April and May 2017 Thankful List

April and May Thankful List
April:
-an anonymous donor leaving $1,000 in our mailbox... hopefully you will read this and know our overwhelming gratitude
-Zane celebrated his 5th birthday
-Leticia always timely phone calls
-we started selling t-shirts to bring him home

​May:
-the piece of paper we are waiting for in China moved one step forward
-we sold over 200 shirts
-between the t-shirt profits and the "extra" that so many gave and a few people that just gave- we made over $5,000!!! Thank you, thank you everyone. 
-the star magnets the kids made to go with the shirts
-painting party fundraiser at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church- a huge success
-seeing people wearing their shirts
-a special thanks to Lauren Welch and her constant emails and prayers and checking in and texts of encouragement specifically the last two months... you are a faithful prayer warrior friend and I am grateful
-the last two months of waiting have been especially tough for me and there are times where I feel overwhelmed with sadness and frustration that we are here in this place of waiting on another country to move again. Trying to choose gratitude in the midst of circumstances that are way out of my control, trying to trust His plan when the wait seems endless, trying to believe in His sovereignty when I feel overwhelmed by uncertainty... He is teaching me to want His plans more than I want mine- it is not easy. But I am grateful to have something to hope for.

"Faith is living in light of what God has said, resting in what He has done, and entrusting the future to His care." -Tim Keller

And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption:

April:
-Kid's performing with Stix N Tones on Palm Sunday
-getting to meet the Bullions at Lake Arrowhead State Park on Good Friday​

-Sarah's bridal shower and Libby winning the toilet paper dress award
-Bike rides with Tuck
​-kids who love to read

-getting to celebrate lots of things in April: Beca's birthday bash, taking Charlotte out for lunch on her birthday, celebrating Church without Walls 5th anniversary, and celebrating our April birthday boys (Ben and Zane).
-And, of course, Easter celebrations... He is Risen!

-fun visit with Nana and Papa

-Libby's gymnastics lessons came to an end... she enjoyed them and her teacher
-Tuck's baseball season began
-Libby's 1st grade program... and she remembered her line!

-package from Mimi and Pops
-Norville girls coming over

May:
-swimming lessons for Libby- she sure loved them
-a significant water leak when Ben was not home and the way the kids jumped to clean it up... thankful it wasn't worse
-listening to Ben and students share about the successful year at the BSM. I am so proud of Ben and the way he leads this ministry. So proud of the students who serve and lead with him.
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-1st Grade Bible presentation at church- Libby's excitement over her new Bible and the notes tucked in God's Words from our family
-staff lunches... and the people I get to work and serve beside every week
-watching the kids in Stix N Tones pray together through the window
-Ben's Mother's Day gifts to me
​-the Send Conference... "Gospel action is in part brought on by gospel agony." -Tripp Lee,"If you are going to have justification then you must talk about justice" -Russell Moore, "The last thing the nations need is nominal Christianity and a diluted gospel." -David Platt

 -an end to a fun baseball season- great memories, college students who showed up big time to support Tuck at his games, and an awesome coach (Ben).
-an end to a great school year

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-celebrating Greg and Sarah's wedding- such a sweet and beautiful ceremony
-lots of play time with the kids in the neighborhood
-celebrating 14 years of marriage with one incredible guy

"Prayer is abandoning my addiction to other glories and delighting in the one glory that is truly glorious- the glory of God."
-Paul Tripp