Thinking about Samantha

Update:

I can barely sit still to write this post because I am so excited over the work God is doing!  Hundreds of you answered our call to pray without ceasing and God heard all of you; He answered with a YES!  This morning Gracie was notified that Samantha's file was found and I just read on The Blessing of Verity that all of the news concerning this morning's meeting is GOOD.  

I also have a picture to show; a beautiful face to go with the name Samantha Love.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers.  We are one step closer to bringing our precious girl home!

***Original Post***

Tonight I am thinking about Sam.  If you are reading my blog for the first time, Sam (Samantha) is a 6-year-old girl with downs syndrome living in an orphanage where children with special needs are discarded and left to live out their days in a crib.  My sister has devoted her life to bringing this little girl home. Not only birth moms experience labor; Gracie is definitely laboring to bring home her little girl.

I am writing tonight because there are obstacles standing in the way of Samantha's adoption.  Tomorrow morning at 7:00 CST (8:00 Eastern Standard Time) there will be a meeting in Sam's country.  While I do not know the details of this meeting, I do know that its outcome will effect the lives of many orphans, including my niece.  Please pray that God will be glorified.

Samantha's file is also missing.  It is critical that it is found as her adoption can not move forward without it.  Please pray boldly that it will be found this week.  For more specific ways to pray please read my sister's blog Love's Ransom.  or The Blessing of Verity (a blog chronicling the adoption of Katie who used to live in the same orphanage as Sam).  I have also created a Facebook page called Bringing Samantha Home .  If you visit the page and "like" it you will receive regular updates and prayer requests.  

The devotional I read from every day is called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  Every day when I read it I feel like God is speaking to me.  I am going to close this post with today's devotional reading.  Read it and let the words sink in.  

Come to me with a thankful heart, so that you can enjoy My presence.  This is the day that I have made.  I want you to rejoice today, refusing to worry about tomorrow.  Search for all that I have prepared for you , anticipating abundant blessings and accepting difficulties as they come.  I can weave miracles into the most mundane day if you keep your focus on me.  

     Come to me with all your needs, knowing that My glorious riches are a more-than-adequate supply.  Stay in continual communication with Me, so that you can live above your circumstances even while you are in the midst of them.  Present your requests to Me with Thanksgiving, and My peace, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your heart and mind.  

(I added the bold print for emphasis)