Pics from Beijing cont.

Beijing

I know I'm going backwards with this post. You'll simply have to indulge me. Mario sent the pictures earlier but with all of my internet problems yesterday and the excitement of seeing Josiah, I just didn't post them.

And yes, I'm still using my blackberry.

The morning started early. My poor husband only slept for a couple hours. <Jetlag>. My boys went for an jog before the big climb. Not sure what they were thinking......

The Great Wall was beautiful. Chloe wasn't exactly excited by all the steps. But made it to the top anyway.

The hotel was lovely. The food was strange. An order of french fries turned out to be something green with a few fried potatoes mixed in. I bet Max was a little disappointed.

Jinan-Day 2

It is a Good Morning in Jinan. Mario tells me Josiah slept all night with no problems. Apparently, everyone was tired and crashed. Chloe was out!

Josiah was up early with his Daddy skyping me this morning. He was sitting on his lap looking completely adorable. I got a cool wave. :)

I just love seeing pictures of my boys together. I know what it means. It's special. My big boy, Max, will be leading his little brothers ~in both word and deed. He'll be loving them by playing with swords and guns, cars and trucks. He'll be speaking God's Word to them as he admonishes them to walk in God's ways. He'll try to keep them out of all his 'cool stuff' unsuccessfully and learn what it means to *bear all things* and believe the best about others~ always hoping. As the friction of little boy vs. big boy wears on each of them, they will become smooth and the rough edges will disappear. They will perfect each other and teach one another the true meaning of love ~according to God's truths. They'll have to let go of self seeking and self preservation for the good of their brother.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Max, may you walk in such a way as to bring honor to our God being worthy to be called Big Brother. Little eyes are watching you, son. They see your strengths~ you need not boast. The also see your weaknesses~ so don't try to hide them. Instead, work in the power of Christ to show His might through those weaknesses. Learn to be faithful in the little things, ahem~the little people~ and, well, you know the rest. Don't you Max?

10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

Luke 16:10-12

Josiah!

Since I have been unable to post to blogger or get any of my emails on my Mac all morning, I've resorted to an email post from my blackberry. Assuming, of course, I can get my internet to cooperate long enough to set it up.

As for the pictures, my IA friends will recognize them. Josiah is putting his handprint on our documents, making his adoption OFFICIAL! Mario got him and it was finalized all in the same day. :) Different from our 2 day process with our other boys. He was a little 'excited' during it all. From the looks of it, one might think he was just happy. It's more than that. A better description might be anxiety. My poor boy doesn't really know how his life has changed. While we know it's for his good, he doesn't. He's scared.

He cried. A lot. But last night, (day there), while Josiah was crying, Mario picked him up and held him. Tightly. He prayed for him and held him and prayed some more. Then, something changed. Josiah wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. He has been Mario's shadow ever since, hugging and kissing him. Holding onto his leg. He refuses to go to anyone else and when they saw the director again--Josiah wanted DADDY!! My heart is spilling over with gratitude to my God!

It's been a long day for all, as evidenced by Max passing out on the floor. :) I'm praying they all sleep well and that Josiah continues to find his comfort in his earthly father's arms and his heavenly Father's plan for his life.

The Air is Thick....

Anticipation. Hope. Faith.

Love. Change.

The air is thick around me today. My heart is heavy. Not heavy with despair as it is sometimes used. Heavy with a fullness. My God and His goodness weighs on me today. It's heavy and brings me to my knees with gratitude to *finally* be here. Although I'm not *there*.

Can you feel it? It seems impossible the whole world isn't sharing this. Amazement and awe for what He has done.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;

Extol Him who rides on the clouds,

By His name YAH,

And rejoice before Him.

5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,

Is God in His holy habitation.

6 God sets the solitary in families;

He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;

But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

The New King James Version. 1982 (Ps 68:4–6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

My soul has been singing His praises all day. He is a father to the fatherless, who sets the solitary in families -brought out to be bound no longer. Oh what great and marvelous things you have done, O God!

And lest you should worry, I have no rose-colored glasses on. I know the difficulties. I know this isn't going to be easy. Not for Josiah. Not for Mario or I. Not for our children. We have a challenge set before us.

Thankfully, we do not walk this path without one who has gone before us. You understand, we make no sacrifice greater than the one Jesus Christ first made for us. There is not a cost He did not pay first. There is no love we can show that is greater than the love He displayed. There is nothing we will do that hasn't already been done for us.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The New King James Version. 1982 (1 Co 13:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

When I was a child, young in my faith, I didn't understand and appreciate my title of one who was forgiven. ( Now don't be confused, I am not saying I have everything together and have learned it all. I still have much to learn.) I thought my salvation was for me. For my good. Not looking to or considering others. I was a child! So my actions reflected that.

Jesus Christ didn't save me just for the sake of me. I was purchased at a price. My life is no longer my own. I am to be as Paul, poured out as a drink offering for the sake of others. My redemption was costly. So why should the redemption of Josiah be any different? It costs us. But that was the example set before us. So, we walk in it. Willingly. With understanding, we put away childish things. And it is GOOD.

*sigh* I'm simply in awe. In awe with beautiful little butterflies dancing around in my stomach. Awe, butterflies, and air thick with God's presence. No place better to be! Well maybe all those things IN China at 10:30 tonight.............

Hopelessly Out of Date

I admit it. My blog is out of date. Of all the things on my to-do list, updating the blog isn't one of them. So it has grown old and dusty.

Until now. Big things have happened in our home. Including the addition of one sweet little surprise we have named Lyza.

At 19 weeks now, she is learning and growing daily. Just this morning I was sure I heard her say "mama." And those cheeks!

Moses and Judah keep us on our toes. They are true boys. It's cars, trucks, planes, balls, *fighting*, wrestling, choo-choo trains, *arguing*, running, jumping, guns, *more fighting*. You get the picture. Never a dull moment in our home. We wouldn't have it any other way.

While I never planned on having a large family, I wouldn't change a single thing. Well, maybe just one thing...........

You see, we're missing one little Dominguez. One sweet little boy waiting on the other side of the world. Waiting for a mommy and daddy. Waiting for brothers and sisters. Waiting for security, comfort and help. Waiting for LOVE. He doesn't know it yet, but in just one more day, his WHOLE WORLD IS CHANGING. You see, his Daddy, my husband *sigh-I love that man!*, is on the way to get him. So is his big sister, Chloe and big brother, Max. They boarded the plane yesterday and landed safely. Tomorrow is sight seeing and a train ride. Day after tomorrow is THE DAY! I am beside myself with joy waiting to skype and see our JOSIAH. I'm not lying, I WANT to be there. I *really* want to be there. But our God, who knows better than I, had other plans this trip and my heart rests in that.

8 “But you, Israel, are My servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

The descendants of Abraham My friend.

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its farthest regions,

And said to you,

‘You are My servant,

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

17 “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none,

Their tongues fail for thirst.

I, the LORD, will hear them;

I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers in desolate heights,

And fountains in the midst of the valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

And the dry land springs of water.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,

The myrtle and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine

And the box tree together,

20 That they may see and know,

And consider and understand together,

That the hand of the LORD has done this,

And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

The New King James Version. 1982 (Is 41:8-10,17–20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

My prayer for you, Josiah, is that you would see and know, consider and understand it was the Lord our God who brought you out of the orphanage and set you in our family. His hand has done this; He has created our family!

Amazing!

I know.........

I've been a VERY bad blogger.  No updates for months.  Here I announce we are adopting again and nothing after it.  

We've had some big things happening in our house and I can hardly wait to share.  We just have to get past some hurdles, then all will be revealed.  I'm hoping we will even be able to post pictures of our newest additionS.  :)  Until then........