A Really Good Day!

Well, it's over. The day we've been praying for has come. This morning our adoption was finalized. It was so wonderful to have so many of our good friends show up to the court hearing to witness and celebrate with us.

Man, it's been a long journey filled with feelings, thoughts and emotions I never dreamed of in my wildest imaginations. God has used this time to stretch me further than I ever could have imagined, but He was faithful to use even the hardest times to teach me about His faithfulness and crazy love for me.

Well, the journey isn't over, it's just begun and there will be lots more to learn, but God has done an amazing thing in that he created a new family today. Man, I need to go to bed, I'm waxing sooo poetic.

............
Oh yeah, just one more thing....

I wasn't going to mention this, but I think I have to address the person who chose to send such an unkind comment to me. I didn't say anything the last time she did it, but she chose to send it on the day of my son's adoption which I thought was particularly class-less.
Just a few thoughts...

1. If you don't like my blog...DON'T READ IT! There are plenty of perky, shallow things for you to read out there. I don't write this for your enjoyment, I'm on a journey with God, and sometimes things are hard and have to be worked through. Sometimes the working through is painful. I pray that those around you extend more mercy than you choose to extend to others.
2. If you choose to say harsh things, at least have the backbone to identify yourself. Anyone can lob grenades anonymously, but it's pretty cowardly. Trust me, I have true friends who are not afraid to say the hard stuff to my face. You obviously are not my friend at all.

And that's all I have to say about that...

Final Countdown!

As I sit here I am exactly 11 1/2 hours from Devin's adoption hearing. I can't believe that it's all about to be over! I know that it will be just the beginning of another chapter of our lives, but I'm looking forward to being a regular family and being able to live out from under the scrutiny of the state. We can get down to the business of being Rumeaus, plain and simple.

Each day, I'm still amazed at how God has worked throughout this process. In the recent years, since my husband was so resistant to the idea of adoption, I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that God was going to fulfill my desire for a son through the boys that we sponsor through Compassion International and other missions-type things that we're involved in. Jay and I had spent many sessions on "Cathy's couch" talking about this and it just didn't seem that he was going to budge.

And now to be where I am and have Jay so excited about it just never ceases to amaze me. How God molds and shapes hearts and how remarkable His timing is constantly blows my mind. I told Jay the other day that I was praying for a bigger house because I think I want a few more and he just said "OK". He didn't even flinch.

If any of you need encouragement in this area, take it from me. As often as we question God's timing and his movement...He is there, He is working and like the Psalms say, He does see the anguish of your heart and cares about it.

I'm still pretty anxious about tomorrow. I don't know how I'll handle any snafu or setbacks. I may sleep with my pink sheet clutched to my chest.

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new family, one that God definitely put together. How much sweeter the journey when you can do it with friends! Good night!

Happy Valentines Day!

This week is just creeping by! I've tried so hard not to think about how many days it is until the finalization and all the things that could go wrong. It was funny today, I started to stress a bit and my dear son referred me back to my pink sheet of trust verses!

I hope everyone had as great as I did. I started out last night with Jay and I exchanging our Valentines. I'm so lucky to have found such a wonderful guy to spend my life with. Boy has he had some adventures over the years with me!

This morning I gave our Valentines to the kiddos. Jay had to work today so we decided to jump in the truck and bring Valentines Day lunch to him at the office...in Leesburg!

In the evening, Erica had to work. I took Devin out to a lovely dinner by Lake Eola and then we went to the Gaither Homecoming concert (yes, we're nerds!). When Jay came home from work, he took Erin out for dinner as well. It was great to have special one-on-one time with the kids. I try to make Valentine's Day extra special for the kids so they don't feel lonely and feel the need to go out looking for a Valentine!

Well, only 35 hours left until our court date. Please continue to pray for us as it is all I think about now. We want this part to be over!

Update...

Well, the powers that be did indeed move poor Devin's court date. Our final hearing will now be on President's Day, February 16th at 11:30.

It's amazing how God works. As I'm dealing with my trust issues I've been carrying my pink sheet of verses around with me to memorize. As I had to break the bad news to my sweet son that they had moved his hearing, I told him we had to go to the pink sheet and trust God for what He was doing.

I tend to be a woman who lets her emotions pretty much rule her life, but in this sad moment God had provided an anchor for me and my son to hold onto in this very difficult time. We changed the wording in some of the scriptures to apply to us...

Ps. 31:6-7 I hate those who worship worthless court clerks and judges assistants (paraphrase mine). I trust in the Lord. I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles. and you care about the anguish of my soul.

Because of this work that began weeks ago, I was able to help frame this experience in the love of God for my son so that years from now he could look back on it and remember God's faithfulness and not as a time of sadness and anger. That is a miracle because anyone who knows me, knows that this would not come naturally for me, but God graciously prepared us for this time.

Anyway, now we look ahead to the future. Only a few more days until this precious child is mine (ours, whatever) forever!

Daddy is working late on Valentines Day so my boy and I have a date to go hear the Gaither Homecoming. Yes, I'm a gospel music dork, but what a blessing that my boy is one too!

Keep praying!

Quick development!

There's a snag...of course! Now family and juvenile courts are fighting over where the adoption should take place. What........?????

Pray for me. I am leaving to pick up Devin from school and I don't know how to tell this poor thing that despite doing everything we were told yesterday and talking to eveyone and their supervisors, we may have to move the adoption date.

I'm really trying not to freak out but you should have seen how happy he was yesterday. Pray that I can frame it for him (and for me) in God's love and absolute control. I'm having trouble getting my arms around it myself....

Filing Day!

Our big filing day was...well, an experience.

It started off just the way I'd planned. Jason, Devin, Carrie, Stacey and myself met at the church to sign the petition together. Jon was there taking movies and it was a lot of fun.

Then it was off to the courthouse (the 1st courthouse). After a wait at the main courthouse we were told that we would have to file at the juvenile courthouse. So, we loaded up and went down to the juvenile courthouse. There we were told that they really thought that we should be filing at the main courthouse (courthouse #1) but they wouldn't be sure till after lunch. Carrie (my sweet friend and attorney) had another appointment so she left while we went out to lunch (really bad Chinese). When Devin and I returned to the juvenile courthouse we were told that, no, we would have to go back to the main courthouse!

This is where I lost it a little bit. I was so filled with great plans for the day, lots of pomp and circumstance, I was not ready for the bouncing back and forth and all the red tape. As I sat in the juvenile office waiting for a final decision I felt like I was going to cry so I excused myself to the ladies room. As I cried in the ladies room the new verses I've just started memorizing came flooding back to me, especially Ps. 10:14 The helpless put their trust in you, You are the defender of orphans. I just told God that in this legal mumbo jumbo we were completely helpless and that I was okay with whatever He was going to do. I reminded myself that I would have to frame this day for Devin for the rest of his life and we needed to focus on our trust in God for this day.

We had to go back to the attorney's office so that they could redo a page of the petition and when I got there, the assistant told me that she would take the petition back to the courthouse so I didn't have to try to answer legal questions that I wouldn't know anyway. That was a relief and yet a bummer because of my aforementioned big plans. Devin and I went to Starbucks and I told him that no matter how it got done, it would be done and it was still a pretty wonderful day and all we had to do now was wait to hear on our court date. I was hoping to hear this week and we had hoped that the date would be within the next 2 weeks.

We went home and laid down to rest because we were both emotionally exhausted. About an hour and a half later Carrie, my attorney, called and asked if we would be able to do the adoption the next Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. That's only 5 days! Devin was so excited, he called everyone he knew.

I don't know why God chooses to do things the way He does, maybe we'll never know. I'm so thankful that He had prepared my heart with the scripture I needed to get through the day and keep it special for my boy. I may get some of this trust stuff yet!

We're so thankful for your continued prayers. Devin received a phone call last night that may be the beginning of a new adventure...we'll see. I'll tell you about it if things begin to take shape. God is moving my friends...let's go with Him no matter how scary the ride!

This Is It!

Today starts the beginning of the end for our adoption It seems like time has been crawling by!

I still sit sometimes and am stunned by the hugeness of it all. I have been asking the Lord for this for so many years and wondering why I had to wait so long. Yesterday, my son fell asleep on me AGAIN and as I sat there hearing him breathe and smelling his hair I was overcome with gratitude to the Lord. Yes, I had to wait a very long time but God knew what would be at the end of the wait. I couldn't have picked out a more perfect son for me than Devin is, down to quirky little things like his love for gospel music or his affinity for cooking. Once again, I stand in awe of the amazing love of God for me and his stunning intimate knowledge of my heart and who I am, and what would make me so very happy!

We leave in exactly two hours to begin signing petitions and officially filing our papers at the courthouse. God-willing, we should get a court date within two weeks to wrap this whole thing up!

Trust Verses

Some of my friends have asked me to post the verses I'm learning. If you want, you can memorize them along with me. I'm TRUSTING God for his promise that if I hide His word in my heart, it will keep me from sin, in this case, the sin of not trusting Him...seems kind of circular...doesn't it?

Anyway...here goes. These are in the New Living Translation since it's my favorite.

Ps 10:14
The helpless put their trust in you.
You are the defender of orphans.

Ps 13:5-6
5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the LORD
because he has been so good to me.

Ps 22:5
5 You heard their cries for help and saved them.
They put their trust in you and were never disappointed.

Ps 28:7
7 The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger.
I trust in him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Ps 31:6-7
6 I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the LORD.
7 I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love,
for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul.

Ps 33:4-5
4 For the word of the LORD holds true,
and everything he does is worthy of our trust.
5 He loves whatever is just and good,
and his unfailing love fills the earth.

Ps 34:8-10
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
9 Let the LORD's people show him reverence,
for those who honor him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing.

Ps 37:3-5
3 Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.

1 Peter 2:6
6 As the Scriptures express it,
"I am placing a stone in Jerusalem,
a chosen cornerstone,
and anyone who believes in him
will never be disappointed."

Deut 31:6
6 Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you."

Deut 31:7-8
8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you."

Heb 13:5-6
5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
"I will never fail you.
I will never forsake you."
6 That is why we can say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper,
so I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?"

Ps 56:3-4
3 But when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4 O God, I praise your word.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?

Ps 91:14-16
14 The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.
16 I will satisfy them with a long life
and give them my salvation."

Ps 111:5
5 He gives food to those who trust him;
he always remembers his covenant.

Ps 112:6-9
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will never be forgotten.
They will have influence and honor.

Isa 12:2
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The LORD GOD is my strength and my song;

Isa 26:3-4
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the LORD always,
for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

Isa 49:4
4 I replied, "But my work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all. Yet I leave it all in the LORD's hand; I will trust God for my reward."

Isa 50:10
10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God.

Jer 17:7-8
7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.

Rom 11:22-23
22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

1 Peter 4:19
19 So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.