Isn't That Just Like Him? and "The Gobbler"

Remember how I've said how excited we are to see God's hand move during our adoption process? Really, to bring a child from thousands of miles away into our family in Iowa is going to take some miracles. How blessed are we to already be experiencing His hand at work in our lives? Chad and I drove to Des Moines Friday (after dropping off our late start school agers at Suzanne and Jon's and our little two at Ellen's) to read our finished homestudy. We were feeling a little blue about the process because our FBI fingerprint results hadn't yet come back to our social worker after a month of waiting. I remember her saying that the longer it takes, the more likely they're unreadable and we'd have to redo them. Headed down I-35 toward Des Moines, Chad prayed aloud, "Lord, you know our hearts. We so badly want to be done with our homestudy and get this ball rolling. Would you please bring our fingerprint results TODAY in the mail to our social worker? We're trusting you. Please also help our I-600A application find its way to the top of the pile and be completed more quickly than has been the norm."

Arriving in Des Moines, we braved the frigid temperatures and headed in to see Beth. After greeting us, she said with a smile, "Guess what came in the mail just this morning?" Yes, the fingerprint results , after a month long wait, arrived in her office the very day we were finalizing our homestudy. Isn't that just like Him? Never late.....rarely early, but always right on time! Later, Beth shared with us that one of the ladies working part time at CIS has now gone full time, and getting our I 171-H approval is likely to go much more quickly than what she had originally expected. Chad's prayer could not have been more directly and affirmitively answered! God's fingerprints are all over this decision of ours to adopt our precious child/ren from East Africa. Stay tuned for more "God I Spy" moments, as our family calls them. Because really, there are bound to be more!

Okay, before ending this post, I need to introduce an old friend of our family who has only recently been given a name. Meet "The Gobbler."

H has been very busy avoiding the toilet. We daily come up with new tactics to get him to just sit on it for a few seconds. The latest: Name the toilet a fun name (ie the Gobbler). Refer to The Gobbler as often as possible. Make it silly and fun. So far, so good.:)

Is it Really Over?

Gotta love Cyclone Gear!

Papa talked to Andy on the phone while opening his gift from him.

Sweet, sweet Alea

" Is it time to open more presents?"

H is ready for a new brother or sister!

As the last remnants of Christmas decorations get carried to the basement, I find myself asking, "Is it really over?" It is a common sentiment, I realize. We spend so long preparing for and anticipating those few days, and they pass just as quickly as the rest of our days (if not more quickly). For us, Christmas lasted from December 24 to January 4. From our family's Christmas to Nana's Christmas, to Gammy's Christmas, to Gram's Christmas, to a birthday party for Jesus at church last Sunday, we were opening presents about every other day for close to two weeks. I think H was fully expecting to open more gifts on Monday of this week! Even with it lasting all of those days, I can't help but wish I had savored each moment more.

Our days spent celebrating with the extended Spore family were really fun. We missed Chad's brother, Andy, very much. Chad's sister wasn't as eager to stay up playing games, watching movies, etc. as she used to be, probably because she is now Mommy to Alea....who requires feeding and changing regardless of Mommy's lack of sleep. We had lots of fun doting on little Alea. What a cutie! Our gift giving and receiving was great fun. We received a beautiful canvas picture of our four kiddos from Brian and Dianne (with help from the resident photographer, Heather).

We returned home safely on Saturday, before the ice took its toll on the roads. Sunday morning's slick conditions were no match for us. Okay, so we were late enough to Sunday School that people thought we were just early for church. We realized, belatedly, that our church's birthday party for Jesus was that morning. People buy and wrap items that are needed at church. As we waltzed out the door, I was thankful for the 24 rolls of toilet paper I had recently purchased for home....now to be given as our gift. We had to laugh when C girl asked why Jesus needed toilet paper.

Now, I believe we're back into the swing of things. We will head to Des Moines to review our completed home study next Friday. Then, it will land in a pile at CIS in Des Moines. We are praying it will find its way to the top, we will be scheduled for fingerprinting quickly, and they will issue the I171H in record timing. If not, we'll wait patiently....is there any other choice?:)