Today I have a prayer for my family - all of my family.

My husband beginning another work week and juggling it with all the other responsibilities of life
My mom, watching her world change and trying to understand it all
My dad, not understanding anything
My daughter and son-in-law waiting to welcome new ones
My three grandsons growing up far too quickly
Our granddaughters in Liberia hoping to be loved by a mommy and daddy
My son trying not to look too far ahead into his unknown future
My new daughter-in-law carrying another beautiful miracle and hoping all is well when he arrives
My sister and brother-in-law moving once again
My nephew and new wife blending a family
Ryan and Ginger anxiously awaiting Zoe Ryan their healthy little miracle

May they all feel God's amazing and unconditional love sometime today in an overwhelming way!
As this day comes to a close may they know that no matter what, God loves them more than they can imagine, more than they can fathom.

I was really distracted this morning from the odds and ends I needed to do before leaving for an appointment. I recognized the feeling of needing to settle myself and hear what God had for me today. So....... being distracted I picked up my favorite book - "Disciplines for the Inner Life" and turned to the "distractions" chapter. I looked at Tuesday's scripture (today being Tuesday!) and it took me to 2Timothy 1:1-14. " for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day." Then I saw a devotional entitled "Be Strong in God's Grace". Sounded good to me. It was about the Nazarene man that had been taken hostage in Iran in the 80's. I remembered this and had read it before but figured it couldn't hurt to read again. It's always good to be reminded of God's grace. It seems that this man was given a Bible and he turned to Isaiah 43:5 - "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west." He said those words felt as if God was making a promise to bring him home safely. I turned to Isaiah 43:5 and there next to this verse I had written "Mikey '98". I had claimed that promise for my son 10 years ago. God has been with my son all those years. He never leaves us sometimes we just are so distracted we don't realize He is there. Today I am claiming that same promise for the little girls we are trying to bring home from Liberia. Isaiah 43:1 says,"fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." He knows them, He knows their names and soon we will.

Well, we made it through another market! I think my re-entry is almost complete. I'm beginning to feel like myself again. Kerri and the boys will visit tonight. Steak and chicken on the grill. (Trey doesn't like "snake") I am slowly getting things moved into my downstairs work room. We are beginning to make room for Austin. Time is really going quickly. I figure I need to have the nursery finished by the time we leave for the beach. That is slightly over two months. I better get busy. We want to bring him home to a buckeye nursery. You can't start too young you know!! I keep hoping to hear some good news from Liberia. Hopefully this delay won't last too long. A lot of things are still in limbo but the answers will come when it is time. God holds that in His hands.
My dad seems to be sleeping a lot more than before. All he talks about is seeing his mom and dad. He thinks they are coming to visit him everyday. I never knew his mom and his dad died when I was in elementary school. It is sad but everyday he is closer to heaven. That too is in God's hands. God is graciously giving Mom what she needs each day. God is good.

I don't think I have ever posted from market. I am never totally thrilled about coming, but this time was very hard. My kids are going through so much back home but I had to come to the hard realization that I can't do anything about their situations. That is hard for me to swallow, but nevertheless, true. I've already had to talk Mike off the ledge and I will probably have to do it again. So, I am here and I pray for peace, guidance and joy for all of us as we go through this difficult part of our journey. My Dad seems to be fixated on his Mom and Dad. I think his heart is already in heaven. I pray that we will all be able to let go when the time comes.

Have you ever felt like "what could happen next?". We got Pup married, we're waiting to see what his future holds and now the adoption process has become a new nightmare. Adoptions in Liberia are on hold for how long, we don't know. Do they keep going forward or look in another direction? We are all feeling quite drained. The stress level can't go much higher. But underneath it all is the feeling that God is still in control and He has all the answers. If we could look forward, I'm not sure how all of our lives would look but one thing I do know - It will be o.k. Whatever my kids will face, they will go through it by the grace of God. And on the other side we will look back in amazement at how the waters parted. So for now, I will continue praying for His mercy in our lives and His protection for my son and his new wife, our unborn grandson, the beautiful little boys we have already been blessed with and the little ones, whoever they may be that God will deliver to Kerri and Eric in His own, perfect timing.