Perseverance

Per·se·ver·ance  

/ˌpərsəˈvi(ə)rəns/

Noun

1. Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
2. Continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory. 

Pa·tience  

/ˈpāSHəns/

Noun

The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.


Up until now I don't think Bobby and I have ever really grasped what perseverance really meant.  This whole time I thought God was working patience in us through this process but really when I read the definition of patience, it's plain to see that it doesn't match what we've gone through at all. Through this entire journey this far, we have been delayed, we've suffered, we've gotten angry, and we've gotten upset at certain aspects and also at each other.  There have been many times where we've both lacked grace and at adversity had a hard time seeing the glory in it all.  There have been days where we both questioned God if this is really what He wants for us but every time we asked He made it very clear to our hearts that this life was chosen for us to lead and that He has set this path for us to be on.  Over this entire six months of preparing for our son to come home, we've watched the pieces of the puzzle fall gracefully into place and things we thought would be impossible God made possible.  We've received help from unlikely sources and things have been taken care of in ways that only God could have orchestrated and it's simply been amazing to see just His provisions come through.  Though emotionally this has been the toughest thing we've done so far, for every tough feat we've faced, it has been met with God's grace for us coupled with reminders that He is in control.  Currently at this moment we are done with all of the home preparations and are waiting for a case worker to be assigned to us for our home study.  TGBTG! :) Ever since I sent the last email to our file builder at Gladney I have been over the moon excited just thinking that we are one more huge step closer to having the kiddo come home. There is literally nothing that puts all of this in perspective more than walking into that bedroom and seeing it painted, furnished, and waiting to be made complete by our little boy.  WOW WOW WOW! :)  At this point all we have to do is wait because the ball is now in Gladney's court. Maybe this is where the patience comes in. Ha!  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Hannah