Encouraged

It so encourages me to read everyone's blogs that are in Ukraine adopting, have recently returned, or are in the paper chase to get an appt. date.  I still feel so stongly that we will return to Ukraine to adopt as God shows me His way for us.  There seems to be so many mountains to climb but God is the mover of mountains and in His timing He will lead us back.

We are enjoying this time of year with the little ones in our home.  They talk alot about Santa but we quickly remind them that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  One of them always wants to know where Santa lives and we say the North Pole.  He then asks if we can fly to the North Pole and if Gary and Tina will fly with him.  He still hasn't quite gotten over the fact that we were gone for 3 weeks to Ukraine and, in his mind, abandoned him. (working through that one)  Having foster children has prepared us a little for what the children in the orphanges are like and what they need and long for. There are some that want to be loved close and some that love at a distance.  They all have a void that needs to be filled and the key is finding out what that is.  I guess that we are all a little like that in some ways. Thankfully we know the One who will provide for all our needs if we just pray and seek Him.  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I just love this song by JJ Heller, a christian artist.

Broken

We have been home a week and I am still trying to figure out what happened.  Why would God take us all the way to Ukraine to find our daughter and then bring us home without her?  I know it is not for me to ask why but just to trust in where He leads and what He tells me to do.  For the most part people have been considerate of what we went through but there are those that have no tact and those that just avoid us rather than bring up the subject.  It is amazing how much people can cheer when you are in the midst of doing something great but where are they when it doesn't work out. I am so glad that I can count on God and that He knows the possible when I see the impossible.

Our life from here consists of raising my 17 yr old son and 4 foster children.  We are trying to enjoy this time with them although it has been very hard to transition back.  God sees my brokenness and I just pray every day that this feeling of something missing will subside.  Sometimes we have to be broken to be used to glorify Him.

I am going to try and continue to blog, although I won't be able to give specifics about our foster children.  Thanks to all who did follow our adoption journey and gave us encouragement.  I am going to keep the title of my blog because I feel our adoption journey is not over, just going in a different direction.

Tina