While I'm Waiting...

Christmas is almost here.

I love this time of year. I love buying thoughtful gifts for people I care about. I love decorating enjoying the seasonal decorations. I love having people over. I love going to parties and special dinners. I love getting together with family and friends. I love having a fire in the fireplace and one of my children or husband cuddled close. I love Christmas songs. The excitement of it all makes me giddy.

This Christmas I am learning to love something else. The advent.

Advent: a time of expectant waiting; arrival

Every Christmas we get to reflect on the time leading up to the birth of Jesus and what that might have been like for the people of that time. They were waiting expectantly for their Savior.  The time from the last prophesy to the birth of Jesus was 400 years.  Imagine that! They hadn't heard anything from God for 400 years. I'm sure they were growing very impatient.

Then, at just the right moment in time, Jesus was born. The waiting was over and the Savior was born. He didn't come as they expected. Thankfully, He didn't just meet their expectations. His plan far exceeded anything they could have imagined. It didn't make sense to them at the time. Many people were confused and are still confused regarding God's plan. He would not just be an earthly ruler to help make their temporary circumstances better. He would take on the sins of the world and offer eternal life to all of us.

I have been in a season of advent. Sometimes I feel almost desperate to get my other two children home. And then I am gently reminded. My expectations are SO SMALL compared to God's HUGE plan. I know His peace in a way I never would have without this wait. I see His hand carefully handling many details and when I don't see His hand physically at work I still know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is still working. I don't want to limit God to my expectations and timeline. He is so much wiser than me.

In this season of advent I am learning that God's timing is always perfect and He is so trustworthy. I will praise Him "While I'm Waiting."



I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

We have no new news regarding when we will get to bring Gabriel and Debora Grace home. We are just waiting for a clearance letter from the National Minister of Ghana so that the US Embassy can process our children's visas. The children called today. They were so sweet and excited to talk to me. I sang to Debo our special song, "If Your Happy and you Know it" and the worker said she was clapping her hands while I sang. They both told me they loved me and I assured them we would come and get them as soon as possible. I trust God is holding them as close as He is holding me. Here are a couple of new pictures I got yesterday and one of Liz and Cael. 

Gabriel with his friend, Alibaba

Sweet girl

Oh, how I love these two kids!

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support.  Please join me in trying to enjoy the "waiting" instead of just rushing ahead to the arrival. It WILL come. Jesus came in a manger. Christmas Day will come and go. Jesus WILL return someday soon. My kids WILL come home. 

Worshipping while I wait.....join me?