Here we go....

We received permission to purchase tickets!!! Since our travel location is not reliably supported with electronic connections, we will not be posting pictures during travel, but will be able to post some upon our return. Pray for smooth travel, sweet transitions, happy boys at home with caregivers, and no adverse reactions to different environments/food!

Blessings!

Dirty Shower

Yes, dirty shower. Last weekend we were "nesting"... sort of. More like Spring cleaning. Our poor boys were cleaning house for several hours...along with Bob and myself. We really got into it...vacuuming, dusting, moping, organizing, and cleaning out the showers. You know, it gets grimy, they all do. We clean it regularly, but every now and then you have to get between the doors and into the cracks with an old toothbrush and scrub! That is what I found myself doing. On my hands and knees, hair pulled back and reallllly scrubbing.

Sunday morning, our class got into the discussion of prayer. We were dissecting the purpose and parts of prayer. I don't mean join-a-monastery-in-the-mountains kind of prayer, but rather the conversation with God kind of prayer. The question was asked, "If you only spoke with your spouse for 5 minutes each day, what kind of relationship would you have....close....or distant? Would you really 'know' your spouse? Would you feel connected?" Of course not! God, the creator of heaven and earth, the one who knows how many hairs you have on your head wants to talk to you. Not just when you are needing something, but about it all...life! My grandmother used to call it "communing" with her Maker! So that takes me back to the dirty shower.

If I only pray like I typically clean the shower, will I get grime building up in my life? Should I really wait until a special "Spring cleaning" to deal with the junk that I let get between the doors in my heart and the corners of my mind? Lately, I have been struggling with people who have a job to do (paid or otherwise) and they spend more time whining about the work they have been asked to do than they spend doing the work. Although I am far from perfect, I have become quite focused on their faults. So, I am attempting to consciously focus on cleaning out the grime. Clean out my heart...with an old toothbrush if necessary. How? Constant, Consistent, Conscious "Communion" with my Maker. Easy? Not at all. There are many distractions. I could easily find reasons to NOT stop and pray; however, I seem to find time for other things...like blogging or watching a favorite show. So, I make time for God. It's all about choice.

On the Adoption front...We still wait. We did send an email to our Adoption Agency Case Worker that contained a message to our girls. She in turn will forward it to the in-country Director who will interpret it and "read" it to our girls. It was a short message, only about 5 sentences. But in it was a message of hope, of expectant hope. We are hopeful that our efforts will aid in their transition. We anticipate travel in about 3 weeks. Much to do!

Blessings,

Audra

Blessings for 2010

I am not sure what to expect for this year, but I do know this: God never lets us go! This morning in our church service we sang those very words: "Oh, NO He never lets go, through the calm and through the storm. Oh, NO He Never lets go, every high and every low. Oh, NO He never lets go, Lord You never let go of me!" I don't know all of what will occur this year, but I do know that no matter what happens, God is in control. He still sits on His throne in Heaven and He still Loves me! No matter if life seems good or not, He still holds me in the palm of His hand.

Concerning the adoption progress....we are waiting for the "be in Ethiopia now" call. While we wait, we are getting things in order, packing, well -- thinking about packing, etc. I was told (by a good friend who has also adopted) that this time will feel like forever while you wait, but once we get the call, things will move at lightning speed. So, we put on our goggles and strap in as best we can -- for the ride of our lives!