A Truly Incredible Day!

Woke up early today...4am.  A bit difficult to stay in bed.:)

Had breakfast with a really handsome guy.  Took a really long walk around an entire city with the same handsome guy.

Then we waited...and waited...and waited.  All totally worth it!

Around 3 pm we headed to the only home that our son has ever known.  I was actually breaking a sweat in the car driving down the bumpy road. 

We joyfully delivered a plethora of donations.  WOW!!! is all I can say!

Pretty sure the director's face conveyed the same thoughts.  We had the honor of telling her that it all came from many many people!

After a brief chat with the director, we walked to our son's room.  Words can't describe the joy, the relief, the sheer emotions of the moment.  We didn't think to take a picture at that moment, but his smile was enormous!  And then he was in his sweet Daddy's arms...guaranteed the strongest, most gentle loving arms that have ever held him!

He has grown a bit and developed.  He is sitting up with more strength.  He is more animated.  He still loved his mommy's hair...don't think I will EVER cut it now! 



And then Mommy got some sweet time with this precious little miracle.

And if all of this wasn't good enough, we got to play with this little pumpkin that made us laugh so hard!  And I got the privellege of whispering in her ear, "your mommy and daddy are on their way."

Then more time watching our son explore on the FLOOR!!!  I was so excited about that!  And as if God had not given us enough today...our favorite caregiver was there.  A precious precious woman I tell you!  She is full of joy and laughter.  She works so hard with these little ones!  For over 20 years she has served children that could never say "thank you"!  She is a gift to us...a gift to our son!

And then there was this sweet and gentle but very REAL reminder, when we leave with our son whom God chose for us, we leave behind these sweet faces...

and the thing is, there are more just like these two.  They are desperately waiting for a mommy and daddy, for a forever family...waiting to not be outcasts.  I stroked the faces of these children today.  The touch of my hand calmed a sweet little soul today. That was all he wanted.  Cerebral Palsy left him unwanted and now he and others lay in cribs for hours on end waiting. 

While we enjoy all that God has given us, I ask you boldy, has He called you?  Has he nudged your heart and you think the calling is too great?  It just takes a tiny seed of faith.  You know that Bible stuff is actually real.  He just wants a little bit of faith...He will do the rest. 

Our house can't hold 6 people...by most people's standards.  Our calendar is really busy.  Life is really full.  My children our really young.  My husband only makes this much money.  We don't have THAT kind of money.  Our 401K needs to grow.  I will lose my "ME" time.  We might not have an empty nest.  Getting out of our house is going to be A LOT of work.  Vacations may have to wait and may never come.  I will never get my laundry done.  People may look at me funny in public.  My "other" children will be affected.  He might need serious medical care and therapy.  My relationships with others might change.



Ashamed to say...I have thought it all.

There is nothing unusual about me or Derek, nothing exceptional.  One of my dearest friends just released her newest album and there is a song called "White Page." You can listen to the actual song here: http://www.tanyagodsey.com/lyrics.html

"You and I we write our lines with seven days a week And in the twenty-four that each day stores we hold possibility

But when we pull the shades our page is blank We chalk it up to progress a better story waits another day lost to the T.V. set

We're just a white page We're just a white page The story of our days Is like a white page

Do our lives leave much space for the the hand of a writing God To create to sign His name on us when the work is done

Because the ink we hold is not our own time takes the ending And so the sun has set on my discontent Cause I don't want to leave

Another white page Another white page No the story of my days Won't be a white page

In hope, in faith, in suffering we are the truth this world will read Love strikes the page, we're reckless marks we're lines that write redemption's song

When we part with life there's one long page tucked into yesterday And the lines that keep once we've fallen asleep are etched in eternity

On a white page On a white page The story of our names They're on a white page

No won't leave a white page No the story of my days Won't be a white page"

I love the line that we are the truth this world will read...we're reckless marks...we're lines that write redemption's songs!!!  Christ tells us very plainly in His word, "And the King will answer them (speaking to those on His right...the righteous vs.34) 'Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:40)  As I watched with my own eyes what the touch of my hand brought to these tiny little bodies so in need of love and care and affection, I thought of how I will stand before an almighty King one day and I pray that He will be pleased with me.  I prayed over a child of His and wept begging God to either bring him a family or take him home.

My heart and my soul are forever changed.  This journey has not been easy and it hasn't been without great cost and sacrifice on many levels...and believe me when I say that the enemy has been lurking at every turn.  Greater is He that is in me (and you) than is in this world.  I pray that I will live my days, not perfectly, but with eternity ever present and etched deeply in my soul.  

Obedience is a funny thing...as we walk more and more closely with the Father, He reveals just how much this life is not about us.  I pray that as we all lay our heads down tonight and tuck our children in, we will all beg God to reveal what He might be boldly asking of us and that we won't be afraid to take that first step of obedience!

Tonight while you sleep, we will be in court with our God going before us as He has done for many months now, asking for favor...asking for there to be one less little boy without a family.  So thankful we said yes to this journey...Not one single regret! 

Gotcha Day tomorrow friends...Samuel's last night in the Baby House!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!