we weren't going to share this news quite so soon.
but i never do things all smart and prudent and practical like that. i just don't.
and tonight i went to rick and i said, "i think it's a good day to share." and he agreed.
because what we want is not your attention or your applause or your approval.
what we want is your prayers.
see, there's this little girl again. she's on the other side of the world without a family.
and today she turned five. five.
i think back last year to bella's 5th birthday party -- the ballerinas and the beauty and the pink mulit-layered birthday cake -- and my heart just breaks for a little girl on the other side of the world who doesn't have a mama to make her a tutu or tell her she's too-too cute. that's she's precious. loved. wanted. a little girl who has a birthday today, but no family to share it with.
yep. that breaks me a little. a lot, really.
her name is lu.
and she's beautiful.
and, oh boy, how she is wanted!
today we mailed off the paperwork to an agency to begin our home study and start the process of adopting this little lu.
but here's the deal: we need your prayers. oh my do we need your prayers.
lu is pretty healthy and that's good -- that's great! but, because i have a not so healthy medical history involving cancer, china might turn us away. they could very well say no. and we can't know that right now.
we can only wait ... and pray.
wait and pray.
we know how to do that. and that is exactly what we will do.
but all of us -- rick, jody, emily, tyler, sarah, connor and bella -- we want to ask you to pray with us. pray for us.
... to pray for lu.
tonight. today. tomorrow.
we need to ask God for big things. huge things. we know that if this little lu is meant to be in our home, God can do it. He can move mountains, He can make miracles and He can, very well, change some things around in china. He can bring this little lu smack dab in the middle of our crazy family.
so it might be kind of early to share this news.
but today is her birthday.
and, somehow, it seemed the perfect time to share a slice of celebration.
will you pray for little lu? whatever God has planned for her life.
the mcnatt family wants her ... but we trust and believe God has her.
will you join us in praying for little lu?
we can't give her a pretty birthday present wrapped up with a bow tonight --- but perhaps asking our friends to pray is a pretty good present after all.
this is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us. and if we know that He hears us—
whatever we ask—we know
that we have what we asked of Him.
~ 1 john 5: 14-15
Oh my goodness!!! Prayers, hugs, and more prayers!!!
ReplyDeletethank you paula! we are so excited to see what God will do. thanks for those prayers! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHank is obsessed with this little one!! I think he needs to be Uncle Hank in a big way. His first job is to pray her home to her mommy and daddy. We both know that if she is yours God will move those mountains in the way to make that happen. I commit to pray for her and your family every single day...oh already have been doing that ha but will continue to my friend. I can't think of a sweeter family for her to call her own and have those that love her most wish her a happy birthday from this moment on. Hugs!!!!
ReplyDeletePraying for precious Lu! Praying that God say "YES" in a big way!!! Sweet blessing for your family and especially for Bella to have a little sister :) Praying Lu will soon know what it means to share the Love of "Family"...
ReplyDeleteBlessing!!!
Praying....Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a lovely day, Angela
Oh My! Of course you have my prayers!
ReplyDeleteAll my prayers coming your way! I emailed you (at the email address under the Jody heading on your blog) as soon as I read this post. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteJodi - please e-mail me...We had to go through this process when we adopted our son from China. I might have some insight in the process for you, and some hints. My condition is on the "can't adopt" list, but we were given the go ahead by China, and we have our son home with us! kainzj@tracy.k12.mn.us
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you,
Jen
Jody,
ReplyDeletePraying for your family and for favor with China for you all. We are in process right now for our daughter who is nine. :) Can't wait to watch your story.
Lu is treasured, she is sacred and she is His. I pray she be yours! What a party it will be in Heaven and in MN! Thank you for sharing her birthday with us and for allowing so many to pray! Judy
ReplyDeletePraying earnestly for precious Lu! Every time I look at your beautiful family photo on your masthead I can't help but see that there's a space--like someone is missing from the picture. Now I know that someone certainly is! God has big plans for this little girl and I have no doubt that it is with your family! Thanks for letting us know how to pray.
ReplyDelete