Adoption

The second day back from my "encounter" God did a similar thing that He did on my first morning. I didn't have a vision, but I did have a moment where God taught me through a life experience and His Word.

I woke up the same way, with God on my mind first thing (which I have found is the best way to wake up). My very second thought, which occurred within moments of waking up was of my two girls. My girls are adopted. I was overwhelmed with this love that I have for them. That I would give my life for them if need be. That I would defend them tooth and nail if I have to. This miraculous love for children that I did not grow within my womb, that I didn't even meet until they were teenagers. He then confirmed how much He loved an orphan like me and chose to adopt me.

There are verses in the Bible that tell us about taking care of orphans, but above that there are verses in which God tells us that we are His adopted children. God created the concept of being adopted.

Here are a couple verses about how we are orphans:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" Romans 8:14-16

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-6

"And I chose you to be My child from the beginning of time." 2 Thessalonians 2:13

"But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth." 2 Thessalonians 2:13

"He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:5-6

God adopts us as His own. The love He has for us is an awesome and powerful love. His love is so powerful that we can't even truly love someone without His love in us.

1 John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loved us."

I love the idea that I was a chosen person. That He chose to love me when He didn't have to. I am a sinner, a lowly sinner. But He loved me so much that He sent His son to die on the cross for me that I might live eternally with Him. (John 3:16-17)

Are you ready to be adopted, dear orphan of this world?

I promised pics of the nursery awhile ago. Here they are:

Names for the stars

When I woke up that first Monday morning after my 'encounter' weekend, God gave me a vision...literally a vision. I laid in bed and was fully awake as God showed me a night sky full of twinkling stars. One small group of stars caught my eye. It was 3 stars in a triangle shape. Gods voice came from this sky asking me to look at these stars. "See that star there" he said referring to the brightest star in the triangle. "This is the star with your name on it." At that moment a shooting star shot right through the middle of the triangle. Then the vision was over.

I asked my husband that morning if there were verses in the Bible that said something about stars and names.He said he didn't know but to look it up in his concordance. I actually ended up searching the Internet and found a couple verses about how God gives each star a name and how much more important we are than stars in the heavens. The verses I found were:

"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name." Psalm 147:4

"Lift your eyes up on high and see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might, and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing." Isaiah 40:26

This got me to thinking about the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15. How the shepherd will leave 99 sheep to go find that one lost sheep. Not one of the stars goes missing, therefore God won't "lose"any of us. He wants to go find you. Will you let Him lead you home?

Humble new beginnings

I sit here at my computer a very humbled woman. I just spent the last little bit reading my old blog (waiting for a blessing). It's crazy to see what God was trying to do in my life and then what I allowed Him to do and kept Him from doing. I truly believe that it was all a process to get me to where I am today, but it was very hard to see my lack of faith.

As I sat here reading, I felt like I was reading the story of someone else besides myself. I wanted to reach through the computer screen and shake this strange person sharing my life story with such negativity. Yes, life has been rough at times, but that doesn't mean that God wasn't working. I could see as I read, the evidence of His working in everything. Scott's cancer, our infertility, the loss of babies, and the joy of becoming parents to Martie. God's work is woven through it all.

There's nothing wrong with being tired, a little depressed or overwhelmed, or any other feelings. But I am glad that I don't sit here letting it all take over my life. I admit, I was a bit embarrassed to read about this strange woman who had daily pity parties. Where was the contentment? Where was the true Joy of the Lord that I "claimed" to have at times? But in the past month things have truly changed with me.

I can only put the blame for that change on God Himself. I gave it all to Him, nailed it on the cross , and He made me a new woman. A changed, forgiven, and free woman. Life will still be tough at times. And with two teenagers in the house and a baby on the way it's sometimes very tough. But I spend time reading His word and praying almost everyday...I'm still not perfect you know. Lol! I can't do this life without Him. He is the source of my true joy!

I want from this point on, to be able to come back and read this blog and see the confidence that I had in God. To see the evidence of His work with no doubts about how He went about it. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He has never left me or forsaken me. I could sit here right now and make a list of all my blessings and not be done with that list for weeks and weeks. And here's a challenge to you (as well as me): Think of what you thanked God for yesterday....what would you have woken up with today if He took everything away except what you thanked Him for yesterday? Are we truly thanking Him for what He does?

I end this post as I started it...sitting here as a humble woman, knowing that all I have is from God and it's my job to give it all back to Him as an offering.

"I love you, Lord
and I lift my voice,
to worship you.
Oh, my soul, rejoice.
Take joy my King,
in what you hear.
May it be a sweet,
sweet sound in Your ear."

Almost there!

We are almost parents to a little baby. A baby boy!!!! The birth mom is 36 weeks this week. She has been having some preterm labor but has kept him in this far. We are so ready to welcome our John William into the world. I can't wait to post pictures for everyone to see. :)

Just wanted to update everyone quick. I will add pictures of the nursery tomorrow.

God bless!

Tomorrow is the first Dr. appointment that I get to go to. I am soooooo excited to be a part of this. I still hope she goes through with it. I have bought a few clothes and even a swing (winnie the pooh of course). I registered some more on another site....one that actually had the stroller and carseat combo I wanted. I think I'm finally in too deep not to get hurt. But I just decided that I want to have something to look forward to.

Oh, and one other thing.....I started on some pooh cross-stitch bib's that I have been saving for "someday".

22 weeks this week, which means 18 weeks to go!

We still don't know boy or girl yet. Some days I wanna know so bad and other days I love the idea of a surprise. So I will let God make the decision whether or not we find out.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

So is everyone ready for this news? My blog says we are a family of 4, but we may be adding one more to make us a family of 5!

I've always said that if I were to adopt an infant that it would have to be privately through an attorney and that God would have to drop it in my lap. Well, I guess God thought my lap was empty enough. Here, I'll share how it happened:

I was in Alta Vista a week and a half ago (Martie went to prom with my sister). While there, I got a phone call from a family member who knew someone, who knew a woman who wanted to give her baby up for adoption. I thought, ok, won't hurt to call and find out what's up with this.

We have now met the woman, I have a sonogram picture of the baby, am meeting with the attorney this afternoon, and she just called and invited me to the drs appointment for next Wednesday.

I know that adoption can go either way until the baby is born, but I can't help but get excited. We are wanting to wait on big purchases until after we have the baby, but we'll see if I can actually go without buying a thing....I just might have to go out on a limb and just buy a few things. I actually made a wish list online for my Winnie the Pooh baby stuff. But I'll keep it a secret for now.

So I guess I need to really work on keeping my blog updated. This is the easiest way to share what is going on with all that.

On a different note, our lives are changing one other way at the end of this month. Things have physically gotten so bad with me that I am having a hysterectomy on the 31st. My parents told me that the baby was my reward for having to give up my "woman parts". I guess we'll see. For now I'll leave it at that and ask that everyone pray hard that this works out for us. The girls are so, so excited (as are our extended families).

Our potential baby