Being Intentional Doesn't Come Naturally

I'm learning things here and there as I get a little older. I'm thankful for these things in the end, but not always interested in learning them at the moment. One of these things, I'd like to share with you. 

Being Intentional. Being intentional doesn't come naturally, that's why it's called, being intentional. The concept: going above and beyond what you would naturally do, for the sake of a purpose or mission. Webster's dictionary says it this way: Done in a way planned or intended. 

This means, to be intention, requires some thinking. After working all day, after serving all day, after emailing & meeting all day, it's really difficult to be intentional at home. I get this. It's almost exhausting sometimes to always be intentional with relationships. So it's much easier to not be. It's much easier to just go with the flow and let life play itself out without my energy of being intentional. 

Here's the problem with this philosophy, it leads to missed opportunities & other problems. For example, lets take shopping. Shopping unintentionally can lead to excessive spending and a whole lots of unnecessary stuff. Raising a child unintentionally can lead to routine matters without ever teaching a single thing. Going to work unintentionally can lead to laziness and eventually unemployment. And the list goes on and on. 

So why am I sharing all this... because adopting unintentionally can lead to a roller coast of emotions if one is not intentionally searching for God's blessings in their life. The journey has been up and down. This journey has led me to my knees on more than one occasion. Adoption isn't easy... it's intentional. We've intentionally sought after God's heart for our child. We've not just sat around, knowing that one day a child will show up at our front door calling us Mommy & Daddy. It usually requires awareness, fundraising, and a whole lot of intentional prayers. This week alone has been one thing after another. 1. Emily was hoping to return to the states on Friday, now she'll be coming home on Sunday instead. 2. Many of Eli's clothes are too small, including the Halloween onesies we had for him, which means we'll be returning them along with some diapers that are now too small. We were assigned a judge, only to find out she's at a conference all week. These things can become overbearing at times, reminders of the fact we are here and he is there. 

But being intentional about seeing God's blessings means... 

1. Emily is coming home. PRAISE GOD, Emily is coming home on Orphan Sunday!

2. We've been assigned a judge. PRAISE GOD, that's one step closer to a court date!

3. Eli is growing like crazy!!!! PRAISE GOD, Eli isn't malnourished and underweight!

Being intentional through the adoption process is soooo important. It's also important for a Believer to be intentional. Unintentional Christianity can lead to people going to hell for eternity. "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" Romans 10:14 

Bottom line is... Unintentional people miss out on God's amazing plan for their lives... GO BE INTENTIONAL TODAY! 

For our heart is glad in Him

It seems like we've been waiting for forever... just waiting on a simple phone call that will change our lives forever! It's been getting harder and harder as each day passes by. We're getting closer to Thanksgiving & Christmas and we were just sure we'd be heading back way before the holidays. But God seems to have a different plan for us. 

I'll be taking back some of Eli's Fall Festival outfits, as we won't need them this year. So sad to think this mamma is already missing out on some of his firsts'. A reality of adoption, I guess. 

We have been able to receive updates from different people that are in Uganda. The most recent was from his case worker Christine (pictures can only be seen through our email distribution list). She checks on him often and makes sure all is well. 

Please keep praying for him, for us and for those waiting to go over as well. 

For all you prayer warriors out there, thank you for your continued faithfulness in not only lifting us up but our friends too. 

Deckard Update: The Deckards are home and adjusting to life with 3 boys quite well. You can see more pictures of them and their journey at https://www.loom.com/albums/1187532

Trivette Update: Emily & Ben are hanging in there. They are experiencing some rather difficult & uncomforatble days, so I asked that as you go to bed tonight you keep them in your prayers. Not only praying for them, but also remember to thank the Lord for the bed you'll be sleeping in, as not everyone has these types of luxuries in their life.  They hope to return to the states next week, assuming all goes well with a few more appointments. 

Psalm 33:20-22 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Praising the One who is Faithful

The wait continues and it's been rather draining and overwhelming some days. But we are continuing to pray and praise the one who is so faithful each and every day. 

For those of you who still sees us around town, we are trying to be as patient as possible with His Perfect Timing, knowing that it requires us to stay here in Wauchula while we wait to be united with our son in Uganda... one day. 

While there have been some major ups and downs for our friends in Uganda, they are both moving along quickly now. The Deckards should have a visa in their hand and making their way back to states the beginning of next week. The Trivette's (which is only Emily & Ben now, David has had to return to the states already) should be applying for their passport and making their way through the process soon. Please continue to keep their safety, travels, and the rest of their meetings in your prayers. 

No new updates on Eli but wanted to send you one of our most recent pictures of him, by far one of our favorites! (Pictures are only available through email updates)Please continue to pray for him as well. 

Thank you all who have reached out to us during this time and have expressed your love for us and Eli in so many ways.

P.S. We've had several requests for additional Adoption / Namanya shirts... no guarantee, but if you are one of those interested in a shirt, please email us with the size and quantity... if we have at least 12 requests, we will consider placing another order. Please reply by Monday October 14th. (No infants or toddler sizes please) 

For I AM GOD, and there is no other!

"...For I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45

Thank you all for your continued prayers. The Deckard's have received a favorable ruling from the Judge.The Deckard's can now continue with the process of bringing Chase home. This is amazing news for them and for those of us waiting as well. 

Have a wonderful weekend and continue to keep the Trivette's, Ben & Eli in your prayers as the waiting continues for many of us. 

Give Thanks... Even when it's hard to do!

I write with a heavy heart tonight, saddened by the events that have taken place today. 

Without going into complicated details, I'll list the 2 main prayer requests... 

First, a local family at our church is devastated tonight as they've anticipated their adoption for quite some time now of a baby boy. He was born on Monday and the Mother has decided to not give him up for adoption. Please pray for peace & comfort in their lives. 

Secondly, the Deckard's & Trivette's are in need of our prayers again at 1am (our time) 8am (Ugandan time). The details are lengthy, so I'll not make you read through them all but there are some legal matters that need to be bathed in prayer tonight. It is vitally important that we ask for the Holy Spirit to intervene in this process for them and allow hearts to softened so that these families will receive a favorable ruling. 

I know that these emails are intended to update you on Eli. He is doing amazing and is in the best care ever, being loved by some amazing women. If he could speak, I know he would tell you to pray for his dear friends Ben & Chase and their families right now. That God give them peace & comfort & to calm their anxieties. Our God is in control, they know this, we know and we must continue to pray in faith. 

Although I am mentally, physically and emotionally drained after today... I am reminded of the feeding of the 5000. There they stood, the crowd of 5000+ and clearly there was a problem. Humanly it was not possible to feed all these people with the limited resources provided, BUT Jesus saw the opportunity and showed his glorious powers right there in front of their eyes. I pray tonight as many of us look at our current situations, we stop focusing on the problems and instead, seek God in prayer as we pray expectingly for Him to take our problems, our situations that are humanly impossible and turn them around to glorify His kingdom. May we also remember an important part of this scripture, "He gave thanks." May we all continue to give thanks to our Lord & Savior during these times... as He has always been faithful and true! 

Court, Prayer and a New Beginning

My love for these two families have grown so much in just the past few days! They truly are family in so many ways. God has brought us all together for a reason and we have prayed, laughed, smiled and cried all together even though we are miles apart.

Court is tomorrow morning for the Deckard's & Trivette's. As you & your family go to bed tonight, please be in prayer for them. At 2am & 4am (EST) they will be seen in front of the Judge for the adoption of Chase & Ben. This can be a very scary & stressful time for an adoption family. So this is what we all need to pray for:

• The Judge. That she will be compassionate and understanding. That she will see the need for Chase & Ben to be with their forever families. That she will see the love they have for these 2 boys. That in the end, she will give a favorable ruling for both families.
• The Family. That the Deckard's and Trivette's will have peace & patience tomorrow with all that takes place.
• The Boys. Chase & Ben's lives have been turned upside down, in all the right ways, but life is still a little hectic right now for them. Pray that they will feel the love of their parents and not be too anxious or unsettled about anything.

Tomorrow's a big day and what better way to support Eli's 2 best friends than by bathing them in prayer tonight. (Thank you in advance)!

A Bittersweet Day

I went to bed last night with so many thoughts running through my head... because I knew in just a few short hours it would already be Saturday Morning in Uganda and that meant the Trivette's and Deckard's would going to Mrs. Elizabeth's house (aka the Foster Home) to unite with their sweet boys, Ben & Chase. 

And so, I laid there praying. Praying for joy, excitement and a smooth transition for these 2 families. But deep down, I also knew this day would be bittersweet, because Eli would be seeing his 2 best friends leave with their new forever families and he would not. Don't get me wrong, he may not have any idea what was really happening, but his day-to-day routine would change and he'd be sure to pick up on this. 

So then I woke up this morning and all I could think of was my little Eli watching this exciting thing happen before his eyes with these two amazing families and wonder where his family was. And so I prayed some more... please God, give him peace. Please Lord, let him understand and be reassured that someone is coming for him as well. Please Lord, be with his sweet soul and not let him be sad. Please Lord, let this day be exciting and not disheartening. I guess deep down, I was really praying these things over myself as well. 

And then I got an update from Emily... these were her words... 

"Sweet friend, your boy is SO sweet! I was able to love on him for a while this morning and assured him you were coming!!!!! Praying SOON!! Hang in there!!" - Emily Trivette

I had a huge sigh of relief! God had answered my prayers and in that moment, I just knew that my Eli understood and that he would be ok. 

It reminds me a bit of the disciples, when they found out that Jesus would be leaving them. Their dearest friend, their confidant, their master, their teacher who had been with them for so long would not be with them much longer. He spoke to them... 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” -John 14:1-4

So, to my dear Eli, we are preparing a place for you. You will LOVE your new room, toys, clothes, books (and all the other stuff everyone has got you that I have no idea what it is :) But more importantly, we are coming. We will not be leaving you there and what you saw Chase & Ben experience today, you too will experience very soon. We love you and pray for you each and every day! And there is an entire village waiting to love and kiss all over you. We'll see you soon!