Waiting Doesn't Have to Be a Negative Thing

So I was just thinking...
Why does everyone view waiting as such a terrible thing?  After all, waiting is the part of the process that develops our character!  Over this advent season leading up to Christmas, our church has been blogging about waiting.  I wrote a post for the blog and wanted to share it with you all!
You will find my post here along with a few other great posts.  I hope that it encourages you as you are thinking about and celebrating Christ's birth this Christmas!

"For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given,

and the government will be upon his shoulders, 

and his name will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas!

Waiting Just Got a *Little Easier...for now at least...

My name is Asher Parham and I approve this message.

It's amazing how when we trust the Lord with all our hearts, He gives us little reminders that He hears us and loves us.  We had a little reminder of His gracious sovereignty at the beginning of this week...
So as you know, we've been on a long waiting list hoping each month that we would be one step closer to bringing home our child.  Well, things have not turned out so much the way we thought they would (things never do!).  Despite our wondering what was going on and asking God what we should do, we were trusting in Him to lead the way.
This Monday we got our monthly email from our agency and we moved up 8 spots on the waiting list!!  My first thought as Jake yelled the news to me from another room was, "That's great...but was it because 8 families moved to a different program/country???"  And thankfully that wasn't the case!  Eight children were placed with families...I just get so excited thinking about how thrilled those families are to finally be one step closer to meeting, knowing and loving a new member of their family.  And I know we'll be there one day too!

Now next month we may not move any spots.  This is still a hit or miss kind of thing.  So keep us in your prayers as we wait!

And just for fun, here are some cute pictures of lately around here:

Asher is all about some thumbs up

That face...

Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a night time hot tub hang out with these guys!

Cousins (well, third cousins)

My babies are growing up so fast!

Asher on what he called "a pile of rubble".  (How does he know all these random words??)

Poor thing.  First smile out of her in numerous days...teething is no fun!

Annual tradition: Jake holding the tree over his head in victory!

She quickly changed her tune once she saw that candy cane.

...Who are you again?

Santa's little helper

Just checking to see if the lights work...they always like to help.