O Christmas Tree...

We put up a tree! Thanks to James and Megan, we WILL have a Christmas tree this year! They are really expensive over here so I was thinking we would just not have one, but I'm really glad we do:) Josie enjoyed helping me decorate it. We listened to Christmas music and drank hot chocolate. She was very cute.

Yesterday we tried out a Bible study at the Baptist Mission. They have childcare! Hallelujah! The kids stay in while we sing songs (which Josie likes anyway) and pray (which we're working on being quiet during) and then the kids go out with a teacher and sing songs and play on this amazing playground. I. Was. So. Thankful! I didn't know what I was going to do without a church! I have some sermons from the Resolved conference, and Tom was nice enough to e-mail me his sermon notes. I just knew that if I had to take 3 kids with me to each service, I would waste a cab fare to literally stand outside the entire time. I was ready to just make do with what I have, but it's just not the same as the community of believers. What a blessing it was to be in church again. I still really miss Morningview Baptist.

Today was Monday here. We went out to the orphanage to see the kids again. Josie isn't feeling well so we didn't stay too long. We came back and ate soup and then she took a long nap and seemed to feel better. I think she's come down with a cold or something.

I did get a hold of the orphanage director finally! What an answer to prayer! He met with Elizabeth today and is supposed to pass on the girls' files to her on Wednesday. I was kind of hoping he would do that today, but I've learned over here that the smallest amount of news is better than nothing and I just have to be thankful for that. So I think the idea of having a comittal order this week is probably not feasible, but we're getting closer and that's what matters. I truly believe that very soon Evolet and Keira will come into my care here and begin their new life. Each day it feels closer...the same kind of anticipation that comes with a childbirth. It could be any day...the sooner the better, but God already has that day appointed and we are approaching it even it feels too slow for me.

It feels like it has been much longer than 9 days since Darren left. Can I just take this opportunity to say that I never respected what our families of deployed military are going through quite as much as I do now. And really, it's only 3 months. It sounds like an eternity to me, but I have dear friends who right now are facing many more months without a spouse. Can I just remind you all to find some way to encourage them especially over the holidays?

Here are some verses that have really kept me going these last 3 weeks:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What a great passage. I have definately never felt weaker or stronger than I have lately. How great are the riches of Christ's grace!