Waiting for placement / the way to get a clean house

There's a ladybug hanging out on my bathroom wall today. I know, it's just a bug. But to me it's hope.

I am getting a little tired of waiting.

 After that call the day after Christmas I am once again thinking about it constantly. My daughters room is officially deep cleaned. I got under the bed, in the closet, even cleaned out the toy box. Now today I'm heading down to my sons room to get started cleaning his.

 So far the three children we could have gotten have all been girls. But who knows maybe the next call will be a boy.

Three girls. I keep thinking about them. How did things turn out for them? If we had gotten them all my family right now would consist of four daughters and a son. Their ages would be a 5 month old and a  4, 5, 6, and 7 year old. Crazy!!

My cell phone has a daily Bible verse on the main screen and today the verse is this..

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Whats going on...

That's probably what you wondering about us. I have horribly neglected this blog since school started up. Pretty much what we have been up to is, schoolwork, church, more training classes for the adoption and spending the early fall days together as a family. We took a parenting class every Thursday in September to start working on our required in service training hours. Between that church and family activities I have not had time to blog in the evenings! The kids are enjoying school so far this year. Alex is still so in love with science and farming. They are both about to join 4h! Im sure that it will be lots of fun! We have also been looking at a small farm nearby that we would love to buy and are praying about. As for the adoption, no news yet! We recently sent our family profile to the adoption agency for birthmothers to look at. But other then that we have just been waiting and believing that God knows when!

It's true

 

We are adopting

Adopting, it's hard! It feels like ever since we started it's been one thing after another. The enemy doesn't want us to adopt. But God does! And HE will make a way!

 Can you Pray with us about it? Seems we are facing another road block. But my God is going to work this one out too. 

Our agency called and told us that financially we are right at the spot where they can either approve or deny us. We have to turn in a few more things and then they decide. I know that God is the one in control. But when they said that, it felt like these people were. That they could either approve us or make our hopes come crashing down.

 

 I know though, that's not true. 

Our hope is in Him alone.

 

God is in control and He is the one who has opened doors all along the way. He is the one who lead us to adopting from the state. He is the one who provided the van we were praying for and believing that we would need for our one day large family. He is the one that turned hubby's heart to adopting too. Now we both feel with all our hearts that God has called us for this.

The week they told me this I was sooo excited about what was going on in the adoption front. I was bubbling inside thinking about it all day long. Our homestudy was in the process of being approved!! They were actually looking at it!! Any day they could call and say it was approved!! But instead they said they may not approve it and wanted to see more financial stuff. Right then it was just like all that excitement died. I didn't want to get my hopes up.

But here's the thing.

My hope isn't in the agencies, the social workers, the adoption process itself. My hope is in GOD!! And it's Him that called us to this. He will make a way!!

Hubby told me the day we heard. That it's okay. If this one doesn't go through we will just try somewhere else. And it's true! We are not giving up. God didn't bring us this far for nothing. I haven't talked about adopting much this week. I figured if I kept talking about it with friends and blog's and facebook, then it didn't work out I would be devastated. But I have decided I'm going to keep talking about it, keep preparing and believe. One day soon, God is bringing us a child.  We are going to give them the paperwork, and PRAY. 

Isaiah 49:25 says...."For I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."

And Psalm 68:5-6 " A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, IS GOD in his holy dwelling. GOD sets the lonely in families." 

God, not social workers and adoption agencies.

So let me introduce you to our family.  

We are the Hiatt Family. And we are adopting!!

Something More

The moment you stop caring what other people think — is most likely when you start doing what God wants.

 I read that quote on a friends blog today, and I have to say it is so true. We live in a fallen world. So really it makes sense that when we do things that God wants us to do, it's not going to make sense to those around us.

The world says spend your money on things you want...

Maybe an iphone,

a new truck or car,

a big house,and all the latest styles of clothes.

 The world says that to be successful you need to make your self better and better. Climbing up the ladder, bigger house, better job, nicer things.

 But is that what God says?

Maybe right now you are trying so hard to make more of yourself when God says your already enough.

Maybe you want a bigger house,  a better job, a nicer car. Those things really are nice to have. But what if God wants something more for you?

And what if to the world that something more looks like something less?

 What if it's feeding the hungry?

 Being a voice for the orphan?

Adopting?

Being a missionary?

Homeschooling your children?

Helping out with local foster care?

Just reaching out to those around you?

There are so many things we can do for him.  It might mean giving up on some of these things that the world offers.It might mean that the world will think your weird.

But in the end what the world thinks is something less, will fulfill you so much more.

 


 Psalm 82:3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

For those who are waiting

 One thing for sure, the waiting part of adoption is hard. Some of you may even have more things in your life that you have been waiting for. Maybe it's for you to hear your calling from God, maybe it's a promise you have been waiting on, or a house, job, child... we all need encouraged in our wait. So take the time to read these verses, and let them  help you as you continue to wait on what God has in store.


                                          



Hebrews 6:15
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.


Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

                         
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

                     
Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry




Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 

                          

 Psalm 27: 13-14
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! 

                           Psalm 33:20-22 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. 

                          

Psalm 130:5-6 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

My One Word

Every year for probably the past three years now, I have chosen one one to focus on and pray about. It has changed my life.

The first year my word was  DEEPER. I wanted a deeper walk with God.

 The second year it was MORE. This is when God started talking to me about adotion, and other things like taking care of the poor, reaching out, witnessing....

Third year was TRUST. We all need more Trust in our lives.

This year my word is ENCOURAGE.

We all need encouragement, from ourselves, God and from those around us. Especially us mothers. We need encouraged in so many areas. So my prayer is that I will be a more encouraging woman, and that God will encourage me in the things I do.
Are any of you doing the one word for the year? If you are let me know about it!

All the images came from here... http://weheartit.com/

Helping the poor, our neighbors

So I just wanted to post this quickly before I start moving..Yes today is moving day here!!

This morning I came across this blog. This post moved me. You really should check it out. How many times do we ignore the poor simply because we can't see them right outside our window? Instead we have to travel to other countries. Simply because we are so blessed we are sometimes blind to the pain, to the fact that so many are living in poverty. I pray that God continues to open my eyes and heart to the less fortunate. I never want to forget about them simply because they are not right next door.

                                                                              i got the picture here

The little things

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand.".... Zechariah 4:10

Everything we do for God starts out as something small...even the mighty men and women of the bible started out as a tiny baby. But sometimes we feel like we have to do BIG things NOW.

Take a step back, look at the small things you are doing trying to follow God, giving what you can, even if it's not much, helping others even if it's just a bag of groceries, looking into adoption, even if right now it's all info meetings...they are big in God's eyes. |

These are acts of faith. Saying God even if it's only something small I'm going to do it. Maybe it's homeschooling my kids, cleaning the church....the small things no one sees matter. They matter to God. And sometimes He will turn them into something big.

Our whole lives really are about the little things,

A new flower

Little hands

small

precious

things.

Things that most of us let slip on by. Take the time to enjoy all the little things today.

4 More Days!

That's how long have to finish packing and get moved out!! We are super excited! We are still not done with schooling, and it's been a little hard getting it done with everything going on lately..But next week we will be in our new place and should be finishing upour last week of kindergarten!!! Come on Summertime!!!




Yesterday was a great day. We went down to the river in Harpers Ferry and just spent family time hanging out, playing, and fishing. Later that evening we also went to my moms for a cookout.

It's so great to have that extra day of rest. Sometimes we get so busy with life. We all need those times to just be still.

Enjoying candy

fishing

Just enjoying his blessings!

Missing Morgan

Packing, packing, packing, thats what we have been up to. We have found a place, and it's only about five minutes away from where we are now.We will officially move friday. God is good to us!

During all the packing I came across some of my brothers things. I have been missing him alot lately. June was both of our birthday's and his accident was in the summer so this is a hard season. I made a video this week that I would love to share with you, so can see how amazing he was...
Just don't forget to scroll to the bottom to turn off my music.

And now I have saved the bset news for the last!!!!

Our little man was baptized last night! He has been taught what it's all about. And a few nights ago when I was tucking him in he told me he wanted to be baptized. He was sooo nervous to get in the water. But was determined to be baptized. Such an act of faith from such a little boy!!

Maybe this is the one

 Waiting, anticipating..

We submitted our application and are waiting to hear back today about a house to rent! Maybe this is the one! If you could pray with us today that would be awesome!!!

I so wasn't ready to move....

But I know that God has a purpose and plan in it. I can't wait to see what He is going to do next!! We have been busy with packing and homeschooling lately so sorry about slacking on the blog posts. But I will definitely try and keep you guys updated.

I also just have to post about Matthew 25 Sunday!!!

source

Our church skipped having a service Sunday and instead put up a huge tent downtown and handed out free clothes and groceries and a free meal to the needy!! We had an Awesome time and God provided groceries to over 175 families, a warm meal to over 450 people, and gave clothes to over 400 people!!!
He is a good God!!
And I am so glad to have been a part of it! It was an awesome feeling to be out in the community reaching those in need. To God be the Glory!

Were moving! And our trip to the zoo.

This has been quite the weekend. For starters our landlord called to tell us that the house sold and we have until June 7th to be completely moved out! We haven't found a new place yet, and I haven't even started to pack! We really didn't think that the house would sell as quick as it did. No one even came to look at the inside, so it was kind of a shock to us!

Tonight we are meeting with a realtor to see what we can find in the area, so please keep that in  your prayers.

Also I heard some sad news Saturday. A childhood friend of mine passed away. He was only 24 years old. Of course this brings back memories of my brothers death . I am grieving for his parents and siblings. I know that this is something that takes lots of prayers, tears, and time, to get through. Sometimes it's so hard to understand why young people have to die. How can it be that their time was already up? In the case of my brother and the friend that passed away Saturday they were two young guys so full of life! It makes you see that life truly is a beautiful gift that can be taken at any moment. We MUST understand this and live like this could be our last day!! And just hold on to the promise that God is in control.

When you give and when You take away,

even then still Your name

is faithful!

 

Now on a lighter note...

I had a great mothers day! We took a trip to D.C. Saturday so the kids could go to the zoo! They were so excited an had a great time!! The weather was perfect, the ride there was fun. And we stopped for a mothers day dinner on the way home. A great day out with my family.

Don't you just love the fake smiles?

The hard days

My eyes fail from weeping,

   I am in torment within;

my heart is poured out on the ground...

Where would I be without the promises of God?

I can not imagine if I had to face these storms without him. The enemy comes in seeking to destroy us. And sometimes it seems like he may do just that. If we had to rely on our strength only to defeat him, we would no doubt fail. But we don't. We have a God. A God that even when we are at our weakest point, even when we have given up, holds onto us with all his might and fights on our behalf for us. Just like we would do for any of our children. The second we give our lives to Him, we are adopted as his children. And He will never put us down. He will never leave us to be defeated by the enemy.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says..It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion's fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
 

Maybe you are going through a hard time right now. I am there too. And it seems like maybe this is it. Maybe the enemy will win. Maybe it's time to give up. Don't. It is when we are at our weakest that God is strongest. There's this old song my mom used to sing, I can't remember who it's by, but it says "so there will be no mistaking when he blesses and heals, friend, God likes to work when nothing else will".

Keep praying, keep believing, and holding on to the promises of God. Our help is on the way!

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

 Enjoying the psalms :) Enjoying the beautiful weather:) My hubby is getting in a full day of work :) Took the kids on a walk :) Cleaned the house (well a little) :) The kids have been enjoying their new sandbox :) looking at the positive things, remembering God is good to me. There are so many things going on in life that I can't see the answers for. I just know that He keeps me. And He will not let the enemy defeat me!! He has overcome. 

 

got it from here 

Psalm 5:11-12

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
   let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
   that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

  Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous;
   you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 10:17:18

 ¹⁷ You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted;
   you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
¹⁸ defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
   so that mere earthly mortals
   will never again strike terror.

 Psalm 13

 ⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me.

Blessings

'Cause what if Your blessings count the raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst

This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise?

The story behind the song..scroll to the bottom of my page and pause my music before watching ...

I know

Today I have to go to the doctors for a stress test and echo...I'm not to excited.
I have innapropriate sinus tachycardia and the last few weeks I have been having bad chest pains, so it's back to ther doctors for more tests.
For the past two years I have been taking medicine to keep my heart rate down. It has worked great for me. I know that some people that have IST have to deal with it because the meds don't work. So I am so thankful to God that I am one that responds to them. I'm not sure how I would homeschool and take care of the kids and house if these pills didn't work. I'm a little frustrated that I have to go back again for more tests. I just want to live my life without going to the doctors all the time for one thing or another..and on top of that it is going to be an absolutely georgous day out there today! I'd much rather go to the beach :) Maybe I will do my homeschooling at the park today...that is if we are able to get any done...


BUT I know too...

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance James 1:2-3

and I know..

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

Please pray today that all the tests go well, and that I don't have to go back for a while :)

Waiting for Spring

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Everywhere I look I am seeing spring. The grass is turning green, tulips are popping up out of the ground. And my kids are beginning to play for hours outside. It reassures me that once again Spring is on it's way! When I look outside and see that spring is coming once again. I know that He is able to bring spring back in our lives as well. Spring in our walk with him, spring in our finances, marriages,ministries....Even when it seems like winter will never go away. We still have that hope that winter always ends, and spring will come back. I looked up the word spring and found this...

Spring- to shoot up, out, or fourth; to come to the light; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from it's seed, as streams from its source,.

-to grow; to prosper.

My week in review

Well this week had some highs and lows!    HIGH
We recieved our first letter from the little girl we sponsor in Haiti!!! Our kids ( and us adults ) were sooo excited to get it! We are so excited to have  little Febiana in our lives!:)

 

And then there was a LOW

Our landlord stopped by and put a for sale sign up in our front yard!! We just moved here a year and a half ago and had no intention of moving until we can buy our own place! We love it here and it seriously was so frustrating to find out our landlord is moving away and putting our house up for sale!!..we are allowed to wait around for him to sell it. Who knows how long it could take..but at the same time I kind of want to get started looking for a new place because I would hate to have to move last minute..the most frustrating part is some of our savings for adoption may have to be used for security deposits on a new house that we totally wasn't planning on!!! I am feeling a peace about it though. I know that all things are in HIS hands! He has great plans for me!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! And hope you have an awesome weekend!!

 

When things go wrong