Oh Ruby!

I am one of those crazy people that names their cars and my current vehicle is named Ruby.  Before Ruby there was Bessie and she was special.  Bessie hauled us around for about nine years and that old girl saw some stuff!  My children grew up crawling over her seats, spilling juice all over her and who knows what else. 

Three years ago Bessie lost her will to haul us around and it became evident that while we loved her deeply, it did not make sense to keep putting money into her.  I am not lying when I tell you that there were tears shed when we left her at the dealership.  It felt like we were leaving behind a family member and it didn't help any when the salesman said she would most likely be sent to the scrap yard.  Oh Bessie, you were good to us old girl!

The day we left Bessie, we drove away in her next of kin Ruby.  Ruby was the same make and color as Bessie only a little newer.  We thought it was just meant to be.  We just knew that Ruby would be as good to us as Bessie had been. 

There is this thing that happens to most adopting families once they start their journey to adopt...things all of the sudden just decide to break or quit working.  Ask a family that is adopting and believe me they will have some stories.  It is the battle that is raging that we feel but just can't see with our eyes.  We know that God is for the orphan and the enemy is not.  He is a lion who prowls around looking for who he can devour.

Well, tonight it happened to us.  Ruby decided that she was going to start having some issues.  Two years ago when we were planning our first trip to Uganda, Ruby's transmission went out.  Needless to say, most of the money we had been saving up had to go to repair her.  Tonight, I was over her.  I wanted to take her to the scrap yard, only we can't because we need her. 

As tears started to fill my eyes, all I could think about was how unfair it is that we are having to spend money on a hunk of metal when there is a little girl we love waiting on us.  It isn't fair!  I am happy to say that I didn't stay there long.  I was quickly reminded of my devotional this morning.  I read the passage where Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.  The verse that stood out to me was when he tells his brothers what was intended for evil God can turn it into good. 

So that is what I am going to focus on...my God can bring good from this.  I will press into Him and take it one step at a time. 

Adoption Update

This week we sent this picture to Brenda.  We want her to know that we miss and love her very much! 

We have some news regarding our adoption of Brenda...

It appears that we are having to start over again.  What that means is that we are having to find a new lawyer, get an investigation done, and get all our documents notarized again.  It was a little hard to accept this at first.  We believe that we have found a new lawyer to work with and are looking for an investigator.  Luckily, I have all of our documents still in my notebook from our trip to Africa so it will not be too difficult to get that portion done. 

The most challenging part that lies ahead is the fundraising.  The money that we had raised last year was spent on lawyer fees, airfare, lodging and immunizations.  So, we are pretty much starting over again in this area as well. 

I loved what I read this week written by Beth Moore.  She wrote that when you have a mountain in front of you to ask God to move the mountain or to give you the strength to climb it so you can see His transcended glory.   

We know that money is not an issue to God since He owns it all anyway.  So we are just trusting Him to show us what we need to do to get our girl home!

There have been many days over the last several months where we have felt like quitting.  This has been a really long, hard journey.  But without exception, every time we have felt that way shortly after we have received some type of confirmation to keep on going.  And probably the biggest confirmation we have received is her name.  In Uganda, you are given a name that has meaning.  It may have something to do with how you were born, the season in which you were born, etc.  Brenda's birth name is Tibihabya.  Can you guess what it means?

Her name means...WHATEVER HAPPENS NEVER QUIT!

Did you just get goose bumps?  I still get them every time I say it. 

Only God knew that the name given to her on the day that she took her first breath, would be the encouragement that two people living half a world away would need to continue in the fight before them to become her parents!