Praying.

If you were to ask my mom what the hardest part of our adoption journey has been so far easily her answer would be: right now, the waiting. The dossier is complete and translated and we are waiting for an official log in date right now. But what is so hard to wait for now is a referral. It could come tomorrow or it could come weeks from now, we simply don't know.

But what I do know is this: my God is a God who hears and listens to our cries and desires of our hearts. I know I can boldly go before Him and make my request known. So I am boldly going before my Jesus and voicing my desire. My prayer is that THIS month we will get the referral.

I fully understand that God's timing is perfect and if His will is that we don't receive the referral this month  that He still heard my prayer but is just preparing my family for the perfect time. I also fully understand that He loves when we cry out to Him from the deepest part of our hearts and He will act on it.

Will you join with me in prayer? It is a powerful communication when we call out to God and He is faithful to respond.

Please pray with us that this month we will receive news that we have our referral.

When Waiting Isn't Enough

Have you ever been waiting in a line to check-out somewhere and the person behind you is getting impatient with the speed of things and eventually they walk out without even making a purchase? I saw this happen just the other day. Now I realize that this person most likely had somewhere to be. It was lunch hour and they probably had a job to get back to. But it got me thinking. 

I consider myself a pretty patient person. I am good about waiting my turn. I don't mind if a lot of time goes by before I get an answer. Usually. 

In the adoption world it has been a couple of months of just waiting. And honestly it has been frustrating. But I can put a smile on and say "Well I am waiting on the Lord."

And it's true. I am waiting on Jesus to work in His time to accomplish what steps need to be done next. I am waiting because there is physically nothing I can do to speed the process up. I am waiting because that is very literally my only option. So I can pretend to be super spiritual and talk about waiting on the Lord or I can be real. 

I think my God would chose for me to be real. And waiting isn't enough. 

Over and over again in scripture we are told to wait on the Lord. But I am convinced that this is not a complacent, sit-back, and watch kind of waiting. It is a full force trust in the Lord and being on my knees in prayer for His will, His timing, and His perfect peace. It is knowing He is working on every little detail and He will continue to work out every need. It is hoping for the things to come. 

So today, I am really waiting on the Lord. With all my trust, hopes, and prayers. 

Waiting to be matched with a little princess that will be my sister. 

Waiting for the next step we can take. 

Waiting for our dossier to be sent to China. 

Waiting for her to finally be home. 

Lord, I will be still, and wait on you. 

Trusting in His Perfect Timing.

It has been a rough couple of days for this adoptive sister. From the looks of things the wait may be a little longer than we had anticipated. If I could have it my way there would be another sweet child coming home tomorrow. But it is not my way; it is His way and His ways are always better than mine. As hard as that is to see right now.

If you think of it pray for the Altman family. Pray for my mom and dad as their hearts ache over missing a little girl on the other side of the world. Pray for my brother, sister and I as we anxiously await a new sibling. And most importantly pray for that sweet girl who has no idea she has a family waiting for her. Pray that she experiences peace and joy while she waits.

For now, I leave you with this video that has been a great challenge in my life. Just watch.

I'm Backkkkkk!

Yes, I know I haven't blogged in a while. 

No, not because I don't have anything to say. 

And no, not even because I have been super busy (Although school is back in full gear and I even have a part time job at a preschool- LOVE it!). 

I promise I will write more in depth at a later time. But for now I will leave you with a few highlights of what has been going on. 

-Adoption update: Home study is this weekend. Once done our paperwork is ready to go to China and we wait to be matched with a precious soon-to-be Altman! I sometimes get anxious hoping things could speed up but I must trust in know that God's timing is perfect. 

-I may or may not have an obsession with buying adoption fundraiser t-shirts. Most of my free time is spent reading adoption blog surfing websites of organizations that love on orphans. I think I am up to 7 shirts but I'm sure there will be more. That's normal, right?

- I may or may not be in love with Tim Tebow. Let's go with may though. I may be in love with Tim Tebow. He loves Jesus hardcore, has a heart for missions, and is a pretty great football player (while still giving God all the glory), what's not to love?

There is more in my life. 

But for now.

That's all folks. 

Airplanes in the Night Sky

So in case you haven't heard, my family is adopting. And yes, we are pretty stoked about it. I love the beautiful picture that adoption creates; we were once orphans and God has adopted us into his family! And of course I love love LOVE the fact that there will be one less orphan in the world. My God never stops amazing me in the way He provides and the people He sends to be an encouragement. Praying that this process will go quickly and smoothly.

On my way back to school from my nannie and papa's house there is this little airport I pass. It's tiny, but still you can see the runway and at  night all the lights are lit up. There is something about it; this weird adrenaline rush I get when we drive by. It is the same chill down my spine I get when I hear an airplane fly over as I sit in class. It's the same emotions I feel as I spend hours reading blogs on orphan care and reading how I can be involved. It is hearing God whisper, "Go."

My major at school is communications. Partly because I like communications, mostly because I don't know (or didn't know...not sure how to word that) what I want to do once I graduate. But what I do know is God is working on this heart of mine. And orphan care is something He is turning my attention towards.

There is a huge part of me that wants to hop on a plane tonight and go feed the orphans in Africa, cuddle with the orphans in China, teach a preschool class for the orphans Mexico. But I know God has me right where he wants me "for such a time as this" and I must patiently wait on Him. And maybe He will never send me, maybe I am just supposed to stay right where I am and be a voice for the fatherless here; and I am ok with that. And I am ok with going.

I don't know what my God is doing in my heart, but I am listening, and I will follow.

Please pray for my family as we go through this adoption process and pray for my soon to be sibling as well that she can feel our love all the way on this side of the world. (Trust me we have enough for you, sweet girl to reach that far!) I will keep posting as the process continues.

Help our Family Adopt

My family is in the process of adopting a child from China. We are selling T-Shirts to help with the cost. Please consider helping us. Thank you!! - $20 plus $5 shipping (if applicable)

SIZES

S - $25 M - $25 L - $25 XL - $25 XXL - $25

Happy Dance

I periodically like to do the happy dance.

Just for exercise. You know.

But mostly when I am happy.

Like right now.

So I shall continue in my happy dance.

For many days to come.