Greetings from Maine!

First of all, my thanks to all of you...I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all of your prayers, your encouragement, and your friendship. It is an incredible feeling to have all of you out there, rooting for us. I'm thinking that I don't have words to express how very lucky (well, really blessed) I feel to have all of you in my life.

I am now, in Maine, but I am REALLY tired. But in a good way. So this will be short tonight. I promise to post more later.

I arrived last night, and was met very promptly by my friend Kenn (who had been waiting, because the plane was late--a weather delay). He whisked me off to a yummy dinner (Sorry, Jenny Craig--but it's vacation!) and then, after talking and talking and driving, we crashed.

Today we journeyed into Salem, where we went through the House of the Seven Gables and visited a "witch store" (where they basically had things like Tarot cards and herbs--but no eye of newt or icky things like that). Then we ventured on into Boston where we ate (again) and then walked around and window shopped and then wondered through the Public Gardens, Boston Common and the very cool graveyard where Paul Revere is buried. Lots of funny/silly stories about the very expensive store with basically over-"bedazzeled" clothes and finding (eventually) Paul Revere's tombstone...let's just say we had a good day seeing things that were new to me, revisited for Kenn, and talking about all the people that we have dated/grew up with.

Also had a very "freaky/odd" moment when I was taking a picture of the church that Steve and I went to on the day after our wedding (we went to Boston on our honeymoon) and he called me at the same time that I was sending him the picture on my phone. That was too bizarre...but fun.

Tonight we hung out at home, and watched "Confessions of a Shopaholic." Tomorrow I get to see more of Maine.

Much love to all

Prayers, please...

Just an update. I haven't posted in awhile because there just hasn't been anything to post. And, honestly, I haven't known exactly what to say.

Things in Tula are not all they should be (most of you who have been following that have probably guessed that much). MOE official is back from vacation, but there has been little communication with our agency. S is apparently going to try to get an appointment with them in the next couple of weeks, but C is discouraged with the lack of action and response there. Our "remotely possible" referral has been adopted by a Russian family. I find that I'm not upset by this--I'm glad that she has someone to love her now, and glad that a connection was made there. We didn't really let ourselves even get hopes up about her, and with things not going as they should there, I am glad that God has found her family.

I know that I have no control over this part--and I know that God does. I know that all things work in HIS time and that they work out right. I'm just really tired of waiting right now. I guess that I would ask for prayers for patience, and that we have the wisdom and the clarity to listen to whatever it is that God neeeds us to do in all this. In the meantime, my beloved husband is trying to write the curriculum for church camp--and it's all about God and making "breakthroughs." I find myself smiling and shaking my head in wonder at this one. My ladies Bible Study has also been doing a short study on "Walking By Faith"---so, yeah, I know that God is right here--there's too much evidence that He is. I'm just tired and a bit sad, is all.

Having said all that---I'm running away next week. I scheduled this trip about a month or so ago, but I realize that the timing here is also pretty perfect--I need a distraction. My good friend since the 6th grade, Kenn, lives in South Maine, not all that far from Boston. I got cheap cheap tickets to fly into Boston, and we're going to just "have fun" next week. Steve will have quiet time to work on the curriculum and I will have some great time away with a friend who makes me laugh.

Thanks to all of you. Even when I'm not posting, I'm reading all that you write. Thank you for your friendship, your love, and your prayers. You are all so very important to me...

All Quiet on the Tula Front

No news out of Tula. The head of the MOE is reportedly back from vacation, but nothing is happening.

This is getting old.

Bleah.