Getting simpler.

Things have been getting simpler as of late.  Although there are still many things that are "complicated", several hard decisions have been made for us recently.  One of the things I asked in the previous post for, was for prayer covering around some hard decisions we were having to make.  One of those decisions came to us when we found out that the birth mother's other son was placed for adoption through the state Foster Care system.  We were distraught over the thought of this little one (five years old) who has been in foster care since he was one year old, being put up for adoption finally and having his current foster family place him back into the system because they did not want to adopt him.  This is a five year old, that I knew to have at least 4 homes (that I know about) in his short little life.  Jake and I started praying and discussing adopting him, if the county would let us.  But then, a week later, we found out that the county had already found him a forever family that was willing to adopt him, and he had gone to live with them.  Although all of this was greatly distressing to the birth mother (she was really hoping to convince the courts to give him back to her), we were relieved that he would finally have a permanent home life.  So the decision was made for us.
 Another distressing complicated decision we have had lately has been "how much" to take care of Sandy.  So far, I have offered her my listening ear, my friendship, my love, a little bit of money towards groceries, transportation to her doctors appointments, and my Mom has generously decided to hire a care giver 3-4 times a week to come in and cook for Sandy, bathe her, change her clothes, clean, and prep meals for her that are available for her on the days that she (the caregiver) is not there.  I have wanted to do more though.  Sandy's roommate/baby's daddy/ "caregiver" is truly taking advantage of her.  I want her to stand for herself, to stand up to this man who takes her money and gives her almost no care at all.  But as of now, it is up to Sandy, and I have decided to just pray for that situation.  She needs to be the one to make that decision, I cannot do it for her.  The mother in me wants to protect her, but I can't.  Until the point comes that more needs to be done, all I can do is love.  I pray that I can do that well.

She is now in 33 weeks pregnant and the baby should be coming in the end of January.   Please please please continue to pray that she DOES NOT go into labor at home.  AS I have stated before, this can and very likely would be, a life and death situation for her and for the baby.   I cannot wait to post pictures of our precious new SON!  What a beautiful, blessed day that will be.  But another wonderful day I hope to see is the day this woman who has seen very little love in her life, accepts THE ONE who IS love.  The day she accepts the love and forgiveness of her awesome Heavenly father will be a great and glorious day indeed!

   Until then, I am busy tending to the needs of my precious two at home, my husband who sometimes needs just as much care ;-), and trying to help assist Sandy in her life as well.  I am so thankful to each and every one of you who read this blog and who commit to praying for us, our new son, and the precious lost birth mother.

update.

I am wondering if all my blog posts for the next few months will be entitled "updates"?  It seems I am lacking the time and heart energy to devote myself to blogging temporarily due to the great needs that are surrounding me.  This is good.  Oh so good.  I tend to be a self focused person, so focusing on the needs of others (i.e. training my children, homeschooilng, trying to find a way to take care of the basic human needs of "Sandy") is what God knew I needed.  Sometimes I lack showing any good fruit that the Lord has to trans-plant a bud right there on my branch so all I have to do is watch it grow.

So the update is the birth mom is still being denied so much of what she needs to live even a decent quality of life.  I have been praying for help for her, as I am aware there is only so much I can physically do.  I prayed and God has brought some amazing people in answer to that prayer.  My Mom has been deeply moved and very disturbed and Sandy's way of life.  My mom has now generously decided to pay for a caregiver for Sandy.  That took an ad in Craigslist and days and days of emails, sorting, phone calls, and decisions on who to pick.  We picked a lovely woman who is going to love Sandy and take care of her basic needs.  We are so excited she has someone there looking after her and making meals for her.  Also several precious sister in Christ have bought her other child still living in her home some items for Christmas that I just know she will love.  On top of that my home group has decided to have a huge garage sale in which all proceeds will go to helping Sandy.  I am feeling blessed, so blessed to be able to take part in helping, and YET......there is still so much to be done.  So much hopelessness I feel.  But then I set my mind on Christ and know that he loves her and will provide.  He always does.    There are several other situations that I truly would love to share now, but just cannot until I talk about them with her.  Just be in prayer for our family.  We have a lot of BIG decisions that need to be made.  A lot that depend on God deciding, NOT US.  Until then we are greatly looking forward to the arrival of our precious new son Ethan.  We cannot wait to hold him!  So far he is still alive and we are so very grateful for that.  He is a miracle!

Prayers:
Transportation for Sandy to get to doctors appointments (I cannot lift her and I don't have a wheelchair accessible van)
Decisions for Jake and I involving our family.
Health and safety for my children, myself, my husband, Sandy and Ethan.

until then.