14 Years!!

Fourteen years ago today Craig and I committed to spend the rest of our lives together. It has been an incredible ride so far and I am looking forward to all of the fullness that the years ahead hold for us. God's sovereignty astounds me as I look at our life together. Thank you God for the amazing man you gave me and thank you Craig for being such a godly husband and best friend.

Our anniversary present to each other is our adoption application. I feel like God is leading us in to a new journey together as we send it in today. Thank you Craig for being my best friend for life and for your sweet, obedient spirit that is open to the path God has called us to follow. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

"It's only you for me, just like that whooping crane, who has one wife for all his life and if she dies he'll do the same" REK

Calling

The realization of the call of God on a life may come with a sudden thunder-clap or with a gradual dawning, but in whatever way it comes, it comes with the undercurrent of the supernatural, something that cannot be put into words; it is always accompanied with a glow (Oswald Chambers)

Squirrel #3

We came home this afternoon after getting Craig from the airport to a house guest. An unwanted house guest. I caught a glimpse of its bushy brown tail in the playroom and screamed so loud it jumped against the glass door to try and escape. I ran the other direction into our bathroom to barricade myself someplace safe. Luke, sweet Luke, is trying to coax it out the back door he is holding open ... I am still screaming ... and the the squirrel, that is as panicked as I am, is running around our bedroom. I was actually holding the bathroom door closed - why? Luke finally got it out to the backyard. I am so shocked with my reaction ... I don't think I have ever panicked or screamed like that before. But there is something very unsettling about a squirrel running loose in the house. This is the THIRD time we have found a squirrel in our house. I am beginning to think they have a key and are coming in the front door.

Dinner options

I opened the front door and threw out $40. Okay, not literally, but I might as well have. Craig is out-of-town and I didn't feel like cooking. So, it was time to order in. We are having pizza at homegroup tomorrow night, so I tried to get creative - which isn't too easy when you still want the food brought to your door. Did y'all know that Pizza Hut has a whole menu of non-pizza items? If pizza is your thing - stick to pizza. Pasta, wings, cheese sticks .... Pizza Hut should not have these items on their menu. The kids each had a bite of the item they chose and that was it --- not because they were being finicky but because the food really was not good!! So, here we are having cinnamon toast, plain toast, chicken strips from lunch, canned chili, yogurt and cantaloupe. It's not gourmet but tummies are full.
Did I mention that Craig is on a private boat in CA enjoying a beautiful gourmet dinner - I'm sure it's 'business' :)

Discouragement

Craig and I have prayed for YEARS and YEARS that Christ would use our family for HIS glory and HIS kingdom. Of course, we didn't know what that looked like - but now we find ourselves living a life that is much different from the one we pictured when we got married almost 14 years ago (Sept 30, 1995 was the big day). I realize now that when we opened our hearts to God's calling and said 'yes' to homeschooling our children and we said 'yes' to various leadership roles at church and most recently when we said 'yes' to adopting --- we put a big ol' bullseye on our family. Satan doesn't like many of the decisions we have made (good) and he is letting us know it. But as I sit here typing this morning I resolve myself to NOT let satan steal our joy, kill the vision that God has given us or destroy our fortitude. Discouragement has reared it's ugly head numerous times over the past week or so - but God has graciously provided scriptures, words of encouragement and friends to speak His words to me.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Cor 4:7-9

"If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; through he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His right hand." Psalm 37:23-24

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of deer, He enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Psalm 16:7-8
"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:7-8

Esther 4:14b
"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

I Chronicles 28:20
"Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you."

Not surprisingly, God knew exactly what I would need this year and He started providing back in January. A dear friend asked me to join her in memorizing one verse a week for the entire year, Word a Week. This has been the single greatest thing I have done in a long time to grow my walk with Christ. God has placed these scriptures strategically throughout my year and they have encouraged and strengthened me when I have needed it the most. I see now that back in January, when I didn't know we would say 'yes' to adoption and I didn't know how discouraged I would feel on this day, Sept 22 - HE knew and HE has been providing love, encouragement, and His balm of soothing words for 38 weeks.

Why would you want to do that?

I am grateful for times when others do not embrace our decision to adopt. Why? Because God is providing opportunity. Opportunity for us to grow, opportunity for us to share our hearts and declare Christ's love, opportunity for others to be touched and most importantly for HIM to be made famous. See, we realize now that God calling us to adopt isn't about us, and it isn't about the children He has chosen for us, it is about HIM!! I have read that so many times in books and on blogs - but the difference is that now I have experienced it - I feel it - it is a part of me.
I have great peace in knowing that this calling isn't about walking through the doors of our home with our precious children - it is about the journey. While I look forward with excitement to that day when our children will be home and our family together - I don't want to miss what God has for me and us along the way.