Newsletter December 2014

Here is a link to our December Newsletter!
http://eepurl.com/-zICv

This girl

These two have been living with us for a few months now.  We have really gotten used to them being part of the family.  O yells... Papi, Papi every time Lesther walks in the door and Angel plans playtime with him into his day every afternoon.  We love them :)  But we have always known it was a temporary solution.  She needed a safe place to be for awhile and I needed help around the house while being on pregnancy restrictions.

So yesterday brought many tears.

I can honestly say that I am really proud of this girl and I finally see some maturity happening.  She made a decision to look for a job that would provide for herself and her son and when she found one, she took it, even though it is less than ideal.  We talked a lot about saving as much money as possible to be able to soon move out and get her own place.  She is serious about continuing in her studies and made sure her new employer would give her the time she needs.  She made sure that I would provide pencils and notebooks for the new school year, and with all this in place, she was on her way.

Please pray for her transition and for little O.  K will be living with a family cleaning and cooking for them, but they won't let her bring O with her.  Her sister will take care of him while she is at work and he will only get to see his mom a few times a week.  This is going to be very hard on a little guy who has always been with his mama.  And I'm concerned about him and the situation he will be in, but I'm going to try to keep an eye on him when I can.  Truthfully, I am really thankful that K has taken this first step in moving towards independence.  But I do pray that she will save up quickly and be able to find a job that allows her to move into an apartment with her son very soon!

I was able to pray with her last night as she starts on a new page of her life... we talked about how God goes with her even when she feels like she never lives in one place for very long.  He is her only constant and she has to cling to Him!  She promised she would read a Bible if I get her one (she just got good enough at reading to be able to make that promise!), so I think that will be a good Christmas gift :)  Keep praying for her to know Jesus in a real and personal way and that He would be her anchor as she tries to figure out her future.

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Today I just wanted to share my favorite song for the season...

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine own sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Last night I sat on the couch with my kids staring at the Christmas tree lights and praising the Lord for what a sweet gift of family that He has given to us.  As we celebrated advent together, decorated the tree, and read through verses and stories about Jesus coming, I just pray that my kids will know to cherish the gift of Jesus.  And I pray that for myself.  These past few months have been nothing if not distracting... worries and fears, sickness, changes of plans.  We have felt hard the burden of having kids with other birth moms and what it looks like to share time and the responsibility of raising children with others who don't necessarily agree with us.  I have been worried about our twins coming and for their health and well-being.  We have had sickness and what felt like endless days having to be laid up around the house.  It has made everyone just a little more irritable and impatient.

"From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee"

I feel peace wash over me as I read that line.  Things are not how I would have planned them.  Things are still in upheaval with the government putting Puerta de Esperanza on hold.  I have had more ups and down health-wise with this pregnancy than I could have imagined and have spent more days laying in bed than I would have wanted.  I want to be up making Christmas ornaments with my kids, leading Bible study with the girls, playing with all the little ones, continuing relationships with those who have left.  

But HE is my rest.  From all my fears about inadequacy, potential baby health issues, failure... he has released me.  From all my sins of impatience, frustration, lack of faith... he has forgiven me.  Praise Him for that.

Today I pray for a longing heart... longing to know more and more of Jesus.