Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

amazing news!

It’s snowing outside. Big, gorgeous white snowflakes.

So unexpected after the warm weekend we just had. Hard to believe we were out working in our garden four days ago…

As I sit by the warmth of the fire and watch the flakes fall silently to the ground, I’m reminded of the magnificent words God spoke to Job {chapter 38} in order to draw his eyes away from his present suffering and up to the grandeur of God. God demonstrates that His wisdom and power are far beyond a human being’s comprehension.

4“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
8“Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?
12“Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
13that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.
16“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.
19“What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?
20Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21Surely you know, for you were already born!
You have lived so many years!
22“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of the hail,
23which I reserve for times of trouble,
for days of war and battle?
24What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,
26to water a land where no one lives,
an uninhabited desert,
27to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?
28Does the rain have a father?
Who fathers the drops of dew?
29From whose womb comes the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30when the waters become hard as stone,
when the surface of the deep is frozen?
31“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades?
Can you loosen Orion’s belt?
32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons
or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
33Do you know the laws of the heavens?
Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

And, here I am. Questioning how big God is. Questioning why He is allowing such suffering. Questioning why our road to our daughter has been so long and full of heartache. 
And, I’m reminded that the very same God who keeps a storehouse of snow and blankets the earth with it’s majestic beauty is the very same God who holds our daughter close. 

Last night, I updated our adoption journey page and reflected back on all that God has done to refine my heart in this process. I melted in gratitude for each and every step we have walked on this journey.  He has never left our side. He has remained faithful. 

a photo I snapped during our last winter storm. 
a perfect example of the beautiful handiwork of our majestic God. 
Creator of the universe.
My first prayer this morning was to hear from Sheena today. I haven’t heard from her in days and I felt myself beginning to slip into fear. I asked for encouragement and a glimpse of how He is at work.
Oh, how good our God is… 

At 10:58 am, I received a phone call from Sheena with wonderful news. Sheena had visited S and she was looking much healthier than during her last visit two weeks ago.


She no longer had a fever. 


She drank two bottles of formula and took an entire dose of vitamins and iron. 


She was wearing one of the outfits and the shoes we sent in her care package. The shoes were much too big but the shirt and skirt fit {size 18 months}.


She can crawl and stand on her own. She isn’t walking yet {praying we are able to witness her first steps!}


She is being loved on and cared for by one of the older girls in the orphanage who, at one point when S was crying, picked her up and spoke to her and calmed her down easily. She likely now sleeps next to this older girl, as she used to be bunk mates with Shelby. 


She smiled at the older girl. 


She is 29″ tall. Her chest is 19″ around. Her feet are 4 1/2″ in length.


She is quiet. 

All of these details! Little treasures sealed away in my heart.

And, the most incredible news of all, God answered our prayers and S’s paperwork is now in the hands of our Power of Attorney to be submitted to guardianship court. Sheena believes our case will go to court tomorrow.

After all these months of prayer, we could be S’s legal parents in 31 days!!!!!!!!!!!

Will you join me in praying that our case is reviewed in court tomorrow? If so, we will enter into the 30 day waiting period before receiving our Certificate of No Appeal and deemed S’s legal parents. 
Thank you, God!!!! 

I know He is at work and He is working with and through our angel of a friend, Sheena. We are so blessed and grateful!

Sixteen photos and two videos arrived in my inbox after we hung up the phone. Sixteen photos of our gorgeous, perfect daughter. Sixteen photos and two videos full of details to memorize.

A few of my absolute favorites… {I cannot wait to take the hearts off of these photos so you can see how stinkin’ adorable and perfect she is!!!}

Praising the One who spoke the universe into existence and loves me enough to shower me with hope and encouragement today!

Comments

  1. Trish says

    Tears streaming down my face…thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing all of this! praying in this next chapter of her story.

  3. godhasnoproblems says

    Yay, yay, yay God!

    (And now I'll be humming Indescribable the rest of the day! Ha)

    Praying God continues to be at work in such evident ways – and for Him to give you enough each moment for the rest of this journey!

  5. Alyssa says

    Woo-hoo!! My heart did a little hopeful leap for you when I saw the title. I am really looking forward to all the reasons I would be able see that little face.

  7. erin says

    SUch Amazing news Jenny, and I'm so thankful that Sheena was able to visit your baby girl and give you that update! This journey is really amazing and isn't it amazing how these little bits of information are such treasures!!