Sharing Pictures

Hard to get these pictures uploaded......

Sharing Mom.

Sharing sister.

Sharing brother.

Sharing Dad.

Sharing - what a great thing!

Where did the last 8 months go?  Joseph has been with us 16 months - crazy!  Someone recently asked me why we adopted him - I think of the reasons every day.  After spending time in many slums in India and Kenya, and working at the Mother Theresa Orphanage in '09 and seeing all the babies, I prayed to God my heart would not remain unchanged.  We knew we were responsible for the knowledge and experiences we had been given by God.  Plus, the sheer numbers rubbed us raw.  Two million orphans in Kenya, 2.5 million in Uganda, 147 million worldwide.  Because of horrifying things like malaria, AIDS, war, hunger, poverty.  And God asked us to share some our richness with one little one - who happened to be Joseph.  It's such a small thing really.  So many families share so MUCH MORE of themselves.  We are truly beginners and the least of them.  So we did this to show our love for Jesus - to share in obedience to His request of us.  Sharing - what a great thing!

8 months

Wow, 8 months, and what changes we've seen in little Joseph and our family!  We'll still a long way off from feeling "normal", but God's hand is on us.  A good thing cuz we are so weak in our own strength.  He is our strength and everything good comes from Him alone!  ....."Apart from me you can do nothing."   John 15:5b

July with the Schenks.....

Brothers on the slip and slide

Nana Susan and Joseph looking at a jet tire at the Atomic Museum

Baba Bob and Joseph looking at a jet together....

Big sister snuggle

Joseph, Kenzie, cousin Mya and Liam - the sandcastle the Schenk kids built!

Joseph watching fireworks - what a handsome little guy!!!

 

 

 

Three months home!

Slowly becoming a family of five.

Went to a wedding recently where this passage was used.

"Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.  Mostly what God does is love you.  Keep company with him and learn a life of love.  Observe how Christ loved us.  He was not cautious but extravagant.  He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.  Love like that."  Ephesians 5:1-2, The Message.

Lord, give me more of this every day!!

J

Transition

Wow - Joseph has been home with us for 3 weeks and we've seen lots of changes in him!  He's learning so many words, but communication can be tricky at times and it's so frustrating for a 2 year old to not be understood - or to be able to understand.  And learning how our family works!  We've been working hard to help little Joseph adjust - so MANY things for him to take in.  Please keep us in your prayers!  That I would have strength and patience - I've had 2 viruses since I've been home  and have lost 14 pounds.....just don't have my usual strength.  Love to you all who I haven't talked to in a while....you're in my thoughts and prayers.....

reliving that homecoming moment

Reliving that awesome homecoming moment....poor little Joseph was pretty discombobulated.....

We're Home with Joseph Daniel Muwanguzi Schenk!

We are home after a three week trip to Uganda to get Joseph Daniel!  It was a great trip, but so hard for me to be away from Kenzie and Liam for so long - were they a sight for sore eyes!  God maneuvered us through so many little possible glitches - it was amazing to watch it all unfold and we are deeply humbled by God's power and plan.  The amazing staff of Bridge Africa and Loving Hearts took such good care of us - WOW!   Joseph is doing well, but lots of things are still scary and unsure for him.  Communication is sometimes difficult and we are just basically trying to get to know each other.  Keep our family in your prayers - that we would fully lay down our lives and plans for this little guy in this crucial time of developing a connection with him. 

The Three

I was looking for this picture/icon last night and found it this morning.  It's of the Trinity.  It has tons of symbolism that I have forgotten over the years, but I love how the Three are sitting together, each pointing to the next person, considering the others better than themselves.  And in the front middle is an open spot at the table - that's for us to join with them in their community of perfect love.  I guess I just wanted to leave from here with Them being the focus.  Now matter how it all turns out, it's about Them and their amazing, crazy great love for us that they continually invite us into.

Blessings to you and much love.......

Jill

36 hour count down

A dear friend gave me this verse this week - "May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans15:13

I guess I rarely think of God as a God of HOPE. It's really a no brainer, but it's more natural for me to see him as the God who honors planning and "sound judgement", or that He's solemnly enduring the drudgery with us to the end.  But a God of HOPE causes me to imagine his face as smiling on me, confident, laughing even.  That's the face I need to see when I'm worried,  fearful and tearful.  His face can bring me back to hope.

Kenzie and Liam, Valentines Day in Vancouver, 2005

I was praying today that I could actually get on a plane and leave my babies.  That might be the ultimate test of my faith right now.  Thank goodness He's smiling on them too and has HOPE for them during this time of our absence.  It's weird that these life events that are so hard, gutwrenching and scary can also yield the most absolute joy and excitement as well.  I guess He really needs to continue growing my heart so I can handle all this "emotion"!

Anyway, thanks so much for all your prayers,  comments, calls and emails.  They are truly encouraging to us!  And for those of you I didn't get to call or contact in the last few weeks, I am sorry I didn't get to connect - you are in my thoughts and prayers tonight!  May God cause YOU to overflow with hope tonight in whatever you are facing.

Much love to you in Jesus,
jill