When Life Hands You Lemons....

.... Pray (and cry a little).  That's what we're doing right now, and we'd appreciate it if you would join us (though I don't recommend the crying part.  It's not too fun)!

I got some not-so-great news about Ramya that we are struggling with.  As we knew, Ramya's orphanage is trying to go to only offering domestic adoptions.  After the small amount of children they have now are adopted, the orphanage director is retiring and they are closing their doors to international adoption. 

Because our paperwork is taking so long, they have decided to transfer Ramya to a different orphanage.  The good news is that we can still adopt her. 

Unfortunately, this will, again, delay our paperwork as we will need to modify documents for our dossier.  Additionally, this will be Ramya's 3rd orphanage in her short years of life.  It, once again, severs any attachments she has.  When we do finally get her home, it will probably be hard for her to see it as "home" and not just another place she's transferred to, again.  My little girl just got out of a long hospital stay, where she was alone and probably very scared, and is now getting transferred to a new orphanage where she knows no one.  This breaks my heart.  I'm sure she will feel so sad and alone.  I just want to run and scoop her up and throw her on a plane, but I know they won't let me.  I wish they would send her to us and at least let us foster her until we can get her home, but they won't.  We are powerless to help her right now. 

There is, of course, one huge thing we can do for Ramya.  We can cover her in blankets of prayers.  Please join us tonight as we pray for peace, comfort, and understanding for Ramya.  Pray for a miracle in getting her home to us quickly.

Additionally, tomorrow is our big fundraiser sale.  Please be praying for no rain (I type this as it rains ;)), a great turn-out, and lots of mulah!

Basically, just pray a lot tonight for, and with, us!

And it lit up my day

Today Madilynn smiled her first real smile...

and it lit up my day!

Being stuck in a hospital room for an extended period of time is hard.  Anyone who has been there knows that no matter what color they paint the walls, no matter how cheery the nurses are, and even having a window in the room cannot really make the hospital look any more cheery.  When Madi smiled, though, the whole room glowed!  Of course the second I grabbed the camera she stopped.  I am praying we get to go home today.  I'm getting quite homesick and because of RSV season I haven't seen Conner since Thursday, which is really hard.  I miss my favorite little man!  No matter what happens, though, I know God has a plan.  I'll have the memory of my little Madi's first smile to brighten my day regardless.