Friday, December 11, 2009

A Familiar Place

King Charles I - statue right next to Trafalgar Square.....
The official plaque from where all mileage is measured from London- right next to the statue above......
The famous Horseguards.....for her Majesty......
A nice policeman who is guarding 10 Downing Street entrance.........he was great and talked to our kids. Of course Andrew was in heaven because he wants to be a policeman when he grows up.
The sign for 10 Downing street....wondering what the fuss is about....well 10 Downing Street is where England's Prime Minister lives. (Like our President, but just a slightly different system)
There it is that common type house with the policeman standing outside. That's it. No real fuss. Anyone know who is Prime Minister at this time? Used to be Tony Blair....now it is Gordan Brown....there now you have learned something today :)
Fun pics with the red telephone boxes you see in England...
Yep, trying to get a pic with everyone smiling and looking at a camera....almost impossible!
This is what the view is as you look down from inside the London Eye "pod". See those huge white beams.....and there are loads of HUGE CABLES too holding that thing up! Because it is literally on the water.
Hello Jonathan....
Our reason for everything.....our babes.....
See this face....
and this one......
Awww...and these.....
and this one...
What about this one.....
and that handsome smile (watch out ladies)...
Beautiful spirit inside and out......
full of fun......
And who could forget how much they are worth? Not me!

So after crying, praying, crying, praying pattern going on in our home.........we are pulling ourselves up by the boot straps. Why? Because we are in that familiar place of fighting for what is necessary. Fighting for what matters! Knowing that God has placed Naomi in our family- COMPLETELY HEALED her, and now it is our turn to deal with whatever is necessary to bring her HOME!!!!

We have been there before....with Abigail there was a possible father that showed up the day of termination of parental rights.....(actually he didn't give a toss it was his parents). We waited a grueling 6 weeks to find out if he was the biological father or not. In the end he wasn't. Then we had to go through an interview process with people saying well we will have to see if there is a family of the right skin color who is interested. All this after she had been in our home for several months already.

With Andrew......his biological mom was released from the hospital (mental ward) to her grandmother's care on the opposite side of the state.....and he was placed in the care of that county's foster care system......with out us! He was supposed to be coming home to us!!! For 7 weeks of agony we prayed and cried, and experienced such a deep depression I still remember it vividly.

With Matthew....a doctor had told biological mom that if she made it so she couldn't have any more children she would get Matthew back. Then shirtale relatives that were only using her for her free housing moved in. Making the foster care go on and on......we did however bring him home from the hospital.....but in the foster care system - NOTHING is certain until the fat lady sings...and you have officially adopted a child. Which we did 2 weeks before moving to Louisiana.

With Joshua, Sarah, & Elizabeth.......where do we start. The sheer torture of having a case that drug on for 3 YEARS!!!!! The biological parents telling them constantly they were coming home, the possibility of them going home- happened several times, them being drug through a horrible relationship between the 2 of them. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (who should have fought for the kids) took one look at us and decided we were the wrong skin color! She then FOUGHT AGAINST US THE ENTIRE LAST YEAR OF THE CASE! I was ripped apart verbally on the stand more than once by both the casa worker and the judge himself. Needless to say there were times when we shriveled up in a corner and cried and cried until we couldn't anymore. The pain was so much we almost couldn't take it any more!

With Jonathan.....well before he even came along we had our Hannah Grace who passed on to Jesus' arms. The loss of a child that you have dreamed about - thought about constantly.....was unbearable! And to have people say- well at least you didn't bring her home.....- wow! Really? Those people need to go to sensitivity training schools! Then we got caught in Ethiopia creating the Central Agency and were held up even more months before we actually were able to go. 4 1/2 months later we finally traveled!!!! We failed court 3 times!!!!!!

So now with Naomi......we will take that stand again, because we are not taking it alone. We are commanded to follow God's Will. God is with us just as He was with Moses when the Isrealites didn't want to see his face again because he went to Pharoah and then the Isrealites had to work even harder, or with Joshua taking down Jericho- he must have been laughed at for walking around the big wall, but he did it anyway- because that is what these men were told to do.

We know we have been told that Naomi is our child. When we saw her sweet face on the waiting list. When we were told her possible medical conditions. When we had to get all our stuff done asap!!! We did it- WHY? Because that was our Calling from Christ! God never says - do this because it is easy. He never told Paul that because he changed his name and now he understood who God was that life would be a piece of cake. THE OPPOSITE happened!

So we have pulled ourselves up- remembering the Facing The Giants quote- when we win we will praise HIM and when we lose we will praise Him! So join us in praising a God who is faithful. Who wants HIS CHILDREN to COME HOME! We have finished getting some great people who are our bosses, and friends to write on our behalf as well as our social worker. We will be praying for a softening of heart. Last year she questioned our ability to have a 7 th child...now she just found a loop hole to say we shouldn't have number 8. It has to do with our non traditional income. We have benefits that far outweigh our actually numbered salary. So she is using this against us. So there you have the it. She needs a seeing Jesus moment! We are praying for it!!!

We can not say Thank You enough to all of you who have commented, written, and supported us in prayer and petition! We completely feel surrounded in prayer warriors who have carried us to Jesus! Thank YOU ALL!!!!!!! The battle for souls of people far outweighs any other battle and we gladly take it on for Christ!

16 comments:

  1. Your journey and heart for children is truly an inspiration to us all. We are praying that Naomi is home with you as soon as possible.

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  2. Thinking of you all during this time. I didn't realize you have been down a similar road with all of your children, but I know it never gets easier. All of us want Naomi home, where she belongs! I pray that the birth mom shows up to the next court date and that everything with USCIS gets worked out asap.

    Love all the pictures of London. Your children are beautiful!!!

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  3. Holy Smokes!! Praying for you guys!!

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  4. Go get her Tiger...fight the fight and be the one still standing when the battle is done! You are so right that you are not alone! I REALLY liked this post which shows the work of the Holy Spirit at work in you to do whatever God calls you to, whatever the cost. THAT is a Spirit empowered child of God talking! May God shed enough light for you to take each next step with full confidence that you are following His lead, and where ever He takes you, He's there too! Still praying, Connie

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  5. Wow you really are in inspirational family. You have survived some really long, tiring challenges through all of your adoptions. And you have prevailed and you still move forward with faith in what your Heavenly Father has in store for you. What an example you are! I am so glad I found your blog!
    Thank you so much for sharing.

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  6. Wow what a journey you have been on. You have a blessed family.

    Praying you newest blessing is home soon.

    Thank you for continuing to pray for Abby.

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  7. Wow, I just had a little free time to read your lastest posts. Know that I am interceding for precious Naomi. What a sense of peace that comes over us when we know that the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings is fighting for us. It is His heart to "place the lonely in families."

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  8. Describing your family as mighty has new meaning after reading about the battles you've fought for each of your children. Praying for you!

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  9. Thank you for sharing all this. Seriouslu what I needed to hear. I can't believe how hard you have had to fight for all of your children. You are amazing parents!

    I have been praying for little Naomi. I pray things get sorted out quickly for you guys. Apparently nothing good in life comes easily.

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  10. Wow! I am so amazed by your family. Every one of them light this world even brigher. And Naomi will do the same! Praying hard for you guys and sending you a cyber hug to all of you here and to Naomi in Ethiopia. In the darkest hour, we are closest to our Creator. I hope you feel him more than ever!

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  11. Your strength is such a great example for everyone following your journey to bring Naomi home. I'm so sorry you are facing another obstacle this time around. I will be praying for you guys!

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  12. Hi. I can't remember how I found your blog a few days ago, but I have a random question. I have three girls (with a fourth coming on Thursday) and my mother brought us clothes for Christmas... too, too many. I would like to share some with you--these aren't fancy-schmancy clothes--mostly Target and Wal-Mart (but they are new). But we really don't need this many new shirts! I was planning on donating them locally, but as I'm a fellow Louisianian, I thought I'd first offer them to you.

    Anyway, if you are interested, please email me at jennyredmann at gmail.

    I'll keep you and your growing family in my prayers... especially as we are growing ours right now, too!

    Jenny

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  13. I am so sorry that you have to fight even harder... Little Naomi just needs to be home! There is a quote I recently heard that I say to myself often as of late.... "God's timing is rarely early, but never late!" He is working for little Naomi, and He will see her home.

    Praying for you. :)

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  14. WOW! It looks like you are having such a good time. You give me hope that I'll actually get to travel farther away than a few hours from my home some day! Blessings to each of you.

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  15. Naomi was chosen to be your child because God knew you would not give up on her. She will come home home with you where she belongs!

    Love all the pics as always!!!

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  16. Just wanted you to know that we are still praying. Thanks for sharing your story. Hugs from NC =)

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