And then I saw (their) face, now I'm a Believer...

...there are no words to express what it is like to look into the pictured faces of children you have never met and know they are your children. Just no words. The pictures we were given with the files are grainy xerox copies of snapshots, but I have studied these pictures for hours. I am just so full of praise.

We will be spending the next few days pouring over the boys files. We have much to learn about our little men and we are soaking up every detail of their lives. Their story has already started and I want to know it so well, that as the next chapter begins (I like to think it will be called Becoming Jones) we move forward with a gentle transition of past and future.

We will be talking with FW toward the end of the week and then a pre-placement conference will be scheduled for us to talk with and learn from all the adult figures who have balanced their time in care.

My goal for the day is to beam, show everyone I know the greatness of God, and avoid spending any money on things for the boys (Nate and I are on an incredibly structured budget to prepare to be a family of 7--a family of 7, what a hoot!--and we did not budget clothes and toys for September, but October is coming :))

Thanks for your prayers in this journey, we ask you to continue to pray as we move toward transitioning our lives with the boys. Pray for the boys...they will suffer the most drastic changes and while we hope that their lives with us will be joyful and blessed, we know we are taking them from the life they have come to rely on. And for a time, we will not be Mom and Dad to them, but instead the people who have taken them away from their Mom and Dad. I know there will be many tears of pain amid the tears of joy. Thanks for lifting us up as we make our way through the process.


Prayer for the day:
God,
THANK YOU.
Amen

Phone Call

Today I was up in my room getting our yard sale pile in order, when I hear Noah running up the stairs whispering very loudly..."It's Miss Fonda, It's Miss Fonda." She said hello and I told her I was so happy to hear from her. She shared that the boy's caseworker had chosen us to parent the boys! ---------WHOO HOOOO!!!!---------

Nate is on his way to pick up the boy's file right now and I can hardly stand it! I will not see him until about 7:00 and therefore will not be able to see the file until 7:00.

As I was talking with Fonda, Noah and Macy stood in the hall outside of our room. They were trying to decipher what was being said. When I hung up the phone, the kids questioned, " WELL?" "We can have the boys!" They embraced each other into a tight knot and started jumping up and down.

Molly is with her grandparents and so I will not be able to tell her until I get her from them. I can not wait to see her reaction.

I am so full of praise for God.

Thank you Lord for guiding this journey. Thank you Lord for bringing our family together. Amen

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting.....

I have not been writing here because it seems like a broken record at this point...we are just waiting. We are now waiting for the caseworker for the boys, who is different than our caseworker) to decide we would be good for the boys. This is the third week of waiting and my patience level is being tested. We have been very busy, and there is much to accomplish so I should probably be glad for the time, but you all know me, I am a doer not a waiter. I keep trying to recite to myself God's time is perfect, and I am solid in this truth.

Maybe this lesson in patience is to benefit me as a mom of five....maybe it is just
H1N1 making half of our small city sick and making deadlines extend, and extend,
a n d ... e x t e n d.

Prayer for the day,

"Lord your timing is perfect, I know it is. I am struggling to be patient. I am struggling in remembering to be still and let you be God. Lord forgive me for my impatience. Lord be with Nate and I as we enjoy our family of five. Please keep your hand on Jeremy and Joshua...place our love in their hearts as we wait on them. We love them already and we praise you for the opportunity of being their parents. Because you can make it happen we ask you in faith. Because you have adopted us, we yearn to adopt them. Because of Christ we come to you. Amen."

My new favorite word.....

is Approved!!!!!

FW sent us an email yesterday letting us know we have been approved and we are awaiting just one more signature. Praise God.