August 15 Emma at Muskegon State Park

Sunday Evening:  We had a much "better" experience volunteering for Calvary Kids this morning. Key is the fact that there were TWELVE little kiddos instead of TWENTY ... plus, we had SIX helpers (including us). Keegan wasn't there raising havock, but Jonah WAS. Thankfully, a young helper by the name of GILES took it on himself to do a 1-on-1 with Jonah most of the morning and kept things in control. The other thing was that we did NOT get out the one and only beach ball from the toy closet. They children fight over it terribly, and the boys get completely out of control ... SO ... it was a less stressful morning!

We ate a nice meal, did some strategizing about WHERE Emma is going to live--and we did some praying about it as well. We took a nap and then decided to drive out to Muskegon State Park (the north side of the channel) to walk the beach and take in the sunset. I'm so glad we did. This was exactly what I needed.

I love these pictures of Emma.

It was far less crowded with boats and people on this side of the channel. I have edited people out of these pictures who had no business being in them!

Our shadows ...

Ah ... there's that beautiful smile! Our hearts have been so heavy. We are trying to keep up hope, but everywhere we look there is a LONG waiting list ... or the price is too high ... or the neighborhood extremely questionable.

It is very difficult, sometimes, to trust that the Lord will answer our prayers. In this case, we are NOT praying for a WANT, but for a definite NEED. Please, Lord, hear the cries of our hearts. Show us the way. Give us peace while we wait for You.