The Adoption Journey Hits The Home Stretch

Just wanted to update everyone regarding our adoption journey.  As most of you know, we left for Hawaii on June 22^nd and the adoption hearing was June 24^th.  Well everything went well.  We were a little delayed getting into the court room (the last case of the day) but all the proceedings went well. 

 

It was just like being on TV in a court room, just that our judge was a “non sarcastic Judge Judy”.  There was the judge, her bench, the bailiff, and the court secretary off to our right.  There were flags on each side of the judge.  We had to stand and state our full names, we had to raise our right hand and swear that the testimony we were about to give was the “truth and nothing but the trust”.  After our lawyer stated her case, we were asked a bunch of questions, most about our paper work.  Then the judge officially asked us if we wanted to adopt Annalise and reminded us that this is permanent.  Then she officially terminated any other parental rights.  It was a few words that held much significance.  It was extra special when the judge said that she had read our homestudy and said that she thought we would make great parents.  So that was the “Court Hearing”.  Another step completed in the journey.

 

Thanks so much for all your prayers.  We still need your prayers for speedy processing of the remaining paperwork.  The adoption order and the new Birth Certificate are the last paperwork we need to get permanent health care and Canadian citizenship for Annalise.

 

Now we can relax at he beach for a while.  We look forward to getting home on Monday morning. 

A Lesson in Pennies

Denis Mousseau died March 22nd.
Denis Mousseau started rolling pennies simply as a pastime, something to take his mind off the lung cancer that was going to kill him.
He thought ten thousand dollars, or one million pennies, would be a good target.
But the more people who heard about Denis' campaign, the more people started to hand over pennies.
One hundred and forty-one pounds of pennies to be exact, which by our calculations is about 28,000 pennies -- about $280 closer to Denis' goal.
"He started this penny drive to help Crossroads patients and their families, so roll on in Denis' name and keep his dream alive," said Linda Kozina of the Crossroads Hospice Society, where Denis spent his last days.
"Thank you for your support and generosity," she said to all the people who had brought pennies in.
And pennies keep rolling in -- by the bucket-full.
This remarkable grassroots movement will be Denis's legacy for others who will come to the Crossroads Hospice for their final days. – ctvbc.ca

To me, it's a wonderful illustration of the collective wealth and worth of people. And how much more so those who know Christ. The Bible often refers to the church as "the body of Christ" and says that "all the members of that one body, being many, are one body" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Every person, therefore, is essential and valuable as part of the whole. By ourselves, we may sometimes feel insignificant, unneeded, and of little value, like so much spare change. But as individual parts that make up the whole, each of us is needed (vv.15-22).

All people are unique individuals, but as Christians we are also indispensable parts of the body of Christ, and of greater value than we can ever know.

AND THAT INCLUDES YOU!!!

Suddenly

1 year ago today, a life was born.

The biggest lesson I've learned this year (other than how selfish I am) is the fact that despite our plans and intentions and strategies and savings plans, God often chooses to work SUDDENLY (Matthew 28:9, Acts 2:2). In fact, some scholars say that "suddenly" is one of the chief themes that runs through the whole book of Acts.

When we live life too much in the suddenly we become too sloppy. We were never meant to become accustomed to suddenly.

But He does want to keep us on our toes, keep us flexible. God needed us for Annalise. God chose her for us. What if I had missed that phone call or chose not to take it because I was in a meeting (which I was).

God, thank you for an amazing year, a stretching, fulfilling, sleep depriving, growing year. Thank you for blessing Wanda and I with the most amazing gift ever. Help us to raise her to know you and to know how you move. Help me to see all the sudddenlies that come along in life and to be ready to be your tool in those situations. AMEN!!!

To J.R.G.

Thanks for phoning. It was really good to hear your voice.

R.I.P.i.P.o.d.

I can't believe my iPod's gone

It's dead, dead, DEAD. It won't turn on

For weeks the iPod battery

Had not been working good for me.

So now, without, I now can see

The iPod is a big part of me

And my collection of music

Without, I am, it makes me sick

And awfuller still the truth is this

"I MUST REPLACE" and soon forthwith

80 gig classic in black or white

So I can listen both day and night

Or maybe I should by the "Touch"

"Would I use the wi-fi?", not that much

My dillemna is a real decision

And in my heart I feel derision

Do you think? Is it a Maybe?

That I don't need an iPod you see.

Nah.. put that thought out' my head

I world without earbuds, I fear and dread

So off to Craigslist to find a deal

And no eating out a costly meal.

Save my dollars for such a time later

To get a new mp3 player.

A Little Thankfulness

Here's a little truth I'm living out today. Thanks to my girls who make life way more awesomer!!

Proverbs 18:22 - He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Psalm 127:3-5 - Don't you see that children are God's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

I've Been Thinking About Sex

I know, what a cheap (effective) way to get more traffic back to my blog....

But seriously, I HAVE been thinking about sex. It's a physical thing right? Man & woman, physical "relations".

How does it end up being so much more than that?

In it's essence, it's a physical need finding physical fulfillment, but in actuality, it becomes a spiritual act binding and bonding 2 people together (who are hopefully prepared for such binding and bonding). And it's been going on for a long time (see the second chapter of the Bible, verse 24)

I'm not going to get into it much more than that because the point that has impacted me is how a physical act becomes a spiritual act. Someone temporal, has done something eternal.

Let me draw a parallel:
I've just returned from our yearly pastor's conference. I have reconnected with a lot of freinds that I haven't seen for a year. I've been able to share a meal with some really special people. I feel encouraged in ministry and mission for the first time in a good long while. And then my mind drifted to the sex thing (just wait, it will make sense). Here is another physical act that becomes a spiritual act. The physical presence of these people in my life has ignited a spiritual hunger and passion that lifts me.

This encourages me. That what I can do in my everyday life can have eternal siginificance. Because there are times that you feel like it doesn't. God is always working, it's our responsibility to "get into the bed" so to speak.

Momentum

Things stop without it. Companies and churches crave it. It often prevents change. It often speeds up change.

Much is made of momentum. I have one question..... WHY?

In 1 Samuel 8 the Israelites want a king. Even after God tells them that they don't need an earthly king because His kingdom is built in their hearts they still insist. Why?

Inherent in the word momentum is the concept of speed. "Speed Kills" it has been said. "Speed Thrills" it has been said. Which one are you?

Lately I'm believing more in TRUTH than MOMENTUM. I think momentum will always be about a race and keeping up to our competitor ("Then we will be like all the other nations.." - 1 Samuel 8:20).

I prefer truth because it causes me to rely more on something that God has determined and not something that I have envisioned. Momentum is stopped or reduced by the smallest of things. The truth isn't.

See you next week.

Hello Again

OK it's been a long time since I blogged but I was just having coffee with a friend and we talked a bit about disciplines and I want to discipline myself to write a bit in 08. I also added a picture of Annalise to get the women to come to the blog.

WHAT'S NEW IN YOUR WORLD?

In mine, everything is new:

New Joys
I can't explain to you how awesome it is to be a family. We've been at this 10+ months now and it's still amazing. I'm a dad and no longer just a husband. Wanda is now a wife AND a mother. Along with the joy of seeing Annalise's beautiful face each day, I have the joy of seeing my wife BECOME something new... And it's beautiful.

New Insecurities
Am I good enough?/Will I drop her?/Will I be a smothering parent?/How will I know when to let go?/Do I always see what I need to see?/Is my wife getting enough time alone?/Am I getting enough time alone?/Are we spending enough time together as a family?/Are Wanda & I spending enough time alone?/When will I NOT be tired?/Should we adopt again?/How can I be the provider I need to be?/Is this neighborhood safe enough to raise a family in?

New Possibilities
I continue to be amazed at this city... The last few days have made me stand in awe at God's beautiful creation again. But I am also amazed at our capacity for self presentation and promotion. People (Me as the Chief) love themselves and love to love themselves. Wanda made the comment the other day as we were entering a store that people LOVE to spend money. How do you teach people to b selfless when this city honors and makes famous those who are "self first"?

New Commitments
I've made a few, not resolutions but commitments for this year:
1. To blog consistently
2. To always be reading
3. To drink lots of water (because it is key to my emotional health)
4. To turn off the TV more
5. To turn off the computer more
6. To go see more live music because it's life giving to me
7. To spend more time with my friends
8. To spend more time on the Seawall with my wife and daughter
9. To be in the place again where I have lots of people speaking into my life
10. To have lots of seed to sow (Matthew 13)

Hello Again. I'll see you next week.