Laughing at the Future

I thought I would post some pictures of Sasha just after she has been groomed. She looks so pretty for a few weeks and then she gets into everything stinky in the yard and gets wet whenever she can! She loves water!

Here is a picture of Jonathan and I smiling and happy.

We took this a few Sundays ago on the way out the door to evening church, I don't know why, we were just playing around and I said "we have to have a picture for our dossier and to send to Anna Brooke" the problem is we don't have any good pictures of us together. We were married the Saturday before Christmas in 2005, it was the perfect wedding, just exactly the way we had prayed it would be. The gospel was clearly presented and we were so grateful for that. Our pastor did a wonderful job.

Everything was beautiful, the cake was wonderful and the chocolate fountain was a huge hit with everyone, the day was great! The best part was leaving the reception and off to start our honeymoon in the Bahamas-- so relaxing. Well, that was almost 2 years ago and we still do not have our wedding pictures. Our photographer quit doing photography and moved and away and won't respond to any of our emails or phone calls. It can really get me down at times. We paid her ALL of the money we owed her and we have nothing. Our friend who is an attorney has graciously accepted our case and is trying to help us get something, either the negatives which we would prefer of course, or our money back. So far we don't have a court date set yet.

I know that God knew this was going to happen. He wanted me to use her for my photographer for some reason, I may never know why. But, I do know that she heard the gospel at my wedding and I have been praying for her. Her salvation is more important than my pictures, but it is so hard to know she is not doing the right thing at all and I feel so helpless. She just vanished. Well, I will keep you updated, so far, it's been a slow process trying to get resolution.

Then, last night at church we celebrated communion. We had beautiful music and my friend played the violin so beautifully. The song was "The Deep Love of Jesus" I love that hymn, but it was so sad to me last night. Our church also prays for different countries and missionaries every week and this week is China! We have the chinese flag up on the stage in the sanctuary. And we have been trying to raise money for the adoption and then looking at beds for Anna Brooke and everything is so expensive. I was feeling so overwhelmed and really had china and Anna Brooke on my mind and was thinking "Lord, how am I going to make it until she can come home?" I had one of those moments where it seemed like forever until we can go to china. And then I started thinking about Jesus and what he did for me and for Anna Brooke too. Jesus knows exactly how I feel and I know we are doing exactly what he wants us to do. I know that Anna Brooke is the perfect daughter for us. And then my having to wait to go to China does not even compare with what God did for us. Anyway, I was embarrassed because I was bawling during communion. God also reminded me of two of my favorite verses from Psalms and Proverbs. Psalm 34:9-10 "Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Proverbs 31:25 "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." She laughs at the future, she has no worry about the future! How awesome is that! From now on, when I am crying I am going to laugh-- try to laugh anyway. Because we are in Christ Jesus, we should be able to laugh at the future because we lack no good thing. Besides, I like laughing much better than crying.

I hope that you all have had a wonderful relaxing Labor Day.