16 Nov 2008 8 days until our GOTCHA date!
Why is it that as a nation, we tend only to stop once a year on a Thursday in November to give thanks? I can truly say that this has been a year when we as a family have pause many times to give thanks to a God of power and majesty. I can not help but reflect on how blessed we are as a nation and as a family of this nation.
This is a time of year when we as Americans pause to remember and give thanks to God for His protection of the founding fathers of our country. Since we are leaving before Thanksgiving day, we decided to gather as a family on Saturday for a traditional thanksgiving meal. We had a very blessed time together as a family. Our whole clan was able to get together as you can see from the picture that is now posted on this blog. Betty's mom and dad, our eight children, daughter in law, two grandchildren and our daughter's fiancee. It was GREAT! Our 4 youngest children have birthdays in December before we get home from Colombia, and so we also celebrated those birthdays before we leave for Bogota. We capped off the day by putting up a Christmas tree so it will be there when we get home around the 19th of December. A very busy day!
We have also received our visas back from the Colombian consulate. We now have plane tickets, shots AND all the paperwork we need to head south. We now just need to get our bags packed and rearrange bedrooms - we bought the last of the beds and such we still needed- you guessed it- that was done on Saturday too.
The blessings have continued to flow with each passing day. Today our church hosted an adoption shower for us. We are truly overwhelmed by every one's generosity. We pretty much have all the clothes we need now to get started for all three children- wow this has been amazing. We cannot begin to express all of our thanks to everyone who came along side us today and blessed us with so many gifts. I know beyond any doubt that these three children are not only joining our family, but they are also joining a large and loving church family they can depend upon to encourage them and help them grow towards Christ.
Some of the cards from this shower help us to keep our motivation and our focus. One person wrote, " we pray that God would grant wisdom and patience as you seek to love them, teach them and walk with them." That was so encouraging - we have been thinking about so many things and anticipating so many things, but it was so good to know that so many are praying for us in the big things and little things. This note spoke to us deeply - as we do so long to simply walk with these precious ones. Another dear friend closed their note with Matthew 6:31-34. This was a reminder that we needed as the time grows closer. These verses read:
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
We pray that our hearts will seek after God above all else. We continue to trust God in the details for tomorrow, knowing His plans are perfect far beyond anything we devise on our own. At this point we don't yet know where we will stay in Colombia- God knows and has it all under control. We should find out the details sometime this week. We trust He has it worked out for our best, but it sure would be nice to know what the plans are....
Jim and Betty
Why "Eight Is Not Enough"?
When we were younger, there was a television sitcom that was called "Eight is Enough". The television watching world was entertained with the thought of a family with eight children. Most of us were shocked at the prospect of such a large family- myself included! Then ever so slowly, God began to work on our hearts, until we surrendered to Him all of our lives- yes even gave Him sovereign control over the size of our family and He has blessed us immeasurably, with eight biological children. Each of these children have been an amazing gift to us and we cherish each of them. And we praised God for them and felt to ourselves "eight is enough" - at least for a time.
Then God began to stir our hearts. It was as if He spoke to say to us "these 8 precious children I have given to you, but what have you given to my orphans in return?" A burden began to build on our hearts to adopt. We knew that for us God still had other plans for us as parents if we would be faithful to His calling- that eight is not enough. And so, we followed this call to adopted and He has continued to blessed us through adoption. First a sibling group of three from Soacha, Colombia. They joined our family in November, 2008. In May 2010, we adopted twin infants from Texas. In September of 2012 we were privileged to return to Colombia and adopt a sibling group of two from Cali. At this time, we anxiously wait for our travel date to depart for China where a very special girl and boy wait for their forever family. By the time they all reach adulthood, we will have had the amazing privilege to be parents of children in our home for a half century. Our life is full beyond measure, beyond our wildest expectations, yes even beyond anything we could have ever hoped. Truly, eight is not enough. As of late we have wondered if God's plan for us as parents all along was not for eight children, but rather eight plus eight. Our heavenly Father knows and His word assures us "I know the plans I have made for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you." We trust He knows the number of His children He wants us to love and to nurture on His behalf, and whether that is eight or eighty times eight we stand ready and say speak Lord, your servants are listening and are prepared to be father and mother to your fatherless on earth.
Then God began to stir our hearts. It was as if He spoke to say to us "these 8 precious children I have given to you, but what have you given to my orphans in return?" A burden began to build on our hearts to adopt. We knew that for us God still had other plans for us as parents if we would be faithful to His calling- that eight is not enough. And so, we followed this call to adopted and He has continued to blessed us through adoption. First a sibling group of three from Soacha, Colombia. They joined our family in November, 2008. In May 2010, we adopted twin infants from Texas. In September of 2012 we were privileged to return to Colombia and adopt a sibling group of two from Cali. At this time, we anxiously wait for our travel date to depart for China where a very special girl and boy wait for their forever family. By the time they all reach adulthood, we will have had the amazing privilege to be parents of children in our home for a half century. Our life is full beyond measure, beyond our wildest expectations, yes even beyond anything we could have ever hoped. Truly, eight is not enough. As of late we have wondered if God's plan for us as parents all along was not for eight children, but rather eight plus eight. Our heavenly Father knows and His word assures us "I know the plans I have made for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you." We trust He knows the number of His children He wants us to love and to nurture on His behalf, and whether that is eight or eighty times eight we stand ready and say speak Lord, your servants are listening and are prepared to be father and mother to your fatherless on earth.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
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