Adoption Update

This week was one of those exciting weeks when the creche where our baby girl lives updates our photos of her.  This time we received over 100 new pics of our baby, and I have spent hours pouring over these pictures, memorizing details of her face and her smile.  She melts my heart!  When I came to the pictures of her with the stuffed kitten we had sent to her, I almost cried: I would have gladly traded places with that tiny stuffed kitten, even for a few moments.

Adoption is teaching me so many truths about the character of  God.  As I look at these pictures and long for the day when I'll hold that precious girl in my arms, the Lord reminds me that those are the very feelings he has for each of us: He longs to be intimate with us, to draw us close when we are far away and to be a central part of everything that pertains to us.  What a loving Father!

This week we also found out that our file was legalized and has moved into IBESR; this part of the process seems to be where delays typically occur, but we've heard that the Haitian government may be moving to streamline the process here, and for that I've felt hopeful, but I also know with a certainty that my hope in bringing this baby home soon resides not in any government policy or procedure but in the Lord.

Regardless of how this journey progresses these things I know:
He is good.
He does good.
He loves us!

Psalm 27:14
"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"

Family Snapshot

This was an exciting week in the Block household.  Our oldest son turned 10!  Double digits.  Wow.

On the morning of his birthday, with still sleepy eyes, he shuffled up to me and whispered, "I'm so glad I made you a mom ten years ago!"  Birthdays have a way of highlighting the fleetingness of time, of childhood and of the way our family is--right now in this moment.  

Particularly, on this birthday, I've felt the tension of wanting to hold on to every moment with each child, while I also find myself anxiously wanting time to speed by until we can bring our baby girl home from Haiti. This is a delicate balance: savoring the family routines and joys we experience now yet joyously anticipating the unknown adjustments of adding another child.  I know that adding this precious baby to our family will require hard work and lots of prayer.  It already has.  But I can't wait for the extra work--the long nights, the extra laundry or for the extra sweetness:  hugs and kisses on chubby hands and cheeks.    

As some of you know, we are adopting through the agency Love Basket, which my father-in-law directs.

This week has been particularly sweet because some of my father-in-law's friends are in Haiti, serving at the creche where our little girl lives.  They have sent updates and photos that have melted our hearts, and they have answered some of the never-ending questions we have about our baby: What is her personality like?  What is her schedule?  What is her favorite . . . .?  We are greedy for every piece of information about this little one.  We have learned that she is, at 8 months, just over 10lbs, which is honestly hard for me to imagine.  I'm pretty sure our other three were 10 lbs. in a matter of weeks.  She smiles and is deeply loved.  We are so thankful for the prayers that God is already answering on our behalf!  

In other exciting news our redhead lost a tooth this week.  

 I am so thankful for my sweet little family!

Our 2012 New Year's Resolution

I haven't blogged in so long, in part because of the amazing journey God initiated for our family in 2011. Toward the end of the summer, Joel and I felt the Lord stirring our hearts to add to our family through adoption. And so we began the long process of forms and paperwork that over the course of months led us to this sweet little seven-month-old baby girl in Haiti.  She is living in a wonderful home called Children of the Promise, and we are expectantly waiting to bring her home.  

This journey is teaching our family so many important lessons, not the least of which is how to believe with hope that God will indeed work all things--the delays and frustrations along with the joys and excitement--together for our good.

Thus, our New Year's resolution this year is to hope and expect for God to do His amazing work in our lives and to bring our little girl home.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."  Romans 15:13

Book Review: The Story of the Bible by Larry Stone

The Story of the Bible provides a fascinating overview of the Bible, beginning with the basics: key terms, important people, and significant places related to the Biblical narrative.  Stone then traces the actual production of the Bible from its earliest form as scrolls through its most recent translations and editions, highlighting the people who have risked and sacrificed their lives to spread the message of the Bible.

The text of this book is interesting, but the illustrations are truly remarkable.  Alongside reproductions of beautiful Biblically-themed art, the book also includes life-size reproductions of texts such as Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gutenberg Bible.

The Word of God is living, active, eternal and able to transform lives; those attributes shine through in this volume.

This book was provided by Thomas Nelson, but the opinions are my own.

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 11

Recently during a Wednesday night service at church, the speaker emphasized how our minds control our lives: "When you know who you are," he remarked, "you know what to do."  During his message, he referenced this verse:

Romans 8:6
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

I want my actions and reactions to flow out of the life and peace of the Spirit.   The Father graciously endows his children with life and peace and not merely in a theoretical sense but in practical ways as well.  As I meditate on this Scripture, I'm praying that the life and peace of the Spirit will characterize my life to a greater degree and become more and more evident in my daily life.

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 10

I love this verse:


"May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, 'God is great!'"

Psalm 70:4

As I'm seeking the Lord, through every situation, I have a responsibility to rejoice.  No matter what my circumstances may be at the moment, I should be glad, IN HIM.  The blessing of His salvation should prompt me to reflect daily on the greatness of our God--the ultimate reason for joy.

Menu Planning Monday

I haven't posted a meal plan in a while, and this one is abbreviated since we will be with family this weekend.  I'm trying to get by with what we have one hand, which might explain having soup during a week in which temperatures are supposed to soar to near 90!  Yikes, this IS only May.  I do love the sun, though!!

 I'm hoping to post some pics of Tinkerbell's fourth birthday sometime this week.  Stay tuned . . . . Without further ado, here's the plan:

M--Quesadillas
T--Soup and Sandwiches
W--Baked Ravioli
Th--Date Night with Joel -- I'm planning on having veggie patties--ahem  "chicken patties"--for the little ones.  They love them.  Shhh--don't tell :)


Have a great week!

For more great menu ideas, check out Menu Planning Mondays here.