Here's the latest and the greatest around the Parham house since then:
~Asher turned 3! He is such a joy and a huge blessing to our home. Here are some of his favorite things to do: play with play-do, ride his bike, jump off of almost anything he is able to get up on, lovingly torture is sister, play his guitar, and read books. His favorite color is orange and if you ask him what his favorite song is he'll tell you with a smile, "Bless the Lord!" (and he may just sing it for you if you ask him). I love his compassionate heart and pray that he becomes a mighty oak in honoring the Lord!
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| So sweet! And so musical already! |
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| We had brunch with the fam! Jake made some delicious biscuits. |
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| Every kid loves to open presents. |
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| Cookies with Sarah on his actual birthday. |
~Mary Clair is not a baby any more...it seems like over night she is such a big kid. She's eating all kinds of mushed up foods (tonight was peas and peached), can crawl like a pro, sits up by herself, pulls up to standing position on anything and everything (even the wall), and has a smile that will melt your heart. She's also become more vocal and interactive. The other week we were all sitting at the table eating a quick breakfast and she was playing in her walker. As soon as she saw we were eating biscuits without her she started yelling, "Ma! Ma! MA!!" (Which we interpreted as, "More! More!). Then this Sunday at church as we were practicing music, she was just smiling and clapping along. But my personal favorite is when I get her out of bed and she nuzzles down on my shoulder and pats my back like she's giving me a hug. :)
We are praying for our beautiful daughter to be a light and a joy to all she meets.
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| Singing a song |
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| #selfie |
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| The climbing girl (this was her first attempt on the fireplace). |
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| She's so happy when she wakes up :) |
~Our child we don't yet know is still in Ethiopia. There has been no progress. You can pray for us as we try to be patient and trust God's timing.
~Last week I attended an adoption training/conference here in town. It was a great chance to meet other families in the adoption process (some having already adopted and adopting again!) There is not even enough time or space for me to tell you all the things we learned. I'll just say, children need love, touch, nutrition, stability...a family. Basic needs, prenatally and postnatally, are not received by these children coming from hard places and they suffer for the rest of their lives from this early on detriment. If you haven't ever prayed for these children, you can start now! They so desperately need a family to love them and help them work through these difficulties.
If you are interested in getting a small glimpse into what I learned specifically, check out Karen Purvis' Empowered to Connect. She is a brilliant woman that the Lord is using in a mighty way in the adoption community.
And I'll leave you with this...
We may not know what the future holds, but we can look back and have hope in what God has promised us.
"He defends the cause of the fatherless..." Deuteronomy 10:18
"He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry..." Psalm 145:7
"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
Isaiah 58:11
"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." Lamentations 3:22
So as we wait I can rest in the fact that God is taking care of our sweet daughter/son and that he/she will have all that he/she needs. And that as we do the work of caring for an orphan, God will strengthen us when we feel we are consumed.
The one thing that is still true:
God is faithful.
Thanks be to God!
