Family Brings...A Peaceful Night's Sleep.

Wednesday night, we went to bed with a bit of anxiety over what February 7th would hold for our family and 3 orphaned siblings whom we loved as our own.  The power to give them a forever family, a Daddy & Mommy, and the last name "Moore" was in the hands of an Eastern European court.

Todd had a miserable night's sleep.  A combination of a bad headache and the overwhelming feeling that so much rode on what the next day would bring...not just for him, but for three children that had begun to call him "Daddy" and learned to enjoy the affection of a daddy for the first time in their lives.

"God give us the strength and words to speak.  Fill us with Your Spirit, and help us represent You well.  We trusted You before today.  We trust You with tomorrow.", was the prayer rolling over and over in our souls.

With morning came a restless busyness.  The whole morning tension kept building like a can of soda rolling around on a warm floorboard begging to be relieved, but we knew God had brought us to this moment.  It was not for our glory but His, and He would see His plan through to completion because that is what He does.

...if we are faithless, He remains faithful 

—for He cannot deny Himself.

~2 Timothy 2:13

Finally, the anxious wait outside the courtroom doors ended.  We all stood as the judge & jurors entered the courtroom.  Questions.  More questions.  Testimony of involved officials.  More questions.  Then our official request before the court.

Then a pause...

Then a decision...

Then a family.

The soda can was opened, and tears of joy burst out!  3 more orphans-no-more!

It is so surreal to now gaze at these children as they play or speak with us, and know...that's my daughter, that's my son.  We shared this thought with Anya (now Elliana) today as we sat at a table together.  We shared how sometimes in the stillness of a moment, we think on them and smile brightly as we reflect on our new relationship.

[here we still pause and smile]

Anya said,

"It was so weird.  Before court I could not sleep.  I would wake, go do something, and go back to bed.  After court, I slept so well.  I didn't wake up all night.  It was so nice."

                    [pause again for a smile]

Even now, as everyone lay sleeping soundly this night in the comfort and peace of God through family, the sing-songy "Maaaaa-mmyy" and "Daaaaa-ddy" of Tanya (now Adalyn) and Ruslan (now Joshua) roll over and over through our minds.

And soon after is the undercurrent of God's own words:

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

~John 14:18