It's tomorrow already!

I pray for my little guy continually.  I ask the Lord to provide nourishing food and clean drinking water for him today.  I want him to have something special happen today, like spending extra time outside if that's important to him.  Or perhaps the Lord would cause someone today to say something to Judah that shows him love and kindness.  I ask that his little heart would already begin to long for us specifically so that when we meet for the first time he is not afraid but knows that we forever love him.  Recently, I have begun again using my Power of a Praying Parent book.  I've added to my daily prayers for Judah to love the Lord with his whole heart!  Much of this I pray through tears.

The other night, as I was once again thinking and praying for Judah, I could not sleep.  I just had to come back downstairs and find out what time it was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  It was 3:30am.  It was already tomorrow for my guy.  I began praying that he was safe, warm, clean, and comfortable.  That his dreams were sweet and his sleep deep and restful.  As I am writing this post, it is now 10:46pm for him.  I am picturing him sleeping on his side, curled up, with sweet little cherub cheeks resting on his bed.  

Our family has much to trust the Lord with... endless paperwork, time to pass quickly, finances, safety in travel, adjustments for each of us, a supernatural and instant bonding with Judah.  Most of all, I am asking that you join us in prayer for Judah.  Whenever the Simontons come to your mind, would you please pray?  

"All things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."  ~Matthew 21:22

I'm so excited! I just can't hide it!

There is much rejoicing in our house right now! Sean called our adoption agency to see if they had received the doctor's letter to complete our Formal Application (the doctor's letter simply is to state that Sean's colitis doesn't interfere with his ability to parent). Now, we all know doctors work on their own time-table. You make appointments when they are available; you arrive early and sit in a "waiting" room; you get weighed in the hallway (for all to see and hear) and then sit in a room, waiting for that doctor. Waiting, waiting. Well, a big, huge thank you to Doctor "G" for his promptness - Sean called on Friday requesting the letter and on Friday not only did Dr. G complete it but also sent it to the adoption agency - wowsa! Thank You, Lord!

Jan, our case worker, said that not only has this been very fast but that the headquarters went ahead and approved our application without first receiving the required doctor's letter.  She can't understand this and said we must have said just the right things on our application.  Oh, but we know the Lord is making a way for our little Judah to come home to us!

"Praise the Lord!  Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.  Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.  Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.  Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!"  ~Psalm 150

Words of encouragement and confirmation...

So before I forget, I want to record and remember some of the wonderful comments from friends and family upon hearing about our adoption, beginning with our family meeting a couple of weeks ago.  As a rule of thumb, we don't generally call a lot of family meetings.  When we do, it is usually something big...like, "We're moving" or "We're having another baby."  The kids started guessing and speculating on what the big announcement was to be.  Jake turns to Jenna and says that he knows what it is, we're adopting!  I love that moment!  God was already making their hearts line up with ours!  To their delight, Jake, of course, was right. As a family we prayed (and I cried) for our little guy half way around the world that night.  We have not stopped praying ever since.

Another wonderful moment was with Joy, currently our youngest.  She wanted to know if I remembered her desire to grow up and be a mommy.  I did.  She said that she wanted to be just like me, having 3 kids and adopting 1!  Oh how God blesses me with such compassionate children!

My hubby was sharing with friends and pastors about our exciting news all throughout the week.  One complete surprise was to learn that friends served as missionaries in Ethiopia!  Can you believe that - God had someone already in our lives that has lived and served there, right where our little guy is!  We can't wait for their vacation to end so we can get together and learn from them all about Ethiopia!

We have whittled down to one magazine subscription in our house...WORLD magazine.  Three times has Ethiopia been in publication in the last several issues.  Really, friends, how many times does one country, not at war, come into publication this frequently except for the Lord to speak to someone?  We hear ya, God, we hear You!  

One very special friend so deeply touched me in her jubilant response to our news...Katie, I love ya, girl!  You have not only listened to my dreams but have helped me dream.  You shared in my enthusiasm in my "J' boy name choice... BTW, we have agreed as a family and his name is (drum roll please)  JUDAH!  Thank you for your sweet friendship!  Can't wait for him to meet you and you him!  

And not least but finally, I want you to know that my wonderful sister knew the moment I called to share our news that we were adopting - oh how her knowing my heart blessed me!  Love you, Mel!

There are numerous other comments and words of encouragement... these are just a few.  As you can see, God has already bound our hearts to Ethiopia and a certain little boy!  We continue to wait patiently upon the Lord for the moment our family is complete!

Before Day one

"And so after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise."  Hebrew 6:15   

Just as Abraham was tested for a very long time, so I too must wait patiently!  The Lord made a promise to Abraham and tested him by delaying the fulfillment of His promise.  For several years, I have wanted another child, hoping for another son.  Last year I became pregnant, excited to have another little Simonton, only to miscarry in the first trimester.  My worry of having another child grew.  I prayed to the Lord to place on my family's hearts the desire to adopt.  I even put before God that if this was truly His will that Sean would begin the discussion and process personally. 

On Labor Day, after being at a friend's house making cards, I came home to the Lord's answer... my sweet husband had laid out on his desk much information on countries from which to adopt!  And I've been weeping tears of joy ever since!

"Beloved, God's promises can never fail to be accomplished,"  Did you catch that?  God never fails!  Not only was this verse and quote from my devo on September 11th, Sunday, but I was so blessed by my church that very same morning singing these words to the song, "Everlasting God,"

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord (repeat)

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

So, you see, before day one, my little guy (currently age range 2-5) is there in Ethiopia, as we are both waiting upon the Lord!