Waiting for Referral
Our Timeline  |  February 2007  |  June 2007  |  October 2007

June 2007 A lot has happened since our last update in February. As we mentioned in our last update, on February 1st we started “running to Isabella”, from our hometown in Texas to Beijing, China (about 7000 miles). We have already made it to the west coast of the U.S. and, as of this week, we are currently at mile marker 2500, which is way out in the Pacific Ocean!!! Everyday we’re a little closer to China and a little closer to Isabella, our baby girl who we can’t wait to meet!!! Currently, our adoption paperwork is in China, progressing its way through the normal adoption process. Each month we get updates from China on the progress of our adoption and at the current pace we could receive pictures of Isabella in June, 2008. Of course, there’s still the possibility that it could be later than that, but that’s what it is so far. It’s an exciting part of life to go on a journey. You start with a desire in your heart, then you make plans, then you prepare, and finally you set out on your journey. You know it will take some time to get there, but the time doesn’t overwhelm you because you are fueled by the desire in your heart and the joy you will have from completing the journey. For the most part, we can control our desire, our planning, our preparation, and our getting started on our journey, but the one thing we can’t control is what happens along the way. In February, Elinete and I were on our way, “running” along our adoption journey. In March, we celebrated a special milestone for me, completing 10 years at the company I work for. Just when we were cruising along, with things going well, that’s when the unexpected came. At the end of March, the company I had been working for was purchased by another company. The decision was made that I would be let go from my job on June 1st. I asked myself, “Why do unexpected things happen when things are going so well?” I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s ever asked that question. My next question was, “What now?”

Celebrating Randy's new job. Here's our progress. We're 2500 miles closer to Isabella.

I began my job search and on April 12th I got a call for an interview. I was excited about it. I really wanted to find the right job and I knew I couldn’t find it alone. I decided to skip breakfast the next day, April 13th, and spend that time praying for the right job. I decided I would continue doing that every morning until I received the right job. April came and went, and so did the interviews I had during that time, with no results! June 1st was coming quickly. Again, I asked myself, “What now?” There’s a song that I’ve heard my wife, Elinete, sing many times. It’s called “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. It’s her favorite song. Although I’ve heard it many times, I never really gave much thought to the words of the chorus: “Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness. Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed, thy hand has provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” Ever since the first call I got on April 12th for an interview, and after each failed interview since then, the words of that song kept coming to my mind and encouraging me: “All I have needed, thy hand has provided.” These words challenged me to look back at every need I’ve had in the past and see if God provided for me or not. He always provided! Even when I got anxious, and it didn’t seem like anything was happening, and I felt like taking shortcuts, He always provided at the right time! Anxiously, I reminded God that my last day, June 1st, was coming pretty fast. But, He just kept reminding me: “All you have needed, My hand has provided. Just trust!” Several weeks went by, and on May 22nd, (interestingly, it was exactly the 40th day of my fasting breakfast), I got a call from a company that I had sent my resume to. On May 30th, they offered me the job and I accepted! God provided a great job for me, two days before my job ended! His timing was perfect!!! About the question I asked myself earlier, “Why do unexpected things happen when things are going so well?” Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I didn’t know it, but God knew, that through the loss of my job, God provided for Elinete and me so that ALL of our adoption expenses are now covered!!! Also, throughout all the events of the past two months, Elinete and I didn’t stop our running or our cycling or our reading! If you find yourself on a journey of your own and unexpected things happen along the way, don’t get overwhelmed, don’t lose hope, keep “running” on your journey! All that you need, God’s hand will provide! We want to share one more special thing that happened before we close this month’s update. A few weeks ago, Elinete and I went to visit family for Mother’s Day. My sister and my niece surprised Elinete with a Mother’s Day gift: a beautiful bouquet of red and white flowers! Elinete was so touched because in her heart she’s already Isabella’s mom and to receive those beautiful flowers was just a confirmation of how she already feels. Thank you Kim and Brianna for your very thoughtful gift!!! Psalm 115:1 “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

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