Simplicity

This year I opted for simple decor since there is an addition this Christmas! One that can be very destructive! He has actually been very good and after the first tree "lighting" he hasn't touched it!

Merry Christmas!!

Once upon a Dream

I love my dad! He reminded me of this dream I had years ago, on Friday night! Then he sent this email out...this is now a story I will be telling my little Isaiah! Thanks daddy for giving me a sweet memory to pass on to my son!

Teammate – Years ago when Heather my oldest daughter was about 5 years old she was taking a car ride with her grandfather. She starting sharing a dream that she had, a dream that one day she would have a baby Jesus. She shared with great conviction that she, like Mother of Jesus, (Mary), would have a baby Jesus one day. Her Grandfather tried to reason with her that Baby Jesus had already been born and there was no way that this could happen again. 5 year old Heather would not be persuaded and told her Grandfather that God told her and so it was as good as done.

Almost 20 years later Heather and Daniel tried to have their first child and lost the child through miscarriage and the child awaits them heaven. Heather and Daniel turned to adoption and a few months later they adopted baby Isaiah (you can read her blog…story and journey of their miracle adoption). A few days ago Heather and Daniel played the part of Mary and Joseph at the Nativity scene at their church (Burnt Hickory Baptist) and guess who Baby Jesus was? You got it! It was Isaiah!

God had spoken truth to Heather when she was 5 years old, and I am not even sure if Heather recalled the dream. But her Father (me) did…and so did her Heavenly Father! God speaks to all generations…mysteries…plans…and a purpose for your life…and a purpose for others in your life (Isaiah).

Merry Christmas

Not this time

Daniel and I mentioned a while back that we were trying to adopt Isaiah's biological sibling due in February. I realized last night I haven't wrote any updates because people were asking if we still were. Well our answer is not this time. After much prayer we really felt the Lord telling us not this time. He called us to be available and my heart struggled with this when we first found out about baby #2. It was overwhelming for me, I wasn't ready for another baby and the fears continued...I felt like I was in constant turmoil over what to do. Then I remembered the Lord calling us to be available...the details didn't matter...if He wanted us to adopt again then He alone would work out all the details.

Well, this time...it wasn't our time. He wasn't calling us to adopt baby #2 but instead I feel that He wanted to know that we would be available and willing to jump when He calls. A lesson I'm still (and will always) be trying to learn! It's tough for me...more than Daniel because I fret, worry and stress.

All that said Daniel and I are not adopting baby #2 BUT we are SO VERY THANKFUL because the Lord works everything out according this His perfect plan! You see Deb and Harvey (birth parents) were given several profile books to look at, one family being a client of our consultants...of all the profiles they choose this family! A family who I'm told was very bold and outright about their faith and love for our Savior! This overjoyed my heart to know that God hand picked this family for Deb and Harvey but secretly let them think they did the picking :)! The best part of all is they live near us and we prayerfully will have the opportunity to meet them and their soon to be new comer!

Then and Now

It's hard to believe how fast the year has flown by. This time last year Daniel and I were on staff with FCA and wrapping up our winter leadership retreat. This time last year we were approaching what was suppose to be our Due Date. This time last year we were in the middle our adoption process wondering how in the world it was all going to work out. This time last year my hubby asked what I wanted for Christmas and my response...a baby.

Now, I'm putting up a Christmas tree anticipating broken ornaments from an almost one year old little boy. Now, I'm gearing up for a Isaiah's first Christmas and first Birthday. It's hard to believe that this time last year we were begging the Lord for a child and in His perfect time he brought us the most amazing little boy. My heart fills with joy when I think about where we were then and where we are now. 

I'm overwhelmed by the Lord's faithfulness to us. We are so undeserving of such an incredible son but we are so blessed to call him our child. I wouldn't change the journey we went on for anything. I wouldn't trade it for having a perfect pregnancy. I wouldn't trade it for having had all the money we needed before we started our adoption. I wouldn't trade it for a perfect adoption journey. I wouldn't trade it for one less drive to FL in a week's time. I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

The Lord had a plan. He used that journey to grow me, to grow Daniel and to grow us together. We never thought we could be joyful over a trail but we are now. We pray that we can joyful during our next trial and not just after it.