We have had a busy and very emotional month. You may have seen some of these pictures on Facebook, but some of them will be new. I hope you can get a glimpse of what we have done this month through our photos. Thank you for your continued prayers. Greg goes for his next MRI on Thursday the 11th of August.
At the airport before Alex and I left for Mexico.
Alex and I with J'Lee. She was squeezing us so tight it made our arms hurt!
Moving our things out.
Going through our things was definitely a lot of work. Trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of was something I never want to do again.
Like throwing these things out, was really, really tough.
Annie's dolls were all excited about their future. The 3 on wall were all going to an orphanage to meet their new mamas. The one standing was boarding a plane to meet Annie again.
We had a lot of fun J'Lee time!
Alex ate everything he could get his hands on that his tastebuds had missed!
One day we were in a store and a man came up to us and asked if we were the son and wife of Gregorio. He said he had heard Greg give a Bible study once. He explained that at the time he wasn't a believer in Christ but that over the past few months he has come to know Jesus as his Savior. He said he has been praying for Greg ever since and knows that God has big plans for Greg. I broke down right there in the store and sobbed. Just knowing a sweet man who doesn't even know my husband is praying and believing for his healing. I was blessed for sure!
Got to visit with my sweet neighbor. She definitely reminds me of what suffering truly is.
Our gas station attendant sent her best to Greg and wanted to make sure he was staying positive. I love these people!
My neighbor blowing kisses as I drove away.
Even the local police, (which I had to blur out for their safety) came by to see how he was doing. Greg made a big impact on all those he met! He will be missed in Mexico!
Celebrated my friend, Melissa's birthday while I was there.
Visited with lots of amazing friends!
Saying Goodbye was not fun!
Alex and I saw 3 movies while in Mexico b/c they are so cheap. They are cheap and the theaters are so much nicer! Even the concessions are extremely cheap and organized. Look here how they have a number showing for the next available cash register. It was like a well oiled machine!
All of that for $10
Made it home with all of our bags!
Greg filled in for a pastor at a church in SC.
After the service was over, we met this sweet man who had the same surgery as Greg did. He had it one week after Greg had his, they have the same amazing oncologist and they are both doing great! We were blessed to see how God is using Greg to encourage others who are walking the same road he is.
Annie was able to connect with one of her camp friends.
Jerod surprised us with a visit! We really miss him!
Here he is with two of his campers.
Then we got news that our sweet little Ali has been matched with a family in Italy. We are so thankful that God has provided a family for her. We desperately wanted to be that family, but we are happy she has one! Through all of the trials we have faced over the past year, Ali was one of things we just didn't understand. We couldn't wrap our heads around why God would lead us to adopt, allow us to raise $30,000, only to spend it and never be able to adopt her. We didn't understand why he would allow all of that $ just go to waste. We know so many people donated hard earned money and we didn't take it lightly that it was all gone. Then the Lord brought the story of Abraham and Isaac to my mind. Abraham and Isaac prepared quite a bit for their hike up a mountain. Abraham had to cut up some wood for the offering, they had to travel to the appointed place, then they hiked up to this place with the wood, prepared an alter, and Isaac climbed up on the alter. As Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his son, God provided the ram for them. This lesson was to see how obedient they would be. So maybe, we were just asked to adopt, asked to raise money, those who gave were asked to give and all of that was done just to see if we would and then to show that God would provide for our every need. He will provide for us financially when we need it, he will provide a family for us when we need it, He will provide for us healing when we need it. God cares for every detail of our lives. That is what the Lord has shown us. We pray that our situation will not hinder you from giving to adoptions in the future. We also pray the Lord will bless all of you who gave and you will know that your giving blessed us as we were able to see His ability to provide even when it seemed an incredible amount that needed to be raised. We love you all and ask that you would pray for our future. We still have a desire to adopt in the future but have no idea what that will look like, or if it is even possible. For now, we will just be obedient to God. We love you.
