Archives for June 2014

June 26, 2014

our candle is lit.

This week, over fifty adoptive parents convened on Capital Hill to meet with representatives of Congress and Senate regarding the current suspension of exit permits for our adopted children. They participated in ninety-nine meetings over the course of two days and worked extremely hard to advocate for all of our children waiting.

I have been ridiculously emotional following all of the posts and photo updates from the meetings. I wanted to be there alongside these mommas and daddies SO very badly. It absolutely killed me to not be there. But, with Charlotte being only five weeks old, we made the decision for me not to travel and to support the families there in prayer. I have held them and the ones they met with in prayer all week long and am honored to lift these requests before our Sovereign God.

A candlelight prayer vigil was held on the Hill on Tuesday evening. We participated here at home. We prayed over our daughter and all of the children waiting. We prayed for each of our friend’s babies by name. We prayed for the ones we have held and loved on during visits.

God directed me to these verses to pray boldly on behalf of all of the children waiting …

You are the God of miracles and wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. {Isaiah 77: 14}

Your pathway led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters– a pathway no one knew was there! {Isaiah 77:19}

We prayed for God to demonstrated His miraculous and awesome power by creating a pathway to bring our children home to our waiting, and aching, arms. We asked that He use these meetings to open hearts and bring in new voices to speak up for justice. We asked that He receive all of the Glory for what He is preparing to do.

It was an emotional night. I was overwhelmed and humbled in gratitude as friends from near and far sent photos of the candles they lit in honor of our daughter. Knowing that she was being prayed for by name by so many was absolutely incredible. There is a feeling of solidity knowing that you are linking arms with sisters and brothers in Christ and going to battle in the Heavenlies together …

How can you help?

Because of the work of these families in DC, Chairman Royce and House Foreign Affairs has unanimously passed the House Resolution 588 {DRC Adoption Resolution}.

Please call your congressman today and tell them you support HR588!

Here is a “script” for your call:

“I am calling to let you know that House Resolution 588 regarding the international adoption crisis in DRC just cleared the House Foreign Affairs Committee without opposition, and to ask that you vote in favor of HR588 when it reaches the House Floor.”

Thank you so very much!!!

June 21, 2014

a whole month…

Five weeks ago yesterday, we finally laid eyes on our precious Charlotte for the very first time. In many ways, it feels like she has been a part of our family forever and we can’t remember our lives before she arrived. Yet, today, I feel like I blinked and the past five weeks flew by in a flash. It may or may not have something to do with sleep deprivation.

Dearest Charlotte,

You have been such a gift to your daddy and I. In this season of our lives, you are an unexpected and lavish blessing from our Abba Father and you have instantly burrowed into our hearts.

I was standing in church last week holding you during worship and it struck me just how miraculous this all is. The fact that I was able to get pregnant and the fact that we have a completely healthy scrumptious little newborn princess… it is so clearly the work of a mighty God who loves you abundantly, sweet one. I just cannot believe He gave me the incredible honor of being your momma. It is too great a gift for words. I am moved to tears just looking at you sometimes.

And, daddy and I aren’t the only ones who are head over heels for you. Your brothers absolutely adore you and constantly cover you in kisses and try to entertain you with songs and dances. They share their toys and blankets with you and will do just about anything to keep you from crying. They’re not incredibly effective in that department, seeing that when Nathan was asked how you are doing, he answered: “She cries and she poops all the time.” Well, that is sort of true. But, you have the cutest cry in the world :).

We have loved getting to know your little personality. All of your cries and grunts {you are VERY vocal} and facial expressions. And, the way you stretch and pucker your lips after you eat. How you love a warm bath {even though you really, really didn’t like baths at first}, you love to be held {really, really, really love to be held}, you prefer to be outside, you dislike car rides and think that your car seat is a torture device {but you do like riding on the bumpy dirt road to our house}, you are a great eater {yay! such a different experience than with your brothers}, you have finally learned to like a pacifier, and you have started sleeping for six hour stretches for a few nights {let’s keep it up!}.

We are treasuring these sweet newborn days with you and know that they will pass so quickly. You are so very loved, sweet pea.

All of my love,
momma 🙂

June 18, 2014

in the wait.

As we wait here, in our forty-fourth month on this journey to our daughter {based on the date we originally started this adoption journey in October of 2011}, I am weary. So very weary. I ache to hold her again and I pray in desperation for God to protect her heart as she continues to wait.

I often question why. The thing is, this journey was never about us. It has always been about this precious little girl. I can handle this. It’s not fun, it’s exhausting, and I’m sick and tired of it BUT I can manage. It’s this innocent child who has been caught in the middle of this messy process that needs protection and strength. She is the one who can’t understand what is happening and I cannot understand why she has to be in this situation to begin with.

Yes, I know. We live in a fallen, broken world. But, the reality is, that knowledge doesn’t make this waiting even an ounce less painful.

As I prayed this morning through my tears, pleading with the One who has carried me through this waiting, I asked for encouragement. I begged Him to show me that He has not forgotten our family.

I felt led to read through a journal from a recent women’s retreat and I stumbled upon my own words. Words that buoyed my spirit and allowed me to turn my gaze back to Him.

“I don’t understand any of this but I can trust Him. He is always faithful and He is the author and perfecter of my faith. He writes the story and it isn’t over yet. He is asking me to wait in Hope. He is asking me to keep running toward Him and simply doing the work set before me.“

And, the words to a song we sang in worship were written on that same page. Words that I sang as a prayer to my daughter…

Next, I found myself reading a very familiar scripture.

“He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” {Isaiah 40: 29-13; NLT}

Thankful for the reminder, I asked again for strength. I asked that He allow me to persevere because I am so weary and exhausted.

That’s when I noticed them. The verses just before this familiar promise. The ancient words that came to life as they spoke to my questioning heart…

“O Israel, {Insert: O Jenny!} how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depth of his understanding.” {Isaiah 40: 27-28; NLT}

Wow. What an incredible message of Truth for my weary soul today.

Encouraged and uplifted, I will continue to wait in hopeful anticipation of what is to come. I continue to be grateful for the community of loved ones near and far who join Dave and I on our knees asking the Everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth, the One who sees us in our distress, for the miracle that will finally bring our daughter home. And, we are already praising Him for what comes next. Knowing that He always works every situation for our good and His glory.