Tiny black ringlets, Poopy diapers, and Mr. Crab

These are just a few of my favorite things. Tiny black ringlets rubbing against my cheeks as I rock my baby girl to sleep.  Poopy diapers ... with just the right consistency! Lol!  Possibly TMI but this means that my baby girl is getting better so bring 'em on! And last but not least the infamous Mr. Crab! One of LyLah's very favorite toys!
This last week and a half have been one heck of a ride but I am happy to say we are home at last and LyLah is lovin every minute of it! Of course momma is too!  LyLah is such a good baby and healthy as well as I took her to the Dr as soon as we returned, praise God!  She has been eating and sleeping well.  She is starting to eat rice cereal and green beans in between her bottle feedings. She is scooting around on the floor and beginning to learn how to crawl.  She has two bottom teeth. She is quite the social bug and likes to wave.  LyLah will put her arms out to go to pretty much anyone and gets annoyed when I don't let her go to strangers! Ha! She can say "momma" and is beginning  to respond to her name.  She is such a joy and I have been truly blessed!
God's hand continues to be in this adoption daily as He is guiding me.  He also provided the opportunity for my mom to stay with me this week. She has been covering a maternity leave at the Dr's office in town and just so happened to have last Thursday through today off!  Coincidence? I think not! God's perfect timing once again as He knew I would need her to stay with me!
God also decided to show His greatness in the fact that the Sunday LyLah was born in my heart was the Sunday that Marti Boal and Marcia Baldridge shared about their mission trip to Ethiopia to deliver water filters.  God then paved the way for their mission trip this year to coincide with my court trip and the team was able to come to the care center where LyLah was taken care of on the last day that I was there when I was struggling big time and their prayers were just what I needed at that particular time.  So the first Sunday that I will be bringing LyLah to church is the Sunday in which they will be speaking of their mission trip from this year!  How crazy is that?! Nope, not crazy at all.  Once again, this is God and I LOVE it!
This opportunity that I have been given to care for an orphan, a child of God, is such an honor but at the same time I am scared to death! But I know that everything will be just fine as I keep my eyes fixed on Him and listen for His leading and guidance through it all.  Of course there will be some ups and downs but it's nice to know I have a God who will be watching over us!
Praise God for LyLah! Praise God for providing such an awesome opportunity for me to share His love! Praise God that we can count on His wisdom and guidance! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that my sweet baby LyLah would continue to adjust well to her new home and surroundings - Pray for God to make known opportunities He might have for you to spread His word and show others His love - Pray for His wisdom and guidance daily - Pray for the rest of the gals in my prayer group and their processes to be completed and cleared so they too can bring home their precious babes!

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

Love,
amy

This is it!

It has been a crazy 3 days as I received an unexpected email from the US Embassy early Friday morning.  I was anticipating an email with the date of the interview scheduled with the policeman who found LyLah ... instead it was an email that was entitled "Case Cleared"!  My case was cleared by the US Embassy, I don't even know if the interview was done or not but at this point that is the least of my worries! This does not make any sense to me, but I know that it makes perfect sense to God and I will take it!  Funny thing was I have been saying all along that I can't go back until after October 6th because that was the day for my last 2 road races and my last 125 points needed for the discount on my health insurance at work.  I would of thought God would of at least gave me a week or so to prepare!!! Once again, what do I know!! :)
Needless to say, I scrambled Friday morning trying to get in contact with my travel agent as well as my agency to make arrangements all before heading to work that day.  I went ahead and booked a flight to leave bright and early Monday morning from Chicago and we are to return the following Sunday night as long as everything goes as planned.  My appointment with the US Embassy has yet to be confirmed so there is a chance that we would have to stay longer if it does not.  Booking the flight without that confirmation was taking a bit of a risk, although I did not have much time to make decisions at that point, however my God is bigger and my faith is in Him alone!
My sister will be making the trip with me this time and she did quite a bit of "scrambling" herself! Trying to get last minute stuff at her school ready for the substitute principal that will be taking over for her while she is with me.  In fact she had to go in today to finish up! 
It's Sunday afternoon and I'm about to head out to go get my baby girl! It's been a crazy ride this last year but God certainly has been in control and had His hand in every single part of it.  The entire process has gone about as smooth as it can get in the world of adoption, to God be the glory!
Praise God for His perfect timing!  Praise God for giving us strength to get through any circumstance that requires waiting!  Praise God that His plan in everything is perfect! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for a new understanding that God's timing is in fact perfect - Pray for God's strength to be revealed in whatever circumstance you are facing - Pray for trust in knowing God's plan is perfect - Pray for my Embassy appt  for Thursday to get confirmed and that all would go smoothly!

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1

By the way, next time I write a blog my baby girl will be right by my side ... just sayin!! :)

Love,
amy