What is your Ebenezer?

According to the Hebrew definition of Ebenezer is “stone of help”. I have been learning that I have many Ebenezer’s in my life. It is mention in the bible a couple of times for the most part in 1^st Samuel.

I have had a lot of Ebenezers coming my way lately. Through people donating to our adoption. Shortly before Michael broke his leg, we figured that we were within $4,000 of being fully funded (we think) for the adoption. A strong showing on the provision of God.

There have been many that have been “stones of help” as we walk through this time where Michael is not operating at 100% there have been so many at various times that have cooked for us, checked on us, transported Michael, Dr’s appointments and so on. They have been our “stones of help”.

In the past couple of weeks, The Holy Spirit was a “stone of help”, although the Holy Spirit is has always been a stone of help.

We received a referral. She was a sweet two year old little girl with a heart murmur. We read through the files, that were almost two years old. The pictures, medical reports, everything that we got was two years old. The only update that we had was a heart scan, that had not been translated into English. God provided us assistance in that, and it turns out that everything looked like it was pointing in the normal direction, and yet the answer from God was a No. It was heard, we took almost the entire 72 hours to call the adoption agency. It was a really hard no. Why were we having to say no was clear to us in some ways and not clear in others. Why would God present a child to us at this time, full well knowing what the outcome would be.

And so, the day came, a Thursday I texted Michael to let him know that I was going to call the adoption agency. Michael had made a statement, “I just wish that we could get a medical update with something to make this a bit easier.” And just then, I got a call that there was updated pictures in my email along with a video. God is good and his timing is perfect. It was clear in the video that something was wrong. She had severe brain damage potentially from a heart attack, we are not to sure. Which took a load off my shoulders in regards to calling the adoption agency, and yet it did not.

This little gal just like the couple before, was fearfully and wonderfully made in HIS image. She deserved a family just as much as any child. But we were not her family. And so we continue to wait, pray and learn from each and every step of this journey.

We got word that our immigration status will expire in January. So we are currently working through the steps to update it. We have to have an update to our homestudy, medical exams, forms, forms, forms to fill out in the next couple of weeks. Finances we were hoping that we would not have to lay out, but rejoicing in the fact that we have it in the bank.

Please be praying for this process!

Jennifer

The Unexpected

Life has been a bit interesting lately. Nothing really new on the adoption front. Praise the Lord China has opened up again and are slowly releasing kids. I know that we are not the only ones that are anxious about God bringing our baby girl home. So we wait with baited breath.

Sometimes it is hard in at a specific moment, to see what God’s plans are. I had such a desire to be traveling this fall. In fact this desire was so strong, I have friends who are also adopting from China. There process is really different (being they are already in China) but they will be getting there little boy in September or October, far sooner than we have. Which was a bit hard to accept. While I am ecstatic for their family to be completed, that was the time that I had wanted to go! 

But God knew what he was doing. We went on a family vacation to celebrate my dad’s 60^th birthday. We had a great weekend on the beach with my parents, my sister and her family along with a two cousin, aunt and Mr. Bill. But God knew what he was doing… On the last day of vacation, Michael was trying out a new sport on the beach, fell and broke his ankle. We were in the ER, got home and a week later he had surgery that required a plate and 6 pins to be put in. For the next 6 weeks he will be in a cast and then 4-6 in a boot plus lots of physical therapy. So, if you were to look at a calendar, that would have put us right in the timeline of going to China. Which means that I would have been going alone, or at least with a friend to get our daughter. God knew what he was doing. He knew that Michael was going to break and that we would be going through this season. For the next 2-3 months, I will need to manage a lot in this house. The outside and in because there is a lot that Michael cannot do with his leg. 

We also found out right before we left that I need surgery as well. Which has been put off until Michael is in the boot. Needless to say that it has been an overwhelming season for us.

Complete with a family glow stick party

But, there have been nuggets of goodness that have come. I look forward to sitting down and writing about what the Lord is doing. He is faithful and moving forward.

Much love,

Jennifer