Let's be real

Let us be real and authentic with everyone right now.

We are beat up. Spiritually. Physically. Emotionally.

As we approach getting a court date and getting to travel to Ethiopia we are more exhausted than ever. I am not going to bore everyone with the list of everything going on, but we are feeling attacked in numerous ways. As drained as we are, our girls are feeling it just as much. There is so much going on right now for them that they are trying to just keep up as well.

Their worst tantrums ever have come this last week. Here is an example. We were in a store when they started to fight with each other. (That is normal) Then came the defiance to us. (That is somewhat normal.) Then came me carrying her out of the store like she was a football as she was kicking and hitting me the whole way out. (That is way abnormal.) I thought that security was going to stop me because it looked like I was kidnapping her. It actually was fairly laughable at the time but showed how hard things are for her right now.

We got our first monthly update on our kids a couple of days ago. Our baby boy "Y" is walking now. We have pictures of him walking with his big sisters:) It is exciting and awesome to know that he is progressing physically. However, we missed it. We are not able to experience that with him. Two of our kids there are sick right now, and we are not able to be with them and comfort them through the illnesses. This is hard.

We knew that once we had pictures and names and faces the waiting would get much harder. Even though we knew that, it is not any easier. We long to be with them. We long for our family to be completed.

We have been getting lots of support lately. It seems that just about everyone has taken their turns watching our kids. We have been supported in numerous ways. Thank you. Now, we seek you prayers.

We need to be healed.

We need to be recharged.

We need God's peace.

Today, after coming home from church early, we are going to have a "rainy day" pajama day. We are going to play games, read books and hang out with the kids.

Ephesians 6:10-13

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.