Update-10/3/12

I can't believe in less than 24 hours I will board a plane to get my babies! I haven't been posting regularly lately I think mostly because these last few months of waiting have been particularily hard. Our flights to get there this time are brutal, so I with plenty of time on our hands, I may be posting from the airport quite a bit in an effort to catch you up. 

Where it all started

A few days ago my sweet Momma, surprised David and I with money to go out to dinner just the two of us one last time before our lives change forever-back to the place it all started for our adoption journe...Bonefish Grill. Yes, Bonefish is where David took me last year on June 29, 2011 and said he thought we should move forward with this adoption. I've decided I am not very good at reflecting on the past OR sitting in the present and taking it all in. It's good for me to be forced to do that. David on the other hand is good at helping us talk about all those things. It was a great night. Our hearts were so full of gratitude over what God has done for us in the past 15 months. 

Thanks Momma!

In just under a week, we will travel to get our precious boys. Yep, still thinking about the future.

I'm not an orphan anymore...I'm YOURS!

Oh, how I long for that to be the reality for my new boys. I long to bring them home-my home and sweetly bask in the knowledge that they are mine, and they are HOME! I sit here tonight in Ghana longing to see their sweet faces. Yes, I am in Ghana, technically I could see them if I arranged it, but we, as a family, decided that would not be best. Today, I filed their I-600 Visa application and hopefully will be returning again to get them for good in a few months.
When we left Ghana in May after spending a whole week together, every chance I could I would hold their sweet faces in our hands and say, "Mommy is coming back for you, and when I return, I will bring you home, and you will ride on a plane, and swim in the swimming pool, and you will be mine forever." That was also my parting words, as the most difficult part of this journey so far-the goodbyes-promising our return. It was more painful than I imagined. So, you see why I couldn't break their trust in "visiting" them for a few days or more only to leave again without them.
The culture here is so different. I can't explain it well. Parents here love their children, but they are trying to survive, and the hugs, kisses, the I love you's, the time spent together, get lost along the way trying to survive. The emotional attachments seem to be missing. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of sin, disfunction, and "survial of sorts"in America and in my own home but I am longing for the day when I can right this one wrong. No child should be orphaned. And trust me, there are plenty more here and all around the world who need families. I also long for the day that my precious Ghanaian children will know and understand the love of our heavenly father-the only one who can love them perfectly, completely-the one who is abounding in grace, full of knowledge, lovingkindness, mercy, who will rise to show them compassion. I long for the day he will set all things right. One day there will be no orphans anymore.
In the meantime, I rest in my father's love who ransomed me, called me his own, and now I am not an orphan anymore. If you haven't heard this song...you must...Check out this video from Ronnie Freeman-"I'm not an orphan anymore, I'm yours...

Do you know where you stand?

Luke 16:14-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. ¹⁵ He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
My head and heart are still reeling from the message shared on Sunday about how God knows our heart. 

No matter where you are spiritually, this message is for you.  It's one of the best explanations of the gospel I have ever heard:
click here to watch or listen to the message...It is the first message entitled: "God knows your heart"-June 3rd, go to the right side of the page and you can listen, download, or watch the video. After the worship is the message. 

To my precious boys...I can't wait to hold you in my arms!

I have loved you for a thousand years

Update on the following post: We had to remove the boys' pictures...we thought we could post following court, but found out we have to wait until their visas are printed and they are on the way home. 

Precious aren't they?

These are their given names by a courageous ghanaian woman who loved her children enough to give them a better life in America. Most people we meet here who ask us if they are ours and if we are taking them to America are very sweet and say something like, "Oh bless you", because you can't just leave Ghana. They do not give people here visa's to just leave if they wanted to come to U. S. 

In the pictures above, we are serving at an orphanage. The bikes the boys are riding are not "ride-able" bikes. They have 4 flat tires, and are terribly rusted. But they fought over time on the tiny rusted, not-working bike they scooted around. That's how all the bikes and play equipment are. Far too much to write here in one post but just a few things on my heart today....

I was surprised by how little the orphans have at the places we visited. (I know one would think-they are orphans...)Yes, their basic needs are met, but they still need so much more. For example, the power goes out here several times a day. They cook all their meals over an open fire with charcoal. The charcoal is very expensive. They need a stove-they want a cooktop similar to a coleman camping stove with a propane tank. They need a generator for when the power does go out. Many of these children need sponsors to go to school. They need momma's and daddy's most of all. 

This trip was about many things. Of course meeting our children, attending court to make them OURS, but also to serve orphanages and love on children and share the hope of Jesus. I thought about evangelism and what opportunites God might give us to share the gospel with the Ghanaians. 

But in my preconceived notions of what I thought it might be like, and what I thought God would have me do-"my agenda" God has gently shown me that it's all about the ORPHANS. Period. Please pray for them and consider if you are to go or to give. 

Broken, 

Karen

So Far to Find You

My heart is flooded with emotions as I sit here in the airport waiting to board our final plane to Ghana to meet our boys for the first time. It's all so surreal that God has allowed us to be a part of something so amazing. I've been thinking about our family and friends over the last few days and how much we have felt covered in prayer. I can't remember another time when we've needed such concentrated and specific prayer. We have been overwhelmed by friends that have called, texted, or messaged that they were praying for us, or that God had layed something specific on their hearts for us and shared it, or about which they have promised to interceed for us. I will never forget, and I hope I am equally as faithful in return.

We arrive in Ghana tomorrow Monday the 21st and will try and give as many blog updates as possible.
We will be doing missions work with Feeding the Orphans(FTO) during the time we are there visiting City of Refuge, as well as a few precious orphanages and strategic partners of FTO. So grateful to be serving and delivering supplies on their behalf. Please check out FTO and the amazing work they do for the destitue in Ghana and around the globe.

Please pray for our first encounter with the boys on Tuesday and immediate bonding. Also please pray  for favor with judge and passing court on Wed. the 23rd. I will update as often as I can.
With Love and gratitude~

Karen
"God sets the lonely in families." Psalm 68:6