We needed to update our I-800 for our "childs" visa... just in case we ever need it ;).  We got the biometric app scheduled by the USCIS on Dec 24, day before christmas.  We both wondered about that, but it say if you didn't show up, you voided your app and that we were NOT interested in.  So to Baltimore (1 1/2 hr drive) we go.  Only to have the door locked and a little piece of paper saying to report back after weds.  We were so annoyed to have 3 hrs of travel time for nothing, but.. what you gonna do.  Government has no competition and we have to do what they say. 

I just keep thinking.. maybe God is just giving us little little tiny delays so we may be able to endure the big one.  I know there are many parents that go over to their country to adopt, only to be told that they have to go home and come back again later.  Or Russia.. closing the adoptions to the US.  Heart breaking.

So on wed morning I spend time on the phone trying to get in touch with that office to see when we could go back in.  and then I did that again, thurs morning, and fri morning.  Fri morning I got ahold of a new person.  She was a little friendly (major surprise) (dealing with these people are way worse that going to the local MVA) and told me that we could just go again and drop in.  I asked for a phone number of the Baltimore office and she says that there are NO nada, zilch numbers in the office. 
What a way to do business. 

So we decided to take a ride and try again.  I was praising the Lord when the doors opened.  It was the fastest visit to the USCIS in history.  We were finished in 10mins tops.  What a Blessing!! 

We just HAD to visit Cheesecake Factory for our treat.  Although we have not eaten the cheesecake yet.. Today for breakfast :)

Merry Christmas

The little baby born..Jesus.  Died.  But Lives again!  Praise the Lord for making a way for us to be saved and have eternal life! 

AND...
we are blessed with a white Christmas.  I just couldn't help myself, I just had to go for a run.  I haven't run since Thanksgiving and wasn't sure if I still could :).  It was so beauiful, I couldn't stop smiling at the beautiful of everything having snow piled up on it!  And I had to keep stopping and take pics with my phone!

May the Lord bless you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you!
Merry Christmas!!

One in a Million ( or Millions)

Christmas overwhelms me..  I try so hard to remember WHY we are celebrating and somethings its hard in the middle of run, run, run.  So many parties, places to be, things to do, food to make, friends to visit, and family to keep in touch.  And in the middle of all that sometimes someone get left out.  My dear husband.  Today is our first evening FREE since the 1st of dec.  And we are so tired.  Ridiculous. We are not getting, we are. Old. 

And "your truly" aka me.. decided one day in Dec that today would be a great day to rip out the carpet in the basement, to which one's better half agreed.  One thing turned into a another and we ended up sanding, caulking, priming, painting and painting and painting, and sealing from ceiling to floor and stairs.  Many layers. 
And now I wonder what is a wrong with me... why did I pick Dec to do this?  But up side, I can now blame anything that does not going according to plan to that I'm not in my right mind with all the paint fumes.

Finally I come to my subject title...

G was replacing the bulb in the front porch light and dropped a screw and its bolt.  It was the same exact shade of brown as the dirt flower bed that it landed in.
He was looking and looking for it and I decided to go out and help look for it.  It was getting dark.  While we were both down on the ground with our rears in the air (had to think about what the neighbors would be thinking if they saw us), I decided to whisper a prayer so that we could find it.  I thought afterwards... silly me, God has bigger things to do, but still in my mind I thought God does cares about little things that are in our lives.  Then G found it, just like that. 

If God cares about us finding a tiny tiny bolt and screw that has a 20 cent value.. and helps us find it then I am sure that God can search through millions of little girls and find us ours ...priceless ...princess. 

We continue to wait and pray

Follow up post of "Who Says"

Who says that you are not beautiful?  Who says that you don't pass the test or can't be the best? or who says that your not perfect?

It's NOT God talking..

At times, I struggle with thinking am I good enough?  or that I look ridiculous?
I have so many defects, faults.  Even my character is shady at times, for 
I'm quick to judge. 
           quick to criticize myself, and others.  I have big legs, someone else has ears that are too big. 
All of us feel this way (esp us women).. sometime or other
I am positive.  (yes it may seem like others don't, but I believe it is a cover up.  They do feel this way at times, they JUST will NOT admit it)

We want to feel loved, to be told we are beautiful, but so often we
FAIL to tell others how we love them and that they are gorgeous.

The fact:
We are nothing without God.  We can't be good enough, we can't pass the test, can't be beautiful.

The best fact ever. Amen:
We are everything with God.  We are Beautiful, We pass the test!  We are created in His image, God doesn't make mistakes.  We are everything.  Repeat after me...

"I am Beautiful"

Who Says...

No good at changes

It seems like we as a couple have made so many changes/ decisions in the last months....some tough, some easy.  But with all.. comes the questions of what if?  What if it was the wrong decision, what if we said no and should have said yes.. or vs?  Life has a way of making you doubt.  Sometimes you WILL doubt.  But there also comes a time, where you have to just accept.  Accept that God has given you the right decision! even if later you doubt.

We were given a file of a beautiful little girl to review last week.  After pleading with God for answers..
we said no.  The hardest decision in my life.  Hardest. Ever.

My heart wonders, questions pour all around me.   But so at peace.... shhh, God calms, "I have lead you this far, I will continue to lead.. Listen to me, Child."

Lead me with strong hands, Stand up when I can't! 

Protect these children, Lord, be their Dad!  Allow them to feel your love!

Forgiveness.

'Cause we all make mistakes sometimes and we all step across that line,
we all stumble and we fall, bridges burn in the heat of it all,

but  nothing's sweeter than the day we find forgiveness.

No matter how lost you are,
No matter how hurt you are,
No matter how wrong you are,
No matter who you are, you're not that far, you're not too far, not too far from forgiveness
Ask
We all need forgiveness...

PS, Forgiveness equals peace.  This may mean you have to forgive without reason.  Some of the hardest times to forgive is the times that it seems like the person that hurt you is not sorry and/or doesn't seem to even "know" that they did anything.  But choose to forgive them for yourself, for your own sweet peace.  Focus on the "good" that you can find in them, and then you can start to ignore the bad.