TOT(T): Dear Christ-Followers

This post below is actually something I shared with my friends on Facebook yesterday morning.  From the moment I woke, these thoughts were firmly on my mind and in my heart.  I felt compelled to share.  I knew the Holy Spirit was nudging me gently (or maybe firmly?) to share what He had laid on my heart.  So here you go, blog world!

Christ-followers...my heart is disturbed and heavy today. Our society is in a moral mess. We could make it a better place, but too often we get emotionally caught up in whatever is the Current Political Debate,,,and have forgotten to seek God in how to respond, or even how/what to believe...

We live in this broken world and are surrounded by its ungodly influences. Yet, I think we Christians tend to become complacent, and before we even know it, worldly points of view have influenced us. The world has changed our hearts and minds, and we are completely unaware. frown emoticon

We assume, "I'm a Christian! Of course, what I think or feel about current events/politics/situations around me MUST come from God, right?"

Oh dear friends!
If we are not daily asking God to transform our minds (to have the mind of Christ), if we are not daily asking God to give us HIS wisdom (not wisdom as the world gives),,,then we need to check, double check, and check again with God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit:

"Is my heart and mind fully aligned with You, Lord? Do my beliefs (and subsequent actions) fall in line with Your plan?"

Because we Christians fail at times to seek out God's Thoughts about current events, we have unwittingly helped to further ungodly causes! Worldly Wisdom has crept in and influenced what we think,,,and how we respond. frown emoticon

Friends, please know, this post today comes from my heart. heart emoticon
My tears fall as I write this, because we Christ-followers are charged with such an important calling...to make DISCIPLES of those all around us...to help others grow and become the very Image of Christ in this world, shining the light and exposing darkness, so God can come bring restoration and healing!! smile emoticon

If we find ourselves being more passionate about fighting in some "political" battle, or fighting "the system" than about helping to transform people's hearts and minds for Christ,,,then maybe we have forgotten our real job and purpose here on earth---to make this broken place a little more like the Kingdom of God!! smile emoticon

My friends, if this post encourages you to daily seek more of God's wisdom, then praise Him! If this post causes you to become quiet and reflective, then awesome!

On the other hand, if reading these words really irk you and you'd like to shout a bit, that's okay too, cuz you're not actually upset with me. Think about it... smile emoticon

Lord, lead me in Your ways today!

James 1:5 & Romans 12:2 & Matthew 28:16-20

TOT = Totally Off Topic

I've been thinking for a while that I needed  a clever way to brain-purge all the words floating around in my cranium.  I heard some time ago that men have approx. 12,000 words a day and women have approx. 40,000.  There's just not enough time in my day (or people to listen..) to get all 40,000 words in!  Can I get a witness??

Seriously though... ;-)  Aside from being passionate about adoption, I care deeply about others things, too.  For starters-- Serving Jesus, Authentic Worship, Creating Healthy Families, even Politics (oh no she DID'nt!).  And I really like stuff like essential oils, furry friends, #thm and more.

Sooo back to my clever idea...today I introduce my new *Series of Posts* entitled Totally Off Topic (Tuesday).  Ta da!!

Okay, so you are probably visiting my blog today because you want to keep up with Wisly's adoption journey, or maybe it's because you are interested in Haiti or adoption in general.  You aren't here because Social Media is lacking in stimulating articles, videos, memes and dramatic discussions.  You have plenty of other things to read without me adding to them.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that TOT(T) posts are for me more than they are for you.  Sometimes I have such loud thoughts in my head, I need to write (type) them down.  Sometimes they keep me up at night!  {ugh}  Writing helps me organize and focus my thinking.  It helps me understand what it is I really feel and believe.  So I guess TOT(T) is kind of an "out loud journal" -- a journal that I'm letting anyone within hearing (reading) distance have access to.

Hopefully these posts will encourage some of you, or to others, they might be thought-provoking.  And the rest of you?  Well, if you aren't interested in TOT(T)'s, that is A OK.  Just don't stop by on Tuesdays.  No worries.  Come back on Hump-Day for "Wisly Wednesdays".

[({i'm wondering if i could be any cheesier. heehee.})]

Have Passport, Will Travel

Our sweet girl received her

U.S. Passport in the mail!!

She is so excited and proud.

Haiti, here we come!

We Exited MOI!!!

As soon as I read the email from our agency entitled, Good News Monday!!, I started shouting and crying and thanking Jesus: 

So it is good news Monday... drum roll please…

You are out of MOI!!!

After only a few weeks in this phase of our adoption, we exited MOI!!!  
God did it!!!
Say with me, "God Did It!!!"

Selah heard my ruckus, so I shared the news with her.  She started squealing and shouting and doing a silly dance.  I called Eric, but wasn't able to reach him, so Selah and I praised God some more, jumped, shouted and danced all around the house.  In a few minutes, I finally connected with Eric and shared the news with him.  Eric joined in our happy celebration.

This is REAL, people.  After more than 3 years of seeking our precious Wisly, we are finally in the HOME STRETCH.  Eeeeeekkkk!!! :)  So what happens next?  Here are the remaining steps to our process as explained by our agency:

~~Wisly's passport will be printed and issued (2-3 weeks?)

~~Our entire adoption file gets translated into English (1-2 weeks?)

~~Our translated file gets submitted to USCIS (U.S. Immigration) for final I-600 approval (approx. 6 weeks)

These last few steps are completed in a matter of days:

~~Our file is transferred to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti.

~~The embassy issues Wisly's VISA appointment.

~~Wisly has his Visa medical exam.

~~Creche staff attends the VISA appointment on our behalf....and we start planning to travel!

~~VISA is approved!

~~Our VISA packet is taken to IBESR for the travel document /approval...and IBESR issues our travel document and...

~~We fly to Haiti to bring Wisly home!!!

PEOPLE...he might even be home by the end of June!!!

One of our big prayer requests at this point is Protection of Our Paperwork.  Seriously.

Passports have been known to have typos,,,various documents can get misplaced,,,dates on paperwork can be wrong.  Any of these issues can cause several weeks delay to the process.  Please pray for God's protection over Wisly's passport printing and our entire adoption file.

Of course, we appreciate your continued prayers for God's preparation of Wisly's heart and for our readiness to welcome him into our home and family.

~Much Love!

God Answered!!! (Update from C4C)

A HUGE thank you to everyone who prayed!!!

Update from Thursday March 31:

Update from Friday April 1:

God did it!!  Nothing is impossible with Him!!