Disney World or BUST!

We have been hoping and praying for the last month or so that we would be able to take the girls on vacation with us.  This year we have been preparing to take the girls on a Disney vacation because we felt they were a great age now to truly enjoy the experience.  A terrific family from our church is allowing us to use their timeshare and we had requested special permission for Danelle and Savanah to go with us, but there is always "red tape" and "hoops to jump through" and hoops made of red tape...yep, good luck jumping through those...they are pretty tricky.  They remind me a little bit of the obstacles on America's Ninja Warrior :-) The date we are supposed to leave is coming up pretty quickly and I was starting to wonder if we would ever get permission for this.  We had tried to keep the vacation a secret for some time so as not to cause heartbreak if it didn't work out, but it is incredibly hard, if not impossible, to keep a Disney trip a secret when there are a 4, 6, and 9 year old inside the "cone of silence"....so, word got out and we prayed harder.  The great news is that we got word today that they can come with us.  I am thrilled...(though it is always the 11th hour answered prayer)...God keeps testing my ability to be patient and wait on Him.

In a bible study I am involved in we are starting to study the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  The book takes the perspective that it was spoken more to the "older son" than the "younger son".  Although I believe it is packed with truth no matter where you find yourself and which brother you most closely identify yourself with, it has given me a lot to think about.  I have been given so many "robes, rings, and fattened calves"...Especially lately, I have just been seeing God's hand blessing us with one gift after another and this book has challenged me to understand that the "reward" that should mean the most to me is simply being with the Father, trusting Him, and loving others.  When I do this, He gives me so many more opportunities to be a witness for Him.  It is crazy how taking a step of faith and starting the adoption process has allowed us to share our story with others and, ultimately, be a witness of what God is doing...to give Him glory.

Here are a few new pics of the girls...we had a fun time last week doing nails, shopping, picking flowers...it was a very girlie-girl time...good bonding.

Thank you for your continued prayers!  We are so excited for what God has been doing, but we are also aware that there will be many challenges along the way as this family melds together and each takes on their own role as sisters...and mom and dad too.