My children love to hear me tell stories. And they really only want to hear one kind of story - a story about themselves! Whether I'm recounting a significant event ["Lydia, remember the day that you went to the hospital and met Isaac and ....."] or something small and every day ["Isaac, I remember when you used to sit in your high chair and ....."] they love to hear stories about themselves!
And I love to tell them.
And one story I cannot wait to tell is "John Paul, remember the day you came to our family? And you were scared and crying and Mommy and Daddy were ......... and God was there." And I cannot wait to tell him how many friends were praying for him and for us.
If you are praying, would you leave a comment and tell us? You can sign anonymously, write a short little note, whatever. One day I will print them or make them into a book or something to keep - a tangible reminder of God's goodness to our family through the love of His people.
It'll be a gift for John Paul. And for us.
(specific ways to pray listed in the post below)
32 comments:
Oh Laura, tears run down my eyes as I read the list you wrote of things to pray about! We are praying, praying, praying! I just keep thinking about little John Paul and the massive transition awaiting him and all of you, and praying for grace and peace amidst it all in each of your 7 hearts and minds. John Paul, when you read this someday, know that you are such a special boy and you have a family that is SO excited to welcome you home, aunties and uncles and cousins included! We can't wait to meet you someday! We love you!
We send much encouragement and love to each of you and remember how faithful your family's witness is to us. Know we are praying for each of you and look forward to greeting you in person some day! AM
John Paul, you are so very loved. We are praying for you and we love you even though we haven't met you yet!!! You are so dearly loved by your family. They have prayed and waited and trusted and are so eager to let you know their deep love for you which flows from our Heavenly Father's love. And he's the one who loves you perfectly and has had his hand on you from the moment you were created! Praying for you even now, dear little one! The Huffmans
Kvernens,
We are SO excited for how God has formed your family and all that he is in store for all 7 of you. It has been a joy to walk along side you as you have continued to walk in faith under many trials. Our family will be praying for yours...for comfort and good grief, for the feeling of being loved and safe from the start, for bonding for everyone in the family together in the Father's love. Cannot wait to meet JP and Luke sometime this year. Love, Gaertners
We are praying for you, John Paul, as you join this wonderful family! We know that they cannot wait to have you a part of it, too.
We are so privileged to have been praying for you, dear John Paul, for several years now, ever since your Mommy and Daddy told us of their hearts desire to adopt. I hope and pray that your tears will be less than more as you leave your dear foster "mommy" and that she will be given much strength and comfort to say a very hard goodbye to a special little boy. I am praying for a very warm and special meeting of you and your new Mommy and Daddy, and for all of you as you will be getting to know each other and learn about your new family. Praise God He has given you all each other and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that even though this is very difficult, hard , scary and exciting, that this is good and right and so pleasing of heavenly father. We love you so much, dear John Paul and I'm starting to think about getting your Christmas stocking made. Love , Grandma Jan
We prayed for you from Bangkok, and have prayed for you during our short stay in America. We will continue to pray for you from Africa (our new home) after you join your new and wonderful family. God blesses us with each journey in life, and you are so blessed that God gave you THIS family to be a part of! I know God has amazing things in store for you, John Paul! God loves you and so does your new family!!
Love, the Grawburg family (Jacci, Chris, Max & Siena)
John Paul, We have prayed for you for years before ever even knowing your name or seeing your face. We know that God's gifts are worth the wait they sometimes take. We feel blessed to know your family and will always be praying for you and your family! Marc, Jennifer, and Calvin Fleischer
John Paul, we have been praying for a long time that God would provide a special baby for the Kvernens. We know that God has His hand on your life and He has called you to be a part of this loving family. Our prayer is that God would fill you with His comfort, mercy, and love, and that you will grow up to be all He has called you to be. Love, The Thomases
sweet little John Paul,your dear mom and pop have been waited for you for so long.they just can't wait to welcome you to your new family.and i can't wait to be your susan ayi as well.your story reminds me a lot of God's amazing love in this corrupted world. i know it must be a hard process. thank you for your striving.
John Paul, We cannot wait to meet you. We are praying that you will feel the love your new family is going to give you. You are such a gift to this family and a real answer to prayer.
John Paul, I have had the privilege of walking through much of this journey with your mommy - via emails only - but journeying together nonetheless. She has been praying for you, pursuing you and anxiously awaiting you. I've heard it in every email. She LOVES you. She has fought for you. She has spent many a night on paperwork. This family has been planned for you from the beginning of time! How exciting! I hope to meet you one day. Love, Sheryl
We are praying for your family as you welcome this sweet boy into his forever family! We can't wait to see how God uses him in your family and for His kingdom! Love you guys!
We are praying! And sweet John Paul the Jackson's cannot wait to one day meet you. You have been prayed for before we ever knew that it was you who would bless Matt and Laura's home. You are a treasure and a gift. God Bless you all.
What a privelage and blessing it is to join with family and friends all over the world to pray for you John Paul. To a living and loving God that not only hears our prays, but listens as our patient and loving Father. We look forward to welcoming you into our family and are praying that Daddy, Mommy, Juliana, Lydia, Isaac, Luke and you John Paul will all know God's peace and strngth in the days ahead. Love Grandpa Luther
I have been praying for all of you for such a long time and will continue to do so! It is a privilege to be a part of the story by way of our prayers. What an awesome God we serve!! John Paul, I know that your Mommy and Daddy will tell you all about HIM.
It has been such an honor to pray for you, John Paul, even before we knew your name. God's plans and purposes are so good and we know that He has an amazing plan for your life. We are praying for your transition to your new forever family. May peace, love and joy be abundant now and always.
Love, The Seusers
John Paul, we have been praying for you for years, not even knowing who we were praying for. Now the day is quickly approaching when you will be with your mom and dad and meet your family! We praise God for His provision both for you and your family. We are praying for the huge transition ahead of you. We can't wait to meet you some day!! I (Casey) am crying my eyes out as I type just thinking of the goodness of God and His crazy, unbelievable timing and plan. Wow! Only He could have come up with this plan! He is good and has good for you all!!
Dear John Paul and family,
I am not one who likes to write on blogs, but I just couldn't pass this up. John Paul, we have been praying for you to join this family for a long time. February 18, 2012 your Mommy wrote a letter on the family blog that mad me cry so hard to realize how much you were wanted and loved long before joining your family. We are praying for you as you adjust to a family who has so much love to offer you. We are also praying that some day you will join God's forever family as you trust in Jesus who died on the cross to pay for your sin. We look forward to meeting you some day when you come to Grand Forks to visit Grandpa and Grandma.
Love to a very extra-special family,
Doug and Ruth
Praying for your sweet family in this big and exciting transition. I LOVE following your blog, and getting updates when I see your parents at ESUMC! It is neat to see God working through all of this - such a testimony to His love and grace. John Paul - You are joining an amazing family and they will love you more than you can imagine, and they are a living testimony to God's light. I can't wait to meet you in the years to come.
Love, Stephanie Jones
John Paul- So many prayers have been said for you and your families-the family who gave you a strong start in life and the family who God planned to love & nurture you as you grow up. "For I know the plans I have for you - plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". May you feel His love always and call on Him for strength & courage. God bless you and your new family as you journey together.
Robin & Michael
Hi Laura! I am friends with EA and have heard your story.... praying for you all on your Gotcha Day! What amazing blessings from our Lord!
Today is gotcha day for all of us, John Paul. This day will always be a special day in our lives. We are trusting that God is with you and with your new family at this time and throughout your life. We love you and look forward to loving you in the future. Gramdmama and Grandaddy.
Oh Father, may you grant wisdom and patience to Matt and Laura as they travel to pick up little John Paul. They've tried their best to prepare, but they just don't know what to expect. Be with John Paul as he doesn't realize that his world is about to turn upside down. Julianna, Lydia, and Isaac are excited about a new brother ... but the truth is, they don't know what's coming either. But Father, we are so glad that YOU DO! You've had this planned all along. Thank you for knowing every little detail. Thank you for leading John Paul to the Kvernens. May they grow in love for each other and for You!
We're praying for all of you as you welcome sweet John Paul into your (our) family. Blessings, Melanie, Dave, Abigail & Nathaniel
Laura,
YAY! I am so glad the time has come. You may be holding John Paul right now!! I pray that the Lord would RICHLY bless this transition, that it would be a smooth one, and that peace would abound in his heart and in the hearts of your whole family. I pray that the Lord would bless you with good energy for what lies ahead. It blesses me so much to know how great of a life John Paul will have with your family. Praise the Lord for the ways He is intervening in the life of your son, I think of these moments as the kingdom coming. Praise God that this is a child of the King, and that his life will be so richly blessed from your love and care.
With Love,
Jenn Groff
So happy for your family to finally reach this part of the journey. We pray for the whole family to transition with joy, love, patience and strength for the days ahead. Love you all!
Susan, Graham and Ryan
John Paul, we are praying for your little heart to trust your Mommy and Daddy as they represent God's heart for you. They, and He, love you unconditionally. We pray you will trust in God all your life. Welcome to the Kvernen family, little one!
We have been praying and we are SO excited about this adoption and that the long wait if finally OVER! John Paul, you are such a special and precious boy and you are joining an equally special and precious family. We have thought about YOU for years...not knowing exactly who you were but knowing that God was preparing a family for you through the Kvernans. His love for you is abundant and steadfast and sure and we pray that you will know that love and how it moved your mom and dad to come after you and make you a part of their family. You are a gift and you have been given the gift of a great family! We love you!
John Paul, you are loved so much by so many. For me you are a reminder of the truth of God's plan. Just the other day I heard a saying that said, "when you see something truly beautiful it brings you a sense of hope". As I see your beautiful face that is how I feel--so much HOPE! I am praising the Lord for you and praying for your transition home. I am very thankful for your parents and for the role your mother has had in my life--they have desired you for so long. It is truly amazing to know that you are with them now.
With love, Whitney Jirak
Oh, dearest John Paul, you are so very loved. Welcome with not only the safety arms of Our Heavenly Father, your Daddy Matt and Mommy Laura but by all of your aunts/uncles/ great aunts & uncles/and layers of cousins!! I'm so blessed to by the openness your Mommy & Daddy are in sharing your new forever family. I love you, will praise Our Abba Father daily for you as well as the rest of your family. GrAunt BN
John Paul - we are praying for you as you transition to this, your forever family. We have prayed for you long before we knew your name and know that God has great plans for you! May you come to know His love like never before! Grace and peace, the Hubbells
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