Sweet Journey

A few weeks ago, I posted about God, Jen Hatmaker, and Katie Davis's combined effort to ruin my life. Apparently I am no match for the three of them. I've been almost holding my breath these last weeks, just waiting for the moment when I could let you in on exactly what the Lord is doing to tear down the house of sticks I've constructed of my life and build instead a palace more breathtaking than I could ever have dreamed. That moment finally came today with the arrival of a second abandonment decree. Yes, if the Lord continues to bless this journey, there will be not one but two beautiful little Congolese girls joining the Heller family sometime  in the fall.

I mentioned in my last post that M.J. is probably about 7 years old. Did I also mention that she's adorable? She seems shy, quiet, and sweet, but I suspect there's also a spunky (and perhaps mischievous) side hiding under the surface.

A.S. is probably 8 or 9 years old. She's also beautiful. Oh, and she can sing!! She seems much more bold and confident. Probably a perfect fit for the "big sister" role into which she will be thrust.

Though they haven't yet met, both girls know about each other and that they are being adopted. I imagine that neither of them really grasp the true meaning of this concept, but I am praying that the Lord will prepare their hearts for us and prepare ours for them.

I am well-aware that this road will not be easy. It will have peaks that seem insurmountable and valleys that seem dark and unending. But with the Lord leading the way, I believe this journey will also be abundantly joyous, life-giving, and sweet.

A.S. 

M.J.

Happy Birthday, dear girl!

So for about 2 months now, I've been waiting for the abandonment decree of another beautiful little girl who was on my agency's waiting list. And this past Wednesday, it finally came! That blessed document that has been so very elusive up to this point...it was a sweet thing to finally see it and get one step closer to bringing home another daughter. There are still several more steps before this process will be complete. It will probably be at least another 6 months before I am able to travel to the DRC to meet and bring home this little one. And of course, until the process is finalized, there are still no guarantees that this little girl will actually be mine. But I hope she will be. I believe she will be the one who will become Mikaiya and join our growing family. And according to abandonment decree, today is her birthday. On paper she is turning 5...I think she's probably closer to 7. And have I mentioned that she's beautiful? After the court process is complete, I'll show you pictures of her face. For now, I'll leave you with this:

"Joy in the Congo" from 60 Minutes

Happy Easter!

I know...a new post is long-overdue! I've been holding off, in hopes of having an adoption update to post, but alas...I have no news to post quite yet. Please continue to pray that God will expedite the process of bringing these children home from the DRC whose cases are in process, and that He will provide homes for the many children still waiting. I still hope to bring a little girl home to the Heller family by this Fall, but to be honest, I am not much closer to that happening than I was last year at this time. This adoption continues to be vastly different from Matani's, both in timing and in the challenges involved. However, in the middle of the struggles, I continue to sense that this is still where the Lord is leading, and that a Congolese girl will be coming home at some point...hopefully sooner, rather than later!

In the meantime, Matani and I are rejoicing this year, along with Nana & Papa (my parents), that Christ is risen! That His death on the cross paid the high price for our sins. That the cross changes everything. What a profound concept! No longer condemned to death, hell, and condemnation; we can now live eternal life through His sacrifice. I pray that as Matani grows, she will come to a place of truly understanding this and placing her trust in Christ as her Savior. Though Mikaiya is not yet home, I also pray this for her, and for any other children the Lord may bring to our family in the future.

And now, here are some pictures of our celebration this year:

Making biscuits for breakfast

Someone was not happy about going out to take pictures...

But then this was her next face...you'd think she was two years old or something!

Beautiful girl!

We decided today would be the first official day of swimming this year.

In case you're wondering...no, the water was not the least bit warm!

She loved it nonetheless.

Next up - dying Easter eggs.

Waiting...

It's ready!

Now for the fun part: stickers!

When I ask her to smile, this is what she does. Such a ham!

Finished!

Have a blessed Easter, celebrating our Risen Lord!