Update - But basically more of the same :)

I feel scared sometimes to use the word "Update" because although it's technically an update, there isn't really anything new happening but I have wonderful family and friends who love to pray for us so, here's what's up.

All our paperwork is in (like I said on the last post) but lots of things have to be done to that paperwork. All of our income/ tax information has to be double checked by the State Comptroller. Our residence, employment, and other history has to be verified. From our paperwork they have to create a electronic file and enter us into their database. So, as you can see they are very busy up there at Gladney with us. I am just glad the ball is out of our hands right now.

Currently we are waiting to hear from our assigned Caseworker. We do not know who he or she is yet but we're excited to hear from them. They will call us and schedule a time for us to first come and do an interview at their offices in Fort Worth and then secondly schedule a time for the caseworker to come to our house and check it out. After all that is done they have to compile an official "Homestudy" and submit it to the state for approval. That usually takes a few weeks to go from compiling to approval. (Also, after official approval we pay another 25% - $3,725) But the exciting thing is after approval - the next step is to create our profile for birth moms to look at and start getting in the adoptive parent pool!

So, we are waiting. That is the name of the adoption game, waiting. My good friend Casi teaches her youth group girls that if you can get really good at patiently waiting on God in your life then you will save yourself from many spiritual ills and gain lots of spiritual maturity - oh how she is right.

Here's how you can pray for us:

1. That the God of Hope would fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him (Romans 15:13). Pray for our joyful, grateful and patient waiting as God pulls together this crazy ride we're on.

2. Pray that our caseworker would be a great match who will have lots of wisdom on this process that hopefully he or she can pass on to us!

3. Pray that God would continue to prepare our hearts for parenthood and for the unique way that God is creating our family.

4. Pray that this story would continue to encourage the faith of others and this would glorify God and show people Jesus.

5. Pray, as always that Christ would be supreme and paramount and that Landon and I would keep our eyes on Jesus and continue to selflessly love and serve one another.

Thank you everyone for your prayers! We are grateful that you are sharing this journey with us and we hope that you find yourself encouraged.

And ok, this story is going to make this post long but maybe you who are reading this have time today to think about something that God encouraged me with this week :)

First, gardening has so many parallels to the spiritual world - you should at least try having one plant - anyway...

We had this knock out rose bush in our front yard. It did great last season but it grew a little weird. I had about 5 or 6 really long branches growing up and it seemed thin and wirey. And so I trimmed the heck out of it during winter. My hope was that it would come back stronger than ever...well, it looked terrible for a long time.

It got to a point where Landon and I thought I killed that poor thing. It didn't bud or bloom, it didn't grow, and it started to turn yellow. I was so bummed. Spring came and we added soil, added fertilizer and did not prune anything and look what happened!!



It came back bigger than ever. I have counted upwards of 40 buds on this bush. I was reminded of Jesus: "And every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2. Pruning can be a very terrible, painful and scary reduction of ourselves. It can seem at times we will never make it back to a fruitful and joyful place in our lives again. However, unlike me, God is master gardener, perfectly pruning our hearts into fruitfulness, always knowing how much is too much.

Today may you trust that Master Gardener of your heart and trust what He cuts off knowing He does it with passionate, firey love for you.

~L&L