Abundantly More!!!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever amen."  Eph. 3:20-21

It's already the middle of summer!  And. . .a year ago today we were boarding a plane to Hong Kong to bring our little Peter home!  He is not so little anymore.  So much has happened since my last post and I want to take a moment and ask a question?  How is your Praise doing?  Weird question right?  What exactly am I asking?  The journey of adoption is filled with twists and turns.  Sometimes we wonder where we are and if things will ever be normal again.  How long O Lord must we wait to see any fruit? 

This past year we have asked all of these questions and found all of our answers in God!  And throughout the year, day in and day out, the Word of God was near to me.  Those life giving words sustained me.  They accompanied me through the dark times of grieving and hard transitions, they led me out of my own thoughts and transformed my thinking when doubts assailed me, through loving-kindness I was led to repent because of unbelief and when my mind was low the Word of God lifted my eyes to the Author of my faith and I cried out. . .

"How precious to me are your thoughts O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  If I would count them, they are more than the sand, I awake and I am still with you"  Ps. 139:17-18

The preached word is so important even though many times in the past year I was just glad to be sitting in church with my family.  One message that set my foot back in an upright path, a path of action was on Romans 8.  I can't remember the whole sermon just the one part of truth that reeled me in and answered a specific prayer.  I had been thinking that my faith was so weak and wondering if I would ever recover from such a year.  Our Pastor said something like this. . .

"God uses the trials and circumstances in our lives to show us how much He has grown our faith; not to show us how weak our faith is."

God answered my prayers and I saw that my feet were firmly planted on the Rock and had not moved even though storm after storm blew my way.

"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord, they flourish in the courts of God.  They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock and there is not unrighteousness in Him." Ps. 92:12-15

So much joy has washed over us these last days and weeks.  We have a membership to a local pool where my whole family loves to go.  My son Eliot can swim all over this year without the aid of a floatation device.  He has been jumping off the board with no fear.  Eliot's anxious moments are less and less and the new tools God has given us are moving his heart to trust in the God who can save!  Eliot has made a lot of friends at the pool and loves being an Inglin!  What a gift!

Peter has had an incredible summer so far.  He meets weekly for speech and bi-monthly for occupational and physical therapy as well as Special Ed.  Team Peter is the best ever, for each one of these devoted therapists and teachers love him and want him to thrive.  He has made such progress that we might have to re-write some IEP goals.  He loves to swim!  Like Eliot, Peter has no fear of the water.  I barely get his shirt and sandals off and his floatation device on before he plunges into the little pool.  There he lays on his belly and swims, blowing bubbles as he goes.  He too has made some friends at the pool.  He even jumps into the bigger pool and many times caught us scrambling to catch up to him as he makes his mind up to leave one area for the other.  By God's grace, we are always on time!

"I will give to the Lord the thanks due His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High!" Ps. 7:17

Last week we went to Camp Hebron for Family Camp 4!  This week was specifically designed for families that had adopted children.  Through Bethany Christian Services, (BCS), we received funds so that we could go.  What a tremendous week it was!  Camp Hebron had some of the most compassionate and trustworthy staff to work with our kids as we, the parents, got a chance to be taught from God's word, to be helped from (BCS) with various work shops and just fun night time activities for Parents.  Thanks Kendra and your staff for all that you did for us!  May God bless you richly for such selfless acts of kindness.

(Peter's Story) Peter has slowly adjusted to life as an Inglin.  He is really a happy little guy.  But because of communication issues and the slow adjustments, he can sometimes be sad.  We had been praying for a sign from God that Peter was truly happy here with us.  One night at Family Camp, after a rousing outdoor game of Gold Rush, we came inside and had a 30 minute wait for snack time.  Thom decided to get Peter's favorite ride toy from our room and let him ride it around the dining area and foyer while we waited.  What transpired next brought tears to my eyes.  Peter was tooling around the area, laughing, really laughing.  His smile was so broad and his little body was shaking with joy. He was followed by a procession of children from all over the world chanting, "Peter, Peter, Peter" and Pete was high-fiving everyone, speaking real words and coming to us with great big hugs and kisses.  I cried so hard because for the first time since Peter has been with us, he was completely being himself, happy and social and our little boy.

A year ago we boarded a plane in tears not knowing what the year would hold for us.  God knew! and we are grateful and rest in that knowledge.  The evening of our grief has passed, and joy has come in the morning.  That is our song and I pray that if you have just started your journey with your new child or if you have been on a particularly tough journey remember, Jesus will never leave you.  Cry out to Him, bathe yourself in the Living Word and fill your mind with truth. Praise Him for He is worthy. God is for us!  And if He is for us, who can be against us?!  I want to leave you with this precious picture from Scripture of our Father and His affection towards us.

"The Lord your God is in your midst. a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will exult over you with loud singing."  Zeph.3:17

Can you hear Him singing?  Are you singing His praises?