0! ...from the clouds...

(Shout out to the Lake Kiowa house and all of my James family!  This date has been on here since we found out when we would meet our daughter.)

Thanks, Allison, for this reminder:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

(John 14:27 ESV)

Thank you all for the texts and calls and encouragement!  

When my parents dropped us off at the airport, suddenly we heard a voice saying, "Want me to get a picture of all of you together?"  We turned around and it was Mimi, Pop, and Aunt Kenda (the Robinsons)!  What a sweet surprise!  We had just been talking in the car about how Kyle is tough to surprise.  They got him, and we all loved it so!

I felt a little like my parents were dropping me off at college for the first time...scared!  However, I also had a sense of peace (as much as that is possible right before the longest flight of your life and becoming a parent).

We had an airport Starbucks after grabbing some Mexican food for lunch (one last time!).  

First class seats were unreal!

We are not in those.  We are at the very back but are happy in our cozy little seats, thank you very much!  We picked a row with only two seats, so it's nice to be all by ourselves.  Plus we have a little extra leg room.

It is now 4:46pm, and we are about a fourth of the way through the flight.  We've eaten, each watched a movie, played games, and sat.  This 16 hour flight is going to be so long!!

It's really amazing to see people with our daughter's features.  I love it!  I can imagine how she will look as a 9 year old or a young lady.  There was a screaming little three-ish year old who looked a lot like Willow.  She did NOT want out or that car seat.  The mom was stressed and the dad was sweating.  She's been okay ever since though!  Maybe God is preparing us... ;)

1!

Whew!  There's a lot going on in the way of packing right about now.  I'm thankful for my awesome and helpful parents!

Please pray for our health as I haven't felt that great I guess from the probiotics.  The other big prayer request is that Willow will adjust well to meeting us Monday and to joining our family.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

(Psalm 19:14 ESV)

2!

This is the countdown on my phone.  I am going to need to pinch myself!

"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!"

(Psalm 34:1-3 ESV)

Anonymous quote from my journal of letters to Willow and prayers:

"For the pathway that lies before me, my heavenly Father knows -

I'll trust Him to unfold the moments just as He unfolds the rose."

3!

(This is an English/Mandarin app I found for learning numbers.)

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

(John 1:5 ESV)

4!

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

(Psalm 63:1 ESV)

5!

(Picture courtesy of the Ranger game Kyle is napping to.)

'The wait melts away.'

We heard this from another adoptive parent who wrote about their experience.  In the last two weeks, I've experienced that feeling.  We've waited so long and gone through many hoops to adopt our daughter, and finally we won't be waiting anymore!  It's hard to believe that our dreams are about to come true.  

Our church fellowship prayed for us today, and it was very meaningful.  I had a renewed sense of peace and calm after that.  Thank you, brothers and sisters in Christ.  Y'all mean so much to us!

...in 5. Short. Days.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 

(2 Timothy 3:16, 17 ESV)

6!

It's getting closer and closer.  We found this number in the parking lot in Dallas while visiting the Museum of Art today.  It's been a wonderful day with my love!  We are trying to soak in our last weekend in the states just us!

I'm dreaming about meeting Willow almost every night these days.  Some are crazy and some are awesome!

Praying for you so much, my precious daughter.  You are so very loved.  I heard this song by Matt Redman yesterday and agreed so much with the lyrics.

Never Once

"Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we’ve come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You’ve done

Knowing every victory

Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone

Carried by Your constant grace

Held within Your perfect peace

Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace

Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise

You are faithful, God, You are faithful"