PLEASE PRAY...

I don't if you guys have noticed, but I added a button on the side of my blog... the "Praying for Abby" button..

This is the blog of a family that I ran across.. I have NO idea how.. but, I know that it was for a purpose..

This family has adopted several children....one being Abby... and she's battling cancer. She's VERY sick tonight and looks like she might not make it through the night...

PLEASE go visit their blog and say a prayer for this family... My heart breaks for them... and in spite of their pain and agony.. they are totally committed to God and is plan for their lives!!!

What a testimony of truly being, "Christ-like!"

Click here to visit their blog.. or the button of the right...

Check this out!!!!!

Hey everyone tonight...
I just have to post a YIPPEE for my good friends the Wright's.... .
Check out their blog for details....

They received possible travel dates today.... MONTHS before they ever expected it... just when you wonder if Kaz. is even moving.... things move SUPER fast for this family!! We are thrilled for them and I ask you to please add them to your prayer lists... they have quite a journey ahead of them and LOTS of things to get ready in the next few weeks!!

Brian, Cynthia, and Madalyn.... we are thrilled for you guys.... and please know that you are covered in prayers!!! Little baby (boy, I think!:-)) Wright... you're Mama, Daddy, and Sister are coming to bring you home forever!!!!

All our love...
Phil, Lanetta, and girls... :-)

NEWS!!!!

We received a phone call today from the agency... it was the sinking feeling that all you PAP's know... hate and love all at the same time... you see the agency on the caller ID.. and are torn between ignoring the call... for fear of BAD news again.... but at the same time can hardly stand to get the phone answered to see if it could possibly for ONCE be good news!!!

Well, today was good news... (we think!)
It is a long story, but our agency overnighted our "new" dossier today to be translated.... they are expediting translation and said we should be submitted to the consulate by early-mid next week... I have to say that it was mixed with not so great news as well... the agency made sure to remind us that it is risky... and that there is a possibility that the consulate won't pass us on through due to our immigration forms that are a little over 6 months from expiring..... the flip side of that at is that if we wait to get it all updated and redone... we are looking at Aug. at the earliest before we can get the updated form!! URG!!!! It such a LONG complicated story... for anyone who would like the "whole" story I would be happy to share... e-mail me.. and I'll share it all with you...

so, we are VERY excited tonight... and realize that our paperwork is actually moving once again... yippee!! We know that we will travel and get to our boy(s) in God's timing.. not ours... so we are reminding ourselves that we can have peace in that!

Prayer request: Pray that all this will work out in God's perfect timing... and if we are supposed to get through the consulate this time around... we will!! Pray for favor on our documents and that God's peace will just pour off the pages when the officials are reviewing it... I just pray that the officials will feel God and know that our family is to move through! Please also remember to pray for our boy(s)... we have no idea the specifics... the ages or if there will be one or two, but I do know this.. that God has them/him in his hand... and we appreciate all of you remembering them in your prayers... we pray that they have excellent caregivers who they are bonding with and being loved by.... Hang tight boy(s) we are getting there as quick as we can!

Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support.... and know that all of you who ask and comment and share with me are such an encouragement...
Blessings... blessings.. blessings!!!
Lanetta

From the mouth of Brooklyn!!! :-)

The bell rings... and we're off (the bell being the one at school.. signing the end of the school day!)... We run to the daycare, grab Brooklyn from her classroom, buckle her in and we're off again... She quickly asks... "Mom, Are we late?" I laugh and respond, "yes, baby, you're with Mama, we're always late!" (which btw, I HATE about myself! urg!) So, we travel about 5 miles south of town and go swiftly past our dirt road turn off and I hear Brook again... "Mama, where are we going?" I laugh and tell her we are going to the Lincoln County Courthouse to the county assessors office! I don't hear anything for another few miles... then she says, "Mama, where are we going?" I tell her again... this time she says, "Why Mama, what we do there?" I laugh and say... "Well baby we have to get the County Assessor to fill out a paper to send in for our adoption." Then Bailey says, (thanks for her big sister 7 (almost 8) year old insight), "Brook, you know for our brothers.. the adoption!" "Oh" Brook says. Another few minutes and Brook says, "Mama, don't you think my bubbas have enough papers yet?"
Out of the mouth of babes!!!!

I about died laughing... and said oh Brookie... if you only knew!?!?

Dinner conversation was just as entertaining... the girls quickly begin telling their Daddy about their days and Brook tells him all stressed acting about the papers and then states matter of factly.. that if her brothers will ever get here she's going to share her blankies!!! Just like Why in the world are they not coming here NOW... she's tired of waiting and she's said she'll share!!!
It was so funny!!
The girls are very excited about the adoption, but often don't understand why it's taking so long.. we've just used this whole process as an incredible tool to teach them about Jesus.. obeying God and the promises in his word!!!

Phil and I are so blessed...

Are we even making any progress??

So, we received an update from the agency yesterday.. and well, after review of our dossier they have asked us to change/redo a few things... It's disheartening to say the least... Phil's been out of town and made it back today after an awful drive home (due to the ice storm)... and I didn't tell him till tonight.. he just listened while I read him the e-mail and said... man o man.. Is it just me, or does this WHOLE process feel like a mouse on a wheel running so hard.... only to find out that you have not gone anywhere? Yes, that's exactly how I feel tonight... and I'm exhausted from it!

Most of the things that have to be redone are very minor and I can get them redone quickly and relatively easily... but, it just frustrating.. part of the things are things that are out of our control.... so we don't know how all this will play out... Please join us in prayer that all this mess with our paperwork will work out in God's perfect way!

I was immediately drawn to my newest scripture tonight... "And the Lord answered me: "Write the vision... for still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:2-3
I know in moments like tonight... we allow our flesh to override what we know God has shown us... and I know God is using this very journey to mold Phil and I to be more like him, love him more, honor him more, and totally rely on him in ALL things! But, I have to say that sometimes being molded hurts.... and it hurts deep... and sometimes I even wonder why it all has to be so hard... we are trying to serve God with everything within us... we desire our family to be exactly what God has called us to be... why are things so difficult sometimes??? and then I always come back to the answer... God uses these times to makes us stronger, grow us, and mold us to be more like him! and I realize that in these moments I am being selfish.... and that is not God's plan for our life!

Please excuse the mess...

Ok.. I am having some (LOTS) of difficuly with the posting of this video... I think I am missing some VERY simple steps... because other people post multiple videos in a post and it appears they have no problem... I went back in to the post from yesterday and now the video is gone... and then when trying to add it.. I froze the entire BLOG!!! SCARY!!!! So, please read the following... then watch the video.. then read the post below that where I wrote about the video... SORRY! :-(

I just wanted to warn you of the graphic nature before watching the video in the next post.... please read the text below the video... and then watch! (Be sure to pause the music player at the bottom.. or you'll have both sounds going at once....)

Sam and Esther