Seasons of Change

Well not only is the actual seasons changing, so is the Johnson home. I say this in a good way :) God is doing some amazing things in our life and to be honest if I didn't have him to lean on some days I'm not sure I would make it. I'm not going to lie these past couple of weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for me. Preparing Rich to go to SL, him being in SL while I'm anxious and patiently :) waiting to hear from him, to his return and news of our adoption, to finding out exactly what God wants for our life.

 This is God's story not ours. We are just his hands and feet. We are so blessed beyond belied with 2 beautiful children and one extremely special little boy in SL waiting to come home. Words can't describe how hard it is to be thousands of miles from the one you long to have in your arms. BUT I have heard many people tell me this phrase this week "It's in GOD's timing, not yours" and I am so grateful for friends who are honest and tell me things I need to hear from time to time. He has really shown me this week thru many sleepless nights, many tears, and many times on my knees before him that he is preparing us for something, something great!! I am so excited about the future and all it holds for our family. God is so good to us and he deserves all the glory. Tonight in our family devotions it just warmed this mommas heart to hear my children both cry out to God for the children in Africa, there is no prayer like a child's and I love to hear my children cry out to God for there every need. It's such an amazing honor to be raising your children serving God with all there heart.

We have had many people ask how can we pray for you, well here is the "Johnson Prayer List" :)
1) Strength and protection over our family
2) We are currently waiting for our I-600a paperwork to be approved and a quick approval would be ideal
3) Kevin's adoption case is not an easy one, he still has both parents living (one abandoned and one paraplegic) so he is an abandoned orphan but not parent less. We need favor with the court in processing his case and approving his visa with no hangups. If they can't release him because of orphan status we will need to reside in SL with him in our home for 2 years.
4) Finances, traveling to SL is not a cheap flight and each trip costs approximately $3200. If anyone has any frequent flyer miles they would like to donate that would be great :)
5) Lastly, the country of SL is prayerfully going to be lifting the adoption ban sometime in October or before the end of the year. We need for everything to be in place when this happens in order to start the process of bringing Kevin home

That's all my brain can think of right now at midnight. Thank you so much for your continued prayers, we wouldn't be were we are today without amazing praying friends and family.

Here are a couple pictures of Rich's recent trip to our favorite Country Sierra Leone