Refreshing-

One word to describe my weekend- REFRESHING.

There have been so many things going on our with our adoption, I just cant keep up with posting it.  Over the past few weeks we have:

1. Received AMAZING news that we have a matching grant through Lifesong for Orphans! PRAISE THE LORD!!! We are so excited. More info on this soon :) Thankful for these blessings.

2. Received word that my medical form for our Dossier was not completed correctly the first time.  I'm not sure how this happened, since it was reviewed by our agency prior to sending it to be authenticated, but the Lord knows.  So I had to rush to the doctor to get another physical and mail off the form to complete our dossier for a "second" time.

3. We realized that we had misunderstood that timeline for our adoption.  We still have 20-24 months from now until we have our little man home.  That's different than what we were expecting from that start of the process.

So-- with all of this news, I have been overwhelmed. My heart has been heavy and filled with anxiousness.

This weekend, my work, Crossings, went to a Children's Ministry Conference to display and talk about our summer camp ministry.  Little did I know that while at this conference, the Lord would minister to my HEART.

When I walked in, I saw a table with all of these cute monogrammed cups, hair bows, clip boards, etc.  I thought, "What a great idea for an adoption fundraiser!?"  I looked up and there was a sign that said "Maggie's Hope."  Not too long after a sweet lady walked up and was selling items.  I went over to her. Her name was Fran. She was so bubbly and I enjoyed being with her from the first moment. She had recently adopted a little girl from Ethiopia who was 3 years old. As I began to share our story with her, she had tears as we realized we were with the same agency!! She began to offer me advice and encouragement about the process and went on to pray with me and give me some things from her table to remind me of the Lords Faithfulness to her and how he will be faithful to us. As I walked away from her table, tear filled my eyes.

"Lord, thank you for this small confirmation of how you are at work. Even when I have setbacks, you know what's in front of me and you go before me."  

REFRESHED

So then I went back to the Crossings Booth to talk about camp and a sweet dear friend, Reagan, came up.  Her and her husband had recently adopted a little boy from Ethiopia.  She came over and we began to chat like old times. She asked about the adoption. I told her where we were and the Lord used her to encourage and challenge me.  As I shared about the long wait time and me longing for a son, she teared up and comforted me with these words - "when your little one gets here, he will fit right into your family.  Until then- live in the now.  Dont live for the number, the updates on where you stand on the list. Enjoy your time with Derek.  Up and go to a concert. Up and drive to the Grand Canyon. ENJOY NOW. Because this time will fly by and you will have your son before you know it."  

As Reagan walked away, I prayed "thank you Lord for Reagan and how you used her words to comfort and quiet my anxious heart. May I rest in you now, enjoying everyday you give me."

REFRESHED

Finally, as we were packing up to leave the conference, I went over to browse at Lifeway. I met the store manager. Out of no where he said something to me about adoption. I found out he and his wife, Ashley, were almost finished with their adoption process from Haiti.  The PURE JOY on his face when he showed me pictures of his son and his excitement reinforced everything the Lord was teaching me this weekend.  When I asked him how long they had been in the process, he said 2 years.  He said, "When we first started the process and heard how long, we could never imagine how we could wait that long. However, here we are getting ready to go pick up our son. And it was just like yesterday we found out it would be 2 years."

WOW- can you believe this?? I stood there and apologized for my tears and just briefly stated what was going on with our situation.  He said he didnt really know why he was spilling about his adoption to some random stranger, but after hearing my story, he realized it was the Lord prompting him to tell me so he could be an encouragment.

I walked away, got in the car to drive back to Louisville and I was reminded of what I have been reading in Psalm 43- 

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God." (Ps 43:5- NASB)

REFRESHED

PRAISE BE TO THE LORD-

Whitney