Prayers Please

First, I want to beg your forgiveness as I have not updated the blog in weeks. You’ve all probably been too busy to read it anyway, with all of the end of the year CRAZINESS swirling about. *Who in the world made May the new December!?* It was important that I take the time to write today because we need your prayers.

Last week, as I was digging in an old filing cabinet, I came across the original MRI report that found my cancer. It was dated May 23, 2002. I sat down right where I was, stunned that it has been almost 10 years ago.

Of course, in moments like these, you tend to get a little nostalgic. My ears were suddenly in tune with the voices of my miracle children, I glanced at my man and was overwhelmed with love and respect. I silently thanked my God for how far He had brought us and the blessings He had lavished upon us. Victorious, I felt victorious…

Fast forward to Saturday morning when I receive this email from our AWAA Family Coordinator:

…As stated previously, The Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA), has noted in their new guidelines that cancer/history of cancer will be an area with which their guidelines may become much more strict. We will most definitely be advocating for families already in the process if any of the new guidelines affect them. Additionally, we are advocating for current families to be grandfathered/there to be a grace period.

At this time, we don’t have further information. It may be weeks until these guidelines are in place, but I will update your family with information as I receive it.

Needless to say, we were very discouraged by this news. We have so many questions and no answers. I went throughout Saturday with my heart so heavy it hurt to carry it around. Tears came easy and the word “Robbed” kept bouncing around my head. Here I was, relishing the reality of being a survivor for TEN years, when we receive news that this “cancer” is threatening to rob us again. 

The losses and pain you think are long dead and buried, creep out in moments like these. You see, once upon a time, I was a little girl who wanted to sing. Read any paper written from 5-17 and you’ll read about a dream to entertain the world. A dream that never changed. When I was in my prime, having just performed my first showcase with Sony and Mercury records, cancer invaded and stole it all away. It’s a gaping hole that has never healed. And now, all these years later, it is has come to steal again.

I felt so defeated. :You took SO much from me, cancer!!! DO NOT steal THIS from us!!”

It was then, while I was knee deep in my pity party, I heard: “Your enemy comes to STEAL, kill and destroy. But I came to GIVE you life, and GIVE it to the fullest. I know the plan I have for you and little Krause and it includes a hope and a future. Your battle is NOT with cancer, not with flesh and blood. Your battle is with Satan himself. But I have already won, you CAN feel victorious, Britany, I have overcome the world.”

Wow. This is how awesome our God is, how personal. He so quickly identified who I was up against and assured me that with HIM this battle is already won. Have I continued to worry? YES. I wish I could tell you I’m Super Faith Girl…but I’m sooo not. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know one thing, I trust Him, regardless.

Our family would be so honored if you would pray for us. Specifically that the MOWCYA will allow us to proceed as I have been in remission for so long. Pray they will consider the fact we began the adoption process before the new guidelines were in place. Ryan and I don’t want to be where God is not leading, but we feel SO strongly that He led us straight to Ethiopia. And our hearts are now sold out, I really can’t explain the emotional attachment we already feel.

There are 5 million orphans in Ethiopia, surely…I MEAN SURELY, they will make an exception…

One Step Closer

Yesterday was a GLORIOUS day! After almost two months of daily paper chasing, I signed, sealed and delivered our Home Study packet to America World-Texas! Well, mailed it so USPS can deliver it. No, we’re not finished, we still have our dossier to compile but this was HUGE for the Krause Family.

My impatience begged me to overnight it but it was only going to Dallas AND $44 vs. $8 is a big difference! Plus, I didn’t want to give my man a heart attack. He had already granted me the permission to go in Mail & More by myself while he waited in the car with the kiddos. This was exercising major trust so I couldn’t let him down. I skipped all the way to the car both Ryan and I grinning from ear to ear. We took the chitlins for ice cream to celebrate. And, yes, there might have been some praise dancin’ on the way!

After the paperwork arrives in Dallas, Adela (don’t you just love her name!), our social worker, will review and then America World will schedule our home study visit. We are anxious to get our home study completed so we can apply for grants and financial assistance. It will also make us eligible to file our I600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, with US Citizens and Immigration Services. This part stresses me out as the Dept. of Homeland Security will forever have my fingerprints…don’t lie, would you too!

Last night, Ryan and I looked over our dossier checklist and were thrilled to discover we’ve just got a few items to go! People, this has me floating on air today! Hopefully, we’ll be able to go for passports next week. Other than filing with USCIS and receiving our completed home study, we’ve pretty much got everything else! I will refrain from celebrating until the completed dossier is DTE-Dossier to Ethiopia. But, for real, I am so super excited that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Check back in a few weeks though, will I be singing the same tune? Only time will tell!

So other than adoption stuff, what are the crazy Krauses up to? Well, spring is in the air and for these McArthur-Krauses that means BASEBALL!! I have been waiting impatiently since October and the time has finally come! You will be so sad to know that we don’t have cable which means no spring training games for this gal. I have been staring, and yelling, at the “coming soon” message on the MLB channel on my Roku for weeks. It’s about to drive me insane. However, both of my kids are playing this year so practices and games are starting to fill up our weeks! I will definitely be posting pics of their cute baseball tushies! Interesting fact: first time I “noticed” Ryan Krause, he was in his baseball uniform…yup, I was a goner.

Friday and Saturday, I had the honor of leading worship at HHBC women’s retreat with my girl Kelli and, wait for it…my BROTHER!! It was our very first time to sing together, something I have waited years to do. When we finished Friday night, I found my dad standing in the back of the worship chapel. He crashed the “all girls” event to hear his children sing to Jesus together. Now that I’m typing this, I don’t know why I was surprised, nothing could have kept him away. Made my heart melt a little. I will tell you this, my brother can sang…now that it’s in my bones, I will be jonesing for an encore. Hey! Maybe my dad will join us next time, how fun would that be!!?

I’ve heard so many of you tell me you haven’t been able to keep up since the first few posts. With that being said, I hope you understand that this forces me to BEG…Please, please don’t quit stopping by, keep us somewhere on your radar. We need your prayers and support more now and tomorrow than ever. I am so grateful for each of you and knowing that you are traveling this journey with us makes all the difference! So, if you haven’t yet, follow through “Networked Blogs” at the bottom of the page. Stay on this crazy train with us, it’s sure to be a ride you won’t forget!

xoxo,

Brit

Getting ready to mail all our hard work!

Ice Cream!!!!