O for grace to trust Him more

I feel like I've been in a fog for the last few months.  I haven't felt like writing much, Instagram is definitely a lot more easy to just post tidbits of things that happen in my day to day.  I haven't had to think of the next post or worry about keeping people interested in checking in.  Which good grief that isn't what I set out to do with this journal anyways.  I just needed time to heal, time to spend with my family and just be.  Not being able to bring Sergey home was the shock of all shocks for our family.  Even though we knew of the political problems we were all facing it still didn't seem like it would come to pass.  We had overcome so much during those two years it felt like it was just one more thing we were going to have to face and triumphantly overcome, with God's help of course.  But it didn't end the way we thought and it was devastating to our family.  It has taken me a while to fully take it all in, talking with God a lot has helped me be able to fully trust Sergey's future to Him.  He was never mine to begin with.  I think that is even harder to grasp, never in all of this did I have one bit of control over the outcome.  I could not will him to be my son, although he will forever be my son in my heart, we did everything we could and then some. There's no denying how hard we tried.

He just turned five on August 18th ( hasn't he gotten so big?) and I have no idea what the future holds for him.  And honestly I can't let myself go there because that is a deep dark pit that I won't be able to dig myself out of.  I am very aware of how weak I can be as those waves of doubt flood over me, and in those moments I have to literally tell myself to stop and take hold of those thoughts and pray, "I trust you Lord".  When I see pictures of children three months after being institutionalized and they are barely unrecognizable, I feel my courage waiver and can only whisper a faint  "I still trust".  I take it day by day.

Our family has had time to grieve and we are moving forward but not forgetting.  We all still talk about Sergey, or Rowan as he was to be named after he was adopted.  Mostly we pray, we pray for a family to adopt him.  Adoption is not over for us, it has a special place in our hearts and there is such a great need for children to find families but we are waiting on God's timing.  Thank you to all of you that have prayed for us, donated of your time, gifts and finances and have supported us the whole way.  

Even though I don't understand why, I can't deny that through it all God was there and that every prayer was answered.  Looking back I can see Him in every aspect as He provided every penny we needed, every document that was obtained, the softened heart and favorable opinion of the judge, beautiful memories made with our sweet boy, and safety as we traveled to another country while 8 months pregnant.  He was there for it all, so even though the outcome didn't happen as we would have liked there is no denying that God was in all of it, so there in lies my trust. It was not all for nothing, there is a reason that I don't see or know at the moment and maybe someday I will get that "aha"moment and everything will make sense and I will know why and maybe I won't know until I get to Heaven but it comforts me to be able to look back and remember what we've come through and how He helped us through it all.

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

InstaFriday

I swear all I have time for nowadays is an Instagram post.  I love Instagram!  You can follow along with me at daniellelovingeverymoment if you'd like:)

This cupboard always makes me smile when I open it:)

Lots and lots of birthdays this month...mine included!

The chickens are always wondering what we're doing.

Pepper just wants food.

My baby turned one.

He's a little daredevil.

A belated birthday gift finally off to our sweet niece.

Both my birthday boys, same birthday 11 years apart.  Radman wasn't happy:)

Time for cake!

InstaFriday

Hey it's Friday! ( I can't keep up with my days anymore) That means I'm linking up with Jeannett today!

We celebrated Sadie's birthday, she turned four.  Here are the gifts waiting for the Birthday Girl!  Can you believe I found that sweet  happy birthday cake plate at Goodwill!

Tatum wanted to make her cake so she asked what Sadie wanted.  Sadie said "I want a heart shaped cake with yellow cake inside and chocolate frosting, with flowers and sprinkles and a picture of me on it".  I think Tatum pulled it off pretty well!  And Sadie was so excited and said she loved it:)  Tatum felt pretty proud about that...melted my heart.

Sadie could not wait until Daddy got home so we could eat it.  This is her waiting patiently, I even caught a glimpse of her kissing the cake plate:)

Our first little crop of peas!

My hollyhock finally bloomed...gorgeous!

My sister and her husband came into town and spent the week with us.  I love sister time:)

Lots of crafting happened while she was here.  We worked on some Christmas ornaments and presents and I did a few pages in my Smash book.

Of course what kind of hostess would I be if we didn't hit up a few vintage shops while she was here?  I scored this beautiful tablecloth!

One of our chickens turned out to be a rooster, Ruby was now Rubio, and we cannot have a rooster where we live.  So when he started crowing last week at five in the morning I started to get ulcers thinking I was going to have an angry mob of neighbors at my door.  I tried to give him away but nobody wanted him.  Finally yesterday was the last straw after he crowed over and over every few minutes.  I decided I was going to put on my big girl pants and attempt to end this rooster's life, even though I was so sad because I raised him from a baby and have never killed anything bigger than a spider.  So I went to YouTube, cause that's where you go if you want to learn anything right?  I cried the whole time!  I couldn't do it.  I finally remembered a lady that I knew had a farm and called her up and she came right away! Thank you Lord!  I felt so relieved, he now has a good home where he can crow to his heart's content and I am very happy with my five hens and lack of ulcers:)

InstaFriday

Linking up my weekly Instagrams with Jeannett today!

I love happy mail!  Got my vintage flash card I ordered from Etsy!

Got this at Target, it's one of my all time favorites.

I made a bunch of banana bread, it doesn't last long in our house.  I use this recipe I found on Pinterest and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon to it...YUM!!

Found some great finds at garage sales this past weekend. The desk, vintage atlas and Secret Garden book.  As well as a clipboard to use as a frame, all for $6.60!!

And my favorite find of the day were these cute little wooden houses that the lady's grandpa had painted many years ago...so cute!

That same day Ash brought me home this amazing find!  He knows me so well:)

Needed a s'more break while...

I was working on a hot air balloon mobile for a mama to be:)

And today was crazy hair day in Avery's class.

Have a great weekend!

Bearizona

After we left the Grand Canyon we stopped on over at a drive thru wildlife zoo called Bearizona.  If you are in the area I highly recommend it.  It was a little pricey but we loved every second of it.

I love donkeys:)

Seeing this made me excited and nervous all at the same time.

So beautiful!

We were so close to this bear.

Baby bears sound like squealing piglets to me.

I had no idea porcupines could climb trees.  He was really high up.

These were the teenage bears.

Funny little guy. He would go in his burrow and then pop out again to check us out.

This fox looked so soft I wanted to pet it!

Love, love, love this park!  You should go:)