A Big Day!

 After another long day in court, we are happy to announce....  The judge said yes!  We were granted legal guardianship of Gladys!

  

I would like to introduce you all to the newest member of the Asta family....

  Another step completed in the process.

Just a few more and we hope to all be home soon!

We are heading back to Uganda....today!  Finally going to court to hopefully bring G home!
I figured now was a good time to get back to blogging.  Just a quick update...

We are all going over (with the exception of Alex).  Thom leaves right after court then it will just be and the girls staying in Uganda to complete the process.  We are so excited to be heading back over there and I'm really excited that Ava and Gabi are going with us this time.  Nothing like a field trip to Africa....with a brief stop over in London on the way :)

I will use the blog to keep you updated and to eventually introduce you all to the newest addition to the Asta family!

In honor of my dad

So Valentine's Day is tomorrow.  I thought it would be appropriate to write about my first love...my dad.

I have found myself thinking of him so much lately.  It seems that everywhere I go I am reminded of him.  I guess since his passing in September, I have been really good about keeping myself busy.  Our adoption process has taken up so much of my time and combine that with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and our recent trip to Uganda along with life with 3 children and it is easy to see how I was able to forget put aside how much I miss my dad.  Now that things have calmed down a bit, everything reminds me of him.  There is an emptiness in my life without him here.  The realization that he is not going to pick up the phone when I call or walk down the hall when I go home to visit.  It makes me so sad to know that Alex, along with his younger cousins, Riley and Mason will never know who their grandfather was.  As sad as I am that he isn't here, I have a peace that he is right where he should be. I know he is with Jesus and is perfect and happy and more beautiful than I can imagine.  I also know that I will see him again some day.   I still miss him.  I still selfishly want him here with us.

At my dad's funeral I had the honor of speaking and sharing a little about my his life. I wanted to let people know who Shad Phillips was through my eyes and I'd like to share some of what I said here.

"My daddy was one of the greatest blessings of my life and I know that without him I wouldn't be the woman I am today. He supported me, encouraged me and loved me. He was a good man with a big heart who was always willing to help out anyone in need.  If you needed a place to stay, our home was always open. If you needed money, he'd give what he had and if you had something that needed to be repaired the he would grab his tools and come fix it.  He was the dad who never missed a dance recital or sporting event. In fact, he was the coach for many of the teams my brothers and I were on. He loved to fish on the pier at the beach and when I was young, I loved the nights he would let me tag along so I could just sit with him in the silence while we waited for a fish to bite.  As I got older, I can recall many nights of him sitting with me on my bed talking me through one teenage crisis after another. Lastly, one of my favorite memories is of riding in the car and listening to him sing along to old school country music and my friends and I giggling because we thought he sounded like Kenny Rogers."

What I would do to hear his voice again.  To see his face again.  To hug him and tell him I love him.

They say that a father is a daughter's first love.  I believe this is true. 

He was my first love.
He was my hero.
He was my daddy.

"Be still and know that I am God"

16 days
That's how long we have before Thom and I are on a plane to Uganda.

As excited as I am....I'll admit, I'm also a little afraid.

Afraid of being away from my children for so long
Afraid of going through the process alone once Thom leaves to come home
Afraid the judge will say no
Afraid of flying home alone with both girls if he says yes
But mostly afraid that I will rely too much on myself and not enough on Him

I've been in this place before.  3 months ago as I walked to my dad's hospital room,  the fear was so intense that I thought my legs would give out.  I could hardly breathe. Fear paralyzed me as I waited to open his door, knowing what was waiting on the other side.  It was time to say goodbye.... and God held me up. He reminded me to breathe.

Why do I forget so easily? Why do I doubt that He will do it again?

"and He said to them,"Why are you afraid? O' you of little faith?"  Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm."  ~Matthew 8:26

....a great calm.  I feel like I have been in the midst of that calm for months now, while the waves are crashing all around me.

It's a good place to be.
In the palm of His hand.

That's right where I want to stay.

When fear begins to creep in, I have to remember that this is His story...not mine.  Whatever happens will be for His glory.

A few weeks away from my husband and children here is a small price to pay if it means two little girls get a family and a home. 

Just writing this post has actually encouraged me and made me feel less afraid.  I don't know what the next few months are going to look like, but I do know that life is meant to be lived!
Fear should make us take action, not keep us from moving forward. 

So, with that said...Let the adventure begin!