Anticipation

A piece of scripture was brought to my attention today that I just can't seem to get out of my head.  I know that I have read this verse on many occasions, but it obviously did not seem important at the time or seem to "click".  Today I was given a verse that I am certain God wanted me to hear!
You see the last week or so my 6:30 daily prayer time has been seemingly repetitive.  The six of us from the agency who have committed to pray together daily continue on, but I must admit that I have been struggling with praying the same thing day after day after day.  If any of you know me very well you know I like "specifics", and there just hasn't been enough specific stuff to be in prayer for ... at least what I can see.  This is the kicker, "what I can see". Ha! Again, this is where I have gone wrong! Thinking that this daily prayer time is all about what "I" think or what "I" can see from where each of us in our prayer group stands! 
You see today I was reminded that we have a God who not only hears our prayers, but He anticipates our prayers with the blessings of His goodness. He knows in advance what our prayers will consist of.  And even better yet, before we finish getting our prayers out God is able to provide what we have, or should I say "would have", prayed for!
You see we have a God who wants us to know just how important hearing our prayers are! Praise God we also have Jesus who goes before us, on our behalf, to the almighty throne of God!
Today I was given yet another affirmation of just how much God loves me and knows exactly what I need when I need it.  He knows what I am going to be in prayer about before I can even get it off my tongue!  He even provides for me things that I have yet to be in prayer about!  It doesn't matter if I am at a loss of words sometimes. You know why? God's got this!
The adoption process continues to roll forward.  LyLah had her medical exam on Wednesday, so whenever the report is complete and translated my case will be ready to submit to the US Embassy! Submissions only happen on Wednesdays, so I will be anxiously checking my emails every Wednesday from here on out!  Once submitted, there still is a waiting period that again, I don't know for sure how long will take.  The US Embassy will have to clear my case and then give me the word to come get her!  My initial goal to bring her home was by Christmas so I could have her home by her first birthday, however things seem to be moving quickly therefore I have moved that date up to Halloween! My God is able and I have complete trust in Him to do this!
Praise God for His word! Praise God for using others to help us to grow! Praise God for His anticipated blessings!  Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for God to reveal new understandings as you read through His word - Pray for ears to hear Truth through the people He made cross your path - Pray for trust that God does in fact "have this" whatever "this" may be in your life - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah to remain safe and sound and loved on while she is away from her momma!

"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers."  Isaiah 65:24

Love,
amy

"47"

I would like to introduce to you, two very special people in my life.  These people I have known now for nearly 36 years.  They have been there with me and for me through the good, the bad, and even the ugly!  These people you see, are my parents! Yes! I would like to take a minute, which is MUCH less than they deserve, to tell you just why I love them.
My parents I believe are pretty much my two biggest fans!  They have been and always are there for me. Every single ball game or band concert or whatever it might have been, they were there.  The support that they continue to provide is key in knowing I can always count on them, no matter what.
The love they have shown to me is neverending. Not only do they show their love through the three simple words ... I love you ... but through their actions as well. They have encouraged me, disciplined me, simply loved me in so many ways and I know this love is true. This love is genuine. They pretty much do ANYthing for me, even if it means sacrificing something of their own. There love for me is constant.  Unfortunately, they get the brunt of my irritabilities and frustrations a good portion of the time, but they continue to love and support me anyway. Not only do they love me, but they forgive me.
You see my mom and dad will be celebrating their 47th wedding anniversary in just a few short days and I just wanted to let them and everyone else know, just how much they mean to me.  I fall way short when it comes to telling them myself so here ya go mom and dad!  I love you more than you could know and I thank God for giving me you both!  You truly are a blessing to me and I'm not really sure what I would do without you. There certainly is no greater love than that of our Lord Jesus Christ, but I get to experience many characteristics of His love through you both. Thank you for that kind of love. Thank you for all that you do, always! I Love You and Happy Anniversary!
As for the adoption process, I received my MOWA letter and passport this week and the medical exam is scheduled for next week! Praise God! So I have 4/5 documents with the 5th one scheduled!  Once my agency gets the report from the medical exam, they then can submit my case to the US Embassy! Things continue to move! Prayers continue to be answered! God's hand continues to be revealed! This entire process continues to have God's hand written ALL over it! Oh yeah!
Praise God for my mom and dad! Praise God for His love that shines through others! Praise God for all the movement in the adoption process! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for my mom and dad, that there love for God and for each other would continue to grow every day, and that they would enjoy their time together celebrating 47 years of marriage - Pray for God's love to shine through you in ways that give all glory to God - Pray for continued movement in the adoption process and that I would have baby LyLah in my arms very soon - Pray for continued protection, strength and health for LyLah and the nannies taking care of her!


"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:7

Love,
amy

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

T - 7

One week from tomorrow I will be boarding a plane for a trip of a lifetime.  A trip that will will change my life forever.  A trip that I never will forget. I will be boarding a plane to go and see my baby girl and I cannot hardly stand the wait!!!
I don't really have much to say today but I am asking for some specific prayers this week ....

• There is what's called a "birth parent" interview scheduled for tomorrow, Ethiopia is 8 hours ahead of us so it actually could be in the next few hours.  Since LyLah does not have "birth parents" available as she was abandoned, it will be an interview with a representative from the orphanage where she was first brought in and a representative from my agency.  Pray that this interview goes very well and that all info needed is available.
• Pray that all of my paperwork and MOWA letter is complete and where it needs to be by the time of my court date so my court decree can be issued right away and is not delayed.
• Pray for my heart to be prepared to go from pure joy the day I have my daughter in my arms for the first time, to complete sadness just a few short days afterward when we have to leave.
• Pray that we would see with His eyes, a world full of poverty and brokeness and that we would be His hands and feet.
• Pray that God would be glorified in everything about this trip!

"Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart"  Philippians 4:6

Love,

amy