A Drink in the Desert

We haven't heard from you in weeks, nor you from us.  Sadly, we're partly to blame as we've been so consumed with our lives here, with the people here, and our responsibilities here :(  In this "desert", part of me tries to question if this is really what God wants for all of us; or if it's just something we want so badly, that we're blinded from reality and seeing only what we want to the way we want to.  

I admittedly worry if it's the wisest choice for everyone involved, and if we can be what you deserve for us to be...especially during those days when I feel I'm failing the children I already have.  And when those concerns aren't consuming me, both Dad and I fear we'll be unable to get to you before it's too late, before the INS closes the door that once seemed wide open....

BUT then, I remember the miracles in every step thus far.  And that God isn't a vending machine or Santa Claus, existing to satisfy my needs or meet my goals!!  His Ultimate Goal is that all of His children would come to worship Him--everything else flows from that and toward it.  We want you to be ours, Luda, and we hope you want the same.  But He's been teaching me that regardless of our will, His will still be done.  And thank goodness, because His is always so much better than anything we could imagine or hope for (Ephesians 3:20)!!  

Whatever the final outcome of this process, you are already loved and will continue to be...and we all can trust that He'll reveal that to you in the way that will speak deepest to your heart.  

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You" (Isaiah 26:3). 

Thank You, Jesus <3

His Perfect Timing

Yay!! We got your papers back from the State Secretary's office yesterday, and "coincidentally", Angel's Haven just happens to be sending a package of inquiries to your orphanage...slated to be mailed this Friday!!!!  Yours will be in it!  As we keep discovering, and you'll soon come to know, the perfect timing of everything has been no coincidence at all.  He's making crooked paths straight in hot pursuit of you whom He adores :o)
   
"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name" (Is. 45:2-3).

<3,
Mom

Prince Charming Lives

Read a message from your host mom, Kim, yesterday.... Had she and the family sought after their momentary desire, ignoring His lead, you would never have come to the States.  Had the host families before them not listened for and obeyed His call, you AND two others wouldn't have found their homes.  Had we carried on with the path of adoption we thought was best for our family, we would have missed out on the great blessing of you!!  Although we're all SO short of God's glory, it's ironic how often we think we know better than The Maker of us.  Everything leading to this moment has been so perfectly orchestrated; it's rendered me speechless.  All I've been able to do is gush to our friends and family about God's amazing love for you, that He would chase after you like He is.

This whole journey is teaching me so much, experiencing our Father in Heaven this way.  He's saved me from Hell, healed Isaac in my womb, swept in and redeemed our shattered marriage AND your grandparents', but only now...from the outside looking in...have I been able to recognize Jesus as this very real, very tenacious "Knight in Shining Armor".

We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment....He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. 
-Colossians 1:15-22 (The Message)

Love,
Mom

Your First American Family

I want to see you, too

This morning, I had several notifications from you on Facebook, including a message.  Picture after picture was "liked" by you...one you even commented on...it was as if you stayed up all night studying us.  I looked most forward to reading your message, but didn't want to expect too much--Google Translate has been pretty limiting to the depth of our communication thus far.  Me of little faith.  This was the simple words you wrote, none of which were lost in translation this time:

Привет) хочу Вас увидит поскорей)) 

Translation: Hello, I want to see you as quickly as possible.

You have no idea, girl.  Those few words caused me to pause and really soak in all that God is doing, even when we're not.  I've been praying for you for years.  And although the wait has seemed like forever, I can see now just how perfect His timing really is.  He knew you before you were ever born.

He knew you were ours.  He knew we were yours.

The intricate web He's woven to bring you home is nothing short of an awe-inspiring testament to what He can do with lives surrendered to His lead.  You, Sweet Daughter, are being passionately pursued not only by our family here on earth, but by your Father in Heaven.  He wants to give you a crown of beauty instead of ashes (Isaiah 61:3).  Take delight in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4)--to be loved, cherished, supported...to finally be united with your family.  Hold tight...we're coming!!!

Love,
Your Hopeful-to-be Mom