Spiritual Warfare

This week held lots of pressure to get stuff done before Nathan heads out of town- If we didn't, it could have really caused delays.

On top of the really important paperwork that HAD to be done, I have been:

1) Running four fundraisers i.e.baking and delivering and emailing and collecting and advertising and organizing.
2) Several dance gigs. Which means invoices and scheduling and contracts and payments and taxes... Oh, and show up and dance. Enthusiastically.
3) Cale's passport appointment (again), which now needs to be done a third time.

Unfortunately, Cupcake Tuesday didn't happen this week. I delayed at first due to weather, and then I just plain ran out of time. I do/did have three special orders this week, so that's good. I just didn't have it in me to take on anything else.

Honestly, I was ready to throw a big, fat hissy fit. Or did a little. This process is HARD. It's not just the waiting and the mountains of paperwork- it's everything and thensome, which is physically and emotionally exhausting. Especially when you seem to hit road block (then victory!) after roadblock (then victory!). I'm an anxious person by nature, but you throw in this many ups and downs and I'm a lost cause.

With that being said, it was pretty easy for me to realize I needed to give up negative words for Lent. Again.
It worked really well last year, but then we decided to adopt again. So... here I am.

I don't want to spend this whole process frustrated and complaining- and I haven't, out loud. But I was sure saying some ugly stuff inside and then possibly on the phone to my husband (TO, not AT). And I cried on the phone with U.S. Pest and also at the post office.

Yeah. Get it under control, sister.

Yesterday, I was explaining the Lenten season to the kids and Layla asked what other things I had given up in the past. I told her for two years I had given up makeup, because I needed to focus on the fact that God made me in His image and this is exactly how he wants me to look.

Brynn said, "You mean tired and a little older?"

No soup for you.


We spent nine hours driving around getting the last pieces notarized, county certified - in three different counties- and then authenticated by our state. But when it was done, it was DONE.

Off it went! Finally.

Our agency has our completed dossier. Tomorrow it will be sent to the consulate and then to China! 

It's exciting to be at this point, but that also means that basically everything is out of our hands, all we can do is wait. I realize that OUR plans are irrelevant, but... we are really praying that God plans for us to be there in July (or sooner, but that's not as likely). We would not be upset if you chose to pray with us. And we will be POSITIVE either way. 

He will get here. He will get here safely and healthy. He will get here right on time. 

Amen.