Monday, August 1, 2011

Blessed: Part ONE

The past few weeks can be summed up in one word, Blessed! That's right blessed! My heart has been so full, bursting with holy moment after holy moment that I've found it hard to even speak of. So now, after a period of silence, I am going to try to relay just a few of those sacred happenings.

Blessing #1: The Barbecue
































     One of my very, very dearest friends in the whole entire world planned a barbecue to bless and benefit our adoption. It was here, at our home, and it was one of the most surreal experiences I've ever had in all my life. The weather had been unpredictable at best all week long. With pop up showers blowing in and out day after day leading up to the party, she and I discussed the weather quite often. With people asking what our "backup plan" was, we prayed our hearts out that unless it was contrary to His will, He would grant us the blessing and favor of beautiful weather for this celebration. We wanted His will above all else, but He says in His word to approach His throne with boldness and that is exactly what we did (vowing to accept whatever He chose to do regardless of our desires). Anyhoo, with the chance of rain higher on "party day" than any other day of the week, we felt like we were just supposed to ride it out, have faith, and trust that whatever was supposed to be would be. The band set up, and completed their sound check. We set up the tables and chairs, put the tablecloths on each one, placed the poster I had made on the entry table, and laid out the scrapbook pages that our guests would use to write special messages to our soon to be addition(s), and then we waited. The sky was dark, the wind was blowing, and rain clouds were looming overhead. As the time to begin was drawing near, faces of people we know and love very much began to trickle into our backyard. With each new face, I was profoundly aware of the intense amount of love and support that surrounds our family. The thought of a rain out completely escaped me. We greeted our guests, and ladies were shuffling around like busy little bees getting all the food out and ready to serve. all of the sudden, I realized that what had been a gloomy, blazing hot day had turned into an absolutely perfect evening. I thanked the Lord for blessing us with such beautiful weather and was overwhelmed by His goodness toward me, toward us. As I was soaking it all in a sweet lady I've known all my life walked up and said, "Millie, you are not going to believe this!" "As we turned off of the main road onto your street we looked towards your house at the end of road." "Everywhere we looked there was rain, but right above your house, right above it, there was this big circle of clear sky and sunshine." "Can you believe that?" My response was, "yes, Ma'am, actually I can." I trust God's sovereignty. He is God, and He is good no matter how He chooses to answer my prayers. In moments like these, in those places where He makes it evident that it delights Him to give me, His baby girl, the desires of my heart I have to acknowledge it. I am so thankful for all of you who came to show your love and support as we answer this call on our lives. A big thank you to The Shags who spent so much time preparing to be our musical entertainment, and for providing all the sound equipment needed to perform. Thank you so much for those who cooked food, baked desserts, sowed into this adoption financially, and helped in planning this special night. Thank you more than anything for your prayers as we go through this adoption process. One day soon you will see our family, our completed family, with our sweet babies in tow, and know that you played a part in bringing them out of poverty and giving them hope and a bright future. 




I thank my God on every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3