Well, for those who don't know I stepped out of my comfort zone here recently. I took the encouragement of friends and family and a huge leap of faith and auditioned for a nationally syndicated show, the X Factor. The auditions were in Dallas and I made the first 3 rounds and had a blast. It was an incredible experience and a wonderful opportunity to meet people who are so far from my own bubble, I'm sure I would not have met them otherwise.
And for those who watch, American Idol and America's Got Talent and other such shows...yes there are the 'original' looking people as well as some incredibly talented and genuine people. I had the opportunity to talk and share stories with so many people.
One situation sticks out in my mind. During the second cut we were taken in groups of 10, based on age, O was for over 26 - or as we called it...the oldies! And taken back to the auditioning booths and made to wait for our turn. The waiting process varied but this particular time we sat for about 40 minutes to an hour. I sat next to an African American man who said he was 41. He had been married for 21 years and had 3 grown children and already a grandson. While I don't want to put a label on anyone I also want to depict my first impression of him to you. I would say he was a bit rougher than I would normally associate with. But here we were sitting next to one another, nervous and hoping that at 30 (me) and 41, our dreams might finally come true. So we started talking and after showing off pictures of our kids he asked me what I did and about my family. I mentioned that my husband is a youth pastor and it was complete shut down. I wish I had video taped it because the mention of God or me having any connection to a church was definitely not a good thing in his book and his face and actions hid none of that.
Well, needless to say we stopped conversing rather abruptly and waited some more. But after a few minutes the others in our group started a conversation and the two of us were thrown back together talking and laughing as if the 'God' thing never happened. And after some time my name was called to go and audition, but before I got up he said to me, "I was kind of nervous when you said your husband works at a church...but you're really cool." That was it! Something had changed in the course of 20 minutes.
My assumption from this encounter was at some point he had a bad experience with a Christian. Something happened that made him think all Jesus people were awful and so he didn't want me judging him or throwing Jesus in his face. But by the end I think he realized it wasn't such a bad thing. I didn't open my Bible or preach to him...I didn't share my own salvation story. I just laughed and talked and listened. While I know I probably won't ever see this man again I'm hoping that the Holy Spirit used me to plant a seed. A seed that will allow him to next time not turn away from the believer. A seed that will tempt him to darken the door of a church some day, hoping to find laughter and friendship and hope! And this is just one of many stories I could tell you about my adventure.
I saw a lot of people searching and hoping for I don't know what. Something to fill the void of dissatisfaction. Something to find their identity in. I am sure there was a whole lot of things I can't even imagine people were looking for. But I know that while my motives and expectations for the trip were nothing compared to what God had planned for me, I am so thankful He knows whats best for me.
So, I didn't make it to the televised audition and while the rejection stings (if you say differently you must be super human!) I know God's plan for my life is phenomenal. Last night I pictured God seeing the big picture, knowing what it would look like for me, my family and all affected if I made it far in this competition and saying Nope!! It's time to stop this. Much like I do with my girls. As a mom I know too much candy will only make them sick in the end. And so I stop them even though they cry out and say but mom its so yummy! Because I can see a bit further than them. So while my journey with the X Factor has come to a close I know incredible God breathed, Holy Spirit empowered things are ahead of me. More moments of sharing life with those whom God is still beckoning to draw close to him. And so I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. Glad that for a couple days I walked with people outside my bubble. If for no other reason than to share life for 40 minutes with a man from Florida who doesn't know my Jesus.
Love y'all!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Shame & Honor
Well, this last week Scott and I spent time in Estes Park, CO. It was gorgeous and if you get the chance I would highly encourage you to take a trip there and enjoy the incredible beauty of God's creation. The Rocky Mountains are spectacular. The reason we took the 15 hour ride there was for Student Life HS Youth Camp!! Yes it is that time of year....church camp! Last year we went to Glorietta, NM and I took both of the girls and it was not the experience I hoped for. So this year a friend kept the girls at our house during the day and my fabulous Mother in law kept them at night. It was rough, for everyone I think, but we made it through and I am so thankful. Scott and I were able to minister to the teens and do it uninterrupted and without major distraction. With young children in ministry, this is something to be treasured.
Anyway, the speaker was JR Vasser and the worship band was The Jeff Johnson Band. Both were fabulous. I highly recommend 'Ruin Me' and 'The beauty of the Cross' by Jeff Johnson. Both are wonderful worship songs that have caused me to pause and pray these lyrics over my life, my kids and our teens. But what I wanted to share were two very profound truths JR Vasser shared. I know that our students were touched by them and since I was I figured maybe you would be as well.
While speaking Vasser talked about being a young 20 something and speaking with someone about being a virgin or sexually pure. And he was mocked in a sense by being asked why would you do that. His response was an articulate description we should all be able to share. He told this girl, lets pretend that I am all knowing. I know everything, actual and possible. I know everything! Then lets pretend that I love you more than anything! I mean I love you more than anything and I know everything. Would you trust me? Of course the girl said Yes! If you know everything and you love me more than anything I would trust you. And he said that's why I am a virgin. I serve a God who wants the best for me and he gave me a book as an outline for life...why wouldn't I follow it and trust him?
And this to me was a beautiful way to share just about anything God has called us to? Don't you love it? If I put God's requests of me in this light, this perspective it makes total sense and allows me to trust on a level of complete dependence. I'm sure reading it and hearing are two totally different things but I hope this has hit you in some way or reminded you how He truly does not only know what is best but wants what is best for you.
Another thing I think hit home for our kids was the concept of honor and shame. So often the decisions and choices we make are based on the opinion of our friends and family. Because we have such a desire for acceptance, we aim to please man instead of pleasing God. Vasser said you have two options...shame and honor. You can have honor right now with people and shame for eternity with God, or you can have shame now with people and honor for eternity with God. I don't know about you but that makes my choices a bit easier. That makes my decisions aim towards honor with God for eternity. The present shame or ridicule seems less daunting when in the light of eternity.
That's all! I could go on forever because Vasser was that good. He preached out of Hosea and it was phenomenal. But these two truths really resonated with our teens. And I will ask you this. Our teens made some commitments and some decisions this last week that were all for God's glory. We are so proud of them and I know that God is pleased with their willingness to follow him and sacrifice what the world has to offer. But it isn't easy. Teens these days walk in a culture of instant self gratification and have access to everything and anything they want. So, I would ask you to join Scott, myself and our phenomenal leaders in praying that they maintain these commitments and live lives pleasing to the one who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On an adoption note...we are still stuck. We are now about to reschedule our fingerprinting or biometrics for the 3rd time. They keep rescheduling when we are out of town and todays newest appointment was again when we are on another HS trip. Not only does this put us behind in time but if I am being honest makes my spirits lag yet again. We are now behind months in time and the idea of actually meeting my son seems like a dream most days. Please be in prayer for us that things would make a turn for the better and that our spirits would not feel so defeated in regards to this process. We are positive we are called to this and thats why we haven't stopped anything or run from the turmoil in Ethiopia regarding adoption but it doesn't make it easy. We covet your prayers for our family as we continue to walk this out. Thanks everyone!!
Anyway, the speaker was JR Vasser and the worship band was The Jeff Johnson Band. Both were fabulous. I highly recommend 'Ruin Me' and 'The beauty of the Cross' by Jeff Johnson. Both are wonderful worship songs that have caused me to pause and pray these lyrics over my life, my kids and our teens. But what I wanted to share were two very profound truths JR Vasser shared. I know that our students were touched by them and since I was I figured maybe you would be as well.
While speaking Vasser talked about being a young 20 something and speaking with someone about being a virgin or sexually pure. And he was mocked in a sense by being asked why would you do that. His response was an articulate description we should all be able to share. He told this girl, lets pretend that I am all knowing. I know everything, actual and possible. I know everything! Then lets pretend that I love you more than anything! I mean I love you more than anything and I know everything. Would you trust me? Of course the girl said Yes! If you know everything and you love me more than anything I would trust you. And he said that's why I am a virgin. I serve a God who wants the best for me and he gave me a book as an outline for life...why wouldn't I follow it and trust him?
And this to me was a beautiful way to share just about anything God has called us to? Don't you love it? If I put God's requests of me in this light, this perspective it makes total sense and allows me to trust on a level of complete dependence. I'm sure reading it and hearing are two totally different things but I hope this has hit you in some way or reminded you how He truly does not only know what is best but wants what is best for you.
Another thing I think hit home for our kids was the concept of honor and shame. So often the decisions and choices we make are based on the opinion of our friends and family. Because we have such a desire for acceptance, we aim to please man instead of pleasing God. Vasser said you have two options...shame and honor. You can have honor right now with people and shame for eternity with God, or you can have shame now with people and honor for eternity with God. I don't know about you but that makes my choices a bit easier. That makes my decisions aim towards honor with God for eternity. The present shame or ridicule seems less daunting when in the light of eternity.
That's all! I could go on forever because Vasser was that good. He preached out of Hosea and it was phenomenal. But these two truths really resonated with our teens. And I will ask you this. Our teens made some commitments and some decisions this last week that were all for God's glory. We are so proud of them and I know that God is pleased with their willingness to follow him and sacrifice what the world has to offer. But it isn't easy. Teens these days walk in a culture of instant self gratification and have access to everything and anything they want. So, I would ask you to join Scott, myself and our phenomenal leaders in praying that they maintain these commitments and live lives pleasing to the one who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On an adoption note...we are still stuck. We are now about to reschedule our fingerprinting or biometrics for the 3rd time. They keep rescheduling when we are out of town and todays newest appointment was again when we are on another HS trip. Not only does this put us behind in time but if I am being honest makes my spirits lag yet again. We are now behind months in time and the idea of actually meeting my son seems like a dream most days. Please be in prayer for us that things would make a turn for the better and that our spirits would not feel so defeated in regards to this process. We are positive we are called to this and thats why we haven't stopped anything or run from the turmoil in Ethiopia regarding adoption but it doesn't make it easy. We covet your prayers for our family as we continue to walk this out. Thanks everyone!!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Biometrics, Dossier and other things!
Hey Everyone!! I have been so remiss and haven't posted in over a month...ugh! Sorry to not keep you updated but the only excuse I have is...life keeps happening! HA! I'm sure you know what I mean. This past two weeks have been ridiculously busy and have found our house stressful and crazy. Yesterday was the culmination of the craziness. We had senior sunday at church and Scott spoke, our band lead worship and then we had a luncheon to honor our seniors and their families. A couple hours later Lily had her first dance recital! Here is my sweet pea in her costume...not happy about me taking her picture but still cute!
As far as adoption stuff, well to be honest I haven't updated because it has been a couple weeks of discouragement. I've been more negative than I should and so I haven't posted anything. After waiting weeks we got our biometrics appointment and it was set for the beginning of june in Lubbock. We happen to be in Colorado for HS Youth camp so we had to reschedule. Which means waiting more weeks for another appointment hoping that we aren't out of town again, which we seem to be a lot with the youth group this summer. All of this to say our dossier cannot be turned in until this is completed and we receive our clearance. The Ethiopian government is still at a processing level of 5 per day and the longer we wait on our end the more it seems it will be at least a year for us to get our boy. I know it could work out totally differently, I'm just sharing with you what my discouragement is at this point.
In other news, good friends of ours Daniel and Nathalie Whisnant are in the process of producing a documentary. Daniel is a phenomenal website and graphic designer and has recently started photography and filming. His good friend and his wife are adopting from Ethiopia as well and are actually ready to go pick their son up very soon. Daniel is filming and documenting the entire process and hopefully will one day use this to educate others about adoption. I encourage you to check it out and support this project. Anything that can educate and promote adoption is worth our time and support. Click HERE to access more information on this project. You can also check out the link on our blog on the left side below.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Broken
For those who don't know my husband is a high school youth pastor. Which means we have the joy of reliving our youth and staying young by hanging with 14-18 year olds on a regular basis. It also means we have the privilege of walking with some extremely gifted and talented students who are set apart to do phenomenal things in the name of Jesus. And during our regular wednesday night services I was again thrilled to see what God is doing and teaching the next generation of world changers. Humbled to watch as God breaks their hearts for their friends and peers who don't know Jesus.
I tweeted tonight that if the heart of God dwells within the man of God than he will be broken. I say this because as my husband spoke with the teens tonight he was just that...broken! He stood before them broken over the youth of Odessa. And in turn asked them what they were broken over? What or who had their hearts broken for? Which got me to thinking....which usually translates into music and I thought of that song Hosanna...ever heard it? In the bridge it says 'break my heart for what breaks yours, everything I am for your kingdoms cause, as I walk from earth into eternity.'
And as I walk from this life into my eternal life worshipping a Holy God what is breaking my heart? Which piece of Jesus' heart has been given to me? What do I see that breaks the heart of God and in turn breaks mine? Is it the child who only knows love by the smack of a hand across his face? Is it the 14 year old girl who has been sold in marriage to start producing children while she still remains a child herself? Is it the one lost sheep out of 100 who wanders off after hearing truth all his life? What is it? Is it the child who lives in squalor while her parents are dying from treatable diseases? Is it the teen who has made a bad decision and been cast out by her parents? Is it the out of work dad trying to maintain his home against all odds? What is it?
I don't know about you but I want to be broken. Broken over the things that break the heart of Jesus. I don't want to look at another person who by societies standards is unlovable and walk away. I don't want to buckle to peer pressure and fall back on self gratification one more time. I want to be broken, broken enough to not just post a blog for you to read but broken enough to take action. Whether that means pouring into the life of a child or walking with a mom who has been broken by her abusive ex-husband...I don't know. I just know that being complacent, apathetic and ok with the status quo doesn't fly when I look around me. As my heart transforms more into the heart of God I see things differently and it causes my heart to break more. I invite you to pray the prayer in the song Hosanna with me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours God!
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause!
As I walk from earth into eternity!
All for Jesus and His honor and His glory because He is worthy!
I tweeted tonight that if the heart of God dwells within the man of God than he will be broken. I say this because as my husband spoke with the teens tonight he was just that...broken! He stood before them broken over the youth of Odessa. And in turn asked them what they were broken over? What or who had their hearts broken for? Which got me to thinking....which usually translates into music and I thought of that song Hosanna...ever heard it? In the bridge it says 'break my heart for what breaks yours, everything I am for your kingdoms cause, as I walk from earth into eternity.'
And as I walk from this life into my eternal life worshipping a Holy God what is breaking my heart? Which piece of Jesus' heart has been given to me? What do I see that breaks the heart of God and in turn breaks mine? Is it the child who only knows love by the smack of a hand across his face? Is it the 14 year old girl who has been sold in marriage to start producing children while she still remains a child herself? Is it the one lost sheep out of 100 who wanders off after hearing truth all his life? What is it? Is it the child who lives in squalor while her parents are dying from treatable diseases? Is it the teen who has made a bad decision and been cast out by her parents? Is it the out of work dad trying to maintain his home against all odds? What is it?
I don't know about you but I want to be broken. Broken over the things that break the heart of Jesus. I don't want to look at another person who by societies standards is unlovable and walk away. I don't want to buckle to peer pressure and fall back on self gratification one more time. I want to be broken, broken enough to not just post a blog for you to read but broken enough to take action. Whether that means pouring into the life of a child or walking with a mom who has been broken by her abusive ex-husband...I don't know. I just know that being complacent, apathetic and ok with the status quo doesn't fly when I look around me. As my heart transforms more into the heart of God I see things differently and it causes my heart to break more. I invite you to pray the prayer in the song Hosanna with me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours God!
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause!
As I walk from earth into eternity!
All for Jesus and His honor and His glory because He is worthy!
A Paper Pregnancy!
I've heard adoption called that before, but some moments make it more a reality than others. Just as I was pregnant with my girls I feel 'pregnant' most days..just no outward appearance of a belly. You run the gamut of emotional highs and lows. Moments of pure excitement and elation and moments of doubt and insecurity. For those who have been pregnant and had a paper pregnancy I know they can relate. Every time we turn in a new piece of paper that gets us one step closer its like another day down towards D day! Another thing off of our never ending check list that gets us closer to finally seeing his face, hearing his laughter and holding him for the first time. I find myself day dreaming more often about what it will be like once we get him home, whenever that may be. I am a total realist and know it will be rough. Although God has placed him in my heart for months now, we are virtual strangers. I know the transition will be filled with ups and downs but I am anticipating all that God will teach us as a family through that experience. I am anticipating watching Lily and Anna teach him all there is to know about being a Windham. About how Daddy is the best to cuddle with late at night because he is so cozy and how Mommy loves to have dance parties in the kitchen with the music blaring!
And here recently I've found myself praying more and more for not only him and his circumstances and caregivers but the continent of Africa and the country of Ethiopia. I find the more I fall in love with him the more I fall in love with the people. People I have never met. People I have had basically no contact with in my life. But it has been an amazing process as God's heart towards the African people has been literally given to me. I know the basics of this love is because my son is African. How could I not love his history, his culture, his people and love him? He is tied to them and because God ordained me as his mother I too am tied. I will be forever grateful to them for all they have given to him. For all they have given to me.
And so we find ourselves waiting more. We recently turned in our I-600 to the department of homeland security to be fingerprinted and then given the most important document, the one allowing us to bring our son back into the US. Then our dossier will be complete and submitted. Then the long list as we wait for our referral! Friends of ours who we attend church with are a few steps ahead of us and have received the final email saying they are finally in the long list waiting for their referral! We could not be more excited for them as we watch them walk this final step towards meeting their new son. We are so blessed to have others in our community walking the same road and hopefully our children will be raised together. Join me in praying for the Ward family! The waiting is the most difficult and I know we can stand in the gap for them as we pray the time would fly by. Pray for their 3 daughters as they prepare for a new little brother. And of course for their son and his caregivers.
We will of course keep you updated if anything happens and thank you in advance for your support during this time. We love you all!!
And here recently I've found myself praying more and more for not only him and his circumstances and caregivers but the continent of Africa and the country of Ethiopia. I find the more I fall in love with him the more I fall in love with the people. People I have never met. People I have had basically no contact with in my life. But it has been an amazing process as God's heart towards the African people has been literally given to me. I know the basics of this love is because my son is African. How could I not love his history, his culture, his people and love him? He is tied to them and because God ordained me as his mother I too am tied. I will be forever grateful to them for all they have given to him. For all they have given to me.
And so we find ourselves waiting more. We recently turned in our I-600 to the department of homeland security to be fingerprinted and then given the most important document, the one allowing us to bring our son back into the US. Then our dossier will be complete and submitted. Then the long list as we wait for our referral! Friends of ours who we attend church with are a few steps ahead of us and have received the final email saying they are finally in the long list waiting for their referral! We could not be more excited for them as we watch them walk this final step towards meeting their new son. We are so blessed to have others in our community walking the same road and hopefully our children will be raised together. Join me in praying for the Ward family! The waiting is the most difficult and I know we can stand in the gap for them as we pray the time would fly by. Pray for their 3 daughters as they prepare for a new little brother. And of course for their son and his caregivers.
We will of course keep you updated if anything happens and thank you in advance for your support during this time. We love you all!!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Big Dreams!
Well, I went to see Soul Surfer tonight with a bunch of friends and it was great. If you are not familiar with this movie it is the true story of Bethany Hamilton, professional surfer. At 14 she suffered a shark attack in Hawaii and lost her left arm. While yes that is a horrific thing to happen the story after is really the incredible part. Having surfed all her life she gets back on her board and back in the water. And before I give away all of the really good tear jerker parts I'll just say....Go see this movie! It is faith based, clean and has some phenomenal principles based in Biblical truth.
But of course while watching this movie I was so inspired. It is at it's core a very inspiring story, the concept of once you hit bottom and feel as if your world has been turned upside down, get back up and try again! But my inspiration was from other things. Like seeing a mother and father struggle as they watched their daughter walk through something life altering. I think when you become a parent your eyes change. The way you see others and see the world changes. But more importantly your eyes change when you look to the future, you start dreaming. I know when Lily was born I dreamed great things for her. And of course when Anna was born I again dreamed big for her and the things she would accomplish. When God placed our little boy in my heart I began praying and dreaming big things for him, but as each of them get older I have learned to dream bigger - the size of a mountain. Nothing is too great for them to accomplish with the Creator of the universe inside of them. Nothing is impossible with God walking ahead of them. Scripture screams this to us when it says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Recently a friend of mine who is having a baby, was preparing the nursery for her first son and she put above the crib, "Let him sleep for when he wakes he shall move mountains!" Talk about believing, dreaming and declaring big things for your kids. Our children are the hope we have that they will rock the world for Jesus in a way we never thought of. Our children are the hope that their accomplishments for the kingdom of God will astound every generation that has walked before them. I want to dream big for my kids. Let's stop thinking small and start thinking gigantic. Like Furtick says in his book, start praying like Joshua did when he asked God to make the sun stand still. (Joshua 10:12) Think miraculous and then think GOD!
But before I leave you I also want to say this one quick thing. Don't think that we must wait for our kids to do the impossible. God is calling us to dream big for ourselves and run an incredible race for His namesake. Instead of thinking dream big for my kids and thats the end I'm thinking see if you can keep up with me kids! Start running, run hard for Him and lets finish well dreaming of what it will be like to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
But of course while watching this movie I was so inspired. It is at it's core a very inspiring story, the concept of once you hit bottom and feel as if your world has been turned upside down, get back up and try again! But my inspiration was from other things. Like seeing a mother and father struggle as they watched their daughter walk through something life altering. I think when you become a parent your eyes change. The way you see others and see the world changes. But more importantly your eyes change when you look to the future, you start dreaming. I know when Lily was born I dreamed great things for her. And of course when Anna was born I again dreamed big for her and the things she would accomplish. When God placed our little boy in my heart I began praying and dreaming big things for him, but as each of them get older I have learned to dream bigger - the size of a mountain. Nothing is too great for them to accomplish with the Creator of the universe inside of them. Nothing is impossible with God walking ahead of them. Scripture screams this to us when it says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Recently a friend of mine who is having a baby, was preparing the nursery for her first son and she put above the crib, "Let him sleep for when he wakes he shall move mountains!" Talk about believing, dreaming and declaring big things for your kids. Our children are the hope we have that they will rock the world for Jesus in a way we never thought of. Our children are the hope that their accomplishments for the kingdom of God will astound every generation that has walked before them. I want to dream big for my kids. Let's stop thinking small and start thinking gigantic. Like Furtick says in his book, start praying like Joshua did when he asked God to make the sun stand still. (Joshua 10:12) Think miraculous and then think GOD!
But before I leave you I also want to say this one quick thing. Don't think that we must wait for our kids to do the impossible. God is calling us to dream big for ourselves and run an incredible race for His namesake. Instead of thinking dream big for my kids and thats the end I'm thinking see if you can keep up with me kids! Start running, run hard for Him and lets finish well dreaming of what it will be like to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Friday, April 15, 2011
A story!
Can I tell you a story of provision, sovereignty and blessing?
For those who have kept up with either Scott or I, or read our blog then you can testify with us of God continually showing up thru this adoption. He has grown and stretched our faith in ways we could not have seen at the beginning of this journey and He has provided for us in ways we never could have dreamed of! And yesterday is just another beautiful piece to our journey, another way God has reached His hand down and reminded us that He is ever present in our lives and our sons life!
For those who are unfamiliar with the adoption process it consists of many steps, each step requires something new and is usually accompanied by another small or sometimes large chunk of money for lawyers and government fees and well just about everything you can think of! And both times we have had chunks due, God has placed money literally in our laps from places that we didn't even know existed. Yesterday was no exception!!
It wasn't unlike most Thursday's for us, the girls were at mothers day out and Scott and I were both working. My phone rang as I was leaving lunch and Scott said we got our taxes back and told me our refund amount! I literally whooped out loud! For quite some time we knew we would take our refund and use it towards our next adoption payment but thought we would come up short and have to raise money or save some more towards it. So when Scott told me the amount of our refund and it was literally $35 short I whooped out loud. Let me tell you, this is the third time God has dropped money in our laps and money that is almost to the penny of the amount we need! Can you say it with me...GOD is good, GOD is always on time and GOD is so faithful to provide!!
I just wanted to share this with you so that you can be reminded that God provides for His children and that even when we forget where our help comes from, it is always the Lord. We are so blessed and cannot wait to see how God continues to reveal His hand throughout the remainder of this process. Please continue to pray with us as we are about to submit our dossier very soon! We will of course keep you updated!! Love Y'all!
For those who have kept up with either Scott or I, or read our blog then you can testify with us of God continually showing up thru this adoption. He has grown and stretched our faith in ways we could not have seen at the beginning of this journey and He has provided for us in ways we never could have dreamed of! And yesterday is just another beautiful piece to our journey, another way God has reached His hand down and reminded us that He is ever present in our lives and our sons life!
For those who are unfamiliar with the adoption process it consists of many steps, each step requires something new and is usually accompanied by another small or sometimes large chunk of money for lawyers and government fees and well just about everything you can think of! And both times we have had chunks due, God has placed money literally in our laps from places that we didn't even know existed. Yesterday was no exception!!
It wasn't unlike most Thursday's for us, the girls were at mothers day out and Scott and I were both working. My phone rang as I was leaving lunch and Scott said we got our taxes back and told me our refund amount! I literally whooped out loud! For quite some time we knew we would take our refund and use it towards our next adoption payment but thought we would come up short and have to raise money or save some more towards it. So when Scott told me the amount of our refund and it was literally $35 short I whooped out loud. Let me tell you, this is the third time God has dropped money in our laps and money that is almost to the penny of the amount we need! Can you say it with me...GOD is good, GOD is always on time and GOD is so faithful to provide!!
I just wanted to share this with you so that you can be reminded that God provides for His children and that even when we forget where our help comes from, it is always the Lord. We are so blessed and cannot wait to see how God continues to reveal His hand throughout the remainder of this process. Please continue to pray with us as we are about to submit our dossier very soon! We will of course keep you updated!! Love Y'all!
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