.His Hand of Blessing.

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

Psalm 139:1-6

I am so thankful for these words of truth that were tucked into my heart from my dear friend, JO. Little did I know how much I would cling to these words just hours after she spoke them to me. I am absorbing the truth that God is in front of me, behind me - surrounding me - hemming me in - even in this very moment that is humanly filled to the brim with pain. I am held by God. And, even now, His tender, gentle, loving Daddy hand is softly placing a blessing on my head. I am cradled by my Creator and blessed by His hand. The blessing is for now disguised as a bitter curse, but I know that ultimately it is a blessing and that the pain and suffering, although bitter, has purpose. It is through pain that we experience hope.

We learned today that our document was translated, but the US Embassy refused it. They are claiming that they will only accept a re-translated document from the court. The court will only accept and translate documents on Wednesdays. So on the day we had anticipated being in the air headed to our son, we continue to wait.

But even now God is surrounding us and placing His hand of blessing upon our heads.

And with David I choose to exclaim Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

.Praying for Clearance.*UPDATED*

To say that I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love we have received from people is a gross understatement. I am so thankful for the love and support that has been given to us in sharing our attachment plan. The responses were remarkable. I have honestly been very nervous to share, because a few months ago we sent out an email to our closest friends and family and got two positive, encouraging responses and a whole lot of silence. {Cue the Crickets} I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I wasn't sure if we would feel much support at all in our decision to cocoon so intensely.

However, this week I have received phone calls and emails and facebook messages from numerous families telling us they are praying and asking how they can get tangibly involved in helping us. People are freezing meals for us, two friends are planning to do my grocery shopping, people have offered to stock our fridge upon our arrival home, a few friends and family members have offered to take Cadi and Scotty for a few hours as needed, and the promises of prayers have just brought me to my knees. I am forever grateful for this journey for so many reasons. God has brought some very deep, intimate friendships from this. Friendships that I did not go searching for or even know that I needed. Many of these friends sought me out and demanded to walk every part of this with me - not letting me journey this alone. It was exactly what I needed. It brings me to tears knowing the emotional roller coaster that these friends sat next to me on. This journey has allowed me to really open up and be vulnerable with sisters and brothers in Christ. I did not know how much I needed this journey. I did not know how much I would be changed. I am so thankful for the body of Christ, and for those that have embraced us during the past ten months. I pray that the blessings you all have poured out on us will be returned to you ten-fold. Thank you.

We were contacted today by our agency. We were told that the US Embassy was requesting an updated document for our case. However, that document is being quickly rewritten (or already has been), and will be submitted shortly. After that it looks like we will be cleared very quickly, and that we could be leaving for Ethiopia and Jamesy next Saturday, March 5th!! I am trying really hard not to put too many expectations on this date. I have learned that things do not always happen like they should. However, I am packing our bags and preparing. If God leads you, please pray for our clearance that it would come swiftly, that we can book tickets (we have a friend traveling with us this time!), and that God provides the finances and all of the last baby necessities that we are still lacking. We serve an on-time God. I cannot wait to see how this all falls into place.

And I cannot wait to have my brown-eyed boy in my arms again and bring him home!

*UPDATE:
We need prayer for discernment as we decide whether to book flights on faith that we will be cleared by US Embassy (and leave this THURSDAY), or wait until we are cleared and pay a lot more (money we do not really have) for tickets to fly out the next available flight, or wait until clearance and book tickets a week out missing Jamesy's pediatric opthamology appointment. We could also book flights for two separate dates and buy travel insurance, but we will be out $400 a ticket to cancel one of the flights. Please, please pray.