Time in a Bottle

Jim Croce wrote "But there never seems to be enough time, To do the things you want to do, Once you find them".  That is so true.  I had these grandiose plans of updating the blog right after we got home.  I was going to post videos, pictures, stories from across the world, and more importantly, update everyone on the newest God sent blessings to the Jones Clan.  I haven't been able to do these things yet.  The excuses are many.

Computers weren't working.  Drawers had fallen apart.  Ants were making a final push to take over the kitchen counter top.  I forgot to arrange to have the yard cut.  We've finally repaired the cabinetry, repelled the invasion, and trimmed the grass.  Cindy has started restocking Mother Hubbard's empty cupboard.  Life is slowly returning to some semblance of sanity, so let me begin the promised updates...

Joshua is slowly coming out of his shell.  He has really attached to Caitlin, who is playing the role of little mom, quite adeptly I must add.

Joanna is charming us all with her smile.  Check out this one Mark received...

The kids made a beautiful Welcome Home poster for the Double J's.

I'm extremely proud of how the kids have been handling the situation.  Caitlin and Elizabeth are helping feed, bathe, and change diapers.  Mark has become the entertainer.  Even John has stepped up and was recently awarded the diaper-to-trash ferryman award.

I had forgotten how much trouble 2 year olds could be.  Joanna has to touch everything.  She is already adept at changing the tablet desktop such that I have no idea what screen we are on, or what apps are running.  Joshua has been cooking up some tasty meals on the Fisher Price kitchenette.

Probably the hardest thing we are dealing with right now is figuring out what sets Joshua off.  He'll being playing just fine, then throw himself backwards into a screaming fit.  It takes a bit for him to calm down, but then all is fine for a while.  I'm sure he is going through a greiving process, I just wish we could figure out what the trigger is.  That being said, he is making tremendous progress.  These fits would last 10 to 20 minutes while we were still in China, but now they are usually over in a few minutes.

We know that God has a plan for these little ones, and our part is to love them, care for them, and insure them that they are in there forever home.  As we introduce them to Jesus, and share there story with the world, there is no telling how many lives will be impacted.  How many more families might be encouraged to adopt.

Ecclesiates chapter 3 delves into the mystery of time.
There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: ² a time to give birth and a time to die;  a time to plant and a time to uproot;
³ a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build;
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh;  a time to mourn and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;  a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
⁶ a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away;
⁷ a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak;
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. 
⁹ What does the worker gain from his struggles? ¹⁰ I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. ¹¹ He has made everything appropriate^[b] in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts,^[c] but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the^[d] good life. ¹³ It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. ¹⁴ I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. ¹⁵ Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.^[e]

This is our time to answer God's call, to give birth to an extended family, to plant the seeds of God's love in their hearts, to heal their emotional wounds, to tear down walls they have built around their hearts, to build a bridge to the love of Christ.  This is our time to weep with them as they say goodbye to their old lives, and laugh with them as they experience a new joy.  Time to embrace them, and search for their paths in life.  Please pray that we will be Godly parents to all the children, instilling in them the love Christ has for us.  As we will be heading to the doctor in the next few weeks to determine the best course of action to mend their physical ailments, please pray that God will guide our choices, and bless the doctors with wisdom in recommending the appropriate procedures.

As always, Thank You for your support.  Your prayers, thoughts, meals, clothes, cards, EVERYTHING.  God has blessed us in so many ways.  One major way has been YOU, our friends and family!  A special shout out to Granny and Grandma, who kept the 4 monkeys at home, while we travelled the world, retrieving two more precious children of God.  The sacrifice these two wonderful women made can never be repaid, only praised.