Wait to Be Invited

Hey __________,

I am so glad that you are allowing me to grow and complete you. You are my masterpiece and I am still at work.  It may be hard for you to understand my ways and timing and that's okay. I ask that you continue to yield your fears for my boldness and wait. I made _________ and I have amazing plans for his life and his forever family. My plans and timing are perfect.

I am in all the details and I know what is best for my ________ and you. I already have it planned and it is amazing!!! So beyond anything you or other prayer mommies have asked.

Please keep seeking hard after me. Keep talking to me and listening to my voice. Leave your heart with me and trust my plan.

I have not forgotten you and I know my answer "to wait" has been challenging for you to accept.

Trust me, leave me to my plans in my way. Wait for me to invite you into whatever I have planned for your good and my glory.

I love you,
God

A Healing Hallelujah

Walking alongside our children through their pain and into healing was unnatural for me. I truly thought that if we obeyed and followed hard after God to foster and adopt the children as he led our family would thrive and we would be spared some of the more challenging behaviors. I also thought that if I prayed hard enough and followed the medical and therapeutic plans during the first five years of his life, God would completely and miraculously heal my son's brain. I thought the same thing for our daughter's emotional challenges.

Almost 9 years and a completely "broken hallelujah" later, I stopped waiting for promises that were not Biblical and a miraculous healing that would not ever be. God's promises are true. He did not promise we would be problem free, nor did He promise we'd skip troublesome heart-breaking and faith-stretching challenges. Not because God cannot, but because He has confirmed that He is sufficient and so is His grace.

There has been healing, and a lot of it! Our son is mainstreamed in regular ed with special ed supports. He is far less aggressive towards me. He uses words more frequently than screams when he is upset. Our daughter chose Christ and her heart is far less stony. A child that once drew a picture of me in the oven crying as she stood outside the oven smiling now writes me love notes and gives the best hugs!

The healing that God has provided is miraculous and took place over many years. He has walked with us through our pain and healed us as we've walked alongside our children. Creating deep and healthy connections has required much more than I had to give. Thankful that He is immeasurably more and provider!

We are healing and God is faithful. He has healed my brokenness and is healing the hearts and minds of our children. Our family is thriving and that is a "healing hallelujah".

Wondering

Wondering what it must be like to experience your first Valentine's Day?
 Did you make cards for your friends, did they make them for you?

Did you hear the words love, family, forever and ache?

Did you pray and wonder if there was a family that was praying and wondering too?

Asking Questions

Our Life Group is doing a ladies study over The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst.  It has been a great way for me to evaluate some of my past choices and the direction I'm heading.

There are many things I have wondered and fear has stopped me from asking. There are several pieces but no clear connections. The role I was ready for does not seem to be the one that is planned.

Tonight, over a week of praying yet holding onto fear I let it go.
I asked a question and I am waiting for Him to answer.

And He will.

Happy!

An amazing and beautiful video of what radiant joy looks and sounds like. Courtesy of these precious kiddos from Bethel China. Enjoy watching Danny and his friends!