courtney; me, life, romania: January 2012

Friday, January 20, 2012

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.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

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!