Symanzik Family Update

Well, we obtained all the papers that were on our list to obtain for filing for adoption of James and Jerard......

went to Department of Social Welfare and Development to turn in all the papers so they could file the request for adoption in Manila......

only to be told we need a few more documents....most of them are easy to obtain.....

but one, requires us to make an appointment with the US Embassy in Manila, fly up there for the day to get a notarized affidavit from the US Embassy, then fly back here.............

It could seem like a hassle, but it is not.......James and Jerard are sons of my heart....and I'll do what I need to for them to also be legally my sons.....

just...............

Pray for us to obtain the funding for this unexpected trip up there....

.....I find myself thinking often of the unselfish love of my Heavenly Father to "go through the hassle" of sending His Son, Jesus, here to live as a man in this sin-soaked world.....wouldn't it have been easier to send a flood and wipe us all out?.....
but, oh.....the great, great love He has for us......love unending......

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
John Wesley

We are blessed with a wonderful music director at our kids school. The High school 'bandestra' and vocal ensemble performed a delicious treat of musical melodies praising our Saviour's birth last night.

Mikayla sings in the vocal ensemble

I am really enjoying Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts" and also recieveing her daily blog posts at aholyexperience dot com.

Here is a quote from today's post....something God is teaching me....to enjoy the moments....

"Still unfolding it: the only place to be fully alive is right here.

There are dishes in the sink (and I might add toys on the floor, piles of laundry to fold and iron, clothes to hang on the line, bread to bake, shopping to be done, etc....

I profane this moment when I don't stay in it.

Be all here: and be holy. Because the Presence of I AM
always fills the present moment.

When I am mindful of this moment, the mind fills with God
and the heart fills with peace, and joy-thanks fills the prayers,
and isn't the only way God can come to us is through the door
of this moment?

Here.

Joy, it's this snowflake on the sill --

living only here in this moment....

"Wherever you are, be all there." ~Jim Elliot

Giving thanks for ALL things.........
Learning to focus on the small graces of each day.....
A friend back in the states calls this looking for the God moments....
They are all around us.....

how easy, when wearied by the battle, to lose focus of God's mercy and grace....
the learning to give thanks in all things in a learned habit....

JR Miller states: "Christian thanksgiving is the life of Christ in the heart -- transforming the disposition and the whole character.

Thanksgiving must be wrought into the life as a habit--before it can become a fixed and permanent quality. An occasional burst of praise, in the midst of years of complaining, is not what is required. Songs on rare, sunshiny days; and no songs when skies are cloudy--will not make a life of gratitude. The heart must learn to sing always. This lesson is learned only when it becomes a habit which nothing can weaken. We must persist in being thankful. When we can see no reason for praise--we must believe in the divine love and goodness, and sing in the darkness. Thanksgiving has attained its rightful place in us, only when it is part of all our days and dominates all our experiences." J. R. Miller, 1912

Are you, like Paul, learning to be content whatever the circumstances? Philippians 4:11

I know I am learning....
There is joy in the journey.........

and the deliberate giving of thanks in all things is an on-going learned habit..............

My husband is 49 years old today!

My Programmer husband tunes his heart to God; diligently seeking first HIM in all his ways.

He is a good daddy.

A blessing to others.

I'm thankful for my husband!

Happy Birthday, Honey!!!!

For everything God created is good, .......1 Timothy 4:4