PRAISE JESUS!

Steffany just called and they got their Embassy approval! Hallelujah! Now we pray them safely home. The health of the babies is still very fragile, so that is our next prayer. I can not wait for them to be home!

Last night as I was up late into the night praying for them, the Lord made it so clear to me that this wasn't about them. He used them to reach our hearts to truly be intercessors for them. I pray for so many so often, but this took on a new form. I have found it amazing how His Holy Spirit has placed them on the hearts of so many "strangers". Last night there was a fervor to my prayers that hasn't been there for a long time. My heart was pounding and I truly felt the Spirit of God moving on their behalf. It was an amazing experience and I am humbled that the Lord has called me to be a prayer warrior for this precious family.

I humbly ask you to continue praying for the Lord to strengthen Diezel and Daizey and prepare their bodies for the trip home. God has done an amazing thing, Steffany and Adam will be bringing home a friend. Please pray for strength for her as she endures the long flight as well.

I am just going to keep on pleading...

for your prayers. Please pray for Steffany and Courtney. I updated Steff's blog and Courtney just updated hers. They are living out their obedience to Jesus Christ to a watching world. Satan knows this and is coming at both of them in a fierce way. Please join me for praying for Victory in Jesus Christ!

*****UPDATE*****
Courtney got news tonight that she gets to go home! She is free and clear to bring Jameson home to meet his brothers and sisters. She will catch the first flight out in the morning. Praise Jesus!

Now we wait for Him to display His Faithfulness to Adam and Steffany! Please be praying tonight for them...it is critical that we pray for their Embassy appointment!

Another call from Africa--

So today as I was running around with my kids...my cell phone rang. I grabbed for it in great "Laura fashion" as I always do. I looked down at the number and saw a crazy string of numbers running across the phone...immediately I knew it was my dear friend Steff! Technology amazes me! She was calling from half way across the world and I could hear her clear as day on my cell phone. Well, that was after I waved my arms like a goof-ball at my children to get them to be quite in the back of the van.

I was so happy to hear from her...but my heart hurts for her. Her voice was so weak and weary...she is beyond exhausted! We cried together as she shared what the Lord is doing over there and how He gave them the opportunity to join Him. And I shared with her how He is using them to bring so many of us to our knees. Please go over to their blog and read the latest update that I put in for her.

Please leave them a comment to let them know you are praying...even if you have never commented in your life before and never will again. My desire is for their hearts to be ministered to by seeing the amount of people the Lord is bringing to surround them in prayer.

Urgent Prayer Need

My dear friend Steffany just called me from Africa to ask me to be praying for their little babies. I posted an update for her over on her blog...And They Lived Happily Ever After. Please go there to read how you can be praying for them. I ask you to please join in praying for these precious children of God.

I was going to post a silly Easter update from our family, but I will wait to do that. This takes precedence over that. My heart hurts for Steffany and I ask you to please, please lift them up before the Throne of Grace. Our God is Able to heal their tiny bodies!

He IS RISEN!!!! And He IS ABLE!!!!

Smiley Boy

Hudson has become such a smiley baby. We have so much fun interacting with him! As soon as we start talking with him, he stares for a moment and then gives us a big full face smile. Just thought some of you would like to see his precious smile.

To Africa She Goes!!!!

I bring to you another friend that is on her way to meet her little ones. I just got off the phone with my friend Steffany. She is about to board her plane to Ethiopia to get their twins. Please keep her covered in prayer today...the flight is like 16 hours long. UGH! More importantly please pray for their twins. They will be 2 years old in May, one boy and one girl. She is leaving early because she got a phone call that the babies weren't doing well at all. They have become quite sick and she needs to go be with them. Her husband will be flying there in a couple of days. Please follow their journey over on their blog and keep them covered in your prayers. She will try to update when she can. They have been waiting for this time to come for a very long time! Steffany--I can't wait to see them in your arms!!!! Your heart for Africa is inspiring!!!

Jameson Darion!!!!

Click here to see pictures of their new son!!!! Praise Jesus!!!!!

God is Amazing!

Guess who is on her way to go meet her new 22 month old son!?!? My dear friend Courtney! God works in amazing ways! Only God knew that as we sat together celebrating our Savior's birth with Hudson in my arms, that she would have a new son in her arms to celebrate His death and resurrection only 3 months later! This was a situation they never had even imagined...much like our Hudson! She heard about it on Sunday, talked with the social worker yesterday and as I type she is on a plane to go meet him. Please keep her covered in prayer with me. She needed to travel alone, so she will be meeting him alone and spending a few days bonding with him. Please pray for all of the paper work to speed through so she can be free to travel home with him by the end of the week. Pray for the Lord to work in miraculous ways in bonding their hearts together. Pray for her husband and children who are at home very anxiously awaiting their new son and brother. Pray for all their needs to be provided. And for them to be surrounded in safety and peace. God is AMAZING in all He does!!!! He works in ways that we can't ever imagine. Once we release our plans and dreams to Him, He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine! Glory be unto His name!

Last night Courtney and I were laughing about how the tables have turned and now we know exactly how each other felt when I got the call for Hudson. Yesterday was a blur for her and I sat by the phone waiting to hear what was happening next. Now she understands why I ended up in Florida with long sleeve sweaters and pants...I wasn't thinking too clearly! :) And now I know how she was pouring her heart out in prayer for me all while I was preparing to travel. I will continue to sit on pins and needles until I hear from her next just like she did with me.

Court, I love you and I can't wait to see your new little dude! You are a wonderful mom and a blessing! I am praying, praying, praying for you and will continue to pray you through this week. Praise Jesus for your new little son and I can't wait to see the photos of him in your arms!

B-O-R-I-N-G

My 4 year old just informed me "It's booooooorrrrrrrr-ing cleaning." Because of this fact, she can not pick up her toys right now. I don't know about you, but that sure makes perfect sense to me. I gotta admit that I would agree with her, but I won't ever let her know that! :) Back to cleaning I must go...

All is well...

Yes...we are here, we are doing fine! Hudson is now developing a little personality and we are enjoying every bit of him. He smiles and tries to *talk* to us. Yesterday he was blowing bubbles and cooing. We still can't get enough of him and love, love, love our precious son! He is getting the hang of nighttime sleeping. He has increased his every two hours to about every 3 1/2. Last night at 3:20am when I went to pick him up he looked up at me in the dimly lit room and gave me the biggest grin. Even when I am barely conscious...he still melts my heart!

Have I ever told you about how much our oldest daughter loves books? She can't get enough books to read. It's sad when I have to threaten to take her books away as a punishment! (My mom never had to use that one on me!) ;) DD #2 told my mom the other day..."My mom just uses all these books for decoration, she doesn't read them all." Nice! Yes, I do have a lot of books. No, I have not read them all...but I have read a lot of them. Many of them I have not read from front to back...that's not my style. I prefer to read a couple chapters here and there to get the gist of it.

Speaking of books...the other morning I was in my bed having my quiet time. I had a fresh cup of coffee in my hands and was enjoying the moment. I read something that compelled me to want to underline it and meditate on it for awhile. I leaned over my bed to reach for my pen, when my cup of hot coffee spilled all over the bed and me. I cleaned it up, but now our bed smells like coffee. I don't mind that...in fact, I love it! The only down side is that it makes it really hard to stay in bed when you smell coffee. Maybe those of you that aren't morning people should try it! :)

Pastor John Piper on Adoption

Pathway of faith

In the pathway of faith we come to learn that the Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways. Both in the physical and spiritual realm, great pressure means great power! Although circumstances may bring us into the place of death, that need not spell disaster--for if we trust in the Lord and wait patiently, that simply provides the occasion for the display of His almighty power. "Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonder, and the judgments of his mouth" (Psalms 105:5 KJV) --A personal word from L. B. Cowman taken from Streams in the Desert