It is a good one. We have known from Day One, that this adoption journey was not about us.
Nearly eight years ago, when we were in Kathmandu, Nepal, visiting an orphange, seeing streets full of children without families or homes, we clearly felt God place on our hearts the desire to adopt a baby girl from an international country. We didn't know when or how, but it was clearly from the Lord.
This past summer we began to ask ourselves and the Lord, "is NOW the time?". We started to to poke at doors, to see if they would open. And, they did.
This might seem like a sidebar, but stick with me...Today at church, one of our pastors was teaching from the book of Ruth, chapter 2. About Ruth finding work to provide for hers and her mother in law, Naomi's needs. How Ruth and Naomi's story, is one of God's provision. Our pastor spoke about how there are no coincidences. How the book of Ruth is full of God, yet you never hear Him speak. However, His fingerprints are all over the story. Why does the Bible tell of Ruth's story? Because, God cares about these kind of stories. He cares about Ruth's life, and he cares about ours. He wants to work all of our stories together, to tell a greater story...His story.
In Ruth's story, she faced hard circumstances. She worked hard to find a way to meet the need she and her mother in law had (food). She "happened" to find work in Boaz's feild, who "happened" to be a relative...he was her "kinsman redeemer". He had the means to help her in her need. Long story short, I was sitting there, wondering, how does Ruth's story apply to me? Make the point, pastor...Then, he did. It's not just Ruth's story, it's God's story. HE wants to use our individual stories, to tell HIS story of love. He wants to use us, weave our stories into one anothers story. And, ultimately into HIS story of redemption. (which reminds me of a good book...called, "the story we find ourselves in, by Brian McLaren...good one!rabbit trail)
I was instantly overwhelmed by the similarity in me and Ruth.
God is weaving our story into our future daughters story. Right now, as we speak...adoption in and of itself is a picture of God's love for us...He chose us. He redeemed us to His family, his inheritance.
Just like Ruth, had great need, God used Boaz in Ruth's life to redeem her situation. Boaz redeemed her situation. I feel like in many ways, God has used and is using his body, his family, to redeem our daughters circumstances. We don't have it all figured out, but God has weaved many stories together to bring our baby girl home. He has moved hearts of those who have the means to give to us...to help us. Our part was to obey the call God put on us. Others may not have the call to adopt, but have the call to give...I sat there this morning feeling like our friends, family, and church family...God is using them to be our family's "kinsman redeemer". Ultimately, the Lord is our Kinsman Redeemer, and his body is a reflection of His heart. I am so blessed to be a recipient of that love...honored that many of your stories are now woven forever into mine. Whatever life circumtances have brought you to be able to give threads to our story, ultimately God is the weaver of this amazing tapestry of HIS story of love.
I sat there, and cried, for Oh, I don't know the 10th time the last 3 days. I felt the joy of being a part of the story God is telling. I can't wait to pass this story down to my daughter and how she came to be in our family. How she is a part of this story, and all the stories that came together to bring her to us.
Just these past few nights, I've sat down to figure out where we are, financially. What steps we can take to move forward with what we currently have. I felt total peace, that God is MORE than able. I keep hearing that song, "my God is mighty to save" (see below for the youtube video of the song)...I've had peace. Then, friday, I checked my mail. There was a sweet card from some dear friends and a gift of $500. Instantly, I was in tears, knowing God is BIG. He is SO going to keep the ball rolling. I remembered my verse, Psalm 5:3..."I lay my requests before you, and wait in expectation." I knew, I expected that he is about to do something GOOD.
Last night, I crunched some more numbers. I came up with some numbers, thinking we need about $500 to finish "Phase One" and get on the waiting list. Today after church, my parents gave us an envelope from an anonymous friend, with another gift of $2000! Story, after story, after story, being woven together into our daughters story, woven into God's story. God is blowing us away. "more than we could ask or imagine..." I had been silly enough to think this morning, "God can totally handle $500!" He is showing us that He can move mountains, he can do far more that we can imagine and certainly handle our needs.
We have known this would be God's story from the start. We wanted it to be. We knew that if we had it all figured out on our own, he would not get the glory. More than anything, we want HIS story to be known, not ours. Well...I think we can officially say, HE is one good storyteller! I can't wait to hear the ending...
ps...I have been meaning to blog about Christmas, but have been sidetracked.
We gave the boys each an "adopted baby sister" cabbage patch dolls for Christmas, and told them for the first time that we'd be having a baby sister from Africa. We explained what adoption is, that she will look different than us and have brown skin. So, with that, meet Lola Betty (the big sister) and Lotta Gwendolyn(the baby sister) (the sisters names were chosen by the Hayden who love the show on Disney, Charlie and Lola...and Lotta is Lola's best friend on the show, we didn't make it up!)
As of now, Jack loves his baby, Lotta, and carts her everywhere. The car, naps, etc. Hayden LIKES Lola, but not too sure about her brown skin. It's a good thing we have awhile to get them used to that idea! We figured it was time to start warming them up to the idea now, that their baby sister will look much different than they do...Hayden says "My skin is green, right mom?"
