90 Days for Noelle - Day 38

Well, I am exhausted tonight and don't really know why, but I know I need to get some sleep so I will be short. As I think about sleep, I think of Noelle in an orphanage. I wonder what the conditions are. I wonder how crowded it may be. I wonder what kind of "bed" she is in...Recently, I was doing some research on the DRC and found a picture online from Life magazine of some toddlers sleeping in a Congolese orphanage and I wanted to share it with you. I can imagine my Noelle laying there and it breaks my heart....    Goodnight, Noelle.

 

Proverbs 3:24 

²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
   when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 

God, as we lay down to sleep tonight, we pray for Noelle's rest. We ask that her sleep be sweet. That all the children in her orphanage rest with peace. You are peace and we love You, Father. In Your name we pray. Amen.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 37

Cora came home from school this week with a drawing she had made.  The picture consisted of five people so I asked her who they were.  I figured her daddy and I would be in it or maybe her nana as usual.  Cora started on the right naming her best friends, Jude and Lyla, then came to Lyla's baby brother, Blaine.  Next was Cora.  I asked who was on the left. Cora (with that duh look on her face) said "Noelle".  A lot of people ask me how Cora is handling the adoption.  Well...I would say just fine.  Noelle is already a part of our daily lives in prayer and conversation.  We think of her daily and ask God to keep her safe.  We anticipate her homecoming, longing to lavish her with hugs and kisses from mommy and daddy.  And I know that Cora looks forward to being the "big sister".

Psalm 86:4

⁴ Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
   for I put my trust in you. 

Lord, We trust you to bring Noelle home to us.  Grant us peace along the journey.  Help us to not grow weary, but to wait on You.  We love You and praise your name.  Amen.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 36

Tonight is one of those nights of the year that Cora gets super excited about. Tonight is the annual 'Daddy Daughter Dance'. She has been talking about it all week. In fact, as soon as we got home yesterday, she had me in the closet pulling out every tie I own (which isn't that many) so she could pick the "perfect" one. This is one of those events I look forward to being able to share with Noelle as well. It will probably be a couple of years before she will be ready and old enough to go though. Cora is really starting to warm up to the idea of getting a baby sister, but she has had some "concerned" questions this week in regards to the dance. She asked, "Will you still take me to the Daddy Daughter Dance when Noelle gets here?" I told her of course I will. I will just have to go to two of them, one with Noelle and one with her. (they have 3 or 4 on the same weekend) Now, all of Cora's life she has always said, "I get to go first because I am the youngest". This time she thought about it and replied, "Well I have to go first because I will be the oldest". I said we will work it out. I have to admit, I think I enjoy the dance as much as she does if not more so. I know that these moments spent with my girls will be over before I know it and I want to cherish each one. Now time to get ready, I have a date.

Psalm 127:3-5

  ^3-5 Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
      the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
   Like a warrior's fistful of arrows
      are the children of a vigorous youth.
   Oh, how blessed are you parents,
      with your quivers full of children!
   Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; 

Thank you God for the blessing of children. To be able to shape and mold their lives and raise them as You would have us to. We know that children hold a special place in Your heart because of all the references of them in Your word. Father, let these moments we share with our children bind us together in Your Love. In Your name. Amen.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 35

We are making a big decision about our adoption agency right now. We know that God has his hand on us and that there are different paths that will ultimately bring Noelle home. We are trying to figure out which direction we should go. Please pray for our direction and that we correctly discern the information we receive. I want to post a verse from the song 'Lead Me' by Sanctus Real.

"So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?"

Psalm 25:4-5

 ⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long.

Heavenly Father, We know that You will guide us in the way you would have us to go. Speak to our spirits so that we may have peace in our hearts. We pray that we hear Your voice and only seek to please You. We love You in all that we do. Amen.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 34

When we blog about Noelle, we usually talk about her current state or when we get her home. I want to talk briefly about her future. We have both mentioned about the classes we are currently taking and how they discuss common health and emotional issues associated with adoption. When she arrives home, she will probably have a few set backs, but we know our God is bigger than that. We believe she will be blessed and overcome anything that this world may say would hold her back. She will not only catch up, but even pass up. I believe she will do great things....I know she will do great things. Recently, at a church gathering, my cousin was in visiting. I don't see him very often because he lives an hour away. He is a good Christian man, but he hasn't always been that way. He has had some issues in his past, but all that is in his past. I love his testimony and he is a blessing to me. Anyway, back to my point, he approached us and said that he had heard about our adoption and that he thinks it's great. Then he said something that really stuck with me. He said, "She may just be the next Billy Graham to Africa". That's when I realized, I don't just need to pray for her in the "now" or in the "next day", but also way on down the road, deep into her future.

Ephesians 2:10

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

God, tonight we pray for our Noelle. We pray not only for her well being now, her current protection, and her safe trip home, but we pray for her entire life. That in her future You continue to bless her and that she will do great things for You. We pray this in Your holy name. Amen.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 33

The recurring theme for today seems to be "Daddy". Let me explain. I am currently reading the book, 'Wild at Heart' by John Eldridge. It is about what it means to be a manly Christian, and of course talks about the roles and influence of fathers. Then at church tonight, the topic of "daddy" came up. We are currently doing a series on 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan. We talked about the love of the Father for us. Scott (my brother & pastor) talked about our dad and how we were so blessed to have an awesome dad. I know other people have great dad's, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they are not as great as mine....Anyway, I digress. One of the study questions presented tonight was, "Do you remember when you "got it"? When you first realized you loved God with all heart, mind, and soul?" I thought about this for a few moments and realized mine. I will condense it for you. It was the day Cora was born. Jessica had a rough pregnancy and was 10 days over due. She was having contractions, so off we go to the hospital. From the time we walked in the door until Cora was born was a whirlwind. They took vitals and discovered neither Cora or Jessica was doing very good. In just minutes they had rushed Jessica back for an emergency C-section. Everything happened so fast it was constant chaos, nurses running everywhere, machines beeping, then.......silence. They were gone and I was left standing in a hospital room, all alone. All kinds of thoughts were running through my mind. All I knew to do was start praying. As I prayed, I began to feel peace. I began to feel God's love. I heard God speak to my spirit and say, "It's time to be Daddy". That was my "got it" moment. I knew to be the father I needed to be, I had to love God with everything within me. I want to be the the best husband and father I can be. I know I am/will be responsible for three (at least) beautiful girls. I want Cora and Noelle to be able to say one day that they can understand their Heavenly Father's love because of their Earthly father's example.

1 John 3:1

 ¹ See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …

Dear Lord, thank You for loving us as our father. I pray that you lead me as the father of our household and to be strong in You. Let me be an example of Your love to Cora and Noelle and all of my children. I pray they see Your love through me and do great things for You. In Your name we pray. Amen.

90 Days for Noelle - Day 32

Thank you for all the prayers concerning our in-home visit as part of our homestudy today.  Everything went smoothly.  Cora even offered to be the official tour guide spending the most time showing off her bedroom and play room.  Our social worker, Janet, talked about our capacity to grow inside our house.  It was heartwarming to think of our house filled with children and as I showed Noelle's room to be, I was excited about the changes to come.  The house is clean and everything is in its place.  Now we can relax...well for a moment.  We just have a few small tasks to accomplish before our homestudy is complete (my medical form and our Hague adoption courses).  Continue to remember us in your prayers as we have some important decisions to make over the next few weeks.

Psalm 5:12

¹² For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
         With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Lord, Thank You for your favor, your peace, and your many blessings.   You truly surround us like a mother hen covers her young with feathers.  You are everything that we need.  We love You and praise Your name.  Amen.