GRIAK

Kristin ran in the Roy Griak cross country meet this weekend. It is a big meet on the U of M campus. The fun thing about it is the HUGE number of people. The meet hosts about 37 teams from all over the midwest. Kristin's race (Division III) included 485 runners. It was very exciting to HEAR the runners come down the course all at once. It truly sounded like a stampede and looked very beautiful with all the team colors. Our top Bethel runner placed 2nd and the girls team placed 8th! Kristin did well and took about 20 seconds off her time from the same meet last year. It is pretty fun running around the course with all the other fans as we try to catch the runners at various points on the course. Look for Kristin in the third picture. Can you find her?

BIRTHDAY LUNCH

Some of my friends were over this week for a birthday celebration. Well, actually we celebrated two birthdays! My friends Barb and Adie reached an important milestone, so we had good reason to celebrate. I have been celebrating with this group for quite a few years now. Although it is sometimes very difficult to find a date and time that we can all agree on, we manage to find a time that works well for most of us. It is a good reason to get together and we always have fun.

I am very lucky to have wonderful friends. It is certainly not because I am such a good person. I just try to hitch my wagon to really great people! Each of them bless and inspire me in very different ways. They challenge me and make me think. I can only hope that I might encourage them in some way as well. Anyway, I had a great time on Friday with my (mature) friends. (I might just mention that I AM the youngest in this particular group!) I can't wait until the next birthday party!

STARFISH

These thoughts come from a book...Fields of the Fatherless- Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living.

A YOUNG MAN COLLECTING SEASHELLS NOTICED AN AGED FELLOW WALKING ALONG THE BEACH. HE SAW THIS OLD MAN WALK A FEW STEPS, BEND OVER, PICK SOMETHING UP, AND FLING IT INTO THE SEA. HE REPEATED THIS OVER AND OVER.

FILLED WITH CURIOSITY, THE YOUNG MAN MOVED CLOSER UNTIL HE REALIZED WHAT THE OLD MAN WAS DOING. HE WAS PICKING UP ONE OF THE MANY STARFISH THAT LAY DYING ON THE BEACH AND THROWING THEM FAR INTO THE WATER.

THE YOUNG MAN THOUGHT THIS TASK WAS AN INCREDIBLE WASTE OF TIME. SO HE ASKED, "SIR, WHY ARE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO TRY TO SAVE ONE STARFISH WHEN THERE ARE THOUSANDS LYING ON THE BEACH? YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE!"

THE OLDER MAN SMILED, BENT OVER, PICKED UP ANOTHER STARFISH, AND FLUNG IT INTO THE OCEAN. THEN HE SAID, "IT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THAT ONE!"

I love this illustration. It is meaningful to me as we think about our adoption. But it sure applies to every other part of my life as well. I can get pretty overwhelmed with all of the bad things that happen in this world. It it so much bigger than I am. But when I simply think of where God has placed me at this moment in time, it helps to know that the best thing for me to do is to make a difference in my corner of the world... one person at a time.

Personal weakness provides a great opportunity for God's strength to come through! He's just waiting for us to call upon Him in our weakness so He can show Himself strong on our behalf. What a great position to be in!!

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses...for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 12:9-12

THE BLACK HOLE

I have been wanting to give you an update, but the last week has been anything but clear cut. If you read my last update, you know that we were told that our paperwork was sent to the US Embassy in the Philippines on September 5. We were looking for something in the mail indicating a time that we could travel to Manila. Well, a few days later, Allen just couldn't stand it any longer. He called the US embassy in Manila to see if anyone might know the status of our paperwork. After numerous recordings, he FINALLY was able to talk to an English-speaking person. This person confirmed that our case was indeed in the computer, but they hadn't received the paper copies. After receiving the paperwork, they would process it and send ANOTHER packet of paperwork back to the US for us to fill out. The process (according to this person) would normally take three months. THREE MONTHS??? This can't be! All I can say is that Allen was rather frustrated after speaking with this woman. It was evident that he seemed to understand the process much better than she did. In other words, we are not sure she really knew what she was talking about.?? It feels like we are in a black hole. Allen has tried to talk to someone else at the embassy, but always gets caught in (what he calls) "phone jail". It is next to impossible to talk to a real person. So...here we sit. Allen has been very tenacious in trying to connect with someone in the Philippines to see if there is some way to move things along.

NEWS FLASH!! - I just talked with Allen. He has made a few more calls today and managed to make some headway. He had been trying different numbers that were listed on the State Department website to see if he might have any luck. After navigating through "ten portals of phone options" (his description!) he talked to someone who was actually quite helpful. This person was evidently located in Washington D.C. She pulled up our data base which includes all that has happened to this point regarding the immigration. We now have case numbers for all three of our kids (which will be very helpful if we need to reference them). She also said that "No, you do not need to fill out another packet of paperwork." (YEAH!) All paperwork from here on out will be completed in the Philippines. The bad news is that it could still be several weeks until we hear anything. She said to call her back in 7-10 days.

As an aside, today I was at the high school pool when a girl on the middle school swim team came up to me and asked if we were adopting three kids from the Philippines. Her name is Angel and she knows Roselyn from when she lived at CSC. Angel and her sister came to Cambridge about 1 - 2 years ago. I knew of her but had never met her. She looked so sweet in her little swimsuit and cap. I am so glad that she introduced herself to me! I will look forward to the time(s) when she and Roselyn can get together. Very cool.

Wow, if you made sense of all of that, you are amazing. I know that what I just wrote is confusing...but that is my news for the day. Thanks for checking and thanks for being interested.

LIFE AND DEATH

Last weekend I was in Wisconsin at my friend's lake home. I go with a few friends every year to enjoy the fall colors. We spend time hiking, eating, shopping and relaxing. We all enjoy playing games. It is often the last chance to enjoy warm weather before fall really sets in. It is a beautiful place!

This year was unusual because two of my friends experienced life-changing news within the same 12 hour period. My friend Deb's first grandchild was born during the night (on Thursday). My friend Sherri's dad passed away a few hours later that same night. He wasn't well, but it still came as a surprise. To make matters worse, Sherri's brother-in-law has been diagnosed with an unusual cancer only a few weeks back. He is quite ill and needs to be in Rochester this week to determine what treatment, if any, might be most helpful.

The beginning of life and the end of life...both events make us think about what happens in the middle of life. It makes me think about what's important...and what I am doing about it. I am so happy for my friend who is a new grandma. I am so sad for my friend who is grieving the loss of her father. More importantly, I'm thankful that God has given me friends and family who I can share life with. I have once again been reminded that life is so fragile and that I am so blessed! I am also very secure in knowing that God is there smiling with us in the happy times and showing us mercy, compassion and comfort in the painful times. It's a great thing.

It was good just to be together last weekend. In spite of everything going on, we had a great time, laughed a lot and felt comfort in just being together. Thanks Sherri, for your kind hospitality. We are praying for you.

MOVIE PICKS

I have two movies to recommend. Both are based on true stories. Maybe you've seen them.

WAR DANCE - This movie highlights three children who have been abducted from their families who are living in a refugee camp in Northern Uganda. They have the opportunity to go to a National Music Festival and the story is both interesting and redeeming. I am not usually very excited about documentaries, but this one is great!

JOYEUX NOEL - This movie is about WW1 troops who declare a 24 hour Christmas Eve truce. I have heard of this story before, but had never seen the movie. If you have a chance, check them out!

SWIMMING

Last Saturday we made the trek up to Hibbing for a swimming invitational. It is always a fun meet and we look forward to it every year. We have been going for quite a few years starting when Lindsay was on the team. Steph did well that day and the team won the meet! It is a great group of parents and lots of fun to just hang out together. After the meet, we (swimmers and parents) head over to Sammy's Pizza. What a great tradition! Good job, Steph! We had a ball!