In the last couple of weeks, there have been two questions directed to us a number of times. The first is "Have you heard about the Sabbatical yet?" and the second is "What's going on with that little boy?" So, here are the answers, which of course, bring more questions......
First, the Sabbatical.......we found out this past Sunday that we did not get the grant. We knew we had a 50/50 chance at it, but we, along with some members from our Church, worked really hard on getting details, writing the narrative, praying, planning, doing research, etc. Applying for this Grant was NOT a small project. So, in addition to taking away some hopes and dreams, it felt like we wrote a major final research paper and got a great big "F" on it. VERY frustrating. We are still hoping that Dave (and the rest of us) will get some sort of Sabbatical next summer - we know that our spirits need one. We know God is Sovereign and that His plans are always best - so we wait (a little impatiently) to see what else God might have in store for the summer of 2014. We trust that He knows exactly what our family needs. The other part, that to me is even more maddening, saddening and confusing about the Sabbatical leads to the other question....
"What's going on with that little boy?" (see Blog from June 13, 2013) We were emailed some pictures this past Friday by an adoptive Mom who was in Ethiopia to attend Court. The pictures brought tears to my eyes! He has grown some and his smile just lights up a room (at least in my opinion) :-) But, he is still not available for adoption - no reason given and the conversation was ended as quickly as it began between the adoptive Mom who sent the pictures and the person she asked in ET. So, soon, that adoptive Mom will return for Embassy and take her two daughters home.....and he will again watch someone leave with a family. And, soon, another family from our agency will go there and take their daughter home.....and he will again watch someone leave with a family. Can you imagine being 5 years old (our guesstimate) and month after month watch your friends and buddies leave......with a FAMILY? And, you continue to stay at an orphanage STUCK. It seems wrong, IT IS wrong and I'm so frustrated that there doesn't seem anything immediate that we can do for him. And, now that we did not receive the Sabbatical Grant, my hopes of seeing him again, trying to help, somehow do something for him - or at least spend lots of time loving on him next summer - are gone. And, that is the hardest part of not getting the Grant for this Momma. I still believe that God had that little guy climb into our hearts for some reason - and he's still there. So, for now, I will keep praying for him and giving him and his future over to God - 'cuz he knows best.
And, maybe God put him in my heart so that I could share his story with you......and if we keep sharing this story and praying for a different ending for him.......maybe someday there will be a new story and a FAMILY and lots and lots of Love for him. Please help spread the story.......because every child deserves a family.
Thank You~
First, the Sabbatical.......we found out this past Sunday that we did not get the grant. We knew we had a 50/50 chance at it, but we, along with some members from our Church, worked really hard on getting details, writing the narrative, praying, planning, doing research, etc. Applying for this Grant was NOT a small project. So, in addition to taking away some hopes and dreams, it felt like we wrote a major final research paper and got a great big "F" on it. VERY frustrating. We are still hoping that Dave (and the rest of us) will get some sort of Sabbatical next summer - we know that our spirits need one. We know God is Sovereign and that His plans are always best - so we wait (a little impatiently) to see what else God might have in store for the summer of 2014. We trust that He knows exactly what our family needs. The other part, that to me is even more maddening, saddening and confusing about the Sabbatical leads to the other question....
"What's going on with that little boy?" (see Blog from June 13, 2013) We were emailed some pictures this past Friday by an adoptive Mom who was in Ethiopia to attend Court. The pictures brought tears to my eyes! He has grown some and his smile just lights up a room (at least in my opinion) :-) But, he is still not available for adoption - no reason given and the conversation was ended as quickly as it began between the adoptive Mom who sent the pictures and the person she asked in ET. So, soon, that adoptive Mom will return for Embassy and take her two daughters home.....and he will again watch someone leave with a family. And, soon, another family from our agency will go there and take their daughter home.....and he will again watch someone leave with a family. Can you imagine being 5 years old (our guesstimate) and month after month watch your friends and buddies leave......with a FAMILY? And, you continue to stay at an orphanage STUCK. It seems wrong, IT IS wrong and I'm so frustrated that there doesn't seem anything immediate that we can do for him. And, now that we did not receive the Sabbatical Grant, my hopes of seeing him again, trying to help, somehow do something for him - or at least spend lots of time loving on him next summer - are gone. And, that is the hardest part of not getting the Grant for this Momma. I still believe that God had that little guy climb into our hearts for some reason - and he's still there. So, for now, I will keep praying for him and giving him and his future over to God - 'cuz he knows best.
And, maybe God put him in my heart so that I could share his story with you......and if we keep sharing this story and praying for a different ending for him.......maybe someday there will be a new story and a FAMILY and lots and lots of Love for him. Please help spread the story.......because every child deserves a family.
Thank You~
