Uganda is a GO!!

Hello all...I bring wonderful adoption news today for literally millions of orphans in Uganda, East Africa...God is making a way, sweet babies. The US Department of State issued an official statement on their website yesterday saying the issues with travel visas for adopted children in Uganda has been resolved. I won't go into all the details, but let's just say this is very, very good news. I am humbled by our Lord's defense of the fatherless...overwhelmed really.

In the light of the awful news about Russian adoptions, the timing of this act of God couldn't be more perfect. I know He will move on behalf of those Russian little ones, too...He doesn't play favorites.

So what does this mean for our family? It means we will continue our home study for Uganda next month, Lord willing. We had some unexpected expenses over the past few months that caused us to slow down, then the paperwork issues arose, so we have just been waiting. The Lord has provided for our every need, and then some. And my husband gently reminded me last night that he is confident God will provide for this adoption, too...we will proceed on His timing.

Please pray for us as we walk this journey. I want to be transparent...and I have been learning some tough lessons over the past weeks about sacrifice and choices. If we are going to adopt, where we are financially, choices will have to be made and some comforts will have to be given up. Because we are choosing not to go into any more debt to adopt, this means cutting back on a lot of little extras (eating out, movies, Starbucks, those little house purchases at Target, etc.). I don't know why this is so hard for me, but it is. I'm not naturally bent towards being thrifty, so the small daily things are hard for me to give up. But there is no room for excuses for us who profess to follow Christ...there are 147 million orphans in the world...30,000 children die daily from hunger and curable diseases. I desire to live on behalf of these. This sounds great to say...but in reality I don't do this most of the time. And I can't do it in and of myself.

I don't know how all of this will look yet. I don't want to hastily make a list and start slashing all of my expenses...because that's just me trying to sanctify myself...and the focus then will be me...and what I'm "giving up." Self-discipline is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and I have a feeling that will be my personal journey in this adoption process. With Eden's adoption, I learned so much about God's love and His character...this time my journey seems to be so different. I know the Lord desires to do a great work in us as we walk this faith road of adoption...and I want to learn...I desire to know Him more...my Spirit is willing but my flesh is weak...but my God is sufficient...and He is such a good Shepherd.

So what's my plan? To simply draw near to the heart of my Maker...and let Him lead me and teach me. Combined with the TOUGH work of actually obeying what He shows me. This is where I am.

My heart is full today...can you tell? I am excited about the journey ahead. Even this early, my heart is beginning to yearn for a child (or children) that the Lord may have created already for our family. I will pray the same prayer I prayed 4 years ago for a then-unknown little angel in China...Lord, give us this child (or children), and do it in such a way that only You get the glory...Amen.

Mason Family Update

Hello everyone! I don't have any news to report on the adoption front. Even though the high court issued the favorable ruling regarding guardianship and adoption, the US Embassy still hasn't started issuing travel visas...so it's still at a stand-still. We are trusting in the Lord as we wait on His timing and direction in regards to Uganda. We have decided to continue with the Georgia portion of our home study next month, after we get our taxes paid. This part of the home study will be the same, even if we end up having to change countries (which we don't anticipate at this time). Please continue to pray for the precious orphans in Uganda...and all around the world, for that matter. God CAN and DOES trump beurocracy!

So, it's been a while since I just did a family update...so here it goes! A lot has been going on in our little family. The winter was LONG and COLD! We have been super-busy since the weather warmed up and Spring has sprung. Below is a picture/update.

We got a really good snow in February. It was so beautiful. Both of my girls, Eden and the dog Maggie, had a blast playing.

Eden walked up to me and said, "Look mommy, I spelled horse." After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I seriously began thinking/praying about home schooling starting in the fall. I'm looking forward to the home school conference and expo at the end of this month in Atlanta where I can get more info and look at curriculum. More on this later...

Guess who turned 40 in March? I surprised my hubby with an overnight stay at Chateau Elan, followed by friends over for ice cream cake the next night. When we got home from our night away, Eden and my mom had made him a cake, decorated the house, and placed signs and black balloons in the yard. Eden was SO EXCITED!

Eden and I have really been making new friends lately at our church...especially with the sweet ladies in mine and Gene's new small group (Gene teaches it). We attended a big Easter party and egg hunt a couple of weeks before Easter. Here is Eden with her loot! Somebody please make her stop growing!!!

We had a wonderful couple of days with my sister and nephew playing at our house when they were in town the week of Easter. Camp LOVED Eden's pink barbie car...we won't tell his dad...LOL!

Look daddy...hee, hee, hee...Matt would DIE!

Eden with her Easter basket. I decided against candy since she had already gotten some at the other egg hunt. She is so into soccer right now so she got soccer gear & new PJ's. We always give her a basket the night before Easter (she knows it's from us)...we "play" the Easter bunny...so that when she wakes up on Easter morning, her basket isn't the focus.

Easter morning on our front porch before we left for church. The other day Eden opened one of her plastic eggs and said, "Look daddy, it's empty...just like the tomb!" I then asked her, "Eden, where is Jesus now if He isn't in the tomb?" She answered, "He's in heaven sitting by His daddy praying for us." My prayer is that this knowledge she is learning will go from her head to her heart...I can plant and water these seeds of truth, but only the Lord can cause them to grow!

Hunting eggs in our yard on Easter.

Then it was time for soccer. "This is how you have to stand when you are the goalie, Mommy," Eden said as she demonstrated. Notice the socks she found and put on.

Then out came the sprinkler and bathing suit...with goggles.

Of course Eden had to bring our 11-year-old lab into the fun...this child needs a sibling!

But until then, sweet Julia from across the street is Eden's favorite playmate. Julia is 6 and they love to play together. She came over and joined in the fun!

This cracked me up...they laid their towels out and chatted. Then they ran inside and got books to "read" while they laid in the sun...like big girls.

So that's what we've been up to lately. Eden is growing up so fast and I feel so humbled to be her mom and have the opportunity to be home with her so I don't miss a thing. The Lord has been teaching me a lot lately...and I hope to have time to share some of that in another post soon. Until then, have a great week.