Surgery week

I think everyone we know already knows this, but just wanted to update a little.  Samuel will be having heart surgery on Thurs, July 18.  I am running around trying to make sure everything is in order.  Ha!  That's kind of funny if you know me very well.  I'm mostly just running in circles and doing things that are pretty much meaningless ;)  Surgery is scheduled for 7:15 a.m.  The surgeon said 4-6 hour surgery.  They said if everything goes perfectly, Samuel will be in PICU for 5-7 days.  I won't try to explain the surgery, just suffice it to say that the surgeons just kept saying "high risk."  There are lots of details that could be prayed for, but I think asking God for a perfect surgery with no complications before, during, or after will cover it.  For all those who have told me you're praying, thank you.  We sure feel them, as will the surgeons and Samuel.  We will post updates on Facebook as we can.

He is ABLE!

~Martha

A prayer journal of sorts

So I've been thinking A LOT about Samuel's upcoming surgery.  Surprised, right?  Those thoughts include not only the surgery and Samuel's health, but the effects on the rest of our family.  I will admit that worry is probably a better way to describe a lot of those "thoughts."  We're all familiar with the "what if" game, right?  I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit's intervention in my thoughts  worries.  My thoughts turned to prayers already answered just in Samuel's adoption journey.  I went back through this blog and looked at the prayer requests and reminded myself of the answers.  Here's a synopsis.

1) Got our pre-approval from China, even when we didn't meet all the qualifications.
2) Home study and medicals complete.
3) Hotel was available during Canton Trade Fair.
4) God's financial provision
5) Good timing for travel
6) Good health for everyone
7) Good flight arrangements
8) Samuel would know we love him and trust us
9) Samuel's health would be strong enough for stress of meeting us/getting him home
10) Smooth paperwork process in China
11) Samuel had a negative TB test
12) 31 hrs of travel home went well
13) Heart cath went well

I KNOW there has been many more answered prayers, but I found these in a five minute scan of the blog.  Yesterday, I picked up a Mark Batterson book (for $5 at Mardel) called The Circle Maker.  My friend Kim H. had mentioned reading it and I thought, why not?  I'm just a couple of chapters in, but it's about powerful prayer. 

So friends, I am committing to praying big prayers about Samuel's surgery, recovery, and our entire family during it all.  Because I know that my stalkers' prayers were a big part of all of the above, I will share my specific requests yet again.

• completely successful surgery and recovery with NO complications
• doctors say 5-7 day minimum hospital stay - let's pray for 5
• my girls will be safe and happy while Matt & I are so occupied with their brother
• Matt & I will have all the physical, emotional, and spiritual energy we're going to need

Lastly, a personal request.  I need to make some big changes personally to improve my health.  I can't do it.  Pray for me to submit my will to His and do what it takes.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
~Martha

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  Eph 3:20-21