Relentless

"We just have to be relentless" Tony says to me in reference to the tiring process of trying to get any response at all from Nancy, our new daughter. A head nod and "Mmm" is the only response we've seen in nearly two weeks. Relentless is actually one of favorite words in describing God's passion for each of us. He waits for us, he pursues us, he makes plans for us and then waits to see if we will listen and follow that plan. God is relentless in a good way.
Now, Tony and I have to be relentless in so many of the same ways. We keep trying day after day. We keep loving day after day. We keep hugging day after day. We keep pushing day after day. We keep hoping day after day. We keep praying day after day. This is what He has called us to...to love these orphans who have not known a laving parent. Even when it has no returns.

One More...

Today we welcomed one more. A 12 year old daughter from Africa now sleeps in a bed down the hall. I'm convinced that it's the first night she's ever spent in a bed with a blanket all to herself. She must be so overwhelmed by our house in comparison to the refugee camps where she has spent her entire life. May God pour down His gifts on her. Grace, unconditional love and quick learning for English and this whole new world. May she adjust quickly to having parents who care for her and protect her. Please God, equip us to be what she needs.

Just wanted to send a quick update on our family. Many of you know that we have always had a heart for adoption. Since last fall, we’ve been pursuing this call to adopt from foster care. Tomorrow afternoon we will meet Kendra. Kendra is 17 and needs an adoptive family. We are hopeful that this is the child that God has been preparing for us (as He’s been preparing us for her). We are very excited to meet her and learn more about her interests, hopes and fears. God has been so faithful as we’ve traveled the journey of becoming licensed foster care providers.

Please join us in praying that God would make his will for our family, and for Kendra, fully clear as we move into tomorrow and beyond. Below is a link to a CBS Wednesday’s Child profile on Kendra.

http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=54370@kcnc.dayport.com

Thanks for loving and supporting our expanding family!

Santonastaso Update

With Kendra's departure, we have prayed steadily about taking another fost-adopt placement. For obvious reasons, we are hesitant and told God that we would wait on him to bring us the placement. We have refrained from looking at profiles and have just taken a wait and see approach. Isn't God funny?

Through a friend, we have learned about a little girl whose mom died just before Christmas. She is 10 years old and in need of a long term placement and/or adoptive home. She is currently staying with her grandmother, but cannot stay there due to grandma's health concerns. It seems like things might move very quickly once we meet her and the county doesn't have much history since she (thankfully) hasn't been in foster care but has been with family since her mom's death. This means that we face making this life altering decision quickly on what feels like very little information. Isn't God funnt?

Please pray for us as we enter into this decision. May God's direction be clear, may we get the answers we seek, may we have confidence as we trust God with our family.