Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Initial Decree

Praise the Lord! Last night we got word from Taiwan Xi En that they received our initial decree from the courts (exactly 15 weeks after our court date). We also decided last weekend that we are going to take both our older boys with us to Taiwan. Please pray that we receive the final decree soon (we expect to get it in the next 10 to 40 days, but you never really know) and that God gives us grace as we travel.

Isaiah 64:4
From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Chinese New Year


We celebrated Chinese New Year last weekend with chicken fried rice and dumplings, reading some Chinese children's books, and a dragon parade around the house.


In Taiwan the courts are closed all of this week for the holiday. We heard from His Hands this week that adoption cases are taking (significantly) longer since the new laws have been implemented. This means that we have no estimate of when Simeon will be home (we are praying for March). It has been 14 weeks since our court date and we have not received our initial decree. Prior to the new laws families would get their initial decree 6 to 8 weeks after the court date. Please pray that the judge, social worker, and other government officials will process Simeon's case soon so we can bring him home! You can also pray that we have the patience of the Lord and His peace as we wait. We continue to thank God daily that Simeon is receiving such good care by the nannies and aunties at His Hands.


Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Blessings

I've been listening to this song a lot lately. There are several versions on youtube. Waiting to hear back from the court has been hard. And so I am looking for God's mercies in it all.

Blessings 
lyrics by Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Cruising

We haven't gotten any news about the court case, but we did get some new pictures today. Simeon is doing well. He started clapping and cruising along the furniture in the last couple weeks.