It's been a long time in coming...

The wait has now ended for my request to receive my Romanian Residency.   With much discussion they have granted it and for that I am grateful!  The Lord has granted favor and we are happy to soon put in our request for adoption!  We have the list of all the papers needed so we are working on a few from out of state and the rest we will get in country.  I just want to say, that the day I walked out of child protection after receiving that list, was a wonderful day since it's been many days that I've come there with other children from our foundation and for other people, but this time I came for OUR Family request to adopt!  I am so excited to have this process started!  It's been about 6 years waiting!  
So that is our latest update... We have a lot to finish and a lot of papers signed before this will be finalized, but we know our God is with us and not against us and we are confident that his favor will continue!  
So Thank you for your prayers and support... we would love to continue to walk this journey together.  We will continue to keep you updated in the coming weeks and months!  

Besides paper work, I am staying busy with the children at the school I volunteer at... lots of kids with many special needs.  So if any of you that have experience in this area...feel free to comment   I would love help or suggestions and ideas for kids who don't learn quite like the rest.  Some don't speak, some don't hear, some don't ever sit for more then 5 minutes.  Or if you have some free time and you have taught at a special needs school before, We Could Use YOUR Help!!!  Come!  Visit us here in Romania!  We would love that (me, my friend, the teacher and our kids!!!)
Happy Autumn!

WILL YOU HELP?

Usually I don't post on here about our need for financial support, but it is needed!!!  We need about 31 more supporters at just $15 a month in order for us to cover all cost for our continued work in Romania and in order for us to show that we indeed do have the support to adopt and care for our son.  So, Please help us! We are very low in monthly support right now.  In July we only made $180 through our missions non-profit organization CTEN.  Or we would take 18 new supporters at $25 a month!  If God lays us on your heart, we would love you to join our work in Romania with our son Laszlo and other broken and abandoned children.  Please don't hesitate to contact us!  www.cten.org/courtneybjork  
We appriciate you all!
/ The Bjorks!

travel

this is how I get from here to there...

and the months pass...

It's been some months again...I know...but life gets busy and blogging isn't always on the agenda.  But here I am with a bit of time and some pictures that should give a bit of a glance at life with the Bjork family this spring.  We have stayed busy with constructions teams, watering our garden, bunnies, school, team cooking and worship, family time with grandparents and many birthday parties...it's been lovely this spring but hard work too. 

bunny love time

Look!  My new bunnies Selgros and Lotus :)

afternoon in the forest

birthday date night...just me and the husband!

self portrait

look at how are garden grows...

it's calming & peaceful back here in the garden...

i love being able to eat from what we have planted ourselves... our salads sure are tasty!

cowboy dinner....baked beans & roasted hotdogs

cowboy picnic center piece

sunset

brighter...

The Last time I posted was a few months back and was a post full of emotion.  Today things look a bit brighter but they can still be discouraging with all the waiting and new laws that pass here... sometime making this adoption seem impossible.  But, I know that nothing is or was a surprise to God when he allowed me to be a mama to my freckled face boy.  He knew the time I'd live here and all the time it would take, he knew I'd have to stay longer then 5 years (8 this summer) and all the new laws that would come into effect making things a bit more complicated at times ( I think) and that I would have a few hard days full of tears from all of this;  but, he also knew he'd give me a husband at that time to walk through it with me and a close network of friends and family.  He is good! Plus I've put in my papers for permanent residency and if I get a 'yes' then we can start this adoption process!!!!! 

So, today is a better a day and one that looks brighter; and I don't think that is just because of the lovely spring sunshine we've been having either!  

Here are a some photos of the past few weeks of the Bjork family!  Enjoy and Love to you all!

We have finished learning the Alphabet!

big grin!

work'n with Pappa

Don't forget to Recycle

Tractor tires anyone?  Free wagon delivery! 

Springtime weather means painting outside

and preparing out seeds for planting.

Pappa and his seed planter assistant!

Ah Spring time, how I love you and all the windows I can open and the warm air that come through!

a bit of my heart...

      I have just been listening to some music a friends posted and oh how my heart has been touched and blessed!

    For me and my family here in Romania the last little bit has been hard and this week was filled with hard things to hear, waiting in lines,visa application, new laws and many tears.  I know life is full of many things we can't control and things that just come unexpected, but when you have been waiting for something you've hoped for years to finally begin, it's hard to hear that laws have changed and the way to go about it might be more difficult then originally thought.  This bit in Proverbs came to mind the other day in the midst of all this:  Hope deferred makes the heart sick.  I knew this adoption would not be easy  or even life for that matter, but I think some days I would just like a bit of normalcy. I don't have the strength anymore, I'm tired.  What if I don't get the papers I need?  What if they say no again?  I don't know if I can bear it.  So my heart has been heavy this last week. 

      But God is still good!  I have a wonderful husband who loves and supports me and whose trust is strong!  And our family, both far and those close that serve together with us have been in prayer with us and there has been much love and encouragement!  Today as I was teaching school, my son and I were talking about Thankfulness in all things and as I was giving him examples, it was me who was being taught as well.  Today and yesterday has looked much brighter.  My heart has been awakened and comforted through song and truth and the reminders of the faithfulness of my God that he has proved and I have seen over the years. The Lord has done great things!  Life is not over and everyday holds newness and mercy; of that I am thankful.  So, though my heart is still a bit full of sorrow, it also holds some excitement of what is to come; and hope!  I firmly believe that life fully lived has both sorrow and joy and you can not have one without the other.

our morning...

first, we woke up to snow!  it was a lovely site since our winter has kind of felt like the turning of winter into spring.  i've been hoping and asking Jesus for some snow cause it sure is fun and beautiful!  so, since i was just asking for it the night before on a clear, star filled night, i was excited and joy filled my heart - how good our Jesus is!   also, we have a wood / coal burring stove brick stove that we use to heat our house and so since my husband was off to cook lunch for the team, laz and I went out to go gather up wood and coal for a fire to warm and cozy up the house.  this was to my sons delight as he was just itching to go out in the snow... plus he loved to come help us gather the wood.  so we put on our boots and grabbed our box and basket and headed out to the chicken yard to the little brick cellar of sorts.

the rest you can see through photos....

                

Pappa's first hair cutting attempt...

I've been saying I'm going to give Laszlo a trim since we have let his hair grow since our wedding in July...and as you can see from our new years photos, his hair is quite long and crazy.  So, my husband decided to have a go at it this Saturday...I went in from time to time to check and see all the many curls that were falling to the ground.  I told him he should maybe not quit his day job :) He did ask for help once...or rather advice on how to continue.... but anyway Laz sure thought it was fun to have his Pappa cut his hair!

Happy New Year!

 We wish all of you an amazing year full of newness, adventure, laughter and wonder!  Love to all and Blessings in 2012! 

1st attempt at the 'serious' pose (how???)

2nd attempt...much better!  All looking at the camera.

Ok, time to smile and wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Fireworks show from our porch

A bit loud I'd say...mostly the small ones Pappa was lighting...but still love'n it!

And Sparklers to finish off the new years eve party at the Björks!

some of my favorite things...

New Years / Winter arrangement on the porch.

some Yummy goodness my husband made!

My favorite decorated space in the house!