He Did it Again!

I can honestly say I've never been so thankful that it is Friday in quite some time!  Ahhhhh ...today marked the end of a twelve day stretch at work.  Twelve ... Long ... Days ... coupled with jet lag = my co-workers having to hear me remind them daily of just how many days I had been there and how many days I had left! Ha! I'm pretty sure they as well have never been so thankful that it is Friday!  I must say though that I do have the best co-workers a gal could ask for! They listened to me complain all week, or well two weeks, and still offered to help me out today! And of course my last day at work started with a bang! God certainly made this long stretch seem well worth it after today. You see today, I got my paperwork together for an adoption grant that GRMC offers to their employees.  I knew this grant was available, but I was under the impression that I would not be able to receive it until after I brought LyLah home.  Well a couple of weeks ago I ran across the application again, and it said they needed the court decree or the birth certificate.  These actually were the first two documents I would receive so I started getting pretty excited as I did not have a plan for the rest of the fees that I would owe for my next trip. My first mistake (once again) was to think that "I" would be the one to "plan" for the remainder of process. So today, my twelth loooong day at work, a day that I was NOT looking forward to, God started off with me taking my application to human resources. It was less than an hour later that I received word that I would in fact receive some money ... not just some money but the full amount that they offer which is $5,000 and I would be getting it next week!  This of course will cover the remainder of my expenses that I have for the adoption process! Praise God! He has done it again!  And honestly, I can't even say that I'm surprised.  Of course God made this happen.  It has been His plan all along.  He has provided for the entire adoption process. I can't even say that this was overwhelming, either.  In the beginning, yes, He overwhelmed me on many occasions, but now I am to the point where I just know He will make a way.  He has given me a new level of trust through this process and I pray it would only grow stronger!  He has done it for me and I know He will do it for you, too!  Let go and give it to God!  Let Him take your trust in Him to new levels! You will not regret it!
So my twelve day stretch in which I had questioned on occasion, just what God was trying to get through to me, ended in joy and strength and peace.  Oh yeah!  He did it again!
As for the adoption process, I also received LyLah's birth certificate yesterday!  What a feeling it was to see my name as her parent!  I now have 2 out of the 5 documents I need in order for my case to be submitted to the Embassy! I also found out today that they are in the process of working on the next document needed, her passport! Things continue to move along!
Praise God once again for His providence!  Praise God for His faithfulness!  Praise God for His ability to bring out the good in every situation!  Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for God to reveal things or areas in your life that need to be let go - Pray for Him to open up a new level of trust to do just that - Pray for an increase in faith in Him - Pray for His continued hand upon my sweet baby LyLah and my group of friends little ones as well, and for a peace that only comes from Him while we wait to bring them home!

"There is one God and Father of everything. He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything." Ephesians 4:6

Love,
amy

Our Story

It was probably about April-ish when God started creating something very special.  He knew exactly what He had in mind down to the very last detail.  He started knitting together bones and ligaments and muscles and body parts, everything into one special baby girl.  You see, God was creating my daughter in a place half way across the world.  He was shaping her into the perfect baby girl just .. for .. me.
And then there was the work God was doing in me at the very same time.  I had no idea what was going to be happening or just what exactly God had in mind.  I knew that I was being refined and pruned but just thought well, I guess it was about time! Ha! I soon learned that God had a plan and that plan was for me to be LyLah Lucille Lelisa's momma and there were a few things I needed to change before that could happen! You see, He was shaping me into the perfect momma just .. for .. LyLah.
Every single one of us has a story, a story of who we are, where we've been and how we got there. But you see these stories, they don't mean anything unless we have someone to tell them to.  Someone who knows exactly what you've been through.  When I was on the plane to Ethiopia, I heard a song and am certain it was from God.  The lyrics that caught my attention first were "I was made for you".  Then came the part about climbing the mountaintops and crossing the ocean blue.  I immediately thought of LyLah and as I listened to the rest of the song, I knew God was giving me something very special.  He gave me the song "The Story" by Brandi Carlile and I have decided this will be LyLah and I's song!  Better yet, I can play it on the guitar for her!  We were made for each other and we each have/will have a story to tell and I cannot wait until the day she is in my arms to do just that!
No news this week as far as the adoption process goes. Should be getting word of a birth certificate and passport next!
Praise God for His sovereignty!  Praise God for His wisdom!  Praise God for His holiness!  Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for a relationship with Him that continually is growing stronger - Pray for more wisdom and knowledge of God and His word - Pray for a desire to want more of Him - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah to continue to be strong and healthy and protected while she is away and for the nannies who are taking care of her as well.

"The Story" Brandi Carlile
http://youtu.be/npIbI10tftU

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing." Psalm 127:3

Love,
amy

A New Name

Well it's official!  Not only am I a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin ... nope there's one more name to add to that list! Yup that's right, on August 7, 2012 I was officially declared LyLah Lucille Lelisa Noel's momma!  Yet another day that has been written on my heart forever and ever! A day that has changed my life forever! A day that will never be forgotten!
My time spent in Ethiopia this week was also a time that will never be forgotten.  To walk into a world that is completely opposite of what my "norm" is was the best thing that could have ever happened.  I had a picture in my mind of what it might look like but I tell you what, you never will know unless you experience it.
The poverty ... the dirtyness ... the emptyness .... the brokeness and yet they are happy!  They go above and beyond for nothing, yeah nothing.  But it is something to them. That is what they know to do and they have no other worry or care in the world ... at least that is what it seemed. I felt some of the most intense kindness and generosity imaginable.  I felt the hands and feet of Jesus whether or not they know Him personally.  I felt like I was the one being catered to when in fact it should have been just the opposite.
The care center where my sweet baby LyLah lives is extremely small, it's overcrowded but it is a room filled with love.  It may not look like what we would expect it to look like but it doesn't have to.  To give and to be loved takes nothing but a willing heart! Yes! Really! No fancy nurserys or the best and most expensive clothing and food.  A willing heart that is eager to love is what I saw in that small, overcrowded room so I am going to choose to trust God to protect my baby girl until the day I bring her home.
I did receive my court decree yesterday so my paperwork can continue on despite the courts closing, praise God! I now have entered into the next waiting period. The paperwork to be completed can take several months and I have been given an expectation of not less than four BUT I serve a God of miracles and am waiting in expectation for one! My heart quickly went from a new kind of joy that I had never experienced before, to it breaking in two the day I had to leave LyLah.  My God is able and that is what I'm choosing to believe!
Praise God for Ethiopia/Ethiopians!  Praise God for hearts that are willing to love!  Praise God for eyes that were opened! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for wisdom, health and strength for the nannies as they care for the babies in the care center.  Pray for a heart that is willing to love like Jesus.  Pray for His eyes to become your own.  Pray for my sweet baby LyLah to continue to be cared for and loved on until she is home at last ... with her momma!

"I love You, Lord; You are my strength" Psalm 18:1

Love-
amy

This is it!

The moment is finally here ... the one I have been waiting on for 10 loooonnnngggg months .... I can't even hardly believe it .... ETHIOPIA BOUND BABY!!!!  Oh yeah!
Not even sure how to describe the feelings I am experiencing right now.  I'm about to go meet my daughter for the very first time.  Just saying those words still seems surreal.  My daughter ... my precious lil' gift from God ... my blessing!  He picked her out just for me! We were made for each other!  This fact as well continues to blow my mind.
I've had many thoughts going through my head about the first time I lay eyes on my sweet baby LyLah.  I wonder how she will react ... will she come to me ... will she cry ... will she cling to her nanny.  Trying to prepare for this moment has not been an easy one by any means, but I will trust in God knowing we were meant to be together as mother and daughter and He will make it perfect.
I have the "new momma" fear going on as well.  Not gonna be able to just call my mom and say "what in the world do I do????"  Thank you, Jesus that Kaylee will be with me!
And then there is the whole leaving scenario.  Will she remember that I left her?  Will she fear that she will be left again once I bring her home for good?
I was reminded tonight of just how very much the Lord's hand has been in this entire adoption process so I actually have absolutely nothing to worry about!  From the very beginning when I was praying and seeking to know if adoption really was His will for me and the answers that were crystal clear, to His providence financially throughout the entire process at just the perfect times that fees were due, to the people that He has brought into my life and the bond that has been created without ever meeting one another, to His perfect timing for a court date that just so happens to be the exact time the mission team from church is going to be there, to all of the refining He has done in me and continues to do to make me just the perfect momma for LyLah!  I am going to do my best to give it all to God and just sit back and relax in His loving and peaceful arms!
Praise God for who He is and what He has done!  Praise God for forgiveness and grace and mercy!  Praise God for the cross!  Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for a desire to know Jesus more - Pray for a refining of yourself with a heart that is willing to change - Pray for a love for others like Jesus has loved us - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah to get ready to meet her momma!

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."  James 1:27

Love,
amy