Alive and Well . . .

What a whirlwind the last couple of weeks have been. What was supposed to be a routine gall bladder surgery ... turned into a lot more. After quite a traumatic ordeal ... I am now home, recovering and feeling SO much better!!! The day everything happened, we received our CIS approval in the mail! Hooray!!! We were elated ... then less than 30 min. later I was bent over in pain hardly able to breathe. We've learned a lot through this process and we're sure there is still much we will learn.

The biggest truth that covers over everything we've been through is this .... God is good ... no matter what. He is good in the mountains and He is good in the valleys. He is sovereign and nothing is allowed into our lives that doesn't first pass through His loving hands. We clung to that at our very core. While it seemed our lives were being quite shaken up, we knew that no matter what ... we could cling to that, because that is what the Bible says to be true. We have to not only trust God in our hearts, when all "feels" well ... but we also have to trust God with our minds and submit our thoughts to Him and allow Him to align them with His truth.

While I hope to NEVER experience again some, no rather much, of what I did in the hospital .... I am trying with all I am to embrace what it is God wants to do in me through this experience. I don't have to understand it ... but I need to trust that the One who created me is in control. He has never and will never leave my side.

Turns out I had some complications following surgery and they were able to put a stent in to fix the situation. That will come out sometime in the near future. In a small way, this seems to be bad timing (with everything with my health) ... in that we have many other things needing our time and attention right now. But the Lord is good and allowed all this to happen this year ... while all of our insurance needs have already been met because of Nathaniel's surgery earlier in the year. We are extremely grateful to the Lord for His provision.

So .... news on the adoption front. We are happy to report that Fed Ex picked up the remainder of our documents today! They are now being authenticated and within two weeks ALL of the paperwork should be behind us on this side of the adoption!!!! Please pray that the notarizations are accepted. We have had quite a challenging time thus far and have had to re-do MUCH.

We are more eager than ever to be one step closer to meeting the new member of our family. Our hearts ache to see her face and hold her in our arms and tell her how much we love her ... and even moreso how much her heavenly father loves her.

Several have asked if we've picked out names. Nothing definite. Have some ideas??? ... we're certainly open to suggestions!! Just post a reply.

By the way ... our guestbook is pretty empty and there are over 2500 hits to this site .... are you ALL shy out there that come to visit us? :) You really should consider clicking on that link on the side and sign in and say hello! We'd love to hear from you.

We just enjoyed a visit from David's parents and brother. Now in a couple of days Shelly's family will come to visit. What a blessing!