Our bags are packed (I wish)...

Have you ever had those days where you just want to be anywhere but where you are?! That is what Chris and I are talking about doing tonight....running away to a deserted island (we will make a pit-stop in Guatemala to pick up Eliana, and since we are dreaming here....we'll pick up Xiomara too). Just when we think we we have made it through a day without discouragement.....there it is knocking at our door. Some of the things are little and some are big.....but today we just can't take it. The Lord promises that His mercies are new every morning.....Lord help the morning to come quickly! We are tired. We are weary. But, we are still hopeful. We wish every blogger friend could be sitting in our living room with us making us smile.

This picture makes me smile. For Chrismtas, my sweet hubby made me this homemade plane ticket to tell me I can go and see Eliana as soon as possible. He bought a map and travel book for me....isn't he the best??!!! I pray I will be there soon.

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. There is an AMAZING woman that is creating something very special for me and all the Guatemommas or anyone that loves Guatemala......and she is allowing it to be a fundraiser for our adoption. I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO SEE IT....be on the lookout!!! THIS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY!!!!!!!!

Worry test #1

When you receive an e-mail from your agency that is titled "Not Good News," you know immediately that there is a problem! So, here I am.....fighting freaking out and then remembering what I wrote just yesterday in our blog.....don't worry! The e-mail is written below:

Dear Guatemala Families,

I just received notification from JCICS that PGN has stopped processing all cases stating that the cases must first be registered with the "Central Authority" which does not exist. The last information we received was that the Guatemalan government was trying to decide if registering a case with PGN would qualify for the central authority registration. We did not ever hear resolution on that and now we are being told this discouraging news. Please continuing praying that this situation will be resolved quickly. Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea to begin contacting your local congressman again for support. I know that JCICS and the US State Department are trying to find a resolution right now. I will let you know as soon as I hear more news.

____________________________

I know a lot of this probably doesn't make sense because honestly, I am still confused. This is what I know......all of you that already love Eliana and the many other waiting kiddos in Guatemala......PLEASE BE PRAYING THAT WE GET IMMIGRATION APPROVAL TODAY OR MONDAY!!!! I AM PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE (IT HAS BEEN OVER 10 WEEKS FROM THE LAST THING THEY RECEIVED)!!!!!!!!! I am ready to FLY TO GUATEMALA to hand deliver papers. Also, pray that somehow this mysterious Central Authority would be created ASAP.....so that we can all be registered by January 31. THIS IS CRITICAL!!!!!!

If any of you know your congressman, now is the time to call again. Be praying non-stop!!!! The Lord is mighty in battle....that is what I am clinging to this morning.

Love you all,
Lindsey

Why do I worry?

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." Luke 12:25-31

2007 was a year that was full of twists and surprises! Honestly, it was a year of huge change for me emotionally and spiritually. I have been walking through very dark days over the past 3 and a half years. Even though I have begged God for answers....and walked through a pretty deep depression....I can truly say that I would not change any of it! God allowed 2007 to be a year so full of healing. I have come alive in ways that I never knew possible!

In June, I could not wait for Chris to get to experience the Guatemala that I have loved for years and years. We were so excited to walk this journey together!!! Not only did he love it, he's clearly been given a passion equal to or greater than mine. Did we expect to walk away from Guatemala changed forever? I had no idea what God was up to. He began opening our hearts to becoming parents. We are both close to 30 years old but have always felt like we would wait a few more years until we had kiddos. Well, the Lord said, "NOW"! Again, there is always going to be a little fear in the unknown. But, I had no idea what was in store for us. Honestly, we still don't. I have said this before, but I will say it again....we just want to be obedient. We pray constantly for Xiomara and Eliana. They are the Lord's little girlies. As much as I want to hang on to them with a closed fist....that will not help anyone. So, Lord, I am again proclaiming that they are yours!! I don't want to worry. He is the ONLY One that knows the answers....he knows the time line.

So, here we are in 2008. I am excited....and a little scared! I think this year is going to be big!

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. Thank you, thank you for praying for Bulldog! He is such an example to us of a childlike faith in an adult's body! Also, CONGRATS to the Moore's on baby Elliot!!! We love you guys with all of our hearts.....I can't wait to hold him when you get back from Guatemala (we might pitch a tent at your house)! We miss you.

Sometimes very little matters

On Saturday morning my brother was rushed to the emergency room in Little Rock, AR. To shorten a long story, The Bulldog's sodium level totally bottomed out. This caused him to not know who he was, where he was or even how to play connect four (his favorite)! This was also the cause of his seizure. The doctor told us they had to raise his sodium level very slowly because rushing that process can cause swelling in your brain and lead to a stroke. In addition, my brother is not a fan of needles, iv's or anything else associated with being messed with in the hospital. I kept reassuring him it was ok, to which he would reply "it's not ok."

By the grace of our good God my brother went from nearly dying in a totally unconscious state to beating me in connect four in less than 24 hours! Give glory to God! Thank you for your continued prayer!

It is wild how sobering experiences like this are. It is such a reminder that very little of the things I usually care very greatly about really matter at all! While he was on that hospital bed all hooked up I didn't care about eating, or even sitting. I didn't answer my phone or think about where I left the rest of the world- all I wanted was for my brother to live. All I could pray was for God to have mercy.

My brother is a beautiful model of the simplified life! He knows how to love God, love people and play games! That's him. To him the world is black and white- either you know Jesus or you don't...and if you don't The Bulldog's going to tell you about Him!

By the way, The Bulldog has great faith concerning our adoptions. He believes with us that we will receive these girls...and he can't wait!
The Bulldog has also requested that we hold a special service to "Uncle-ize" him! Don't worry, when that ceremony goes down we'll tell you all about it!

My brother is the best big brother in the entire world!
What a gift!
-Chris

Bulldog is better!

I just wanted to send a quick update.....he is a different person today!! He is ALIVE and back to himself....praise the Lord. Chris will write about it tomorrow. Thank you for praying for our brother.

Love, Lindsey

Pray for our Brother!!!!!!!!

Chris and I got to LR on Thursday to celebrate Christmas with my family. Yesterday, Chris's mom, dad and Brother (we call him the Bulldog) drove in from Tulsa, OK to join the fun. John Jr. (aka Bulldog) is one of the greatest people on the planet. He is ten years older than Chris....and it partially mentally retarded. He is one of the funniest people I know.....and has a HUGE heart. One of his greatest joys is playing Connect Four. Yesterday, we played so many rounds.....my sisters and I took turns trying to beat him. He is so good at it.

Well, this morning we got a call from Chris's parents letting us know that they found John in his hotel room (he likes his own room) unresponsive and very, very sick. Chris and I drove straight to the hotel.....and when we got there he was stretched out on the floor having seizures. It was one of the worst things I have seen in my life. We immediately called 911....and he was taken to the emergency room. We are still waiting for test results. He does not recognize any of us....he is in a weird fog right now. Please be praying for a miracle!!! Pray for the doctors to have wisdom. Chris is really broken right now. I will update you all soon.

Love,
Lindsey

Our 1st Annual Guatemalan Christmas Eve!

The last few days have been very unexpected....fun! My mom, sister Leah, and grandmother came for Christmas....and we spent most of the time with the Moore family! Christmas Eve, Scott and Amelia had us over for the 1st Annual Guatemalan Christmas Eve! In Guatemala, Christmas Eve is a time to spend with family and friends....eating tamales....celebrating the birth of Jesus....and at midnight fireworks (oops, we couldn't find them). Look at the menu below....it was a traditional feast:

Menu:
Tamales
Jocon (traditional Guatemalan chicken in tomatillo-cilantro sauce)
Black Beans
Rice
Yucca
Plantains with Mole Sauce

Drinks:
Horchata
Sangria
Spicy Hot Chocolate

After dinner, we all played games....and laughed a lot (and we all wore our pajamas). Once little Micah went to bed, we got to spend time reading about the birth of our King. It was so good to share with each other what it means to us. We then spent a long time praying for our families....for their little Elliot (they go to Guatemala on Saturday to bring him home...YIPPEE)....and for Eliana and Xiomara. It was such a sweet time! Thank you Lord for coming as a baby....but more importantly, for knowing what was to come. Thank you for loving me so much....I don't deserve it!

I love you all,
Lindsey

Merry Christmas Eve!!

It is hard for you to see our tree because my sweet husband put four times the normal amount of Christmas lights on it. I'm pretty sure our entire neighborhood can see the lights from miles away! But, we love it. This year we added some picture frames on the tree with Eliana's pictures.

Last night we went to a Christmas service at our church and a family sat in front of us with their four kiddos, one of them from Guatemala (they got him 6 months ago). All I could do was stare at him the entire time. It was another little blessing from the Lord. I want Eliana (and Xio) with us for Christmas....but it is fun to dream what it could like like next year.

We still have not received our approval. I am really trying so hard to trust the Lord....He knows when we will get it in the mail. It is not a surprise to Him. Keep praying! Your comments are the highlight of our day....thank you for being the most encouraging community of bloggers in the world!! Merry Christmas.

I love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. My favorite ornaments are from Erin...who made them in Guatemala!! It makes me miss Antigua so much. Thanks Erin!!

Worth the fight!!

I wish you I could hug every single one of you. Chris and I are blown away by your encouragement, prayers, and comments!! They mean so much to us. Each comment was exactly what we needed. Well, the Lord heard your prayers and sent us the best gift last night through our amazing Lisa at our agency....some new pics of our sweet girl! Is she not beautiful??!!! Chris and I just prayed thanking God for giving us these...and he said, "Lord thank you for creating Eliana...she is just so beautiful." We love her so much. Chris went and bought her the cutest monkey stuffed animal on his way home from Memphis yesterday, so that it would remind her of the day her daddy fought for her. Keep praying!! We are trusting God for a miracle.

We love you all,
Lindsey

Not what we wanted to hear....

"I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer." Psalm 6:6-9

My husband is my hero. Today, proved that over and over again. I will let him write about his time in Memphis later. But, I wanted to let you all know that we did not get approval....far from it. We are at the bottom of a big stack on a lady's desk! Keep praying for a miracle. Chris just called me bawling telling me he did everything he could....he cried and shared our story with three different people. How discouraging! Right now I miss little Eliana....and Xiomara so much.

Most of you don't know the story of the last four years of my life, but it has been crazy painful. Someday I will share it....just not now. So, Chris and I got married (which let me say it again...GIFT)....then we hit a time of grieving and pain unlike anything I have even seen. The Lord has been so good to my family and me even in the midst of the pain. I have walked through depression, and I am now realizing that God WANTS to use my pain and my story for good. EVEN THIS!!! Thank you for all of your comments....I just sat and wept reading each and every one of them. The loss of Xiomara hurt so deeply....and I can't even begin to imagine life without Eliana. Pray that we are "grandfathered" in by our Power of Attorney. Pray for my husband...he is hurting deeply right now.

Love you all,
Lindsey