In the midst of the struggle He is always faithful!!!

So last Sunday Pastor preached on Gods Shalom. On how if you are not IN Gods Peace you will not be able to receive His blessings.. or you might receive it and just have no clue that you got it!  I thought a lot about our Great God and His peace. The adoption process is by no means easy. It surely makes me wonder at times "where is my Faith?" when I am struggling so hard and feel like "am I really a woman of Faith when I feel like I am drowning in my own pity and trying to do things by MY strength?".. This process will make you  sweat, think, talk to yourself, have pity parties, look for SOMEONE who can understand.. And trust me if you have not gone through this process there are times that you just cannot understand. A midst my struggles lately with wanting things done on my time and my abilities I have clearly heard the voice of God and at times I am pretty sure he is chuckling at me saying "oh you silly girl you KNOW I got this.. This is nothing for me! I am God and I can do all things.. Have Faith, step back  and believe, trust!.. Be ready to be AMAZED!!" I know the word Amazed keeps coming to me over and over.  The adoption process has shown me many things and helped me to meet some of the most amazing people.. BUT the most amazing thing is that is has sent me to me knees in prayer, to worship the Lord with all my heart and soul and to long be a powerful woman of prayer that knows that with God ALL things are possible. I have spent since Sunday more time in prayer, more time focusing on the Lord. Focusing on my family and just enjoying his Shalom! Lord my prayer is that I learn to rely more on YOU and depend on YOU!

GOD is faithful! God will get us through this crazy process called Adoption that has given me some grey hair recently. This song helps me to think of what I should be doing "while I'm waiting". Listen and think... What are you doing while you are waiting?

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord 
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord 
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait 

And I will move ahead bold and confident 
Taking every step in obedience 

While I'm waiting I will serve You 
While I'm waiting I will worship 
While I'm waiting I will not faint 
I'll be running the race even while I wait 

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord 
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord 
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait 
Yes, I will wait 

And I will move ahead bold and confident 
Taking every step in obedience 
[ml ] 
While I'm waiting I will serve You 
While I'm waiting I will worship 
While I'm waiting I will not faint 
I'll be running the race even while I wait 

I will move ahead bold and confident 
I'll be taking every step in obedience, yeah 

While I'm waiting I will serve You 
While I'm waiting I will worship 
While I'm waiting I will not faint 

And I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting on You Lord 

I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting

SO while I am waiting I received the MOST blessed email yesterday. Actually I received 10 of them!!! 10 emails that in total held 86 pictures of our son, Elias who is waiting in China for his family. He received his care package, he had a birthday party that we paid for and had a cake for his birthday and then HE FOUND OUT HE HAS A FAMILY on his 9th Birthday!!!! We are beyond blessed to receive such a HUGE blessing. I would bet that 86 pictures is just about a record. The most we ever got of Luke was a few. We cant stop looking at the pictures over and over again. AHHH Thank you God for sending us such a blessing. Thank you for allowing us to experience your peace and know that our son is OK  He looks beyond incredible. I am not going to post all 86 pictures but I am going to share a bunch. ENJOY!! (we sure are!!!)

                                     My Birthday Boy! He is 9 years old now!

                                          I would say he is enjoying his big day!

                                                                   His cake!!

                                                                   Cutting the cake!

                                        We are in love with this little round face!

                                                             Playing games for his bday!

A dance too!!!

                                  We are 100% sure he is signing in the following pics! :)))))

A "sign of Thank you" (he got the remote controlled airplane we had sent for him! )

WE ARE WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!