Can you hear me now?

So,... we got our date today!!!

Our appointment is January 22nd, 2008. Can you believe it? From March of 2005 when we started this adventure to January of 2008... Oh my gosh who would have ever thought? This day just got better and better...

Today is a special birthday for a special little boy that we hope to bring home after the appointment in January (one of 4 special boys actually ). I got to take some time with God this morning and slow things down. I had about 3 calls from my Mom who knew that today marked 6 weeks from our submission date and was the "hopeful" to know something today date. I took an awesome call from a friend who offered to help us to adopt a baby this Thursday! God is so good! - but no, we are not adopting this little one... we are going to finish the first plan first thank you. But how cool to be invited to think about it? To be thought of as people that you would desire to share a child with?

Mark and I headed to lunch at La Hacienda... the best Mexican food in Milton or any place else I might add! Just before we got to La Ha my cell rang and it was Cheri. She was so even and calm on the phone I was like, ok, we did not get a date she is just checking in, then she pulls one on me and says,"and lots of Florida prayers are being answered too!" I was like, "TELL US TELL US!!!"  She told us January 22nd. We were excited, a little deflated because it is not sooner we had thought it would be in Dec. but as we talked it became more and more amazing and evident that we are standing in His perfect place for us. We are watching Him move and He is taking amazing care of all of us.

I called Mom & Dad,  Mark called Marla and Greg, and I called Val to let her know that we got our date so she could alert the "B'ham fam". She was so totally Valerie! It was awesome, she just screamed! She was in her car in the parking lot and she said people were watching her! I love it! It was so cool to have her cheering for our family like that.

We took some time to think let it all sink in and call church family and friends. Then, since we are in revival this week, Mark was like I'm going up to the church when will you be there? I was like "soon, but I have to start checking airfare." Ok so every one has their quirks about air travel. For me, if it was at all possible, I just really want to travel Delta because they have the best route back and forth to Kiev. So I start pulling up their web site and playing with dates. The thought occurs to me, I have NO idea what I am doing. I do not know how to book this kind of a flight, because it is an open ended ticket since we do not know when we are going to come home. I play for about 2 rounds then I stop, sit here and the thought runs through my mind, "Lord, I do not know how to do this."

My cell phone rings. There are two friends on the other end. One friend says, "We need a favor, we need you to say yes." he sounds pretty serious so I was like, "Sure, anything you need man, we will do it." He says, "No I need you to say "yes..." Say it." So I am like, "Ok yes!" He says, "Good, we want to get yours and Mark's tickets to Kiev and back on Delta."

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!?!?!? God is saying. Can you see my grace? Can you get on board with how much I love you and your family and want to take care of you? Can you see that before you speak a word I perceive it? Can you see that each need you have I have already met in Christ Jesus my beloved Son?

Ya'll... Do I know how we were going to pay for 7 plane tickets? Heck no... but He does! He said, trust me, try me, prove me, see if I do not pour out a blessing... & He did. So now we know where 2 of the 7 are going to come from. We are so thankful... it was like, today can't get better...

THEN... We hear that Chris and Gina Grace have an appointment on January 28th! Ya'll! What a blessing to get to be there at the same time with other friends on the journey!

Stay tuned... He only gets better!

Love,
Mark and Jenn