God heard our prayers! We've been scrutinized! :)

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

                                         - Hebrews 5:7 ESV


This passage of Scripture is a great comfort right now...to know we have a God who hears us!  He knows our concerns, even before we know therm.  His Spirit is able to intercede on our behalf, even through our loud cries and tears.  What is even more of a comfort is reading the next verse, Hebrews 5:8..."Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered."  Yes, God heard his cries.  Does that mean he prevented Jesus, his own son, from dying on the cross for us?  Does that mean that Jesus rebelled and avoided the cross to keep from experiencing pain?  Jesus obviously obeyed.  


When our family requested prayer to bring Joshna home soon (the Day of Prayer for Joshna was on Tuesday, March 29), I knew God would hear our prayers.  What I didn't know was would he answer those with the results I wanted to see?  I was preparing myself for delayed results, trying to learn through this suffering, trying to prepare myself for the possibility that God has other plans for the adoption.  Little did any of us know that God was at work in Chennai on Tuesday!  Our case went before the Scrutiny Hearing, and we were approved to adopt Joshna!!!  PRAISE GOD!!!!!


We are truly humbled that God would work so quickly to move within the governmental system to grant us approval.  We want to express our deep gratitude for all of our friends and family (and even those we have never met!) for your countless prayers that went out on Tuesday--and for the many prayers throughout the past few years!  We did want to approach God reverently, not with the assumption that He would grant our wish immediately.  We thank God for his goodness and mercy to us and to our daughter!


The end of this process is nearing, and the next season of adjustment will soon begin.  While we are grateful for your prayers, we would like to request continued prayer for the following:

•  praise for the answered prayers!
•  for a court date to be set quickly
•  for the judge to show up to court on the date set
•  for a judge who will look upon our case favorably
•  for Joshna's passport to be issued quickly
•  for emotional preparation for the entire family, especially Joshna and Ellie

How is your weight?

A friend recently asked me, "How's your weight?"  "My weight?!?!?  Well, I have gained a few pounds.  Why do you ask?"  She replied, "Oh no!  No, not your weight!  Your wait!  How is the wait on the adoption going?"  I started thinking...how is my wait?  Am I filled with fear and distress, or am I filled with hope and confidence, trusting that God will complete His plan for us?  So much time has passed that I have begun to let doubt enter my thoughts.  Today and tomorrow mark the 3 1/2 year mark from the date we submitted our first round of paperwork and Joshna's 3 1/2 year birthday.  How many adoptions have I seen started and completed by others during this time?  Do I believe He is using this time to prepare Joshna and to prepare us?  Am I trusting that God truly is in control and has ordained a special time frame just for us?  Unfortunately, no.  Thankfully, God gives us grace....and He will give us Grace (Joshna's middle name)!  When my stepmother replied to an email requesting prayer for the adoption, she replied saying, "Thanking God in advance for the great things He will do!"  Wow!  When I think of that it gives me goosebumps.  God is doing great things and will continue to do great things!  Unfortunately, I have chosen to be blind to that at times.  He hears our prayers and is faithful to complete his work, despite our failure to trust Him.  So now when someone asks, "How's your wait?", I want to be able to respond that it is going well...that I am trusting God alone as His plan unfolds.

We do thank each of you for your prayers for Joshna's adoption into our family, and we look forward to the day we can send out updated news on how God has been at work!

Brilliant Light in the Midst of Darkness!

When I first heard Joshna's name (the Indian spelling of her name is Jyotsna), my first reaction was to search the meaning.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find an accurate description.  From what I could tell, I came to the conclusion that it was just the name of one of the Hindu goddesses.  I wrote a previous blog about my disappointment in not knowing the meaning...thankfully...because an Indian friend read the blog (thank you, Sonar!).  He inquired with his family to find the meaning of the name--a light.  But they said it is not just any light...it is a brilliant light in the midst of extreme darkness.  Wow!  What a sweet reference to the grace of God!  Such an incredible gift...this name of hers!  Little does our precious girl know the significance of her name when we use it to draw her into our family.  This one little piece of information came at such a needed moment as we wait.  It reminds me to keep my focus on Him, not on my own hopes and plans.

WANTED!...Seriously?!?!?!

Okay, fifth time's a charm!  Yes, we have now been fingerprinted on five separate occasions in order to bring home a little girl from India!  I know we seem "iffy" to some...but seriously!  Why can't the valuable time of government officials be spent doing more to be an advocate with the Chennai courts on our behalf to speed up the process to bring Joshna home...instead of taking our ever-changing fingerprints one more time (HA!)?  It has now been over one year since we first heard about our daughter, this specific child who has become so dear in our hearts despite never having met.  One year!  How have we spent that year?  Going to places all over the county to have our fingerprints taken again and again!  I am all for being safe when it comes to children being adopted internationally.  It is crucial to find safe, loving families for each one.  The amount of fingerprinting we have undergone, however, borders on harrassment.  We are officially registered with the Davidson County Police Department, Metro Nashville Public Schools, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Inves-tigation, and the United States Citizen and Immigration Services.  Needless to say, we cannot even consider going back to the Bonnie and Clyde lifestyle that we once knew!  In case you are sensing my frustration over the delays, the repetitive paperwork and the multiple figer-printing sessions, you are correct.  I try to have a small degree of patience when it comes to the adoption.  After all, adopting internationally is not for the faint of heart. I am reaching my boiling point, however, and am as determined as wildfire to bring my daughter home!!!  Kindness and understanding have been my choice of attitude thus far.  Unfortunately, this is quickly changing with every day we wait to hear any little piece of information.  We need your prayers.  I personally need the grace to face each day.  My heart is hurting.  I grieve over every day not spent with our child.  She needs to be home.  Please pray for this to happen soon and for the ability to live each day to the fullest in the meantime.  It has now been two months since our approval from CARA.  Pray that our case would come before the Scrutiny Hearing soon and be referred on to the judge quickly.  Please pray for our family to travel to India before the end of the school year.  If this is not the plan for us, pray that our hearts would desire what God wants.  If I don't receive news soon, you all may just see me on a "WANTED!" poster when I go give everyone a piece of my mind...hee hee!