Friday, March 18, 2011

Bumps or Smooth Sailing?


Lately there have been so many thoughts in our heads and sometimes it is difficult to put into words what we am thinking and feeling. There is a woman Kim admires and who is often an encouragement to her. We encourage you to hop on over to her blog and read what she wrote recently. It helped us frame our thoughts a little bit.

We can't count the number of times we have been told how “lucky” Jonathan is that we adopted him. The fact is we are the lucky ones. We are a stronger family because we adopted him. It has not been an easy journey, but it is one that has affected each member of our family in a positive way. Jonathan has taught us so much. Bringing Jonathan home has caused us to grow closer together as a family and closer to God.

As many of you know, we have begun the adoption process again. We witnessed miracle after miracle when we were in process to bring Jonathan home. God provided beyond our expectations!

But now as we have begun this new journey we have hit a bump in the road. A bump that only God can move. So, we each have faced some discouragement in the last week or two. But we are coming to realize that this bump in the road is causing us to grow closer together. It is causing our children to petition God. (See the photo!) What an awesome experience we are having as a family as we walk by faith and continue to seek God's will for our families lives!

And so the point of this rambling blog post is that, if you step out in faith, God will meet you. We know that God doesn't promise smooth sailing all the time, or even necessarily the outcome that we expect, but He does meet us. He meets us *if* we step out in faith. Anything less than that, and we are relying on ourselves.

Friday, March 4, 2011

a 3 hour surgery....

Before Surgery...

both surgeries took about 3 hours. both went well according to the surgeons. We had a first - his first time throwing up(as a Shafer at least). When he was in recovery, I could tell something wasn't right and something was going to come up. Thankfully it was all liquid. He is in pain. Every time he moves he cringes. Please continue to pray as he will most likely be in pain and sore for a few days.

Post op instructions- no soaking in a bath for a week, no bike riding for 2 weeks, no rough housing for 2 weeks, the list goes on. Anyone who knows Jonathan well, knows it is going to be a LONG 2 weeks of no bike esp. if the sun is shining!

The good news is that this should be it for surgeries for a LONG time if not forever. As far as we know we are done with doctors for a while. He goes back in 6 weeks to be checked by the surgeons, but we can handle that. I am extremely thankful to be living in a country and in an area with great surgeons and that we do have health insurance that will pay for all of this. God is good.

After surgery...

surgery times two

Jonathan is sitting on my bed as I type. Asking for a drink which he can't have and sounding sniffly. We are getting ready to head out the door to St. Chris's Hospital where he will have 2 different surgeries this morning. We are hoping to be home and back in our own beds this evening. Please pray for wisdom for both surgeons and comfort for Jonathan. Neither of the surgeries are major, but still surgery. Thank you for your prayers!