Sorry for the delay...

This is an exerpt from "Power of a Praying Woman":

"Why do you think it's important to God that patience be growing in us? It's because God's timing is not our timing. He is always doing more than we see or know, so we have to trust Him on how long He takes to bring things to pass. God perfects us and refines us before He brings us into all He has for us, and that takes time." "Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12).

This morning, I posted on my facebook that I had some exciting news. It's not about Emma Claire. We are still waiting patiently on that situation. We have heard that the private investigators are closing in on "T". I am praying for protection for all involved.

I recieved an email from DHS telling me that they would like to use our home for emergency care for infants. Evidently, they are desperate and the hospitals are not allowing them to leave the babies for more than a couple of days now. Normally, emergency foster care involves you taking whatever age they need you to, whenever they need you to. I am not interested in that at all. That would not work with our family. DHS has said that our home will be different...we will only take babies 1 year or younger. It may be just for one night, or maybe up to a month. This will give them time to find family/kinship to take the baby. We are very excited about this. This was not something we pursued, but a door that God has opened for us. (We only learned of this yesterday and I already received a call!)

Now. Let me be VERY clear. This in NO way changes my feelings regarding DHS. This does not change the way they treated us with Jacob or the way things are going now with our adoption. But, you know what?? It really isn't about that. It's about the babies that need a warm bath and bottle. It's about rocking a scared 8 month old whose mom and dad were just arrested for drugs. It's about swaddling a cocaine addicted newborn while he is detoxing. It's about being thrown up on after every bottle because the drugs have messed up the baby's tummy. THAT is what it is about. Showing these babies the love of Jesus, even if only for a day.

So...if we have a different baby every time you see us, this is why. We are still holding onto the promise that we were given regarding Emma. But as the song I posted a couple of weeks ago says, "I will worship while I'm waiting, I will serve You while I'm waiting"....that's what we are doing.

When Emma comes, we will be finished. Until then, whether we have one baby or twelve, we are willing to help and walk through this door God has opened. When we suggested doing this many months ago, we were told absolutely not! So we waited on the Lord, and here we are.

We have court for Samara and Josiah tomorrow. It's just to update the judge on how our case is progressing. I was told that our packet had been sent to the state for authorization. Once authorized, they only have 3 weeks to complete it. That doesn't mean finalization at the court necessarily, but our date will be very close to that. They did tell me that as long as we have been sent for authorization by April, we will not have to redo our home study. I hope they are right. I may ask the judge this tomorrow.

Oh...we are also closing on our house tomorrow! PRAISE THE LORD!!! We ended up having to have a second inspection. For some reason, the underwriter didn't like the first one. Long story short, the second appraiser was $15,000 higher than the first! I laughed out loud on that one!!!! He seemed a little miffed that he had to do it at all! I really liked him!

Finally, God is bringing about closure to many loose ends. I hope and pray that I have learned everything He has had to teach me through it all.