Attitude and Heart Adjustment in 2011

So how many of you have decided to take the Boss Your Heart Challenge?  I am having so much fun on it.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it's because we had ended the year on a not so high a note and getting back to basics is what I needed.  The fact that my family is excited about it as well certainly helps.  Not to mention hearing of all the wonderful adoption news.  Many are not only adopting one but adding to their family by two's.  Seeing children on waiting lists finding their forever families that seem to have been there for quite sometime.  Learning that "Kevin" has found a family is so awesome!!!  Yes, he has a family but we don't know who they are yet.  Soon, hopefully soon. 

Our adoption process has been halted for now.  When I said we had major disappointments, I wasn't kidding.  The two angels we were wanting to bring into our family were both taken off the wait lists for different reasons.  I guess we can look at it as blessings as we hadn't put any money towards things and then got denied.  It always happened right before we were going to make a BIG move and a holiday (the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas). But it was still heartbreaking and sad.  But, what I am being reminded daily of is, I need to trust in the LORD.  He has it all worked out, none of this is a surprise to HIM.  If nothing else, He has closed these doors for a time.  Not forever.  He knew that we would probably be moving a lot sooner than anticipated (we should know exactly when in the next few months), which would not have worked with timelines and bringing the girls home.  He has the perfect agency for us to sign with - do need to ask - has anyone else had any issues with being denied a homestudy with one agency because the child/ren you want to adopt are with another out of state agency, and the hs agency would lose accreditation?  Yes, this has been one of our issues and then I laugh because the one agency that we could have worked with originally that would do a hs for our country of choice, is on their black list and we would have had to start over.  Why are they on the blacklist (which is most of them in our current state- they don't turn in their reports on time)  Ha!  God's hands all over this baby I tell you.   So, we wait.  I wasn't ok with it, and I'm not happy knowing that these two angels can't be adopted yet, but I am content in sitting at Jesus's feet, having Him minister to us and knowing He cares about these kids more than I do.  He knows them so intimately and knows exactly what their hearts need right now, and He is making sure they have it.  I do admit, my heart longs for them, my arms know that they are missing giving out the hugs that are meant specifically for them and there is room for two more littles to sit on my lap on the sofa watching a movie as I'm surrounded by the other 4 precious beings in my life, and if I don't have room, their papa sure does.  If he doesn't there are two big sisters and to big brothers that will be right there for them.  Their are lots of kisses that will be given as well.  But for now, we pray.  We love from afar and if for some reason, they never come into our home as we hope, they will never be forgotten, always loved and always prayed for.

I'm going to ask if anyone, in addition to the Bible challenge, would like to join in a fast?  Our family is doing the Daniel Fast starting this Sunday, Jan 9th, along with our church and a homeschooling group I am affiliated with that I asked to join us.  We will go until the 29th.  We have many breakthroughs that we would like to see for 2011, financial, with our house (selling or renting), marriages restored (people we have been praying for for a very long time), adoptions for others, salvation for many, and the list goes on but ultimately, just being with God is our greatest desire.  We want what God wants for our family this year and we would love to join in with you for God's best for you as well.  So, if you want to join in~ please do.  If you want to leave a comment for us to pray specifically for you~ Please do.  If not, that's ok as well.  We are excited.  We are expecting.  We are encouraged.  We are filled with anticipation for God's best and we want you to be as well.

Today's our first day back to school and most everyone is done but not quite all.  Trying to get back into the swing of things and ahead of schedule with a move on our horizon.  But be blessed and know that God is right there beside you in your joy or your storm.  He's faithful even when we are not.

STWTHE,
Laurie

2011 Boss Your Heart Bible Challenge and a Prayer Request

I just love this challenge! I couldn't be more excited about it. The end of this year has been nothing that we had hoped for. It has been down right disappointing to be honest with you. At some point I will share the details of all that has gone wrong but for now, I just want to focus in on Jesus and the message that we have gotten all to loud and clear the last few days! To come and be with Him. He has been preparing us for something this past year and I want to ensure that I am lined up ready to go when He says,"GO!"

So, to start this new year off right we, as a family, are taking the 2011 Boss Your Heart Bible Challenge. We have signed up, we are praying and deciding what Bible plan to do individually (though a couple of us may be pairing up with some of the younger peeps to ensure they are in the Word as well). Not to mention, Lorraine is giving away one of the original prints of The Boss Your Heart books that tells the all too real story of her daughter, Chrissie "Jewelry's" journey to Heaven. So, take the time to check it out, join in, enter to win this incredible story of how one little girl taught a multitude of people, she would never know this side of heaven, how to Boss Your Heart.

Now the prayer request.
Adeye over at No Greater Joy Mom is calling for prayers for a young man who has 10 days, YES you read that correctly, TEN DAYS, to find a family to adopt him. The good news is that there are two families who are trying their best to be the family to bring him home. Unfortunately, Satan is not making this an easy journey for either of them. So, would you please join in with us in praying that his forever family, whichever one it may be, will have these mountains moved in the name of Jesus? God is in control. Jesus reigns! And I believe this young man can and will have a family before he is deemed unworthy of finding a family by those in control. So what do you say? Shall we pound on the doors of heaven with an outpouring of love for this young man and the families trying to get to him and telling Satan that this is another one he CAN NOT HAVE?

Thank you Jesus that you have heard and will make away for this family to be together!

STWTHE,
Laurie