Praying this morning and so wanting Bobby to be here with us, so wanting to hear something from Uganda. As I journaled I asked God to give me confidence that Bobby would be with us, then spent some time in the Psalms where I've been reading for a while now. Today I'm in Psalm 113 and this was included:

Psalm 113:7 - He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.
and
Psalm 114:8 - [God] who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

Thank you, Jesus, for this reasurrance, thank you that you listen and that you are really the one in charge of everything. You are in control of the courts, the judges, the process. You know the desire of our hearts, thank you that you are always and only right and just in all you do and that I can trust you with Bobby and this process.

I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful Thanksgiving focusing on the true blessings in our lives, our relationships with others and with the Lord.

Prayer for a court date

We would love it if you would take a moment (or longer if you want) this Sunday to join us in praying that we hear about our court date in Uganda before the courts take a break for Christmas. This would be an impossible thing otherwise. We totally trust God's timing but also know that in Romans 12:12 it says: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. And Psalm 17:6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.
Thank you for joining with us for this pre-Thanksgiving blessing!

Bobby Knows Us!

He knows us!!! Yesterday Curry James who is volunteering at Amani and whose Mom teaches here at CPA gave Bobby his little book and stuffed animal that we had sent over with her in September. The book has pictures of our family, our pets, his room, and our house. Curry said he was so excited and took the book around to all the Mamas and pointed out things to them. This picture is so sweet of Curry helping Bobby to understand the words and pictures. I LOVE the smile he has. These pictures warmed my heart so much. Thank you, Lord.

Buddy's birthday was Saturday and to celebrate we took a trip to Lynchburg, Tennessee to eat at the famous Miss Mary Bobo's. The day was beautiful, warm and sunny. We walked around the square, visited a few gifts shops which were all filled with the same merchandise that we did not want to buy, and talked to a few locals. One of the locals was the shopkeeper at an antique store and was 90 years old. He was as spry as Buddy. The water must be good there or maybe it's something else they drink...Anyway, we meandered over to the boarding house, Miss Bobo's, and after chatting with a few more locals, one of which taught my boss when he was in fifth grade, sat down for some home cooking! Plates of fried chicken, meatloaf, turnip greens, macaroni and cheese (real, not Velvetter), corn muffins, baked apples, green beans, and fried okra passed in front of us. Because they went past Austin before Buddy or me, we still had room for dessert. Man, that boy can eat! I am pleased to say Buddy and I left pleasantly satisfied and Austin had a stomach ache.

While we milled around waiting to eat, in walks my sister and her family from Alabama!! I knew about it but Buddy was completely surprised. A little later, my parents also arrive from Alabama. Both families drove 1 1/2 hours to make this special for Buddy!! All us adults plus Austin sat together along with seven other people who all happened to be from Nashville. Buddy wound up sitting next to a guy he had never met but who works in the same department as him and who he has a meeting scheduled with this week! We made it home in time to go to the high school play, Hello, Dolly! Fabulous. I actually liked it so much I went Thursday and Saturday and I didn't even have a child in it!

So Buddy's birthday 2009 is history, hope it was memorable and full of the things he likes, family, friends and food. I love you Buddy - Cindy

Milestone Month for Grayson

After two long years, Grayson got his braces off today! The orthodontist office gave him a bag of goodies that had been banned during the years of having metal adhered to his teeth. Things like popcorn, milk duds, bubble gum, and tootsie rolls. I think you will agree that maybe the orthodontist is in cahoots with the dentist. Anyway, my baby is growing up! (He's going to be surprised when he reads this! haha) He turns 16 on the 24th of the month! Driving and looking in the mirror at this teeth, wow!

Before / After

This is a picture taken prior to the Homecoming dance which happened back in October. It's a rare thing to see these two boys dressed up, especially one wearing a tie and one a bow-tie! You know there had to be girls involved. They both had a good time, now the jacket will hang in the closet awaiting graduation.

AFFIDAVIT

We got it today!!!!! We are so thrilled. For so long now it has seemed like the adoption is something way off in the distance and a little unreal. Well, now it seems like this really is going to happen! I can hardly wait to get all the paperwork filled out and sent back. Once that is done we wait on the court date. Could be soon...could not, but it is a lot sooner than it was yesterday.

This video is one off a disc I got in the mail last week from Anna Mattingly who worked at Amani in 2007 and again this past December. I love to hear Bobby's voice.

This month is Orphan Awareness month and our church published a booklet with pictures and stories from members who have adopted a child or are in the process of adopting. I loved all the stories and was so involved in reading them all, I was aggravated when I had to get up to sing!!

Saturday we go to the Show Hope Foundation dinnner. Show Hope is Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman's organization which helps people who are adopting. We went last year and sat with our friends the Moore's. I was so impressed and inspired by Mary Beth's words about her continued trust in the control and goodness of God even during the horrible circumstances of her young daughter's death. Buddy and I made a small donation, never, ever, even dreaming that a year later we would be in the process of an international adoption. If you had told either of us that this is where we would be this year, I'm positive we would have laughed and then talked about how crazy you were on the way home. And yet...look where we are! God has such compassion for orphans that He will move through His people to meet the need so that they are taken care of... so...this time next year, it may be you.