Sowing Tears, Reaping JOY

I awoke yesterday (Monday) morning thinking about all of the unexpected tears that have flowed recently. On Sunday alone, my eyes stung three times from tears I was fighting back. Why? Where were they coming from? My heart was close to a breaking point longing for my son in Ghana. It's hard to explain, but with every passing day apart, love for this child has grown immeasurably.

A friend called yesterday at 7:30 am, and as I hung up my phone buzzed to let me know there was a message. Soon I realized that our court date in Ghana was soon - very, very, VERY soon! I screamed and called the boys in to let them know. We called Reid at work to let him know. We were all ecstatic! The first day we've been awaiting is upon us. Thank you, Lord, for your perfect timing!

Kristie came over yesterday to help us fill out visa paperwork. Janet shopped for food supplies at Sams. Paige offered to help with the kids. My mom transported the boys to their different activities. Three friends willingly offered to sub for my classes. Juggle, juggle, juggle...but we accomplished what was needed yesterday. Visa applications were mailed.

However, our boys are broken-hearted because they will be unable to travel with us this trip. Please pray for them. Our two oldest shed tears like I've never seen before. Mason would not speak to us for three hours. They anxiously await Overcomer too! Please pray for them. The short-timeframe was not what we expected or anticipated. Yet, we are forever grateful to see God is moving to bring Overcomer home! Because of the logistics we are trying to piece together, the price of our plane tickets, and other parameters - it simply did not make sense to take the boys with us this time. Please pray for all of us.

My friend, Amy, reminded me this morning that this is God's work. The urgency comes from Him as He orchestrates altering all of our lives to join us as a family. This is another call to TRUST completely in Him. Amy read Psalm 126 to me this morning. How fitting is the passage.

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

Psalm 126

Friends, once again, we greatly covet your prayers. The specifics we would like to ask you to pray for are as follows:
1.) For God's glory alone
2.) For the hearts of our five sons
3.) For our visas to be granted in time for us to travel
4.) For our reunion with Overcomer - meeting him for the first time
5.) For us to receive a full adoption decree in hand
6.) For Overcomer's understanding of our love for him