God’s Sustaining Strength.

Last week was hard, exhausting and just pure overwhelming as I had written in my last post and I truly believe that it was so hard because it was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.  God called me to share with 2 others this past Sunday and as you know and as I have said many times, words and speaking are not on my top 10 list of things to do. But God can use us if we are willing to let Him. Even with all the attacks this past week, He gave me strength. I loved what Diana shared about not waiting to do what God is calling you to do because there is always a mess in our lives and if we wait until things are as we think they should be before we do what God is calling, then we will never do it. When he calls we need to obey even the things that seem impossible. He will give us strength. It was an incredible and challenging day on Sunday listening to two amazing testimonies. I then gave a challenge to others to take action listening and obeying His call to care for the orphans in  various  ways. Sometimes I don’t like that word orphan because it lumps them all together. Each one has a name, a beautiful face and a story. I continually go to the waiting site http://wonderfulwaitingkids.com praying over these children reading their needs and their dreams and for some it is to be a doctor and I cry, and cry out to the Lord on their behalf that their forever family will listen and obey and find them, love them and share the love of Christ with them. Please join me in praying for them.

Only a Week

I can not believe it has only been a week since I last wrote. It has felt like a month! It has been a whirl wind of a week. Honestly I was feeling very overwhelmed with all that was happening. Not knowing if we can have any of the fundraisers we hoped to have and what we would do next to raise what we still need. Then our internet in our town was down for several days so I couldn’t check any responses. I think this was the Lords way of helping me to “Be still and know that “He” is God” You see He needed me to be focused on Him for all the other hard things coming my way. And it just felt like they kept coming all week long, from little things like pieces you need to put together a bed missing when you open the box to a family member hanging on for dear life. Each night as a family we share and write down one thing we are thankful for. We try to be thankful for the good and the bad. The Lord has impressed on my heart this year to rest in Him and try to be full of His Joy! I am trying to seek Him in each situation looking for Him when things are hard and filling my heart with Joy because I know He is in complete control of it all. After many many years I finally am understanding there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is circumstantial but joy you can have no matter the circumstances. I am so thankful for the peace living in Christ gives me and so thankful He is there walking with me through it all.  We did receive some exciting news once our internet was back up. Our papers have been translated and we should be getting our very important approval paper (LOA)in 2-3 weeks or less!! This means we are a month ahead of schedule!! And Check out that growing fund on the right side of the blog. Gracious huge gifts have been moving it, even with no fundraiser planned at the moment!! God is amazing! He knows just what you need and when you need it and we are so thankful to all who have been helping bring our son home!

Stretched but Strengthened

Sometimes God asks you to step out of your comfort Zone and sometimes he keeps asking you to step. On Monday night I took a huge step that really stretched me but how I was so blessed by strangers. A friend had offered to do a 5K run and another had offered to do a carnival. On Monday I went to a board meeting to propose doing the events at the town’s park. Now let me just review something. I am not good with words and God has already been stretching me with this blog. It is not my favorite thing to get up and talk in front of people but if God tells me to I will. Usually I have something written and can read it. Well Monday I had no idea what I was doing or what I would be saying and I was extremely nervous. This was way out of my comfort zone. My dear sweet daughter offered to come along for support. The meeting was very informative. I learned we need to be under some non-profit organization and have liability insurance with them to be able to do the event. After contacting an organization today we don’t have that so the event is on hold until the Lord shows us if there is a way to do it. This has been very discouraging as this was our only big fundraiser in the works. If you could please pray for wisdom I would greatly appreciate it.  I was greatly stretched that night but I also was strengthened because once again strangers were so willing to help. The committee members were so caring and encouraging and wanted to help us. It was such a blessing to have people who don’t even know us care so much about helping us. It gives me hope to keep hanging on and believe that God will provide a way to bring our precious son home!

So much in so little time!

So much has happened since I last blogged 14 days ago. The greatest news being our papers arrived safely in China and was officially logged in on Christmas day. This is a huge step. I think we have crossed over the half way point and now the time seems so short to get everything done in less than 5 months.  We did have a great time celebrating Christmas with family and celebrating our Savior’s birth. This was one of our simplest Christmases and one of my most cherished moments was when Sarah said “Mommy this was the best Christmas ever.” There is something to say about living simply. We also were rejoicing in our Christmas miracle reaching half way on our adoption fund.

After Christmas we began working on painting and switching rooms. There was so much to do but we did it in a short amount of time and got it done before we began back to homeschooling. Sarah did a beautiful job designing her new room and Pierson and Cargan’s room is almost complete. Oh how I can’t wait for that empty bed to be filled!

It feels good to have the rooms almost ready but there is so much more to do! I have tons of papers to fill out to apply for grants and we are trying to pull together some fundraisers.

There is so much to do so I am humbly asking for anyone who will help in any way!!!

We are trying to plan a 5k and kids fun run with a carnival on April 27^th. We are in the beginning stages and will need lots of help along the way and that day. I also spoke with someone about possibly doing an auction and need a few people to help with this event. Sarah and I have gotten a table at a craft sale on January 26^th and would love to have people stop by or donate any items. We would greatly appreciate any help. If you have any interest in helping in anyway for any of these events please email me at lang4@hometownu.com. Thank you!!!

PS: There are two other families that are so dear to us. Their blogs are on the left side. Annie’s blog Cornbread and Chopsticks has a special fundraiser they are doing where you can get a great product and the Ryland’s have a special fundraiser that only last this week that is just $1!!

I hope you will take the time to check these opportunities out to help precious children come home to learn about the love and the Lord.