Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Lord Is Faithful!


Michaela and Sophia


Keyolla and Teyolla having fun with Silas




Amy Lingamfelter (family support staff and Derek's assistant) with Silas






Leeann swimming with Silas


Part of our tribe hanging out in the hot tub!


Sasha loved being able to float in the water!


Tiffany Larson (family support staff) and Silas

Gabrielle Spears (family support staff) with Ethan




Keyolla and Silas having a blast!



This past weekend we were blessed to be able to take our entire tribe of 11, and 3 family support staff helpers (who are quickly becoming like family now) to the Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park. We had a great time together and it was so much fun seeing our three new boys come alive as they experienced a water park for the very first time! Our girls loved playing with them and we all had a great time creating new memories!

It's been amazing to see the transformation of our 3 new little guys. They are all thriving and coming to such a place of life. Ethan, who was the very quiet, unresponsive one when we first met him, is now the wild one! He loves to get rowdy and he plays hard! Silas is still the ham and we found out on our weekend adventure that he loves corn on the cob! Wow, he dug into that cob like nothing I've ever seen before! We all laughed so hard! Sasha, loved floating in the water. He had a life vest on, so he was able to really enjoy himself!

Every time we have said, "yes" to adopting, the Lord has always provided everything we've needed... from finances, to strength, wisdom and guidance. We are so blown away by His faithfulness! It's a true testament of God's hand working on behalf of those who step forward and begin taking James 1:27 seriously. I am saying this to encourage any of you who are thinking about adoption to just go for it! Begin to believe that He will make a way where sometimes, there seems to be no way! He will move on behalf of the orphan and He will provide all you need as you begin to take these precious ones in to your family and make them your own.

In Isaiah 58 it talks about true fasting. In verses 6-11 it says this:

vs.6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

vs.7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

vs.8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

vs.9-10 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.

vs.11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

God bless you today and may He encourage your heart with his love!

13 comments:

Unknown said...

WOW! I really needed to hear this today-hubby read it too :) We are contemplating VERY IMPORTANT adoption stuff right now-please pray for us! God is so AWESOME-I was reading THE EXACT SAME verses in Isaiah last night. Thank you Lord.

Arden Campbell Czaszewicz said...

Thank you for this post! I LOVE the pictures! It is EASY to see from a distance that the boys are thriving! Praise the Lord! Such a great testimony of His provisions as well! I sure wish single people could adopt. :-))))

The Loux Family said...

Hi you two awesome ladies! Yes, I will pray for you Blessed Mom to 7 :). That's so awesome that you were just reading this portion of scripture! I think maybe the Lord is confirming something He is speaking to your heart!

Arden, singles actually can adopt in some countries!

Hugs to you both!

Rachel Meier said...

Your family is a sign and a wonder! You cause faith to grow on the earth, wow! I love you all! We are getting everything in place to adopt 2 little ones from Ethiopia! I am thrilled to begin this journey and gain a testimony of the faithfulness of God like unto to yours!

The Loux Family said...

I love you Rachel! Wow, 2 huh? That is so awesome! I was excited when I heard you were adopting 1 and now to hear that it's 2 makes my heart soar! Yay! I can't wait to hear your stories of the Lord's faithfulness! If there's anything we can do, even if you just want to talk, let us know. Hugs and love!

Cindy said...

EXACTLY what I needed to hear today. We are in the midst of a Ukrainian adoption and are hitting a rough spot. The Lord used you today to minister to my heart. Thank you!!!

Kelly said...

Thanks so much for posting this!~ It is wonderful to see your boys doing so well!!! I continue to pray, trying to discern Gods will for us as we pursue our Bulgarian adoption. I had a real round of major doubt last week! But in the end I jsut couldn't abandon the hope of bringing my 2 girls home! I have been reading Isaiah 58 too! Please pray for God to move my mountain of doubt. I am pressing on, and my girls need to come home.

Thanks again. We haven't been to GWL in over a year, but I feel connected now... like someone I "know" is really doing this and living it out! Bless you and your wonderful family!

Missy said...

Ethan (soon-to-be-called "Chubby Ethan"!) is wild?? That right there is a testament to God's glory!! Wow!! I love it!!!!!!

I eat up everything I can about your new boys and how they are doing. Thanks for sharing!

That picture of Silas (how cute is he, anyway?!) and Leeann is hysterical! He looks like he's saying, "Um, excuse me...! I can't breathe, here...!!"

Stefanie and Bill said...

I love your Blog and the encouragement that your family exudes! Your faith and strength are an encouagement to me!
P.S. Little Silas reminds me so much of my youngest, Joseph! Both little Ukie cuties!
Stefanie

Arden Campbell Czaszewicz said...

Hey Renee, Is the U.S. one of those nations that allows singles to adopt? Or is it the adopting nation that you have to consult?

Thanks!

The Loux Family said...

Hi Arden,
I emailed you in response to your question :).
Hugs to you!

June Berger said...

Yes, the Lord IS faithful. We stepped out in faith for all 3 of our adoptions, 2 overlapped, we didn't have the finances any time, but we got the money we needed, just when we needed it. God provided not too early, lest we stop seeking Him, and not too late, lest we dispair, but right on time EVERY TIME! Praise God for his faithfulness, even when we are not as faithful to Him as we should be.

I'm so glad to see that your family got to have a fun weekend of fun. The boys are flourishing with the love of their forever family! Your girls are BEAUTIFUL, inside and out. It is evident in their love and care of their younger siblings.

sarahjohns said...

What more can be said? This blesses my heart, I can't imagine how it blesses yours and especially the Lords! Love you all as if I knew you! XO Sarah