Blessings and the total picture!

Still waiting for the red letters to change :) I know- obsess much? Well you know how it is when you are in a holding pattern.. any little progress lifts your spirits. Still waiting on the USCIS to send our fingerprinting appointments to complete that requirement. I am actually using a bit of restraint and giving them till Friday and then calling to make sure our file was issued an officer. Well maybe I will wait anyway. As you can see to the right we have our new donation boxes up. These will update hourly so you can get a good indication of where we are at. Don't let the amount scare you.. especially looking at the grand scheme of things but rather look at it like I am. Each dollar, each dime, down to each penny we are closer to Joshua than we were a couple of months ago. Each single cent represents someone giving us their hard earned money in tough times with no magical giveaway. Each cent is a blessing.

Speaking of blessings.. I have been thinking a lot of how truly blessed I am. How God has blessed me and continues to show his blessings. So guess what? I am going to blog about some of those things.

Dave- I am thankful every day for God bringing him into my life. At a time when it seemed like I was destined to be a single mom forever, God brought us together. He gave me a man who despite my faults loves me completely. A man who calls me beautiful even with a red, runny nose and my hair a fright. A man who has the same christian principles and beliefs as I do. A man who is the best stepfather and father to my boys. A man who's heart was filled with the same amount of love for Joshua the first time he saw him. A man who will work as hard as he can and as long as he can to bring our son home. I thank God for this wonderful partner in life.

Trevor- My oldest son. The boy who can make me laugh in the most difficult times. Who proved to me that you can parent as well as be a friend. A son who is serving our Navy and is far from home but close in my heart. A man who struggled with his little brothers diagnosis but who finds himself missing him the most while he is gone. I miss him terribly but am oh so proud of the man he has become. I thank God for his outgoing personality and wit.

Cody- My gentle giant. The boy with the heart of gold. The one that will say the sweetest things to me. The one who will still kiss him momma and tell me he loves me no matter who is around. The boy who says when I am old he will always take care of me. And he is not kidding he will. The boy who is an honor roll student and who made nationals for his Business Professionals Association. My computer wiz boy who needs to clean his room :) I thank God every day for his easy going manner and forgiving heart.

Ryan- My stubborn blue-eyed son. The boy when told to do something pretends to resist but ends up doing as he is told. A boy who is a combination of his two older brothers and loves to tell jokes. The one that is always asking questions and who likes to draw me pictures. The boy who will still grab his blanket every morning and snuggle on the couch while I am trying to get him moving for the day. The young man who years ago while in preschool attempted to tell his aunt to get out of her car while driving because he did not want to go shopping. I thank God for his kind soul.

Jacob- AKA Big Jake. My chromosomally enhanced gift from God. The little boy defined by his stubborn yet loving personality and not by some diagnosis. The little boy who works hard to achieve his goals and ACHIEVES them in his own time. A little boy who will do the opposite of what you want just because he can. A little boy that has taught us about patience and acceptance. I thank God every day for those simian creases that my finger lies so well in when he grasps my hand to walk with me. I thank God for just that little extra skin on the back of his neck that is so soft and kissable. I thank God for his almond shaped blue eyes that glisten when the light hits his brushfield spots in them. It mesmorizes me and it is almost as if he can see through my soul. I thank God daily that he chose me to be his mommy.

Joshua- An Eastern European superstar! At least to our family. A little boy whose personality is unknown yet a little boy who is accepted unconditionally and loved completely. A little boy who captured our family's heart! A perfect son who we want to bring home where he belongs. So we can learn his little quirks and enhance our family with his own unique personality. I thank God that we found him and are given a chance to be his parents.

 I am blessed with a wonderful family who supports everything we do. A family waiting with open arms for their new grandson and nephew. Friends who are near and dear to our hearts who provided us with awesome, glowing references. Friends who have prayed for us and offered up help in every aspect of our lives. We have been blessed by people we consider friends whom we have never met. People who have prayed for us and Joshua. Those that have donated and shared our story.

Sometimes I lose sight of all the blessings in my life. It is natural to sometimes dwell on the negatives without looking at the total picture. I tend to do that a lot. I just need to keep the faith and remember I am so very blessed and God truly knows best. I give it all to him. Take inventory of your blessings today!! God bless you!
*Edited to add.. the red letters changed :) 4/6/11—DOSSIER COMPLETE, AWAITING USCIS APPROVAL
Lisa