July-September 2009...

we're months spent waiting.

Waiting for ::

++ the g@v't to figure out if they were going to approve our visas or not...

That, in and of itself, was by far the hardest wait. The boys were legally ours according to Ugandan law. Our g@v't felt the need to dispute it, for no good reason. It was a total spiritual battle. There were many many moments I totally, completely trusted the Lord to work it all out. Yet, there were far more moments where I was an emotional mess. I think I sat on the couch for a week after we got home and did absolutely nothing but stare, cry, pray, and hug Joshua and Caleb. I had panic attacks...which I'd never had before. I was exhausted. Jeff was exhausted.

++ the Lord to provide for our daily needs...

Since Jeff lost his job while we were in Africa in June, we spent this time trusting Him for our provision. Thankfully, Jeff is good at building/fixing things and was able to quickly get jobs lined up working on folks houses, yards, remodeling, etc. (We are still in this same place as I type. No "job" for Jeff, but he stays busy doing contract work for others.)

++ the Lord to provide travel expenses should the need arise...

We felt very strongly, that if/when the visas were approved, we'd travel to Uganda as an ENTIRE FAMILY. I could not face leaving J and C in the US all over again. It was hard enough the first time. The Lord did provide the money necessary for all of us to go to Uganda together, through London. We spent one night in London and tried our best to see as much as we could with our big boys in 1.5 days as we could. We all had a wonderful time spent together as the Final Four Dodsons...soon to be The Dodson 7.
++ July 31, 2009 our visas were approved Praise God! All glory and honor go to HIM...it was the Father to the fatherless who set our children free. We waited for airfare to go down in price...from $25,000 in August for all 7 to $6800 for all 7. It gave us lots of time to finish some odds and ends on the house/yard and prepare the boys for the HUGE adjustment that lay ahead. It was actually a big ol' blessing that we had these few months just the four of us. We had no clue how hard our first few months home would be, and now that I look back, I am thankful for our lazy summer between July-Sept.

++ September 11, 2009 arrived. The day we headed off to pick up our 3 boys who had waited for 2.5 months for Daddy and Mommy to return, for the Emb@ssy to 'be fixed' as Alan said, for God to move on their behalf.

The Source Cafe, Jinja, Uganda

It is quite difficult to get 7 people to look at the camera, smile at the camera, etc all at the same time. whew!

++++

Home for 4 months and things are beginning to even out. I hear 6 months is even better. We have experienced tremendous highs and lows during the first four months, but I must say this...we are blessed beyond measure. I cannot imagine what life would be like without A J D. This family is their family. It is where we all belong, where God planted all of us. He is now watering,pruning, and growing us with his Heavenly showers, His word, and His sanctifying power through the person and work of His Son Jesus.