Urgent prayer request

We were in the country about 2 weeks when the girls & I walked down to the golf club to meet the pro (Tim) and organise lessons. After knowing Tim only 3 days, he invited us not only to their church but also into their home. Tim & Felicity went out of their way to make us feel at home in Zimbabwe. Felicity organised horse riding, beading and ballet outings for the girls as a way for them to meet other children. Tim had the utmost patience with us women in learning the game of golf & never allows the girls to feel as if they won't be able to master the technique. They also prayed with us during our adoption and loved Samuel to bits right from the first moment they met him.

Today we learned that the pain Tim had put down to a rib injury in December, is in fact a tumor in his abdomen. At this stage doctors want to operate as soon as possible and scheduled surgery for Friday, to be done here in Harare. However another doctor suggested Tim rather go down South to Johannesburg, as facilities are more advanced and medical supplies readily available. The second scenario will leave Tim away from his wife & daughter, Natani, as well as his spiritual family for an undetermined time.

As both Tim & Felicity strongly believe that only God can lead in a situation like this, I ask tonight that we pray that God will clearly reveal to them the plans He has for them at this stage.

Lord, tonight I bring Tim, Felicity & Natani to the foot of the cross

and place them in Your loving care.

Lord, please fill their hearts & home with Your peace & presence

in the time leading up to the surgery.

Lord, we trust You for an outcome that will

glorify Your Name.

Thank you Lord that they are a family who love

and trust You.

6 months.....

Samuel has now been home 6 months and we cannot imagine what our lives would be like without him. It just feels as if he had always been part of our family. Samuel now weighs just over 10.5 kg and stands about 76cm tall - he thinks its funny when we try to measure his height, constantly wriggling. And since he has discovered walking, he is busy,busy,busy.......

Us girls started organising his 2nd birthday party this weekend (yes, I know way to early if its only 4 Febr, but this is Zimbabwe) and in the process I looked back at photos taken last year this time and was just blown away by the plans God had for this little man.

I sent this photo to Kelly almost a year ago when Samuel managed to sit on his own in the bath. We were so happy for the progress made in just 2 short weeks.

Now..... the little man tries to get out by himself when he has had enough - which doesn't happen often. He loves water!!! :)

This is a photo Mariette sent me when he had his first haircut & the thought that I was not his forever Mommy, almost broke my heart - thank you Lord that You knew.

This is our little man after his "grown up" haircut today. Innocent (the barber) thought it was time for a change in style. I love it & Samuel knows how to use it!! :)

These past 2 weeks the "parents-in-waiting" have been in my heart constantly. Many prayers have been said for paperwork, court dates, passports, visas & travel mercies not only for the children in Ghana, but also for those in Haiti and other countries waiting to go home. I ask that we continue to pray for each child-in-waiting; each family-in-waiting; each child waiting.......

As a friend's blog states:

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, orphans,

& all of the injustices in the world when He could do something about it ...

BUT I'm afraid He might ask me the same thing ..."

Tackling the new year with baby steps.

We started this year on a rather hectic, disorganised note.

We spent the last 2 days of 2009 travelling back from Cape Town to Pretoria (about 1400km) and then the 3rd & 4th of January travelling from Pretoria to Harare (another 1100km) - hair raising stuff on the last leg! Suffice to say, we have had enough of road trips for now - Samuel even resists getting into his car seat to do school runs.

Yvonne & Samuel enjoying a break during the trip down to Cape Town - yes, we did have a little tantrum when we had to get back into the car :(
Yvonne was so great with him at all the play areas!

However having said the above, we loved seeing our family and spending time in Cape Town. Samuel loved the beach; the girls were "snap happy" as they tried to capture each family moment on "film" and spend as much time as possible with family. For some of the family it was the first time meeting Samuel - Samuel handled it so well and they all loved him to bits.

Samuel meeting Toerien in Kimberley - one of his cousins

Assisting on the guitar during a "Band Hero" session at my brother's house

We were also blessed to meet up with the Paul family, Samuel's foster family from Ghana

On Christmas Day, I really wanted to believe that this was Samuel's first steps, but is really only was a stumble and then an attempt helped along by my brother, Theo

And then ..... amidst the craziness of unpacking, first school day and rotten flu for both Ellen & me, Samuel blessed us with his first steps on 6 January 2010!!!:) Praise God!!!!

Marina scarcely had time to capture this image of him getting up on his own and then 2 seconds later he walked 2 steps!!!

There were so many tears of joy!! I remember clearly sharing with my friend Anne my concerns regarding our new foster baby when we collected him almost a year ago. He had very little muscle control and could not even keep his head up - in short, he was like a newborn and this about 3 weeks before his 1st birthday. This holiday he was also able to communicate through baby sign - more & please was a sign often used when Ouma sat down with something nice to eat.

After the initial steps on the 6th, Samuel decided that the only person who warrants his efforts, is Yvonne. Mommy begs & pleads, but he only smiles, turns his back on me and starts crawling away. Then his sisters come home from school and its a whole different ballgame - literally....

George & the girls were hitting a few golf balls on our front lawn, when Samuel decided that he preferred cricket. He used a miniature bat that Oupa gave him , got up and stood the way Gretch taught him on the last day of our holiday! All on his own!! :)

And today Samuel went on his 1st bicycle ride around the garden with his Daddy.
Yes, again a small tantrum as he did not want to get off. He is definitely getting close too the age of 2!!!

For us the most amazing thing is watching Samuel try and try again until he is able to stand up on his own; master the steps in the house or build a tower toy. He listens attentively when we explain how to do it and shouts of joy & praises himself with a "well done" sign when he is able to do it. He trusts us unconditionally. He teaches all of us to listen, learn, not to give up and take joy in even the smallest achievement.

Thank you Lord,

- for the ongoing amazing healing process in Samuel's life;

- for our extended family that love him unconditionally and take

pleasure in each of his milestones;

- for an amazing Daddy & sisters that just poured love & attention into him this holiday.

Help us Lord,

- in this new year to be more like little children in listening, learning & trusting You;

- to take joy in all the baby steps / milestones in our lives that You enable us to achieve;

- to be obedient to You in all aspects of our lives.