The Beauty of Enormous Things

I've been a little bit down lately. Things like the wait of this adoption process and some tough conversations have weighed on me and made me whiny. And I don't like it.

So, it has become necessary (again) to mark my ebenezers and write down all the things I can think of that this journey has brought our way. Things that couldn't have happened without it.

Here goes.

1. Crazy, awesome, astounding and miraculous way we landed on Children of the Promise in Haiti, and subsequently our two amazing kiddos, C and L. See below for the seriously unbelievable way we and our friends "found" the same little girl in Haiti and how, because of her, there are four orphans that will have families now :).

2. New besties. There are people I have met through adopting that I would not have met any other way. People that I love and care about deeply and consider some of my best friends. These are people I did not know a year ago that seriously love me and give the kind of support and encouragement (and sometimes a much needed, "get over yourself") that only they can provide.

3. Coins and dollars and haircuts and concerts. We are completely humbled at how many people have collected money in "adoption jars," cut our hair for free, donated large sums of money to defray our adoption costs, and offered to give of their time and talents to help us bring C and L home. In the process we have learned to receive with joy and see that it does take a village to bring these two home. And the village is here and willing!

4. Dependence on God. I know that sounds like the "right" thing to say, but it's true. Sadly, if there were more things we could actually do to bring the kids home, I'm afraid we'd just do them and work in our own power and totally miss some of the above awesomeness. Don't think I'm at a point of saying I'm grateful for the wait---but it is true that I can see the value and the gift in it. Without being put in such a position of feeling helpless, I don't think we would go to the One who is our help, strength and source nearly as much or with such desperation.

5. Seeing God as the master story writer. The sheer number of "coincidences" in this story He's writing with our lives is shocking. It feels like everything and everyone is connected with such purpose now.


Sometimes this process and this raising of lots of kids feels too hard and I wonder what God was thinking when He asked us to do it. But then I think about all of the above. His hand is all over everything and there is no doubt in my mind that we are saying "yes" to the God of it all.

This story is only beginning....