March update from America World

We received an update WEdnesday on our little girl from AWAA. She is doing well and has gained 1 pound since she got to the Transition Home. Every little bit of information and new picture is a gift from God. I will treasure all these pictures for her. They will be the history we have on her. Another family leaving on the 11th of April has agreed to take some more pictures of her. So will keep getting up to date info on her. AWESOME!!Well folks, it may be a while before I write. WE have opening night for Beauty and the Beast tonight. Ava has 5 show this weekend and 6 next weekend.Crazy!!She is soo tired and so am I. We will be hosting Easter this year. We love having Easter. It is the best celebration. Jesus died for us and ROSE again!Amen!

New Pictures!

We got some new pictures from the Hall family today. G** received her care package from us and got to see pictures of her family and home. She also got her pink blankie. Steph Hall said she was really shy and couldnt understand why she was getting things; like were they really hers?She looks so healthy and loved at the TH home. I can't believe it is still going to be over 2 months until we can get her. The pictures the families are taking for us mean sooo much. Words cannot describe this feeling of TOTAL LOVE that I have for this child. I mean, sometimes I can't believe God is blessing us with another child. I love her so much already. My heart is overwhelmed. Thank you Halls!!!

2nd Care Package on its Way!!!

I sent of a 2nd care package to the Howley family who are leaving next week. They have been waiting to pass court and travel for over 6mos!!We will be praying for their travel and the rest of the families leaving next week to be united with their children.We sent G*** a pretty little princess purse,a couple of Ava's My pretty ponies, 2 outfits(I hope they fit),some fancy sunglasses and a few barettes, hopefully she her hair is getting long enough to wear them.Emily Howley promised to take lots of pics and love her for us.Thanks Emily!!

Posts from my YG Group.

I AM SO SORRY FOR YOU MAY FAMILIES!!! i was expecting you guys to get moved
up, and i can't imagine your disappointment!
> > jaime d.
I echo Jaime. I AM SO SORRY that this is the news you received on your May
court dates. It makes no sense!
>
> This morning I was thinking how our adoption journeys are such a picture of so
many other aspects of our life - where things don't make sense, where we get
passed by, where we wish God had planned it to happen differently. And yet He
has given each of us a UNIQUE journey in both adoption and in life.
>
> It's kind of overwhelming to think of how mindful He is of me, to plan this
journey, this adoption, this life JUST for me - in a way that He knows will
bring most glory to Him and teach ME most about WHO He is.
> He has carefully weighed and measured the pain that would come with it and has
determined that the good far out weighs the pain. It really humbles me and
makes me feel loved by Him!
>
> Hold tight and know that I understand your disappointment. I am praying for
each of you.
>
> Blessings - Sherry :)
A few years back the Lord was asking me to go through something that really made
no sense to my human thinking. As I was complaining to the Lord that I just
didn't get it, and how could He get glory from this because it "doesn't make
sense", He took me on a tour of the Bible.

1)It didn't make sense for Noah to build a boat when there had never been rain.
2)It didn't make sense for Joseph to get thrown in a pit, sold to Egypt, thrown
in prison etc.
3)It didn't make sense for the Israelites to wear themselves out marching around
Jericho day after day when they had a battle to fight!
4)It didn't make sense for God to use a murderer of Christians to spread the
gospel to the gentiles!

It's so easy for me to trust God when things make sense, and yet He gets so much
glory if I trust Him when they don't!

Thanks for your beautiful reminder Sherry!!

:-)
Renee'

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

Romans 5:3-4

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,beacuse we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance,character; and character, hope.

Court Date Will NOT Change!

We got an email today stating that after numerous appeals our court date will remain May 20th, 2009 with no chance at an earlier date. I am heartbroken to have to wait and I feel that I shouldn't be but I am.We will just have to wait one more month to go and get her.PLEASE pray for our family to have peace and be patient. This adoption is God's plan and we are on a crazy wonderful ride and have to wait on HIS timetable. This will all make sense someday.I am trying really hard not to have a pity party.God is still working on us and needs to teach us more in this time.

TEPIC, MEXICO

While Ava and I visited my folks in Arizona, Mike got an opportunity to go to Tepic Mexico on a mission trip with our Church. They helped build a church in a small community that is trying to plant a church in a very needed area. They visited an orphanage and got to witness to many people. A number of people gave their lives to Christ. Praise God!The trip was a success and our church is planning to continue to help with the needs of this community.Pray for this new church and the people there that they will be able to continue learning about God's love and that their church will GROW!!!

ARIZONA

Ava & I just returned from visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Sun City Arizona. We got to visit the Grand Canyon. What an AWESOME sight that is. We hung out, visited,went to flea markets, swam and ate.Ava and I took the golf cart to Starbucks for coffee and donuts almost every morning.We also got to visit with Aunt Ardith who was back from the Philippines.It was very relaxing and nice and warm. Thanks Mom and Dad!!!We didn't want to come back to the cold and snow.

Romans 8:24-25

"For in this hope we were saved.But hope that is seen is no hope at all.Who hopes for what he already has?But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Court Date!!!!

We have a May 20th court date!!YEAH!!!!!!!!!At the same time we got an email from our Ethiopian coordinator that the MOWA(Ministry of Women's Affairs) has agreed to open up additional court appointment dates so we have a chance of getting an earlier court date.Thank you for all the prayers. PLEASE keep praying that the Ethiopian government will have mercy on all our cases so these children can be united with their forever families as quickly as possible. I am very excited and trying to remember this adoption is in God's hands and this is HIS plan for our family. So we are on HIS timetable.God Bless