I'm so sorry I missed it when you updated this thread, Crystal. I'll continue to pray daily for you family.
I feel like a hypocrite to say this but we are very scared and worried. My signature says worry looks around and faith looks up. We are looking up, but cant help but have very frazzled nerves right now. I keep praying for peace and for God to take this horrible knot out of my stomach. I am finding it hard to focus on daily tasks. My mind races with thoughts of not having her for Christmas and how confuesed she will be if we lose her. What will her little mind be thinking? I really try to focus on God's love for her and us. I am just having a hard time with the court date approaching. I am praying for strength and peace to get into next week.
Crystal~ I know that God tells us in the Bible that we aren't to worry about tomorrow, that tomorrow will take care of itself. However, it's also part of our human nature to worry. God knows that, and He's not going to hold a little worry against you. I'd almost think you were crazy if you weren't at all worried. Just know that you are being prayed for, that there's alot of people out there who care for you and love you, and that, no matter what, we're going to continue to love you and uphold you in our prayers. I believe that God has a special plan for little Jessie, and I'm looking forward to hearing the outcome of your court meeting next Thursday. Heidi
Crystal, AMEN to everything Heidi said!!! And don't feel like a hypocrite. You're not; you're a mommy concerned about all the "what if's" as it relates to one of your precious children. I'd be tearing my hair out if I had to deal with what you're going through! We're all behind you in this!
Couldn't we all agree to lift Crystal and her family in prayer on the day of their hearing, during the hearing, so that they could be bathed in prayer as they face all this? I know different time zones apply, but it can be figured out by the individual.
That is a wonderful idea, Becky. We should definitely do that. Prayer is a powerful weapon, and there's strength in numbers. I'm in! Heidi
Crystal, I really feel for you. While the situations were completely different I do know all to well what you are struggling with (except in our case it was the mortgage ordeal). Mom kept saying to me "Maybe the Lord is trying to teach you to walk closer in faith with Him, to trust Him fully with all of this, to let Him have FULL control of the situation..." Human nature so desperately wanted me to try to maintain some control in all of it (and what a whirl spin it was for me). It wasn't until I relinquished ALL control over to God that I felt complete peace (and what a relief it was for me) about what we were facing (granted, what you are faced with is far different than what we faced and I can't imagine being able to have the same "I don't care anymore attitude" that I HAD to develop in order to get me through it - if I were in your shoes, I'd be sick just like what you describe and I know I wouldn't be able to say "You know what I don't care anymore"). I don't have an easy solution for you - I wish I could take this all away from you - the heart ache that you as a family have to go through (at the hands of a "man" who has had no part in her life and all of a sudden decides "Poof! I want to be an instant Dad and expect the child to adapt!"). God knows the outcome and He's knows what's best for you, your family and for Jessie. While I can't take this away from you (I would if I could though), I can pray for you along with all the others who are praying for you and for your family. In the mean time, as hard as it is, hang in there. You know what - forget the schooling for right now - concentrate on your family. If you live in an area where the snow is flying - go outside and make a snowman, snow angels and all that fun stuff (assuming it snowed in PA - if not come see us, we just got swamped with 7 inches and are expecting 15 more on Saturday!!!). I call that reality teaching - teaching them about family ties and love - something far more important than numbers. Brenda Gracious and Loving Father, Lord we thank you for the group of parents here who care for the children You have entrusted to each of us and we as that You would help each of us to be the parents that You would have us to be. Lord, we think of Crystal and her family right now as they face some really tough struggles in the days ahead and we ask that You would place a hedge of protection around this family and hold them strong through out all of the trials that they face. Lord we think of Jessie and how all of this affects her Lord and we ask that you would keep her safe from all harm. Lord help Crystal to feel peace amidst all that she faces. Help her to focus on what matters most - You and the family that You have entruated to her. Lord I pray that in all of this Crystal would be a stronger person and that this will all be used somehow this would be used to further Your kingdom. In Jesus' precious name we pray, AMEN
Amen to Brenda's prayer, Father!!!! Crystal, I don't mean to pry, so if you aren't comfortable answering this please don't think I'll be offended. Have you ever thought about fasting for Jessie? You might already be doing this. I will be fasting a meal daily for Jessie until the Lord gives your family the resolve you so desperately need. I would encourage any who feel led to join in fasting for Jessie and all of Crystal's family. I truly believe this is a spiritual battle and I am a fighter! Let's all fight for this family together...the Lord will honor our collective prayers, ladies!
Words cant describe the way I am feeling right now. For a group of people to pull together for someone they have never met... I dont know if I can ever fully express how appreciative I am of all of you. Becky - thank you for your idea of prayer for me and my family next Thursday the 16th. The court hearing is at 2:10 eastern time. Our prayers are that the judge comes to a decision that day and for the decision to be for Jessie to stay with her family (us) permanently. She is 5 and will need to attend court with us. She is a very shy, little girl so prayers for her that she wont be scared. The biological mother and father are both suppose to be there. I hope this doesnt sound mean, but we are hoping the bio father doesnt even show. The mother has already signed all paperwork and is very supportive for this adoption. I would also like prayer for our lawyer and the judge. Thank you for the beautiful prayer Brenda. Brooke, I think that is a wonderful idea. Honestly I have never fasted before, but that might help give me peace about the situation. It might help me give it to God totally, which is what I am desperately trying to do. Again, thanks to all of you so willing to think and pray for my family. I have cut and pasted all of your responses and prayers to put in Jessie's baby book. I want her to know how many people supported us. There is power in prayer.
Crystal I have been reading the posts and my heart goes to you and your family. My prayers are with you. I pray for that Jessie will be home with you where she belongs.
Oh, the picture was taken after a field trip to our local fire company in October for fire prevention month. She loves hats!! :wink:
Crystal~ She is an absolutely gorgeous little gir! (as you already know) I know how much you enjoy her! Thanks for thinking to post a picture. Heidi
Crystal, you're a better Christian than I. If someone was trying to take my Jeannie away I'd be planning... I don't know what. Maybe the vermin will go away quietly. I have to tell you, though- Kevin and Jeannie each have a different father. I had no moral training when I got pregnant with Kevin when I was 20. Although I have a judgement for child support, one of the reasons I never pushed to collect was that the bio. male said he'd take Kevin away if I did. I was young and ditzy, he was twice as old and knew I'd be worried. Even just a few years ago, I held my breath when we changed Kevin's last name, because I know the other biological parent has some say. The worm I was involved with had no more interest in a child than did the man in the moon. I hope it goes the same way for you- that perhaps This worm has an agenda that disappears once the judge gets done with him. As a mother, though, I know it's too hard to get your hopes up.
The adoption papers were served this past summer. The bio father told us he was going to fight for custody in the beginning of October. Jessie has lived with us most of her life. It has felt very long. You know?? I almost cant take it anymore. I am so scared that the judge wont make a decision this Thursday and I will have to continue to live with this knot in my stomach for even longer. There is a chance the judge wont make a decision this week. I am praying for finalization as much as I am praying we dont lose our daughter. I would love to feel peacful for Christmas. I have been on edge and I dont know about all of you, but I tend to control the temperment of my household. I try - I really do try to run my home as normal as possible, but it is always there, in the back of my mind an heavy on my heart that I may lose my child. I just really pray by Christmas this will all be behind us.
Ouch! Here comes a skeleton from my closet... I had my oldest child (Christian) when I was 18 years old. His "father" (I sometimes refer to him as being a sperm donor only - sorry) didn't want anything more to do with me when I told him I was pregnant. Long story short, I was eventually put in a position where I was asked to go after him for support payments. I initially did but when he threatened me with joint custody jargen, I dropped it like a hot potato. A couple years later, the issue came up again but I was told he was going to file for sole custody! I was sick to my stomach - here was a leech who wanted nothing to do with me while I was preganat and at that point had seen Christian all of maybe 6 times in his lifetime (I think Christian was about 6 or 7 by then). I was so upset, I called a lawyer and this is what she had told me... In Canada, absolutely anybody on the face of the earth can apply for custody of any child (I could ask for custody of Jessie), but when it goes to court, the judge looks at the relationship the child has with the seeker (if that's the right word to use) and if none (or very little of one) exists, the chances of that happening are slim to none. In the end, the scenario that we faced at the time was again dropped and so far his 'father' hasn't tried to pull anything off on us. I'm not really sure how different the laws are between countries but my prayer is that logic and common sense will prevail and that the 'leech' will have a change of heart, realizing what he is doing to Jessie and to everyone else and decide that the absolute best way he could love her would be to 'let her go' (not that he's had a lot of contact in the first place). This is heart wrenching and gut wrenching. Crystal, hang in there. Think of the Footprints story - it is now that you only see one set of foot prints on the beach - and it is now that God IS carrying you through all of this - even though it doesn't feel that way to you right now. This all somehow fits into His perfect plan for your life - I continue to pray for you about all of this. I've even prayed that if the biological father has any skeletons in his closet that they will surface prior to the court date to get him out of the picture... God will make a way Brenda
Crystal, My heart aches for you and Jessie, little darling. I hope that bright, happy, beautiful smile will never leave her. You and your family are in my prayers. I'm also praying for your lawyer (that he will win; that Jessie will be yours forever) and the judge (that he will make the right decision). There's a saying: "The Lord will either calm your storm or allow it to rage while He calms you." Well, I'm praying for both!
