Oh Africa...

Time is starting to fly by and words escape me of how to share our journey thus far.

Up, down, awesome, hard, fun, not-so-fun, stretching, growing, life-changing…. but the word that keeps coming to mind is, faith.

Every aspect has not been how we have planned or expected it, we are truly walking by faith.

The verse I stood on for this trip was Proverbs 16:9 "The heart of a man plans his ways, but the LORD establishes his steps."  I believe this verse has come.to.life through this season of change.  We plan, plan, plan but as we seek His face and His plans HE establishes our steps.  They have looked nothing like what we thought but we know and have an amazing sense that God is up to something good, something greater!

Our pastor here has been preaching on growing in spiritual maturity.  He asked on Sunday if we had only 2 choices right now:  A.) having every comfort, no struggle, every need met with zero problems OR B.) trails, struggles, hurt, pain, etc.  With A. you will not grow in Christ or really even recognize your need for Him but with B. you will grow and commune with God like never before.  Now choose.  [sorry if I miss quoted you P.Terry, I was too busy imagining A. but anyways... ;)]  OF COURSE we would choose B, right?  A. leaves us empty and wanting but sometimes it looks oh so good.  B. is where we are swimming these days and tho I can't see much growth, I am trusting He will finish what he has started in us.  B. is good…. refining good.  God knows I need a little refining!  

Enough of this heart stuff let's talk about the kids…. :)

They're awesome and pretty much love it here.

Ashton is learning to cook UG style!  As I type she whipping up some cookies for the first time so I am sure she is in her happy place :).

Hunter is busy climbing all the new trees and scaring me to death.  If I had a dime for every time I said, "be careful… there's not medical here like there is in the USA…. don't break your arm!"  I'd be rich!  

Dawson is a happy clam and soccer has been on the to do list every day!  He ran and played so hard the other day that he almost made himself sick.  UG kids know their "football" and he's trying to keep up!  He should be practiced up for Fall soccer.

Lily is full of joy even here in Africa.  We visited an orphanage the other day and I don't think her mouth quit moving once, as she was busy making friends, making up games, telling everyone their part.  At one point I went to check on her and I couldn't see her….. she was surrounded by all her new friends and they were playing a game with her in the middle [of course].  She has a gift of making friends and loving them instantly.

Isaiah is truly a Ugandan at heart.  I was not sure how he would do with all the sights and sounds that may not have had some great memories to accompany them but he is thriving!  PRAISE the LORD!  This has been great for him to be in his birth country and make memories that he can hold on to forever.

Daniel…. hmmm….. Daniel is 2.  The 2ness is VERY 2 these days.  We are experiencing some BIG 2ish days.  ha.  Oh I love this kid.  He has passion like no other.  He loves passionately but oh my, he whines equally as passionate. ;)  I am not sure the Ugandans know what to think of him.  He may be causing me to gray a bit.

Speaking of gray hair…… my husband and children [not so graciously, I may add] found a few [very few] gray hairs on MY head yesterday!  I went into instant mid-life-crisis mode…. it lasted for about 8 minutes then I was ok.  Yup, I'm going gray - break out the dye.  I'm not going down without a fight.

Justin is busy juggling a million balls in the air and gaining life experiences that you just can't match in the US.  He walked from the orphanage to our house the other day, in the dark, balancing a mattress on his head.  You just can't learn these things at home ;).  

Honestly tho, he has been the glue that has kept this family in operating order.  While I am whining on the floor that I can't lift the giant jugs of water to give our kids a drink, he is finding a solution.  While I am busy telling him how haaaarrrrrddddd it is to put a dinner together, he's making a plan and putting it into action.  He has shown himself to not only be the provider for this family (in a whole new way) but a strong leader.  I love this man and if Africa has done nothing else, it has made me see him in a whole new light.  God has given me a good man.

The adoption is going great and I can not wait to announce and share him with everyone!  What a treasure, what gift!

I am not sure what the next 7+ weeks will look like but one thing we know for sure is that God is great and OH.SO.WORTHY to be worshiped in the midst!