Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Night Before Court

Tomorrow is the day that we have been both waiting for and dreading for so long. The feelings and emotions that we all are feeling at this moment are almost too much to bear. We are relieved that this huge occasion will be behind us at this time tomorrow, but yet cannot help feel anxious about what all could take place. 

Today our facilitator has been violently ill with a stomach bug...go figure. All of the preparation we thought we would do for court simply did not happen. On top of that Ryan has felt under the weather today, and our sweet girl is also not feeling well. I slept half of the morning, and am progressively feeling worse as the day goes on....I think mine has to do more with nerves than anything. 

Ryan and I got out for a late lunch and enjoyed walking through downtown. There is such beauty to be seen in the crumbling old stone walls, thick wooden doors, and iron gates. In Ukraine, you never know what is behind the thick doors and stone walls...it could be a decrepit old building, or an extremely expensive house...you just never know. As we walked today, I enjoyed imagining what secrets each building held. 








We went to visit our daughter only briefly today since no one was feeling well. We are now back at our apartment, trying to pour over our home study and make sure that we are as prepared as possible for what questions the judge might ask us. 

I am trying to get my emotional meltdown out of my system so that I can concentrate on preparing for tomorrow. You all have been so faithful to pray for us throughout our adoption process, and I have to beg of you to pray for us today/tonight more than you ever have! Please pray that Ryan and I will answer the questions we are asked with clarity and emotion that will show the judge and others how much we care for A already and long for her to be our daughter. Please pray that we will feel peace and not anxiousness tonight and tomorrow, and that we get some much needed rest. Please pray for A, that she will feel better tomorrow, that she will sleep well, and that she will not be too nervous. Pray that she will answer the questions asked of her confidently. Pray for our facilitator, that she feels much better tomorrow, that she gets the rest she needs to be prepared for court. Pray for the judge, prosecutor, and jurors that will be deciding the fate of our adoption. Pray that they will see the love we feel for A and that she feels for us. Pray that they know, without a doubt, that she will be well taken care of and that this is the best thing for her. Please pray that they all say Yes!! to our adoption without any hesitation. Please pray that we get this answer tomorrow.

Our court time is 10 am, which is 2 am CST. For those of you who are willing, please cover us in prayer as you go to sleep, and if you feel called, wake up and pray for us in the moments leading up to 2 am, and during our court session. We feel each of your prayers and be comforted by them. 

As always, the Lord is good to show me a comforting verse or passage, and today was no different. We know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has led us here, and we hold fast to knowing that He is above all things and can do anything He desires. We take comfort in knowing that A was His daughter long before she was even born, and that He loves her even more than we do. We know He has big plans for her, and pray that tomorrow is the beginning of a new life for our sweet girl.

"God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
 
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
 
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
 
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
 
He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.
 
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Psalm 46

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