Packing

Ah, packing.  What can I say?  It's stressful and exciting, and I'm all rolled up into a big hairy ball of emotions.  God willing, we will see our little guy on Monday!  I'm trying to find out when we can actually post pictures of him - hopefully sooooon!  Kenzie and Liam seem to be excited this week, not too teary about us leaving them behind - that was last week.  We've been waking up early, going to bed late, trying to ride the waves of adrenaline, watching the election news, and doing a million little things.  

Today I'm making a small photo album of us and our house and extended family for our little guy.  What will he think?  Pictures just don't really represent that well, but hopefully it'll help him somewhat.  Got a pix of his car seat in the van and his potty that's shaped like a soccer ball.  But more importantly, sweet pictures of his brother and sister!!

We covet your prayers for safe travel, safe Kampala, smooth court precedings, swift Embassy appointments and for our little guy - that God would be getting him ready for his new family and life.

We'll have email and Facebook access while in Uganda so we'll try to send a few updates.....

Much love to you all and God's blessings on your day today!

Jill

Our Father's Good Pleasure

We are just amazed to watch as the LORD pours out his good pleasure as he provides the help we need for our trip......first, my amazing parents who have helped us so much in so many ways....they'll be caring for Kenzie and Liam during the school days that we are gone.  This is really huge for us and an amazing gift they are giving us amidst several significant health challenges.  Pray for them - that all would go smoothly and that the kids would be as helpful as possible.  Also, several sets of amazing friends are willing to take the kids over the 2 weekends.....it really is a huge gift to us.  And we are praying for smooth sailing for them as well.

And another crazy miracle right here.  I have been praying that God would provide someone to stay with me in Uganda for those extra few weeks after Hans heads home and it's just been a "wait, just wait on ME."  But as we were buying tickets, I realized that it seemed no one was really going to be able to come with me.  I told the Lord I was ok with that, and that I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  That's what  we've been teaching the kids, so here's my opportunity to exercise that truth.

But then, last week, I happened to talk to my mother-in-law who said "My church is doing a mission trip to UGANDA and the dates are...........March 15-31st!!!  Maybe I could go, but I need to raise $$$ for the trip.....I don't know....."  So we started praying that this would work out - the timing - CRAZY!   So then we found out today that the LORD has worked out the money through some amazingly generous brothers and sisters (THANK YOU!!!!), and she's bought her ticket and she'll be able to fly back with me as long as our court stuff goes relatively smoothly - God willing of course!  How great to have her in country and we are really praying all the dates work out as "planned".  Wow.  I was telling Jesus the other day....."I'm not surprised really that you would do this, but I just don't want to presume that you will do things a certain way......." which led me to tears......Thank you LORD for ALL these good gifts!

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."  Luke 12:32

"What a GOD!  His road stretches straight and smooth.  Every Yahweh-direction is road-tested.  Everyone who runs towards Him, makes it."  Psalm 18:30  The Message

A court date!!

Today, January 27th, we got a call that we have a court date in early March!   OH MY GOODNESS!!  That means we could most probably see our little guy in 31 days!  It just feels unbelievable.  My stomach has crazy butterflies and my knees are weak.....wow, living in the upside down Kingdom is crazy exciting at times - it's quite a rush of emotions and adrenaline and thoughts and hopes and fears and dreams.....maybe this is what the Trinity FEELS LIKE (minus the fear part) as they look forward together to THAT DAY when the Kingdom will all be together, restored and celebrating, victorious and triuphantly complete.....thank you Lord for that tiny glimpse.....

Please pray for us.....the details.  The to do list is long.  Making sure Kenzie and Liam are taken care of while we're gone, buying suits to wear to court,  getting our malaria meds, and getting our documents all gathered together yet again.  Nothing really difficult, but it just feels like a lot with the emotional weight attached to it all.

We'd really love prayers for Jill's amazing parents as they care for Kenzie and Liam while Hans and I are both gone at first - that they would have energy, insight and that they and the kids would be under God's great protection while we are gone.

Also, that God would continue to pave the way for us and our little guy!  We need His continued wisdom for many decisions and experiences ahead, and perseverance for the time I will be gone from our family.  We are hoping I will be home in early April.

Thanks so so so much for all your prayers thus far that have carried us in the Lord's power and plan!
Love,
Jill and Hans

Adrenaline Rush

We are experiencing an adrenaline rush.  Yesterday we got news that things are moving along in Uganda and today we got an update of our little guy with some new pictures!  He is doing so well and we can't wait to meet him!!  He is full of energy and really wanting to be cared for and attended to.  We are praying the Lord will prepare him for his new family, with 2 active big sibs.  The way they describe him seems like he will fit in pretty well with team Schenk-o-rama, as he seems to be an "externally focused", just like Kenzie and Liam!

I just finished the book, "Finding Calcutta" about Mother Teresa, by Mary Poplin, IVPress.  A verse from the book was so great:

                                 "Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil." 
                                          Psalm 37:8 b



Wow.  Also,  Mother Teresa called their work, "little nothingness".  The Missionaries of Charity gave things over to God who could make small things big and big problems small.  A good word to my heart this week.

It has been weird to consider that we try to hold this process with our little one "with an open hand" - how hard with something SO WEIGHTY!

We hope you are not fretting about things in your life today.....give them to the God who can make small things big and big problems small - Glory to Jesus!

Love,
Jill and Hans

from Chennai Expats

Great clip from another adoptive family......

Elections, elections........

Big prayer requests for the national elections in Sudan (Jan 8th) and Uganda (Feb 18th).  Help them, Lord, to be as peaceful as possible, for Your purposes to be accomplished. 

These events could definitely affect when we get our little guy, but we are trusting our Father and his Father for all the timing and plans.

May Jesus' purposes be accomplished in this and help our hearts to wait peacefully as we live and serve God here in little ABQ........

It's so easy for ME to be numbed into forgetting what the poor are living.....

Rough Time Estimate

Well, it looks like we will most likely be traveling to get our little boy in March!  A little over 90 days!  Wow, that seems like a lifetime and yet it's so close!  Over Christmas we're doing the major room switcharoo for Kenzie and Liam.  She'll move into his smaller one,  he'll move to her larger one and we'll need to get a bunk bed!  Kenzie keeps saying, "This is the first Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. that our whole family is not together!"  Our little boy will come home, God willing, in the Spring, when everything's ready to burst into new life.

Pray for him - that the Lord would be getting him ready to be in a new family.  It will probably be a bit scary, overwhelming and uncertain for him, although as a 2 year old he's probably oblivious at the moment.  Pray we all would be covered by the peace of Jesus. 

Hope all your Christmas preparations are joyful as you await the coming of our King and Saviour!

Jill

Well,......

Well, we have a little BOY matched to us officially!!!!  We are so excited!!!!  We can't post pictures here til the adoption is complete......and now we are on to praying for a court date!!  Thank you Jesus for you amazing goodness to our little one thus far and to us :)  WOW  WOW  WOW  WOW   WOW!!!