Aunt "B"!

All you other aunts out there to Juliana and Evan consider yourselves notified that Aunt "B" has upped the ante in competition for the favorite aunt award. This last week Aunt B has moved to McCook and started her new job at Schmick's Market. The kids are having a blast with her and we stopped by the store today to catch her in action.

101.3

Today seems much better, but yesterday I had a fever...and the prescription was not for more cowbell (heh, heh. my attempt at humor is from an old saturday night live skit). Craig and I have both been sick and I have been reduced to the basics of family life. Okay so yesterday I wasn't even getting the basics done as Craig picked up take-out for dinner. The kids were super excited to have a movie day and I was able to rest quite a bit which is unusual when you have two toddlers at home. I hope to return to the blogging world today :)

No more news on the adoption homefront. I had been hoping to hear from Shaohannah's Hope this week on whether we will recieve a grant. Their answer will come in the mail so I have again been stalking the mailbox as I had been so used to doing during the paperchasing part of the adoption process.

Movin' on up!

We got a surprising email this evening that we have moved up to #15 on the referral list :) This is GREAT news as it is much faster than I had expected. If the agency continues on current pace we would have a referral in like 8 more weeks...oooh that would be super fun!

Almost 2 months down!

It is hard to believe we have already been waiting almost 2 months. I am truly thankful for the busyness that the other 2 kids create that I am sure will cause this wait to fly by. Craig couldn't come home for lunch today so we packed up a picnic and went to the park for a few hours. I am loving the cooler temps, but am not so looking forward to winter. I have recently recieved some words of wisdom from Charles Spurgeon that I will for the first time this fall try to put into practice. He encourages us to "let autumn preach" and to look at this changing season to see what it teaches us about the Lord.

“To the Christian it should be great joy, by means of the harvest, to receive an assurance of God's faithfulness. The Lord has promised that seed-time and harvest, summer and winter, shall never cease; and when you see the loaded wain carrying in the crop you may say to yourself, "God is true to his promise. Despite the dreary winter and the damp spring, autumn has come with its golden grain." Depend upon it, that as the Lord keeps this promise he will keep all the rest. All his promises are yea and amen in Christ Jesus: if he keeps his covenant to the earth, much more will he keep his covenant with his own people, whom he hath loved with an everlasting love. Go, Christian, to the mercy-seat with the promise on your lip and plead it. Be assured it is not a dead letter. Let not unbelief cause you to stammer when you mention the promise before the throne, but say it boldly—"Fulfil this word unto thy servant on which thou hast caused me to hope." Shame upon us that we so little believe our God. The world is full of proofs of his goodness. Every rising sun, every falling shower, every revolving season certifies his faithfulness. Wherefore do we doubt him? If we never doubt him till we have cause for it we shall never know distrust again. Encouraged by the return of harvest, let us resolve in the strength of the Spirit of God that we will not waver, but will believe in the divine word and rejoice in it.”

A happy letter, a sad development

It is not everyday that you can say you got a letter from the Bureau of Consular Affairs! It looks as though our Orphan Petition Visa paperwork has been forwarded to and will be waiting for us at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa where our adoption interview will take place. Ooooh! What a fun day that will be!

The big change that I blogged about last week looks as though it will end up not happening. Holt had notified the waiting Ethiopia families that they had a 5 year old boy in their care who had been waiting for some time for a family. We would be more than willing to be his family, however, to our disappointment it looks as though we will not be considered. bummer. I have lots of thoughts on that though I will let myself be quiet for now and wait to see how things pan out. I made one last plea that we be included in the interested families and that is all we can do. I am praying for the Lord's will and these are the times when the rubber meets the road and I find out if I am truly resting on the Lord's plans and His sovereignty, particularly in the Lord's care of this little boy. Lord set this boy in a family where he will be given the hope of the gospel. He has gone through more than any 5 year old ever should have to and he desperately needs the hope that you have to offer in Christ. Care for him as he waits for a family in way that no earthly momma or daddy could ever do. Lord, bring him a family soon please.

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5

On the road again

Being on the road with Juliana is always a challenge...er, i mean treat :) Imagine the most social girl you could ever think of, strap her down in a seat looking at the back of two other people, and put her next to a little boy who knows like 3 words. I'm not making this up. This is a very close reenactment of one particular 30 minute conversation on the way up to Omaha.

Juliana: Cows!lookoutyourwindowevan!Mooooom,doyouseethecows?Whyaretherefences?Whatisagate?Isthereagatedownthere?Oooooh,thereisalake.Mooooom,wherearetheducks?Whatdoduckseat?Doducksliketoeatcereal? (grin) Doduckiesliketoeatpickles? Noooooooo!Arewethereyet?Mom,IamAndreaSchmick.

Craig and I: (busting out laughing) Juliana, did you say that you are Andrea Schmick.

Juliana: Yeah, I am Andrea Schmick. Daddy is Ethan, Mommy you are Makayla, and Evan is my husband Jason.

Craig: Hey Andrea, your husband sure drools alot. Why does your husband drool alot?

Juliana: I am Andrea Schmick. (if you don't start every sentence with Andrea, she makes sure that you remember who she is) Ummmm...he just likes to.

Craig: Yeah, but why does he like to drool so much Andrea.

Juliana: He likes to make syrup.

another fun road game goes a little like this:

Juliana: Evan! Say farm.
Evan: maaahhhhh
Juliana: (clapping) good job Evan!

Juliana: Evan! Say horse.
Evan: mmoooooohhh
Juliana: (clapping) good job Evan!

Juliana: Evan! Say cup.
Evan: guuuuuhhh
Juliana: (clapping) good job Evan!

A timely word of encouragement.

Prayer and Providence

“Coming events cast their shadows before them, and when God is about to bless his people his coming favour casts the shadow of prayer over the church. When he is about to favour an individual he casts the shadow of hopeful expectation over his soul. Our prayers, let men laugh at them as they will, and say there is no power in them, are the indicators of the movement of the wheels of Providence. Believing supplications are forecasts of the future, He who prayeth in faith is like the seer of old, he sees that which is to be: his holy expectancy, like a telescope, brings distant objects near to him.”

- Charles Spurgeon, The Holy Spirit’s Intercession

This has especially blessed me tonight as I am contemplating God's will in this adoption. It is certainly a timely word of encouragement to my heart. So timely, in fact, that it makes me smile and wonder if the Lord caused it to be on the "Of first importance" blog specifically for the good of MY soul! Lord make this adoption full of your glory! Proclaim Your goodness, faithfulness, grace, mercy, provision, and power in this adoption to our little family, to the child you have for us, and to our church family. Cause us to walk closely in your footsteps and let our hearts, which can be decietful, not pull us away from the good work which you have prepared for us. Never before have we needed to see your will more clearly. I remember my favorite hymn "Be still my soul" where we sing:

"Be still my soul, the Lord is on your side...Cling to thy God to order and provide. In every change, He faithful will remain."