thank filled for 6 years older

true story:
*they* almost didn't let me into china.
literally, almost didn't let me in.
the immigration officer looked at my passport - then at me - then at my passport - then at me.
and said "this not you".
um.
dilemma.
not really supposed to argue with an immigration officer.
but,
this is definitely me.
again, he looks.
passport.  me.  etc.
"this not you."
then he takes me to the supervisor.
shampoo.  rinse.  repeat.
twice.
with tears in my eyes, i looked at her and said
"it is 6 years old.  i have aged.  a lot.  i have adopted 4 children since then.  it's been a hard 6 years."
and
with that, she stamped my passport and sent me on my way.
today,
i am thank filled for being 6 years older.
i wish that didn't mean wrinkles, gray hairs and a few *ahem* extra pounds.
but,
i wouldn't trade these 6 years.
for anything.

thank filled MONDAY!

filled with thanks today for:
- ibuprofen pm and melatonin
- reliable internet
- swimming pools
- worship
- smiles
- hand me downs/consignment sales/good clothing deals
- confirmation from a god that loves me too much to make me wonder...

thank filled that he knows their names...

today, i am thank filled that jesus knows their names.

i know them as: mandy, christina, abigail, aaron and andrew.

of course, those are english names.

mandy is my sister in christ. she called out to him shortly after the earthquake that rocked her hometown of chungdu, sichuan in 2008. so if you prayed that the father would use that tragedy to draw people to him, you were praying for mandy!

christina is the daughter of a farming family and knows she is "lucky" to attend university. she works very hard, but can't see an end to her striving and working. she doesn't have the same peace as mandy.

abigail, aaron and andrew...

i'm sure you have guessed that i gave them their english names.

:-)

for a week, i was a mama for them.

i can hardly stop thinking about them; about how our 6 lives intersected for 5 days in zhengzhou, china.

about how it wasn't a coincidence.

i am thank filled today that their creator knows their names. he knows the purpose he has for their lives; for their pain.

i am thank filled that i can trust him, even when i do not understand...

thank filled dream come true!

a dream.

to take some people from our faith family half way around the world.

to see.

to feel.

to love this country and people that have become so precious to our family.

thank you, jesus, for dreams fulfilled...

thank filled...

thank filled for so many things today.
most thankful for jesus and the hope he brings.
also thankful for my little family.
and that they need me.
and that i am home from my dream trip.
and that i am going to bed.
:-)

joy!

I am thank filled for joy in Jesus!!!

(BTW - we are leaving on Wednesday and will arrive in China on Thursday late night!)

thank filled for dreams come true

This morning, I am so thank filled!
I can't believe that I get to go to China and love on these little ones!
Ever since my first trip (to adopt Amy in 2006), I have wanted to go back and care for orphans.
I have no idea what the future holds, but I know that in the next several days, that dream is coming true.
And I am filled with gratitude!