That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. - Psalm 26:7

During a season in the adoption process that honestly is seeming a bit "transactional", I am thankful for an opportunity to share some things I am thankful for.

1) I am thankful for a love that endures forever from my Lord and Saviour...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39

-Thank you Lord for showing me an example of how to love. I am forever learning and desirous to love like You.



2) I am thankful for my wife. She is my completer, my best friend, and an amazing partner. I thank the Lord for His providence in providing her to me...Who can find a virtous woman? for her price is far above rubies. -Proverbs 31:10
-May I be a better leader and companion. May I love her better...Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it - Ephesians 5:25 (and again thank you Lord for your example).

3) I am thankful for my children (biological and adopted), who continually bring me joy and blessing...Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them - Psalm 127:5a. Each one brings a special beauty and blessing to our home. Yes, I love the adopted children as much as I do the biological ones, and am just as thankful for them. It was said by someone that I could not love the adopted children as much as the biological ones. All I can say to that thus far is that it is no different than when I met my new born children for the first time and am always amazed at how I immediately love them like I do all of the other children. Thank you Lord for putting that in me.

-May I love them more like you love...The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. -Psalm 145:8...and have the wisdom necessary to lead them and teach them. Thank you for your example.

4) Thankful for being brought to Eastern Europe to adopt Max (Matthew) and Ivanna.









-Max (Matthew): So full of laughter and very intelligent. He will be six years old in February. They send children to the Mental Institution at six. Just a couple of months away. To think that your laughter, wit and love would have been locked away and snuffed out by a society that does not understand that you are perfectly made by a loving Father and Creator who has a perfect plan. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. - Psalm 139:13-14



-Ivanna: Oh girl, I thought that you were going to be a quiet one. You were just lulled to sleep by the room you have been in for five years of your life. The expectations and interactions were little and so you did little. Just a couple of short weeks and you have gone from one that would not eat, were tiny, and would not interact to WALKING, LAUGHING, BOSSING, and ARE ALIVE and LOVE to BE LOVED! You give me so much hope and trust in the power of our Lord and of His kind of love. I will never forget the Ivanna that was so limp and lifeless that I met and just yesterday I came to visit you and you where hanging to the edge of the crib like a monkey...playing and joyful. I love you and am thankful for you and know that you are still a skinny minny, but am thankful you are in my life. You are growing me!






5) I am thankful for friends who pray and walk with us! Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13
-May I be a better friend and more giving. Thank you for giving it all...for loving me enough to purchase my redemption through your shed blood on Calvary's Cross.

6) I am thankful that My Lord continually shows His hand. It is wonderful to watch Him work and know that it could only have come from Him! They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! - Psalm 107:23-30
-May I have more faith to trust in You that You would continue to show Yourself amazing! I never want to stop being amazed at your marvelous works.