Betty. Healing, Lord!!

Guess what?!?!?!

This precious little girl . . . .

. . . . With eyes that speak volumes . . . .

. . . . Is Betty . . . .

And, WE ARE ADOPTING BETTY!!!!!!

To GOD be the Glory!!

Today at church, I was talking with Katie and another new friend about health issues that arise and how they may impact our faith. As we shared about the way "sickness" has challenged us in our walks with Christ, Katie mentioned that she thinks of me and how I've handled (or not) health challenges. My mind immediately jumped to Seth and I gave a nice little speech about how his issues showed up slowly and then got scarier and now are on the down swing. Just a quick side note: we learned last week that after his December check up, he will only have to see the eye doc once a year. Yippee!! He only sees the endocrinologist twice a year, doesn't have to see the neurologist any more, and is weaning therapy needs, other than speech. Truly, to God be the glory!

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But the funny thing about Katie's remark to me and my diatribe about Seth's health is that she turned to me when I stopped rambling and said, "I wasn't talking about Seth. I was talking about YOU." Wow. I totally missed that. It was far from my mind, which, after the last 8 months, is pretty hilarious. My health issues are far from my consciousness!! I feel great and healthy. I rarely have bad days anymore. I'm truly blessed to be healed and improving further everyday. Isn't it sooo totally awesome how God healed me?!?!? WuhHOOO!

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I want to always remember that time -- the last eight months -- when I was taken to my knees and forced to rely on God and God alone. I wept and prayed and wrestled. I trusted and questioned and, yes, doubted. But my faith (greater and smaller at various points) remained. I'm grateful to many people for prayers and to my doctors for patience and to my nutritionists for thinking outside the box. But mostly to my Heavenly Father.

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That's why, to GOD be the glory!!! Great things He has done.

Lunch with my dad

Yesterday, my dad came downtown on the train to have lunch with me. I'll be honest and tell you that I had some fears about what I must have done wrong to deserve this visit. It's kind of a family joke that when dad asks you to lunch or dinner..... watch out! As it turns out, we had a very nice lunch talking about a whole host of things, not the least of which are my next adoption and Betty.

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Dad asked me some hard questions about Betty, but nothing I haven't already asked myself in this process. For example, if you want to adopt again, why intentionally sign up for a special needs child? I think it is an imminently fair question and here is my answer. I have always known that I would adopt. Since I was a young girl, knowing and understanding the stories of my brothers, I have wanted to adopt. I never thought I would do it alone, as a single person, until the process of adopting Seth began. Back in 2007, I was very specific that I wanted a normal, healthy child because I am a single mom. God gave me Seth. What I have learned through Seth is that I have the capacity to deal with special needs and that maybe I'm gifted in that area. I look at it this way: There is a universe of people who want to have children. It's large. Most people do. Some small percentage of those people are open to adoption and do adopt. Of those limited numbers of people who adopt, there is an even smaller sub-set who will consider adopting a child with special needs. I think, as it turns out, that I'm in that group of people. By the way, if you had told me that five years ago, I would have laughed you out of town. Soooo not me! God can do strange things like that....

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See, the HIV thing doesn't intimidate me any more. Yes, I want to see Betty's medical records and I want to sit with an infectious disease doctor and understand all that we are facing. But I've moved past the HIV in my decision to a place of wondering how Seth will react and whether Betty and I will bond and what her personality is really like. (Hard to tell in 3 hours of being together). That's all about an adoption of a child that's not a newborn. I got used to the Seth situation -- bringing him home from the hospital spoiled me! We've been together from the beginning. And the beginning with Betty will look different. I'm trying to wrap my brain around that!

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Despite my questions that remain, God has been swinging wide the doors for me to run through thus far. I believe that when we pray for clarity, we had better keep track of the answers that come! So here's my list, so far. From meeting Betty in Uganda to today. . . .

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May 19 Met Betty

May 20 Spent two hours with Betty

May 22 Ugandan attorney says Betty's adoption can be fast

May 24 Home to Chicago

May 25 Pediatrician tells me that HIV is "just another chronic disease"

May 25 Email Betty's orphanage

May 28 Orphanage responds to my email (yahoo!)

June 1 Orphanage agrees to provide Betty's medical records

June 1 Set up time to meet with Adoption Link re home study

June 1 Email attorney who responded immediately with checklist for adoption

June 2 Visit to neurologist to have nerve/muscle test. Clear results!

June 2 Med student at appointment calls HIV "chronic disease"

June 7 Email Lisa (mom of HIV child)

June 7 Lisa responds immediately with a very encouraging email!

June 7 Email orphanage for request of picture of Betty

June 8 Received photos of Betty (YIPPEE!!)

June 8 Update of Home Study

June 8 Learn that Infectious Disease doctor will start adoption clinic 10 minutes from our home

June 8 Spoke to Beth (doctor) re HIV and very encouraged. She notes that HIV is a "chronic disease." Catching a theme here?

June 9 Spoke to Linn, who also encouraged me!

June 9-10 Emailed over and over with the orphanage in the wee hours of the night. :-)

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Lord, I am so thankful for your goodness and mercy. Please continue to lead and guide me through this decision. And, Lord, protect Betty. Keep her healthy and safe. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

And then there was the freak out

I knew it would come. I knew that I was a little bit in la-la land. And this morning, it hit. The freak out. I figured if I was going to write about God’s victories on this blog, I had better write about the challenges I face as well.

I slept good last night – long and without waking up. But when I did wake up, I was agitated. Too many thoughts rummaging around my head and causing doubt, fear and panic. I wonder what in the world I’m thinking with Betty. What if we don’t bond? What if she gets AIDS? What if I can’t afford her medicine during her life? What if she dies? What if Seth doesn’t like her? What if my relationship with Seth changes? What if, what if, what if, what if…..

Then there was the sadness, again. Why am I still single? Wouldn’t this all be easier with a hubby for me and a daddy for my kiddos? What in the world is God thinking? And why not me? So many others, but why not me? I’m tired of this issue. Really tired. Tired of thinking about it, worrying about it, and being saddened by it. And yet, I’d love to bat these issues around with my husband, like so many of my friends get to. I’d love to hear his thoughts, concerns, and worries. His faith and love and support. All of it. I’m ready to not make decisions like whether to adopt Betty by myself. Past ready.

So, the wrestling and waiting and the questioning, confirming, accepting and moving has arrived. I have a few months to make sure I’m sure about this decision and any other adoption related decisions I have to make. I’m just going to pray the decision is clear as the day is long. Bring it, Lord. Your holy clarity. Come Holy Spirit, come.

HIV Positive

Things I've learned about HIV this week:

• Having an HIV positive child in your house poses almost no risk to anyone else in the home. We're talking really no risk. (Check out the Positively Adopted badge on the right)
• With treatment, people who are HIV positive are living almost as long as those without the disease.
• HIV is NOT spread through saliva, tears, sweat, urine or feces.
• HIV is so controlled these days that most states do not require disclosure of the disease to schools, day cares, etc. WOW!
• One mom, with an HIV positive child from Eastern Europe, said that within a few weeks of being on the right cocktail, her daughter's HIV is undetectable in her blood. AMEN!

I'm going to meet with an infectious disease doctor as soon as I have more info on Betty. And I'm praying on. But I did have to buy a little sundress at Target yesterday.... just never thought I'd have a girl and need to see how that feels. :-)

I think bringing home Betty would be hard and rewarding. As she grows up, it could be heart-breaking. She may never marry (although there are ways....) but as I said to my mom, doesn't that make me her perfect mom? I mourn that same loss! God is funny that way. We shall see!

Betty -- Part Two

I spent a few hours with Betty on Thursday. She is a funny girl. She has a house mama nearly all to herself (wow!) so she is a little spoiled. (Imagine that at an orphanage....). She appears to be the right size for an 18 month old, that is, she doesn't look small to me. Maybe a little, but not abnormally. I met with the orphanage director when I got there. He was sweet and told me, "you know, she could die". Um, yes. I know that. He told me Betty's story and how she was very sick before meds and now, on anti-viral, she is thriving and meeting milestones. He then asked me to meet with her nurse who assured me she is doing great. Then off to play. Betty is happy and loves to hug her teddy bear. She babbles some but it is hard for me to tell if it is abnormal or just sounds different because Ugandan sounds different. (HIV in young kids can cause brain damage). After a couple of hours together, we had to go. Betty was NOT happy about that. She chased me down the stairs and wailed when we tried to walk away. I decided to carry her into the playground so other kids would distract her from my departure. It worked. For her......

The weird thing is that I have met dozens of adorable children on this trip. Beautiful and healthy. Normal. Betty is cute but she is damaged by the disease and it shows. She is far from the cutest baby I saw and even further from the healthiest. But she's the one that's in my heart. (Sigh).

I met with an adoption attorney on Saturday. Despite legal issues with adoption in Uganda (more on that in a separate post) the attorney told me that I would get an immediate order for adoption (not guardianship) for Betty and a fast Visa given her health. She could be home in a matter of weeks after my decision.

So I pray on. Trusting God will make this clear and soon. Because if Betty is my "Leah Grace" the sooner she gets home the better.

Now THAT's Church!!

Yesterday, we had a great church service in a small village. There was a lot of worship and singing and dancing and offering and teaching (by Pastor Dwight). I loved it. The little church was packed. People just kept coming! And there were hundreds of kids. We started sitting them on our laps because there was no more room.

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After Dwight taught, we invited folks to come forward to pray. Sarah and I prayed together for at least half a dozen women. The first woman that approached us was a sweet woman who appeared to be in her 50s or 60s, but after I met her children later, I'm not so sure. I asked her, "what do you want prayer for?" All she said was, "AIDS." Bam. That hit me like a load of bricks. As she started to weep, I started to bawl. How do I pray for someone with AIDS, Lord? Help! I know the answer, and I prayed like I've never prayed before. For healing from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. I prayed and prayed. And she wept. It was powerful and wrenching. I will never forget her and I will pray on.

Hmmm

I spend most of my days, now, getting ready for Uganda and dreaming about what this long-awaited trip might hold for me. Mom told me a few days ago that it has been more like 25 years since I first expressed a passion about Africa. So, this has been a long time coming!

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I have been a lawyer for 12 years. That just seems weird to me. It doesn't seem nearly that long. And as I explained to a friend over lunch today, I've had a wild ride of a career. I started as a Federal Prosecutor shortly after I finished law school -- Federal jury trials, investigations, appellate arguments, working with agents. It was a whirlwind of a great job! Then it was off to the newly created Inspector General's office where I was the number two in an office of (eventually) 46 employees, conducting investigations around the State and advising the Governor. After that, I joined Latham (my current firm) where I work on criminal defense and internal investigations for companies. All around, another great position.

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But over these 12 years, I've often felt my heart being drawn toward other things. Toward non-profit work or back to government work. Something that matters. Something that makes a difference. That journey led me to International Justice Mission (IJM) which is based in DC. You can check them out here: http://www.ijm.org/. It's a great organization with many lawyers who share my background! I've applied a couple of times for positions in DC and was told they really want me to go overseas for a couple of years first. (Darn, I thought, I'm not called to move overseas!)

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As my heart has been more and more pricked by God on these topics, I've become more open to other opportunities. I always keep my eye on IJM and what openings they have -- just in case.

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So yesterday, I was at my desk and thinking, "Hmm. I haven't checked up on IJM lately. I should see what openings they currently have. I wonder if they work in Uganda. If they had a posting for an attorney in Uganda, that might just be a God thing." I went to the website, and BAM. There, staring me in the face, is a posting for a Deputy Director in Uganda. Immediate opening. Hmmm.

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I'm not even sure where to put that or what to say about it, but I'm starting to pray now. I can create my list of reasons why I "can't" move to Uganda (or anywhere out of the country) and some of the reasons are good -- like our family is here and Seth needs to be close with Grandma and Papa. That's just the first in a long list.... But I also know God is bigger than all of that so I'm trying to trust that His plan is better and we'll see where it all goes.

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Lead on, Spirit, lead on.

Uganda

I recently happened onto this website, which includes a blog: http://sixtyfeet.org/. Oh dear. This is heart-wrenching! To think that I will be in Uganda shortly and may witness some of this hard stuff. Ugh! My heart is not ready.....

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But that's not the whole story on Uganda. In preparing for my trip, I've also corresponded with a couple of women doing great things there. One, Roxanne, is working with widows in a sewing group. She directs an organization that has helped resource and train directors and staff from more than 70 orphan homes and community programs throughout the country in the last two years. What a great contact! And Liz. She founded an organization called Sseko Designs. You can check them out here: http://www.ssekodesigns.com/. Liz and Sseko work with young women who want to attend the university. These women work at Sseko and make sandals in between the completion of their secondary education and University work. That way, the women have a way to pay for their education! What a wonderful idea! And the folks at Sixty Feet. . . . well, they are all over it!

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In the midst of hard stuff there are successes and I hope to remember that while I'm there. Lord, keep working in Uganda!

The Excitement Builds

In less than three weeks, I will be half way to Uganda on my first trip to Africa! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I'm traveling with a church in Colorado -- from the A Place Called Simplicity blog -- to the right. Last night we had a call to "meet" each other over the phone and prepare for the trip. The group sounds absolutely terrific and I can't wait to see the ways God is going to show up.

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I've dreamed about this trip or one like it for a long time. God built in me a heart for Africa many years ago and that passion is finally coming to fruition. Many people have asked me whether I'm bringing home a baby with me. Well, no. Can't quite do that. They don't just let you run out with their kids! But I don't know what God might have for me (us) there. I'm all ready to proceed with a domestic adoption. Home study is done. Background is done. Foster care license in hand. If my heart is changed on this trip, I'm open to what God might have for us.

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So I pray on. For wisdom and for energy and for peace in The Call, whatever it may be. Lord, break my heart for the things that break Yours. Keep us safe and healthy and ready to follow where you lead on this trip. Amen!

Humbling

I am completely humbled by all of you who are praying for me. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. I now have a long list of people happily added to my prayer list, and what fun God and I have had talking about you (or the loved ones for whom you sought prayer)! I pray God blesses all of you!!

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Much, much love, in Christ's name,

Deb

Prayers for Health!

Linn at A Place Called Simplicity has called for a Crazy love party based on prayer. http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ (The first party was meeting people's financial needs. Boy was that fun!). I couldn't pass up the chance to participate. Who doesn't need prayer???

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I haven't felt well for too many months. I've seen loads of docs and tried a myriad of fixes. And I must say that today I feel better than I did in a few months ago. Thank God!! But still it lingers.... Unfortunately, I had to put my (second) adoption on hold until I feel better. Not feeling well has also brought about a fair amount of anxiety about what's wrong with me and why it won't stop. I've spent a lot of time in prayer, and God and I have had some good talks about that!! More trust in Him. More surrender of my "stuff". More of You, less of me, Lord.

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I know my prayer request isn't the most interesting out there but it's awful to feel lousy for so long -- particularly when you're a single mama!! I would love to tell our adoption agency that I'm ready to start the process for our second baby by June (or sooner). Would you pray I'm healthy and full of energy by that time? I'm humbled by your willingness to consider my heart's cry.

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If you want to read more about Seth and me you can see his story at http://conceivedinprayer.blogspot.com/2010/03/seths-journey-home.html and my prayer for the second one at http://conceivedinprayer.blogspot.com/2009/12/great-adventure.html

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I'm also committing to pray for anyone who is praying for us. So in your comments, please leave a request and it will be covered in prayer by me for at least a month.

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Last, let's all pray for Linn and Dwight. They are blessing sooo many of us (far more than the 1000+ followers). Pray for Jubilee's surgery and for their upcoming trip to Uganda and for the next children to come.

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"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" 1 John 5:14-15.

Hearing from God

You may have seen in the news yesterday that a little girl -- just 11 years old -- was found in a Florida swamp after disappearing over the weekend. I heard her story on Sunday and thought to myself that she may have been a victim of kidnapping -- or worse. Instead, this media story had a different and delightful outcome. A young man in Florida found the girl. Alive and well. He said God led him to her. The little girl was lost and now is found.
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Lots of great analogies we could draw from this happy ending for our lives, but this one took a strange turn even I didn't expect.
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I was sitting in my office, reading the story on CNN when one of my colleagues walked in. I quickly told him the story, including the part about the man being led to the girl by God. This prompted an interesting discussion, to say the least.

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"You are a believer, right?

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Yep. Got that one right.

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"And do you believe that God still speaks? I mean, burning bush type speaking?"

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For sure.

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"So why don't we hear more stories like this one?"

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Great question. My answer? Because we aren't listening. If we stopped the madness and tried to hear God rather than shooting up little requests as needed, we might hear Him more.

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"Ok. So you think this is possible? This 'leading a man to a lost girl' thing?"

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I do. (Remember: this is two lawyers going at it. The questions are getting progressively harder.)

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"Why doesn't it happen more often? Of all of the people in the world who believe, if we accept that even just 10,000 of them are listening as you suggest, we should hear these stories a lot more often."

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Interesting point my self-professed "I believe in nothing" friend made. And I didn't have a particularly good answer for him. On reflection, however, maybe it's because we aren't asking God for that. I didn't pray for God to tell me where the child was. What if I had? Maybe that man did! Bottom line is that I think we would have a lot more if we asked a lot more, in faith and with a pure heart. Lord provide (__the big things__). Lord, lead me to (__the seemingly impossible__). Lord, heal (__the incurable__).
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My friend's questions got me thinking about how limiting we are in our view of God. How small we make Him. How finite. How weak, frankly. Lord, help me to never put you in a box. Help me to remember and know how deep and wide is your love for me and how awesome are your deeds. And, Lord, help me to ask BIG. Amen.

The Power of Prayer

I have no problem asking my friends and family to pray for me. (Just ask them. Ha!) It comes naturally and I do so -- often -- for I believe in the power of prayer! But asking for prayer corporately or from strangers or even from mere acquaintances is hard for me. It's a pride thing, I suspect.... Recently, I asked a blog-stranger-becoming-friend to pray for me and she has and is and has followed up with me. What joy! THANK YOU, Mo!!

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After my post on Obstacles, I received a comment, seeking prayer for the No Greater Joy Mom family. You can see their link on my list to the right. Susan, who I do not know, asked whether I'd be willing to pray for this adoptive family and to that I say, "YES YES YES." In fact, I got on my knees the minute I saw her request. (Figuratively, since I was on the train.) Thanks for being bold for your friends, Susan, and I'm now boldly asking my friends to pray for Adele and Anthony and their children in the Ukraine. Pray with me, won't you?

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"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15

Obstacles

I had the immense pleasure to spend a few hours with some fellow adoptive moms on Friday. What fun to share our hearts for children and adoption and God! As we closed our time together, we spent some time in prayer for each other and for orphans. One of the things that struck me as we prayed was that each of us had encountered and is encountering obstacles to our adoptions. One of my friends mentioned that she believes that the enemy is so bent on thwarting adoptions, that he throws these obstacles in our paths. She might be on to something . . .

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See, one of us has a spouse who isn't quite ready for another adoption. Another had an agency tell her family it could not adopt a sibling group. (HUH?!?!?) Another of us has extended family throwing up road blocks. All of us have financial stumbling blocks, delayed court dates, address changes, timing issues. I have health issues causing a delay, and the list goes on and on. All of these obstacles can be overcome, and Lord willing, WILL be overcome. But sitting around that table, listening to my dear friends talk about our shared passion, I realized how important it is that we are holding one another up in prayer. The enemy doesn't want us to adopt. The enemy wants us weak and uncourageous. I refuse to accept that! It makes me want to follow even more adoption blogs than I already read (as if I have more time) because I want to be able to pray for all of those families who are trusting the Lord's call to adopt. Lord, free us all to proceed!

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My time with the girls also helped me have another realization. I've sat around for the last few years feeling jealous of my married friends who have families of adopted and biological kids -- for that's what I always wanted for myself: A big family of all kinds of kids from all sorts of countries! And yes, I've been jealous. I've begged forgiveness from the jealousy and turned from it over and over, but it sometimes creeps back in and gets me. Here's the realization I had: I AM one of those families. I have nothing to be jealous of because I fit quite perfectly into my circle of adopted family friends. Praise God! Sure, my family looks a little different than some others, and we pray might look different still in a few years, but I am an adoptive family and look like the picture I always hoped and dreamed to have. Duh!

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So praise God for blessings and for friends. And praise Him even for obstacles, which drop us to our knees in total submission to Him. Lord, loose the obstacles for families world wide who are adopting. Let them move quickly forward in perfect submission to your plan for the orphan. Amen.

Learning (again) to Pray

I'm reading "A Woman's Call to Prayer" by Elizabeth George. Great reminders. Great book. I loved a quote by D.L. Moody that she included:
`
Prayer is the bow,
the promise is the arrow:
faith is the hand which draws the bow, and
sends the arrow with the heart's message to heaven.
The bow without the arrow is of no use; and
the arrow without the bow is of little worth; and
both, without the strength of the hand, to no
purpose.
Neither the promise without prayer,
nor prayer without the promise,
nor both without faith,
avail the Christian anything.
What was said of the Israelites, "They could not enter in,
because of unbelief,"
the same may be said of many of our prayers: they
cannot enter heaven, because they are not put up in
faith.
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Lord, help me to offer prayers that avail much and help me in my unbelief to fully accept and embrace that power of your healing. I love You. I trust You. Amen.