Monday, December 31, 2007

Saying Goodbye .... to 2007!

Wow!, what a year! We have been stretched more this year than probably any other single year thus far of our journey here on earth. It's only by God's goodness and grace that we have made it through the valleys and mountain-top moments this year!

Tomorrow not only marks the first day of a new year, but also our daughter's third birthday! It's hard to believe that nearly three years ago we got that life-changing email ...... "a little African American girl ... born with a heart defect ... having open heart surgery today". I will never forget the exact moment of receiving that information. While it was much different in many ways than we had anticipated (we were not expecting the health issues) .... we knew for SURE, this was the child God had led us to nine months prior. We had the absolute privilege of praying for our precious Naomi all throughout her open-heart surgery. By evening we received word that she made it through and was stable and to get on a plane headed for Houston! We had to adjust travel plans, as with her hospital stay, I'd need to go alone and be with her until closer to the time she could come home. So three flights later, the last of which was in a terrible storm and I was certain I was not going to land properly! ...... I landed in TX. Unfortunately I had to wait til the next morning to get to the hospital.

I will always treasure the first moment I laid eyes on our precious daughter. While she was still on a breathing machine, dialysis and umpteen other tubes and wires ..... I saw those big brown eyes and it took my breath away. My heart crumbled as the realization of her aloneness sunk in. At that moment it no longer mattered to me who understood or supported our adoption. What I knew was that a woman that I would never have the privilege of meeting made the courageous decision to give this little girl the gift of LIFE. In our culture today, that should never be minimized. And now it was up to us to be her family. People have said how lucky she is to have a family .... while they mean well, they have it all wrong. Every child deserves a family. Through Naomi's life, we have understood in such a greater depth of just how much God loves us. His love for us is not based on what we have to give ... His love is a free gift, a complete gift ... the only thing that really satisfies the soul.

Do you know His love? .... do you know Him as your father? .... I cannot think of a better way to start off the new year than accept His free and perfect gift.

Tomorrow our 'lil spunky Texan babe will open up her birthday presents. And we will enjoy PINK cake (her request). No doubt our hearts and minds will be often drifting half a world away as we anxiously await news of our other 'lil babe that we have yet to meet. Our hearts are just overflowing with joy as we wait .... yet the journey of adoption is terribly bittersweet. To be adopted, means you have experienced great loss. But we'll save those thoughts for another post. Tonight we give God great THANKS for all He's done for us in 2007!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Merry Christmas!


Praying you each have a blessed Christmas! We are just overwhelmed this year by God's Goodness, Joy and Love. How we long to have all of our children together ... yet He has been so gracious as we await that special news! We are just entering the 3-5 mo. time frame our agency gave us. How exciting!

Monday, December 17, 2007



No news here ... entering week 11 of this wait. Continue to pray with us as we trust the Lord to care for our little-one ... so far away.

Friday, December 14, 2007

It's Not Fair!


Sometimes our daughter will tell us this phrase when she isn't so happy about the outcome of something. And ... sometimes our answer is, "yeah, life's not fair!". But today as I think about my life and what God has done for me .... I too can say ... it's not fair. Before you think I have fallen off my rocker, let me explain. :)

I think about all He has done for me ..... sending His son to suffer and die for my sins. How is that fair? How in the world am I deserving of such love? He has given me a life I do not deserve. He pours out His tender mercies on me each day. He gives me strength to go on ... some times He alone is my strength.

A few years back, I underwent some scary health issues. I didn't know what the future held. I was so frightened and deeply challenged to really decide what I believe. Through God's grace, He chose to bring us through all of that. What could easily have been life-threatening ... was all caught in time. Yes there was pain, sorrow and loss. But still to this day I am overwhelmingly amazed by all the blessings the Lord has poured out. He has given me so much. Most of all, I have known HIM more which makes my life rich ... even on days that seem dark and dreary.

Are there days I pout like my daughter .... "it's not fair!!". I'm afraid I have to say yes ... I do. But the real truth is the opposite of that phrase ... I don't deserve this life ... how I thank the Lord He doesn't give us "what's fair". I would have far less.

Often in the busyness of life we don't stop and realize just all we have in HIM. Maybe you are experiencing a storm in your own life and need to be reminded that your heavenly father is right there ... wanting to give you everything He has. We have to look to Him and receive it. We have to submit ourself, our ways, our flesh to Him ... then we will truly be fulfilled.

On the adoption front ... the wait is difficult. I wish I were handling it with more grace than I am. But one day we'll look back and see God's hand in it all. How I don't want to miss out on what He's trying to teach me through this journey.