Hello, friends! First, let me say thank you for all of the wonderful birthday wishes! It has been unlike any birthday I have ever had! We did get to visit with our little Parks today for almost three hours. He was very tired today from the beginning. It makes me a little sad that we get to see him at a set time each day, regardless of whether or not that is a good time for him to see us on a particular day. My thoughts today kept thinking about how wonderful it will be when we can actually meet his needs accordingly rather than trying to play with him and keep him awake when he so clearly needs a nap! I want to be able to let him sleep when he really needs it and play when he is ready. I did not realize how difficult it would be each day to give him back to the orphanage workers when we leave. I want to just take him with us and that feeling only gets stronger each day. He is receiving amazing care in general at the orphanage and especially compared to some other orphanage situations we know about over here, but it is still not a family. He is still not getting the experience of one mommy and one daddy and one forever family meeting his needs. I am so thankful he has not gone hungry and seems to get some loving care, but he still gets workers rotating on different shifts and an overcrowded setting. My motherly instinct is in overdrive and it is a struggle each day as I pray for God to meet his needs while we are apart from him.
Please join us in specific prayer that in court on Tuesday they will waive the 10 day bonding period and will legally decide we can be his parents. We are so anxious to have him in our care and are praying that God allow the court to decide in our favor and that we can take him out of the orphanage on Tuesday and begin the process of going to Kiev for official requirements and then coming home! We are earnestly clinging to God and like Jacob when he wresteld with God in Genesis 32:22-31 ( v.26) we are not willing to let go of God until he blesses our court on Tuesday. We are trusting His provision and His will completely as we continue to stay where He has brought us!
I cannot even put into words in such a brief note all of the lessons God has taught me in the last week and a half. It is uncanny how much He has opened my eyes and changed my perspective. My prayer now, is that I will continue to be as changed once I return home and return to some of my comforts and routine.
It has been a fantastic birthday full of adventure, love, mommy moments, and more sweet time with my incredible husband. I am so blessed!