Season of Advent

We continue to wait and ponder. This adoption process takes so long. But I am reminded that it took a long time for God to be able to adopt us as his children. It was a season of waiting. Advent – the waiting for the arrival of the Messiah.

Many Christian traditions celebrate this season of Advent. There is reflection on the season every Sunday in the four weeks before Christmas. Each week a different facet of Advent is considered – hope, faith, joy, and love.

This season of Advent has become increasingly clear to me this year. We have hope that our girls in Ukraine will be ours. We have faith that God is at work in all of this. We anticipate the joy of reunion. Our love is already established for the girls, and will most certainly grow as we bring them home to be our daughters.

God had hope that all souls on Earth would come to know His son, and accept Him. He had faith in His son, Jesus, and knew Jesus would increase the faith of people in the world. God anticipates the joy of reunion with us, as He most likely anticipated the joy of reunion with Jesus. God so loved the world that He gave His own son.

In the season of Advent the world waited – not understanding the glory of what they were waiting for. The world had no idea that God was coming into the world in the form of a newborn baby born in a manger. The humility of it all is the most glorious aspect.

Consider the stunning proclamation given to the shepherds in Luke, chapter 2: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’

We have hope, faith, joy and love as we wait. Please pray for us and for God’s leading. We are still waiting on the homestudy. We are doing as much as we can without it, but can’t proceed too much farther until the homestudy is done.

We’re so grateful for the hope, faith, joy and love that our friends, family and Christian brothers and sisters have shared with us. Thank you.
Much love,
Dawn